The night is cold and clear. Stars shine brightly in the evening sky and Xena's gaze never wanders from them. Argo takes the path ahead of us slowly so that I can walk easily beside the warrior and her horse. My legs feel like jelly after today's adventures but I guess that's just part of the job description; being Xena's companion is rough on the body but good on the soul.
"Okay Gabrielle, let's make camp here for the night"
"Thank the gods!" Dramatically flopping down on a large rock makes Xena chuckle and roll her eyes at me in that playful manor of hers that only I have the privilege of seeing.
"We'll rest up and then head out first thing in the morning." Xena gracefully swings off Argo, muscles flexing, jumping to the ground only a few feet in front of me, her strength in perfect contrast with the easy femininity of her movements. I am constantly in awe of her. "I'm thinkin we could head towards Athens, maybe stop at the Bard Academy."
"Really? I'd love that!" The grin that stretches across my cheeks nearly hurts my face making Xena laugh at me once more. I could listen to her laugh for forever.
"Now come on, let's get these bed rolls set up."
We work in silence for a little while, just enjoying each other's company and the sound of the crickets. Sitting down on my makeshift mattress, I dig into our remaining provisions and pass some to Xena who gratefully accepts.
I think about the long day that's finally behind us and sigh. My lungs still burn from the smoke. I can't believe that crazy royal advisor tried to make me marry a dead king and cremate me alive! Still, it hasn't been the craziest adventure Xena and I have shared together and I can guarantee it won't be the last. The burning tickles my throat uncontrollably and I get stuck in a coughing fit.
"What's wrong?" Xena firmly pasts my back and offers me water.
"Smoke." I manage to wheeze out. Thankfully the water helps and my coughing subsides but Xena still looks concerned.
"I'm sorry Gabrielle." The warrior ducks her head, avoiding my eyes. "You were nearly killed today. If I had only gotten to you sooner you wouldn't have been hurt."
"Xena no! You saved me! Even though you could have lost your eyesight you came after me."
"Ya know Gabrielle..." Xena runs her fingers through her long, wild hair, the way she does when she's struggling with something. Then she looks at me, really looks at me, and says "I had made my peace with becoming blind. I knew I could still be a warrior but not nearly as skilled as I used to be. I knew I'd never be able to see a sunset, or the stars, or even Argo ever again. But the only thing I'd truly, deeply miss seeing is your face."
The weight of her beautiful words hangs between us heavily in the air. My heart swells with all the possibilities and I wonder if Xena can feel it too. Tension sizzles along with the fire, but before I can say the words that have been weighing on my heart for so long now Xena rolls over and simply says "Goodnight beautiful."
Soon the warrior drifts off to sleep, her soft snores filling my ears, leaving me to lie awake all night thinking of her. I toss and turn restlessly, unable to get her heartfelt words out of my head.
"Xena" I whisper into the night. "I love you."
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes but I don't let them. I know Xena loves me too, just not in the same way, but what she said earlier... Maybe her feelings do run deeper than she lets on, that's typical of her.
"Oh Gabrielle, what are you doing?" I find myself pondering that question more and more lately. Without a doubt my place is beside Xena, but am I being greedy for wanting more? More of her. I should be strong like Xena is, and granted I'm strong in my own ways but Xena has this way of compartmentalizing things that I just can't grasp. Does taking this path mean never being completely open with your emotions? Everything is just so jumbled up. I love Xena, I do, and that's pretty much the only thing I'm sure of at this point.
The moon is already beginning to fade. Xena will be awake soon; she always rises with the sun. Not wanting to give her any cause for worry I close my eyes and attempt to find peace in sleep to no avail. After what feels like hours I hear Xena rustling about the camp probably packing. She's not stupid, she's more in tune with my body than even perhaps myself and I'm sure she can feel the unevenness of my breath and the racing of my heart. Thankfully Xena doesn't bring attention to it. Instead she rouses me with a soft shake of my shoulders.
"Rise and shine. Athens is at least three days out. We should get moving."
"I'll rise but I refuse to shine." I mumble through a yawn and pack my belongings as well. Between the two of us we hardly have anything, but we have each other and as corny as it sounds that's all we need. "So why do you want to visit the Bard Academy again? I mean it has been a while since we traveled through Athens and I'm definitely not complaining, just what are you thinking?"
"I guess I just want you to get back into story telling again. It made you so happy."
Xena doesn't offer more of an explanation but now I'm really curious. "See I knew it! You complain enough about my constant babbling but you secretly like it don't you?" I poke her side playfully and she swats me away while just barely hiding a smirk.
"Don't put words in my mouth Gabrielle, I didn't go that far"
"But it's true isn't it?" I laugh happily knowing that I'm right even though Xena won't ever admit it. I skip ahead slightly, reveling in this new knowledge. Xena only shakes her head at me as we carry on walking the path to Athens.
The breeze is warm and tosses my hair about my face to tickle my cheeks. Salt in the air and the sound of gulls soon capture my attention and draw me off the road. We must be near the sea!
"Come on Gabrielle, Athens is still a long way off. We should keep moving." Xena crosses her arms but follows me anyway.
"Don't you ever want to stop and smell the flowers? Enjoy the beauty of nature?"
"What flowers?" Xena sarcastically gestures to the tall grass field and the sand dunes beyond it. I only roll my eyes at her antics.
"Close your eyes Xena, try to enjoy everything you hear around us. You can't go through life not noticing these things!" I reply incredulously. We walk further into the field and closer to the sea and I am completely taken by the magic of it. "It's beautiful!"
"Yeah yeah I guess so. Wait… Do you hear that?" Every muscle in Xena's body tenses. I can fell the energy of her poised to spring at any moment. I strain my ears to search out whatever possible danger she hears but all I get is the roar of the sea. "A battle."
We both run to the edge of the field overlooking the beach. There at the bottom, besides a massive outcropping of rock, a single man is fearlessly battling three pirates. "Shouldn't we go help him?"
I'm perplexed by Xena's reaction. She relaxes slightly and leans back towards me. "Not yet. He seems to be handling himself alright." As soon as she says that at least a dozen more pirates launch out from behind the rocks running right for the man. "Okay, now we help him!"
Xena fearlessly sprints down the sand into battle with me right behind her. She lets out her signature battle cry and my heart races with excitement. This is what I live for, being right here with Xena in every possible situation, whether it's sleeping under the stars, defeating titans, telling stories in a tavern, or fighting pirates on the beach. There isn't a place on earth that I'd rather be.