Disclaimers:

This story is categorized as fan fiction. The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, et al, which have appeared in the series Xena: Warrior Princess, belong to the producers, writers and executives of Renaissance Pictures and MCA/Universal Television. I claim only to have borrowed them, without intent to profit or infringe these rights, for the purpose of creating this story for enjoyment of the series' fans, of which I count myself one of many.

Timeline Notes: After the episode "A Comedy of Eros"

Sexual content: the story below contains references, explicit and implied, of a sexual relationship between two consenting adults of the same sex. If you are not of legal age to read this story, or such material is illegal where you live, or you do not feel comfortable with such content, please refrain from reading this story.

Author's Note: This story was written as a response to a challenge from another bard, to avoid as many of the cliches of Xena/Gabrielle's first times as possible, so if there seems to be a bit of a role reversal, that's why.

New Territory
by LZClotho
originally written September 1997

CHAPTER ONE

Xena peered over the ledge, studying the military encampment nestled in the valley below. She could just make out a dozen tents, arranged in a semi-circle around a bonfire. Men in rough leathers reclined on log benches drinking from skins undoubtedly filled with wine if not something stronger.

In her many years Xena had spied on many camps, from warlords to Athenian military. Some were unusually arranged with the commander's tent on the outskirts instead of inside, or with the corralled horses deep in the center instead of upwind. But never, Xena thought. Never have I seen one so clean.

"It can't be him," commented Gabrielle crouching beside her friend, palms resting against the rock ledge for balance. "Can it?"

Xena gestured. "You know his standard as well as I do. What's that flag tell you?"

Gabrielle studied the dark square of fabric waving in the breeze from a pole near the bonfire. It was an elaborate design, hard to mistake for anything other than what it was - or rather whose it was. "Draco." She shook her head. "But it's so clean? And small. Where are all his men?"

"From the rumors I heard, coming back empty handed from Hestia angered a lot of his men. A lieutenant demanded he give up his army and leave. A few men obviously went with him."

"So how'd he get to keep the standard?"

"Family crest, so I guess they let him take it with him." Xena shrugged. "Want to go in for a better look? Maybe we can get Draco to give us the details."

Gabrielle shook her head. "I'm not going down there. Draco may have cleaned up his looks, but he's still a warlord."

Xena looked over the encampment again. "No way. That's not the camp of a warmaker. Too open."

"How could he change so much in four months?" Gabrielle was still skeptical.

"Ask him." Xena stepped out from the ledge, finding a path down the mountain wending its way to the valley floor.

Unable to resist, as she trusted Xena's instincts implicitly, Gabrielle followed.

The two women were challenged at the perimeter of the camp and told to wait while Draco was summoned. Xena patiently studied the camp; Gabrielle was a bundle of pacing anxiety. She remembered every minute of her last meeting with Draco, cringing again at the declarations of unending love. Gabrielle stopped pacing. There was only one for her.

With a look of gentle admiration on her face and a gaze of concern, Gabrielle watched as Xena greeted Draco with the firm forearm clasp of kindred warriors.

"What brings you here, Xena?" asked the dark-skinned warrior.

Xena turned, bringing Draco's attention to Gabrielle with a wide sweep of her arm. "We were in the neighborhood. I heard of a man who needed an army."

Draco smiled at the Warrior Princess. Then his gaze fell to Gabrielle. "I don't need an army anymore," he said, his eyes raking over the bard's trim muscled figure. "Just a few to help with cleaning up this province."

Xena looked around. "No more war spoils?"

Draco shook his head. "I turned most of it over to the Athenian authority. They'll see it gets to the right people. The rest I sold to pay my men in coin - for staying with me."

Xena nodded. Made sense. A different kind of man worked for pay instead of spoils, a more loyal man, a more reliable soldier. And since coin didn't go very far, a smaller cadre of men was the natural result.

"And how do you feed them?" Gabrielle asked.

Draco looked affronted. "I've made arrangements with a few farming towns in the area to trade defensive advice for supplies."

Xena put a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. In explanation to the warrior, Xena said, "You have to admit, this is quite a turnaround."

"I thought about this a lot since we last met, Gabrielle." Draco grasped the bard's hands. She had to crane her neck to meet his gaze.

Xena remained at her back as she answered the look in Draco's eyes. "I'm sorry, Draco. This isn't right. I can't love you. You're doing wonderful things, but ..." She removed her hands from his and placed them over Xena's hands on her shoulders. "I don't love you. I won't."

Draco's face darkened. But he looked from Gabrielle to Xena and stepped back. "So I did all this for nothing?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "Please don't think that. You are doing good. That's always the right thing. You have my friendship, Draco. Anytime. Anywhere you need it."

Xena smiled. "And with hers comes mine, Draco."

Gabrielle looked up over her shoulder as Xena removed a hand and grasped Draco's arm again. The warrior princess' arm rubbed Gabrielle's side as the bard was caught between the two.

She bit her lip and extricated herself as Xena and Draco concluded their exchange. "Anytime," Xena echoed as they finally let go.

Draco nodded. "I'll remember." To Gabrielle he turned a warm smile. "Thank you."

Gabrielle demurred and simply inclined her head. She wanted to leave. "We'd better get going, Xena. The message said we didn't have a lot of time."

Xena looked at her friend strangely, but nodded, catching the hint. "You're right. Let's go."

"Goodbye Draco," said Gabrielle as Xena led the way out of the former warlord's camp.