AN This is my first attempt at fanfiction writing and English is not my first language, so I apologise for any future mistake. That said, please let me know what you think in the comments
Regretting the titans
"And Xena gave me the scroll just in time... She saved the day, as usual." Explained Gabrielle to Phyleus as she mimicked the action with her hands for emphasis , the bard in her coming out.
"She couldn't have done it without you." Answered the boy, his admiring eyes never leaving the young woman he spent the last few days idolising.
Xena and Gabrielle, as well as many villagers, were still in Chronos' temple packing their saddlebags after having spent the night there hiding from the murderous titans that the young bard had liberated from the stone.
"You're right" she said "You were almost my first." She lowered her gaze, blushing slightly.
"And you were almost mine." He answered blushing too, a note of longing in his voice.
After an embarrassing moment she averted her gaze, only to glimpse at Xena. She had a strange expression on her face, one that Gabrielle wasn't sure of how to interpret.
After hugging Phyleus goodbye she proceeded to where Xena was standing preparing their things for the road.
"Are you ready?"
"Will be, as soon as you answer one question." Replied the warrior. Gabrielle watched her closely, it wasn't like Xena to ask her questions. She could tell something was bothering her.
"What's that?" asked the bard.
"Why did you risk your life by going into that cavern alone?"
So that was it! She knew this question would come up, sooner or later. She studied the warrior's expression, trying to determine whether she was angry or not. But of course those impossibly blue eyes were guarded, calculating.
She debated whether to lie or to tell Xena the whole truth, that she had felt so guilty about the titans smashing people and destroying villages that she only wanted to stop them as fast as possible but when they threatened the warrior, offering false peace to the villagers in exchange for her life, Gabrielle couldn't take it anymore and wanted to protect her protector and best friend at any cost, even if that meant disregarding said protector's instructions. So she had returned to the cave only to be discovered by the titan Hyperion and ending up being saved by Xena yet again.
In the end she opted for the truth, at least part of it.
"I wanted to make up for what I did, so that you wouldn't
hate me." She said with a small voice.
At this Xena's eyes warmed, and the corner of her mouth turned up. Regarding the bard with a hint of affection she answered
"For your information, I could never hate you. Your heart's
always in the right place."
A bit comforted but still unsure Gabrielle replied
"Even when I tried to rule the world with the Titans?"
She knew she had said the wrong thing because she could feel Xena tensing again, erasing all traces of emotion from her face.
"Everybody makes mistakes. We'll talk about it later." She said brusquely, turning to leave the temple.
They had been walking for over four candlemarks when Xena finally called for a stop. They ate lunch in silence sitting on the fresh grass.
Gabrielle could sense that something was bothering her silent companion because she was being too quiet, even for her usual stoic self. Was she still brooding over the titans accident? Was it something Gabrielle had said? The bard replayed the events of the past days in her mind, the list of possible things that could have put Xena in her current pensive state grew longer and longer, so yes, it was definitely something that happened in the past days that was bothering her. Should she bring up the topic? Should she apologise for her actions? Apologies never worked well with her... 'Just improve' she could almost hear her say. Xena said that they would talk about it later, was now later?
Swallowing the last piece of bread Gabrielle finally asked
"Xena? About the titans-"
"I said later, Gabrielle" she interrupted "Please" she added, probably realising just how harsh she sounded.
"I just wanted to-"
"Not now" she interrupted again "Listen, why don't we stop here for the night? It's already quite late and we just had a difficult couple of days."
"Ok" replied softly the bard.
She was starting to get nervous. Was Xena that mad at her that she couldn't bear to speak with her? What if she was tired of having Gabrielle around? Was she going to send her back to Potidea?
"Could you please set up camp while I scout around?" asked the warrior, standing up.
"Ok"
Xena smiled a small, slightly reassuring smile before heading jogging to the trees.
However her smile wasn't reassuring enough because after a few seconds Gabrielle found herself sitting on a rock all alone and in complete silence. "What have I done?" she said, hiding her face in both hands, elbows on her knees. "She's going to send me back to my parents" She felt tears pooling on her eyelids but she refused to let them fall. "No. When she comes back I'll explain my actions to her. No interruptions this time" And with a determined frown she got up and started setting up the best camp she could.
AN This story has already been completely written, so, if you liked the first chapter, don't worry about me not finishing it. However it hasn't been beta-ed if you feel like I should look for a beta reader please let me know :) Thanks for reading :)