Chapter 2

Gabrielle walks out of her father's hut, fresh from completing her chores her mother begrudgingly forced her to complete before she would be allowed to go out with Xena. Heading towards the training grounds she catches a plight of lilac, causing her to reminisce, Oh, my love, how you make my heart race, she closes her eyes, indulging herself, continuing her destination from pure animalistic sense. Our hearts would lead us to wherever our love resides. As she turns the corner she sees Xena, performing the sword drill of a life time. Getting closer, Gabrielle spots the beads of sweat making her warrior glisten. Her body becomes heavy with longing, leaning on the barn's side just in view. She watches every muscle ripple with the sword's strokes. Xena flips in the air, reversing on an imaginary opponent to land near the water trough, still unaware of Gabrielle's presence. Wiping the sweat of her brow, she finds her sleeves bothersome and tries to push them up in vain as they fall back down. Agitated, she reaches over to each shoulder and rips the sleeves form the seam, tosses them aside, and scoops a drink from the trough before dunking her whole head in the water. Rising up, she slicks her hair back, ringing it out in one grip. Gabrielle lets out a shaky breath, clutching the hem of her skirt. Not going unnoticed by the romantically inspired, young stud of all the Bard's day-dreams, Xena turns swiftly to see a damsel in dire distress. The blonde had her eyes closed, using the breeze to cool her flushing skin, then the smell of lilac and leather fill her nostrils,

"By the Gods, I think I might faint."

"But I'd want you awake for this", in that voice, deep and beautiful, the Bard found so dreamy, she continued, "You like watching me?" No response required as Gabrielle moaned her answer, their lips pressed together, tongues battling for dominance. Loosing control again, Xena tastes the rest of her flesh, at her neck, nipping, drawing over with her wet muscle again and again, "How could the Gods possible make something so sweet?" Subconsciously, Gabrielle boldly pulls the dark warrior into her, hands on her leather covered back-side. Her hips move of their own accord, slowly twisting and grinding, "Are you trying to torture me?"

"What?" Gabrielle ceases.

"I promised I would not lose control with you, but you are making it very difficult."

"How", realizing their positions, "like this?" The Bard moved her whole body against her, making Xena tremble slightly, "Yesss."

"Xena . . ." a dark-toned, almost evil whisper, "I adore your respect for my virtue, but . . . you drive me insane. It takes all I have just to keep form jumping you every time we meet." She grinds sexily into her again.

"There lies a beast within you. . ." Xena puts a hand over Gabrielle's chest, "I think I just unleashed."

"If you only knew; you wouldn't be able to resist."

"And if I take you now?"

"It would be incredible."

"It would be expected", Xena goes to pull away and Gabrielle's grip tightens.

"Don't go. I've waited all day for you", the warrior grins then bends down to kiss her again. After a lengthy and much needed make-out session, they lay in the wagon on a freshly broken bale of hay, facing each other. Xena looks deeply into Gabrielle's eyes as the Bard plays with the tassels of the warrior's shirt, slowly loosening them, rotating from shirt to stoking the muscles in her arms, as to go unnoticed, noting their firmness and cause for such grace in battle, "You know, you're the only girl I've ever gone out with."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, I've been with girls before, but I guess here we don't go so far as to make it official. That is to say that girl's don't just go around holding hands with their girlfriends."

"Does that mean you want to hide us . . . our love?"

"Gods no! I want to embrace it, display it for all to see, and show everyone how much I love you. You are my soul-mate. I feel it every time you're away, every time you're near me, touch me. There's a connection I have with you that not even the Gods could break, not with all the magic in the world. I love you, Xena, so much."

"By the Gods, that's exactly it. You've spoken my heart. We are one."

"On all occasions, but one . . ."

"What?"

"Well, there is this little dispute of abstinence."

"Why are you so quick to give up your innocence?"

"Because I am giving it to you, my love; it is my pledge to you . . . and you are a tad bit tempting."

"I knew you only liked me for my looks."

"No . . . but your tongue . . . for poetry: all those words, so sweet, that you say to me . . . kissing: an act that stills my breath away, each and every time . . . and anything else your dark, twisted mind can think of."

"Well then, you are in for a long, blissful night."

"One can only hope . . ." The Bard manages to loosen all the laces and proceeds to pull the shirt out of Xena's leather pants. Halfway out the front, the warrior grabs Gabrielle's wrist, "Not yet, my love", she kisses the knuckles of the wandering hand, "patience."

"Mother of Zeus, you make me crazy!"

"I hope so", Xena places the Bard's hand over her stomach, indulging her, but not letting her go any further. Gabrielle traces each one of her Warrior Princess's abs adoringly. Xena basks in the caresses of her love's hand and the warmth of the summer evening, even allows the slightest slips of Gabrielle's touches, those near her chest, but the Bard hits a ticklish spot at her ribs and makes the dark woman giggle. "Are you ticklish?" Astonishment in her voice, she hops up and straddles Xena's waist, tickling her to torture.

"Gabrielle! Ah! Ha ha! Gabrielle, stop! P-p-please!"

"Fight me of, Warrior Princess!" Xena soon has Gabrielle's arms pinned comfortably behind her back, breathing hard and still giggling,

"Warrior Princess?"

"Yeah. It's . . . something I came up with, but . . . I never intended to call you . . ."

"No, I like it!"

"Really? It could make a great pet name."

"Let's call it . . . term of endearment."

"All right, my hard-abed Warrior Princess, then what is your term of endearment for me?"

"Ah, my goddess has many names."

"Pick one."

"Ok, how about . . . Amazon Princess? No, my Amazon Queen."

"Amazon? In case you haven't noticed I'm neither Queen nor Amazon material."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, you have the body of a fierce Amazon warrior, especially for a farmer's daughter. And you should know by now that you are the Queen of my heart."

"Sounds good . . . so . . . you've looked at my body?"

"More than once." Moving her hips under her burden to be comfortable, Xena presses into Gabrielle's sensitive center accidentally,

"Ohhh", Gabrielle lets out in a breath. She falls slightly, but catches herself, gripping Xena's shoulders, her head by the warrior's ear.

"What is it, love?"

"Ah . . ." she rises back up and moves a bit of her skirt to keep them from touching again, "I'm . . . not wearing, um . . . anything under my skirt . . . and you . . ."

"I'm sorry, baby", Xena strokes her back, "I didn't mean to make the month any more painful."

"What? No, not that. It's just a little warm . . . you know, here", she puts a hand on Xena' lower stomach and goes down, over the leather of her pants. Xena rises into the touch instinctively, startled by the Bard's innocent explanation.

"Oh! That . . . well, that just happens when . . . um . . ."

"I know what it means." Xena looks back at her shocked, but amused, then smiles. Gabrielle leans down again and kisses the warrior tenderly. Her hips rock into Xena once, just to feel the sensation it brings again. One, two, three stokes; Gabrielle causes that part of Xena that sought pure pleasure, giving and taking the flames of passion. Soon the warrior is moving with her, but she holds back with what fraction of humanity she still has left,

"Gabrielle."

"What?" Gabrielle brushes her hand over the warrior's neck and chest before kissing it.

"Are you sure? Because once I let go . . ."

"Don't stop now. Oh, Xena . . ." she doesn't finish; instead jerks off her dress and kisses the warrior again, her tongue out to devour. Xena, still in a haze, could not see how things exculpated so quickly, but pondering waits as soon as she feels Gabrielle struggling to unbuckle and de-shirt her. She grips Gabrielle's wrists roughly, scarring the Bard only slightly to get her attention. The fierce gaze of the stoic woman fades into love. Rising up, with Gabrielle in her lap, she places her Amazon Queen's arms around her neck and kisses hers; down towards the valley below and up again, all in worship. "Mmm", the Bard whimpers, trying to pull the sleeveless shirt off Xena's back, "Take this damn thing off!"

"Xena!" The couple jumps, Xena going to hide her nude lover and Gabrielle scrambling to cover herself. Cyrene stands beside them, hands on her hips and mouth slightly agape, "I told you, not one hair on this girl . . ."

"Mother, please!"

"Get the girl to bed, and not another word. Her parents would kill over it they saw her now. The indecency!"

"No! We're in . . ."

"She's right", Gabrielle looks at her love confused, "This is not the way to display you. I am not worthy of you, Gabrielle. Please forgive me. I will not bother you again." Xena covers her with the blanket she brought with her.

"Xena . . ."

"I'll take you home." Finding no strength to argue after the exhausting turn of events, she shamefully follows the warrior to her bed, barely able to fight back the tears creeping inside her. They step in the bedroom as to not awaken Lila, sound asleep. To the bed Gabrielle is led, and they sit down on the edge as Xena reaches over to a corner of the covers to turn it down. Rising back up, she sees the silent tears fall from the blonde's eyes, "Oh, my sweet Gabrielle, do not take it so seriously."

"You are never to show your face again. How can I not be ashamed, devastated? Please don't leave me."

"Be still. I did not mean what I said."

"But you . . . and your mother . . ."

"Fuck my mother! She cannot smother these flames. I burn for you."

"Oh, thank the gods."

"I must go."

"No! Stay with me."

". . . Alright, but I leave by morning."

"Agreed", Gabrielle climbed into bed, dropping the woolen blanket. "Don't you want your night shift?"

"No . . . I have you to keep me warm." Xena gave a devious and loving grin as her love pulls back the covers, beckoning her warrior to join her. The dark-haired woman wraps her arms around Gabrielle, burrowing her nose into her neck, sweet lavender bombarding her senses. Stroking the blonde's bare back, she soon has her purring. Gabrielle continues to sink into Xena's strong embrace and kisses the top of her chest, barely exposed. Light butterfly-kisses send a most powerful sensation through to the warrior's core. She pries the Bard's head away and up to meet those soft, sweet lips.

"Sleep, love, I'll see you tomorrow."

"What do you want to do?"

"Well, at the moment, there are lots of things I'd like to do", Gabrielle blushes and smiles, "but . . . tomorrow we could go for a walk, have a picnic, go see a play . . ."

"Hmmmm."

"Tell you what . . . you meet me at the edge of the river, and I'll surprise you."

"Ok."

"I'll be counting the moments."

"The breaths", Gabrielle leans in.

"The kisses . . ." Xena kisses the bard softly, "the ways you make my heart sing."

"Go, you. You'll never leave if you don't."

"Maybe I don't want to leave."

"Xena . . ." she felt the warrior's hands massaging everything they touched, steady and constant, moving from her back, down and up to her stomach. Xena whispers hotly in her ear,

"I'll see you tomorrow." When Gabrielle opens her eyes, she's gone; the shudders of the window now open, swaying in a warm summer breeze.

Xena has everything set: the blanket, wine, candles . . . food . . . what else?

"Oh!" She goes to her pack and pulls out five scrolls of poetry, hoping at least one would be the blonde's favorite.

"What's this?" a body right behind her, the warrior turns and gently pins one of the girl's arms behind her back, her breath at her neck. The scent was more rustic than Gabrielle's, an intoxicating aroma, but not hers. Xena looks down and in her grasps is a frightened Lila,

"By the Gods!" the dark woman lets go of the younger sister, "I'm sorry, I though you were Gabrielle."

"And does she like it when you greet her this way?" grabbing her arm to sooth it, which now she realizes doesn't hurt at all. She looks at the dark beauty incredulously.

"Well, she seems to like it." A shocked but amused grin lights up the brunette's features,

"Mmm-hmm . . . well, I'm not that kinda girl . . ." Lila circles round Xena, the warrior following by turning her head with movements like those of a lost sailor's siren at sea.

"No?" The girl stops in front of her, hands on her shoulders, seemingly pulling the difference in height together so that they may be closer.

"No, my handsome warlord, no . . . you'll have to take me to dinner first . . . but it seems you've already thought of that", she brings their lips finally together to no spark but that of surprise and shame when she hears,

"Lila! Get off her!" Xena instantly pushes the brunette away, wipes her lips, and gazes down at her lover's sister in order to reprimand. But that will have to wait. She looks at Gabrielle now, pleadingly,

"Gabrielle, you have to believe . . ."

"Silence . . ." the small blond sounds more sinister than normal, like a creature not of this world.

"I'll just leave you two alone then."

"Lila!" Xena yells after a fleeting villain, then looks to Gabrielle, "Now look, love . . ." the Bard closes in on her, "she came on to me . . ." Suddenly Gabrielle grabs hold of Xena's shirt and pulls her down to eye level,

"You expect me to believe . . ." she puts a hand around the warrior's neck and grips hard, pleasantly harsh to the pain loving Greek, "that she has what it takes to steal you away from me?" Xena smiles,

"No baby . . . there's no possible way . . ." Pleased by what she hears, she presses their lips together in a love acclaiming embrace.