The Woman Warrior's Tale

She looks him her blue eyes darkening, as she remembers how she felt when he did another massage on a planet far, far away. "Will there be any more Ancient Legends?" she teases, her blue eye sparkling. His brown eyes capture hers and tuning into her wavelength, he answered softly in his velvet smooth voice. "I've told the Angry Warrior's side, the only things to add is that as the Angry Warrior never knew love he didn't recognise it in its pure form, but once he did he never stopped loving the Woman Warrior for she was the soul mate he unknowingly sought and needed. Its time for the Woman Warrior to tell her tale."

Kathryn was silent for a moment, "I love your Ancient Legend, and I'm trying to find the words to tell the Woman Warrior's feelings."

"Maybe as you relax the words will come easier." Chakotay suggested. "I just want to get some oil from my quarters…" He left to make the healing oil that his tribe had used.

While he was gone, Kathryn sat down on her bed, reflecting on what had happened today. She gently touched her lips, still feeling his touch, lost in memories.

When Chakotay re-entered Kathryn's quarters, he saw a major change in Kathryn. When she looked at him it was pure Kathryn and not a hint of the Captain anywhere. She spoke quietly, after he had sat down next to her on her bed and held her hands in his.

"The Woman Warrior was in essence two people; the woman and the warrior. On the outside she was the Warrior, leading her tribe and keeping solo to devote full attention and duty to her tribe so they would be happy. However the woman was a different story. She was scarred and scared of commitment. All of the men in her life save her two wise friends had either died or abandoned her. So the Woman Warrior imprisoned the woman inside a cage of ice until she met the Angry Warrior. To her surprise he unknowingly captured the woman within days of their first meeting, melting the ice with his warmth. But the Warrior knew that they had to work together to make the two small tribes one. She had to shield herself from him so it became safe again as the feelings he stirred was so powerful that they scared her for she had never felt this way before. At first this made her feel guilty as she had a fiancé at home, a long journey away, but he did not have her heart. But because the Angry Warrior had melted the ice, the Woman Warrior found that over time she regarded the members of her tribe as family tied to the woman as well as to the warrior side of her, especially the tribe's Council, each leader of a specialised sub-tribe. Both woman and warrior fought but duty and her responsibilities always overcame her desires as the Woman Warrior felt that she could not do both with the dedication each deserved and demanded. Despite the safe and close friendship both Warriors had formed she knew that the Angry Warrior was dangerous to the woman within but despite her shields and walls he had become part of her and she knew that if he died she would never recover for he was her soul mate and she needed him. The Woman Warrior longed for the journey home to be over so she could be with the Angry Warrior, free of being the Tribe Leader. But after some time had passed on their journey and after some of their adventures together, the Woman Warrior realised that her home was with the Angry Warrior."

Only now after she had finished did Kathryn look away from Chakotay's face. She had needed his quiet strength to tell her 'Ancient Legend' in a way that would make him understand. She felt naked, having bared her soul.

Chakotay was speechless. It was a beautiful story and he understood the conflict between woman and captain as well her fear. He quietly lifted her left hand and placed it on his heart. She looked at him "Thank you" he said, touched. He learned forward and kissed her tenderly. Kathryn closed her eyes and kissed him back, holding him close. When they parted, she said quietly, "I wanted to tell you for so long."

"You are worth the wait Kathryn." Chakotay replied just as quietly as he stroked her face gently. "Now let me finish your massage. I can still feel some tension. I promise I won't mind if you do fall asleep- in fact it would be a compliment."

"I would be a fool to pass this up. Your massage has been the only thing to have relaxed me." She went to the bathroom to change as Chakotay prepared her bedroom for his massage including some soft instrumental music, dimmed lights, towels on the bed and some relaxing incense candles. "Wow" Kathryn quietly exclaimed. She had changed into her nightclothes- a strappy top and a pair of shorts.

Chakotay saw her and wondered if she wearing anything under her dressing gown. Not that he was complaining Kathryn had lovely legs. "Do you want to sit down on your bed first? I would like to give you a head massage." Still overwhelmed by his transformation of her bedroom she nodded and silently did as she was bid, slightly nervous. But as soon as he had begun she relaxed, breathing in his comforting scent.

Chakotay let his hands do the talking, and only spoke when he wanted Kathryn to change position. He asked her to lower her dressing gown so that he could have access to her neck and shoulders whilst she was sitting up. She was reminded of a time of sore muscles and a similar massage on New Earth. She moaned softly. Chakotay too, was remembering New Earth and the happy times he had spent with Kathryn. After some time had passed, he said softly, not wanting to destroy the mood, "please lay down on your front Kathryn." He turned away as he heard her take off her dressing gown and arrange herself on the bed. He took off his shirt, as he was feeling a little hot. "I'm ready." He turned round to see that Kathryn was only wearing her pyjama shorts. She was facing away from him. Chakotay took a few moments to stare at her, admiring her petite form. He then put rubbed some of the oil between his hands and gently spread it over her back, before beginning the most wonderful and sensual massage Kathryn had ever experienced.

"Please stay with me tonight. I want to wake up in your arms." Kathryn asked when he had finished his massage. She turned her neck to face him, and marvelled at his nearly hairless chest. "Sure let me tidy up." Chakotay did so, taking the chance to use the bathroom while Kathryn put her top back on. She had had too many experiences of Red Alert in the middle of the night to risk forgetting to put her top on. Chakotay came back, stripped down to his boxers, and climbed in beside her. Immediately Kathryn snuggled into his side, her head on his chest above his heart and fell fast asleep. Chakotay put his arm around her waist, his fingers touching her bare skin. He noticed how peaceful and right she looked in his arms, before he too fell asleep, both totally at peace.