Gabrielle was still be roughly handled by her own men. Well, they weren't actually her men now were they? They had been men from Amphipolis and had all volunteered to come after Xena, she had thought because they had wanted to help secure a better Greece. Perhaps it was not that way. Perhaps it was only because they had wanted to try and show that they were better than the female warrior like almost everyone else seemed Hades bent on.
As Gabrielle looked into the wild eyes of the slightly taller blond girl, she could understand why she was doing this and others like her would as well. To have your village raped of its resources must have been awful. And the bard was not stupid or naïve enough to think that was all that Xena and her army were doing to the villages. They had seen the ruins of some villages as they marched after her girlfriend. While some were by the tall dark warrior, others had already been destroyed by warlords that one day would be eradicated under the warrior princess' reign.
But if it was just the village, there was no reason for this kind of vengeance. Gabrielle was bound and determined to find out the real reason behind why the insane blond woman had joined up with her and was after her girlfriend. Deep down she knew that she would have to tread very lightly with Callisto. The fact that Cyrene was now cradling Lyceus' lifeless body in her arms and crying steadily was a little distracting. Her heart went out to the woman she considered mother and the boy she considered a brother.
"Callisto..." The men grabbed her by her now short hair causing her to pause in her speaking. Somehow she managed to turn and glare each one making a mental note of their faces. Her heart was darkening quickly and she could feel an urge that she had never felt. She shoved it way deep down until she could contemplate what was happening to her. Her attention went fully back to the woman that in a lot of ways was still just a girl like the bard. "What is it that Xena did to you and your village? You can tell me that before you kill me, can't you?"
"Oh I'm not going to kill you." Callisto swung her bow to her back and pulled out a sword. Gabrielle never even flinched at the words never showing her emotions. She knew that a person's eyes could give away everything if they were not careful. After telling enough stories and watching how the crowd reacted, she was getting good at reading people and therefore getting good at not allowing anything to show on her face. "I'm going to use you. Xena thinks she cares for you so you are more valuable to me alive…for the moment."
"You might want to kill me now." Callisto had been moving towards the bard having been given some leather rope from one of the men that had been supporting the bard. The taller blond stopped in her tracks. "If I get free from these ropes I can guarantee that I will kill you." That caused at what best could be considered a hysterical laugh to escape the madwoman. "And if I don't, Xena will rip your still beating heart out of your chest."
Callisto let out a shrill yell as she made her way over to the bard. The green eyes were full of defiance that much was clear. They were proud as well. Or was that something else? It was something else. There was no fear in the eyes. That's what it was. This girl that was a full year younger than the one taking over her men was defying her. How is it that she can be this sure of herself? "She'll have to catch me first. And there is no way she'll be able to catch us."
The men holding Gabrielle captive looked at one another. They were wondering if it was as it sounded. They had just put themselves on the line for the teenager because they had wanted to go after Xena for the reward on her head. Being from her home village, they had hoped that they could get close enough to the warrior. They had been willing to use the young girls for their purposes and then get rid of them in the end. But if Callisto planned on doing this by herself, where did that leave them.
"And who is us?" As if reading the minds of the two men, Gabrielle asked the question. She looked around the camp. About five of the men appeared to already be gathering supplies. The rest it seemed were just watching and waiting probably going to join with whatever woman came out on top. Of course Cyrene was still cradling her son's body. Her blue eyes met green and the bard mouthed 'I'm sorry'. It got a sad smile out of the innkeeper.
"Us as in you and me." Callisto finished closing the distance putting her sword away and then she quickly bound the bard's wrists and her ankles. Her ankles were loose enough that she could still walk. "The rest are going to continue on the slow journey behind us. That way when we get there in half the time, we can set up a few surprises that not even your girlfriend can handle. Does that sound like a plan?" Menacing eyes made sure to focus on each and every man.
When her eyes met blue, Callisto smiled and laughed. "I always thought that boy of yours was dull and a little simple." If she could see the look she was getting from behind her, the young woman might not just be so cocky. "I mean, he was swooning over his own sister's girlfriend. That's not the brightest thing in the world to do. And the way he peed all over himself just to do what the bard wanted was pathetic. Love is just a disgusting thing. It has no place in the lives of human beings."
"That's where you're wrong." When Callisto turned to look at the confident voice of her captured, her eyes grew wide. To her amazement both of the men that had been guarding Gabrielle were now on the ground with the bard standing on the back of their necks. Their mouths were gagged with the leather ropes that had been on the petite blond. In the small hand was a dagger that the madwoman had never seen before. "Love can give you amazing strength." The storyteller applied slight pressure to the men's necks. "Wouldn't you agree boys? After all, otherwise it's kinda pathetic to have been outdone by a little girl, huh?"
Both men managed a strangled sound but that was it. Green eyes never left Callisto's doe eyes and yet in a move that would have impressed Xena, the bard jumped up and kicked out both feet as two men attempted to come at her from behind. She had twisted slightly in midair so that she could make solid contact. The gagged men groaned when she once again landed on their backs. Carefully, Gabrielle stepped off the men. Her eyes taking in twice what most could.
Callisto glanced at the knife in the bard's hand. She knew that if she moved to get her bow and an arrow, she would be too slow against a properly thrown dagger. Especially the dagger that Gabrielle held in her hand. Even from afar it appeared perfectly balanced. Her father had been a master craftsman of various weapons along with being a simple farmer. The taller blond knew an impeccable dagger when she saw one. She would expect no less from the likes of the vicious Xena.
None of the other men in the camp were brave enough to go against the small but powerful blond girl. Though most had seen Gabrielle fight, none of them were prepared it seemed for the full arsenal that was at the disposal of the petite blond. No one had ever seen her use any weapon besides the staff. There had been a handful of times when a mace or even a sword had been used after she had lost her staff. But those times were far and few between.
"Men are in general pathetic." Callisto was backing up trying to figure the best way for her to get out of the camp. The sun was just starting to come up over the horizon. That was one advantage that she had at the moment. Soon the bright rays would not only shine directly into those intelligent green eyes, the brightness would be reflected off from the mostly still white snow. She just had to stall until the bard was distracted just enough. "Is that why you've chosen to be with Xena romantically?"
There was almost an audible growl that escaped from the bard. Her first reaction was to get upset. But deep down she knew that was the wrong thing to do. That was what Callisto had been hoping for. After all, if she was upset than that would mean she would lose focus. Once upon a time in their brief time together, Xena had said, 'act don't react' making sure the lesson took hold. Like the focus to know that her enemy was thinking she was about to escape because of the sun coming over the horizon. Actually, that was the plan anyways.
As much as Gabrielle would love to keep the blond from just roaming the countryside and going after Xena, she was soon to be an army of two. The men were about to be turned loose. That would leave just Cyrene and the bard to travel which meant that she could now get to her girlfriend in half the time. Supplies would be a little more scarce but the petite blond felt that she already knew enough to survive. "I never chose to fall in love. It was destiny. We are soulmates. Gender had nothing to do with it though I do admit that I prefer to look at Xena than any man I've come across."
Callisto knew it was only a matter of moments now before she could and would make her escape. Part of her wondered if Gabrielle was making this easy on her. It almost felt as if she was. But that made no sense as one would think that she would want to keep the slightly taller blond captive. "I've never had any kind of inkling either way." The madwoman took one cautious step backward seeing if she could gain even a slight edge in distance away from the tricky bard. "I think love is a cruel trick that Aphrodite has played on mortals to keep them wanting something they can never have."
"Oh but mortals can have anything they want." Gabrielle stood tall. She felt the sun coming over the horizon before she saw it. The men seemed to be sensing the same thing that Callisto was. The bard already had a plan. Somehow she seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else. Was it her or was it her connection to Xena that had taught her all that she knew? Was it a gift from Aphrodite to help her survive? "Just like I can do this."
Just as the sun were to come into her eyes, the bard dropped to the ground and rolled over to where Moonbeam was standing. Her staff was still tied to the horse's saddle. Quickly she took possession of her favorite weapon at the same time placing the dagger in her boot still wishing she had a proper sheath for it. By the time that she got to her feet, Callisto had already disappeared. It brought a smile upon her face knowing that one day either she or Xena would be ending the young girl's life.
Of course there was no rest for the bard as she could sense the men coming at her. Luckily the two were still pretty much out of the picture as the remaining eight came at her. Gabrielle allowed herself one more quick glance to make sure that Cyrene had indeed stayed put before she put her full concentration on the men that knew their lives where forfeit one way or another. Either the petite blond was going to take them out or a certain female warrior was.
The bard hung her head giving her the advantage of having the men think that she was praying to an unknown god or perhaps that she had given up. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As her young mind had learned to do, it was calculating. It was figuring out the best time to make her move. She was also figuring out angles and in doing so took two cautious steps forward and one to her right. The men hesitated, waiting to see if she moved any farther.
When they were certain that they were safe the men foolishly kept coming towards the girl with the staff in her hands. They froze when a yell came out of her mouth. It was supposed to be a war cry but it was really rather like nails on a chalkboard than anything. Still, it served its purpose by halting the men and by allowing the bard to put her plan of attack into motion. She got a running head start before she planted her staff in between the two men causing it to be held in place and not slide in the snow.
As the stunned men came back to life, they all came at her once again. Gabrielle used her momentum and swung around again and again kicking each of the men senseless. After three rotations, she lost enough of her speed that she had to land. So the bard made sure that she stepped on each and every one of their heads hoping that it would serve to make sure that they were knocked out. Somehow she landed with grace only sliding a little in the now slushy ground.
Gabrielle wanted to call out to her future mother-in-law but knew that grief was still too much for her. The task of tying up the men and then getting a funeral pyre ready fell to her. It would be a long day but she was determined to get it started so that they could get on their way. Daylight was wasting and the bard was tired of being separated from Xena. Though Aphrodite said she should wait, she was overly tired of doing so. It was time. It was like she could feel it in her bones.
The petite woman made quick work of getting the unconscious men in a circle and tying not only their hands and ankles together but she also tied them all together as well. After eating just a little of the now cooled stew that had been being prepared by Cyrene and trying to get the innkeeper to eat to no avail, the bard took until the noontime supper to get the pyre ready. Part of her had wanted to bring Xena's brother's body to her but traveling in the open where animals were, it was not wise.
Though not a singer, Gabrielle began to sing the old Greek song that she had heard at other funeral pyres. Cyrene stood at a distance and though she was only going to be just turning thirteen in two days, the young bard knew or at least could feel it that the innkeeper was blaming her for what had happened. And in a way, she was more than right. But Lyceus had followed his heart forgetting all that he had seen the petite blond do. After all, it was he that had watched as she had taken on Perdicus and with little to no training.
Still, Gabrielle had been the leader of the group. She had been the one that somehow had allowed Callisto to convince the men that she was not worthy or maybe it was a promise of gold for Xena's head. However it had come about, the bard felt like a failure. The people she was leading had either left or were now tied up left for whomever or whatever was to find. There was a madwoman running loose who was Hades bent on getting some kind of misguided revenge on Xena.
After the fire had burned to ashes, the sun was already descending. Part of Gabrielle wanted to just camp here one more night as she was still completely exhausted from the travel and the trials of the past couple days. Her time with Xena had recharged her body and gave her motivations for keeping going and yet the energy had been depleted already. But now there were two people out there, one that was part of her girlfriend's army, that were enemies of both the storyteller and the warlord.
"Cyrene." Gabrielle came and stood next to the older woman who was simply staring into the ashes. What it must be like to outlive your child, it was something that the bard hoped never to know. Of course being in a relationship with another woman, even a demigod, there was no chance of her having a child. That saddened her but only to a point. The world was a hard place to live and a child had it just as rough if not rougher than adults. "It's time to go. We need to make some distance. We need to get to your daughter."
"Gabrielle." Cyrene turned and looked into sad but strong green eyes. How you know just what to do and say and at such a young age...The innkeeper was not sure what words to say. She was not sure of anything anymore. One child was now dead. Another child was living the most deadly of lives. And though Toris was still back in Amphipolis, there were no guarantees that he was alive. If the home villagers could turn on them here in the open, what would they do back home. "I think I need to head back to Amphipolis."
The bard took a few tentative steps towards the woman that had and would be more of a mother to her than her own had ever been. "I'm sorry about…" Her words were hushed by the sudden strangle hold that she found herself in. Her first thoughts had been that Cyrene was mad at her for having been partially to blame for her son's death. There had been a part of her that thought maybe she was sorry she had left home. Hopefully it was turning out to be just the fact that she was sorry she ever came. "I hope you know how I felt about Lyceus. I would have given my own life for him or any of your children."
"Oh, sweet bard." Cyrene pushed some of the uneven blond locks away from her daughter-in-law's face. Without a word, the innkeeper went to her bag that was near the wagon. She pulled out a pair of her sewing shears. As she spoke, she gave the young girl a very cute short but stylish haircut. "I know you regret what happened. And I love you for it. It wasn't your fault. I realize that now. It was Lyceus but more so it was Callisto. I felt, I think, what she must be feeling and I don't like it. I don't want to harden my heart by seeking revenge. I think it best that I just go home and take care of the inn and the horses. And before you say anything, I'll be fine. I've traveled alone before. I have enough rations to get back and if I can't find a spring, there is always snow. You take care of yourself and my daughter. But do an old lady a favor, when it's time for you two to get married please come home."
Gabrielle could feel the tears cascading down her cheeks. They were heartfelt words. It was almost like her future mother-in-law had a touch of bard in her as well. Forgiveness had never been necessary and even so would have been easily given. "I promise to make an honest woman out of Xena and when I do it will be back in Amphipolis. We'll stay in touch the best that we can. And when it comes time, I hope that you will come live at the castle that we will be living in one day."
Cyrene laughed. It was a good feeling. While it would take her a long time to grieve for her son, she could not let the grief overcome her. She must find not only a reason to get out of bed but a reason to smile every day. It would be so difficult but having buried a husband and managing somehow to survive that, she would survive this as well. "Me? Living in a castle? I just can't see it daughter. But I'll definitely come for a visit. Now go. I know my daughter must be going nuts without you by her side." The innkeeper had started for the wagon that was waiting at the ready when she turned back. "Please keep in touch and take of my daughter. I love you, Gabrielle."
Not waiting for a response, Cyrene packed her few meager belongings into the back of the wagon and then climbed up in the seat and expertly took the reins in her hands. A quick snap of the leather and the horse drawn wagon was on its way. "I love you too, Mom!" Gabrielle hoped that she had heard. Though she knew the words, they had taken her by surprise. The bard smiled at the warmth of the words and quickly made her way to her horse and the one that she had taken away from Borias. The rest of the horses she freed so that they could hopefully find their way back home or find a good home elsewhere.
With a practiced hand, Gabrielle saddled Moonbeam and Snowball packing the white horse with as many supplies as she felt he could safely carry. One last tightening of the straps and she mounted her friendly but determined horse. "Well my love…I know you can't hear me but Xena I'm on my way to you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please be safe until we meet again." The young girl did some quick math and smiled. "Well, if I'm right it'll be just in time for my birthday. Now there's a birthday present I'd love to get to have every year. Your arms wrapped around me. I love you Xena."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
It had been two days since Xena had returned from her rendezvous with Gabrielle to find that part of her army had turned against her. Borias was still nowhere to be seen. The traitors had all perished in the river. Part of the warrior actually was sad at the loss of life. Part of the warrior was angry that she had to dole out such a punishment. The largest part was worried that when her soulmate found out exactly what she had done, it would mean the end of them.
And yet that was the one thing that gave Xena both strength and comfort. She had each day been reading a letter or two when she had the chance. The amount of love, compassion and understanding that one woman could have for another was beyond words for the warrior princess. The most amazing thing was that the words had come from someone so young. Not that the warlord was that much older being separated by only three years, but the wisdom her young potential lover possessed…
The thought actually turned on the warrior princess both sexually and emotionally. Xena had never been all that attracted to either men or woman though she had noticed even before she met Gabrielle that it tended towards the female form. That along with the fact that she preferred to be a warrior had always made her feel odd and not welcome in her own village. Her thoughts went to her brother back in Amphipolis. While she and Toris had never been close, he was still family and she hoped that he was safe there.
There was that sudden foul taste and smell that Xena got whenever she was going to get a visit from her father. The past two days had been difficult at best if only because of him. Ares was more than determined to get her to see things his way. While he was the God of War, this was the warrior princess' campaign and while she would take whatever advice she was given by anyone under advisement this was her army and she was going to do it her way.
Out of habit ever since finding her present from Gabrielle, every time that Ares was around, she touched the breast dagger. While hidden in her blue leather outfit, it was still close to her heart and that was what mattered. Was touching the dagger comfort because it was from her girlfriend? Or was it comforting touching a weapon period whenever her father was in the room? Whatever the reason, Xena was not about to stop something that both calmed and soothed her at the same time.
"Xena." Ares made his way to where his daughter was standing at the tent flap. She had been watching the movement of her army. They were busy tearing down the tents and were preparing to move out. It was already pushing noon and the warlord was grumpy that it was taking so long to get everything ready for the latest march still chasing after her girlfriend. She never even acknowledged the greeting instead stayed watching as a group of her men made their way to take her tent down. "You really need to listen to me. Corinth and Athens are so desperate to stop you they have enlisted a warlord as their new general. Surely you've heard of Draco."
Even the somewhat youthful Xena had heard of Draco. Though only four years older than she, he already had the reputation as a very cruel man and if his men had not turned on him causing him to run a test called the gauntlet, he would be where the warrior princess was now. Which was about to conquer all of Greece. While there was a lot more than just Athens and Corinth to worry about, those were the largest armies in the main provinces. Outside that, it would be almost like taking candy from a baby.
Now the reputation of the man aside, going up against someone as youthful and yet aggressive as Xena suddenly had her blood pumping. It was an intoxicating feeling. The only other thing that could even somewhat compare to it was how Gabrielle made her feel. And then, that feeling was light years away. Just the thought of the bard caused some of the battle lust that Ares had purposely installed in her to fade quite a bit actually. "I've heard of him. Hopefully he's heard of me."
Ares laughed at the arrogance of his daughter. Of course being his offspring, he would expect no less. But it was that same arrogance that could very well cost her everything, including the love that she so desperately clung to. While the Goddess of Love's brother, it was something he really could not understand. He had never loved any of his conquests whether they be mortal or otherwise. And while he felt pride and honor having his daughter, it was still not love that he felt for her.
Would feeling only pride and honor for his daughter be enough to keep her in control? Or was he fooling himself and control was something that he could never have on her. Already she had defied him on so many levels the greatest being insistent on having a certain bard by her side. Ares shook his head and decided to try a different tact with his young but brilliant warrior princess. "I've made sure that everyone in Greece has heard of you and where I've failed, I hate to admit your little blond bimbo has been telling the tales of a certain warrior princess."
Xena never turned around and in fact instead she stepped out into the cold winter air. The temperatures had dropped even more. A female servant, not slave, was at the ready with a heavy wool lined cloak to which the warrior princess gratefully wrapped around her. Her sword was at her side so that she had easier access to it with the cloak on. Her thick wool lined boots crunched in the fresh snow. They had lucked out and the storm had passed leaving only about four inches having fallen in the past two days.
The crunching of the snow alerted her though Xena was not in need of the sounds. She could feel as much as smell as her father made his way to stand behind her. He attempted to put a hand on her shoulder and of course she shrugged off the contact. "Was it my comment about your girlfriend?" When his daughter just stood there taking in the movement of her troops, Ares snapped his fingers and reappeared in front of the raven haired beauty. "It is not wise to shut me out. I know of a weapon that would help you personally in battle. I know of Draco's weaknesses."
The warrior princess looked into the eyes that she knew were a part of her and yet she was beginning to loathe the very sight of them. Grateful for the training and knowledge and now an idea of a new weapon, still he was beginning to truly piss her off. And it wasn't just about Gabrielle though that was the biggest factor. It was because he was, in her mind, treating her like a child. Like someone that had no clue as to what they were doing.
If only he knew that she already had Draco and the joined army under control without them even knowing about it. She had sent her third, now second, in command at the beginning of her campaign to strike not only a treaty with the Spartans but also an alliance. With their help, she had the large army sandwiched between her smaller one and the great one of the Spartans. Only ones that knew of her plans were Palaemon, Boadicea her second in command and of course Gabrielle.
"The personal weapon and better ones for my army interest me." Xena crossed her arms over her chest. "As far as Draco, you'd be surprised what I know about him." She took several steps toward the God of War. "You'd be surprised what I know about you. I'm grateful for all you've taught me, but frankly, you are beginning to bore me. If you had something new to tell me, like about these weapons, I'd listen. But I knew about the joined armies before you told me."
Ares eyes grew wide. He was a God. He was supposed to be all knowing. He was supposed to be two if not three steps ahead of mortals. But this one, his daughter, it was like she could read his mind. Or was it that she was just tapping the part of her that he had gifted her with. Still, she was still a mortal and should be bowing down before a superior being. "I see you've learned a lot from me. More than I thought I had taught you. So, you don't want to know about a new weapon?"
He's repeating himself. He must be desperate to keep me in control. If only he knew that he never had control over me. Only one person controls me…and it isn't me. I love you Gabrielle. I wish you were here right now. I can't deal with Dad much longer without you. Just at that moment, there was a shout from the guards of the main entrance to the camp. Something stirred inside Xena and she just knew. The warrior princess let out a whistle and a moment later Argo was galloping up.
Xena timed her stride just right and grabbed a hold of Argo's saddle horn and pulled herself up onto the saddle. Though the entrance wasn't far, if what she felt was true then she wanted to be there as quickly as she could be. Her blue eyes took in what was waiting for her and a huge genuine smile was upon her face in an instant. Her men were looking at her in wonderment. None of them had ever seen the look of pure happiness on her face before.
The warrior princess looked into green eyes and her heart literally skipped several beats. It was like she was looking into her own soul or at least a part of her own soul which made sense. After reading almost all the letters, it had given her an amazing insight into her girlfriend's soul. It had confirmed what she had been thinking since the day they met in Cortese's tent. Gabrielle was her soulmate. She was plain and simply the other half of her in every sense of the word.
"Hey." Xena dismounted glad when one of the guards took her horse's reins. There were those already holding Gabrielle's horses' reins. Their eyes never left one another. It was like there was no one else in the known world at this moment. Slowly and deliberately, the warrior princess made her way over to her soulmate. She put out both arms and the petite blond gracefully swung one leg over the saddle horn and then launched herself into those awaiting arms.
"Hey." Gabrielle wrapped her legs around the taller woman glad of not only the warmth that was provided but just the feeling of her girlfriend. The scent of leather and the scent of that was the warrior's alone invaded the brain of the bard and almost sent it on overload. It had only been a few days since they had held one another but it seemed like an eternity. It had been too long. "Never again." It was all that she said hoping that her Xena would understand.
"Not if I can help it." Xena looked at her guards. They were trying to look anywhere but at her and the bundle wrapped tightly in her arms. She chuckled softly. They were used to seeing her as nothing but a hardened warlord. One that had not a few days ago let how many people die in a horrendous way. This soft side of her must be shocking and hard to fathom. "You." A tall gangly man straightened coming to attention. "I know we were breaking camp, but tell everyone to set back up starting with my tent. We'll be staying the night. Take the horses to be tended and take whatever possessions to my tent."
Was it the weather or was it the fact that she had just implied that she and Gabrielle would be together for the night. Whatever the reason was, every single one of the guards faces turned an unnatural shade of purple. Once again Xena was chuckling. Without saying another word, she carried her girlfriend over to the awaiting Argo reluctantly getting the petite blond settled in the saddle before launching herself behind her. The first thing that she realized was that her soulmate was chilled to the bone.
With her natural ability, Xena turned Argo on a dime and quickly made her way back to her tent. Ares was of course standing just outside waiting for her. There was an obvious look of disgust on his face but the warrior princess really didn't care. All she cared about at the moment was the fact that her arms were wrapped around her soon to be lover and that they would hopefully never be separated at especially not for months at a time again.
Xena was happy for once that her soldiers had taken longer than she liked to do something as her tent was still fully intact. Carefully she slid to the ground and turned and helped Gabrielle to the ground as well. Without thought, she took a smaller hand in her own and led her to the entrance that was being blocked. A small growl escaped her but her father simply stood there. Rolling her blue eyes, she turned to her bard and said, "Gabrielle, this is Ares."
The warrior princess never bothered with introductions for her father. Frankly all she wanted was to be alone with her girlfriend. It had dawned on her what day it was and she had special plans for Gabrielle's thirteenth birthday. Of course they would be as much a gift for her as it would be she hoped her younger soon to be lover. It was the one fear that she had was that her petite blond would not be ready for the physical side of love but would go ahead simply to satisfy the warlord's lust for life. The raven haired beauty would wait until the end of time for her soulmate to be ready.
"Ares." Gabrielle actually held out her hand to which the God of War merely looked at with disgust and contempt. As she pulled her hand back, the smile that had been on her face the second that she had known she was in her girlfriend's camp never disappeared for a second. "Your sister has better manners and is a lot nicer than you." A growl that was so much like the one that Xena had let out came from the God of War. "But I guess when it comes to waging war manners don't mean a thing so it makes sense."
Xena was impressed. Her girlfriend had gone from insulting the God of War to complimenting him all in one breath. It was then that she realized just how much she needed Gabrielle by her side. It wasn't just the fact that she loved her and had been dying inside without her touch. She needed the wisdom and the way with words that the little bard had. Once again she was reminded just how formidable a team they could and would be in ruling the known world. "Ares isn't big on manners, no. But then neither am I so I hope you'll forgive a grumpy warlord from time to time when I just might slip up."
When Gabrielle reached up and stroked her cheek, Xena almost lost the ability to stand. It wasn't just the touch though that was nearly enough. It was the intensity with which her bard was looking in her eyes with. "Nothing to forgive, my love. You are my big strong warlord. That means that you have to kick butt and take names later. And that's what I'm here for. To make sure we know all the names of those that opposed us and then record them for history's sake." She leaned up and whispered in the slightly red ear. "But I'm also here to keep you warm at night."
That caused Xena to swallow rather noticeably and Ares almost seemed to turn green. It took a moment for the warrior princess to be able to find speech with the images that were just placed in her head. "Ares, please go for now. I do want to discuss this new personal weapon and the weapons for the army. But I have catching up to do with my girlfriend." As if to add emphasis to the statement, Gabrielle snuggled up even closer. The only way the two could get any closer was to merge into one.
"Oh this is so disgusting. I'm out of here." With that Ares snapped his fingers leaving behind a smell and a feeling that was meant to hamper the sensations that two young lovers were feeling. If anything it only caused them to be intensified because finally they were alone with one another. Quickly they made their way into the tent grateful when they noticed the roaring fire, some hot tea sitting near the fire and some fruits, cheese and bread.
"I'm glad that he is gone." Instead of leading Gabrielle to the food, Xena led her to her pile of pillows that was her bed and her sitting area. "Come here." The tall warrior was sitting up and had opened her arms. Her cloak had fallen behind her and as soon as her bard was in her arms, she wrapped both of them in the cloak and the furs that were her covers. "I don't think I have to tell you how much I've missed you. In fact I'd like to show you. Happy birthday."
"Xena…" Her words and thought were cut off for the longest time as she felt a tongue practically explode in her mouth. It was with such a possessiveness that Gabrielle had never felt Xena use with her before. It was both intoxicating and terrifying at the same time. Instantly her body was on fire and ached for more. More of what, the young bard was not certain. While having written of love and even fantasizing a little about what it would be like to make love the first time, she was still not sure what to do.
When Gabrielle found hands on her bare skin, it caused her entire body to jerk. The jolt that went from her heart to between her legs was almost more than she could handle. And as much as she wanted this, wanted to claim what was hers and let Xena claim her there was too much that had to be said. Reluctantly and with as much strength as she could muster, she put both hands on either cheek of the raven haired beauty. They stared into one another's eyes. "Xena, we need to talk."
That got a heavy sigh out of the warrior princess. She was hurt. But at the same time she had made a promise to herself that if for whatever reason Gabrielle was not ready like she was to finally make love for the first time, she would respect that. Just knowing that her bard wanted her and no one else was enough for her. The letters had made that much clear and it made her heart soar literally thinking about those words. "I'm sorry. I guess I should have asked if you were ready for this."
Xena tried to turn her head away but a strength that the warrior princess had not thought her bard possessed was keeping her looking into those amazing green eyes. What she saw in them caused her to swallow again as there was a burning desire that she had never seen, not even from the men in her army or Borias that had been after her from the very beginning. It was a gift just knowing how much she was loved and now desired not that it was surprising just…sigh.
Gabrielle swallowed hard knowing that this was not going to be easy to tell so she took a deep breath and just let it ramble out in one long winded sentence. "Borias tried to hurt me but I got free left him in a cave. Callisto tried to take me prisoner and Lyceus tried to intervene and got an arrow to the heart. My men turned on me so I had no choice but to let her go. She has a beef cause you destroyed her village or something and your mother went back to Amphipolis where Toris never left."
After the words had come out of her mouth, Gabrielle not only let go of her warrior's face but she also got up and made her way over to the fire. She had not felt cold until she had left the love and the warmth that was her girlfriend. Her heart was beating so fast that it was causing a humming in her ears. What she had just said could mean the end of her and her warrior princess she knew. The death of her younger brother had to be causing such pain.
Part of Gabrielle felt like a coward for having left Xena to contemplate all that she had just rambled off. But she wanted to give her the space to fully take in what had been said. It was only a few moments later when she felt the presence of her tall warrior right behind her. She almost lost her balance and fell into the fire when she felt the hands on either shoulder. The warlord took advantage of the weakness in her bard's knees and easily took her in her arms.
Picking up the bard was like picking up a stuffed toy from her youth. Xena was grateful when she felt arms wrap around her neck. It was a short trek back to the bed that they were going to share until they had a more permanent place to live, perhaps a castle someday. Once again Gabrielle was settled in the loving embrace of her warrior princess. "That was a lot to take in. I'll need to prepare for two more threats and I'll need time to grieve for my brother. I won't lie, that hurts more than I can say. But it wasn't your fault. He chose to come with you and so did mother. It could have been both of them or Toris as well."
"But…" Gabrielle's halfhearted protest was silenced by a kiss. This time it was tender. This time it was full of love. This time it was full of promise. This time when the warrior's hand met with her bare mid drift, the bard simply reveled in the feeling. The discussion she knew deep down was not over. It couldn't be with all that had happened. But this was a promise to the future and this was an affirmation of the love that these two women shared.
Just as Xena was about to undo Gabrielle's top and expose something she had dreamed about for weeks on end, there was a sound at the entrance. A low growl escaped from the warrior at the interruption. All she wanted was to make love to her bard especially since it was her little one's birthday. "Enter!" Quickly she covered the petite blond. It was not that she was ashamed of her girlfriend's body. On the contrary, but she would rather not have everyone else admiring at least not in the privacy of her tent.
Palaemon saluted before he came to stand before the couple. His eyes met green ones and another small nod of the head showing just how much he respected her and got a nod back in return. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the scouts from the west have just returned. They say that the combined army is only about a half a day away." He looked from the bard to his general before speaking again. "I figured you'd want to…"
Xena sighed heavily knowing what she had to do. "Go. Assemble the troops. We'll be out in a few moments." She watched as her first in command once again saluted and quickly left them alone. "I'm sorry. This is not the way that I wanted to celebrate your birthday." The warlord took in the look on the bard's face and could not help but smile. "Of course just having you by my side is something I've dreamed about for months now." The general leaned in and gave in to one more passionate kiss. "That is a promise for a day when we can and will be joined as one."
The warrior stood up and turned offering a hand up to her smaller girlfriend. It was time. The first major battle of Xena's campaign was now at hand. As she walked over to where she stored her weapons, she felt a shadow. Quickly she armed herself with the many daggers she had collected. She took out a sheath that had been made for the dagger she had given to Gabrielle. "Sorry this was not ready last time." Without asking, she put it around the waist of her soon to be lover. "Now, let's go introduce you to the troops. And let's show them what a real formidable team looks like." The raven haired beauty pulled her sword out as the petite blond took possession of a staff. Hand in hand they walked out the tent and into the first day of their destiny together. Finally together.
