Eternal
Spirit
Chapter 9
"Are you sure you're up to this Gabrielle?" Concern was apparent in Xena's eyes.
"Yes Xena, I really want to join the Sparring Competition. You don't have to worry about me." Slight irritation nestled in Gabrielle's tone.
"Gabrielle, it's my job to worry about you. You have been pushing yourself hard and..." she paused raising her brow at the rolling eyes of the bard. She continued her tone a low growl. "I just want to be sure your wounds have healed well enough for a competition. It is extremely demanding on your muscles and reflexes. Gabrielle..." her voice dropped to a dangerous tone. "Stop rolling your eyes at me."
"Xena, I'm sorry I just don't want to go through this again. I thought we came to an agreement on this already. Remember I promised I wouldn't overdo myself? Don't you trust my judgment?" she questioned firmly.
The warrior's expression softened. "Of course I trust you Gabrielle."
The bard smiled. "Hmm perhaps then you are afraid of losing to a little innocent bard like me?" She challenged playfully with a grin.
With a shake of her head, the warrior began to unmercifully tickle the squirming bard. "Xena! Stop! Xena please..." she choked out a few more protests between giggles before the warrior stopped tickling her.
"All right my little innocent bard," her words' mimicking the bard's lightheartedly. "I won't have any objections to you entering the sparring competition under two conditions."
The bard folded her arms across her chest. "And which two conditions would those be?"
"Condition number one: If you re-injure anything you stop."
Gabrielle rolled her eyes at her overprotective warrior. "And condition number two?"
"I mean it Gabrielle if you're hurt you stop or I..."
The bard cut her off before she could finish. "Okay Xena I got it. If I'm hurting, I'll stop."
With a grunt she continued. "And condition number two is..." a charming smile forming on her lips "you remember that this big not so innocent warrior is never afraid of a challenge."
The bard chuckled and wrapped her arms around her warrior in an embrace. "Thank you," she whispered with a quiet giggle.
"No surprise for being such a good sport?" She playfully prodded at her lover.
With a smirk she brought her lips close to Xena's but not touching. The warrior leaned forward inviting the kiss but the bard pulled away shaking her head. "No no, my not so innocent warrior, no moving for you. I want you to stay perfectly still." An enchanting smile danced proudly on her face. She brought her lips close to the warrior's face and locked her eyes with the ocean colored spheres of her lover. She could feel her warm breath trickling down her lips. She leaned forward brushing her lips softly on the warriors' taking in her sweet scent, teasing her.
"You are going to drive me insane my bard", Xena thought to herself.
Gabrielle closed her eyes and kissed her partner passionately rolling her tongue around her lover's mischievously. She traced the tips of her fingers down the warrior's bare shoulder to her hip, letting her tender touch linger for a moment, and then continued along her bare stomach. She felt Xena respond, deepening the kiss. The bard's hands made their way back to the warrior's shoulders. Her fingertips cascaded down her back and then encircled the warrior's waist pulling against her. It feels so nice to be this close again Xe. No fear, just your touch, like it has always been. The bard's thoughts brought a contented smile to her face as she broke from the kiss and held the gaze of her lover. "What are you grinning at Xena?"
The warrior cupped the bard's face in her hands. "I was just thinking that I should be a good sport more often." She winked releasing a soft chuckle.
The bard smiled, taking her partner's hand in her own. "C'mon we have a competition to join." They headed towards the crowd by the sparring ring.
"About time you two got here!" Ephiny scolded.
"Sorry Eph we were a little distracted." Gabrielle apologized with the straightest face she could muster.
"Hmmm I'll bet.."Ephiny began to laugh. Xena shot an eyebrow up warning her friend but that just fueled the laughter spurt further. "Okay I'll stop I'm sorry. I can't help it sometimes. For a big tough warrior you can be so mushy." Her laughter dispersed slightly followed by the soft cackle of the bard.
Xena cleared her throat. "So how is everyone doing so far in the competition?" She inquired as she watched the two Amazons sparring.
"Well, six have been eliminated, including yours truly." Two stunned heads turned to the Regent. "Yeah, well what can I say. It happens to the best of us." She smiled. "Better watch out for that Destiny. She fights exceptionally well with that staff. She has some moves I haven't seen before. She has really been practicing these past few summers." They all turned to the sparring ring in time to witness Destiny's victory. Ephiny turned to her two friends. "Looks like that leaves you two and Destiny."
Xena smiled. "I relish a good fight."
"Well that's great because you my friend are next as soon as Destiny rests briefly."
Xena turned to Gabrielle and planted a subtle kiss on her lips. "Wish me luck!" She whispered as she hopped into the sparring ring to warm up while awaiting her opponent. Ephiny and Gabrielle made their way to the front settling into a comfortable stance. The bard felt nervous for her warrior. "What am I worried about? This is Xena, Gabrielle!" She berated herself.
Destiny was a few inches shorter than Xena. She had short golden brown hair that fell short of her shoulders and brown eyes. Her arms and legs displayed perfectly toned muscles. The match was well under way. The two skilled warriors met each other strike for strike, block for block. Ephiny wasn't kidding. This kid has some moves! Destiny, however, not possessing the amount of endurance Xena did, was growing very fatigued. Xena spun feigning left and then suddenly turned right swinging the staff and connecting with an already bruised set of ribs. The pain caught Destiny off guard just long enough to leave her face unshielded. Xena, noting this, used her forearm to jab Destiny on the side of her face and used the forward pressure of her weight to set her off balance knocking her down on her backside. "Do yourself a favor kid stay down this time," Xena murmured between breaths. Determination shined in Destiny's eyes. She swung her leg in a sliding motion at the warrior's ankles in an attempt to distract her. Xena, catching a glimpse of her swooping leg, was caught off guard and took a solid hit with the end of the staff in her right shoulder and then another on her left side.
Gabrielle flinched at the loud cracking sound the staff made connecting with Xena's ribs. Ephiny placed her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder preventing her from getting up. "Xena can end this if she needs to."
Gabrielle turned her heated gaze to her Regent. "She is out there fighting with broken ribs Ephiny!" She huffed quietly.
"I know and she is a warrior. You of all people know she can take care of herself. If it is too much she will stop."
Gabrielle sighed in defeat and turned her gaze to the spar once again.
Destiny flipped backwards landing back on her feet in a fighting stance. "I don't give up that easily Xena!" She muttered and swung the staff towards Xena's face.
"We'll see about that kid" Xena caught the staff in mid-strike and with a fierce kick to Destiny's stomach she sent the Amazon to the ground once more. She pinned the injured Amazon with her weight, crossing the two staves with each other in the shape of an X. Using just enough pressure on her neck to cause slight pain, she spoke to the Amazon. "C'mon kid just say it. It's over." She applied a little more pressure. "Say it!" Xena demanded.
"Mercy..." Destiny managed to utter through clenched teeth.
Xena released her and extended her arm out to the Amazon. Ephiny turned to the relieved Queen beside her. "See..."
"Don't even say it Ephny!" The Queen warned. Ephiny laughed to herself, shaking her head.
"You are a very talented warrior Destiny. Where did you learn some of those moves?" Xena asked as she helped her to her feet careful not to put too much weight on her throbbing ribs.
"I just made them up. I've been practicing every day. Hey I'm sorry about your ribs. You really need to let a healer look at them Xena." She turned as Gabrielle walked toward Xena.
"Xena, are you alright?" She began to prod her lover's side gently. The Queen turned to Destiny and smiled. "That was a great fight Destiny. You have really improved with that staff. Solari will be proud of you once she returns."
Destiny blushed. "Thank you, my Queen. I hope Xena is alright. I didn't realize I swung that hard." She turned to Xena. "I am very sorry, Xena."
The warrior smiled at the young Amazon. "A spar is a spar. There is no room for apologies on the battlefield, remember that. You did great. Be proud of yourself." She smiled warmly. "I'm fine. My ribs will heal in no time. It's just a bruise," she reassured the young Amazon.
"Okay, I will see you at dinner then? We are having a nice feast." Destiny asked anxiously.
"Of course. We all know what happens if we don't feed that monster in your Queen's stomach." She pointed at Gabrielle's protesting stomach good-naturedly. The Amazon laughed and wandered off towards the approaching Regent.
"First, we are going to see the healer." The bard stated matter-of-factly to her warrior.
"But what about our spar and the competition?" She whined childishly.
Gabrielle looked sternly at her. "Xena, I am not going to let you compete injured. I dropped out of the competition." Xena stared at her. "That's right you are the champion." Her eyes twinkled with delight.
"No, I am your champion." Xena corrected sweetly.
"Besides, I don't need an Amazon competition to whoop your butt on the sparring grounds my warrior." She laughed and walked the warrior towards the healer's hut.
