Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Little Bard: Chapter 10

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Xena let out a soft grunt as she claimed one of the barstools in the inn's common room. Syrus immediately acknowledged her by putting down the cup he'd been polishing and crossing over to her.

"What can I get for you?" he offered.

"Got anything strong enough to make me forget the last week or so?"

Syrus chucked, reaching under the bar and pulling out a bottle of clear liquid. He poured the warrior a small glass, and slid it in front of her. Xena didn't even blink as she picked up the glass and quickly downed it in one gulp. She then banged the glass back down on the bar and raised a single eyebrow, indicating that she wanted another.

The inn-keeper obliged, filling the glass, and watching her down it as quickly as the first. "Little one giving you a hard time?"

"You have no idea," Xena answered with a frown.

"You'd be surprised," Syrus commented. "I remember drowning my sorrows a time or two after having to discipline of one my sons. It's the hardest thing a parent has to do."

"I wasn't aware you had children."

"Aye, three boys. All grown and gone now, though. Two oldest married and have settled with families of their own, my youngest is a captain in the Athenian Army," Syrus replied proudly.

"I'd drink a toast to them, but I think I've had enough," Xena grimaced, feeling effects of the alcohol suddenly making her head buzz.

"It's good stuff, yeah?" Syrus grinned.

"Yeah," Xena echoed, her eyes traveling down to the empty glass on the bar. She ran her finger around the rim for a moment before looking back up at the inn-keeper. "Syrus, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

Syrus gave a slight nod, waiting for her to continue.

"When your sons were growing up, did they ever seem to act younger than their age?"

The inn-keeper blinked, and then couldn't help suppress a chuckle. "That's what children do. They always want to be older or younger than they really are."

"Yes, but how do you deal with it? When they are little and keep getting into trouble because they think they are older? Or the opposite, when they are older, but keep getting tripped up because of the emotional immaturity holds them back from acting their age?"

Syrus frowned. "It's not easy. My advice, be supportive and consistent. You need to set clear rules, and have consequences when she breaks them."

It was then Xena's turn to frown. "That may work for other children, but Gabrielle isn't a normal child."

"Every child is different, but trust me, she need you to set boundaries for her, or else she's going to end up getting hurt."

Xena shook her head. She knew that Syrus was right; with normal children, this made sense, but with Gabrielle all the rules were different. Then again, she'd been trying to treat the bard like an adult, and so far that hadn't been very effective. Maybe Gabrielle was no different than any other child. After all, if she was thinking like one, and being impulsive like one, perhaps she was also in need of being disciplined like one. "Well, you've definitely given me something to think about, but I really should be getting back upstairs. Would you mind sending up a tray with dinner? I'm afraid if I leave Gabrielle too much longer, she'll find some sort of trouble."

"No doubt of that," Syrus responded with a slight chuckle.

Xena managed a half smile at the older man's amusement. "Oh, and no ale, just water, and some milk for my Gabrielle."

"Of course," Syrus responded.

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Gabrielle sighed dramatically as Xena snapped her fingers and pointed back at the corner. The little bard's eyes reluctantly returned to the wall. She strained her ears as Xena answered the door and had a muffled conversation with a male, who Gabrielle realized must be Syrus. After a moment she heard a soft clinking as Xena put a tray, which hopefully contained dinner, down on the table. Her stomach agreed, for it rumbled as the pleasant smells assaulted her nostrils.

With a sigh on her breath and a pout on her lips, her eyes studied the place where the two walls met. She was bored, but she had no choice but to wait out the duration of her sentence. After a while though, her mind started to wander. She shifted uneasily from one foot to another. Truth be told, she felt rather silly, and a little bit embarrassed to be in her current position. Earlier, when Xena had returned to the room, the warrior had again asked her how she'd cut her hand. After the display that Xena made with the moving of staff before she left, Gabrielle realized that the warrior was on to her. She knew that Gabrielle had moved it –used it – but didn't know the details. Unrelenting, she'd pressed the bard until Gabrielle had filled in the whole story, including how angry she'd been when she picked up her staff.

After the confession, Xena had really gotten upset. The bard physically winced at the memory of the recent lecture. It was rare when Xena yelled at her, and practically unheard of for the warrior to express how disappointed she was in the bard's actions. Every word that Xena said only caused Gabrielle to feel smaller and more ashamed of the way that she behaved. Xena's words were painful, but they were also true. She'd messed up big time, and there was no denying that it was all her fault. If she hadn't let her anger get the best of her, she wouldn't have picked up her staff and broken that pitcher. She wouldn't have cut her hand, and that wouldn't have led to the rest of the day's events.

Worse yet, as Xena poignantly pointed out, she not only lied to the warrior, by conveniently leaving out the details in her first recount, but also broken one of Xena's cardinal rules. She'd picked up a weapon, with the intention of using it, without being prepared to accept the consequences of that action. Gabrielle knew, the second she touched the staff, that in reality there was no way that she could yield it with any competence, but she'd done it anyways.

The lecture became a blur as Gabrielle's mind fixated on those two points. She hadn't considered either when the events happened, and like so many other things that transpired since she got her memories back, she realized that she'd been operating on impulse rather than logic.

Suddenly the lecture switched gears, and Gabrielle found herself refocused on Xena. The warrior started using phrases like 'things were going to change,' and words like 'responsible' and 'discipline.' The change made the bard rather uncomfortable, but before she had a chance to protest, Xena grabbed her by the arm and escorted her to an empty corner. Gabrielle objected, but Xena had made up her mind, telling her in no uncertain terms, to stay put. It was clear that the warrior was irritated and Gabrielle knew she had no choice but to obey. The sudden rough treatment, however, confused and upset Gabrielle. The night before the warrior had all but ignored her, but today was the total opposite. She wasn't sure why Xena had suddenly changed, and was treating her so dramatically different, even if she did deserve it.

Gabrielle was so focused on her thoughts that the sudden touch on her shoulder startled her. She instinctively looked up, seeing concern on Xena's face.

"You ok?" Xena asked. "I called and you didn't respond."

"Sorry, I was thinking."

"Good," Xena half joked. "Think you can behave long enough to eat dinner?"

Gabrielle scowled, but any protests were cut off by a loud growl coming from her stomach.

Xena smiled, and shook her head slightly. "C'mon then, we can finish talking while we eat."

Gabrielle quietly followed Xena over to the table, where the warrior had already set a bowl of stew out for her next to a large chunk of buttered bread. There was a glass of milk for her and a similar set up for the warrior. There was also a pillow sitting on the table, next to the tray that had been pushed over to the side.

Xena chuckled, seeing the perplexed look on Gabrielle's face. She took a seat and then grabbed the pillow, tossing it across the room, where it landed on the bed. "Syrus brought that up, as a courtesy for you. I believe he was under the impression that it might make your dinner a little more comfortable."

"Why would I need a pillow to be…?" Gabrielle started, her eyes suddenly getting wide as she realized the meaning of the symbol. "You mean he thinks that you… as if you would ever actually spank me."

Xena raised an eyebrow. "I would," she paused, chewing on a hunk of bread, "if I felt it was necessary."

Gabrielle frowned, and slid into the chair opposite of the warrior. She'd suddenly lost her appetite. It had been a long time since she needed to sit on a pillow at the dinner table. The next few minutes were long and a bit uncomfortable for both of them. Xena managed to eat, but Gabrielle just moved food around her bowl, not even attempting any of it.

"Are you upset with me?" Xena finally broke the silence. "Did I go too far?"

"I don't think you're supposed to ask me that. You're the adult, remember?"

Not at all liking the sarcasm dripping off the little bard, Xena narrowed her eyes. "It's not too late to put that pillow to good use."

Gabrielle shook her head slightly and returned her eyes to her bowl.

"You know Gabrielle, I'm really trying here. Last night you were upset because I didn't do anything, and then today you are upset because I did."

Gabrielle didn't respond for a long moment. Finally she pushed herself away from the table. "I'm not hungry anymore, I'm going to bed."

"Gabrielle…" Xena started as the bard turned away and headed for the bed. Not getting a response she tried a second time, "Gabrielle?" Ignored again, Xena pushed her own chair away and made her own trek across the room. She grabbed the little bard's arm and spun her around to face her. "Don't you walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

The little bard narrowed her eyes. "Or what, Xena? You gonna spank me? Last night you ignored me, turned away from me, but I'm not allowed to do the same? Tell me how that's fair."

The words stung like a slap in the face, making Xena frown as she loosened her grip on the bard's arm. "You're right. It's not fair. I shouldn't expect you to do something I can't do myself." The warrior then sat down on the bed. "C'mere," she invited, patting the space next to her gently. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I never meant to lose my temper with you."

Gabrielle sighed, sitting down next to her warrior. "I'm sorry too, Xena. And for the record, I'm much more upset with myself than I am with you."

"Where does that leave us then? Maybe I should have asked you this a while ago, but how do you want me to treat you, Gabrielle?"

"I want to you treat me like you always do."

Xena raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that how we got into this mess in the first place?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Silly isn't it? But I guess that's not exactly what I mean. I do want you to tell me about your plans, include me, and trust me participate, but there is a part of me that needs you to protect me. I know that I can defend myself, or at least I could… before, but when I'm with you, I feel safe. I like that feeling.

"It's more than just that, Xena. Sometimes like tonight, I needed someone who can also put me in my place. I hate to admit it, but when you get angry at me, when you yell at and lecture me, then I know that you care. It makes me feel loved."

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't care about you," Xena agreed as she gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind the bard's ear. "And you know, when I keep things from you, it's not because I don't trust you. There are just times when less information makes it safer for you. There are times when I still need to do things alone."

Gabrielle frowned. "I don't understand why you can't tell me. I hate just not knowing. What if you get hurt, or … or something happens? How can I find you, if I don't know where you went or what you are doing?"

Seeing the hurt and concern in the little bard's eyes, Xena relented. "I'll tell you what, let's make a deal. I'll promise to be more open with you if you can promise me two conditions."

"Ok…." Gabrielle slowly drew out.

"First, if I need you to stay somewhere, then you won't use the information I give you to follow me, or interfere," Xena paused waiting to get a nod from the little bard. "And second, if you do, then you have to be willing to accept the consequences of those actions."

"Consequences?" Gabrielle raised a questioning eyebrow. "Like spending time closely studying the place were two walls meet?"

Xena snorted, followed by a small chuckle. "Like that did you?"

"Not really," Gabrielle scowled.

"Good," Xena chastised. "And yes, that could entail studying the place were two walls meet, or even needing a pillow at the dinner table. It could even mean that I'll stop sharing the information with you."

Gabrielle's frown deepened. "Don't I get a say in it?"

"Gabrielle, I've learned a lot in these past few days, including that I'm not willing to take chances with your life. I won't negotiate this."

"This doesn't sound like a deal you'd make with another adult," Gabrielle griped.

"I'm not making this deal with another adult," Xena argued. "I'm making it with you. And just for the record, this has nothing to do with how tall you are. That's the good thing about corners, one-size fits all."

"Oh, well then what about you?" Gabrielle asked, with a sudden smirk. "What happens if you don't hold up your end? Can I make you stand in a corner too? I mean, if we are making an adult deal, then it's only fair there should be consequences for you too."

Xena raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure she liked the wicked gleam in the little bard's eyes, but she could hardly argue the point. "Uh, I supposed that would only be fair."

"Swear?" the little bard asked.

"Yeah, I swear."

The little bard then spit on her hand and offered it to the warrior in a binding shake. Xena smirked and returned the gesture. Then, as if suddenly realizing what she did, Gabrielle pulled back, shaking her hand in disgust. "Gods, Xena that has got to be the grossest thing we've ever done."

"You started it," Xena accused.

"But I'm mentally impaired right now!"

That earned a hearty laugh from Xena, to which Gabrielle was unable to resist in joining in. "That did sound pretty silly, didn't it? Come on warrior, I'm starved. Let eat. After we wash our hands!"

"If you say so, my bard," Xena agreed with a chuckle.

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