Also, I'd like to note that I do not own Xena: Warrior Princess, the series, or the characters and I will not be receiving any payment whatsoever for writing this story. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.
~X~X~
Days passed and Xena's tummy continued to swell. Since she spent a great deal of time in the tent and wore thick furs, no one knew of her pregnancy. No one but Gabrielle and Satrina. Meanwhile, Satrina and Xena had fashioned a special cushion for Gabrielle to wear beneath her undergarments. Gabrielle had began to "show." Every time Borias walked passed her, he had to look away. He wasn't ready to accept the fact that he was about to become a father again. Also, his and Xena's campanionship had become greatly strained. They no longer agreed on strategies of conquering territories. And they were no longer lovers. Borias seemed to be very moody and perhaps even somewhat resentful of Gabrielle coming between he and his lover. Borias and Xena were always at each other's throats, and with Xena's pregnancy progressing, it was exhausting for her to quarrel with him. Mostly, she just avoided the man who was her baby's father.
On the other hand, she and Gabrielle couldn't have been closer. Xena felt like another person when she was alone with Gabrielle. She felt lighter, more carefree, and actually happy. She sometimes wanted to drop everything, stop being a conqueror, and just go off somewhere with Gabrielle and raise the little baby they were about to have. But before she could actually work through those thoughts, someone from her recent past came back into the picture.
Xena was sitting outside the tent, sharpening her sword when a woman on horseback approached. The woman slid fluidly from the horse, walking over to Xena. "Xena!" the woman called out.
Xena looked up, hearing the familiar voice. "Alti," Xena spoke.
"Are you enjoying the little slave I gave you?" Alti asked Xena.
"She's great... and yes, I did enjoy her very much..." Xena said to Alti, seeing the other woman's sly grin. "Thank you... but - there is someone new. Her name is Gabrielle."
Just as Xena said those words, Gabrielle stepped out of the tent. "Alti, meet Gabrielle," Xena introduced. "Gabrielle, this is Alti, the shamaness who gave me Satrina. She has taught me a lot about herbs... and... and - other things."
Alti laughed wickedly, then settled her dark gaze onto the lovely Gabrielle. "So, what purpose does this little blond thing serve you?" Alti asked Xena of Gabrielle.
"Borias and I purchased Gabrielle from slave traders. She's mine now. In every way," Xena said as her blue eyes twinkled with affection as she looked at the woman who meant more to her than anyone ever had before.
"Ohhh, so you don't want Satrina any longer?" Alti asked, sounding quite unhappy with Xena's choices.
"No, Satrina is still needed here. We could hardly do without her," said Xena. "So, what brings you here, Alti? Why are you here in our camp?"
"I came because of the child," said Alti, her eyes then on Gabrielle's tummy.
Her gaze then left Gabrielle and settled on Xena. "I know things, Xena. I know your little slave isn't going to have a child," she said in a low voice so no one could overhear. "She isn't anymore pregnant than I am."
"But you, Xena... it shows in your eyes. You are having Borias's child, aren't you?" Alti said knowingly as she stepped closer. "It shows in your face. You glow."
"You will have a son," Alti predicted. "A strong boy. But I see dark things- clouds..."
"Don't, Alti. I don't want to hear your dark predictions for the coming baby," Xena halted her. "And just so you know, GABRIELLE IS HAVING THIS BABY, NOT ME. You must NEVER say the child is mine, because if you do, the child could be in danger."
"I'll keep it quiet, Xena. I've always looked out for you, right?" said Alti as she tried to reassure Xena. Alti then gave Gabrielle a secret evil glare. She absolutely HATED this other woman, her competition. She had given Satrina to Xena so Xena could come to recognize the other side of herself and explore her desires for women. Alti's plan had worked. Xena had definitely come into touch with that side of herself, but why did this little bitch Gabrielle have to come into the picture now? All Alti wanted to do was strangle the little blond wench. Alti had came to the camp to try to get Xena into bed herself, but was now furious to find Xena had a new bedmate. Bad enough Xena had always been with Borias! Alti vowed to get rid of Borias, Gabrielle, AND the baby Xena carried, but not necessarily in that order. Alti was out for blood.
"Yeah, Alti you have. Thank you," said Xena with a heavy sigh as she finished sharpening the sword's blade. "Stay in the camp as long as you like."
Gabrielle had kept quiet during the exchange between Xena and Alti. She knew it wasn't her place to comment upon the situation. Considering Alti was nearby, she knew their lives were in danger.
~X~X~
Ever since arriving at the camp, Alti had spent all of her time plotting how to get rid of Gabrielle. But first, she knew she had to dispose of Borias, and then the wretched little brat Xena was carrying in her womb. Alti decided a curse was in order. One evening she sat over the fire, brewing some herbs. She was about to chant a curse when Xena and Gabrielle walked into the tent.
"What's going on here?" Xena asked, inhaling the pungent scent of herbs as Alti was dropping them into the large boiling pot.
"I'm about to say a blessing for the coming baby," Alti lied. She glared at Gabrielle, then gave a fake smile to Xena.
Gabrielle knew what Alti was pure evil as she looked upon the other woman. "It must be so easy for you lie," she said to Alti. "It's pathetic." She knew Xena might not like her intrusion, but she didn't care; she knew what was about to happen.
"You're not a good person, and I know things that you don't. I have powers of my own," Gabrielle said. And it was true, she did have certain powers considering she had lived this life once before and she knew what the future was about to bring. If she didn't stop Alti immediately, harm might come to Xena's baby.
If looks could have killed, Gabrielle would have been lying there dead by the evil stare Alti cast upon the little blond slave. "Well, aren't you a blond little bitch?" Alti said hatefully. She then reached out for Gabrielle, wrapping her bony fingers around the young woman's neck.
Alti didn't care what the consequences would be. Gabrielle had to die - NOW! Alti was ready to strangle Gabrielle to death.
Xena's eyes widened as she heard and saw the exchange between Gabrielle and Alti. Immediately she grasped Alti none-too-gently, trying to pull her evil grip off of Gabrielle's neck. "Don't touch her!" Xena hissed. "She's mine!"
Alti wasn't about to let go. Xena had to pry her fingers off Gabrielle's throat. Already bruises were appearing on Gabrielle's delicate flesh. Xena looked extremely angry when she saw them. She wanted to tenderly kiss every one, but now was not the time.
Now that she had Alti off Gabrielle, Xena turned to look at her little slave. "What makes you think Alti is lying?" Xena asked.
"Why would you believe that little whore?" sneered Alti.
"Gabrielle, IS NOT a whore. Don't ever call her that," Xena said forcefully as she grabbed Alti's leather robe in her fist and shook the shamaness.
"Are one of you going to tell me what's going on? I want some answers, NOW!" Xena insisted.
Gabrielle finally spoke. "I always get a feeling when someone is evil, and trust me, she is evil. I know it doesn't make sense to you, but please trust me; she is up to no good."
Xena didn't know what to think. Alti had never done anything sinister, at least not to her knowledge. But her lover's intuition was telling her to trust and believe Gabrielle. She was in love with this beautiful young woman, and Gabrielle clearly sensed some sort of bad vibe from Alti.
Xena gave Alti a look that said, 'I don't know what's going on... but I really don't trust you right now.' She slowly began to let go of Ali's brown leather robe, setting her back down on her own feet.
"I honestly don't know what to think of this, but if you EVER touch... or threaten Gabrielle again, I will kill you. NEVER, EVER call her a whore or lay your hands on her, do you hear me?" Xena growled at Alti.
"Relax, Xena. I don't want her. Little blonds are not my type," Alti said as she brushed at the neck of her robe which had been twisted in Xena's fist.
"For some reason, Gabrielle thinks you are bad news, and while she shares my bed here in the camp, I am afraid I am gonna have to ask you to leave. Take your things and go," Xena demanded.
Alti was so pissed. "No way!" she screeched. "She's ONLY a slave! I've helped you so many times, Xena... I stood up for you against Borias... and I GAVE you Satrina. You won't do this to me. You can't make me leave. I won't have it!"
Alti looked at Gabrielle, hate flashing in her eyes. "This is all YOUR fault. You are destroying all my plans!" she said in a nasty sneer.
Gabrielle returned Alti's sinister glare. "Xena deserves better than your scheming ways; you're evil and it will be known," she said coldly. The sooner they got rid of Alti, the better it would be for all of them; she was sure of it.
Xena wasn't listening to Alti's bitching and growling. She called for her guards, telling them to escort Alti promptly from the camp. "And don't let her back in..." Xena said as she sneered at the evil Shamaness. Alti was livid.
"I will find a way to get back at you for this, Gabrielle... when you least expect it!" threatened Alti while she was being forcefully escorted away by Xena's guards.
After she was out of sight, Xena pulled Gabrielle into her arms. "Don't worry. I won't let her bother us again," Xena promised while she cuddled Gabrielle close and softly kissed the top of her head. "The baby's coming soon, and we have much more important things to concentrate on. We need to leave the camp as soon as possible. I don't want Borias to suspect anything."
"I've come up with an idea..." Xena began. "We'll tell Borias that we are taking Lila back to your parents. When we return, we will have our baby with us, in your arms." Xena looked down into Gabrielle's bright green eyes as she spoke those words. It was THEIR baby, hers and Gabrielle's, because in Xena's heart, it really was.
"I need to talk to Borias. I hope he doesn't fight me on this," Xena said with a heavy sigh. She and Borias hadn't gotten along now in months.
Gabrielle hugged Xena tightly. "Our baby will be alright, and we too will be fine," she swore.
"Do you know what you're going to say to Borias?" she asked gently as she looked at Xena.
"I will tell him that I promised you I would take your little sister back to your parents. If he doesn't like it, we will leave without his consent. I think the baby is coming in the next couple of weeks... and if we don't get out of here, he's going to know I am the mother and that you are not pregnant..." stated Xena. "I think we should go and talk to him now... so we can plan for the trip."
"Of course we will need to take Satrina. We'll need her help when the baby comes," spoke Xena with a heavy sigh. She was nervous about the birth, yet she had confidence in Satrina's skills. "Let's go speak with Borias."