***Disclaimer*** I don't own the characters from Xena Warrior Princess (by the Gods I wish I did).
A/N: Thanks for the feedback Liz and Jinxie, it means a lot. Well on with the story. I promised an amazon party, so here we go!
The drums were a constant thundering beat, with the yelling and laughter of amazons heard in the distance. The sun was still high, a few hours left to go of sunlight as Argo carried her master and soul mate towards the chanting village. The smell of cooking meat with herbs and spices wafted through the air, bring memories of days gone by to the bards senses.
Gabrielle squeezed her lover around the waist as Argo jostled them in the saddle. The blonde inhaled, she felt warmth in her heart, a feeling of belonging, that feeling never leaving her after all these years. "Gods Xena it's been too long and yet it only seems like yesterday for me."
Xena patted the bard's hand that rested on her belly and continued to caress her fingers. "Sweetheart, these are your people, your tribe, you are their Queen, it is your home, where you belong."
The bard scoffed, squeezing Xena's waist. "No! I mean, I agree I am their Queen, but Xena you are my home, where I belong." She slapped the warrior across the head in a playful manner. "Don't forget that soul mate, remember whether you like it or not, I'm the better half of you." Gabrielle's light banter continued as her tongue found its way into the warrior's ear, enticing a yelp from the fearless woman.
"Xena honey, is Gabs picking on you?"
"No babe, I can handle her, if not I have no doubt you'll sort her out for me." The warrior looked behind herself gazing at Gabrielle then giving her wife who was riding on her own horse a knowing seductive look.
Callisto smiled at the two of them. "So tell me again, what do I say to these women?" Her voice a little worried.
"Gods, we've been over this Callisto. Firstly we tell them the truth, well almost the truth. They remember me as their Queen. Xena and I went to Japa, I thought Xena died and then I wandered around in the land of Chin and India for years. I heard she was alive so I came home. See easy!"
"No, not so easy! Are you telling me they won't remember me at all being their Queen. I mean guys, I sat on that throne only two moons ago. Xena we had a second ceremony here to make our marriage official. Are you saying none of that happened!"
"Yes it did happen, to us it happened. To the amazons, no it didn't. Anything to do with you being the Queen and anything remotely associated with that, to them never happened. It couldn't have happened. They should now remember Gabrielle as being their Queen, not you.
Xena pulled on Argo's reigns halting the mare. "Come here honey."
"Xena, my head is spinning with all different images. I just don't know what to believe! No that's not right, I know the truth, I just don't know what the amazons now believe." The blonde looked at the other two women, "Does that make sense?"
"No" They said in unison, a smile playing on the bard's and her lovers face.
"Fuck"
Xena's face went ashen white all of a sudden, as she gazed at her wife. "God's I can't believe I forgot to ask you this before we left this morning. Okay look, Callisto honey, did you ever slaughter any amazon tribes during the bad old days?" The warrior held her breath waiting for an answer.
"Xena, I'm offended, I would never ever raid or slaughter their village." Quietly she added. "They had nothing worth taking, so I left them alone."
Xena exhaled, relief showing in her eyes. "Fine, then there's no problem. They never knew you in the bad old days, so they know you only as my wife and have known you for four years. We met after I believed Gabrielle to be dead. We fell in love…and the rest is history. Gabrielle returns, she is my true soul mate, which the amazons know this, so here she is. We bring their Queen back to them and the two of us in the future will take on an extra wife!"
"How's that sound. Too simple I say."
"Xe you want me to marry Callisto, as well as you?"
"Yes"
Xena slapped Gabrielle on the thigh. "I'm not going to be the only one to have a headache by having the worries of two wives." Xena said this with a smirk. "Now can we pleeeease go, I want to go and play with Eponin."
The bon fire was a huge inferno. The heat being generated was intense not only from the scantily clad women dancing around it but from the actual fire itself. Their bodies swaying in time to the drum beat, covered with a sheen of perspiration, their breasts almost being flung from their resting place inside their tops. The scent in the air was all female, as Xena's nostrils flared and she licked her lips in appreciation. Her gaze was intense on the dancers before her, she silently wished that one dancer's breast would find its way to freedom by escaping its confines and show itself, in all its beautiful glory. The sight of gorgeous, strong, muscled young amazons frantically dancing to the sound of the drums, eventually became too much for the drooling warrior, she decided they needed some encouragement.
"Show us ya tits!"
"Gods" Gabrielle could sense the sexual arousal from her soul mate and decided to put a damper on the situation.
"So how's your wife Xe?"
The dark haired warrior pointed then grunted to her left. Her eye's never leaving the dancing women. It was a fact that when the warrior drank to excess, she always became sexually aroused. Fortunately she had never succeeded in satisfying her needs, she always passed out before it happened.
"Hey Gabrielle, wanna dance."
"Honey, you can barely stand let alone dance. Why don't you go find Pony and play some more."
The warrior grunted trying to get to her feet. Swaying she placed one foot in front of the other and began to walk away from the Queen. "Pony, Oi come here, ya lilly livid old has been, I wanna play." She yelled.
"Shit."
Gabrielle signaled for one of the amazons. "Yes my Queen."
"See that warrior, the one that's totally intoxicated."
"Yes my Queen."
"Stay with her, if she reaches for anymore wine, give her water instead. No more wine or ale. Got that?"
"Yes my Queen."
"Jealous are we?" Callisto purred as she strode up to Gabrielle's side placing her arm around her pulling her in for a passionate kiss. They broke the kiss with Gabrielle having a look of shock on her face while breathing heavy.
"Oh come on Gabs, lighten up. You're soon to be my wife, thought we could get some practice in before the big day."
The curly haired amazon, watched in amazement as Callisto ended the kiss. She had no idea how three women could share their love for one another without being as jealous as hell. Never in a million years could she do that. Picking up her mug of wine she leant against a tree on the outskirts of the festivities. She had a view of all that was happening, from the dancing to the cuddling of couples, to the staff fights taking place behind the dancers. She watched her Queen and sighed, happy and relieved in the knowledge of her being alive and well.
The Regent watched as Callisto walked away from Gabrielle. She pushed herself from the tree, grabbing her mug of wine and made her way over to the Queen.
Ephiny spent a few hours just talking to Gabrielle while the festivities carried on around them. Xena was with Pony most of the time while her wife was out the back sparing with the younger members of the tribe. Everyone around them was laughing and having a good time, oblivious to the conversations their Queen was having with her Regent.
Gabrielle had opened up completely to Ephiny, she didn't and couldn't lie to her Regent, her best friend, so she told her everything, the truth of what had happened and about Ares little game. It was such a sad affair, while listening Ephiny began to shed silent tears herself as she held her friend while she cried over the torment of losing Xena.
She sat there gently rocking her Queen in her arms until the crying subsided, everyone around still unaware of the Queens distress - almost everyone. Both women felt themselves being pulled to their feet as the dark haired warrior smiled at Ephiny before embracing her lover.
Xena could sense Gabrielle's distress and was drawn to her to give comfort. As soon as she tightened her grip on the blonde her body shuddered as both women began to sob.
Ephiny remain by their side as they let all their emotions boil over once again. She figure the alcohol wouldn't have help, however couldn't hurt either. Both needed a good old fashion cry, an emotional release before healing could begin. She patted and kissed both women on the cheek before whispering in Xena's ear. "Look after her Xe, and love her like no other. She is your true soul mate."
Sparkling blue eye's met the Regents with a look of pain. She nodded her understanding before burying her face in Gabrielle's hair and continued to sob.
From afar Callisto watched the exchange of the two women, tears threatening to fall. Ephiny walked over to the blonde. She could see the turmoil and pain on her beautiful face. Callisto took a swig on her wine and foldered her arms while leaning against a tree. "I knew this would happen. From the very moment I realized who Gabrielle was, I knew I didn't belong." She whispered her voice trembling with pain. "I love Xena, but I don't belong, do I?"
Her tear filled eye's latched onto the Regent's searching for answers on what to do. Ephiny took hold of Callisto's hand, gently rubbing the back with her thumb. "Callisto, I know the truth, Gabrielle just told me everything. I can't say whether you belong or not, that's for the three of you to decide. Tell me, when did you find out the truth?"
"Last night after Gabrielle and I had um….sex, she, she ah….. was the key to my memory, we sort of had to, Xena wanted us to, so I could ah you know remember."
The Regent nodded. "So I was told."
"I feel like an outsider, it's not right, I will never have the love of Xena like I had during the past four years will I?"
"No, not exclusively, she loves her soul mate, as it should be, I'm sorry." Ephiny pulled the blonde warrior in for a hug, running her hands down her back feeling the tension slowly being released. "It's such a rare event for someone to actually meet their soul mate. I know of no other that this has happened to. What Xena and Gabrielle have will never be broken. If they had never met, then yes both could have lived a fulfilled life without each other, however as they have met, their bond is so strong they shall always be together. If you are to stay with Xena, you must accept that Gabrielle is her other half. You cannot love one without loving the other. If you want this to work, you will have to open up your heart to Gabrielle and love her as much as you love Xena, then and only then will this truly work for you."
The Regent cupped the warrior's cheeks, her thumb wiping away shed tears. "Callisto, do you want to stay with Xena, or are you willing to let her go? Whatever you choose, will not be easy, either way it will be hard. Just ask yourself, what would it take to stay with the woman you love."
Callisto smiled. "To stay with the woman I love, I must love another. That is going to be so hard, so very hard. How can I possibly tell my heart to love another woman? I don't even really know who Gabrielle is!"
"Exactly, so what are you going to do about it!"
The heavy tension in the air had lightened and Callisto was finally smiling. "Ask her on a date?"
"Yes. You and Gabrielle need some time alone to get to know one another. My suggestion would be to do it without Xena around. If you're serious about this you need to take off with Gabrielle, spend some time and get to know each other. Hopefully the two of you will fall in love, if not, well at least you tried."
"Callisto, if things don't work out, you know you have a home here. We would love to have you as a member of our tribe, so keep that in mind okay. You could start a new life here, find a new mate and be happy again. It can happen if you want it to happen." The Regent kissed her gently on the lips before pulling away. She took her by the hand and led her towards the dancing. Come on we have a party to enjoy and a birthday present for you to open."
"Birthday present?"
"The reason for the party silly, Happy Birthday Callisto."
Mount Olympus shook with the voice of Ares screaming his disapproval at the pool of water while watching the events unfold in the amazon village.
Lighten up bro, I think its cute. I'm gettin some real lovin vibes from these babes and I can't wait for a threesome ooh!"
"No! This was not meant to happen like this."
"What, you wanted the warrior babe to have a brawl with her hot wife and try kill each other?"
"Of course! Didn't you?….I will not let this happen!" Ares raised his hand and waved it over the pool of water. He had a devilish smirk on his face. "You wanna play, fine by me. Game on ladies, game on!"
A/N: This was meant to be a happy chapter, didn't happen. Will try to lighten it up next time. Next chapter will be end of next week. (Need to write a little for my other story, Rizzoli and Isles – stupid me writing two at the same time – don't ever do that!)