Omnia Vincit Amor
Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena and Gabrielle
Rating: M (eventually)
Disclaimer: I do not own Xena and Gabrielle, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: It's two years after Xena's death in Japa and Gabrielle is finally returning to Greece for the first time since spreading Xena's ashes at her childhood home. Meanwhile a thriving Macedonian town is being terrorised by a warlord for the secret its people protect. When one woman dreams of a dead warrior princess, destined to live again and save them, it leads her on a quest to find the living soul mate so that destiny can be fulfilled.
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Chapter 13 – The Reunion
Then suddenly, even with her eyes closed, Gabrielle could sense and see the bright light that flashed in the hut. She opened her eyes immediately and the first thing she saw was the fact that there were now three hands on the Chakram and not just hers and Antonia's.
She looked up slowly, following the hand and then the arm until she could see its owner kneeling in front of her at the far point of the triangle... completely naked but completely there with them.
"Xena" the blonde gasped.
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The ritual was meant to bring Xena back. I was the whole reason Gabrielle had ridden for two days solid with a stranger to a town of strangers. It was the reason she had allowed herself to be bathed and cleansed by said strangers. Yet now Xena was there in the flesh right in front of her the blonde found herself frozen to the spot. Part of her had doubted it was possible. It had been a hope and a prayer.
It wasn't until Xena deep blue eyes met her own that Gabrielle took a deep breath and finally reacted to the situation. She didn't dare move straight away though as the elder's earlier words still rang in her ears.
"Can I remove my hand now" she begged Selene; "Is the ritual finished."
"Yes you..." the robed woman began to reply.
Gabrielle didn't need her to finish the sentence though. As soon as the work 'yes' was spoken she released the chakram and scrabbled across the cloth on her hands and knees and into Xena's awaiting arms. Everything else in the room fell away as she straddled the brunette's lap and grasped her face between with both hands. As soon as their lips met she felt the fire that had once been a regular and familiar occurrence between them but this time it was heightened by a desperation. Gabrielle had never expected to be able to kiss her warrior again yet here she was, with strong arms wrapped around her back, drowning in the sensation.
The blonde had only intended to kiss her briefly but Xena had opened her mouth to her straight away and the kiss became deep immediately. Gabrielle was totally lost in the sensation as they crashed together again and again. She only pulled back when she heard Antonia grumbling behind her.
"You couldn't have brought her back clothed" the red head complained, "why must your rituals always contain so much nakedness."
Gabrielle pulled out of the kiss and threw an apologetic look over her shoulder at her travelling companion. Antonia was trying to look anywhere but the two embracing women and Gabrielle doubted she even saw the look. When she turned her attention back to Xena she felt her emotions suddenly shift and tears began to uncontrollably fall. The two years of longing and grief turned to joy and utter relief. They were tears of joy, but they wracked at her body as hard as any of those she had ever cried before.
Xena wrapped her arms around her tighter and held her against her, pressing kisses against her neck and shoulder exposed by the robe. All Gabrielle could do was hold on and let the tears fall as she buried her face in Xena's neck.
"I'm here" the brunette assured her over and over again.
Finally, the tears subsided and Gabrielle sat up straighter again, still in Xena's lap. Antonia had shifted at some point during her tears and handed Xena a robe similar to the one Gabrielle was wearing. The red head placed a comforting hand on the bard's shoulder before moving away again to give them space.
"Thank you" Xena said meaningfully to the other warrior.
The brunette pulled the robe on and fastened it without displacing Gabrielle. Her arms instantly returned to the bard and she stroked Gabrielle's lower back through the robe. Every stroke offered comfort and was filled with the deep affection they had shared from the moment they met.
"Both of you, thank you" Xena addressed Antonia and Selene. "I spent so long trying to reach out to someone to get a message across, but it never worked. You were the first person who was receptive. Thank you."
Antonia shifted awkwardly under the attention, but she was smiling. Gabrielle could tell she was really happy for them even if she was embarrassed to have witnessed their reunion.
"I'm glad your haunting of me could be of assistance" the red head quipped.
The joke drew a deep chuckle from Xena. Gabrielle knew the two of them would get along famously. They really where quite similar.
She knew she couldn't stay sat in Xena's lap forever, so she rose to her feet and helped pull the brunette to hers. Xena seemed a little shaky on her legs for a moment but quickly regained her balance. The warrior did not release her hand though, so they remained clasped together as they stood there.
"I believe this is yours" Antonia stated as she picked up the chakram and passed it to Xena.
The brunette grasped it with her free hand and lifted it in front of her. There was a faint smile on her face as she inspected the weapon. Gabrielle had looked after it meticulously just as Xena used to and she knew it wouldn't escape the warrior's notice.
"Meda has organised your property and food and drink to be taken to a hut for you. You will both need to rest" Selene informed them.
Gabrielle had barely looked at the woman since Xena had returned but now she turned her focus to Selene she noticed how exhausted the elder looked. She had bags under her eyes, was pale and looked unsteady on her feet. The ritual had taken a lot out of her and she clearly needed rest too.
"I'll show you the way" Antonia piped up, having obviously made the same observation.
The red head gestured with her hand for them to follow her and it was only then that Gabrielle realised that there should be a gash on that hand, but it was gone. She glanced down at her right hand to see that her palm too was healed apart from a very faint scar line. Selene had performed some serious magic during the ritual even though she had appeared to do little other than say incantations.
Xena noticed her puzzled and raised an quizzical eyebrow as they followed Antonia out of the hut and back into the daylight. Many of the other warriors were waiting around outside and parted the way to let them through when they appeared. They all looked at them in silent wonderment and parted the way, so they could pass. As they passed each warrior nodded their head in a show of respect to the three women. Antonia looked a little uncomfortable with the attention and marched on a bit quicker ahead of them.
They walked around the edge of the town for a minute before Antonia stopped by a large tree with a rope ladder hanging down and pointed upwards.
"Here it is" the red head said.
Gabrielle looked up to see a large hut built in to the tree. It was part of a system of huts joined together by rope and wood bridges. It was far enough away from the other huts to be quite private which the bard was glad of.
"Enjoy...I don't expect to see either of you again until morning" Antonia instructed them.
Gabrielle caught the hind of amusement in the warrior's tone. The red head seemed prudish, but she obviously was wise to what was likely to occur between the two women as soon as they were alone. Antonia began to walk away but Gabrielle called her back. She was still puzzled about the result of the ritual.
"Antonia..." she caught the other woman's attention "...our hands are healed.
"I noticed that too" the red head admitted, smirking as she spoke. "I'm quite glad though...It's my sword hand."
The red head swung around again and walked away. Xena reached for her right hand and stroked over the scar on the skin before bringing it up to her mouth and kissing it gently. Gabrielle's breath caught in her throat at the affectionate and intimate act. It felt like a balm after so long without the other woman and it made every nerve ending in her body tingle in a pleasant way.
"After you" the brunette said with a smirk.
Gabrielle couldn't get up and into the hut quick enough.