38

A N. Readers warning there is sexual content in this chapter.

" Please we have got to help Xena, talk to Nicolo make him understand there's no reason for him to hold her in prison. " Gabrielle pleaded with Cyrene. Though an official and sworn an oath to protect Amphipolis and uphold it's laws Nicolo could not keep Xena locked up on a whim and had to have a good valid reason for what he was doing.

Cyrene defiantly shook her head. " I've told you once already I've done talking. "

" So you'll just leave her to sit there in that jail. Look I know that Xena has upset you but you can't abandon her like that. "

" How dare you. Aband...You have no idea. Xena left us to pursue her dreams of conquest. Left me with a dead son and another disappeared gods knows where and I was left to face the hatred of all who knew that my daughter was the Warrior Princess. The one who had hurt them. And It was not her actions how I came to know of Solan. It was his and not telling me of him was just the end as far as I'm concerned. She proved long ago that she care's nothing for her family. " Cyrene folded her arms across her chest defying Gabrielle to argue with her any further and the bard found herself seething. " Well if you won't do anything for her then I will. "

" So will I. " Solan piped up on joining them.

" NO I don't want you getting involved and risking yourself. Gabrielle don't let him do this. "

" I won't stand by and do nothing she's my mother. " the teenager said.

" He has a point. " Gabrielle sighed as she looked to the older woman. " I can't count the many times Xena has saved me. I've been threatened and so near death you might say because of her but I say she has always been there for me and she's been through all kinds of Tartaurus not just for me, for others too, she does good she helps people now. Yes she was bad once but that's not the way she is now and I don't know how but I will do everything I can to get Xena out of that jail and if Solan want's to join in then I won't stop him. "

Cyrene let out a tremulous gust of air. " Alright, alright, don't do anything yet, leave it with me I'll see what I can do. "

Nicolo saw them coming toward him. The innkeeper, the girl bard and from what he'd heard was Xena's piece of tail, and wondered casually if she was as good in bed as her looks suggested, followed by the boy and he thought no further as Cyrene planted her feet before him. " Dont start I know what you're going to say. " He pointed at Solan. " I released him on her promise to get him out of here and not return. Well that lasted all of a moon cycle and lookee here, now their back. " his voice rose. " For that two weeks. Amphipolis doesn't need her kind of trouble. "

" Do you still want to drink at my bar ? " Cyrene said coldly. As he got the meaning his face suddenly greying under his tan.

Hers was the only place in town that served good food and ale and barred meant he would get none and would have to rely on the lesser places for him and his' guests ' and that was a sentence worse than that for one who loved good food and drink more than anything. " You wouldn't ? "

Cyrene slowly nodded letting the truth of her threat sink in.

" Even for her ? "

Cyrene remained quietly stoic.

" A week then." he reconciled.

" A nice thick slice of apple and berry pie topped with cream. "

His mouth watered at the thought. Nicolo could never resist one of Cyrene's fruit pies. " It would cause talk if I let her go too soon. Three days max, no less. "

" Of course. " she answered loudly.

" Can't let it be said you were seduced with a pie. " under her breath and Gabrielle suppressed a chuckle and quickly asked. " Can we talk to her ? "

Nicolo would have liked to refuse but another look from Cyrene warned him against doing that. " One at a time. "

" You go. " Cyrene said to Gabrielle and turned to Solan. " Come with me you can visit her tomorrow. " Gabrielle went in.

Xena lay on the floor of the cell arms cushioning her head and legs crossed at the ankle and propped against the wall. " Xena ? "

" Gabrielle. " Xena jumped up and moved to the girl standing at the bars. " We've negotiated your sentenced down to three days instead of the two weeks it started at. "

" We've ? "

" Actually it was your mother who did the talking, she knew exactly how to get round Nicolo. His stomach. " She grinned and brushed Xena's hand at the bar longingly. Xena smiled back weakly. " Ahh mother. "

" Oh c'mon. It's better than what you had. " Gabrielle said.

Ever the opptomist. Xena thought. " Yeah peachy. Two weeks of this and I'd die of the boredom. Or worse the food. "

" That's fixed too. "

" Okay three days is better. " she conceded. " And nights. "

" Don't remind me. I miss you already. " Gabrielle caressed her fingers.

" That's you alright, thinking only of yourself, not my witty repartee. Selfish. " Xena teased.

" Well it's not as if. " Gabrielle stopped as she felt Xena's hand slip under her skirt, the other hand pulling her close." Who says. What right here between the bars ? " Xena grinned mischievously.

Gabrielle's body leaned against the iron for support not caring at it's cold sting bite as she felt Xena's fingers begin to dance over her flesh and explore her. " Oh Xena. " she groaned as she felt tremors under her touch. " You, are in so much trouble when you get out. " Gabrielle whispered breathily.

" Oo gimme me. gimme me. " Xena whispered.

Three days seemed like taking forever but it had not dampened Gabrielle's spirits any. Over the days Cyrene noticed the girl was still glowing from her meeting Xena in the cell as even with her bandaged leg she bounced around happily about the inn completing her tasks of dusting and sweeping and sometimes cooking with her like someone had put one of the rockets the bard had told her that Chin made under her and lit the fuse.

In a sense someone had Xena, and Gabrielle was still enjoying the sex she had experienced. If Cyrene had known it would have made her blush as she enjoyed the sexual images playing in her head and as she hummed a tune Gabrielle was thinking of the various ways she would make Xena squirm ' til she howled ' in much the same way that Xena had done to her.

The horrible feelings and nightmares she had suffered from the rape had over time been slowly fading away, still there but now they were a dull and often distant memory as if happening to someone else. Under Xena's careful and erotic lovemaking, each time the experience becoming ever more pleasurable to her than the last she was looking forward to Xena's' coming out ' in more ways than one because today when she had finished her chores she was going to ready herself for the onslaught that she promised to unleash upon an unsuspecting Warrior Princess.

Xena heard Nicolo coming down the corridor. After Gabrielle there had been Solan but still she had been bored rigid waiting to be released. " C'mon hurry up. "

" Why, you got a date tonight ? "

" Sure have. And I'm going to score. What are you gonna do ? " Xena grinned as he rattled the key into the lock surprised at her revelation. The man swung the barred door open. " You can tell Cyrene I'll be round later for my piece of pie. "

Xena just carried on walking.

Gabrielle and Solan were waiting for her at the kitchen door and after their initial hugs and kisses of welcome Xena was brought into the house and given a cup of wine. " Hey I was only gone three days. "

" I'll see you later then. " Solan waved and was gone, off to meet with the other boys he'd made friends with and Xena watched him go with some longing.

" Doesn't matter it was long enough and I paid for it. " Gabrielle said bringing her back to the present. " Your mum's serving in the bar."

" Yeah so. "

Gabrielle clamped her mouth shut.

" Okay I get it. Right what's next ? "

Gabrielle full of mischief smiled. " Follow me. "

The girl led the way and Xena admired the sensuous bounce of her bottom under her short skirt and almost soliciting an animal growl from the warrior's depths as she followed her.

Reaching the barn suddenly Gabrielle spun round and launched herself at the taller woman and clamped on to her. Dropping her weapons a strange dance ensued as Xena unseeing lost and tried to regain balance as she staggered with Gabrielle's unexpected weight tipping her over. Both fell and rolled in the carpet of hay and the bard landed on top of the extra cushion of Xena's body.

" What the f..."

"Exactly now hush. Not a word. It's time for my revenge. " the bard waggled a finger under her nose. Xena had difficulty not laughing as Gabrielle began to undress her. Taking off her body armour then unlacing her bodice and kissing each exposed piece of flesh as she slowly peeled it away disguarding it. Each movement was slow and deliberate as Gabrielle's mouth traveled over her body arms shoulders next her neck and then down each breast was kissed and caressed and nipple fondled until Xena gasping and squirming forced her to move to anoher part of her anatomy and then the torture would start all over again. Stomach and then lower.

" Oh gods. " Xena moaned.

" Not enough ? " Gabrielle mumbled and looked up her eyes sparkling then returned into the mound of curls and her tongue snaked out and began to work harder.

" Gab... Ohhh. "

Now Gabrielle had to hold fast to Xena as she began to buck and her groans grew louder until it was almost a scream. Again and again Gabrielle brought her near to climax and then let her recover before raising it further until she finally let her reach the peak and this time her have release.

As she got her breath back Xena raised her head and grinned at the bard. " Wow you're getting good at that. " she said breathlessly.

" Oh I'm not finished with you yet. There's more to come. " Gabrielle grinned.

Xena gave a languid purr. " Emphasis on the word. "

" Xena ! No. I just think it's time we should go and see you mother now. We've indulged ourselves enough for the moment and I'm sure she'll be wondering about us. "

" Sure she won't. Indulge me again. " Xena grumbled.

" She fed and arranged your release you should at least say thanks to her. It's past lunch now so the bar will be quieter. Anyway if you won't, you don't the rest of your present. "

Interested Xena raised an eyebrow. " Rest of my what ? "

Gabrielle folded her arms and clamped her mouth shut giving nothing away. Xena let out a sigh. " Oh alright then. "

There was no comfortable exchange of looks between mother and daughter and thankfully for both there wasnt many customers there to witness it save for the couple of barflys who were more intent on the inside of their cups. " Mother ? " Cyrene glared. " You know the rules about weapons in here." Xena's eye rolled again as she spun right round and went back out. Stripping off sword, chakram and various daggers from herself and putting them on the reception table before going back in.

" Yes make it quick I'm busy. " Cyrene said stiffly on her return.

" Mother look. Over the last couple of days it was you who saw that I would be treated right and fed properly and you also shortened the length of my sentence so I hear. "

" What of it. "

" Well thank you I appreciate it. " Cyrene stared and then the only acknowledgement she made was a nod then she went back to work. Xena turned and walked out.

" I don't get it. What did I do ? I said thanks to her for her help over the arrest and she blanked me." Xena said puzzled. " I might as well have not bothered."

Gabrielle hadnt gone in because she was washing her self down in the bathouse and had not witnessed their altercation. " It's more likely what you didn't say to her. "

" And that's it ? "

" Yeah. "

" Solan. "

" What's he got to do with it ? "

" Everything. She's still very upset about the way you hid him from her. "

" Ahh. Is that what she's beefed about? I haven't dealt with that very well have I. And I don't know how to. Should I ? "

" No not in there, when things are quieter maybe. When your alone. "

Xena winced and brushed away a tear that had somehow escaped her. Gabrielle slipped an arm around her and hugged her. " Look I'll grab us some food, we'll eat, I'll tease you some more and then you can go talk to her. How's that for a plan ? "

Much later after they had eaten, generally pampered each other and made love again then bathed in the hot tub before Gabrielle left her at the house door and Xena took a deep breath and prepared herself for facing the music and walked in. There was no getting away from the fact that this meeting with Cyrene was certainly not going to be an easy one. She knew it as she walked along the corridor that this had the feeling of all those other times when a child and she'd stood at the closed door marked private with the creeping tingle of fear of the punishment she would get for misbehaving. I'm too old for this.

" Enter. " Cyrene's voice called out from the other side and Xena licked dry lips and opened the door and stepped in.

" Oh I thought you were one of the guest's. " Cyrene's voice took on a harsher timbre. " Well what do you want ? "

" I guess I should have talked to you about Solan. "

" So, talk. "

" I'm sorry. I know I should have done this before. " Her mother's eyes glazed. " I had a lover called Borias. "

" The good man. " Xena nodded. " Yes. It wasn't love or rather it was the lack of it on my part. I left the baby with the Centaurs for his own safety after Borias was killed and the longer it got to not talk about him the harder it was to begin. I'm so sorry mother if by that I've hurt you. "

" Oh Xena what am I going to do with you. "

" Spank me. "

" That is not funny Xena. You acted like a ..."

" Go on say it. A whore. God's I've been constantly reminded of it ever since we got here. "

" Stop it Xena. Don't blaspheme, bringing the gods into this. "

" Oh Mother get real stop treating me like a child. " Xena snorted and began pacing the room. " Banishing me to the barn, that act in the bar earlier, even now this. Waiting for your punishment outside your door quite like old times isn't it. It's not about the gods. I got pregnant is all. "

" Then don't act like one now. Or is that what is bugging you you're looking for punishment. "

" Mother. " Xena shouted her anger rising. " What's the matter surprised I even knew who the father was ? well Borias wasn't the first by any means."

" Stop it Xena. "

" Want to know how many there have been ? Some might even surprise you. " Xena was delighting in it now, in shocking her.

" Stop it, stop it. "

Gabrielle was waiting outside as Xena came out. " How did it go ? "

" So so. " Xena answered tightly.

" What does that mean ? " Xena carried on walking. Something was wrong. " It didn't go right did it and she won't forgive you ? "

" On condition. "

" Okay then, what condition Xena ? "

There was no reply from the retreating warrior's back.

" Xena ? Xena. "

Xena was furious, furious with herself. I blew it blew it blew it. she admonished. Why ? why lose her temper like that? It was the worst thing she could have done. Stupid just stupid. With anyone else in the world she could do that and get away with it but never with the woman who had birthed and given her life.

Act like a brat, be treated like a brat. Damn right too.

However it had been even at the worst of times Cyrene had always been there for her at heart. and now she felt that she had stomped on all of that. What have I done?

Act like a brat. the inner voice again.

Gone there to put it all right with her and ending with shouting at her. How dumb was that Warrior.

Her mother's reaction had been all the more obvious and deserved because of it. Wasn't it.

Xena could not stop the hot tears from running freely down her face.