Disclaimer: I don't own Xena or Gabrielle
Subtext warning: As with the previous chapter, there is subtext. Well, maintext in this case. There is no real graphic stuff, but they are two women in love and so they act accordingly. If this bothers you then I'd advise against reading any further.
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Chapter 2
Gabrielle was woken when she felt soft, warm lips press up against her own.
"Mmm. Good morning Xena."
The warrior looked at her partner skeptically as the blonde bard opened her eyes to the morning light and the face of her love.
"What's that look for? I haven't done anything I just woke up."
"Gabrielle are you feeling alright?" Gabrielle looked at her a little confused before nodding in the affirmative. "It's just that, since when do you put the words 'good' and 'morning' together? Gabrielle playfully hit the warrior.
"Well actually Xena, every morning that I'm with you is good, and I have to say that today's wake up call was a good way to start the day. Much better than being dumped in a stream." Xena looked away guiltily for a moment before turning back to her bard and granting her another kiss. Afterwards Gabrielle licked her lips savouring the feeling. "Yup, definitely a good morning."
"I have to agree with you there. Now come on lazy, get up. We should really get moving soon, and knowing you, you're gonna want some breakfast before we head out."
Gabrielle looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before shaking her head. "Actually Xena I'm not very hungry. We can leave soon, I'll just go down to the stream further along the road and freshen up a little."
"You sure?"
Gabrielle nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm sure."
"Well alright then. I guess I can't stop you. Anyway, can you fill the water skins while you're down there?"
"Sure thing Xe," Gabrielle stood and retrieved the skins. "Be back soon."
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Gabrielle went down to the stream and took a quick bath then redressed and got the water skins to fill them up again. When she had filled the first one, the bard went to turn and get the other one but paused when she thought that she heard a noise behind her.
The bard continued to turn and then, making it look as if she was simply reaching for the other water skin she went to grab her staff so she could face the intruder. Only her staff wasn't there.
Gabrielle turned anyway and was faced with three huge men, men who looked as though they should have been the ones bathing, not Gabrielle. The biggest of the lot spoke first.
"What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here, all alone?"
"What do you want?" the bard questioned them, wishing that she hadn't left her staff back at the campsite.
"Well, we just thought that we might, borrow ya body, if you know what I mean," this was the smallest of the three lugs and he let out a wheezing chuckle and the other two laughed along with him.
"No thanks," Gabrielle said, "I like my body and I don't really want to share. Besides, I'm not alone, I'm with a friend."
The big one spoke again now. "We know that missy, the rest of our friends are taking care of her right now. Why have one pretty little young thing, when you can have two."
'Oh crap,' Gabrielle thought to herself whilst looking for something she could use as a weapon, 'come on Xena, hurry up and beat up the bad guys so you can help me with mine.'
Meanwhile Xena had five of her own troubles.
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"Come on boys let's get her!"
The five brutes that had been hiding in the bushes made their presence known, about twenty minutes after Xena had first heard them, which had been just after Gabrielle had left to go to the stream. She had decided for them to make the first move seeing no reason to attack first.
The five of them attacked her as a group and within minutes all of them were disarmed and unconscious.
It was only after the fight that Xena noticed Gabrielle's staff lying on the ground.
She quickly grabbed it and ran down to the stream to find Gabrielle. Xena just hoped that she was alright and hadn't run into any trouble of her own.
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"Come on boys, I'm nothing special. I'm not even that young, I mean I am a widow so I'm not even all that innocent. So how about you all go and find those friends of yours and go on home. I'm sure that the next woman you come across will be much better-"
"Shut up!" the biggest guy, obviously the leader of the trio, yelled at her, finally sick of her stalling. "I've heard enough outta you!" He looked at his two companions as Gabrielle prepared to run at the first opportunity. But before the young bard got a chance to make her escape all three brutes charged the weaponless girl. She put up a struggle but was very soon overwhelmed by the sheer strength of her opponents.
The smallest man began to tie her wrists together with some rough rope, as he did this all four people heard the distinct battle cry of the warrior princess.
'It's about bloody time.' Gabrielle thought to herself, although she was actually very glad her lover was alright and was coming to her aid. Again.
Gabrielle was pulled to her feet and as Xena came into view she tried to make a break for it, her efforts were wasted however as one of the men tried to get hold of her once more, intent on keeping his prey. Xena was fighting with the bards other two attackers when theGabrielle lost her footing. She fell into the river that to her surprise had grown in size while they had slowly moved downstream during the fight.
She went under the water, having no use of her hands as they were tied firmly behind her back. Gabrielle couldn't swim properly without using her arms but she managed to kick her way to the surface only to discover with dismay that her brief stint under the water had brought her to the middle of the river and into a current that was quickly taking her further down stream and further from Xena. She could still see Xena in the distance and yelled out to her before she was pulled back under the water.
When she resurfaced she saw Xena running along the riverbank. 'Guess she took care of one of our problems.' At that moment Gabrielle's body was thrown against a rock. She quickly shook the effects off as best she could. The bard was getting cold and tired and she knew that she couldn't afford to lose consciousness. She barely managed to miss colliding with another rock when she heard Xena calling her name. 'At least she's getting closer,' she thought foggily. 'Come on bard, focus. Just until Xena has you.'
Gabrielle was then thrown up against another rock and this time hit her head against a sharp point of the stone. Just as the darkness began to claim her she felt a strong arm grasp her around the waist. As she struggled to stay awake she saw the concern within the ice blue depths of the warriors eyes.
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Gabrielle opened her eyes to feel her body leaving the cold water and come in contact with warmer air. She was also aware of the arms holding her and the familiar body she was pressed against. Then she faded back out into the blackness of unconsciousness.
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She felt warm, was the blonde bards first thought when she next woke. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the blue of the warrior princesses looking into her own.
"Hey sleepyhead, how do you feel?" Gabrielle tried to sit up but felt dizzy as she did so. "Shh, Gabrielle stay down sweetheart. You knocked your head a good one on a rock. I had to stick a couple of stitches in there. You're gonna have one Hades of a headache for a while."
"Xena," the bard whispered her voice hoarse. "Drink please."
"Sure sweetie." Xena helped Gabrielle to lift her head enough to take a drink and then carefully lowered her back down. "Go back to sleep Gabrielle," Xena said softly.
"Lay with me please Xena?"
"Of course Bri." Xena lay down beside her on their bedroll and began to gently stroke the bards head. Xena then started to hum softly and Gabrielle soon drifted into a healing sleep.
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AN: Let me know what you thought, I wote this a while ago but never got around to posting so it's probably not all that great. Anyway leave a review if you've gotten this far so I know what you thoughts. But please, no flames telling me you don't like all 'thatlesbian' stuff because I will just ignore you. As I said, hope it wasn't too bad, and let me know what you thought as all reviews are very much appreciated.