Gabrielle knew this was not what her daughter wanted to be doing. After all Eve was the messenger of peace. Her upbringing by the Romans might have caused her to know the way of the sword and many weapons it was the way of Eli that was what drove the dark haired woman and yet the way to heal, at least as far as the Battling Bard from Potadeia was to once again take up her staff. It was a weapon she had not used in many seasons and yet it felt like a comfortable old friend.
The petite blond also knew that Eve's weapons of choice when she had wielded them had always been like her mother's. The pair had always preferred weapons that were made of metal which meant they were more for offensive attacks and were of course more deadly. Yet knowing how Ares and the Romans were, Gabrielle knew that her daughter would be well versed in the mostly defensive weapon, though in the right hand could very well be deadly as well.
The room that Gabrielle had been sleeping in had been cleared. She knew that while she was in Egypt that it was not safe to expose herself or any of Eve's followers more than they had to so it was here in the tiny room that they were facing one another with the staffs in hand. A small smile curled at the corner of the bard's lips as she flashed once again to that day so long ago when two very nervous women faced off almost in the exact same way.
This time the petite blond was not nervous. In fact her confidence had grown over the month that she had now been with her daughter. Her body was finally taking on the normal curves that she had once had. While her muscle tone was still not where it should be, Gabrielle knew that would come once she resumed more physical kinds of activity. She needed to get herself back into condition so that she could face Xena once they were reunited.
And that was a different mindset for the bard. After months of feeling defeated at having to face life alone, she was finally feeling confident that she and her soulmate would one day be reunited. Of course she knew that Xena was in her heart and always would be. But it was not the same having to face life without that constant warmth at her side. She loved the warrior and would beyond the end of time. That had been proven many times already.
Still what Gabrielle wanted was to have Xena by her side. She wanted to be able to touch her, kiss her and yes of course make love with her. The bard would just settle for a night like in the early days that they traveled together and before they had admitted their feelings where they snuggled in the bedrolls together. Any kind of physical contact would be the most treasured thing. And that was going to happen. The bard was more determined than ever to make it happen.
The pace began slowly. It seemed that Eve was a bit tentative to go after her mother. Either that or she was a bit rusty with a staff. Green eyes looked deep into blue ones as they circled one another like two caged animals. Well one looked like a caged animal while the other looked like a reluctant participant. Suddenly the petite blond was on the aggressive. It took everything in the raven haired woman's arsenal to stop the attack. Her eyebrow rose at the feel of the aggressiveness.
It wasn't long before the two were dancing. That was how Gabrielle had always thought about it whenever she and Xena had sparred especially in the early days. After they had gotten into a rhythm it had always seemed that the warrior and bard were just going through the motions. But to the petite blond it was almost like foreplay which was a little disturbing if she equated it with her daughter now. But it was totally and completely one thing and that was getting her body as well as her mind ready to be reunited with her soulmate.
The clacking sound of the wood on wood was as familiar to the bard as was the heartbeat of her warrior. It was one of the things that made it so difficult to sleep without Xena being by her side. They were usually snuggled up so closely that not only could she feel the breath of the ex-warlord she could also hear every beat of the heart. It was like a baby's lullabies in the way that it made her feel so safe and relaxed and therefore caused her to sleep so deeply.
There was nothing in the world that could replace that except trying to work herself into an exhaustive state and hope that sleep would come to her. The only other thing that had been helping the past week or so was the state of emotional exhaustion. That was happening more and more as she was finally letting all the anger and the fear out in various ways. This was not one of them. It was simply just a way to start getting her body back into shape.
Blue eyes met green for just a moment and Gabrielle could see just how tired already that her daughter was. They had only been sparring for half an hour or so. Even though the bard was out of shape it seemed that the messenger was even more out of shape. Reluctantly the petite blond decided that it was time to end the bit of sparring if only so that her daughter could get some rest. With a move that she had not used since last time Xena was her dancing partner she flicked away the staff with ease.
The move was one of the few that even the great warrior princess had trouble defending though normally she did. It had its desired effect as the long staff went flying. It made a clattering sound as first it hit the ceiling and then came to noisily rest on the cement floor. Eve quickly made her way to where the water was kept and took a few mouthfuls of water. She then wetted a rag and began to wipe the sweat from her body.
Gabrielle made her way over to the fallen staff and picked it up. Slowly she made her way to the bed that she slept upon and put one staff carefully at the head of the bed and one at the foot of the bed. As Xena had always taught her having your weapons at the ready no matter if you felt you were safe or not was the smartest thing to do. While she felt at least somewhat safe in the confines of the place that Eve was hiding her in there was nowhere totally safe.
Well there was one place that was totally safe. But that place was gone for at least for a little while longer. Gabrielle was not sure how much longer her patience would last. It was something that had rubbed off on her over the years. Not that Xena was not a patient person it was just that it was always difficult for the warrior to sit and wait on others. That was what the bard was feeling now. Waiting on Xena and whoever else was involved was not easy.
The bard slowly joined her daughter by the water bucket. She too took several gulps of the water. The sun was just going down and the clay room seemed to take in the heat like a kiln. The bard took another cloth and wetted it and proceeded to clean the moisture off from her pale skin. That was something that surprised her. No matter the time of year or where they traveled the storyteller almost always had a tan of some kind. Never as deep as the bronzed skin of her soulmate but still it was there.
Now she was still almost as white as an egg. At least her skin was no longer translucent. Even she had to admit that had been a somewhat sickening sight. The thought of failure was no longer an option for the bard. Now she knew that no matter what she would be reunited with Xena. It was just a matter of when and where. Gabrielle took another sip of water as she thought about that. It was scary that she would contemplate death over life but whatever she had to do to be with her warrior she would do it.
Gabrielle watched Eve carefully for the longest moments. Though not a true warrior anymore, much like herself, the messenger still had so much of Xena's movements in her. There was the way that she took care of the staff wiping it down so gently and making sure that her body would recover quickly by drinking a lot of water and there were even a handful of grapes at the ready. So much a combination of the two of us. We can thank the Gods for one good thing anyways.
Eve never said a word just went about what she was doing. She could feel the eyes of her mom on her. People didn't realize just how well at watching people both her moms were without them knowing about it. While they hadn't traveled long together she had picked up a few things from both of them and therefore could tell when they were doing so. She simply figured that her mom was trying to see how she had changed over the years.
The bard finally sighed and crossed over to the fresh parchment that Eve had brought her. Without a goodbye to her daughter she took up residency at the desk. It was rude but for some reason it was coming natural to her. While she had cried on her daughter's shoulder not that long ago she was not ready emotionally yet for full on talks just yet although she was slowly getting there. The sound of the door opening and closing told her that her message had been received.
The petite blond closed her eyes and envisioned the one person in the world that she wanted to see more than anything else. Without opening her eyes she picked up her quill. It was as if her mind could envision the parchment, the quill and the ink without even having to open her eyes. This was something she had never done before but suddenly she had this overwhelming urge to not write but to draw. It was not the first time she had tried her hand at being artistic but it had been forever.
Her mind was on the soft flowing black hair that felt like silk when she ran her fingers through it. It encased the bronze chiseled features of that were also soft to the touch. Then there were the blue eyes that she wished that she could do justice to but with only ink there was no way. The ears were next. They could hear just about anything that was around for a mile or so it seemed. There was that nose that she would never tire rubbing with her own. And the mouth that could claim the bard's body as its own in a heartbeat as well to be allowed to be claimed by the petite blond. A neck that she could get lost in exploring with her lips, teeth and tongue was next to be drawn.
Gabrielle's heart began to warm as she continued with the image in her mind. As much as she would love to draw her warrior in all her glory, this might not stay private so instead she drew with care the long slender arms that held her so tightly that she though they would melt into one. Then she encased the body that she had spent the past few years attempting to memorize in the traditional leather and armor. The long legs were next and it reminded her of how many times she had had those thighs on her shoulders as she pleased the warrior in only the way that she could.
There were tears now on the paper that were attempting to blur what she had drawn. Quickly she moved away from the parchment trying to get her emotions back under control so that she didn't ruin what she had just created. After sniffling a few times she looked at her creation. A smile that warmed her to the very soul was upon her face. The feelings of love freely flowed through the bard and just barely kept from once again allowing the tears to fall.
Gabrielle took the parchment and took her sias and hung it next to where her head rested while she slept. It wasn't the real thing. It would not be a substitute for the real thing. But at least she had something now more than just what was in her mind. Her hand shook gently as she reached out to touch the rough paper that had a perfect likeness of her soulmate. "I love you Xena. I'll wait for you another lifetime if I have to." With that the bard allowed herself to succumb to the exhaustion that she had physically caused it to come. Of course there was also the emotional exhaustion as well.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Xena held her hands in surrender at this feral version of her friend and former lover. The eyes were still a mass of anger but the body at least stopped in its approach. "We were friends and lovers at one time." The eyes softened just a bit. "I know you know why I am here." The image of Lao Ma seemed to relax a little. That actually made the tall woman a bit nervous. "We need closure I think. Especially since somehow you keep asking for my help even after death."
Lao Ma's eyes were now her normal chocolate brown. It seemed that Xena had at least for the moment managed to calm the woman down. That was strange to her as it had always been her former lover that had always had an air of peace and calm about her. But then again death will do things to you. The leather clad woman would know as she had lost count now on how many times that her life had slipped away in one way or another. The next time will be when I'm ready and so is Gabrielle. We will cross over together when we are old and gray or there will be Tartarus to pay.
The regal woman approached the taller woman. "We do need closure I believe." Lao Ma's eyes never left the sea of blue. "You were my finest pupil. You were my warrior princess." Xena flinched at the possessive use of the words 'warrior princess' as the only one that she ever thought of as belonging to was Gabrielle. There would be no other that she would ever belong to. "And yet you disappointed me and left a mess behind. It was you that turned my son evil."
Xena could not help but laugh at that statement. "Your son was being taught by an arrogant egotistical man. That was where his lessons began." She waited to see if there was any kind of emotions displayed on the other woman's face. As usual, Lao Ma was easily able to keep the mask upon her face. "I admit to offering him some hard lessons that regrettably added to the ones that he was already being taught. But don't blame me fully for how your son turned out."
It seemed that Lao Ma was lost in thought for several moments before she allowed herself to respond. "You were the one that kidnapped him for ransom." The woman straightened to her full height which against the warrior princess was not all that impressive. "You were the one that threatened his life." The woman took several steps closing what little gap was left between them. "You were the one that took his life." Her tone was not sad instead they were only monotone.
"I took his life because it was the only way to stop him." Xena looked down into those eyes that at one time had been her savior's. After all she had been the one that had rescued her when she had been hunted down like a dog. She had been the one that gave her that breath so that she could remain hidden and safe. "If I recall it was your message that brought me back to Chin. It almost cost me the thing that I held dearest at the time. And will until the end of time."
That last statement caused Lao Ma to stake a couple steps back involuntarily. "I had not thought that you would be enlightened enough to allow yourself love." She began to pace at the thought. "I mean we shared something but I always knew that it was not love at least not truly. I cared deeply for you. You seemed to break out of the hatred, at least for a little while." Her pacing paused as she turned to once again look deep into blue eyes. "But you were incapable of love back then."
Xena sighed heavily. It was true. The closest that she had come to love at that time was when she had given up Solon. Borias was nothing but a desire and a means to an end. Akemi was nothing but a fascination. Even M'Lila was nothing but an exotic beauty that had much to teach her. The sacrifice that she had made was amazing and touched her but it was not love. All of her past lovers were not lovers. It was just sex plain and simple. The only one that meant anything beyond just the physical was the one that she was striving to get back to at no matter the cost.
The warrior princess slumped a little always hating to reflect upon just how inadequate a person she was in her past. Between the death of Lyceus, the attack of Cortese and the influence of Caesar, it had led her down a very slippery road that she failed miserably to keep her footing upon. That was how she had become the animal that she was. That was why it took so much for her to learn about love. It had taken more than what Lao Ma could teach her. It took a certain bard with a heart of gold.
"I was." While not proud of her past the warrior also knew that it made her who she was. Her path had been destined at least to the point where she was to meet Gabrielle and therefore change her life for the better. Better was not even close of an adequate word to describe what the bard had done to her in the short time that they had spent together. "But then I met my soulmate. She taught me about love in a way you could not. In some ways we are opposites. In some ways we are not. We truly are the other half of each other's souls."
Lao Ma stared into the blue eyes that were so captivating. The first time that she had looked into them she had seen the wild animal that Xena had been. But there was something else there. Something that she had hoped to bring out. But it was apparent that at the time her warrior princess was not ready to change. Or ready to return to the person that she had once been and had been turned into by men. "I can see that you truly love her. I have one question. Was there any love for me?"
Now that was an easy question and one that made Xena smile. "I did love you." The warrior took a few steps toward her former lover hoping that she would be met in the positive. "I loved you as best that I was capable at the time." Her smile faded at the statement knowing that it was a hollow statement at best but it was the truth. "I will always be grateful for you for how you healed me both physically and mentally. I just wish that I could have heeded your lessons better."
With a barely perceptible nod of the head, Lao Ma came and took the warrior's hand in her own. "It seems that I laid the foundation so that your soulmate could finish what I started." She gave the larger hand in her own a gentle squeeze before releasing it. "And you know that I've always believed that things happen the way that they were supposed to. If we had not met then you might not have been ready for when you did meet your soulmate. I see that now."
The two women shook hands. After a moment they even ventured into a tentative hug. When they pulled away they were all smiles. "That went far better than I thought." Xena could not help but chuckle. And then she felt it. First there was such a hatred that it literally knocked her to her knees. Lao Ma came over to assist her friend by steadying her with one hand on her shoulder. "Wow!" There were tears that were falling from the warrior princess' eyes.
Lao Ma took in the intensive pain that her friend was in wondering what had happened. And then she too felt exactly what the tall warrior was feeling. They were from the bard the one that she claimed was her soulmate. "How can someone that claims to love you so much hate you like this?" The woman was not happy with the way that Xena was nearly doubling over with the intense emotions. "If it were me I would never…"
Her words were cut off by a hand on her own. Xena managed to stand but it was hard as the hatred flowing from Gabrielle was continuing to bombard her. "You don't understand." The words were coming out through gritted teeth. "She has a right to feel this way." The warrior princess was actually panting hard as she felt a physical toll upon herself which she thought was unusual seeing that she was actually dead. "I chose death over her."
The words were spoken as barely a whisper. Even Lao Ma who was usually so in control of her own emotions grimaced at the thought. It pained her to think that her warrior princess had ever been put into a position where she had to make such a horrible choice. "I take it that it was for the greater good." Xena managed to nod although the intense feelings were finally beginning to subside. "Then you have come a long way."
Xena managed to nod as her body came to terms with the sudden hits it was taking emotionally. I knew she had a lot of anger but I didn't think it would be this intense. I really did screw up. I promise you my bard I will do anything to make this right. I'll go through any trial so that you are happy again so that we are reunited again. "There were many souls counting on me or so I thought. Turns out I was sent to the Elysian Fields instead. All this pain and anger were for nothing."
Lao Ma looked into pained blue eyes. Though she had heard the words it was finally sinking in just how much that Xena had changed and how much she was in love with this woman who now hated her. Of course the strength of the hate coincided with the power of the love so that it made sense. "You are a lucky woman." That got a raised eyebrow. "To hate with such strength means that you are equally loved. And I feel that you return it just as wholly."
Before Xena could say anything the emotions changed. It was like she was hit with a ton of bricks and she got this goofy look on her face. Gabrielle was pouring all the love and faith that she had for the warrior into her soul. Which meant that it was pouring into their souls. The eyes of the ex-warlord closed and she just simply drank in what she was feeling. It gave her hope and it gave her strength that she could do anything.
That was the way it always was. Even when something seemed impossible or she would be going about it in the wrong way, Gabrielle was there. She was there to show her with love and with good sense exactly what she needed to do. Well there was no question what was needed to be done now. It was just a matter of how they were going to go about it. "I've never loved anyone as completely as I do her. She truly is the other half of my soul."
With those words Lao Ma disappeared. It wasn't long before the two Greek Gods and the two Egyptian Gods were standing before Xena. The warrior stood and though it pained her to do so she bowed. It was more out of respect for the two Goddesses that she knew nothing about. The Egyptian Goddesses stood silent but they both seemed to have these little crooked smiles upon their faces. That startled her even more and concerned her as well.
It was Aphrodite that spoke first. "Well warrior babe it looks like you passed that part with flying colors." The chipper Goddess seemed pleased with herself. "The Egyptian babes here are pleased at how you handled yourself in each unique situation. By the way your sweetie is doing better. But I think she needs you right about now. My treat before you go on to the second and final test. Then you gets to get your groove back." The pink clad woman was dancing around.
Before Xena could say a word Aphrodite was snapping her fingers. The warrior princess was slightly disoriented when she stumbled out of the transport. There has got to be a better way to travel then that. Her eyes blinked in the darkened room. Clearly wherever she was night had fallen. It took a minute even for her better than average eyesight to adjust to the dimness of the room. The walls were of familiar build and in an instant she knew that she was somewhere in Egypt.
A cute little snore that Xena would recognize anywhere caused the warrior princess to make her way over to the bed. Gabrielle was sound asleep and she hated to wake her up yet she really didn't know just how much time that she was being gifted with before they were forced to go their separate ways hopefully for the last time. The raven haired beauty made way to the bed. Just before she leaned down to kiss her soul mate awake she noticed the drawing that was hung with her soulmate's sias.
It amazed her just how the bard saw her and the world around her. Even now in her darkest of times Gabrielle still saw her with beauty and strength that the warrior was not sure that she possessed. But that was how her soulmate saw her and if she could do it justice that was how she would draw her lover as well. That gave her a warm feeling and more confidence to wake the slumbering petite blond. Not that she needed it really.
Xena sat carefully on the bed knowing that any motion would probably startle the slumbering bard. She sat there for a few moments before she reached out and took a stray of blond hair from her face. Your hair is a little longer than you had been keeping it. No matter what you are and always will be beautiful wonderful everything. Her hand was gently stroking the fair skin. You've been hard on yourself my love. But since the last time we were allowed to meet you do look a lot better.
"Xena?" It was a mumble that was just barely understandable even to the warrior princess. The bard rolled onto her side and looked up into the bluest eyes. Even in the darkness she would know those eyes anywhere. Without a word she was pulling her soulmate down into her arms so that they were lying side by side. Part of her wanted to start making love to the woman that was there but it felt too much like a dream. "Are you really here?"
The warrior wiped away the tears that had begun to fall with at first her fingertips but then with her lips. "I'm here, my love." The affirmation caused the tears to fall just a little bit faster and before she knew what was happening the body that she was holding tightly was convulsing the emotions were just too much to handle. "I don't know for how long. This test thing is not over. Just the first round." That caused an almost whimper from the bard. "No worries. I'll go through anything for you."
Gabrielle managed to get her breathing under control. It wasn't easy but she managed to as she clung to the warrior princes. Her warrior princess. "So will I. But it's hard being here without you." The bard snuggled up into her old familiar position. There were still the strong urges just to tear every article of clothing off from the raven haired warrior but now was not the time for that. This was only half real. When she made love to her soulmate again she wanted it to be in celebration of their being reunited.
"If I have anything to say about it you'll never be alone again." Xena tightened her arms around the woman that she loved. This was how she wanted to spend every night and how she wanted to wake up every morning. The days could be whatever came their way. But the nights and mornings were going to be reserved for them and only them when she made it back. It was a difficult lesson to learn but the warrior had learned it many times over now.
The night was quiet and cool and the warmth of the body lying next to her helped her to drift off to a dreamless sleep. It was the first time in months that the nightmares had not claimed her mind as she attempted to sleep and it was another healing moment for the petite woman. The night faded quickly as did the feeling of the warmth. Even before she opened her eyes she knew that she was once again alone in the bed.
But the scent of her warrior princess was everywhere. The feeling of having her body lying next to hers was engrained in her head. To her surprise the memory of the rise and fall of the beautiful chest and the familiar heartbeat was still so pleasantly real that it made the bard smile. Gabrielle felt renewed and energized. It was a little bit of a tease of what was to come. And she would hold on it if things got too bad. "I love you my soulmate!"