Disclaimers: See Chapter 1

Additional Note (Please Read): This story is tied in with the tale, The Conqueror & Ri: A Twist of Destiny.

Xena & Gabrielle

A Turn of Fate

By Ahkiken

Chapter 3: Perfect Future

Gabrielle stood in the shallow part of the stream. Its waters came just above her kneecaps, requiring the sole removal of her boots. Washing the remaining blood from her sais and hands, she wondered would the day for settling down ever come. Could a time occur when neither Xena nor herself would have to fight, let alone kill any longer?

The warrior-bard couldn't wait to get to Scione. She was hopeful they'd find a nice place to permanently reside and work out a happy, perfect future.

'Maybe we can hang our weapons up for good.' Gabrielle thought, watching Xena take off her footwear, and Tanya repeatedly splash a youthful face with the cold water.

Completely cleaning everything off, and clenching the dual weaponry in a single hand, Gabrielle started using her thumb to trace the circlet on her index finger, once again reminiscing about the night in Thebes with her soul mate.

["Mmm, Xena!"

That is all I can moan and scream loudly. As a blast of stars fills the pitch blackness behind furrowed eyelids, the liquid from my orgasm is being lavishly lapped up by Xena. It's my third climax of the night and I've become highly sensitive. I need her constantly moving tongue to cease.

"Please." I groan.

Xena must have mistook the entreaty because she begins sucking my clit in earnest.

"Ahh, Xe...please, Xena... Please, I need you to... Oh, god, I need you to stop." I beg between rising pain and pleasure.

"What's wrong?" She asks, halting her ministrations. "Let me give you one more and I'll stop."

Hence saying that, two of her fingers slips inside my succulent canal, making me cry anew. I grab Xena's long, moist hair, torn with indecision of wanting her to halt and allowing her to take my body again once elongated digits stroke me a few times, howbeit the sensitivity is too grand. When baby blue irises locks onto mine, I silently plead with them for her to relent.

Understanding my distress, Xena withdraws from within me, causing me to yelp. Next, she brings the twin fingers, that were inside me, to my lips, slipping them into my mouth. Maintaining eye contact, I suck my essence off of them, sensuously. I used to find the taste of myself a bit awkward, but now I love to savor the sweet, tangy nectar that secretes out of me, almost as much as she does.

Still, I love the deliciousness of her even more, and whilst I gaze into Xena's eyes, I presume, for a second, she'll ride my face like she sometimes do. In lieu of that, Xena kisses an upwards trail on my sheening torso. Removing her digits, she plunges her tainted tongue into my mouth, giving me another helping of tasting myself. A soulful moan escapes one of us, but I don't care who it came from, for if we keep kissing passionately as we are, I'll soon do whatever she wants me to.

Pulling away to my growing disappointment, she whispers, "Happy birthday, Gabrielle. Was it enjoyable?"

I find myself panting and nodding in appreciation. "Yes, you were wonderful."

"I'm not making allusions to the sex." Xena smirks. "I know that was gratifying."

"You can be very cocky at times. I wasn't speaking about our coitus either."

She looks at me with a raised eyebrow, calling my small fib.

"Okay, our lovemaking blew my mind." Grasping both sides of her smug countenance, I expound, "Not only that. I've enjoyed everything you done for me today. The poem you presented has simply made me ecstatic."

Xena kisses my lips again, prior to laying back on the soft bed, rolling me halfway on top of her naked flesh.

Snuggling into my favorite spot below her chin and neck, I decide to recite the poetry, "'There's a moment I look at you. And no speech is left in me. My tongue breaks, then fire races under my skin. And I tremble and grow pale. For I am dying of such love.'"

My soul mate chuckles in advance of teasing me, "It takes a bard to echo another bard's work."

"Sappho's no mere bard, Xena." I feel her shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. "Did you mean it?"

"Hmm?" She uses that sexy hum I adore.

"The poem, silly. Did you mean it?" I repeat. "Are you dying of such love? Do those words signify what's in your heart?"

Xena takes a long time to answer, causing me to believe she will not.

"No. I used to feel that way, but not anymore. I have no need to envy such love." Xena finally asserts.

My heart rate picks up, beating in haste, and I let the tears spill from my eyes. "Why? Because you've found it, or you'd given up on love?"

"I have found it. In you, Gabrielle."

"You are in love with me... You've always loved me, but why?" I lift myself off of Xena to see her entire mien directly. "Why'd you put us through so much for many years? You made me feel like I was purely good enough for your bedroll and not your heart."

The tears continue falling while I initiate my tangent.

"Then you had hurt me terribly when we went to Egypt. Telling me you no longer desired me sexually, and that you undividedly needed me as a friend. The whole affair with Marc Antony...it appeared like you didn't care if I was there or not. And after our slumber, you blatantly told me I could sleep with Vir-"

In a flash, Xena tosses me over onto my back, our positions now reversed.

"I'm aware that I've made horrible mistakes when it involves us. I also know it was stupid of me to take you as a lover and not have a monogamous relationship with you." She pauses, wiping the wetness from my cheeks. "I almost lost you numerous times, but I realize that pushing you in Virgil's arms is the last erroneous decision I'll ever chance in losing what we got."

Virgil...

I have to tell her the truth anent to he and I.

"Xena, me and Virgil... We-"

"I don't want to know." Xena interjects, somberly adding, "I never want to know. You are a benignant woman, Gabrielle. It doesn't take people long to see. You're lovely, intelligent... I could go on and on."

Becoming gleeful, I choose not to ruin the afterglow. "You forgot worldly, cute, talented."

"And full of herself." Xena jives, playing with the golden strands that are close to my earlobe. "Looks like I should've paid better detail in cleaning your ears."

"Are you bellyaching, Xena?" Prepared to protest, and raising slightly, I gasp when a solid, silvery circle graces my sight. "What is-"

"Can you be quiet, please. My belly doesn't ache, but it's tangling into knots already."

I draw in my upper and bottom lip to prevent laughing at Xena's misunderstanding of the word I'd vocalized. Returning my head on the pillow, I try my best not to get overly excited. It's just a ring. It could mean anything. Friendship ring. Lover ring. Bonding ring...

Calm down.

Grasping my left hand in hers, she avers, "Let me tell you a story of a warrior; my tale. A cowardly, yet, ambitious warlord named Cortese chose to raid a village called Amphipolis. I decided to rouse the Amphipolitans to fight back, but by winning, lots of the villagers lost family, friends, and my brother, Lyceus, was taken from me, too. In turn, I forfeited their respect, my mother's love, along with my home. For a period afterwards, I only wanted to succor my hometown by raiding other villages that were in proximity to it, thereby becoming a pirate. In the duration of this occupation, I'd met and fell in love with Caesar, thinking we would rule the world together."

I bestow a sympathetic visage in recognition of Xena's turbulent past, which played a crucial role during her youth.

Xena hunches. "However, he spurn me. Taking my loving emotive and repaying me with betrayal, rage, death. I'd swore I would never give my heart to another living person. I took my frustrations and anger out on every breathing thing on this earth. I'd believed that I absolutely wouldn't accept love again, until Hercules changed all of that. He unchained my heart, and I started to love him for it."

Don't be jealous. Don't get jealous.

"I had separated from the son of Zeus to find my own way. When...when Marcus died twice, I felt he was my mortal beloved. Notwithstanding, I was wrong regarding every one of 'em. Petracles, Hercules, Marcus, Borias, I loved them, but in unsimilar ways and for various reasons. Just like I loved M'Lila and Lao 'Ma in different ways. They all had aided me in one capacity or another, selflessly. Withal my heart was still shelled, till you."

It's taking extreme control to hold my emotions in check, hardly capable of awaiting Xena's peroration.

"When I found myself on the outskirts of Potidaea, I was ready to end my life. The sins of the past was eating me alive, but after I saw these villagers getting routed by slavers, and this strawberry-blonde-haired girl who was inclined to take the abuse of slavery to save the others, something forced me into action. Whilst I'd stumbled into your aqua eyes, it left me defenseless. That's why I denied you from trailing me. You stalked me anyway and broke down the shell encasing my heart."

A tiny, visceral laugh erupts from me, and I pretend to pout. "I'm not a stalker."

"If you say so." She grins, prior to being serious once more. "We have been through scads together. Some events I don't care to remember, but throughout all of it, I cherish every moment we share, and I need you to know..."

Suddenly, she stops explicating and breathes in intensely. Come on, Xena, I am ardent to hear what you have to unveil.

"I am in love with you. I have been for so long that I can't pinpoint exactly when. Nonetheless, it frightened me. Perchance it'd begun in the Thessalian Temple, if not the first night we had sex, and I was afraid to get hurt, or hurting you in return. That is why I put restrictions on us, and it's why I turned to Ulysses the following morning."

Damn it, don't ruin the mood by bringing up his name. Post being shown new and satisfying intimacy from Xena, the next day she was in Ulysses' arms, caressing his lips with hers, proclaiming I'd taught her how to love, so she could love him.

Xena feasibly discerns my impassive expression for what it is, because she gently touches the side of my cheek with her right hand, eliminating the unnerving feeling within myself.

"Honestly, Gabrielle, none of them matter. Not Ulysses, Rafe; gods I don't know what the hell I was thinking with him. Nor Marc Antony; he merely reminded me of power and conquest. I didn't love any of them at all." She avows, profoundly.

"Ares?" I question, knowing full well he could eternally pose a threat to our relationship.

"He entices my dark side... I am his chosen. There's nothing I can do to change that. All I can profess is that Ares will never, ever coerce me from you."

"No one will break us apart?" I have to query.

"Nobody, Little One. I've kept my word to you thus far, haven't I?" Xena's tone turns a tinge glum, "At least since we came back to Potidaea and learnt what happened to your family."

True, she has. Not without admonition, Xena was willing to allow me to avenge my executed parents and brother-in-law by killing Gurkhan myself.

"Yes." I agree, although I'm wary this fresh behavior of Xena's could be limited.

"Do you trust I will always love you, take care of you and your needs?"

"Yes." Hopefully no more nights spent rubbing my thighs together to ease sexual tension.

"Do you want to be with me forever in this world and beyond?"

"Yes." Without a doubt.

"Then bond with me. I will honor you, worshipping your body and soul. I'll be damned if this life ends without you as my wife." She kisses me softly. "Say yes, Gabrielle."

Even foregoing all the lies, pain, bliss, death, bloodstains and teardrops that our journey had cast on us, my brain races with a single affirmation, "Yes!"

Xena's eyes glistens while she commences kissing and sucking my left index finger into her mouth, preceding placing the silver ring on it. I scan the details of my newly bestowed band, noting that a jade stone is embedded in the middle and has indentations surrounding it, too.

I read the four words aloud, "My Heart, My Love. Xena, it's... I do not know what to...I..."

I'm at a lost for any averments which will properly explain this momentous event. This can't be happening! It has to be a trick or some deluded dream, granting me Xena's complete, loving affections, simply for me to awaken and lose it. Okay, it's not a veracious tormenting fantasy. A suitable nightmare, but I surely don't want to wake from this, especially with Xena fondly claiming my stunned, muted mouth with hers. My hands grazes the Warrior Princess' dark nipples on her chest, and become entangled in raven tresses. I'm aroused again, and all I want to do is taste her.

Xena releases hush moans, ceasing our dancing tongues.

"You made me the happiest ex-warlord ever!" She exclaims with a huge smile, coaxing her azure irises to glow.

It induces me to yearn for Xena greatly, and I lick her neck, ending at an inviting ear. "Permit me the pleasure of pleasing you more, my future wife."

Xena gets the hint and avidly climbs my petite frame, setting her wet pussy over my watering mouth. I listen graciously to the lilting sounds she produces as I'm voluptuously tonguing her to an orgasm.]

Strong arms enclosed around Gabrielle's bare waist.

"Whatcha thinking?" Xena quietly quizzed.

Gabrielle leaned into the embrace. "I'm beginning to grow weary of the Greater Good."

Xena absorbed her lover's rejoin. "We'll talk, Gabrielle. I'm going to check on Tanya. See if she's alright."

The Amazon gave a nod of acceptance. "Okay."

Multiple steps away, Tanya ran her dampened fingers through her reddish-brown hair, replaying Jargas' death over in her head, whilst Xena trailed the stream to stand in front of the troubled teen.

"How are you holding up?"

Light-brown eyes tilted upwards. "I... I've never seen a person be killed. I haven't ever espied a dead body in my life."

"I ken how you feel. It's not easy being subjected to mortality, whether it's by natural causes, illnesses, or weaponries. This is what your father was trying to warn and protect you from." Xena predicated.

"Some individuals announce that you are a goddess of death; not even Celesta could touch your deftness for taking lives. They purport that your presence can wear off on others, influencing them to be effective killers as well." Tanya uttered.

Xena's features became disgruntled. "Do you believe I am a progenitor for death and destruction?"

Tanya's head bent down again, and Xena captured the younger woman's shaken hands tenderly in her own.

Thereon, Xena reflected on the wise teachings of the Hindu god, Krishna. "Life can be difficult at times, no matter if you try to live it out peacefully, or as a warrior. Sooner or later this would have occurred. Those guys you've chosen to lie to and join with, set you on a path that would've ultimately led to murder, if not your own demise after they'd discovered your deception. Your choice to manipulate has forced my friend and partner to take a life. Drawing lifeblood isn't easy for everyone. Certain ones find it hard to deal with, becoming traumatized by it. Others, like Gabrielle, abhors killing, but learns to cope with it. Very few thinks nothing of it at all. Kill or be killed, that is the Way of the Warrior."

Appearing to had retreated into her own world, Tanya viewed the scenery they were in. The stream's water seemed to run out into an unknown river and was deeper than normal streamlets. The trees' branches in the area were half-bare, though some showed renewed leaves that was strengthened by the season of rebirth.

"This clearing is splendid." Tanya affirmed.

Xena got annoyed, thinking the auburn-haired female was ignoring her. "Do you understand what I've expressed to you?"

"Yes." Tanya replied, bringing her irises to Xena's. "But you misunderstood me."

Becoming bemused, Xena prodded, "What?"

Recognizing Xena's perplexed features, Gabrielle waded over to the pair, standing beside her lover.

"What you meant, then, Tanya?" Xena was askance.

"You taught her, right?" Tanya pointed to Gabrielle.

"Yes. Gabrielle had other teachers also." Xena answered.

"Regardless, you would be creditable for most of her acquired skills." Tanya countered.

"What is this all about?" The bard butted in.

"The great Warrior Princess trained you, and I was hoping..."

"Hoping?" Xena encouraged.

"Please." Tanya threw herself into the water on her knees before Xena. "You have to take me with you. Teach me everything you know. I can cook. I've learned to navigate by using the stars. I can be invaluable to you. Please, take me with you. You can't leave me here."

The two soul mates glanced at each other, both acknowledging that some of those exact words spewed from a young girl from Potidaea many years ago.

Xena shook off the retention, lifting Tanya onto her feet. "I already have a partner, I'm not looking for a replacement."

Tanya pressed on in desperation, "I could travel with both of you. I have my own horse."

"No." Xena stated.

Momentarily peeking at Gabrielle, Tanya responded rashly to Xena, "Take in consideration I am a warrior, not a singing bard. I can learn from you and become better than her. I know it. You gotta give me a chance."

"You need to calm down, Tanya. You're being disrespectful." Gabrielle declared in growing discontent.

Xena shoved Tanya, impelling her supine body to land partially in the stream and dirt.

"Already you've proven that my love is a far better companion than you. You haven't thanked Gabrielle for saving your life, but instead try to insult her. You belied your true identity to pine for mine as Destroyer of Nations, inveigling a band of bandits to do ill actions to the innocent. You have to accede to the responsibilities and consequences of your choices." Xena growled.

Tanya sat up on mushy elbows as Xena moved to stand over top of her.

Xena's contralto voice snarled, "I won't teach you anything, Tanya. We will not be taking you with us either. Your choices are to return home or begin your trek in this world, seeking out your own destiny, because it's not with me nor Gabrielle."

While Xena crossed over Tanya to go back to her Palomino, the dismayed, former pretender watched her traipse away, oddly ruminating, 'She said 'my love'. 'My love'? What did she mean by that?'

She looked at the limber woman in question, who held her hand out to offer assistance.

Gabrielle helped Tanya to rise, imparting, "Previous to Xena changing his views on war and life, your father used to be a warmonger. He would be very disappointed in you."

"I don't need your ridicule." Tanya was deeply resentful.

The trim Amazon placed her left hand on the teenager's arm. "I'm not trying to antagonize you. Your actions would be below your father's expectations right now, but you have an opportunity to turn that around, becoming something of yourself, and making your father proud."

Tanya's head fell down in shame for what felt like the umpteenth time, musing morosely, 'If only you knew...'

Once Gabrielle withdrew contact, Tanya spied the silver ring on her finger.

Assured she'd elucidated her distinguishing fact, Gabrielle traversed towards Xena, hearing Tanya call out, "Thank you."

"You are welcome." She accepted, continuing onwards.

"Not exclusively for saving my life, but..." Tanya's meanness made her feel guilty. "Thanks for the chat, too."

"I know." Gabrielle stopped her footfalls. "No worries."

"Forgive me for my coarseness directed at you." Tanya felt an unnecessary need to go on explaining, "Both of you are my heroes, nevertheless, Xena's my idol."

Gabrielle had to relate. "She's mine as well."

Consequently, she was about to resume her footing when Tanya probed, "Are you married, Gabrielle?"

The short-haired blonde consciously zeroed in on Perdicus for a split second. Thereafter, her cognition shifted to Xena.

She twirled briefly, smiling jovially. "Not yet."

Ergo, Gabrielle trudged to her fiancée, and alone, Tanya muttered to herself, "More than just Xena's scribe."

To Be Continued...