A couple of days passed as Xena and Gabrielle carried on with their daily lives in the village that was now bustling with the news that Gabrielle and Xena were to soon be married in a traditional Amazonian joining ceremony. No one the secret village had witnessed such an event involving the queen, so to say that the women there were excited was an understatement. This was especially true for Xena and Gabrielle's close group of friends.
SKYLA
I can't believe you two are getting married. This is awesome news.
CORA
We're all really happy for you.
Gabrielle smiled as she and Xena sat at the table with the others in the mess hall.
GABRIELLE
Thanks. We're pretty excited.
Close swallowed her mouthful of food.
CLOVER
Honestly I assumed you were already married before you ever even came here.
Gabrielle shrugged.
GABRIELLE
It's never really come up before.
Almost everyone at the table looked at Gabrielle with surprised expressions, as they all except for Ephiny who knew them better than everyone else there shared a very shocked "Seriously?" Gabrielle shrugged.
GABRIELLE
We're usually always on the road or running into one problem or another. So we've kinda had other priorities.
(Talking quietly) Not to say I never thought about it though.
Hearing Gabrielle's quiet comment Xena looked at her and smirked.
XENA
(Joking tone) Hey I might have many skills but mind reading isn't one of them you know. You could've said something.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
I know. But it's fine. Besides I think this works out better anyway. We're not on the road so we can have a big celebration and invite our families and friends.
Gabrielle paused as she remembered the fact that they were in a secret amazon village. The key word being "secret" and sighed.
GABRIELLE
Or not.
Realizing this fact Fauna spoke up.
FAUNA
Don't worry Gabrielle we can figure out a way for your family and friends from outside the village to attend the wedding if you want them here.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
We can?
FAUNA
Of course. After all we've brought you and Xena here along with everyone else who isn't a native resident of our village in didn't we?
GABRIELLE
That's true.
XENA
But are you sure that's a good idea, exposing this place to a bunch of outsiders who aren't even Amazon's?
Gabrielle gave Xena a disapproving glance.
GABRIELLE
Their our family's Xena. You know that they would never do anything to put this place or it's people in danger.
XENA
I'm not saying they would. Not on purpose anyway. But people talk Gabrielle, and if word got out about this place's location you know what kind of danger that could put everyone here in.
GABRIELLE
Well couldn't we just blindfold them like we did when Willow, Cora and... Celine came here?
Everyone at the table noticed Gabrielle tense up a bit when she said Celine's name. The events of Aurora's kidnapping obviously still bothered Gabrielle. Which given everything that happened afterwards it was perfectly understandable for Gabrielle to still have lingering feelings about the whole situation. Sensing Gabrielle's tension, Xena placed her hand over Gabrielle's that was on the table in a balled up fist. The action brought Gabrielle out of her thoughts as she looked at Xena who had a caring and understanding expression on her face.
GABRIELLE
Sorry I guess I got lost there for a moment but I'm okay now.
Gabrielle pushed down her emotions and smiled as she looked back at the others and moved the conversation forward.
GABRIELLE
Anyway it's not as though they'd be staying long. It would likely only be a few days to a week at most. So what do you guys think.
Clover shrugged.
CLOVER
Hey you're the queen here. Or Xena is. Or...
SKYLA
What Clover's trying to say is that if you guys want your family's here for your Joining then we can find a way to get them here safely.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
You're sure that's okay?
SKYLA
Yeah. Besides it's not everyday that the queen gets married. Which ever one of you it is anyway.
GABRIELLE
Technically it's still Xena.
Xena rolled her eyes.
XENA
Don't remind me.
Gabrielle patted Xena's arm.
GABRIELLE
I guess I should figure out when the ceremonies actually gonna be so I can get writing the letter to my family inviting them to the wedding. You should write your mother too Xena. I know she'll wanna be here and maybe we'll get lucky and she'll bring your brother too.
XENA
If you insist. I don't know about Toris but I know mother will definitely want to be here.
Xena learned in and spoke quietly to Gabrielle.
XENA
(Whisper) As for your family I'm sure you're mother and Lila will love to be here for you but you know your father has never been to thrilled about us being together. You know he still blames me for taking you away from your home.
GABRIELLE
Find of all Xena you are my home. You should know that by now, as should my family. And second it's not as though father hates you. So if he truly wants to see me happy then he'll be here. And if not that's okay to. I'll still have mother and Lila here. Along with your mother and everyone else in the village. But most importantly I'll have you. And at the end of the day if it were just you and me making our vows to one another without another person around that would be all I needed.
Xena smiled as she once again didn't know how she'd gotten so lucky to have Gabrielle love her the way she did.
XENA
You always seem to know just the right thing to say when it comes to things like that don't you?
She kissed Gabrielle lightly and heard a couple giggles from the others at the table and looked at them.
XENA
Oh grow up.
Not long after everyone went about their own business as Xena and Gabrielle went to speak with Fauna and Cora in private since they were the most well versed in alot of the Amazon traditions and rituals.
FAUNA
I managed to come across some scrolls a while ago that might be able to help us find out how this might be done.
CORA
And I've also read it over so I think I might be able to help out with what you'll need.
Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other for a moment as the four women sat in Fauna's house on the floor in a circle before turning their attention back to the Fauna and Cora.
GABRIELLE
Okay so what do we have to do? I know Ephiny mentioned that there was some kind of test but she didn't know anything else about it.
XENA
I'm assuming that it's to prove something like our loyalty and dedication to one another right?
CORA
Yes exactly.
GABRIELLE
That shouldn't be too difficult. I mean after everything we've gone through together already I doubt some kind of test will be an issue at all.
CORA
Actually it's more like a series of tests but all at once. Kind of.
GABRIELLE
Okay now I'm confused. How are we supposed to do a bunch of tests at the same time?
FAUNA
Well it both is and isn't as complicated as it seems.
Xena made an irritated grumble. She always hated cryptic wording in things. She found it pointless and just made things unnecessarily difficult when it could just be stated plainly.
XENA
(Slightly annoyed tone) Meaning?
CORA
It's more difficult to explain then it is to put into practice.
Seeing that only annoyed Xena further Cora quietly continued.
CORA
But I'll try.
Cora and Fauna did their best to explain what Xena and Gabrielle were going to have to do in order to clear the tests and become able to get married as co queen's. After hearing everything Gabrielle looked down.
GABRIELLE
Oh that sounds like alot.
Xena put her hand on Gabrielle's leg.
XENA
You know we don't have to do this if you don't want to. I can just give up being queen and it could go back to the way things were before you got hurt.
Gabrielle looked at Xena.
GABRIELLE
I thought you said you wanted to marry me?
Xena smiled.
XENA
And I do. But it doesn't have to be like this. Not if you don't want to go through all of this to do it. This might be dangerous. We don't know what might happen during these tests.
Gabrielle scowled.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) So you don't think I can handle it is that it?
XENA
I never said that.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) No but you were thinking it. You know just because I got hurt doesn't mean that I can't still handle myself Xena.
XENA
I know you can. No one here thinks you can't.
Xena cautiously took Gabrielle's hand in hers.
XENA
Gabrielle is something wrong?
Gabrielle took a deep, calming breath. As she relaxed.
GABRIELLE
Yeah I'm okay. It's just after the whole getting injured and practically dying thing I guess I was worried that you were gonna go back to being overly proactive of me again.
XENA
You have to worry about with that. Ever since we've come to this village I've seen you grow so much as you took charge of things when these people needed you. Infact I'm not sure where this place would be if it weren't for you. So trust me Gabrielle I'm fully aware of just how capable you truly are.
GABRIELLE
Thanks. I'm glad to hear you say that.
Xena smirked.
XENA
(Half joking) Hey you're not the only one who's chaged since we've been here.
GABRIELLE
I'm glad to hear you say that. And I'm sorry for getting mad and jumping to conclusions like I did.
XENA
It's okay. Though it's not like you to get so upset like that so quickly. Is everything alright?
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) No, it's not.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
(Lying) Yeah it's fine. Just a silly misunderstanding that's all.
(Thinking to herself) Gods I can't believe I jumped down Xena's throat like that. What's wrong with me?
FAUNA
Is everything okay here?
Xena and Gabrielle's attention returned to Fauna and Cora. Gabrielle couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed about her outburst.
GABRIELLE
Yeah sorry about that. Probably not the best display for people are about to go through a test to see if their fit to be married.
FAUNA
It's okay Gabrielle. It's perfectly normal for lovers to quarrel and have disagreements. What matters is how they deal with and work through whatever problems they might face together. Which is exactly what these tests are for. So if anything you're already looking pretty good for being able to get through this just fine.
Gabrielle gave a small sigh of relief as Fauna and Cora finished explaining what the test would intale. All the while Xena couldn't shake the feeling of how uncharacteristic it was for Gabrielle to have gotten so angry at her for such a simple commitment. As perceptive as she was Xena had a gut feeling that something was bothering Gabrielle but Xena didn't know what it was.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) Maybe she's just nervous about whatever we're gonna be doing for this test. But still it's not like Gabrielle to act like that seemingly out of nowhere. I think there's something else to it that she didn't say. But I could be wrong so I'll keep quiet about it for now and see how she acts going forward.
Once everything about the tests had been explained and all questions answered Xena and Gabrielle stood up.
FAUNA
Do either of you need me to go over anything else further?
GABRIELLE
No I think we got it.
FAUNA
Good to hear. So why don't you go home and get a good night's sleep. We'll meet back together tomorrow bright and early in the morning to begin.
Gabrielle sighed.
GABRIELLE
Why does everything have to require waking up early?
The other's laughed a bit knowing full well that Gabrielle had never been a morning person. As Xena and Gabrielle headed out the door Fauna gave them one more friendly reminder.
FAUNA
Oh and I know it might be more challenging for you two than alot of others but don't forget you can't have any further sexual contact until after you're joining ceremony.
This time it was Xena who let out an unhappy groan as Gabrielle giggled and patted Xena's shoulder in mock sympathy as they left.
GABRIELLE
Okay so you're sure you're fine with watching Aurora again?
Skyla looked down and tickled the baby's belly as she held the child while sitting on the steps in front of Xena and Gabrielle's house in the morning sun.
SKYLA
Like I've said before, me and Clover are more than happy to watch this little princess here anytime.
Skyla smiled as she looked back up at Gabrielle.
SKYLA
No why don't you go and do what you gotta do so you can marry that big princess turned queen of yours.
Gabrielle smiled as she turned around and walked over to Xena who was waiting for her a few feet away.
XENA
Ready to do this?
GABRIELLE
Yeah let's go.
With that the two made their way to the waterfall where Cora had told them to meet her. They saw a small tent set up and Cora waiting for them outside of it.
CORA
Are you both ready to begin?
XENA
We are.
GABRIELLE
Yes.
CORA
Okay. Then let's go inside and we can start.
With that Xena and Gabrielle followed Cora as all three entered the small tent to begin the tests. But little did Xena or Gabrielle know that within the next several days everything that was between them would be on the line as they would soon be forced to see the darkest parts of one another which neither would have ever exspected to see with their own eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED...