ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Gabrielle's Discovery
(Part 2 of the "Awakening" Series from Gabrielle's Point of View)

by Hunter Ash

Disclaimers: The usual stuff: I don’t own them, I wish I did, I intend no harm. I don’t own anything, don’t sue me.

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: Yes, and I hope it causes some pulses to race a little. This story is about two people in a romantic and sexual relationship of the same gender. If this is illegal for you - do something about it: leave, move, change your laws. If this type of story bugs you - go somewhere else.

Violence: Some hurt and comfort here and one death.

Storyline: This takes the viewpoint of Gabrielle during the An Awakening series. It is a retelling of "Discovery, An Awakening II". I hope I’ve added some new insight and new situations but don’t be surprised if you recognize a large chunk of the work. It’s kinda like one of those "meanwhile, back at the ranch," things.
In this story Gabrielle learns some truths about her past.

Feedback: Please! Bard feeding is always welcome! It’s like mead to a viking!

Gabrielle stood up from the small table in the room and began pacing again, parchment and pen discarded on the table. She knew it was going to be another sleepless night and it wasn't the first of the week either.

Once again she cursed the bandits who were causing all the trouble for her and her mate, her beloved Xena. The bandits had attempted to take over two villages and Xena had spent her time running back and forth between the villages, building defenses, training the villagers and tracking the bandits for over a week now.

Gabrielle had barely seen Xena in all that time and never overnight. The bard was beginning to get a little more than irritable from worry and lack of sleep. She also felt helpless and that made her even more irritable than usual. No matter how often it happened she just couldn't get used to being left behind when Xena left for battle.

Gabrielle looked out the window again, looking at the stars. It wasn't that she wanted to fight, the bard knew herself well enough to know that she couldn't kill. It was just being left behind from Xena that was bugging her.

The reddish blond woman smiled to herself. How many times had she and Xena fought over this very issue? How many times had she disobeyed the warrior? Then she smiled ruefully to herself, how many times had she gotten into trouble because of it?

She had reluctantly agreed to stay out of the way this time. The bandits were hitting in several places at once and no one knew where they were going to strike.

Xena hadn't wanted to worry about her and everyone else at the same time. Added to the danger was that these bandits were slavers, a chill ran down any woman's spine at the thought of being captured by this lot.

The bard practically flew across the room at the soft knock on the door. She cautiously opened the door, hand on her staff by the door and looked into the hallway.

The tall cloaked figure pulled the hood back and Gabrielle gave a small cry of joy when she saw her mate's face and tired smile. She quickly pulled the warrior into the room and barred the door.

Gabrielle quickly grabbed at the cloak clasp and pulled the heavy wet cloth from Xena's shoulders and stepped back to get a look at the warrior. "Oh gods," she muttered.

Xena was covered in mud, road grime, blood and other..... stuff. Gabrielle had seen her mate after battle before but it was always a shock when Xena came in from the field. The bard's eyes quickly took in the torn leathers, dented metal, and slashed bracer. She also gasped at the vicious looking slash across the warrior's thigh that was bandaged, probably two days before. Blood was still trickling from a wound on the warrior's sword arm and her left eye was swollen and beginning to turn black and blue.

"Come on, love" Gabrielle coaxed the warrior into a chair and began removing the dented and cut leather armor. After the smaller woman removed the upper armor Xena leaned back in the chair.

"Missed you," she said softly, closing her eyes.

"I missed you, my love." Gabrielle responded, kneeling down before the warrior and beginning to tug at the knee protectors and laces of the warrior's boots. With a little more encouragement she got the warrior to stand and was able to remove everything but the leather shift from the tall woman. Xena barely opened her eyes as she let the bard lead her to the bathing room.

Gabrielle quickly barred the door and pulled the leather off her warrior and gently guided the battered body into the tub. The bard was frowning as Xena sighed with pleasure at the warm water. Gabrielle made a mental note to find and thank whoever had the foresight to fill the tub when they saw the warrior come in. Xena's lead dropped forward almost immediately as Gabrielle grabbed a sponge and began rubbing the tired body in front of her.

"Can't let you stay in too long, my love." Gabrielle said softly. "Don't want to open those wounds any more than they are."

"Hmmm," Xena mumbled.

Gabrielle frowned. It wasn't like Xena to relax this much anywhere except maybe in a barred room in the arms of her bard. Gabrielle couldn't say that she had ever gotten used to Xena's heightened sense of alertness, brought about by years of being a warrior and a target, but she knew it was in the warrior's nature now and for Xena to drop off like this was unusual and worried the bard.

A knock interrupted her and she carefully unbarred the door to find the Captain of the Guards standing there, helmet in hand, looking about as grime covered as Xena had been.

"I wanted to make sure she made it here. It's over, the bandits have cleared out and both villages are safe. She rode very hard to get here." he told the bard.
"Thank the gods, can you send for the healer, she has a bad cut on her leg."

"Of course, I'll get her personally. Both villages owe you both a great debt." Misenus replied with a smile.

Gabrielle waved off his thanks. "Don't worry about it, it's what we do." With an answering grin he was gone and the bard turned back to getting a nearly unconscious Xena out of the tub and dried off. With another curse about bandits she got the warrior back to their room and into bed.

Within a candlemark the warrior's leg was stitched and all wounds bandaged. Gabrielle frowned and noticed the healer frowning as well. Xena hadn't even flinched when the medicine woman began sewing up the vicious wound. The healer moved alongside the bed and felt the warrior's forehead.

Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat and she was beside the healer instantly when she heard the other woman curse under her breath.

"What is it?" the bard demanded.

"Fever. Might just be from exhaustion. I'll leave some herbs for healing tea. Get her to rest, no fighting, no traveling, nothing, just rest."

"She'll rest." Gabrielle felt her jaw tighten with resolve. Xena had often told Gabrielle that she had a stubborn streak even wider and stronger than the warrior's and the bard had to admit to herself that Xena was probably right. Seemed to run in the family, she thought.

The healer refused payment, telling Gabrielle that everything would be paid for by the three villages Xena had just saved. Once the healer left the bard felt overwhelmingly tired. It had been a long week for both the warrior and bard. She pulled off her clothing and changed into her night shift. With a sigh the bard crawled into the bed next to her warrior and wrapped her arms around the taller woman. For once Xena slept soundly in the bard's arms instead of the other way around.

Gabrielle was a little surprised to find Xena still sleeping soundly when she woke up the next morning. After their travels on the road the bard was accustomed to having the warrior wake her up or find Xena all ready up and cooking breakfast or something. Having the warrior holding her hand tightly in her sleep was new.

The bard gently nuzzled the back of Xena's neck and lightly hugged her warrior and got out of the bed and got dressed. When she returned a few minutes later with a breakfast tray she was surprised to find the warrior attempting to sit up in bed.

"You shouldn’t be sitting up!" Gabrielle scolded.

"Why not? I’m not out of bed. I have a feeling you’re not going to let me out." Xena attempted a small grin.

Gabrielle smiled and placed the tray over her mate's lap and then felt Xena's forehead. She felt herself frown.

"Still running a fever, you are definitely not getting out of bed today." she announced.

"Does that mean you'll be joining me?" the warrior teased and the bard yelped as she scurried out of her lover's reach.

"No you don't, my Princess." Gabrielle grinned, "the healer said you were to rest and you'll rest."

"At least kiss me," Xena complained and Gabrielle quickly removed the tray and began kissing her lover, finally letting all the pent up emotions of the last week become translated into the kiss. She felt Xena relax and her own body begin to melt and meld into the warrior's. The bard felt her own temperature rising and trailed her kisses from Xena's wonderful lips to her neck and then down towards her breasts. Gabrielle felt herself moan as Xena's breath became rapid and shallow, her own quickly matching it.

"You keep this up and you won't be getting out of this bed," Xena growled.

With a slight shake of her head, the bard moved out of reach again and stood by the bed, trying to catch her breath.

"Gabrielle," Xena growled again.

The small woman couldn't resist an evil grin at her mate. "Nope, healer said you were to rest." Then she turned serious and put the tray back on the warrior's lap and encouraged her mate to eat. She sat down on the edge of the bed, making sure Xena ate.

"Seriously, how bad was it?" she asked.

Her quick green eyes didn't miss the look of pain that passed over her lover's blue eyes. Xena's smile disappeared and she looked tired again.

"Not good. We lost a lot of good men and it turned brutal at the end." she whispered.

"Brutal?" Gabrielle asked softly.

"You don't want to hear this, little one."

Gabrielle felt a wave of love for her mate, Xena was always trying to protect her. She smiled and placed a reassuring hand over Xena's. "Yes, I do. You're wounded badly, exhausted and I have the feeling that you almost died. I want to know that it worked out."

"It did," Xena sighed. "but not before they hanged several townspeople that they had taken prisoner earlier. They hanged the men right in front of us." Gabrielle noted the warrior's jaw clenching tightly and the hand she was holding tightened as well.

"Oh gods," Gabrielle whispered. The young bard closed her eyes as she pictured the scene and felt the overwhelming sorrow that the villagers must have felt. She was also angry, it was all so damned senseless! The men who died, their families who watched and to Xena who had to lead those men. Gabrielle feared what that might have done to her battle scarred warrior's darker side.

"Yes. We finally broke them. What's left of their leaders will be facing those same ropes when the villagers are through with a trial." Xena said grimly.

"You didn't...." Gabrielle let the question trail off, afraid to finish the sentence but she was rewarded with a reassuring smile from the warrior.

"No, I didn't give into the darkness, even with that."

Gabrielle squeezed her warrior's hand. "I love you!"

"I love you too, little one." then Xena looked frustrated. "For crying aloud, get me the pack from last night. There was a reason I was riding like demons were after me and I fell asleep!"

"You were feverish, exhausted and in pain." Gabrielle countered as she handed the warrior the pack. She started to ask the warrior what was going on but Xena held up a hand and stopped her. The warrior finally pulled a folded up piece of parchment that had been sealed with wax and handed it to the bard.

Gabrielle examined the parchment but found no writing and no seal in the wax. She looked back at her warrior with a puzzled look.

"A messenger found me yesterday from your family. I figured I could move faster than he could after the battle was over."

Gabrielle felt her heart skip a beat. "My family?" A wave of fear crashed over the bard. No one hired messengers unless it was very important. She looked up into Xena's eyes.

"You won't know until you open it, little one."

Gabrielle took a deep breath and opened the seal and unfolded the parchment. The little bard read the writing twice, blinking rapidly. It wouldn't sink in. What?
"No!" Gabrielle found herself by the window again, trying to think. Father?

She heard Xena's voice softly reading the parchment behind her:

Dearest Gabrielle,

 Patronius, the healer is writing this for me. I hope this finds you well. I must tell you that your father suffered an accident two days after the Spring Full Moon and is gone. I do not know if this will reach you in time for the funeral but it would be good of you both to come home for a few days. I love you and you are both welcome. 

Lovingly, Hecuba.

The words finally sank in as she felt Xena's arms grab her and turn her around. She slid into her warrior's arms as the tears began to fall. With the last bit of confusion and strength she let Xena lead her to the bed and let herself be enveloped into the warrior's strength and finally let go as she realized the impact of the words her mother had written.

Her father was dead.

"Xena, I was so angry when we left!" she cried. "He thought I hated him!" she clung to the older woman.

"No, he didn't. We talked before we left, little one. He loved you very much and knew that you loved him." she heard Xena's voice telling her.

Gabrielle was confused. When they left Gabrielle's home her father had been in a rage.

"You talked?" she raised her head to look into Xena's eyes. The warrior nodded. "Even after the fight? After he found out I loved you? Remember his face?"

She saw Xena smile with that memory. Of course, Gabrielle also remembered Xena's face and eyes when Herdoctus had threatened Gabrielle and had struck Lila. 

Then he had been on the verge of threatening Xena. Gabrielle wasn't sure if her father ever realized how close he had come to being thrown through the closed barn door that day. Or killed.

Gabrielle remembered coming between the two strong willed people and settling everyone down. She looked up at the warrior for answers and Xena began telling her how Herdoctus had come to her while Gabrielle was talking with her mother. How her father had apologized for his behavior and for striking Lila and promised never to do it again. Gabrielle listened, stunned. Her father apologized for his behavior?

Xena went on to tell her that he admitted he hadn't been a good father sometimes and regretted it. The warrior also blushed when she told her mate how Herdoctus had questioned Xena about her love for Gabrielle and how he made the warrior promise to make his daughter happy.

"Why didn't he tell me?" Gabrielle whispered, tears beginning again.

"He was too stubborn. He thought it was too soon after the fight and he promised to tell you the next time we visited." Xena again held the bard as she began crying again.

Finally, Gabrielle felt like the tears had stopped, at least for awhile. "I need to see my mother," she whispered.

"Of course, we'll leave right away." Xena agreed.

Gabrielle frowned and sat up on the bed, looking at her mate. With careful eyes she noted the haggard look of her mate, the thinness, the bruising and the flushed feverish look. "What are we going to do, you can't travel with those wounds and fever."

"I'm not staying here! Not with bandits still running around!" Xena insisted.

Gabrielle stood up and went towards their packs. "You can't travel either."

The bard spun around at the sound of Xena's muttered curse in time to see the warrior throw her drinking cup across the room in frustration. Gabrielle stood still with her arms crossed for a moment and smiled. "Feel better?" then the bard turned and began packing her packs. "I'll even take a horse and it's in the opposite direction of the bandits." she told the warrior.

"I am not amused!" Xena growled. Gabrielle felt her heart grow heavy with the thought of leaving Xena, of being separated again so soon and crossed over to the bed. She reached out and gently stroked Xena's cheek and Xena's nuzzled the hand.

"I know, my love, but I have to get home and I need to stop on the way and see my uncle. My mother left a parchment with him in case anything happened to her or my father."

"Parchment? What about?"

"I don't know, she said it would answer some questions I had growing up and why my father sensed something different about me." Gabrielle moved back to packing.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Xena questioned, her own curiosity awakened.

"I didn't want to think about it. You know how curious I can get, I figured if I forgot about it I might be able to resist wanting to know what it was. That and I didn't want to think about reading it soon." Gabrielle turned and fought back another round of tears. To read that parchment meant that her father or mother was dead.  It was too soon!

"You hate to ride," Xena commented.

"Yes," Gabrielle simply agreed, not rising to an argument.

"You'll be careful?" Xena's voice sounded small and lost and it dragged at the bard's heart. She found herself in her warrior's arms again, another round of tears flowing despite her wishes. She let Xena hold her tight, both crying.

Gabrielle did hate traveling by horse. She hadn't grown up around horses and they made her nervous. After several disasters with Argo, Xena had finally been able to teach the young bard how to care for Argo but Gabrielle still hadn't gotten used to riding. Now, as she approached her uncle's home she was feeling it. Fortunately the stable owner had given her a very gentle mare and Gabrielle had been grateful over the day's ride. Now she just wanted off the horse and a warm bed for the night.

The bard frowned as she stopped the horse outside of the door. It was getting close to dark and there weren't any lamps lit inside and no smoke coming from the fireplace. Gabrielle dismounted cautiously, staff in hand and ready. No one answered her knocks and she entered slowly.

After a quick scan through the house she realized that no one was home and hadn't been all day. She lit a lamp and went back to the horse and retrieved a piece of blank parchment and her pen and ink.

She had decided to leave a quick note to her aunt and uncle and continue onto the next village for the night. She didn't want to impose on her uncle's home without permission.

Movement caught her eye as she walked out of the door and she instinctively flung her staff up over her head in time to catch a sword blow. She felt the broken staff catch her cheek and felt blood begin flowing. She ducked back through the door but it crashed inward before she could bolt it. She felt the table against her back and grabbed for the lamp as her attacker was framed in the doorway. With a growl she launched the lamp at him and was satisfied and horrified at the same time when the fire caught his clothing. The man screamed and fell back out of the doorway. Gabrielle ran to the door to see him rolling on the ground, attempting to put the flames out.

"Damn you, Gabrielle!" he cried out, batting at the flames.

Gabrielle stood stunned, looking at the man. A memory flashed to the surface, her wedding.

"Mens?" Perdicus's brother? "What?"

"You're dead, bitch." he muttered as the last of the flames went out.

Gabrielle looked in his eyes and saw the light of madness in them. She quickly flashed on several decisions and tore at the necklace around her neck, letting it drop beside the broken staff at her feet. Then she bounded onto the horse, sending the poor mare flying down the road.

"Gabrielle!" Menestratus screamed after her.

Gabrielle suddenly wished she was on Argo.

Gabrielle entered the village slowly, leaning over the poor mare. Both looked and were exhausted. She had taken the road leading to Potedaia and then backtracked, as she had learned from Xena, hoping to throw off Mens from her trail. So far, she hadn't heard him behind her for a couple of hours. The bard wasn't going to count on that though, Perdicus' brother was a soldier and hunter. She was sure he could pick up her trail, if not in the dark then at first light.

She had kept riding, having to slow down for the poor horse. The bard spotted the welcome lights of an inn and hitched her horse to a post outside.

Gabrielle entered the tavern carefully, just as Xena had taught her, she thought. She felt a familiar longing in her heart and soul, a longing and fear. She really wished Xena was with her. Even when under attack she was rarely afraid with Xena around, now she was being chased by someone who said they wanted her dead and she was unarmed and without her mate.

Seeing only local farmers and such the bard moved slowly to the bar and smiled a tired smile at the barkeep, a middle aged man getting around on a pair of crutches.

"Can I help you?" he asked. "I have excellent rooms and my cook is wonderful."

"No, thank you. I need to trade my horse, she's done in and I'm in a hurry. It's very important."

"I'm sorry, young lady, but I don't think so." he frowned.

"The stablemaster?"

"I own the stable too." he seemed to be looking Gabrielle over and frowned again. "You need a bed, food and rest, not another horse." he commented.

"You're right but I don't have the time or the option, thank you. Listen, do you trust the word of Xena?"

"Yes, totally."

Gabrielle was pleased and surprised, Xena's name could bring a lot of reactions out of people and they weren't usually positive. She was pleased that she had taken the chance with this man. She was also determined to change those other opinions of Xena someday.

"I'm a friend and she should be a couple of days behind me. I swear before all the gods that she'll make up any difference in the value of any horse you want to trade me. Please."

The barkeep frowned and then nodded. He began moving down to the other end of the bar and around it. He stopped for a moment to talk with a very large woman serving drinks. Then he joined Gabrielle at the door.

"What demon is after you, girl?" he asked as he looked over her horse and began pulling the saddle and bags off.

"I need to get somewhere quickly."

"Listen, I'm not a fool. You've a cut on your cheek that hasn't been attended to. You've been riding hard for quite awhile, your clothes, hair and horse show it. You're on the run from something or someone."

Gabrielle fought back the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes. "Someone wants to hurt me and I'm going somewhere safe."

"Until Xena can find you? Or is it Xena that you've pissed off?" he asked with a grin.

"What? No, nothing like that. She's my friend."

"I'm Timicus," he said, extending his hand.

Gabrielle let her instincts take over and smiled at the man, returning his handshake. "I'm Gabrielle," she responded.

"The bard that travels with Xena."

"Yes,"

Gabrielle was surprised when the large woman came around the building leading a large horse. Timicus smiled at the young woman's surprise.
"Xena's a friend of mine, too. You need to travel fast and this guy will do it."

Gabrielle swallowed. "Okay."

"You should stay, you'll be safe here. My word as Xena's friend that I'll protect you." he said seriously.

"Thank you, Timicus. I don't know if Mens is alone or not, I know he's a bandit and there might be others with him. Where I'm going it would take an army to reach me. I just have to get there in time."

"All right, I'll watch for Xena and you can trade horses when you come back this way. You'll also find a pack of food on the big guy."

"Timicus, I can't...."

The bar owner held up his hand, cutting off her protests. "Don't worry about it. You're always welcome here. Orithya, help her onto the horse."
Gabrielle blushed but accepted the larger woman's help up into the saddle. Timicus reached up to shake her hand again.
"He's a good horse and not stubborn. Just ride straight there and he'll fly."

"Thank you both."

Gabrielle let the horse have his lead and he began to fly and the young bard felt a ray of hope as she hung on for dear life.

Gabrielle allowed the horse to slow down a bit as she approached Amazon territory, beginning to think that she might make it to safety. She stopped the horse to take a drink from a waterskin when a crossbow bolt shot past her head. With lightning speed she found herself holding another bolt in her hand, having caught it on instinct. She looked over down the road and saw Menestratus reloading his crossbow. With a snarl she urged her stallion back into a run and headed across the meadow, heading for Amazon territory, clinging to the horse.

As her horse broke through a line of trees Gabrielle heard a challenging bird cry but didn't stop her horse until she was across a clearing and in another tree line. She fell off the horse and dashed behind a tree, raising her hands and clasping her wrists together in a sign that she was unarmed.

She heard Menestratus break into the clearing on his horse, looking for her.

"Stop there or die!" a harsh voice shouted out from the trees.

Gabrielle peeked around the tree and saw the man stop his horse, looking puzzled. With a snarl he began to move the horse forward again only to pull up suddenly when several arrows penetrated the ground in front of the horse.

"You are entering Amazon territory and you are not welcome. Leave or die." the voice ordered.

"Send the girl out! She's not one of you!" he demanded.

Gabrielle sensed movement and turned to see several Amazons drop from the surrounding trees, weapons at ready. They went to their knees immediately upon seeing her face.

The lead border guard spoke, "My Queen, do we kill him?"

"No," Gabrielle glanced back at Menestratus. "Tell him you have granted the bard sanctuary and to leave." she instructed.

The lead border guard shouted that at Menestratus who glared about him, obviously debating whether to risk it.

"Let me kill him, my Queen." one of the Amazons demanded.

"No, put an arrow over his head. Part his hair." Gabrielle smiled grimly.

The Amazon grinned and took careful aim. The Amazon Queen had no doubt in the archer's ability, even shooting at a target on a horse shifting on it's legs. Menestratus cursed and turned his horse at a run when the arrow clipped his ear.

The border guard leader turned to her Queen, noting the exhaustion and and cut cheek. "My Queen, I'll send a runner ahead to announce your return. Menthia will ride behind you and escort you to the village. I'm going to double the guards on the border."

Gabrielle nodded as one of the guards bounded onto the horse and then helped the bard into the saddle. By the time they reached the village Gabrielle felt her head dropping forward and the Amazon behind her discreetly put her arms around the small bard, holding onto the reins and keeping her Queen from falling out of the saddle.

Gabrielle was barely aware of reaching the village, hearing anxious and demanding voices. Not really listening as the runner and her escort told the Regent Ephiny what they knew of Gabrielle's presence there. She was aware of being helped down off the horse and into someone's arms.

"Xena?" she whispered.

"No, my Queen. I wish she were here to explain this, though."

Gabrielle smiled at Ephiny's voice. "She's safe." she whispered and closed her eyes again.

Gabrielle moaned as she opened her eyes, her body felt like it had been under the horse and not on top of it for the last two days. She raised up on her elbows, looking around and taking in the familiar sight of the Queen's hut. She sighed with relief, barely remembering making it to the Amazon territory.

Ephiny rose from the chair she had been sitting in and sat on the bed next to her Queen.

"I hope you don't mind me watching over you." the Regent smiled.

"Not at all, my friend." Gabrielle looked around again. "How long was I asleep?"

"Twelve hours." she grinned at the bard's shocked expression. "I figured from your condition and how tired that horse was that you've been riding hard for at least a day and night."

"That's my second horse." Gabrielle confessed with a smile. She groaned again as she tried to move. "This reminds me why I prefer walking." she complained.
Ephiny grinned and stood up, helping the bard to her feet. "Get dressed and we'll feed you. You can also tell me what's going on."

Gabrielle did explain from the point of leaving Xena behind in one village and getting attacked at her Uncle's home by her ex-brother in law. Ephiny looked as puzzled as Gabrielle felt.

They sat down in the eating hall with food. Gabrielle welcomed the sight of food, having eaten little for several days. She hadn't been eating well when Xena was gone and she had been on the move and then on the run for days after that. Ephiny frowned at the sight of her Queen, too tired and too thin, she decided.

"I don't get it," Ephiny complained. "Why would he want you dead?"

"I haven't a clue!" Gabrielle complained right back. "And I don't know what to do with him!"

"What can we do? If he's determined to kill you then he has to be killed." Ephiny said simply.

"No, you know how I feel about killing."

"Gabrielle, my Queen," Ephiny placed a hand over the bard's. "I know how you feel but it's sometimes not an option. Either we kill him or Xena does."

"Xena, any word from her?"

"Not yet. You said she'd be three days behind you, it'll take her time to get here."

"Maybe I can talk to him and find out what is going on." Gabrielle suggested.

"No! I approached his camp last night while you were asleep and asked that very question." Ephiny said slowly.

"And?" Gabrielle demanded, her jaw taking that stubborn set. She felt really frustrated and irritable. Much like her warrior, the bard hated not being in control like this.

"He refused to say why he wanted you, only that we should send you out and soon. I told him that you were under our protection and he wasn't happy about it."

"What in Tartarus could he want?!" Gabrielle snapped.

"I don't know. I've got scouts watching him. He's staying just outside of our territory, waiting for you."

"I need a bath." Gabrielle muttered.

"And something to hit too, I think." Ephiny grinned and ducked Gabrielle's playful swipe at her head.

"Gods, I wish Xena were here." the bard muttered.

Ephiny watched as her young Queen crossed the common grounds towards the Queen's Hut. "So do I, Gabrielle. I've got a feeling you two are even closer than ever and that you really need her right now."

Gabrielle, feeling the same, let her tears fall into the bath water. Crying for her father, her family and her lover, and herself.

She also cursed Menestratus, whatever his reasoning, he was keeping her away from her family, her father's funeral, and her mate.

Gabrielle was wrapping leather around a new staff when Ephiny ran from between some huts and skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Gabrielle! My Queen,"

Gabrielle quickly stood up and grabbed Ephiny's arm. "What is it?" she demanded.

Ephiny swallowed visibly and then brought up a familiar shiny object. Gabrielle took it in her hand, staring at it, stunned.

No one else had a chakram like this, no one but her mate.

"Xena?" she whispered.

"Menestratus told the border guard that he has Xena and that you are to meet him in a clearing five marks from here at sundown or she dies." Ephiny said through gritted teeth.

"No," the bard whispered and Ephiny placed a hand on the young woman's arm to steady her.

"Gabrielle, you can't do it." Ephiny growled.

Flashing green eyes met the Regent's. "I won't let her die!" Gabrielle hissed.

"And I won't let either of you die!"

"Then let's get her back." Gabrielle said simply, heading for the main hut. "Bring the scout and guard leaders in. I want the best archers we've got ready to leave in half a candlemark."

"Yes, my Queen," Ephiny dashed away to get the instructions out before joining Gabrielle in the hut.

"Hesione," Gabrielle called out to another Amazon as she walked.

"Yes, my Queen!"

"Tell the Healer to be prepared." she ordered.

"Yes, my Queen!"

Gabrielle entered the hut with a curse. She had been afraid for herself, now she was terrified for her lover. She knew Xena wouldn't go down without a fight, which meant the warrior was probably even more wounded than the last time the bard had seen her. Gabrielle felt the stirrings of hatred beginning. She could understand just a touch of that darkness Xena had once fallen into. She was beginning to hate Menestratus.

Gabrielle followed behind the scout quietly. Travelling with Xena had taught the bard how to walk silently through the forest and through the tree tops. Having been adopted into the Amazon tribe had furthered her training. Xena had been pleased whenever they visited the Amazons that Gabrielle had taken every opportunity to train with the women warriors and scouts in addition to her studying of the Amazon scrolls.

The scout stopped and motioned her Queen forward. Gabrielle moved cautiously along the large tree branch and glanced into the clearing. The scout grabbed the bard's arm to steady her as the scout heard a growl from her Queen.

Gabrielle felt a roaring in her ears and eyes clouded over, seeing red. Then she shook her head and cleared her vision.

Chained and blindfolded between two trees was her mate, her lover, her life. Gabrielle was close enough to see the bloody wound at the warrior's thigh and the blood seeping from a wound in her shoulder. She clutched her bow as she saw Menestratus approach Xena and then hit her in the face, sending the warrior's head snapping back and forth. Gabrielle bit her own lip as Xena's began to bleed.

"How soon is everyone in position?" she whispered to the scout. The scout sent out several bird calls and received several back.

"They are in place." she answered.

"Good,"

Ephiny joined them. "Everyone is ready, Gabrielle. Let one of the archers take him." she urged.

"He's mine." Gabrielle said flatly.

"Scout, take a position in the next tree." Ephiny ordered and the smaller Amazon scurried through the tree and away. "Gabrielle, let one of the archers take him. Don't give into this feeling, this is what Xena fights against for you."

Gabrielle felt her muscles begin to relax and the roaring in her ears began to die down. She lowered her bow and her head.

"You're right. I couldn't even kill Callisto when I had a dagger at her throat. I can't do this." she whispered.

They both looked up to see Menestratus hit Xena again and Ephiny found herself growling along with Gabrielle. Ephiny whistled a bird call, knowing every one of the archers were pulling back on their bows as they answered.

Gabrielle saw Xena's head snap up when she heard the bird calls and felt a surge of joy, Xena knew the Amazons were there!

"Tell them to fire if he starts to touch her again." Gabrielle ordered and Ephiny called out the orders in the special code the Amazons shared.

Xena and Menestratus seemed to be arguing and the man yelled something and raised his dagger as he rushed the warrior woman.

"No!" Gabrielle cried out, drawing her own arrow back. Before Menestratus could clear the space between him and Xena he was pierced through the throat with a cleanly placed arrow. Several more followed, piercing his chest from front and behind. None of the arrows came close to the warrior woman.

Gabrielle knew she risked her neck at the speed she left the trees but didn't care. Nothing existed except to get to her lover. The other Amazons trotted to catch up.
"Xena!"

"Gabrielle!" Xena cried out as Gabrielle grabbed her. The bard quickly kissed her lover's lips and removed the blindfold. The Amazons crowded in and began undoing the chains at the trees as two of them helped the warrior to the ground.

"I love you, little one." Xena whispered and closed her eyes.

"Xena! No!" Gabrielle wailed.

Gabrielle felt someone lifting her up and mumbled a weak protest.

"Quiet, my Queen. You'll not do Xena any good if you grieve yourself to death with exhaustion. You're going to get some sleep. I'll watch over her." Ephiny's voice carried to Gabrielle's ears and, despite whatever her mind might have wished, the bard found herself settling into the strong arms that carried her to the next hut and placed her in a bed.

"Ephiny, wake me if anything changes," she whispered as Ephiny covered her.

"Immediately." the Regent promised.

Ephiny smiled at her mate, Solori as she joined the woman outside the hut and headed back to the Healer's hut.

"You actually got her to sleep?" her mate asked.

"No, her body finally did." Ephiny smiled a very tired smile. "I'm going to stay with Xena while Gabrielle and the healer sleep."

"All right, lover." Solori hesitated. "Do you think there'll be any change? It's been days and her fever was so high."

Ephiny closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't know. She's strong but Gabrielle says that she was sick before that bastard got a hold of her."
"Gods, everyone is praying on this one." Solari mentioned.

"Good, can't hurt. I do know one thing," Ephiny said softly, stopping outside the hut door.

"What's that, love?"

"If Xena crosses over then Gabrielle will follow."

"What!? No!"

"I think so, look at her now! She's wasting away and I can't stop it." Ephiny growled.

"Have they figured out what their relationship is, yet?" her mate asked, a note of frustration in her voice.

"I think so. If not they both need to be hit over the head and dumped in a cage for a week until they do." Ephiny smiled. "You know we rarely see this kind of grieving."

"I know. Go let the healer get some sleep. I'll keep watch out here."

Ephiny stroked her lover's cheek fondly. "Thank you, my love."

"You bet."

Ephiny settled in for a long night, watching the warrior sleep fitfully in a fever induced coma. The infection raging through her body. Ephiny felt tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She truly didn't know how long the warrior could go on like this.

"Come on, Xena!" she whispered fiercely. "Fight this! Gabrielle needs you!"

It was another two days and another struggle to get the bard to sleep or eat. Ephiny was also looking very worn out and the strain was getting to the Healer as well.
Gabrielle had finally settled into nightmare plagued dreams on the fifth day since they had brought Xena in. Nightmares of blood and of losing Xena kept the young Queen tossing and turning. Her body was demanding rest but her mind and soul were refusing it. The bard knew she, herself, was running a fever from the exhaustion and had dropped even more weight. Ephiny had almost punched the Queen into unconsciousness to get Gabrielle to sleep.

Gabrielle was awake instantly when Ephiny touched her shoulder. She sat up blinking rapidly, trying to focus both mind and eyes.

"Easy, Gabrielle." Ephiny said calmly.

"What's happened?" she demanded. Fear gripping her heart. She knew Ephiny would only wake her up if there had been a change and the Healer and Ephiny had warned her that it was unlikely that Xena would recover up from this point on.

"She's awake," the Regent grinned and grabbed Gabrielle to steady her as the bard leaped out of bed and then swayed from the lack of sleep and food. "Easy, she's talking and alert."

"Xena!" Gabrielle broke from Ephiny and dashed out of the hut.

In moments Gabrielle was in her warrior's good arm, kissing Xena and crying at the same time.

"Shhh, Little One," Xena said softly. "I'm all right."

Gabrielle finally pulled back and sat on the stool, holding Xena's hand while the other hand ran over the warrior's body, once again reassuring herself that her warrior was in one piece.

"You are not all right, you've been out for days." Gabrielle held the warrior's hand to her cheek.

"When was the last time you slept or ate?" the warrior demanded.

"They made me eat and Ephiny made me get some sleep." Gabrielle protested.

"Uh huh, let me guess, you've spent most of the last five days right there next to me." Xena gathered the bard back into her arm for another kiss and reassuring hug. "I love you, Gabrielle."

"Gods, I was so worried!" Xena reached up to brush away a fresh set of tears. The bard couldn't seem to stop touching Xena's hair, face, arms.

"It's okay. Just wasn't my week." the warrior smiled.

"Hah! That's an understatement." the bard grinned.

"What about your family, they were worried sick."

"I sent a runner to let them know I was okay and that you were safe."

"I'm sorry about your father's funeral."

"It's all right, just as long as you're safe, my love."

"For once you rescued me. Remind me to keep you around." Xena smiled and Gabrielle let the warrior pull her back into her good arm and found herself sighing as she snuggled into her familiar and favorite position, curled in Xena's arms, head on the warrior's shoulder. She carefully placed her arm around the warrior's waist and hugged softly.

"Forever." she whispered.

She felt Xena's body relax along with her own and drifted into nightmare free sleep.

Neither of them heard Ephiny enter the hut and smile at the sight of both of them asleep. Nor did they hear her order the guards that they were not to be disturbed.

After a day of bed rest and food the bard felt better than she had in weeks and was glad to be out of the hut. She and Ephiny had a more difficult time keeping Xena down though. Gabrielle smiled at the memory of the frustrated look on her mate's face. It did help that Xena couldn't put any weight on the leg and Gabrielle kept the crutches out of reach.

It was also extremely difficult for both women to keep their hands to themselves. It felt like forever to the bard since she had touched her lover with more than five minutes between them. Her body was aching to feel Xena's touch but neither of them had recovered enough yet.

The Amazon Queen was pleased that Ephiny had sent a messenger to her family, letting them know that Gabrielle was safe and Xena was with them. Ephiny had carefully worded the message so as not to alarm the family but to let them know the Amazons had both women and would protect them.

She let Ephiny catch her up on the politics that needed tending to, what documents needed signing, and such. Then they began planning for a bonding.

After two days Gabrielle had a headache and begged off any more planning. Xena had grumbled that this was probably going to get complicated and she was right. Combining a traditional Greek wedding with an Amazon bonding, then throwing in the politics that came with a royal wedding were getting to the bard.

The bard was delighted to find herself at the practice yard and several Amazons were eager to spar with her and the bard's new staff. Gabrielle was irritated with her own body when she quickly realized that she wasn't up to her usual speed and stamina but kept at the sparring, wanting to work her aching muscles and frustrations. The Amazon Queen always delighted in the training, especially the sparring. It was very much like a dance between opponents and Gabrielle loved to dance.

In the back of the Queen's mind was the events of the last two weeks and her frustration about all of it. She didn't understand why Menestratus wanted her dead, neither did Xena. Even after talking about it and finding out that the man had been with the Warlord on her worst raids, it didn't make sense. Why blame Gabrielle for Perdicus's death?

With a spin she swept the legs out from under one of her opponents and blocked a blow coming from overhead. She quickly put a foot in the other woman's stomach and pushed that attacker out of reach. She spun and blocked another parry with the staff laced along her forearm. The bard yelped and dived forward under another blow, coming up swinging.

With a laugh Gabrielle disarmed one opponent, tapped another on the head to signify a killing blow and swept another off her feet, then she found herself sitting on her tailbone rubbing her ribs where someone had tagged her with a staff. She grinned and stood up and helped up one of her sparring partners. Gabrielle was covered in sweat and dust and felt great. She had managed to work out a lot the tension and felt ready to face everything again.

She looked over at the sound of applause and felt her face blushing red when she saw Xena and Ephiny clapping on the other side of the fence.

The bard felt this followed up with a huge grin at the sight of her lover. It was good to see Xena moving about the village with the aid of crutches. Her face was strained from the pain and the fever she had gone through but she looked a lot better than she had in days. Gabrielle felt hope that everything just might be turning their way.

With the familiar set of her jaw line, the bard made a decision. Then she broke into a smile again seeing the love dancing in her mate's eyes. She vaulted over the fence and quickly hugged Ephiny and turned to hug her mate.

"You look great out there," Xena smiled and Gabrielle felt her face blushing again. She loved it when Xena complimented her on her developing fighting skills. Gabrielle was also aware that Xena was feeling conflicted about it. She didn't want Gabrielle to be a fighter but it was becoming a necessity.

"Thanks, I've been working at it," the bard replied, slipping into her lover's arms.

Ephiny stood up, "I’ve got things to attend to and a wedding to plan. Lots to do." she grinned.

"Why do I get the feeling this could get complicated," Xena complained.

Gabrielle laughed and sat down next to the tall woman.

"Probably. Ephiny says that it can get quite formal when it’s the Queen getting married. There’s two actual ceremonies - one for us, family and the blessing of the gods; then a public one that gets complicated and pompous." she warned with a smile.

"Gods, I should just throw you over Argo and drag you to a lonely island for the rest of our lives. I suppose you’ll want me to dress fancy."

Gabrielle lightly punched Xena’s arm, pretending to look annoyed with her warrior. "Can’t have you scaring the foreign diplomats with your sword and chakram at the ready, can we?"

"Diplomats?" Xena frowned and the bard laughed heartily.

"Xena, mighty Warrior Princess! You’d rather face an army alone than a royal court, wouldn’t you?" Gabrielle giggled.

"Yup, you bet." Xena readily agreed with a smile.

"It’s just show. Being the Queen they want to put on a big production, I’m getting them to tone it down a bit. I think you’ll like the private one." Gabrielle leaned her head on the warrior’s shoulder. "How’s the pain?"

"Better. Beginning to itch, always a good sign. The healer says the shoulder will probably hurt in cold weather from now on, guess that’ll go with the other aches and pains. Are you sure you want this old war-horse?" Xena teased.

"Let me show you." Gabrielle leaned up and, with one hand behind the warrior’s head, pulled Xena’s lips to hers. The bard surprised her warrior by pulling the woman down into her arms as Gabrielle sat down on the hay bale. It wasn't often that Xena let the bard hold her like this, it required absolute trust, one movement and the woman would be on her tailbone. Xena was usually more self-conscious about showing affection in public for her bard and Gabrielle knew it. Having Xena relax in the Amazon village like this was a treat for the bard.

Being a hopeless romantic and optimist, Gabrielle wanted to shout to the world about her love for the warrior woman. Common sense told her that this wasn't the safest thing to do in the world but that didn't mean she kept quiet easily.

Then Gabrielle thought about a secret she was ready to face. Xena sat up and stroked her lover's cheek.

"What is it, Gabrielle?"

"I'm ready to read that parchment," Gabrielle said softly.

"All right, go grab a bath and I’ll meet you at the stable." Xena told her.

"Can you ride yet?" the bard looked worried.

"I’ll use a fence to get on. Riding is easy, you can help me off when we get to the stream."

"Okay, I won’t be long." Gabrielle jumped up and kissed her lover again and then dashed off. The bard marveled again at how quickly Xena had read the change in Gabrielle's expression and body language. She wondered again for the hundredth time how they could have kept their feelings for each other hidden so well. Then the bard corrected herself with a smile, not from anyone around them, just themselves. How could they have been so blind?

Gabrielle sat down slowly on the cloak she had spread out, her face showing her concern as Xena approached from Argo, hobbling along on her crutches. Even though the warrior tried not to show any pain or emotion most of the time, the bard could see the tension in the warrior's face from the pain. Xena sat down cautiously, bring blankets and a couple of their travel packs with them.

They had come to a small stream that flowed over many boulders and rocks and offered many small ponds.

The bard reached into her own pack and pulled out the bottle and second parchment. After Xena had regained consciousness, Gabrielle had taken the parchment and bottle from the warrior's pack and opened it while lying back in Xena's arms. She had been very surprised to find the letter had been written by her mother while she was still pregnant with Gabrielle. The letter had instructed the bard to find a quiet lake, pool of water or a fountain, drink the contents of the flask with wine and watch to water. The letter also instructed her daughter to do this with her soulmate.

The bard turned the bottle over in her hand several times, frowning at it. She set it back down and turned over the folded parchment, also frowning at it.
Gabrielle was curiosity personified but this was a little nerve wracking.

"It's okay if you're not ready," Xena said softly. Gabrielle looked into her warrior's blue eyes with her green ones, a wide range of emotions showing: fear, concern, sadness, excitement, and love.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm as curious as a cat with a closed bag, but this..." she pointed to the bottle. "What could it be? What could my mother want to tell me before I was even born?"

"She said it might have some answers you've had."

Gabrielle growled her frustration and sat staring at the bottle for several moments, took a deep breath and grabbed the bottle up. With a quick movement she uncorked the bottle and turned her eyes to Xena.

The warrior pulled two goblets out of a pack and a wine flask. She filled the goblets and held them steady while Gabrielle poured the powder into them.
"I love you, Xena." Gabrielle said simply.

"I love you, Gabrielle." the warrior smiled a reassuring smile. "No matter what we find out."

Gabrielle lifted the goblet to her mouth and watched as Xena drank along with her. The bard watched her mate settle back against a rock and the bard moved between the warrior's legs and leaned back against her lover.

Gabrielle watched everything start to go fuzzy and felt like she was detaching from her body. Try as she might, the bard couldn't keep her eyes open and felt her head drop forward onto her chest.

Gabrielle didn't know how much time had passed but had the feeling it wasn't long. She opened her eyes and couldn't help but gasp and tighten her muscles. She felt Xena's body tense up as well.

The bard was stunned, they were by a lake, not a stream. A very calm and gentle lake and Gabrielle realized with a start that she knew the lake, it was near her home in Potedaia.

The small woman resisted the impulse to leap to her feet at the sound of someone crashing through the brush. Gabrielle felt her heart skip a beat as a young woman fought her way through the brush and trees nearby and ran right past her and Xena.

It was as if the woman didn't even see them.

"Mother?" Gabrielle felt herself whisper and Xena's body jump as she, too, recognized the young woman throwing herself down on the water grass near the lake, in tears and holding her face.

"She can’t hear or see us, Gabrielle. We’re like ghosts."

"But she’s younger."

"Yes, we’re watching back in time somehow."

Gabrielle leaned back into Xena’s arms again. "Hold me, please." she whispered and the warrior wrapped her arms around the bard and Gabrielle grabbed onto the arms, holding tightly.

Hecuba, the woman destined to be Gabrielle's mother was sobbing, her body shaking, being racked by the tears. Gabrielle felt helpless, she wanted to take the young woman in her arms and comfort her, she also wanted to know why her mother was crying so hard.

Gabrielle felt a chill pass through her. "Someone's there." she whispered and felt Xena's muscles tense up again as the warrior realized the same thing.

There was a stranger with her mother.

"Why are you crying, woman?" the man asked.

Hecuba squeaked and sat up, stumbling backwards. It was almost dark and she was alone with a stranger.

"I mean you no harm, why are you crying?" the stranger sat down on his haunches, probably trying to put young Hecuba at ease.

"My husband, he..... he came home drunk and....." Hecuba continued to sob.

"He hurt you and forced you." the stranger stated and Xena felt her bard’s muscles tighten. The warrior held tighter.

"No, not force, just not....." Hecuba stammered.

"Not pleasurable for you."

"No," Hecuba dropped her head. "Who are you, I can’t see your face." she whispered.

The stranger smiled and held up his hand and all the women were shocked when it began glowing, putting out more light than a torch. He grinned. "Better?"

"Apollo!" Xena hissed.

Hecuba went to her knees. "Lord," she whispered.

"Don’t kneel, please. Just sit with me for a bit. I have a tale to tell you, young Hecuba." Apollo ordered and sat down on the grass next to Hecuba, the light surrounding them.

"You know me?" she asked.

"Yes, I came to see you." he stated.

"Why?"

"I can’t tell you everything but what I can tell you is that you are going to have children. The first of them will be a girl and you will name her Gabrielle."

The bard felt her head reeling and clung tighter to Xena's arms holding her. What could this mean? Apollo? A roar was attempting to drown out Gabrielle's thoughts and hearing. She shook her head.

"Gabrielle?" Hecuba questioned.

"I like it." Apollo shrugged. "You will have others but Gabrielle has a special fate. Sometimes the gods meddle a little too much in the affairs of you humans and upon occasion some of us have to step in and counter some of those affects."

"I don’t understand, Lord."

"I know. What I can say is thus, with the help of one of the gods a dark soul will fill this land and could destroy the very civilization that gives all of us life. This dark one must have a balance and your daughter will be that balance. She will be the light to end the darkness. She will be blessed by the gods and especially by me, a child of the Sun."

'By the gods, he's talking about me and Xena!' Gabrielle's mind shouted. "Blessed by Apollo?" she whispered to herself.

"Why me?" Hecuba questioned.

"Why not? You are intelligent, gentle, loving and you have a strength that she will inherit. It is her fate to shine the light of the sun on the soul that fell into darkness. It will be Gabrielle’s light that saves this soul and changes the Fates of the world."

"Xena?" Gabrielle whispered.

"Shhh, little one." Xena’s voice was strained. Gabrielle was quite sure that she, herself, was trembling.

"This dark soul, won’t it destroy my daughter?"

"It might, we can’t control everything. It will be up to Gabrielle and the Dark One. It is a difficult path to go from the dark to the light but a very easy one for light to fall into dark. The Dark One may drag your daughter down."

"Please take this away. I only want a simple and happy life for my children."

"The Dark One is her soul mate though their lives will be difficult. If their love prevails it will be the envy of the gods themselves. It will be a bond that will span beyond eternity."

Gabrielle wasn't sure if she was going to be sick or faint. For a bard who dealt in myths and legends all the time, this was a little too close to home for the young woman. She was trying to process the information she had just received.

Dark Soul? The world? Soul mates throughout eternity?

"You’re telling me that a child of mine will change the future of the world by changing just another person?"

"No, she will touch many souls along her way, not just the Dark One. In reaching the Dark One and showing this soul love, together they will defeat the plans of some of the gods that wish to conquer the world of man to rule over them. Together they will be like the Sun and Moon, each reflecting the best of each other and sharing the same light."

"Will my child be happy?"

"If they find their way to love your daughter will gladly go through all the hardship it will mean to be with the Dark One. She will love this soul beyond any love before, not even death will stop this bonding."

Gabrielle felt a tear escaping her eye. She had known in her heart and soul that she and Xena were meant to be but this was an overwhelming validation of that love.

"You send a harsh fate to my child," Hecuba complained.

"Yes, I know. My blessing will be one of the Light. She will be curious, intelligent and a dreamer. Encourage this in her, don’t let her dreams die. Do not let your husband break her spirit. The talent of the God of Poetry will be hers."

Apollo reached over and touched Hecuba’s face, instantly healing the black eye that was beginning to show.

"He’s a good man, just a troubled spirit. Be tolerant, he’ll provide well for the family, just don’t let his temper rule your children."

"He was raised hard." Hecuba complained.

"The visit he’s receiving from Aphrodite right now will mellow him out a bit. We can’t change him totally," Apollo warned. "He’ll still fall short of a perfect husband but he will be good for you and the girls."

"Girls, I’ll have more than one girl?" Hecuba gleamed.

"Uh oh, not supposed to reveal anything about the other one and you can’t reveal anything about me until Gabrielle's either succeeded or failed with the Dark One." Apollo grinned. Then his smile changed and he leaned over towards Hecuba who leaned back, a slight fearful look on her face. "Relax, I don’t seduce every maiden I see, no matter what the stories say." Apollo grinned and placed his hand over Hecuba’s womb area.

Gabrielle, Xena and Hecuba gasped as light from his hand enveloped the young woman. When the light faded Apollo was gone and Hecuba was smiling. She reached down to touch her womb area.

"Gabrielle, you will my dreamer." Hecuba promised.

Gabrielle felt the darkness crowding around and her head dropped forward once more.

When Gabrielle opened her eyes again it was dark and they were by the stream. She felt Xena's arms around her and knew she was safe. The bard frowned, they were covered with Xena's cloak.

Then everything she had just seen hit the blond and she turned around and held Xena tightly and the warrior responded by holding even tighter herself.

"He was talking about us! About you." Gabrielle whispered.

Xena let the tears run from her eyes. "I know. He’s right, you did save me. I would have slipped back into the darkness if it hadn’t been for you."

Gabrielle held close to her warrior for a moment. "Wow, we are soulmates. I knew it." she whispered.

"Yes," she heard her mate agree.

Gabrielle frowned and sat up. "Hey, who covered us?" she lifted the cloak.

"Maybe one of the scouting parties found us and covered us," Xena suggested but Gabrielle could tell that the warrior herself thought that unlikely and was equally as puzzled.

"Maybe," Gabrielle said doubtfully. She started to sit up and felt something fall from her chest. With furrowed brows the bard picked up two strands of what appeared and felt to be necklaces. It was too dark to see anything clearly. She sat back on the cloak beneath them.

"Hey, how about lighting that fire up?" Gabrielle suggested, trying to get a look at the pieces in her hand. The bard started cursing herself when she heard Xena gasp when the warrior tried to move.

"Oh gods, Xena, I forget about your leg!" she cried out, moving close to her mate again. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, that’s the problem." the warrior ran her hands up and down her leg, a puzzled look on her face.

"What’s that mean?" the bard demanded.

"There’s no pain. None at all." Xena whispered.

Gabrielle, puzzled and suddenly feeling tired of mind games, grabbed up the travel pack and quickly got the fire started that Xena had laid earlier. She went back to her mate’s side and watched closely as the warrior cut away the bandage from her leg. Gabrielle felt herself whistle and heard the warrior gasp in surprise. There was absolutely no wound at all. The leg looked like it hadn’t been cut at all. With a frown of puzzlement, Xena cut away the bandage on her arm to find no wound there either.

"Your shoulder?" Gabrielle asked.

"Nothing, like I was never wounded." Xena’s voice reflected her disbelief.

Gabrielle leaned forward and gently touched Xena’s face, running a finger from the warrior’s eyes to her chin. "Your face is healed too," the bard whispered.

Gabrielle closed her eyes as Xena touched the bard’s face in return, gently. The calloused hands tenderly holding Gabrielle’s face with such devotion it brought tears to the woman’s eyes.

"What did you find?" she heard Xena’s voice ask.

"Oh yeah!" the bard cried and raised the objects to the light of the fire. One of them was the Amazon necklace she had left behind for Xena to find, the warrior’s hands quickly found that the necklace had been removed from her neck. The other was a matching necklace. To the one Xena had been wearing a small silver crescent moon with knot work in the center had been added and on the other one was a gold blazing sun.

"Wow." the bard muttered.

"What’s the second parchment say," the warrior asked as Gabrielle handed her the necklace Xena had been wearing since Gabrielle’s disappearance from her uncle’s home.

"I just found out I'm the daughter of a god, sort of; I’m blessed by the gods, destined to save the world, and my soul mate was destined to destroy the world, what makes you think I want to know what else there is?" the bard grinned at her mate.

"You did save the world, my world." Xena laughed as the bard launched herself across the small space and tackled the warrior. Gabrielle delighted in the warrior’s laughter, it was music to the young woman’s ears. Gabrielle held Xena close, nuzzling the warrior’s neck.

"I love you, no matter what the gods had in mind. I would have found you and loved you." Gabrielle whispered, lightly kissing Xena’s neck.

"Same here, little one," Xena whispered back.

Feeling comfortable and safe, Gabrielle rearranged herself, staying on top of her warrior. She grinned and quickly kissed the lips of the woman below her and then reached for the parchment. Xena grinned and lightly tickled the bard’s ribs, getting Gabrielle to giggle a little as she unfolded the paper.

The bard slowly unfolded the paper and turned it towards the light. Once again that evening the bard found herself overwhelmed with information, her mind refusing to process any more. She turned the paper so Xena could see it, her face puzzled.

A sun symbol with Xena’s chakram and a parchment with pen in the center was the only thing on the paper. Gabrielle found herself trying to put together a coherent sentence while the warrior laughed.

"Wow." Gabrielle muttered, remembering what she and Xena had seen in the vision. Was she the daughter of a God? Looked like it might be. Touched by the Gods, Apollo in particular, seemed definite.

The coherent thought that the bard was trying to put together became totally elusive when Xena began kissing her, passion quickly turning the kiss from a gentle and tender one into something deeper. Gabrielle moaned and dropped the parchment as her fingers laced through the warrior’s hair. Holding Xena close the bard shifted slightly on her warrior’s body, bringing her thigh between Xena’s legs and bringing the knee up, causing Xena to moan with pleasure.

The heat spread through the bard’s body, bringing another moan from the small woman. Her hand quickly found it’s way in between their bodies and somehow unbuckled the belt holding the warrior’s skirt together and shoved the belt aside. She shifted her body to allow the skirt to open fully, giving her access to the warrior’s beautiful body, her beautiful skin.

Gabrielle growled and reached under Xena’s tunic to grasp the woman’s breasts, causing Xena to hiss and moan, arching her back. Gabrielle moaned in response and dropped her head to the warrior’s neck, anxious to find the spot that she knew could drive Xena into an absolute frenzy. After they had finally become lovers, the bard had been delighted to find that Xena’s neck was highly sensitive to the bard’s teeth and Gabrielle was always reminded of the adventure when they dealt with Bacchus. Gabrielle had very fond memories of biting Xena with her bacchae fangs and feeling the strong warrior moaning and writhing in her arms as the erotic bite filled her veins with the call of the bacchae, of the blood.

Gabrielle didn’t miss being a bacchae, but she did admit, usually with a blush to the warrior, that she found the bite extremely erotic still.

Gabrielle growled with the intensity of the energy running between the two of them as she felt Xena’s hands unlacing her tunic top. She was surprised and yelped when Xena sat up suddenly, holding the bard tight. Gabrielle smiled as she found herself straddling her warrior. Xena’s head dropped suddenly and took one of the bard’s nipples in her teeth and lips, causing the small woman to cry out in suddenly increased passion. She felt her head arch back as she clung to Xena’s shoulders.

"Oh gods, Xena!" she gasped.

"I can’t get enough of you, Gabrielle." the warrior whispered, beginning to kiss the bard from tne nipples all the way up to Gabrielle’s lips. The bard, lacing her fingers in Xena’s hair, held the warrior’s head close and tight as they kissed roughly, tongues exploring each other, fighting for dominance, revealing in the energy passing back and forth. Gabrielle lightly nipped Xena’s lower lip and the warrior answered by grabbing the bard’s nipples with her fingers. The bard gasped again and found her hips rocking and moving from the lightning streaking through her body, a high point at each place the warrior was kissing and touching.

Gabrielle found herself breathing quicken as Xena broke away from the bard’s lips and began a journey back towards the blonds’ nipples. Within moments the warrior had her bard squirming, first ravishing one nipple and then the other with her teeth, tongue and lips. Gabrielle felt herself whimpering with need.

"I haven't been able to touch you in so long like this," the bard heard Xena whisper and she groaned in response and her hands frantically pulled and tugged until she had the warrior’s tunic off and could grasp the woman’s breasts more easily.

Xena growled and grabbed the back of Gabrielle’s hair, pulling her head up to the warrior’s lips. They both moaned and whimpered with the kiss, neither sure who was making what sound any longer. Gabrielle brought a cry out of her warrior by tweaking the woman’s nipples and Xena responded by quickly removing the bard’s belt and dropping the wrap around skirt away from the blonde's lovely body.

Gabrielle whimpered as Xena’s fingers slid easily along the folds of her lower lips, teasing just at the woman’s entrance and her clit, never quite reaching either destination. Gabrielle bit her lip in frustration and moaned. The bard knew she was very aroused and wasn’t sure if she had ever been that wet for her lover before. Gabrielle cried out when Xena seized one of her nipples roughly with her teeth and entered the bard with several fingers.

Gabrielle whimpered and clung to Xena’s shoulders, her body demanding more of the warrior with each thrust. She felt the warrior begin trembling as she bit down on Xena’s neck and shoulder, her own body trembling out of control. The warrior’s lips, teeth and tongue continued dashing between each of the bard’s nipples and Gabrielle heard herself whimpering and moaning, her voice getting louder and louder.

All conscious thoughts fled in the onslaught of the waves that swept over the bard and she felt her head tossing back with a scream as her body collapsed over her warrior, trembling as the waves kept her body moving.

Gabrielle found that they had fallen back onto the cloak and she was still on top of the warrior. She grinned and brushed a lock of dark hair from the woman’s forehead, falling deep into the satisfied blue eyes staring back at her.

"Wow," she whispered to her lover.

Xena grinned back. "For a bard, you seem to have short sentences."

"Sometimes one needs to do their talking with the body and not the voice. I think I can find a use for my tongue elsewhere, what do you think?" Gabrielle was delighted with the moan and the trembling of her lover’s body when she began nibbling on the warrior’s earlobe. Her hand danced around Xena’s nipples for a moment and then slowly worked it’s way down to the warrior’s sex.

"Yes!" Xena hissed as Gabrielle’s fingers began a dance of pleasing torment. First entering and then leaving Xena, leaving the warrior’s body begging for more. Then the bard’s thumb began rubbing the warrior’s swollen clit and then the dance with the fingers again. Within moments the warrior was moaning and thrashing.

Gabrielle, worshipping at the body she adored, left the warrior’s neck and moved her teeth, lips and tongue to Xena’s nipples and began a wonderful torment of those as well.

"Gabrielle, please!" Xena cried out, her hands grasping the bard’s hair and head, unconsciously urging her lover to go lower with her lips and tongue. The bard took a moment to grin and reached out to grab one of Xena’s hands, interlocking her fingers with the warrior, giving her lover something to grab onto and push against as Xena’s body arched and moved with the rhythm that Gabrielle was creating with her fingers and tongue.

Gabrielle continued her path down the warrior’s body with her tongue and lips. "Oh gods, yes!" Xena cried out.

"Patience, my love." Gabrielle whispered and was delighted when the warrior growled in frustration. When she finally positioned her body between Xena’s legs, the warrior was writhing in need, tossing her head back, one hand clenching the bard’s hand painfully and the other digging into the cloak they were laying on.

Gabrielle breathed a sigh of amazement, she never tired of her lover and could never get enough of touching her. The bard remembered when she caught herself watching Xena every chance she got and was actually fantasizing touching and tasting the other woman. She had fought against those feelings but now she couldn’t imagine life without the warrior woman.

Gabrielle felt herself moan with passion as her tongue parted the lower lips of the warrior. She felt her own body begin trembling. Both Gabrielle and Xena were always amazed and pleased with this aspect of their relationship, somehow they were so connected that their bodies responded to each other’s growing passion, taking them over their own small orgasmic edges along with their lover.

She drank deeply of her lover, never losing the rhythm with her fingers. She felt Xena’s hand grasp hers painfully and the warrior’s muscles standing out and straining. Gabrielle felt her own body trembling and beginning to spasm at the sound of her lover’s cries that were increasing in speed and intensity.
Hearing Xena’s cries was something that pleased the bard immensely. Gabrielle hadn’t really been surprised to learn that she was the only lover Xena had ever been vocal with. She had smiled and teased Xena about ‘control issues’ and the warrior had growled that it had been for security reasons. The admission had ended in a tickle fight when the bard laughed and insisted it was a control issue for the warrior.

Gabrielle welcomed the cries of passion and used her tongue over Xena’s clit to encourage more sounds from her mate.

The bard knew they had reached the point of dropping off the edge that her lover always welcomed and fought against, all in the same moment. It had been difficult for the warrior to admit to but Xena had admitted that no one had ever taken her over that final edge of total release, of total loss of control. Gabrielle was the first to ever get her that close and the only one to get her over the edge.

The struggle was evident on the warrior’s face as Gabrielle closed her eyes, her own body shaking with the waves that were beginning for both of them. Xena had actually described the feeling as of falling or dying. Gabrielle understood.

"Let go, I’ll catch you." Gabrielle glanced up into her warrior’s face.

Xena screamed, back arching, body stiffening and imprisoning the bard’s fingers inside of her. Wave after wave swept over them until they both cried out many times and fell back onto the cloak.

Gabrielle blinked and sat up suddenly, aware of a bright light falling over her and her sleeping warrior. She was startled to see Apollo standing next to them, the light shining from his hand, just as in the vision.

Gabrielle quickly turned and found Xena sleeping soundly, arm still thrown over the bard's stomach.

"Don't worry, she'll sleep." Apollo smiled and offered his other hand to help the bard up.

With a blush she grabbed one of the blankets and pulled it around her and accepted his hand. He continued to hold her hand and they walked a few feet away from the sleeping Xena. He motioned to a place in the grass and they both sat down.

Gabrielle was grateful for whatever magic Apollo had worked on her warrior, the thought of Xena being awakened by a god after the intense lovemaking they had just gone through was frightening. The bard smiled to herself, Xena hated dealing with the gods.

"You're sort of my father?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes," he answered easily.

"Are you my father or just had a hand in blessing the child that was all ready in my mother’s womb?" the bard questioned.

"I’m your father and the other gods had hands in blessing you." Apollo smiled. If Xena had been awake she would have realized where the light that shined in Gabrielle’s eyes and smile came from.

"Why me?"

"You were destined to meet Xena whether we influenced anything or not. We decided to give you an edge, to bring your natural light to the surface and we prayed your light would reach her inner soul and bring it to life again."

He brushed a hand fondly over her hair.

"Ares had gained such influence over the world at the time. Sparta was a military state, totally dedicated to his purpose, all the Greek states were fighting each other and Rome was beginning it's trek towards the military might she has and will continue to become. The Fates foretold that he would influence a soul beyond all our belief and this child would grow to be the fiercest warrior the world had seen, a soul for the darkness. Some of us demanded a chance at balance and Zeus and Hera agreed."

"We were meant to be without your influence?" Gabrielle whispered, looking at her sleeping warrior. The bard shuddered when she thought about the future Xena had been destined for. Total domination of the known world and destruction.

"Yes, child. Your talents are natural, Gabrielle, just as the light of your soul is. Xena has a natural fighting ability, Ares just enhanced it and brought it out in her. I brought out your natural bardic skills and the light of your soul."

"What about the other gods, you said they had a part in this."

"They had a hand in your development as well." Apollo suddenly looked serious. "Some of that influence wasn't of the light either. It'll be up to you to find out what your blessings are and how sometimes they can be mixed with darkness."

"Be careful what you ask for?" Gabrielle smiled a grim smile.

"Yes, exactly." then he grinned at her. "Some mysteries you have to find out the old fashioned way. Stumble over them."

He laughed at the glare his daughter gave him at that one. Even in Olympus, the bard’s stubborn streak was becoming known.

"What happens now?" Gabrielle asked, her head spinning from all the implications and information.

"There will be many trials, many tests of your love with Xena. It's a hard task we've set before you, the darkness will always be there with both of you." Apollo leaned back on his elbows, watching the bard closely.

He noted the stubborn set of the jaw again.

"I knew that when I met her, we both know that. We’ll meet whatever comes."

"Well said, bard." he sat up and then stood up. "When Xena begins to question her parentage again and discovers some aspects of herself, call on me. You have inherited certain rights from me. I am proud of the life you've led and are leading, Gabrielle."

"Rights? You mean like Hercules?"

"Yes, I do." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Remember, I am the God of Youth." and with that he was gone.

"Youth? Oh boy."

A voice called out of the darkness, "Don't forget to invite some of us to the bonding."

"Wow." Gabrielle stood up and looked down at her sleeping warrior. "I wonder how you'll feel about that one, my love. I know how you hate dealing with the gods." Gabrielle grinned and then snuggled back into Xena's arms.

Her mind already whirling, a bonding ceremony to plan for.

Continue The Story In "Gabrielle's Amazon Bonding"

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