ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Healing, An Awakening IV

by Hunter Ash

Disclaimers:  I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc etc etc. This story is for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended. Don’t bother suing me, it definitely wouldn’t be worth the trouble.

Violence: Light to none actually.

Sex/Alt Fiction/Subtext: Nope, no subtext - it’s right out there. Two of the characters are in a loving and sexual relationship of the same gender. If this is illegal where you’re at: move or change your laws. If you’re under 18 or 21 (depending on legal stuff), leave now and come back later.

Storyline: Continuing in the Awakening series. Part 4 - A hurt and comfort beginning. Gabrielle is recovering from being poisoned at her wedding to Xena then things get complicated after Xena drinks some special wine from a God.

Joxer alert: Sort of.

"Xena, wake up and help me give Gabrielle some of this tea." a voice insisted, cutting through the warrior’s sleep fuzzy awareness. She slowly opened her eyes and groaned. She was awake in an instant when she focused on the healer of the Amazons standing over her.

"What is it?" she asked, sitting up.

"I need to give Gabrielle some of this tea," the healer repeated.

Xena sat up slowly and pulled the little bard into her arms, holding her head up. She frowned at how heavily the woman was sleeping. The healer managed to get most of the liquid down a semi-awake Gabrielle and watched until the bard slipped back to sleep again in Xena’s arms. The healer helped Xena position the bard back onto the bed. Xena carefully brushed a lock of hair out of the bard’s eyes and gently stroked Gabrielle’s cheek. She frowned as she felt the bard’s body still twitching sporadically.

Xena got up and pulled the healer to one side.

"What’s going on? What’s in the tea?" the warrior asked.

"Xena, Gabrielle is going to be very sick for awhile and in considerable pain. The poison those Romans slipped her at your wedding always kills. Those convulsions she went through usually shuts down the breathing and stop the heart. Her muscles may be ripped apart inside. At the very least they’re going to hurt like Hades hounds are tearing them apart. I want to keep her sedated as much as possible, the pain alone might still kill her." the healer explained bluntly, putting away some of the herbs into jars.

"What do you mean ‘always kills.’?" the warrior questioned. "We got the antidote to her."

"There never was an antidote, Consort." the healer sat down at the table and motioned for the warrior to sit across from her. Xena’s eyes narrowed but she sat. The warrior was suddenly cautious and she had the feeling she wasn’t going to like what she heard.

"What do you mean? The Romans had it."

"No, they had charcoal in that flask you got from the bodies. It’s meant to cause vomiting, probably in case they accidentally poisoned themselves with their own poison. The poison they used takes only a small amount and is deadly. The batch they had must have been old, not very potent or Gabrielle didn’t eat or drink all of it. I had already induced vomiting with charcoal while you were searching for the assassins." the healer said in a very tired voice, rubbing a hand over her face. The warrior realized that the healer probably had gotten less sleep than Xena had in the last couple of days.

It had been a rough night, waiting to see if Gabrielle was going to live. Rough on everyone, Amazons, family, friends, lover and healer as they watched the bard trying to recover from the poison. All of them helpless as she thrashed in pain, occasionally screaming in the pain, mostly crying.

Xena had learned from her mother that the bard had been in agony while Xena was chasing down the bard’s assassins. Her body bent over backwards, spine bending against nature and then her head and legs would bend backward while her body thrashed forward. Xena hadn’t tried to stop her tears as she listened to her mother describe Gabrielle’s torture. The only relief seemed to come when the small woman slipped into a coma.

At first Xena had been thrilled beyond words when Gabrielle had managed to open her eyes but then the warrior had been terrified when she and the healer realized that the slightest touch on the bard’s skin would cause her to scream. The warrior wanted to scream herself, unable to touch her beloved bard was killing her.

"But she was scratched," Xena frowned.

"Yes, probably during staff practice the day before or something. The poison was given to her either in her drink or food, probably slipped into her wine when they shook your hands in the receiving."

"Then that might explain it, Gabrielle doesn’t drink much, she didn’t finish the wine."

"Yes," the healer agreed.

"What do we do for her?" Xena demanded.

"You’ll not be able to touch her for probably another few hours unless she’s asleep. I want to keep her sedated as much as possible for the next few days. After that, continual massage of the muscles, especially the legs and back. Keep the muscles stretched. Lots of liquid and sedated as much as possible. It may be awhile before we know if there is permanent damage to the muscles or internal organs. I’m still worried, Consort."

"When did you know what type of poison it was?" Xena suddenly asked and the healer turned her eyes away.

"Almost immediately. I’ve seen this type of poisoning when visiting the Northern Amazons. They call the plant Cowbane. The dilation of the pupils, excess saliva and muscle twitching comes first, usually within minutes. Rapid pulse and breathing, shaking and then violent convulsions. Coma and death follow shortly." the healer said softly.

"You knew there was no antidote?"

"Yes," the healer admitted.

"You let me chase after those damned Romans while Gabrielle could have died? What if she had died while I was gone?" Xena’s eyes grew bright with anger.
"A judgment call, Consort. Once Gabrielle was unconscious there was nothing anyone could have done, she was either going to live or die. If she woke up, she’d live. If she didn’t, she would have never opened her eyes again."

"I wouldn’t have been there!" Xena protested.

"Yes, that possibility was very likely."

"Then why send me out on a wild chase?" Xena slammed her hand on the table.

"Was it a wild chase? It gave you something to do, a way to focus your energy, and it gave the Amazons and yourself justice."

"If she had died?"

"I would have told all of you that the amount of the poison was too high and the damage too great for the antidote to work." the healer admitted.

"You would lie."

"Yes, being a healer means caring for everyone, not just the patient. You all knew she could die, that she probably would die. The antidote gave you, the family and the Amazons hope, it also kept the Amazons from killing all the delegates in their rage." the healer smiled.

"I still don’t like being lied to." Xena warned.

"I’ll not make a habit of it." the healer smiled and promised. Xena growled and went back to her bard, taking the woman in her arms as she had so many nights before. Xena bit her lip until the healer left the hut before letting her tears fall. The bard’s arms, legs and head continued to twitch.

"I can’t lose you, little one, you are my light." she whispered.

The healer had been correct, whenever Gabrielle woke up it was agony for the little bard. Her screams had awakened the warrior sleeping next to her and half the village.

The warrior leaping out of bed, mortified that she couldn’t hold Gabrielle and couldn’t seem to offer any other comfort than soothing words and singing to the little bard. The healer would quickly pry Gabrielle’s jaws open and force more of the sedative tea into the twitching body. Any noise, light or touch could send the bard whimpering and crying. Xena was beside herself and the healer looked beyond exhaustion.

A large number of the Amazon women kept a vigil outside the Healer’s hut, Ephiny and Solari among them. Hercules and Iolaus took turns pacing.

After another twelve hours the warrior found that she could touch Gabrielle once again and whispered a prayer of thanks that she could hold the bard in her arms once more, even if Gabrielle was still in agony. Again, the Amazon Queen woke everyone with her screams.

Xena quickly hit several pressure points and began massaging the muscles in the bard’s legs. Lila had run in and followed Xena’s directions in rubbing Gabrielle’s other muscles until the healer had worked up another dose of sedative and got it down the bard.

Xena crawled behind her mate and held Gabrielle until the bard’s cries settled down into small whimpers and then back into sleep.

The warrior looked up in Lila’s tear filled eyes, tears that were matching her own.

"Healer, how long will this go on?" Xena asked quietly.

"Not long, Consort. As long as we keep the muscles stretched and massaged, the pain should ease up in a few days, getting less and less. I don’t think any muscles are permanently damaged, thank the gods."

Xena held the bard close as the smaller woman’s body twitched with pain, even with the pain meds.

Lila curled up beside her sister, gently massaging the blonde’s arms and legs while Xena softly sang to her little bard. Hecuba came in later and relieved her younger daughter and began gently massaging Gabrielle’s muscles, tears streaming down her cheeks as Gabrielle thrashed in pain.

Cyrene then took over and forced her daughter Xena to go and eat something while she and Hecuba watched over Gabrielle. After another night the Healer finally made the announcement that she thought the Amazon Queen would live but it would be days before they knew the extent of any damage to her muscles or internal organs.

With a tired cheer the Amazons keeping vigil received the news.

It was a long week for the patient and her family. Even after the pain had subsided after four days it was still agony for the bard to try and move. Even more frustrating for the Amazon Queen was the weakness that now encompassed her body. Gabrielle felt as weak as a newborn kitten and felt as if she had been trampled by a Cyclops. The Queen had been surprised at the amount of time she had spent in a drugged sleep and very surprised at how sick she had been. It took awhile to sink in how close she had come to dying a very painful death and faced an even more painful recovery.

After a week the bard was able to move stiffly for short periods of time and started the long process of rebuilding her muscles and strength.

Xena was very impressed with the strength and stubbornness of her mate. It hurt the warrior to watch the small woman struggling with just walking until sweat stood out all over Gabrielle and her body shook with exhaustion and still the bard wouldn't complain. She would just grit her teeth and struggle on until the warrior would sweep the Queen off her feet and make her rest.

Xena would share her mate's tears as Gabrielle cried from the pain and exhaustion every night until the sedative tea would send her into sleep. Between Xena, her mother Cyrene, Hecuba and Lila they were able to keep Gabrielle comfortable enough to finally get through a night of sleep without the bard waking up screaming.
Xena and the family felt like they had been under a very long siege with little sleep, constant worry and tension.

Finally after nine days the Queen was able to get through a day without the pain herbs and the families were ready to return to their homes after a good night’s sleep for the first time in two weeks.

"Gabrielle, are you sure you won't come home with us?" Hecuba asked again and the small blond woman smiled and hugged her mother.

"No, Mom. I'm better off here with the healer and Xena. You travel safe." the Amazon Queen leaned heavily on the crutches that helped her get around while her leg muscles continued to improve.

"We'll send Xena back immediately." Hecuba promised and Gabrielle quickly hugged her sister and then watched Lila get into the wagon.

The Amazon Queen then turned to her mate, trying not to let the tears overwhelm her.

The sight of Xena always took the bard's breath away. The tall warrior standing beside her beloved horse, Argo, in her leathers and weapons always sent a rush of heat through Gabrielle's body. The bard reflected that she must be recovering if she was getting turned on again by her mate, she thought with a smile.

Looking in the clear blue eyes the bard became lost and rushed into her mate's arms, fighting back the tears.

"Come back to me soon," Gabrielle whispered as Xena stroked her hair.

"As soon as I can. You promise not to overdue it?"

Gabrielle looked up at her mate and attempted to smile. "Yes."

"Good," Xena bent down and lightly nibbled on the bard's earlobe, sending shudders through her body. "I have plans for that body of yours and I don't want you wearing yourself out." the warrior whispered. Gabrielle moaned and held her mate close.

"Gods, Xena, you'd better get back here quick!" Gabrielle whispered and kissed the warrior deeply.

The Amazon Queen stood next to her Regent, Ephiny and watched the wagon with Xena mother, Cyrene and Gabrielle's mother and sister leave the Amazon village.
"Gods, Ephiny, I miss them already." the bard complained.

"Come on, my Queen," Ephiny grinned. "Let's see if we can stretch those muscles of yours with some bending exercises."

Xena sat sharpening her sword while Hecuba finished cooking dinner for the small group. The warrior found herself missing Gabrielle very much. She had gotten used to their routine on the road and she found it a little weird having Gabrielle’s mother and sister taking up the bard’s space and chores. She also missed Gabrielle’s body next to hers during the night.

Hades, the warrior thought, she just missed Gabrielle terribly. It had been a long two days and nights.

Hecuba glanced over at the warrior and found herself smiling.

The warrior woman could look intimidating enough to scare a hydra, she thought, but she had also seen the softer side of Xena. The warrior holding her daughter during endless nights and days, attentive to the bard's every need. The terror on Xena's face when they thought Gabrielle might die. The endless days of pain and feelings of helplessness.

Hecuba knew from Apollo that Gabrielle had been fated a difficult future, to be soulmate with a dark soul. A soul that was destined to destroy the known world if her daughter Gabrielle hadn't reached into that darkness and shined a light on the warrior's lost soul. Gabrielle's future had always terrified Hecuba and the mother had tried in small ways to fight against it.

She shook her head with her thoughts, she had thought her daughter had beaten the prediction when Gabrielle had married Perdicus only to have Callisto kill him the next day. Hecuba had accepted the Fates for her daughter when the bard rejoined Xena on the road.

Now that she had spent time with the warrior and had seen the depth of her love for Gabrielle, Hecuba was pleased with Gabrielle's life and soul choice of mate. The mother had never seen such a love before between anyone. She knew that they would die for each other if it came to that.

Xena caught Hecuba glancing at her and watched the woman's face. The warrior had been very much aware of how Gabrielle's family felt about her and was pleased when Hecuba had came to the wedding and accepted the couple. It had been a difficult few seasons for both families, accepting the warrior and bard and their futures and their past. After learning the strange events surrounding Gabrielle's conception and predicted future, Xena could understand why Hecuba had wanted something different for her daughter. Any mother would. Even Xena's own mother hadn't wanted Xena's future until Gabrielle had come along.

The only one that wanted Xena as warlord, it seemed was Ares. Xena's eyes narrowed and she frowned as she thought of the War God. Once again she found herself wishing that he would just give up on her already and leave them alone. Then the warrior sighed, she knew that wasn't likely.

Xena was on her feet, sword at ready before Hecuba and Lila was even aware she had moved. They both froze as the warrior focused on the woods, on alert. Then they both heard a rattling and someone breaking through the brush. Xena seemed to relax, which seemed strange to the two women. She smiled and resheathed her sword.

"It's a friend." she said simply as Joxer the Mighty broke into the small clearing with a goofy grin.

"Joxer," Xena said simply, suddenly feeling a little awkward. She knew Joxer's feelings for Gabrielle, how in Hades was she going to explain their wedding without destroying him?

"Xena!" the young man broke into a smile and rushed to hug the warrior. Xena ignored the raised eyebrows of Hecuba and Lila. Finally he pulled back. "I’m so glad to see you! I was headed to the Amazon Village to see you and smelled your campfire."

"Joxer, this is Gabrielle’s mother, Hecuba and her sister, Lila. This is Joxer, a friend of ours." Xena turned the wanna-be warrior towards the family. They didn’t notice the clinching of his jaw but Xena did.

"Very happy to meet both of you. Is Gabby with you?" he asked, looking around hopefully.

"No, she’s staying in the Amazon Village while I take Hecuba and Lila home, we just dropped off my mother." Xena answered, sitting back down on the rock, pulling out her sword and beginning to sharpen it again, giving herself something to do.

"Dinner’s ready, Joxer, if you’d like to join us." Hecuba offered.

"Go ahead, Joxer, she’s a better cook than I am." Xena grinned.

"Okay, I’d like that." after getting a plate of food he sat down on the ground next to Xena’s rock. "You’re taking them home after your wedding to Gabrielle?"

Xena quickly glanced down but he refused to meet her eyes. "Yes, how did you hear?"

"I heard the Queen of the Amazons was getting married to a female. Knowing Gabrielle is Queen of the Amazons, I figured the rest out, I’m not totally blind."

"Joxer, we didn’t want to hurt you."

"I know that’s why you didn’t invite me and you were right, it does hurt." Xena heard his voice threatening to break. "But I’m a big boy and as long as she’s happy then I’m happy."

"Joxer, I love her." Xena said softly.

"Good, that makes two of us." the young man quickly got up and moved next to Gabrielle’s mother, coaxing stories about the young bard from her mother. Xena let him go, letting him deal with the pain on his own. She knew there was nothing she could offer him right then that could comfort him. He loved Gabrielle almost as much as she did.

The next morning Xena found that she was grumpy. For some reason the warrior hadn’t slept well the night before and her body ached, as if she had spent the night on guard duty. It was bad enough she hadn’t gotten much sleep while Gabrielle had been suffering but this didn’t help, she thought with a growl. She couldn’t shake a feeling of unease and barely heard Joxer talking to Hecuba and Lila.

"There’s an old abandoned shrine near here, near a cave behind a waterfall. I’m heading that way to make an offering in honor of Gabrielle and Xena’s wedding.
Xena, would you like to go with me?" Joxer waited a moment and getting no response, called again to the warrior by the fire. "Xena, want to go with me?"

"Huh, yeah, sure." the warrior rubbed the back of her neck, wondering why her hackles were going crazy. "After we drop Hecuba and Lila off at their place."

"Okay." Joxer agreed with a grin.

Within two candlemarks they had left the two women back in Potedaia and were retracing their steps back towards the river. Hecuba and Lila had wanted both of them to spend the night but after three nights on the road Xena was anxious to get back to her mate and didn’t want to impose Joxer on the family any more than possible.
As they got closer to the shrine the young man became unusually quiet and Xena chalked it up to his thoughts about Gabrielle.

When the inept warrior pulled the bushes back from the carved stone niche in the cliff face Xena was impressed. The shrine had been abandoned long ago but it had once been a dedicated and active shrine. It had obviously once held a statue of some kind and a small ledge for offerings. A simple shrine but one the gods delighted in.

"How did you know this was here?" she asked.

"Well, last season I was being chased.... I was chasing some bandits and stumbled onto the cave behind the waterfall. I fell climbing along the rocks and found the shrine."

Xena resisted smiling at the description of Joxer being chased into the water. She peered close at the markings on the inside of the niche and frowned.

"I don’t recognize the marks." she commented.

"I do, it was a small sect dedicated to Artemis. That’s why I chose this shrine for my offering, since Gabrielle is chosen by Artemis."

"Good choice." Xena agreed, keeping her thoughts to herself. Between Ares giving her grief, Apollo being Gabrielle’s father, Artemis choosing Gabrielle as a favorite and half the rest of them blessing the wedding, Xena had enough of the gods, thanks.

Joxer pulled out a flask of wine and muttered something and poured a small amount over the small ledge and then left two gold coins in the niche with more muttered prayers.

He was blushing when he stood up and faced the warrior as if embarrassed by the prayers. "I know warriors don’t pray but I was asking that my dreams for both of you come true." he shrugged.

Xena smiled a friendly smile. "Thank you, Joxer."

"Would you like to make an offering?" he asked, holding the flask out. Xena frowned. "It’s okay, it’s a special wine I brought for the occasion. Can’t hurt." he grinned and the warrior took the flask.

Almost blushing herself, the warrior poured a small amount of wine over the ledge and reached into a pouch and pulled out a small but wonderfully designed carved rabbit made out of jade and shoved it into the niche.

"Say something!" Joxer encouraged.

Xena growled but turned back to the shrine. "Okay, may the spirit of this shrine offer their blessing." she muttered.

"Good, shall we drink a small drink to your happiness?" Joxer asked and took the flask. With a grin he took a very long pull from the wineskin.

"Joxer," Xena began but he held up his hand, toasting with Joxer was feeling strange.

"I’m doing my best, Xena. I want you both to be happy."

"Okay." Xena took the flask and raised it salute and then drank deeply of the sweet wine.

The warrior suddenly dropped the flask with a cough and stumbled into the wall of the cliff. She looked over at Joxer but couldn’t seem to focus. Xena went to her knees, unable to keep her balance.

On her hands and knees the warrior looked up at the figure standing over her.

"Hello, Xena." a strong voice said simply.

"Ares?" The warrior fell forward onto the ground.

"That’s me, sweetheart. Welcome back." strong hands began to lift her as darkness claimed her mind.

It was a couple of hours before the War God approached the cave again. He was delighted with himself. He had Xena back, she would get rid of her last tie to the path she had been on and she would be his totally and forever. Maybe they would even challenge Athena to her title of War Goddess, he thought with a grin. Not only that, he grinned even wider, she was still a tiger in bed. Gods, even he couldn’t’ keep up with her. For a moment the War God wondered how the little frustrating bard could. Then he shook his head.

He found the warrior tired but still angry, just the way he liked her.

"Once I kill her we get back to business?" Xena demanded.

"You bet. You and me and the world for our taking." Ares promised.

"Where is she?"

"Let’s go."

"Ephiny, I want you to get Lila as far away as you can before Xena gets here, and take Argo with her. Send her to the caves and get a message to the Centaurs to get Solan to safety. We have no idea what will happen if she escapes here and is still Warlord." Gabrielle ordered.

"Yes, my Queen."

"Next, I want you to let Xena through," Gabrielle held up a hand, cutting off the protests from Ephiny, the Elders and the battle leaders. "This isn’t open for debate. I have to try. If I fail then I’ll attempt to kill her myself," Gabrielle’s voice threatened to break and tears threatened to spill over but the Queen fought both down. "If I fail then I want you to kill her as quickly and painlessly as possible. This isn’t her fault and she’s been a good friend to the Amazon Nation for the past few years."

The Elders and Battle leaders nodded in agreement.

"Next, send word to Hercules and Iolaus that I’m in trouble and explain what’s happened. If we can’t stop her here then maybe they can."

"My Queen, she doesn’t remember you and Ares won’t be around, let me take your place, please!" Ephiny begged.

All of the battle leaders immediately volunteered as well.

"No, this is my destiny, or part of it. She’ll know, the connection isn’t broken totally, I’m counting on that." Gabrielle smiled at her Regent. "Thank you, thank all of you but I have to do this."

"My Queen," one of the battle leaders protested, "You can’t even stand!"

"No, but that doesn’t matter, I couldn’t take her in a fight anyway. This will be a different kind of battle. Now, go, she’ll be here after dark." Everyone started to leave the hut, none of them happy with the plans for the coming night.

"Ephiny, please send the healer to me."

"Okay."

A few minutes later the healer entered the hut and approached the Queen.

"I need to be able to move without too much pain. I’m not going to fight but I need to move without crying out in pain. Can you give me a light painkiller or something to block the pain?" the Queen asked.

"Yes, it will help a little. I’ll try and keep the dose low enough to where you’re not too fuzzy."

"That would be best."

Xena felt a rush that was akin to the drug induced trances Alti had taught her in the North. The warrior’s head snapped back and she tightened her grip on the bard’s hand.

She cried out as wave after wave of memory hit her. Xena didn’t resist when she felt the chakram being gently taken from her hand, nor did she open her eyes when she felt Gabrielle pull the warrior to her feet and guide her across the room. Xena gratefully slid into the bard’s arms on the bed as her body shook and her mind screamed in agony.

After what seemed an eternity the warrior became aware of her surroundings and that she was in the arms of the bard she had come to kill. The woman she had taken as soulmate. "No!" she cried out. Xena felt the tears streaming down her face and her body began to shake as she sobbed. Gabrielle turned the warrior over until Xena was facing her and then held the taller woman close.

"I wanted you dead!" Xena whimpered, attempting to pull away from Gabrielle but the bard held fast.

"No, the Warlord wanted me dead, not you. That’s no longer you." Gabrielle argued.

"I almost killed you! How do we know it won’t happen again?" the warrior shouted, sitting up, turning away from Gabrielle. The bard grabbed her from behind and held tight.

"Because he won’t win. He’ll never win. As long as we have our love, no one can win against us!" Gabrielle argued.

"I love you so much but I’m going to end up hurting you, I know it!" Xena cried.

Gabrielle sighed heavily and crawled out of the bed. Taking the lamp to the door she opened it slowly, letting the Amazons see her clearly and called out a bird call. She slowly went back to the bedside table and sat the lamp down. She then knelt in front of her love.

"I love you and you probably will hurt me." Xena looked up into the bard’s green eyes, terrified. "We will always have that power over each other. It’s hard to hurt someone unless there’s deep feelings there. I love you but I accept that I might hurt you in the future. I’ll chance being hurt and pray I never hurt you." Gabrielle insisted.
"I almost became the Warlord again. I WAS the Warlord again," Xena countered.

"Only because Ares messed with your memories. Let it go, he’s lost and we’ve won. Come back to me, my love." Gabrielle insisted.

"I can’t, I was a moment away from killing you!" Xena growled, resisting the bard.

Gabrielle decided to stop arguing with words and grabbed the warrior’s face and pulled herself up into the warrior’s lips. Xena resisted and Gabrielle fought back, following the warrior until they were laying back on the bed, the small bard on top of Xena.

The warrior finally gave into the kiss and her strong arms wrapped around the moaning bard. They broke away from the kiss when Gabrielle yelped. She leaned up slightly and tapped the armor beneath her.

"This has got to go, warrior."

Xena grinned and nodded. The bard eagerly got up from her warrior and began helping the woman remove the leather and metal covering. As the bard helped remove the armor from behind she leaned into Xena’s ear.

"How much do you remember?" she asked.

"Everything, the first time together, the wedding, you being poisoned, taking my mom and your family home, everything." Xena answered, leaning back into her bard.

"Good, then you’ll remember that it’s been awhile since I was up to touching you." Gabrielle reached out and bit the warrior’s earlobe and found herself quickly enveloped in the warrior’s arms as Xena turned and they fell back onto the bed. With a growl of impatience they both managed to get each other’s clothes off somehow.

Xena quickly sought out Gabrielle’s lips, almost painfully. The bard countered with her tongue and teeth, lightly nipping the warrior’s lips. The bard’s hands pulled Xena on top of her, grabbing the warrior tightly, working a leg between the other woman’s legs. The warrior moaned and bit down on an aroused nipple, sending the bard arching her back and crying out.

Suddenly the bard felt Xena stiffen and then move away from her to sit on the edge of the bed. Catching her breath, Gabrielle sat up quickly.
"What is it, Xena?" the bard asked.

"I.... I can’t." the warrior whispered.

Gabrielle sighed, insight sweeping over her. "Because you were with Ares?"

"You knew?" Xena refused to meet Gabrielle’s eyes and the bard pulled the woman’s face around to look at her in the eyes.

"Yes, he came around to brag." Gabrielle admitted, pain showing in her eyes.

"Son of a bacchae!" Xena hissed.

"I agree. That wasn’t my mate, that wasn’t my Xena. You didn’t even remember me, Xena." Gabrielle argued.

"I slept with him! Arrrggghhh!"

"From what I hear you didn’t do much sleeping," Gabrielle grinned around her pain and was rewarded with a warrior suddenly tickling her.

"I remember now that you’re ticklish," Xena warned.

"Good, then you remember you love me, not him. Come here and show me how much." Gabrielle insisted, pulling Xena back on top of her. The warrior quickly responded to the encouragement.

Continue the story in "Trial Of A Roman, Trial Of A Couple, An Awakening V"

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