ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Logo by Lucia Congratulations! 3rd Place in the Fourth Bard's Challenge

The Beginning by MomBard

Disclaimer: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, and any other character from Xena: Warrior Princess is the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. This is just a work of fan-fiction and not intended to infringe in the copyright of the “Xena: Warrior Princess” TV show. All other characters in this story are mine.

Violence: Yep! There is some. But, nothing that wouldn't be seen in the TV show.

Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts a loving relationship between two women. Nothing graphic. If this bothers you, don't read it. If you are under 18 years of age or live in a state or country where a story like this is illegal, please don't read it. There are many stories out there for you to read.

Author's Note: I wrote this story as an entry for the Fourth Bard’s Challenge, June 2001.  The story was to be what each of us wanted as an ending for the series.  This then is my version of the Finale.  By the way…I took third place with my story, I am proud to say.  The award--was created by Lucia.

Cover by ForevaXena

(Click photo for larger image)

Prologue

A child and her mother were sitting on the couch in their living room. The child watched the mother intently.

“Mommy?” she waited for her mom to answer. But her mom didn’t hear her, because she was reading some kind of roll-up thing. Again the child tried to get her mother’s attention. “MOMMY!”

“Uh, sorry Gabrielle, I was reading this scroll.  The story is one of my favorites and I haven’t read it since I was a kid,” she said as she looked at her daughter lovingly, and gently touched her cheek.

“This belonged to Grandma and now it is mine. Someday it will be yours.” The mommy said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

The tear was not lost on the little girl.  “You miss Grammy, huh?”

“Yes, little one, I do. But I know someday I will be with her again.  And you know what Grandma always said – “The dead can hear your thoughts.”  I tell her I love her everyday, and I know she hears me and is with me in everything I do.”  She kissed and hugged her little girl.

“Mommy? What is that thing you are reading and what are all the other things in the storage chest?”

“Oh my, little one, these are called scrolls.”

“Scrolls? What are they? What’s in’em, Mommy?”

“So many questions!” giggled the mother.  “Well I guess it is about time you knew about the history of our family and who your ancestors were,” she said as she patted the cushion of the couch next to her.  “Come here love, and I will sing a song of The Warrior Princess and the Bard of Poteidia.”

“Mommy, who wrote this story?”

“Oh, the Bard of Poteidia wrote it.  She’s one of your ancestors and guess what?”

“What?”

“Her name was Gabrielle just like you,” said the mother as she ruffled her daughters blond hair. “This story, sweetie, is about the end of fighting and the beginning of our family line.”

The mother turned on the table lamp, picked up her favorite scroll and started to read the story of the beginnings of their family to her daughter…

****

Chapter One

They had just been in the fight of their lives.  Xena had almost lost her life that day. If it had not been for Gabrielle’s quick thinking, she would have. 

Xena was fighting four warriors and doing rather nicely when from behind her an archer took aim and let go his arrow directly at Xena. Luckily for the Warrior princess, Gabrielle saw the archer before he let loose with his arrow.  She ran to her partner and pushed her out of the way just as the arrow whizzed past Xena’s head.  The arrow missed Xena and landed in one of the unlucky warriors that were fighting her. One down…three to go.  Xena sent her Chakram flying at the archer taking him down as well. It ricocheted off some rocks as it headed towards the other three warriors, hitting its mark each time. Down they went in turn.  Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other for a brief moment, and then back-to-back, resumed the fighting.

Finally after hours of terrible fighting the battle was over. Our hero’s victorious once again. Neither of them said much of anything after the battle. Both were deep in thought and all they wanted to do was wash the dirt and blood of their enemies off their bodies. But first they helped with the wounded. 

“We could go to the stream and clean up if you want.  Shandi will handle everything here,” Xena said to Gabrielle as she nodded towards the Regent.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Xena. We can clean up here.  You and our Queen deserve some down time.  You both took the brunt of the fighting.” Shandi said.

“Thank you, Shandi. We will be down by the stream if you need us,” Gabrielle said. “Come on, Warrior… Time for a bath.” She said with a husky voice.

Xena smiled at her Bard.  She liked when she called her Warrior like that. 

“Right behind you, my heart.”

They bathed in the cool waters of the stream with not much conversation between them. Seems they were both deep in thought. They washed each other’s hair and body without even thinking, and in no time they had cleaned off the dirt and blood of the battle they had fought this day.  If they could read each other’s thoughts, they would have been surprised to find that they were thinking the same things.

That night as they were in their tent lying next to each other and cuddling close-- they both started to speak at the same time.  Causing each to smile…

“Go ahead, Gabrielle… you first,” Xena said with a smile.

Looking deep into her lovers cerulean blue eyes, Gabrielle began to speak her thoughts…

“Xe…I…Um I…” she stammered.

Xena smiled reassuringly and said, “I never thought I would see the day that my Bard could not form a sentence.  It can’t be that bad, Gabrielle.  Just say it.”

“Xe today… I almost lost you again.  We were lucky today. Who knows what will happen in the next battle…or the next!  Xena…I want to stop fighting and settle down with you.  I want to go to sleep and know when I wake up… that I won’t have to fight a God, an army or some crazy enemy. I want a place we can call home.  And I want a long and quiet life with you, Miss I Have Many Skills.”

Gabrielle smiled and caressed Xena’s cheek with her hand.  She knew that Xena loved the adventure and excitement of the road.  So she was very anxious as to how Xena would respond to these feelings. 

There was what seemed like the longest silence from Xena.  Gabrielle was almost sorry she had said anything, but it was the truth. This was the way she felt.  Finally Xena responded…

She held Gabrielle close to her and hugged her… “You know Gabrielle…Sometimes it is almost scary how our minds are on the same track.  I was thinking the same thing tonight.”

“Gabrielle I have to say that what happened today opened my eyes to something I knew would happen someday.  Something I didn’t want to think about.  I’m slowing up. Gods! I didn’t sense the archer behind me. You saved my life today, and I figure it was a wake-up call.  Time to let someone else fight the big battles.

I guess what I am trying to say is … I want the same things that you do, my love. I want to grow old with you.  I love you, my heart.”

They embraced, and both of them had tears in their eyes.

“Xena...  This is the right direction for us to go. I just know it!”

“I know, Gabrielle, I know.  But there is one more thing I would like to say…”

Gabrielle was concerned, when she saw the serious look on Xena’s face, but that didn’t last long once she heard what her Warrior had to say.

“What is it, Xena?”

“I love you so much. You are my heart, my soul – everything.  Please… will you join with me and be my wife for all eternity?” Xena asked.

Gabrielle laughed and cried as she lavished kisses all over Xena’s face.

“Ha, ha, ha…okay! I guess this means a yes,” teased Xena.

****

Chapter Two

“I’ve been thinking, Xena.  Where are we going to live after we are joined? Where would you like to make a home for us?”

“Hmm…I just…really…hadn’t thought much past our joining ceremony.” Xena said as she looked into the most loving of faces she had ever seen.

 “Gabrielle…I guess somewhere where I can kiss you when I want to…walk with you hand in hand if I so choose.”  She continued with sadness in her voice…  “I know we can’t do that in Amphipolis or Poteidia.  We would always be fighting prejudice.  I am tired of fighting, Gabrielle. Gods! So very tired of fighting.”

Gabrielle was immediately by her Warrior, looking up into her face and those incredibly blue eyes.  She brought both hands up to caress Xena’s cheeks and kissed her gently on the tip of her nose.

“I love you, Xena,” kissing her again only this time gently on the lips…  “The joining ceremony first and while we are preparing for it…we can think about either living here with our sister Amazons, or—maybe on Lesbos, or move on to a new land.”

****

All the preparations for the joining were moving right along as scheduled. The Amazon council of elders had agreed to the joining of Queen Gabrielle to her consort, Xena. Much to Xena’s surprise they were delighted. The council knew that such a joining would strengthen their tribe. 

Gabrielle sat in her hut writing in one her scrolls, when there was a knock on the door…

“May I come in, Queen Gabrielle?” Shandi asked.

“Come in, Shandi. And Shandi…when we are not doing anything official, Gabrielle will do nicely.”

“Your clothes for the joining are just about ready. Helena asks that you and Xena come by her hut for the last minute alterations, Gabrielle.”

“Shandi, tell Helena that Xena and I will be there in a candle mark. Then go get Xena. She said she would be at the training field teaching some of the younger tribe members some new techniques with the sword and staff that will improve their fighting skills.”

Seeing the hesitation in Shandi…Gabrielle smiled at her…”Shandi!  Xena won’t bite. Don’t be so intimidated by my Warrior. She is very reasonable. Go now, and ask her to come to our hut. Thank you.” 

Shandi nodded, turned around and left.  Gabrielle had an evil glint in her eyes.  ‘Now if only Xena lives up to the reputation I just gave her,’ she thought.

****

 “Want to tell me again, why I have to do this?” Xena asked her Bard, as she stood on a step stool in Helena’s hut.

“Uh huh.  So that you look even more beautiful than you look right now.”

“Oh! Okay. Just making sure.” Xena smiled at Gabrielle.  Then looking at Helena she said, “Helena, this dress is beautiful.  Thank you,” she said sincerely.

Helena’s face turned a bright red and she was barely able to reply…”Thank you.”

The dress that Xena wore was made of Blue silk that Helena had gotten from a band of nomads as tribute for passing thru Amazon land.  It was long and flowing and went over one shoulder leaving the other bare.  The blue of the dress was perfect with the blue of Xena’s eyes.

It was Gabrielle’s turn now and Xena was enjoying the view.  Gabrielle took her breath away.  Gabrielle was gorgeous to begin with, but the Green and gold material the dress was made of, brought out the emerald color of her eyes.

It amazed Xena how after all these years she was still awestruck by the beauty before her eyes.  And she chuckled as she thought to herself… ‘And so turned on!’

“Um…Gabrielle…uh, we have some pressing business to attend to.” Xena said as she gave Gabrielle the raised eyebrow and tilt of her head.  “At the queens hug…I…I meant hut!” she said innocently.

Gabrielle tried to suppress the giggle that was moving up her throat and out of her mouth. Didn’t work.

“Right! I forgot about that ‘pressing’ business,” she teased her warrior. Then turning her attention to Helena she said, “Are you finished with us, Helena?”

“Oh, yes my Queen. Thank you both for coming for this last fitting. The garments will be brought to your hut this evening… If that is alright with you, that is?” Helena asked.

“Of course, Helena. Thank you. You make us look wonderful with your talent.”

“Thank you. It was an easy task, really. You are both incredibly beautiful.” She started to blush as she spoke so openly to her Queen and Xena.

“Till later, then.” Xena said as she put her arm around Gabrielle’s waist as they left the hut.

****

Chapter Three

The day was finally here.  Xena and Gabrielle were dressed and ready before the Amazon guards came to escort them to the center of the village, where the elders were waiting to formalize their joining.

Aphrodite was there as well. All decked out in a see thru outfit that would make a God faint. If there were any left! She had a gift to give to her dear friends.  Getting back her Godhood had made her feel even more close to Gabrielle then before.

Surprisingly, Ares showed up also. He walked up to the couple and looked directly at Xena, and in his own arrogant way said,

“Are you sure you want her and not me, Xena?  We can still rule the world, you know.” He smiled as he took Xena’s hand in his…

“Ares.  You know that’s not going to happen. I thought all that stuff was over?” she gently removed her hand from his, and continued…

“Don’t make me sorry I gave you your Godhood back,” she smiled. “I love her with all my heart and soul.  So be happy for me -- and stand at my side, as I say my vows to the love of my life.”

Gabrielle wanted to smack him on the back of the head, but knew it would do absolutely no good at all. The only thing that would happen is that she would hurt her hand!

“Okay! It would be an honor to stand at your side,” he said, and turned to face Gabrielle…  “Don’t go thinking I have changed all that much, Gabrielle. To me you will always be that ‘irritating little blond’….”

Xena could sense Gabrielle tensing up and getting ready to pop Ares one, as he continued on with his sentence…

“But you are my irritating little blond since you were so kind to me when – pardon the expression – I was human.  I have never said this to anyone before and I will never say this again…thank you, both.  And Xena thank you for giving me and my sister our Godhood back.”

There wasn’t one mouth that wasn’t agape at that last statement of Ares. Who would have thought that the God of War could be ‘nice’!

“Hey! What are you all looking at? Can’t a God be nice?” He bellowed.

Aphrodite was just beaming. When Ares had showed up she figured he would be trouble. How pleasantly surprise she was, and how proud of her brother.

“Okay, listen up! We are starting our joining now.  We have waited years for this to happen so no more distractions, please.”  Xena said and looked to the Shamaness and with a nod of her head the ceremony began.

The ceremony began with chanting by the Shamaness as Xena and Gabrielle faced each other to say their vows of love and devotion. 

The customary headgear that used to be worn for the joining were no longer included in the ceremony, and the leathers and feathers were gone as well. The women’s right and left hand were tied loosely together as a symbol of the joining.  Prayers were said as Xena and Gabrielle gave their vows to one another. Very simple ceremony, yet felt very deeply by the couple.

Actually the Bard was a little disappointed that things were so different, but realized that things had drastically changed, and that one had to adjust to new situations and traditions.

Things had indeed changed over the years.  This was due to the fact, that most of the Amazons that made up the new tribe were the remnants of the defeated tribes that banded together to form a stronger Amazon nation.  This came about because of the tenacity of the council of elders.

The territory that they now held would not so easily fall into their enemy’s hands. If ever!

The elders had hoped that Gabrielle would be their permanent Queen. And with Xena as her champion, this would serve to strengthen the tribe and make it great again. Or at least stop the carnage to the Amazon nation.

One elder in particular hoped that this would come to pass.  Epinon had been part of Gabrielle’s old tribe and knew the depth of Gabrielle’s strength and heart. If the nation was to survive—they needed someone strong and wise. They needed Gabrielle.  After the joining she would speak to her Queen and ask them to remain and work for the greater good of the nation.

Epinon was wise to the fact that the two lovers wanted to settle down finally and raise a family.  Why not here she reasoned. She would use that issue to try and get them to stay. Life could be good here and with Gabrielle as their leader, “the nation” could be great again.

The party and dancing were going on, and as the Bard observed, from her seat at the table, this had not changed much to her delight.  The Amazons loved to party and loved their Amazon Thunder as well.  Gabrielle and Xena were partaking of the brew as well and were at this time feeling really giddy.  Actually it was Gabrielle that was feeling the effects of the brew, not Xena.  But with Xena there she felt safe enough to let her guard down some and enjoy their evening. 

The party went well into the early morning hours, and by the time Xena and Gabrielle said goodnight, most of the Amazons were either passed out or heading to their respective huts to sleep off the effects of the brew that they were drinking all night.

Ares had said his goodbyes earlier, and Aphrodite was getting ready to leave. She had not yet giving the ‘gift’ to her two friends yet…

“Hey, Sweet pea!” she said as she hugged the bard and smiled at Xena.  “It’s time for me to go home to my favorite temple. But before I go I want to give you and Love Muffin here my gift.”

“I’m so happy you could be a part of our special day, Aphrodite. Thank you for coming,” said the bard.

“Me too, Aphrodite…Thanks for coming…and please don’t call me Love Muffin,” Xena said as she smiled at the Goddess.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Look you two, don’t get me sidetracked after drinking so much of that brew,” she said.  Then with a flourish of her hands and sparkles and pretty pink smoke she said… “I just gave you two your joining present,” she said all pleased as punch with herself, as she stood there with her hands on her hips.

“Huh? Dite? What did you give us??” Xena asked cautiously.

Aphrodite smiled sweetly and replied…”I gave you both happiness and peace, and a long life together.  Xena I gave you the ability to finally forgive yourself your past sins.”

Xena and Gabrielle had tears in their eyes as they went to Aphrodite and hugged her and thanked her for her thoughtful gift.

Xena excused herself and let Gabrielle and Aphrodite say goodbye to each other…

“Dite…I…You couldn’t have given me a better gift than for Xena to be able to be at peace with her self at last.  Thank you, my friend.” She said as she hugged her friend.

“Ahh, don’t mention it, sweet pea! Gotta go now…” With a flurry of white smoke and sparkles she was gone.

****

Chapter Four

Epinon had requested an audience with Gabrielle a few days after the joining.  Frankly no one was in any condition to talk the next day about anything more serious than what could be taken to relieve the terrible headache that everyone seemed to have.

“My Queen,” Epinon said as she bowed her head and knelt down in front of Gabrielle. Gabrielle was sitting at her table and Xena standing next to her.

“Epinon…please… We have known each other for a long time, and now you are an elder on the council. Please. You don’t have to be so formal with me.  We are friends. What is it?” Gabrielle waved her hand and motioned to a chair.

“Gabrielle. I have been asked by the other elders of the tribe to speak with you. We are in dire times and need a strong and wise Queen.  You are that Queen.”

“No, no!  I am your temporary queen; remember? Just till the danger is past!”

Epinon was pacing now getting more and more animated as she spoke…

“Listen to me for a minute…I know you are the woman to lead us out of danger and to prosperity. 

You both want to settle down.  Why not here amongst your friends and people that love and respect you for whom you are.  You could even raise a family here. This nation can be great again, but only if it has the right ruler. And denying it will not change that fact, Gabrielle, that you are that ruler.  You know I speak the truth.

Why even as we speak the Warlord Clidos is moving into position to attack us.  Our scouts have just come back with the news.  He is maybe one and a half days march away with his army.

The scouts captured one of his men. The information we got out of him was that he thinks we have been weakened by this last battle we fought.  So he is making his move on us.”

Epinon now sat down and waited for Gabrielle’s reply and reaction to what she had just told her.  Epinon hadn’t meant for this bad news to be blurted out so quickly, but she was so sure that Gabrielle and Xena were what the nation needed. 

Gabrielle breathed deeply and then turned her gaze on her soul mate.  Xena just shrugged and had a half smile on her face.

“Epinon…if you will leave us, now.  I need to think about all that you have said, and I have to discuss this with Xena. This decision concerns her as well,” Gabrielle rose from her seat and walked around the desk and hugged Epinon. “You will have my decision tonight when we meet in the dining hut.”

“Thank you, Gabrielle.” She looked between the two women…  and then left the hut.

“I guess we need to make a decision then.  Want to share your feelings, Warrior?” Gabrielle asked.

“I will tell you that I will live wherever you want to live, Gabrielle.”

“No, I mean about being THE Queen…permanently.  There has to be someone else that can do a better job of it than…” Xena interrupted …

“You… are an excellent Queen. No one here can do a better job than you can… And deep down you know it’s true, Gabrielle. You do what ever it takes to get the job done. You have compassion when you need it, and you can be ruthless when it’s necessary.”

Xena walks over to her love and wraps her arms around Gabrielle and kisses her lightly on the lips.

“What’s it to be, my love?” Xena asked Gabrielle.

“Then here we will live with me as your Queen and you as my Champion.  It will be a good place to raise children also,” she teased her warrior.

Xena raised an eyebrow and then smiled that half smile of hers… “I would love that.”

“Just one thing has to be different though,” Gabrielle stated.

“What?”

“Leathers and feathers… They’re comin’ back!”

“Oh yeah!”  Xena said.

If Epinon had been standing outside the Queen’s hut, she would have heard the laughter coming from inside.

  That evening Epinon was impatiently waiting in the dining hut with the other Amazons that made up the council, having dinner.  In walked Xena with Gabrielle. The pair made their way to the table and sat down.

Not wanting to get Epinon any more nervous than she obviously was…Gabrielle told her straight away that it would be the greatest honor to rule as their queen, if that was what everyone wanted.

Epinon and the council members were overjoyed. Epinon was the one to speak for everyone…

“You have made the right decision, Gabrielle; for the Amazon Nation, and for yourself. This will be a wonderful place for you to live and raise a family. You to, Xena,” she smiled at them and Xena noticed a single tear roll down Epinon’s cheek.

“My old friend. We know.” Xena answered.

Now… I understand there are pressing matters that we must attend to,” said Gabrielle.

****

Chapter Five

The Plan:

“We should attack from the front and then have the rest of the Amazon warriors come round the sides of their encampment and trap them. They can’t retreat because they have the mountain at their back.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work this time.  Can’t get at them from the sides. There is no way we could get close enough to surprise them, and that is what we have to do. The terrain won’t work for us. We’d have to make a frontal attack. And there are just too many of them for us to even have a chance of walking away from that battle with our lives.”

“Well…are you saying we should do nothing?” Shandi angrily said.

“No! We need to be more…devious.”

Putting her hand up before anyone could object or ask questions Xena continued.  

“I will take four amazons with me at night and we will take out their leader Clidos and the officers.  The rest of you wait for my signal. If we don’t succeed then charge like Tartarus and kill as many of the enemy as you can. Maybe we will get lucky.” She smiles the half smile she is so famous for, and looks around at the Amazon captains and the council. “It’s been known to happen before.”

“How do you know what tent they are in?” Gabrielle questioned.

With a guilty look on her face, Xena answered…“I scouted their camp last night.”

Gabrielle gave her a look that could stop the sunrise. Xena knew that when everyone was gone she would hear from her Bard as to how upset she was. Something she would prolong doing as long as she could!

“Alright! Tell us what you saw last night and what you think would be the best line of attack,” and then ever so quietly Gabrielle said to Xena… “We’ll talk later, my love.”

“The encampment is sort of in a horseshoe shape. With Clidos’ tent back by the mountain face and his officers tent right next to him. Stupid move if you ask me. Makes them like sitting ducks.  Good for us… bad for them.”

Shandi was not so sure that this plan would work.  “May I speak my queen?”

“Of course Shandi.   You are my Regent! You don’t need permission.” Gabrielle said.

“Well your plan has merit…but just a few things bother me…”

“What?” Xena asked.

 “If Clidos and his officers are at the back of the horseshoe – how do you expect to get thru all their warriors and guards? And two… How will taking out Clidos and the officers, going to help us stop such a large army?”

“If you cut the head off.  The body dies.” Gabrielle interjected.  She knew exactly what Xena had planned.

“That’s it exactly! If we take Clidos and the captains out… then the army will have no reason to fight. They will turn and run once they realize they will be fighting and dying for nothing.” Xena explained. “Also they would never expect us to sneak in at night and attack them.  They would never believe that women could be so devious.”

Epinon and the other council members were all for this plan. If it worked then they would lose no one. 

Gabrielle addressed the council with the respect they deserved… “This is the only way we have a chance of winning. There are a few refinements to the plan, but I propose that we move on this tonight.  What say the council?”

Epinon couldn’t help but smile at her Queen. She was magnificent. She was the right choice. 

“Do what must be done to protect our Amazon Nation and future generations.” Then she smiled at Gabrielle and said, “We will all be going. Wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

****

Chapter Six

“You could’ve at least let me know what you were going to do last night.”

“You wouldn’t have wanted me to go and scout by myself. You would have insisted on coming along. I couldn’t chance anything happening to you.” Xena said with a loving smile on her face.

“Oh really!  And what about something happening to you, my Warrior? Hmm?” Gabrielle had tears in her eyes, and this of course just totally defeated whatever argument Xena may have had in mind.

Xena went to Gabrielle and held her gently and kissed her.  Looking into her green eyes she felt as if she would melt from the heat she was feeling. “Don’t cry. I can’t promise not to want to protect you from danger, Gabrielle.”

“All right, all right! You were trying to protect me.  But don’t worry so much about protecting me. I can take care of myself, and you if need be. You know this.” She said quietly.

“Yes. I do. I’m sorry.” Xena said as she caressed Gabrielle’s cheek.

“Now about those refinements to the plan?” Xena questioned her Bard.

“I think you will need more than four warriors to go with you.”

“Well…how many more?”

“One. Me.”

“No! It’s too dangerous. I will not risk losing you.”

****

Xena and the four Amazon warriors were crouched down behind some bushes waiting for the leaders of the enemy army to retire for the night.  The good thing was -- that from what Xena had observed – Clidos and his two officers had been drinking and would be off guard to an attack.  The bad thing was – Xena and her companions had managed to take out all but one of the guards that had been posted around Clidos’ tent. This could be dangerous if he showed up at the wrong time.

Hearing a noise from behind, Xena whirled around with her sword at the ready, only to be greeted with a silhouette that was familiar to her. She shook her head from side to side and grabbed the intruder and pulled her down behind the bushes.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed.

“It’s good to see you too, Xena,” Gabrielle teased.

“I told you to wait with the tribe.”

“You know I never listen!” Gabrielle said with a wry smile. “Besides…who is going to cover your back if I’m not around, huh?”

“Point taken.  Come on we have work to do. And, oh yeah…Watch out for the guard that we missed.”

Gabrielle whispered to Xena with this little evil grin on her face, “Oh, don’t worry about him.  He’s down for the count.”

“Okay then. Let’s take Clidos and his officers out. Gabrielle stay close,” Xena, said as she squeezed her partner’s hand.

The band of Amazons dashed into the tent surprising a very drunk Warlord and his two officers. The fight was won easily and Clidos was dispatched to Hades, as were his men.

Xena set fire to the tent as a diversion, and the six women made their exit from the encampment to their waiting comrades.  There was much chaos and confusion happening, but it was apparent that Xena’s plan was working when Clidos’ men discovered that their leaders had been slain. All the tribe had to do was wait… Soon they would attack, and finally be safe from the threat of annihilation by these barbarians.  

The order was given by Gabrielle to attack, and the Amazons swooped down on the now frantic barbarians, and made short work of them.  Those that were not killed dropped their weapons and ran away.  The Plan was a success, and the tribe was saved.

****

Epilogue

“The end,” her mother said.

“What happens next?”

Gabrielle’s mother looked lovingly at her, “That’s another story, love.”

“Maaoom! Come on, please just one more, please.”

“No, sweetheart. It’s way past your bedtime.”

Realizing that she wasn’t going to win her battle, Gabrielle relented. “Tsk…okay. I’ll go to bed, but I won’t be able to sleep.  I want to hear more stories, Mommy.”

“Darlin’ you will. I will read you one every night before bed.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Well…okay.  But I still won’t be able to get to sleep.” Gabrielle said in a most dramatic way.

“You know, sweetie.  I have something in the chest that will help you sleep.” 

Before Gabrielle could say another word, she saw her mother take an old worn leather pouch from the chest where the scrolls were stored.  Her mother very gently placed the pouch on the table in front of the couch, and proceeded to remove the object that was kept safe inside. Gabrielle’s eyes grew wide when she saw what the object was.

It was a Lamb carved out of wood. It was beautiful.

“Oh, Mommy!  Is that for me?”

“Yes it is, Gabrielle.”

“Oh goodie!”

“You know what else?”

“What?”

“It belonged to the Bard.”

“Really??”

“Really.”

 “Okay, sweetie, it’s bedtime. I think you will be able to sleep now. But if you can’t, you can always count sheep.”

Gabrielle’s mother carried her daughter to her room, and gently laid her down on the bed. Covering her and Little Lamb with the blanket.

“Goodnight, sweetie. I hope you dream of health, happiness and all kinds of good things.” The mother kissed her daughter.

“Goodnight, Mommy.  I love you… And so does Little Lamb.”

“Um, Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“Can I have my nightlight on?  Little Lamb is afraid of the dark.”

The Beginning

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