ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Dark Reflection

by WordWizard

Disclaimer: The usual. I don't own the characters. That honor belongs to Rob Tapert (lucky dog). A sexual relationship between two consenting women is implied. If this type of story offends you, read something else.

           The blonde felt a soft kick in her side.

          "Wake up, Gabrielle.  We've got to get moving." a voice said.

          She moaned, opened her eyes and blinked sleepily.  She looked up through bleary eyes and saw Xena standing over her with a lopsided grin on her face.  The bard stretched and yawned. 

          "Can't I sleep just a little longer?" she asked in her best begging voice.

          "No." the warrior said.

          Gabrielle reluctantly got to her feet and began to pack her bedroll.  When she was done, she handed the roll to Xena, who tied it to the back of Argo's saddle next to her own.  Gabrielle dug in her pack and brought out some dried meat and some slightly stale bread.  They sat down and ate their breakfast in relative silence.

          "We need to stop in the next town," the bard said, "our supplies are almost gone."

          " I know.  I need to get Argo's saddle repaired anyway.  The next village is only about a day from here."

          When they were through eating, they began their journey.  As they walked down the dusty trail, Gabrielle slipped into her travel chatter.

          "I can't believe it." she said.

          "What?" Xena asked casting a sideways glance at Gabrielle.

          "We've went a whole three days with no battles, no warlords bent on terrorizing some town, no gods bent on killing you.  No nothing.  It's been kinda peaceful." the bard replied.

          "Uh huh." the warrior replied.

          They travelled on.  As the sun rose higher in the sky, the temperature increased.  Soon the two women were covered in sweat.  They decided to find a shady spot to rest for awhile.  They sat under a large tree that provided plenty of shade.  They sipped from their waterskins as a cool breeze began to gently blow.  Gabrielle spotted a small stream a little distance away.  She stood.

          "I'm going for a swim.  Join me?"

          "No.  I think I'll take a short nap.  Have fun." the warrior said, leaning against the tree and closing her eyes.

          The bard walked down to the shore and quickly stripped.  The sun made her already golden skin seem as if it were aglow.  Her strawberry-blonde hair looked like a halo in the bright light.  She stepped into the water.  It was just the right temperature.  She swam a little way out and then stopped.  She treaded water, letting it cool her off.  When she was done, she climbed out of the water and lay on a rock to dry.  She must have dozed off, because she was jolted awake by the sound of Xena's voice.  She stood and quickly dressed.  Then, she hurried back to where her companion was waiting for her.

          They once more began their journey.  As they walked, Gabrielle began feeling strange.  For some reason she felt angry.  She drifted into silence.  Xena thought nothing of it.  She assumed that the bard had entered her daydream state, where all her story ideas came from.  They continued on for the rest of the day.  As the sun was setting below the horizion, they found a suitable camp site and began making camp.  Xena was beginning to worry about her friend.  She had been too quiet.  Everytime the warrior had tried to draw her into conversation, she had made some reply, most of which Xena was unable to make out, then she would drift back into silence.  Finally, the dark woman had given up.  Actually, it was kind of peaceful, but it was so unlike Gabrielle.

          'Oh well, maybe she's just tired.' Xena thought as she started the fire.

          They sat around the fire and enjoyed a hot meal.  When they were done eating, the warrior went over and sat down next to the bard.  She put her arms around the slim girl and kissed her gently on the cheek before moving to nibble on the bard's earlobe.  Gabrielle turned her head away and stood.

          "No, Xena.  I'm not in the mood."

          She lay on her bedroll and closed her eyes.  Xena sat stunned.  Gabrielle?  Not in the mood?  The same Gabrielle that she had to practically beat off with a stick every night?  That was strange.  The warrior sat for some minutes just staring at her lover.

          'What is the matter, Gabrielle?  Why won't you tell me so I can help you?' Xena thought to herself.

          Giving a sigh, she rose and prepared to go to sleep.  She threw some more wood on the fire, and using a stick, stirred it.  Then, she rolled herself up in her blanket and closed her eyes.  Sleep was hard in coming.  Her mind kept drifting to Gabrielle.  At last, she drifted into the realm of Morpheus.

          The next morning, she awoke to a strange sound.  She opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder.  The bard was awake and trying to start a fire.  It was highly unusual for the girl to wake before Xena.  But, that wasn't what surprised the warrior.  Gabrielle, being unsuccessful in starting a fire, threw the flint and striker on the ground and promptly began to curse at the wood.  Xena's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open.  Now, this was strange.  Gabrielle never cursed.  She hated profanity.  But, there she was, using words and phrases that even the warrior had never heard before.  The bard's face was bright red as she gave a kick at the wood pile and stormed off.  Xena sat up and stared after the bard.  She had a confused look on her face.

          She got up and picked up the flint and striker.  In a few moments, she had a small fire burning.  Soon, Gabrielle returned.  She sat down next to the fire and stared into space.  Xena sat opposite her and gazed at her a moment before speaking.

          "Gabrielle, is something the matter?" she asked, the concern clearly audible in her voice.

          "No." the girl replied with a slight edge to her voice.

          The warrior tried to make conversation as they ate breakfast, but the bard was unresponsive.  The warrior finally gave up.  She stood and put out the fire.  She looked at Gabrielle. 

          "We better break camp.  The sooner we get to the village, the better." she said before turning away to gather up her bedroll.

          "No." she heard Gabrielle say.

          She turned to face the bard.

          "What?"

          "I said no.  I'm tired of taking orders from you!  I am not a child!  No one tells me what to do!"

          Xena took a step toward the girl.

          "Now wait a minute!" she said, her voice strained with the effort to control her temper.

          "No, you wait a minute!  Ever since I started traveling with you, it's been Gabrielle break camp, Gabrielle fetch some water, Gabrielle you stay here. Well, I'm tired of it!  I'm not taking orders from you anymore!  I'm an adult, and I will do what I want, when I want!  Got that?"

          She poked Xena in the chest, then turned and stormed to the other side of the camp.  The warrior clenched her fists in anger.  With every ounce of will she possessed, she resisted the urge to knock some sense into the girl.  She turned and walked over to Argo.  She busied herself checking the horse's saddle and bridle, in an attempt to calm down.  It didn't work.

          Soon, they were on their way.  They travelled in silence.  The tension between the two was so thick that you could cut it with a sword.  Every once in a while, the dark woman would steal a sideways glance at her companion.  She was hurt and puzzled.  Gabrielle would never speak that way to her.  But, she did.  It was just so uncharacteristic of the bard.  Something was wrong, and by gods, she was going to find out what!

          After half a day's travel, they entered the village of Polaris.  As they wound their way through the crowded street, Gabrielle bumped into a burly and unfriendly looking man.

          "Why in Hades don't you watch where you're going!" the blonde spat.

          "Me?  Why you little.....!"

          Xena stepped between the two.

          "I apologize for my friend.  She's not feeling very well, and her temper has been a little short." she smiled her best fake smile.

          "You ought to tell her not to pick a fight she can't win!" the man said.

          He gave the bard an icy glare as he continued on his way.  The warrior grabbed her friend by the shoulders and turned her to face her.

          "What were you thinking!?  He would have killed you!"

          "Take your hands off of me!" the bard hissed.

          When Xena hesitated, the bard punched her in the stomach and pushed her to the ground.  The warrior stood, clutching her stomach and gasping for breath.  She watched the petite girl disappear into the crowd.  Anger showed on the former warlord's face.  She staggered off in search of an inn.  As she entered the crowded establishment, the patrons stared at her.  She was used to the stares, but today they were really getting under her skin.  Her hand moved to her chakram.

          "What are you all staring at!?" she hissed to the room.

          The patrons quickly adverted their eyes and soon, the room was once again buzzing with conversation and laughter.  The warrior strode up to the counter.  The innkeeper gave her a frightened look.  He cleared his throat and spoke.

          "C..Can I help you?" he asked.

          "Yeah.  I want a room, a hot bath and food."

          "That'll be ten dinars."

          Ten dinars!  That was outrageous!  If the warrior had been in a better disposition, she would have tried to get the man to lower his price.  But, in her present temperment, she thought it better to just pay him before she really lost her temper and hurt the conniving little weasel.  She handed him the dinars and he led her upstairs to a large room.  Actually, the room was nearly worth ten dinars, but Xena didn't care at this point.  He left the woman alone in the room.  A few minutes later, two young women entered, carrying a large, wooden tub.  They were followed by a third woman, carrying a bucket of hot water and a towel.  The women carrying the tub, placed it in the center of the room and left.  The third, placed the towel on the bed and filled the tub.  She too left, glad to be away from the warrior.

          A few minutes later, the young woman returned bearing a tray of food.

          "Put it on the table." Xena said.

          The woman complied and quickly left, closing the door behind her.  As the door clicked shut, Xena began stripping off her armor and leathers.  In a few moments, she was nude.  She climbed into the tub and sighed as she felt the dust from the road leaving her body.  She washed and then sat, soaking and trying to relax.  Unable to relax, she climbed out of the tub, and dried herself.  She removed a shift from her pack and slipped it over her head.  She went to the table and sat down.  She wasn't hungry, but she needed to keep her strength up.  She ate the food without tasting it.  She was still trying to figure out what had caused the sudden change in Gabrielle's personality.  She had been her usual sweet self all the day before.  She hadn't begun to act strange until after they had resumed their journey after resting beside that stream. Xena sat up straight, her eyes wide.  That was it.  The bard had been swimming in the the stream.  Then, afterwards, she had begun to become hostile.  It must have been something in the water, but what?

          Just as this thought crossed her mind, the bard entered the room.  She placed her pack on the floor and put the staff beside it.  The young girl grabbed some food off of the tray and sitting on the bed, began eating in silence.  The warrior watched the bard as she ate.  Gabrielle, feeling eyes on her, turned to Xena.

          "What are you staring at!?" she spat.

          "Gabrielle, what has gotten into you?"

          "A dose of reality.  I'm tired of being the good girl!  I want to bust some heads for a change!  Got a problem with that?"

          The older woman stood and walked over to Gabrielle.

          "This is so unlike you, Gabrielle.  You wouldn't hurt a fly, then all of a sudden, you want to fight everyone and anyone you see.  Why?"

          "That's none of your business!  Now, get out of my face before I rip your tongue out and ram it up your ass!" the bard hissed angrily.

          That was it.  Xena could control her temper no longer.  She backhanded the bard, knocking her backwards off of the bed.  She stood over the blonde and looked down at her with anger clouding her features.

          "Now you listen here!  You don't threaten me unless you're prepared to back it up, understand!?  Now, get out of my sight!"

          The warrior turned and strode to the other side of the room.  She gazed into the fire intently.  Xena was sick to her stomach.  She had struck Gabrielle, the one thing that she vowed she would never do.  But, the bard's attitude had finally gotten to the her.  She knew that she had to find some way to help her lover, but she was clueless on how to do that.  She sighed.  She listened as the bard stood and stormed out of the room.  The dark woman sank to her knees and wept at how helpless she was.  She loved the blonde with all of her heart and soul, and yet she could do nothing to help her.  And worst of all, Xena realized, Gabrielle was acting as she had when she was the ruthless "Conquerer of Nations".  She could not allow the innocence of her lover to be lost forever to the bloodlust that she now felt.

          Gabrielle strode down the street, muttering under her breath.

          "Hit me will you?!  Well, you'll get yours, warrior princess!  That I promise!"

          She rounded a corner and was stopped in her tracks as a burly figure stepped from the shadows, glaring at her menacingly.

          "Well, well, if it isn't the tough little girl." the man said in a deep, gravelly voice.

          The bard immediately recognized the figure as the man who ran into her when they first entered the village.  An evil, malicious grin crept onto her face.  Maybe she would get to bust some heads after all.

          The man took a step toward her, drawing a long and extremely deadly looking dagger from his belt.  Gabrielle just stood her ground, showing no sign of fear.  This momentarily stunned the rouge.  Usually, when he pulled his knife, the victim began to plead for their life. But, this slip of a girl was staring him down as calmly as if he were a mere child.  When he recovered from his shock, his temper washed over him.  He charged her and made a slash at her with the weapon.  The bard side-stepped and brought her staff around in a tight arc and struck the man in the rear as he stumbled past her.  He stopped and turned and prepared for another charge.  Gabrielle laughed at the man.  His anger getting the best of him, the ruffian charged again.  The blonde hit him upside the head with the staff and quickly swinging down, knocked the knife from his hand.  He bellowed in rage.

          She pummeled him with blows, forcing him backwards until he tripped over a barrel and lay sprawled on the ground.  She picked up the dagger and straddled the man, holding the dagger mere inches from his face.

          "I've been wanting to do this all day!" Gabrielle said, with mirthful glee.

          She raised her arm to deliver the killing strike.  As her arm flashed down, the man shifted his weight and managed to throw her off.  The dagger embedded itself in the ground where his head had been mere moments before.  The girl was obviously crazy.  He stood and bolted away.  Gabrielle stood up and calmly brushed the dust from her clothes.  She had enjoyed the fight.  She craved more.  She picked up her staff and resumed her course.  Several hours later, when she felt sleep trying to overtake her, she made her way back to the inn and climbed the stairs to their room.  When she entered the small room, she could hear the deep even breathing as the warrior slumbered.  The room was in total darkness.  She removed her bedroll from her bundle and spread it on the floor in front of the fireplace.  As she lay there, drifting to sleep, she thought of all the things she would do to get even with Xena for all of the unfair treatment she had gotten during their travels.  Also, there was the little matter of the backhand that the warrior had landed on her.  That could not go unpunished.  The bard grinned evilly as she crossed over into sleep.

          The warrior slept and dreamed.  She dreamed dreams of her past.  In the dream, her army was raiding a small village.  All around, huts and stalls blazed as her soldiers put them to the torch.  But, she was not at the head of the army.  The leader of the troops was.....Gabrielle.  The bard had a malicious look on her face.  She looked as if she were actually enjoying it.  She drew in a deep breath as if savoring the smell of death and burning flesh.  Xena knew that she had to stop her somehow, but she found herself unable to move.  She tried to yell to Gabrielle, to get her attention, but it was useless.  She had no voice.  All she could do was stand there and watch and weep.  Her Gabrielle, the kind, sweet, and gentle woman that she had met, fell in love with, and married was dead.  A new Gabrielle had been born.  She had become exactly like Xena.  The warrior looked up to see the bard charging toward her on horseback.  She had her sword drawn back.  Xena saw the blade arcing through the air, aimed at her neck.  She closed her eyes and waited for the sensation of metal slicing her head from her body.  But it did not come.  The warrior opened her eyes and looked around her.

          She was in a dark room.  A moment later, she realized that she was in the room of an inn.  She could hear Gabrielle's gentle breathing.  Every once in a while, the bard would give an evil chuckle.  Xena was in a cold sweat.  She lay back down and stared at the ceiling.  She gave a shiver as she recalled her dream all too vividly.  She closed her eyes and silently prayed to the gods for a way to help her lover.  She couldn't let the sweet girl from Potedaia turn into some bloodthirsty warlord.  Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she realized just how helpless she was.  She needed to purge Gabrielle of this bloodlust, this evil, but how?  She received no answer from the gods.  She cried herself to sleep.

          When she awoke in the morning, the room was empty.  The bard was nowhere to be seen.  The warrior got out of bed and stretched.  She dressed and went downstairs to get something to eat, though she wasn't hungry.  She searched the common room for her companion, but did not see her.  She found an empty table and sat down.  Soon, a barmaid approached her and the dark woman ordered food and ale.  The barmaid left to get the order.  Xena sat silently, staring at the wall, turning everything over in her mind.  She came to the conclusion that she would have to return to the river.  Maybe there was a clue there.  But how to get the bard to come with her?  She couldn't leave her here alone.  There was no telling what the young woman might do.  The warrior ate her food and drank her ale without tasting either.  When she was finished, she stood and walked outside.  The sun was shining, the birds were singing.  It was a beautiful day, but the warrior did not even notice.  She thought of where Gabrielle could've gone.  The only idea that Xena could come up with was to try the market.  The bard did love shop after all.  It was a long shot, but Xena decided she had nothing to lose.  So, she began making her way through the morning crowd, to the town square where the merchants had their stalls.  As she wove her way through the sea of bodies, merchants called to her, trying to sell her everything from pottery to beautifully carved mirrors.  She shut these out as her keen eyes searched the crowd for the familiar figure of her lover.

          She spotted a short blonde head among the crowd gathered at the furrier's stand.  She made her way there, her heart all but beating through her chest.  As she drew closer, she saw that it was a young girl of maybe fourteen or fifteen summers.  Xena grunted in disappointment and continued to scan the throng of people.  The warrior searched the entire square, but found no trace of her lover.  Growling in disgust and frustration, the woman headed back to the inn.  She stopped inside the door.  There sat Gabrielle, drinking ale and writing furiously in her scroll.  The warrior breathed a sigh of relief and approached the table.  She sat down opposite the bard, and studied her for a moment before speaking.

          "Where have you been, Gabrielle?  I was worried sick."

          "None of your business." the blonde replied gruffly.

          Xena gazed at Gabrielle and noticed the fact that the girl was well on her way to being drunk.  She had seen the bard drunk before and it wasn't a pretty sight, but, there was no telling what the bard would be like if she were drunk in her present temperment.  The warrior decided enough was enough.  She reached across the wooden table and took the mug of ale.  Gabrielle  looked up and gave Xena the "look of death."

          "Give that back." the bard hissed in a menacing voice.

          "No.  You've had enough.  Get your things together, we're leaving."

          "Who the hell do you think you are?!  My mother!?"

          "No.  I'm you're wife, and I'm telling you to get your things together."

          "Make me you fucking bitch!"

          Xena's eyes narrowed to slits.  She set her jaw and stood.  She walked around to the table and stopped next to the bard.  Without saying a word, she picked the girl up and slung her over her shoulder.  The warrior marched upstairs to their room and threw the blonde woman down on the bed.  And stood with her arms across her chest, glaring at her.

          "You will do as I tell you.  And don't ever call me a bitch again if you know what's good for you."

          "I'm not going any fucking where with you!" the blonde spat.

          "Yes you are."

          With that, Xena's hand flashed out and pressed a pressure point in the girl's neck.  The bard found herself unable to move.  The warrior dug around in her pack and brought out a length of rope.  With this, she bound the bard's hands and feet.  When she had the girl securely bound, she released the pressure.  Gabrielle all but shot fire from her eyes as she glared intensely at the warrior.  Xena packed their things. 

          When she was through, she slung the pack over one shoulder and the blonde over the other and walked down the stairs.  Gabrielle beat her fists against Xena's back and hurled curse after curse at her.  When they reached the common room, all of the patrons turned to see what was causing the disturbance.  One look at the warrior made them go back to their activities.  The dark woman went to the stables and sat the bard on the ground while so that she could saddle Argo.  When the horse was ready, Xena laid Gabrielle across the saddle, then mounted behind her.

          They travelled like that most of the day.  The bard finally having used all of her energy cussing the ex-warlord and trying to get free of her bonds, fell asleep.  She awakened later that night to the feeling of warmth on her.  She opened her eyes and found herself laying on her bedroll next to a fire.  Xena looked up from sharpening her sword when she saw the bard move. 

          "Hungry?" she asked from across the fire.

          The blonde remained silent and glared at her captor.  But, at the mention of food, her stomach rumbled.  The warrior picked up the rabbit that she had saved for her wife and went over and knelt beside the young girl.

          "I'll untie your hands, but I'm trusting you not to try anything." she said as she began untying the rope.

          The bard rubbed her wrists, trying to bring the circulation back.  The warrior handed her the meat and sat down next to the blonde.  Gabrielle tore into the rabbit hungrily.  When she was through she tossed the bones off to the side and unceremoniously let out a belch that could wake the dead.  Xena couldn't help but laugh.

          "What are you laughing at?!"

          "Nothing." the warrior replied.

          "You through eating?" Xena asked.

          The girl nodded her head.  The warrior picked up the rope and began to bind the girl's wrists again.

          "Hey!"

          "Have to make sure you don't try to get away until I get you back to normal."

          Gabrielle, knowing that struggle was useless lay down and closed her eyes.  Xena lay next to her.

          "Good night, Gabrielle."

          Xena tossed and turned as the nightmare from the night before returned.  She sat bolt upright, breathing heavily.  She looked at the bard sleeping beside her.  She hated seeing her wife like this.  She hated having to treat her like a common thug.  She prayed to the gods that the answer lay back at the river.  She lay back down and stared up at the stars.  Soon Morpheus claimed her for his own.

          The warrior awoke the next morning to the sound of cursing.  She looked around and found the bedroll next to her empty.  She then saw the bushes moving and more curses floated to her ears.  She got up to see what was going on.  She found the bard squatting against a tree and trying to hold up her skirt and balance herself at the same time with her bound hands.  The ex-warlord walked over to her.

          "Problems?"

          "Yeah!  I have to piss, but I can't stay up because of your goddamned rope!"

          Xena knelt down and placed her arm around the bard's shoulders.  Using her free hand, she held the girl's skirt up.  She gazed at the triangle of golden hair between the bard's legs.  She felt herself growing wet.  She had been glad when her lover had stopped wearing breeches.  She adverted her eyes.  She wouldn't even think of making love to Gabrielle as long as the girl was out of her mind like this.  The bard sighed as a golden stream erupted from her.  When she was through, she stood and Xena wiped her clean.  They went back to the camp.

          The warrior prepared breakfast.  She untied one of Gabrielle's hands, while tying the other to a nearby tree.  They ate in silence.  During the entire meal, the bard never took her eyes off of the warrior.  Xena could feel her lover's gaze cutting through her, but chose to ignore it.  Near as she could figure, they were about a day's travel from the river.  The answer was there.  It had to be!  When they were through, she broke camp and retied the girl's hands.  She helped the bard mount Argo and they started on their way.

          Gabrielle dozed most of the, having nothing else better to do.  She was still pissed at Xena and refused to speak to her.  The ropes were chafing her, causing her already volatile temper to flare up even more. 

          'I bet she really gets off seeing me hogtied!' the bard thought to herself.

          As much as she hated to admit it, Xena's dominance over her was making her hornier than a hydra in heat.  As much as she wanted to beat the living Hades out of the warrior, she wanted to jump her bones even more.  The young girl felt herself growing moist as her clit began to throb.  Around midday, they stopped for a meal and to let Argo rest.  As they sat eating, Gabrielle spoke.

          "What if there is no way to turn me back into that whimpering weakling?  You going to keep me tied like an animal the rest of my fucking life?!"

          The warrior gazed at her soulmate for a moment before replying.

          "I don't know.  We'll deal with that when it comes up.  Gabrielle, do think it's easy for me to see you this way?  To have tie you up?  Not being able to trust you alone?  It's killing me.  I love you.  I'm doing this for your own protection."

          Tears had started to well up in Xena's azure eyes.

          "What scares me," she continued, "is that you are becoming like I was during those long dark years that I was the Conquerer of Nations.  I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did.  I don't want you to have to live with the burden of guilt that I live with everyday."

          Finally losing control, she allowed the tears to flow freely.

          "Did you really love her that much?  The whimpering naive girl that I used to be?" the bard asked.

          "Yes, I did.  It was her innocence that I loved.  Her compassion, her spirit, and for your information, she was not a whimperer.  I would trust  her with my life.  Don't get me wrong, I still love you, Gabrielle, but I don't know you anymore.  You are a different person.  The innocent girl that I loved is no longer with me.  But, I want to bring her back.  You can hate me all you want, but that's the way I feel."

          Gabrielle was silent for a few moments.  Finally she sighed.

          "As much as I hate to admit it, and even though the minute you untie me, I'm going to beat the Tartarus out of you, I l.....l......I LOVE YOU!  There, I said it.  If she really means that much to you, then I won't fight you.  I want you to be happy.  If you really want her back, then let's do it fast, before I change my mind."

          The ex-conqueror stood and walked over to the bard.  She knelt down and locked the blonde in a tight embrace.

          "Thank you.  You don't know how much that means to me."

          The girl rolled her eyes.

          "Yeah, yeah. Don't go start getting mushy on me."

          The warrior sat back and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.  She stood.

          "Come on," she said, "we're burning daylight."

          They once more continued on their way. As twilight was falling, they arrived at the river.  Xena set up camp in the same spot where they had camped a few before.  The warrior prepared supper, and when they were finished eating, they lay on their bedrolls and tried to sleep.  The next morning, they ate a quick breakfast then walked down to the river.  They stood, studying it's clear water.

          "You began to act strangely after you came back from taking a swim.  Do you remember what happened?  Notice anything out of the ordinary?" the warrior asked.

          "No.  I swam for a bit.  I didn't see anyone or sense anything strange.  Not too long after we took to the trail again, I began feeling angry and destructive for no reason." the blonde answered.

          "Then, it must be something in the water.  But what, and how do we reverse it?"

          "Maybe I can help you."

          A blue sparkle appeared before them.  A moment later, the God of War stood before them.  Xena nailed him with her patented Glare of Death.

          "What do you want, Ares?" she spat.

          "I'm here to repair the damage my nephew, Strife caused.  Seems the blonde here was the victim of another of his practical jokes.  He payed for this one.  Zeus has condemed him to a season of being mortal.  Besides, as much as it kills me to say this, I kinda like the irritating little blonde.  She's got spunk."

          He waved his hand in front of Gabrielle.  A golden light enveloped her for a moment before fading.  The bard smiled.  The warrior was estatic.  It was the first time the bard had smiled in days.  She looked Ares in the eye.

          "I guess I should thank you." she said dryly.

          "Let's just consider it a favor," he said, "one that I'll be back to collect on in the future.  Well, I've got a war to start.  I'll see you around."

          He gave them a sinister smirk before vanishing in a blue sparkle.  Xena threw her arms around Gabrielle and lifted her off of her feet.

          "Oh, Gab, I missed you so much."

          The bard laughed. 

          "I love you too.  Now, mind telling me what's going on?  You act as if you haven't seen me in ages."

          "You don't remember?"

          "Remember what?"

          "Come on, I tell you over lunch."

          At the mention of food, the girl beamed.  As they ate, Xena related what had happened over past three days.  When she finished her narrative, the bard shuddered and sat silent.  Finally, she spoke.

          "Gods!  I can't believe I turned into that!  I feel....I feel so ....evil. "

          "Well, it's done now.  I have my Gabrielle back.  And let me tell you something little bard.  I'm a very frustrated warrior.  Three whole days without making love to my wife.  I hope you're well rested." she said with a mischeivous grin.

          The bard grinned back.

          "Oh, I think I can take whatever you dish out.  But, we can't have a frustrated warrior, now can we?"

          She leaned over and kissed the warrior.  Xena's control melted away with the first electrifying contact of their lips.  She pushed the girl onto her back, ripping the bard's clothes off in the process.  They made love far into the night, until at last they passed out from sheer exhaustion.

          The blonde felt a soft kick in her side.

          "Wake up, Gabrielle.  We've got to get moving." a voice said.

          She moaned, opened her eyes and blinked sleepily.  She looked up through bleary eyes and saw Xena standing over her with a lopsided grin on her face.  The bard stretched and yawned. 

          "Can't I sleep just a little longer?" she asked in her best begging voice.

          "No." the warrior said.

          Gabrielle sat up, expecting to find her wrists bound. They weren't.  She looked around.  They were still camped by the river.

          "We have to stop at the next town.  I need to get Argo's saddle repaired, and our supplies are low."

          She walked over and kissed the bard.

          "Have I ever told you how cute you are in the morning?" she asked.

          "No, but thank you."

          'It was all a dream?' the bard thought to herself.

          "Sleep well, my love?" Xena asked.

          "Great." the bard lied.

          "Good, after breakfast, we'll start.  We should reach the village by tomorrow at the latest."

 THE END

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