Chapter 21

It took the large party nearly a week to reach the relative safety of their home village. Many of the women from Ciros had returned to family and friends. It was decided that those that knew where they wanted to go were given an escort of Amazons to assure their safety.

After surviving the ordeal of capture and near slavery, the Queen and the Regent wanted to be sure the liberated women and children got at least a chance to begin their new life.

Along with that thinking it was also decided that since it was their friends and neighbors that had been slaughtered and robbed, then a portion of the spoils taken from the slavers' caravan was given to each woman to help them get a fresh start without having to rely on others.

The Regent and the Queen were backed up by the senior Amazons there, stating that their actions were in the tradition of generosity and support for women to be equal in whatever society they chose to live.

By the time the party reached their destination, several of the outsider women had already left to start their new lives. Their feelings of safety enhanced when word of Karcax's defeat by the combined forces of Corinth and Athens along with others gathered from the surrounding areas.

There was even a small contingent of Amazon archers sent there to assure the larger allies didn't decide that driving the warlord's army over the Amazon borders was good enough and no longer their problem.

The message from the male-dominated forces was full of flowery words of military prowess and overwhelming victories. The report from the Amazon leaders was a little different, and possibly a little more realistic.

When the commander of the archers joined up with the Queen's party shortly after the messenger from Corinth left, the party was less than two days out from the village. Upon getting her archers set up and comfortable, the tired and war-weary woman reported to her Queen, the Queen's champion, and the Queen's regent.

The woman was a little overwhelmed faced with appearing before the three most powerful women in the nation, but the relaxed atmosphere and the hospitality of the Queen herself serving wine along with some meat, cheese, and a loaf of fresh bread, seemed to calm her nerves. The Queen's solicitude toward the commander and her genuine concern for the comfort of the woman and her troops not only calmed the commander's fears, but also gave the woman's feelings of familial love and protection a jump.

Xena had to smile into her wine glass as she recognized the symptoms of conquest by her Gabrielle. The dark warrior shook her head when that glazed look of absolute devotion came to the commander's eyes. It was nothing that her lover did or said on purpose. It was just a way she had about her, that once everyone got to know her, and saw the caring, compassionate, and genuinely interested side of the young woman, they were hooked for life.

They would walk through the fires of Tartarus for the small blonde with the enchanting sea-green eyes. Xena knew the feeling and she had walked through Tartarus to get her back.

Once Gabrielle was satisfied that her guest was as comfortable as she could be in the back of a moving two-wheeled cart, she was ready to sit down and hear what this woman had to say. She flinched a little as she eased into her favorite spot, between her beloved warrior's legs, wrapped safely in her lover's powerful arms.

Only that flinch gave away her facade and let Xena know that her wounds were troubling her. The whip marks were barely a thought but the arrow wounds in her shoulder and thigh still hurt if she tried to do too much, and by the way Xena's muscles tightened the Warrior Princess hadn't missed the tell-tale clue either.

"When this is over, I want you to lay down and take a nap," the forceful woman growled softly into the Queen's ear as she held the petite blonde tightly against her body. "If you refuse to remember that you've been wounded, then I'll take over and do it for you. Is that clear?"

"Oooo, my big, bad warrior is going to force me to bed?" Gabrielle whispered in Xena's ear, giggling at the finger jab into her ribs. "How can I possibly refuse a proposal so sweetly delivered?"

The two women stared into each other's eyes locked in some kind of erotic tug of war, forgetting they had company. The Regent looked over at the Commander as the poor woman shifted uneasily. It was clearly written on her face that the Amazon was feeling like an intruder and wishing she was elsewhere.

Niki nudged the nervous woman and rolled her eyes while smiling broadly.

"You know it's always good to know all is well in the royal household," Niki quipped loudly. "But maybe the Queen and her royal Consort should stop consorting until we have heard this tired woman's report."

Both women jumped as they were jerked back to reality by the voice of their friend reminding them they weren't alone. The group shared a laugh, and then the Commander gave her report.

The news was actually pretty good. Karcax had been soundly defeated, and the Amazons had suffered few casualties. Karcax's army had been destroyed, but when the battle was over the warlord and several of his guards were gone.

The outsider commanders decided that Karcax was dead and his body had been destroyed, but the Amazons weren't buying it. They circled the battlefield several times before they found a sign of the warlord's escape plus they'd discovered the warlord's armor abandoned in the trees.

The tracks had been followed long enough to be sure that the warlord's destination was the steppe-lands beyond the Northern Mountains. After gathering the information, the commander of the archers rounded up her troops and headed home.

On their way, one of her scouts spotted the party that it was flying the royal banner. The commander decided to join this group for the remainder of the journey home and add her forces to the escort of the royal, whoever that may be, and as duty dictated, provide further protection to the group.

Before any of the others could speak, Xena spoke up. As the Queen's Champion, she was also the leader of the Amazon fighting forces and she felt it was her duty to accept the commander's report for Gabrielle.

"Excellent report, commander," Xena told the obviously exhausted Amazon. "You and your warriors should take a well deserved rest and let us worry about camp guards. You and your people have done a fine job and are a credit both to the nation and to your Queen. Well done."

"Quite right, Xena." Gabrielle added. "As your Queen, I am honored to have women such as you and your troops representing me."

"T-thank you, your Highness," the somewhat flustered commander answered as she blushed slightly under the praise of the two women she admired greatly. "We are honored to serve you and the nation."

Gabrielle saw the poor woman's predicament, tried to ease her embarrassment, and poured the woman a second cup of wine. Before long, the woman had relaxed and the three of them were laughing and joking like old friends, while Xena sat back with a slight smile, watching them.

=========================

Finally, the party reached home. Runners had been sent ahead to inform the village of their arrival and to begin the preparations for a hero's funeral for the ones that hadn't made it home. It was a bittersweet homecoming,

Xena and Gabrielle were happy that the escort bringing the wounded Tauria and the body of her mate Kala had already arrived. They were also overjoyed to hear that despite her grief, Tauria was recovering quickly.

The other Amazons had turned out to welcome their warriors, their Queen and her Champion home. Gabrielle was overwhelmed by the show of affection the Amazons displayed for their queen.

Once the excitement settled down and the returning warriors were properly welcomed home, the wounded were taken from the wagons and taken into the infirmary to be tended to by the Amazon healers.

Xena made sure special attention was paid to the two scouts that had fought with her at the slavers' camp.

The one with the stab wound in the abdomen was healing nicely and was already making noises about being released so she could go home. The scout's name was Lamia, and the only way she agreed to stay until the healer released her was the promise that Xena herself would work with her to regain her fighting skills, but only after the healer said it was okay and not a minute before.

The other scout, Larissa, was another story; she had been steadily recuperating while the party was on the way home but in the two days since their arrival back in the village and under the care of the healers her condition was getting worse. The spear in her thigh had pierced the bone and an infection had developed that the healer had never seen before.

When questioned, the other scouts told Xena and the healers that on the way home Larissa had been cared for only by the outsider women called Portia, and when they had reached the village the woman had for all intents and purposes, disappeared.

When the healer had first begun treating the wounded scout, she found a kind of poultice on her wound, and since her condition had begun deteriorating she had attempted to analyze the ingredients but they were things the healer didn't recognize.

Thetis and the other healers tried to duplicate the poultice but so far had been unsuccessful.

The Amazon healers were doing everything they knew how, and for most of the wounded warriors, it was enough, but for Larissa nothing seemed to work.

Even Xena pitched in and tried to help the badly wounded woman, but to no avail. Pain and fever raged on through her small body, ravaging her system and destroying her ability to heal herself.

The healers the Amazons had were great women of medicine that had learned everything they possibly could in order to care for their tribe. They could easily handle illness, disease, even most injuries, but this one was beyond them. Even the Warrior Princess had never seen someone suffer as badly as Larissa was.

For the third time in a week, Xena left her sick bed (over Gabrielle's strenuous objections) and did what she could, but in the end, even the highly-skilled warrior was forced to agree with them, that if something didn't break soon, even taking her leg might not save the young scout's life.

Xena was in a dark mood when she returned to Queen's hut where Gabrielle was waiting. The minute the tall woman swept through the door, her bard knew the treatments on the woman's leg hadn't gone well.

Without a word, Xena went across the room, looked out at the night sky with its bejeweled beauty, and sighed heavily. Her hands gripped the windowsill so hard the impressions of her fingers were left in the wood.

She was at a loss to explain why the brave young scout wasn't responding to the treatments she was getting. What was even more frustrating, Xena was still unable to locate the woman whose skills were so far above her own and far above the skills of the Amazon healers' as well.

It seemed like the woman was trying to disappear and was avoiding their search on purpose. No matter how many pleas Xena sent out in the name of the Queen with promises of great reward and guarantees of amnesty for any and all crimes that would drive a woman into hiding, still no one came forward with the identity or location of the unknown miracle worker.

The warrior was at the end of her rope, was on the verge of breaking her own vow, and ask for divine intervention. Even with the revelation of who her other parent was, Xena still didn't trust the gods or their motives when it came to aiding mortals.

Gabrielle walked silently up behind her frustrated warrior and wrapped her arms around the taller woman's waist, gently kissing her back until she felt her lover relax and lean back into her embrace.

"Is she still really bad, honey?" Gabrielle asked softly so as not to break the mood. "Couldn't any of them do anything for her?"

"No," Xena said, that one word conveying all the frustration and anger her inability to help the woman caused the warrior. "And if something isn't done soon, she's going to lose her leg or die. As a warrior, I can't be sure I wouldn't rather die than be a cripple. What do I do, Brie? How can I make this right? She's lying in there because of me. I owe her better than this. I know I'd rather die than be some helpless cripple the rest of my life."

Gabrielle gasped and turned her soulmate around to face her, the truth of Xena's statement written in her sky-blue eyes. The Amazon Queen reached up with both hands, cupped Xena's face, and pulled the warrior into a long, wet, demanding kiss. When they separated, they were both gasping for air. Gabrielle got her breath back first.

"You listen to me, Xena," the younger woman's emerald-green eyes looked intensely deep into her lover's equally intense azure ones and spoke quietly, yet forcefully, leaving no doubt that she meant each and every word that came out of her mouth. "Don't you ever choose to die and leave me simply because you've lost an appendage. I love all of you and I will always want my living, breathing Champion at my side, limbless, mute, deaf, blind, or paralyzed, no matter what. Do I make myself clear?"

Xena nodded tears slowly clouding her vision as she heard the declaration of love. Sometimes the depths of her bard's love almost frightened the mighty Warrior Princess.

"We have sworn to be together no matter what, I meant every part of that vow," the small blonde continued. "You will not break your vow to me just because something has happened to you. You will always come home to me somehow, or by the gods woman, I will hunt you down and you will never live it down. That is the one vow you've made me that I expect you to keep. If you think my moon time is bad now, just you try to leave me simply because you lost a limb. We are going to grow old together and when the time comes, we will meet Hades together. I fell in love with you the day I met you, I have grown to love you more everyday since. Nowmybravebeautifulwarriorwhatdoyouhavetosay?"

The highly aroused bard ended her tirade with a long, hot, deep, wet kiss that seemed to last an eternity. Xena felt her knees go weak and if she hadn't been leaning against the wall with her bard's thigh between hers holding her up, they would have both landed on the floor.

Due to a serious lack of oxygen, the warrior reluctantly pulled back from this remarkable woman that held her heart and kept her soul safe, and looked deep into the sparkling green eyes seeing everlasting love, devotion, and commitment there, along with a raging inferno of lust.

The emotion of the moment soon gave way to her own arousal. She smiled with relief, seeing an emotion she knew how to deal with for sure. With a growl of desire, Xena took her little bard into her arms and swept the petite woman off her feet, cradling her close to her chest.

Xena marveled in everything about this woman, her feel, her smell, and the way her muscles shifted as Xena held her, the way she got that impish gleam in her eye just before they went to bed.

The distracted warrior looked deep into the lust-darkened green pools, and realized she saw that special impish gleam right now.

A lecherous grin spread across the Champion's face as she carried her Queen across the room to the bed. Gently laying her precious cargo on the soft cushy sleeping furs piled deeply on a goose down mattress; the warrior stood up and began slowly removing her leathers, giving her beloved a show as she went.

"Gods, Xena, you are so beautiful," Gabrielle moaned as she watched her lover's clothes disappear. "My world would stop without you."

Xena knelt next to the center of her universe and with gentle feather-light touches, removed each article of the formal attire the small seductress was wearing and threw the offending garments to the floor.

The aroused warrior let her lust-darkened blue eyes roam freely over the truly beautiful body of her lover. The ex-warlord let her hands and fingers explore the already squirming woman beneath her. Gabrielle was panting and gasping for air as each touch that grazed her flesh sent waves of heat through her entire body.

"Oh gods, Xena, please take me...now!" the over-aroused bard cried out. "Oh...oh...yes paleeese ma-ke love to m-m-me! I-I c-c-can't take this any-more. Take me, my warrior...now!"

"Now, my lovely Queen, please allow this humble peasant to worship your perfect body," Xena said, her voice barely above a whisper, a dark feral smile of victory flickered briefly across her face then it was just as quickly. "Let my lips, teeth and tongue prove their devotion to you."

Unable to speak, Gabrielle nodded her approval, clearly begging with her eyes because of the urgent need consuming the small bard's body. With a smile, the dark warrior began the slow and gentle ravaging of the woman she loved more than life.

Once again, silently repeating the vows she had given on the day of their joining, and adding a vow to never cause her bard to doubt her love and devotion...not now...not ever.

Chapter 22

After they had taken the edge off their desire, the two lovers lay there in each other's arms enjoying the afterglow in silence. Xena could feel Gabrielle's small hands rubbing patterns on her abdomen. She wrapped her arms around the light of her life a little tighter, and enjoyed the soft moan of pleasure her lover made as she reveled in the warm protection of the warrior's powerful arms.

Xena kissed the top of Gabrielle's head and breathed in deeply, taking in the intoxicating fragrance of the bard-Queen's golden hair. She let her chin rest on her bard's head and smiled at the familiar quiet comfort of the moment.

[By the gods woman!] Xena teased at herself, enjoying the peace and quiet that enveloped them here with the Amazons [you have got it bad, and you're loving every minute of it.]

Something was bothering Xena, a small voice in the back of her mind nagging at her. There was a question she had wanted to ask, but couldn't remember what the damn thing was about, but she was sure it would come to her sooner or later.

The warrior let her eyes roam around the room, casually taking in the atmosphere that pervaded the sleeping room of their hut. By Amazon standards, it was huge. The hut had three sleeping rooms, a loft for extra guests, and an eating room with a table where Xena and her partner usually ate their private, special meals together.

There was also a large central room where guests came to talk or visit. Anything concerning the Amazons was usually handled in the throne room in an entirely different building.

Gabrielle took being the Amazon Queen very seriously, but she took her partnership with her spouse seriously also, so she tried to keep her private and public lives separate. It didn't always work, but Xena appreciated the attempt.

It was then that Xena remembered how her wife was dressed before the warrior had made her more "comfortable". The Amazon Queen had been wearing her most formal outfit, the one she wore only on very formal very important gatherings.

Unlike most of the clothing Gabrielle wore since becoming an Amazon, this was a very stiff and conservative outfit almost a formal full-length, leather gown with a high collar and flared sleeves with a full-length dress.

Around her waist went a heavy leather belt dyed green and hanging from the belt was an Amazon short sword on the right and a long dagger on the left.

The leather headband was still on her head, it held a steel badge in the center of the Queen's forehead. It was an important sign from her patron goddess that bore the symbols of Gabrielle's clan, tribe, and the symbol of Queen of the Amazons, given to her personally by Artemis, signifying the Goddess's own blessings on the small woman and the Queen's position as the chosen of the Goddess of the hunt. It was a silent, formal declaration of the bard's rank and importance as an Amazon.

The warrior's eyes quickly surveyed the interior of their hut until her eyes fell on the formal, intricately carved staff that she carried on her visits to the temple of Artemis. The carvings told the story of how Gabrielle became an Amazon princess because of an act of unselfish bravery and how, after a series of unforeseen events, the accomplished bard became Queen of her tribe.

Then it went on to tell the story of how the Goddess had proclaimed the small bard-Queen her chosen and Queen of the entire Amazon nation. It was a beautifully decorated and important symbol of the Amazon nation that Gabrielle cherished.

Usually the staff was left with the regent as a sign that the regent had the Queen's complete confidence, and her decisions had the full backing of the Queen.

When they were home or the staff wasn't being displayed for some official purpose, the priceless artifact was kept safely locked away with the rest of what the Amazons considered their most valuable treasures. Now it was here in their home.

All the signs told Xena that something of great importance was about to happen or had happened already, and it was quite probably something that Xena had forgotten, like an anniversary or birthday or the like. She could feel the guilt wash over her.

Once again, the royal Consort and Champion was sure she had let her beloved Queen down.

[How many times,] Xena asked herself [How many times am I going to mess up and have her forgive me without so much as a word or action of disappointment]

"Ah, Brie, can I ask you something without making you mad?" the warrior asked tentatively. "You know just out of curiosity nothing important or anything."

"Sure, hun, you can ask me anything," the sleepy bard answered, hoping she had the answer her lover was looking for. "You should know that by now."

"Ah...yeah I know but it never hurts to ask, K?" Xena answered sheepishly, stopping just short of reminding her lover how moody she'd been. "I mean I don't want you to think that I take you for granted."

Judging by the mega wattage smile she received, Xena knew she had given the right answer. Gabrielle gave her warrior a lung-crushing hug, and seeing all that beautiful soft skin on her lover's neck, the bard was unable to resist taking a bite.

She was rewarded for her efforts when Xena let out a low, sexy growl. Hoping for further favorable reactions, the playfully aroused Amazon Queen released the flesh of Xena's neck, latched onto the nearest earlobe, and began sucking and nibbling on the tender morsel.

"Gods, woman, you're killin' me!" Xena moaned, feeling her heat rising even higher than it had before.

"You complaining?" Gabrielle asked around her mouthful of ear. "Cause I can stop if you want."

"Oh sweet goddess no!" the aroused warrior exclaimed almost at the breaking point. "I'd rather die."

With strength born of determination, Xena clasped Gabrielle's arms and rolled so that she was lying on top of her heavily panting bard.

"Now, my sweet little wife," the warrior growled, "Let's see if you like my attentions."

[Oh, yes!!] Gabrielle thought gleefully [I think I'm in big trouble now.]

Xena knew exactly what was on her lover's mind and knew just the right move to drive her over the edge of sanity. Gabrielle found her lips covered by her lover's own soft ones.

She felt her lover's tongue tracing the outline of her mouth, her way of requesting entrance. As if they had a mind of their own, her lips parted, allowing Xena's swirling, probing tongue to enter.

While her tongue explored her lover's hot wet mouth, her hands found the bard's firm breasts. She marveled how the incredibly magnificent mounds fit so perfectly in her hands. The warrior began gently squeezing and kneading the sensitive flesh when her fingers discovered Gabrielle's diamond hard nipples, giving the already tender nubs a light pinch, eliciting a deep demanding groan.

Gabrielle was in the grip of her body's most primal urges, feeling her lover's thigh trying to take a position between the bard's own. Gabrielle gladly opened her legs, and was rewarded when Xena's hard-muscled thigh pressed against the bard's drenched center.

Both women moaned in ecstasy as they felt how wet Xena's thigh became as Gabrielle's hips ground into her thigh trying to increase the friction and drive the now incoherent Amazon even further.

Gabrielle's hands rubbed patterns down Xena's muscular back, digging her fingernails into the smooth skin when her lover made a move that aroused her further. Eventually, the bard's hands reached her lover's tight, round ass and began kneading the globes and digging her nails into the flesh making Xena hiss in ecstasy.

Xena finally released her lover's mouth kissing down her jawline, her lips and tongue tasting every inch of skin all the way to her neck. The Warrior Princess began nipping and sucking at the skin of her bard's neck, clearly marking the woman as hers.

"Oh gods, Xena...yes...please...more!" Gabrielle cried out not caring who heard. "Take me there...PLEEEEEEASE!"

Her pleas ending in a scream, making Xena want to do more for her beloved. Inspired by the cries, she began moving down the bard's body kissing, licking, and nipping her way to her love's breasts. She let her tongue swirl in circles around the hard nipple.

Feeling Gabrielle's breathing become faster, Xena stopped licking and gently blew on the wet flesh, watching as it puckered and pebbled, smiling at her lover's loud moan of pleasure.

"By the gods, woman, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen," Xena declared in a reverent voice, almost a prayer. "Just truly magnificent."

The words barely registered in Gabrielle's sex-fevered brain, she was sure she was about to die of ecstasy as her arousal reached a painfully high peak.

"Please-Xena-please-take-me-now-please-I- need-you-please-now," Gabrielle begged as her mind reached its breaking point. "Oh-my-gods-Xena-release-me-now-I- can't- take-any-more-please!"

Taking pity on the over-stimulated woman, the warrior slid down, settled herself between Gabrielle's thighs, and took a heartbeat to take in the sight before her. The soft, golden curls were soaked by her lover's arousal. The dark-haired beauty breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of the light of her life's arousal.

The inner flesh was swollen and dark pink. Using her long slender fingers, Xena gently parted the nether lips. She was immediately drawn to the source of the sweet nectar that flowed copiously from her beloved.

Craving the flavor of her bard's essence, her tongue flicked out and just barely grazed the hot, wet flesh. Gabrielle hissed loudly and arched her hips into the warrior's face.

Xena took pleasure in lapping up her lover's nectar. She let her tongue drag up the slit until it came to the throbbing bundle of nerves at the apex of the bard's sex.

Gabrielle screamed in sweet agony as electric jolts of pleasure ripped through her body into her brain. Her lover closed her lips around the center of her heat and began sucking lightly on the swollen center of her lover's arousal, while Xena flicked her tongue over the tip of the hypersensitive clit, driving Gabrielle even closer to the paradise she was seeking.

"Xena...please...your...fingers...now...fill...me." Unable to deny her lover anything, she pressed two fingers into her bard's core.

She could feel her own sex answering her lover's primal call as she felt the inner walls close on the invading digits, trying to grab and hold them. Their own slick juices that flowed freely from the bard's very core thwarted their efforts.

"More, Xena, I need more pleeeease," Gabrielle begged then screamed in ecstasy as her lover complied readily.

Gabrielle's hips rocked in time with Xena's thrusts. Her thrusts became harder and faster as Xena felt her own climax approaching as she thrust a third finger into her lover.

Gabrielle suddenly went completely rigid and her inner walls clamped down on her lover's fingers, trapping them there.

"OH GODS XENA YESSSSSSSS!" the Amazon cried out as her orgasm tore through her body.

"That's right, baby," the warrior growled. "Let it go cum for me, lover."

Moving up her lover's body for a kiss, Xena felt the smaller woman raise her own leg, pressing her hard thigh into Xena's dripping wet over-heated center.

The dark woman gasped as she felt the hard muscle causing the most delicious friction against her sensitive flesh. She felt herself grinding her wet sex into the thigh, her breath coming in harsh gasps as the smooth-skinned limb carried her higher and higher toward the heights of passion.

Just when the Warrior was sure she couldn't go any higher, the jolting electric fire of her own climax launched her soul beyond the heights of Olympus. Her howling roar of pleasure shattered the night air.

"That's it, love, let it go for me," Gabrielle hissed, enjoying the way her lover surrendered to the passion.

The sated woman rolled her still trembling body off her lover and lay there trying to regain control of her racing heart.

"Hey, lover, come here," Gabrielle requested wanting to hold her beloved wife in her arms.

Xena looked up into those heavy-lidded, smoky green eyes and knew resistance was futile. Unable to rise, her body still quivering with pleasure, the warrior crawled to her bard's body until they were eye to eye and lay down next to her.

Gabrielle looked her lover over closely, from her dark sweat-dampened hair, down her glowing skin, to her perfect feet and back up again until smoky green gazed deeply into intense dark blue.

[By the Gods] Gabrielle thought [even after that almost terminal climax I still want her. Careful girl, one more session like that right now would kill you.]

[Ahhh but what a way to go] she answered her own warning.

Xena heard her lover's sigh and wondered what she was thinking. Shaking that thought off, she wrapped her arms around her bard and pulled the petite woman close.

The two women lay in their bed, quietly basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, each assured of the other's perfection as a lover. Xena heard Gabrielle's breathing become slow and steady and knew she was asleep.

[Damn, I forgot to ask her what the occasion was] Xena thought with a smile [oh well it was worth it. I'll just ask when we wake up]

The sleepy warrior reached down, pulled the covers up over both of them, and tightened her hold on her lover as she felt the small woman snuggle in closer to her.

She lay there watching her precious lover sleep until she answered the call of Hypnos herself, her eyes fluttered shut and soon her own sleep sounds join those of Gabrielle. Both with satisfied smiles on their lips.

Chapter 23

Several hours later, a very happy, very relaxed, well rested and sated, Gabrielle rolled over in the huge bed she shared with her wife. She reached for the warm body she knew should be there, but found only cool sheets.

A frown line appeared between her eyebrows as she visually searched the dimly lit room, still failing to locate the object of her heart's desire.

Now fully awake and wondering about where her lover might be, the Queen threw her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. Looking out the window, Gabrielle noticed the sun had risen, and judging by the rumbling of her stomach, the very hungry bard realized she'd slept through dinner and it must be past time for breakfast.

Realizing too that she was naked, Gabrielle looked down at the floor trying to locate her robe apparently well hidden by the shadows covering the floor. With a shrug, the young bard wrapped herself in one of the blankets and went in search of her warrior and food in that order.

As she began her search, the ever-vigilant warrior-bard noticed the faint scent of her lover's favorite herbal tea.

Following the scent, the "hunter" found herself on the back porch. The Amazons had built it for them in honor of their joining; it was one of their favorite places to relax or to talk with friends.

Xena, wearing a long flowing robe, was sitting on the long swing, sipping her tea from a large mug. She was talking to Nikippa and Thetis, the master healer, about the wounded Amazon scout. Interested in the subject of their conversation, Gabrielle sat down next to her wife, took the steaming mug of tea from Xena's hands, and took a sip.

Letting the warmth of the beverage seep into her system, the concerned Queen listened intently to these highly educated women speak.

In spite of the way her lover teased her about her constant babbling, Gabrielle's other skill, what made her a great bard, was knowing when to sit back and listen when those wiser than herself were talking. Knowing the talent sitting on her porch right now could do everything it took to run any country in the known world, she sat back and absorbed their views on the current situation.

Once again, she was awed by the fact that these capable and powerful women called her Queen and happily served her cause. Gabrielle's musings were interrupted when she heard Nikippa ask her a question, and noticed everyone was focused on her waiting for her answer. So, she gave the most intelligent one she could at that moment.

"Huh?" Gabrielle asked unaware of what had been said. "I'm sorry, Niki, did you ask me something?"

"Probably couldn't hear me over the belly beast," Niki told her as the bard's legendary stomach monster roared on cue, causing a hardy round of laughter, lightening the somber mood. "I brought a tray from the kitchen for you since you missed dinner and breakfast."

The Regent indicated a large tray piled high with still warm pastries, cheese, and fruit sitting next to a loaf of nut bread and a full pot of tea. Gabrielle's eyes grew large and a smile going from ear to ear took over her face. Without a word, the Queen dug into the meal.

"I think you can relay the Queen's thanks to the cooks," Xena said chuckling and watching the way her lover threw her entire self into eating. "That is if she slows down long enough to say it."

"Ou cam mell vem fanks," the little blonde said with her mouth full. "iz fenaz mau efer."

As the air rang with their laughter, Xena gave her beloved a one-armed hug so she wouldn't interrupt her eating. Xena loved the way her bard made eating into an intense, almost an orgasmic event.

It was that way with everything Gabrielle did. Everything she had went into it. This is why she was so good at what she chose to do.

As Gabrielle continued to eat, Xena turned to Thetis and went back to discussing the matter that concerned her most right now, the wounded young Amazon laying in the infirmary delirious with fever and about to lose her leg.

"Really, Thetis, there has got to be something we can do," Xena said emphatically. "I cannot believe that with all the accumulated knowledge we have access to, the Amazons are incapable of saving this brave young girl's life and her leg."

"Xena, please," the healer spoke up in defense of herself and her colleagues. "We've done everything we know. This kind of thing requires a healer with specialized knowledge. Any one of our sisters can handle regular wounds and any other medicinal need you have, but this wound involves not only a serious life-threatening wound, but there is shattered bone and now an infection on top of that. By the gods Champion, we're lucky if we save her life let alone her leg."

"Xena," Gabrielle spoke as she finished her meal. "Is there nothing we can do for Larissa, after she's done so much for us?"

"I just don't think so, Brie," the warrior said, hanging her head in ashamed frustration. "I know the knowledge is out there it's just that we can't seem to locate the woman that I believe has it."

"I know you all will do your best for the woman," the Queen said as she gave her wife a light kiss on her cheek. "I'm going in and get dressed before I lose this blanket and give the entire village a show."

They all laughed a little at the Queen's joke. As Gabrielle went into their hut she heard the three women begin their discussion again.

=====================

Gabrielle was just finished dressing for the day and was getting ready to rejoin her wife and their guests on their back porch when she heard a knock at their front door.

"Enter," Gabrielle called as she finished brushing out her hair.

One of her personal guards came through the door accompanied by one of the women from Ciros. Both women bowed deeply and a familiar looking stranger stood behind the guard letting her speak first. She was not sure what to say to a person of royal rank and didn't want to offend the Queen.

"Your Highness," the Amazon began, "this woman wishes to speak with you. She says that it is of great import and that it had to be now. I am sorry if we have disturbed you."

"Not at all," Gabrielle said as she sat down at the communal table.

"Please, miss, sit down, and tell me what is this important that you must speak to me. I can tell you really wish to be anywhere but here talking to me but I think I know you."

"Well...I...ah...it's...I...need..." the poor woman couldn't seem to get a complete sentence out so Gabrielle held out her hand to stop the woman from embarrassing herself further.

"Please, sit down and relax," Gabrielle said indicating the chair on the other side of the small table as the young Queen poured herself a mug of tea. "Would you like some tea, it's really very good? One of my wife's few kitchen skills."

The woman smiled at the royal's remark on her mate's lack of domestic skills and nodded shyly, accepting the Queen's offer. Gabrielle poured a second cup of the fragrant liquid and handed it to the woman across the table from her. The bard took the opportunity to look over her guest. As she did, a bell went off in her head. This was the woman Xena was searching for.

She was a little taller than Gabrielle and a little more heavily set. There was an air about the woman that spoke of quiet strength and confidence, that showed even through her current nervous state. The woman had shoulder-length brown hair, dark brown eyes that shone with good humor, and one of those full-lipped mouths that seemed to be ready to smile at any minute.

There was also a sense of the hearth and comfort about this stranger, her compassion showed in her eyes. It all combined to give Gabrielle a feeling that she was going to like this woman even before she spoke.

"What is your name?" Gabrielle asked, her voice conveying her friendly intentions as she handed the steaming mug of tea to the woman. "I recognize you from the fortress but it was so hectic I can't recall your name."

"M-my n-name is P-Portia, your H-Highness," she sputtered out nervously. "A-a-and I-I..."

Gabrielle reached over and took one of the woman's work calloused hands and patted it gently, effectively rendering the woman speechless.

"Okay now, Portia, my name is Gabrielle," the Queen said. "This isn't a formal occasion, and we are in my home, so I really wish you'd drop all the Queen and your Highness stuff and simply call me by name, okay?"

Portia nodded her head amazed at this Queen's attitude. Every other royal she'd ever seen was at a distance and they were all so aloof and snooty, but this Amazon Queen didn't act that way at all. She acted like one of the younger girls at the public well.

Portia was surprised before, when she found out that Gabrielle was a Queen, she was learning a whole new respect for royalty, especially knowing what this woman had done for the children of Ciros, even though she had no connection with anyone of the port town.

As far as Portia was concerned, if there was ever anyone that deserved to be a Queen, it was the little blonde pouring her a mug of tea, and talking to her as if they were old friends.

She had no problems understanding why every Amazon she'd met since coming to the village was totally devoted to their Queen.

"Yes, your Hig...Gabrielle," Portia answered, a little embarrassed by her slip and a little afraid that it would anger this unusual woman.

"Much better, Portia," Gabrielle said as if the slip never occurred. "Did you know we've been looking all over for you?"

"Well, Gabrielle," Portia began, being careful to correctly pronounce each syllable of the Queen's name. "I know you have some seriously wounded warriors here and I wanted to help. I have experience working on the wounded."

"We had already figured that, Portia," Gabrielle asked knowing she'd just come upon that miracle that Xena and everyone was looking for. "May I ask how you got this experience?"

"Certainly, I was a servant to the captain of the guard," Portia stated now that she was on well-known territory. "Before he retired to that post, he was a commander in the Athenian army and I served him as personal healer. When he came to Ciros, I came with him and that's where I met my late husband, he was killed in the raid. Believe me I know battle injuries well."

There was something about his woman, something she wasn't saying, and the Queen wasn't going to stop until she knew Portia's secret.

"Why did you wait so long to come to us, Portia?" Gabrielle asked softly hoping the woman would tell the truth. "Is it something any of us did or did you not know of our need?"

Portia hung her head for a moment, and Gabrielle could tell the older woman was struggling with some personal issues that affected her answer.

"It's one of the wounded," Portia said barely above a whisper, the rest of the statement was going to challenge every thing she'd been taught since her childhood. "It's the girl, Larissa, I took care of her after she was wounded and continued until we arrived here."

"What about her, why did you stop taking care of her?" Gabrielle asked. "I thought the two of you had begun to care for each other very much. You even expressed a desire to join us. What happened?"

"Well I thought she would be alright, that there would be someone here that could take care of her," the nervous woman said, her voice quivering. "I thought it would be best if one of her own took over. For the girl's sake, I thought it would be better if I never saw her again."

"Why would you think that, Portia is there something about Amazons you don't like?" Gabrielle's voice had an edge to it, it was the only hint at what she was afraid the woman was about to say. "Perhaps you don't approve of the way we live here."

Gabrielle had no tolerance for ignorant prejudice and she was preparing to hear this otherwise friendly woman spew some hate filled rhetoric or the like, but nothing prepared her for what came next. The woman turned her eyes away from Gabrielle ashamed of what she was about to say.

"I'll be honest with you, your Highness," Portia sobbed, reverting to formalities. "As I was taking care of the little one, I did begin to have feelings for her. At first, I put them off as just feeling sorry for the child knowing she'd have a limp the rest of her life and all. I could handle that, but the more time I spent with her talking to her and getting to know her, I realized what I was feeling for this girl was much deeper than that. It wasn't too bad; I was capable of hiding my feelings. I've been hiding my feelings for women for years, but the night before we got here, she told me she felt the same way about me. For a while I was just about the happiest woman in the world, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured what good I would be to that little thing and I didn't want to trade on the gratitude of any of you. Figured sooner or later she'd come to resent me and I'd be a burden. Well I couldn't let a pretty little thing like her ruin her life for the likes of me, and I told her so. I told her it was probably just a crush on account of me nursing her and all. She was having none of that, no matter how I tried to show her how wrong it was. Cause I wasn't no Amazon, I'm nothing more than a common peasant, I figured we'd have no place here, and you know how the people in the villages are so we couldn't go there, but that young hard-head just wouldn't listen. So when we got here, I figured to stay away from her knowing she'd forget me sooner or later and live a happy life with someone more suitable. It would have worked too. I was going to leave for one of the other outside villages in the morning. Then I asked that Rapa girl that was with us how she was doing, and she told me that little Larissa was real sick and was going to lose her leg and maybe even her life on account of the Amazons not having anybody that knew how to treat her wound."

The sturdy woman began to weep quietly as her story progressed, her emotions still raw from the recent events.

"Then I knew I couldn't leave and let that child suffer cause I can't control my hormones, but I wanted to ask permission before I went to her. I asked one of the guards and that was her that brought me here to you." Portia sighed resigned to her fate. "To be honest, I figured you'd turn me away seeing as how I might hurt that sweet little girl"

Portia was weeping openly with guilt and shame by the time she finished her tale and Gabrielle was too overwhelmed to speak for a moment.

"I just want you to know I didn't mean to do nobody no harm," Portia continued. "I really did figure one of your own healers would take care of her. Then when she was better, she'd forget all about old Portia and find herself a proper Amazon to be with. That it would be better for her if I just kind of faded away."

Gabrielle's heart was breaking as she listened to the woman's story and the purity of her intentions, no matter how wrong. She watched as the tortured woman broke down and let long hidden tears flow freely.

She resolved to see that this woman and the young Amazon were given every chance to explore their feelings for each other, but first there was some healing to attend to.

After a few heart beats, the Queen rose from her chair and took Portia's work calloused hand in hers, helping the woman to her feet.

"From what you say, my dear Portia, you, Larissa, my Consort, and I, all four, need to sit down and have a long talk about deciding what's best for other people," Gabrielle said, smiling at the nervous woman. "But right now I need to get you with Thetis, our master healer, so that the two if you can get an Amazon hero the treatment she needs."

She led the stunned woman through her home and out the back door to the porch where her Consort, the Regent, and the master healer were still debating how to best care for the wounded Amazon.

Gabrielle burst through the door with a shy looking woman that looked to be around Xena's age being pulled behind her, interrupting their talk and becoming the center of attention.

There was something about the woman that seemed familiar to Xena but the warrior couldn't quite put her finger on it. Hating a mystery, Xena scrutinized the stranger carefully while her breathless wife made the introductions. By the time it was Xena's turn, she had made the connection.

"You're the one!" Xena said as she shook hands with Portia. "This is her Thetis, the one I told you about."

She then turned back to the waiting and a little overwhelmed woman and with a huge grin on her face, clapped the woman on the back.

"You're the one that took care of Larissa right after she was wounded," Xena exclaimed happily, the woman nodded a little frightened by the warrior's greeting. "We've been looking all over for you. Your skills with her wounds were phenomenal. You're the reason she hasn't lost her leg before this or worse. Why did you disappear like that? I was afraid you'd already left with one of the other groups."

Gabrielle was pleased that she had helped take the burden from her wife's shoulders, but knew if she didn't intervene that her beloved would be interrogating this woman all day, and Gabrielle could see the poor woman was about to bolt like a scared rabbit, scared witless by Xena's over-zealous yet friendly questioning.

"Xena, my love," Gabrielle said softly laying a calming hand on the excited warrior's arm. "We have discussed getting together at another time to clear up the matter of Portia's "disappearance", but for now, shouldn't we let her and Thetis go to the infirmary and do what is necessary to help Larissa recover? That is why she's here after all."

Looking like an over-exuberant little girl, Xena put on her "Pouting" face, released Portia's hand, and let Gabrielle take the extremely nervous woman to the waiting master healer.

Thetis immediately took charge of her newly discovered miracle worker, turned, and walked away with her towards the infirmary. They could be heard discussing different treatments for different ailments as they strode along the path, each gaining respect and confidence in the other as they went on.

As the two healers left, Xena turned and swept her lover into her arms and captured the blonde's soft, moist lips with her own. They both were so absorbed in their own passion and depth of feelings that they both totally forgot that Nikippa was still there.

"Well I can see my work is done here for the day," the Regent said, standing then giving an exaggerated yawn and stretch. "I suppose I should go back to my own business before I learn far more about you two than I care to."

All three women broke out in laughter and the two lovers bid their friend good day with an apology for ignoring her. Then they retired for the third time to their hut. Leaving instructions not to be disturbed, they left a trail of clothing behind them that led straight to their bed.

Screams of desire and delight were heard throughout the village for the next few candlemarks, bringing smiles to the faces of the villagers, along with adding much to the legend of Xena and Gabrielle.

Chapter 24

It was almost sunset when Xena reached the hot springs. She as tired and her muscles ached. It was a good aching... aw Hades, who was she kidding it was a fabulous ache.

After being confined to 'Take it easy' as Portia put it for nearly two months, the warrior had finally been released to do some sword drills and have a minor workout with Rapa.

Xena reminded herself to commend Gabrielle on her choice of Rapa to fill the position of weapons master; she was the perfect person to fill the very large boots of Eponin. The position had been left open since their old friend had disappeared after the death of her much beloved Ephiny.

Xena had doubted they would ever find someone as good and as talented as Poni, but Rapa seemed to take to the job as if born to it. She just hoped that she hadn't gotten her new friend in too much trouble with Gabrielle.

The Queen had seemed less than pleased when she caught them sparing. Although she did seem to be "warming up" when Xena had left to follow her Queen and wife's orders, and Rapa seemed less than hurt by her punishment when she left.

The new weapons master started out trying to follow the healer and Queen Gabrielle's orders and force Xena to just have an easy workout, but Xena had other ideas.

The Amazon turned down several challenges from the Champion and really was doing her best to pay attention to the young trainees she was teaching some fighting moves, but her warrior's temper had taken just about all it could take of Xena's sarcastic remarks and cat calls about her speed and technique.

[I know I've sworn obedience to my Queen and I know that Xena is only taunting me for a reaction.] Rapa thought grumbling to herself [but one more remark and I swear by Artemis' bow I'm going to give her a "private" lesson.]

Rapa just finished showing three of her pupils a defensive lower sweep with her sword while hamstringing her opponent with her dagger and was enjoying the looks of admiration from the younger Amazons, when she was struck with the final straw.

"Oh yeah, great move, 'weapons master'," Xena taunted from the sidelines. "Oh yeah it's great if you want your head handed to you on a platter. Geez Rapa, I thought you were teaching these youngsters how survive on a battle field not how to become fertilizer for it."

Although the Warrior Princess had nothing but admiration for the Amazon as both a warrior and an instructor, she was bored and couldn't get anyone to spar with her. She had not known that Gabrielle had sent word that anyone caught giving her Consort more than a light workout would answer to her.

While everyone respected and revered Xena, Champion of Queen of the Amazons, none more than Rapa. She was nowhere near as feared as Gabrielle, overprotective wife of Xena. Most would rather face death at he end of Xena's sword than a tongue lashing from the bard when she thought they'd recklessly endangered her beloved wife's health.

Now however, a determined Xena was a force to be reckoned with and she was determined to have a decent workout. The only warrior that could provide it that was now in camp was Rapa, and Xena was bound and determined to get the newly appointed weapons master to cross swords with her.

The poor woman never had a chance. Being a warrior herself, Xena knew exactly what buttons to push to make the weapons master forget all about any other consideration. All she had to do was push them enough times and she'd get her workout at last.

Judging by how red Rapa's face was and the angry scowl that had taken up residence there as well, it wouldn't be long.

"That will be all for today," Rapa told her students through clenched teeth.

She waited for the younger Amazons to be out of sight then turned to face her heckler. Her eyes were dark brown fires as she glared at the tall warrior.

"So you're looking for a challenge, 'Champion'," the weapons master snarled angrily. "Well I think it's time the mighty Warrior Princess was taken down a notch or two, and I think I'm just the one to do it."

"Oooo, now I'm all a tremble oh, great weapons master," Xena quipped. "You know what they say 'Those that can do, Those that can't...teach. So, what do you say, 'teach', want to give me some lessons?"

Something in the back of her mind was warning Rapa to stop this before it got out of hand. Something in her was telling her to walk away, but her ego wasn't buying it.

"You got it, Champion," Rapa growled, a grimace etched on her stony face. "Step into the circle and lets see what you got."

The bored look on Xena's face disappeared only to be replaced by the feral grin of a consummate predator. Rapa looked into the face of a two-legged, sword-wielding panther and suddenly, silently questioned the wisdom of entering into this challenge.

[Tomorrow's lesson will be 'when to challenge'] Rapa thought as she began to regret her decision to challenge her friend [and 'when to just laugh it off'.]

Being an Amazon warrior, it never occurred to the weapons master to maybe call off the duel that was about to happen, but her survival instincts did force her to make one concession.

"Alright warrior, here are the rules," Rapa said seriously. "First one down and unconscious or first blood ends the duel. This is *not* a matter of honor, is that clear?"

"As you wish weapons master," her dark prowling opponent purred dangerously. "Set your own limits I will abide by them."

With a nod from Rapa, the two approached and began their lesson. There were a series of opening slashes and blocks as each fighter gauged her opponent's weaknesses and strengths.

The clanging of steel striking steel attracted an audience, and the gathering crowd was treated to one of the finest demonstrations of skill and fighting prowess that any of them could remember.

It was a graceful deadly dance performed by two past masters of the game. Sparks flew as their swords clashed in a blur of motion that the human eye was incapable of following.

The duo was smiling at each other but the smiles failed to reach their eyes. It was clear that the two women were fairly evenly matched, but it was quickly obvious as Xena's muscles stretched and loosened from the weeks of inactivity that the Amazon weapons master was overmatched, at least it was to Rapa. Slowly, Xena gained the upper hand and began toying with her opponent. She wasn't being mean or vicious she was just trying to prolong the workout.

Unfortunately, it was a small village and word soon reached the ears of a certain overprotective, green-eyed, golden-haired Queen, that her beloved warrior and one of her best friends were fighting a duel on the training grounds.

As soon as she heard, Gabrielle burst out of the council chambers and was stomping toward the training grounds furious at both her lover and her friend. As she approached the crowd surrounding the dueling circle, her dark green eyes burned with anger. When they saw the fire in her eyes, and the 'someone's gonna die' look on her face, her Amazons quickly stepped out of her way, bowed, saluted and as the fuming little Queen passed they suddenly remembered somewhere else they had to be right then.

Both combatants noticed the commotion coming from the crowd and had a good idea what was causing it, but they were too absorbed in their duel to stop. That is until they were given a good reason to.

"ALRIGHT YOU TWO," Gabrielle shouted at them like she would two misbehaving children. "THAT IS ENOUGH!"

Both fighters ceased immediately and dropped their weapons. Rapa fell instantly to one knee and placed her fist over her heart, while Xena stood there looking down sheepishly and scuffing the toe of her boot in the dirt.

It was all Gabrielle could do not to laugh at them. To her, they looked like two little girls that had just been caught stealing sweets from the kitchen. She waited until all the spectators were gone before she said anything, not wanting to embarrass the two women.

"Would either of you like to explain this to me?" the bard asked, biting her lip to hide her amassment. "I was sure that both of you understood the limits on Xena's workout, the healers were very specific about this. Rapa, I had thought better of you. As our new weapons master, you are expected to set an example for our youngest warriors, and I hardly think that dueling with someone just out of her sickbed is considered proper behavior for an Amazon warrior, now is it?"

When she saw Rapa was still kneeling she added, "Oh for Goddess sake, get up woman!"

"I...I'm s-sorry, your Highness," the Amazon began as she rose to her feet. "I should have controlled myself better, b-but the Champion started it. She was making sport of me in front of the trainees!"

"I was just trying to point out some weaknesses in the lesson you were teaching," Xena said sounding for all the world like a spoiled child and glaring at her partner in crime. "I was only trying to help really!"

"Uh huh," Gabrielle said turning to look at her wife, trying to detect any signs of fatigue or any return of her dizziness or disorientation. "Just what form did this 'help' take? Quietly telling Rapa what you thought or harassing her in the middle of her lessons so that she would be embarrassed and challenge you?"

Being caught so completely was bad enough but looking over Gabrielle's shoulder and seeing Rapa sticking her tongue out at her was more than Xena could take without losing it. Holding her sides, the stoic warrior began laughing so hard she fell to the ground at Gabrielle's feet, soon to be joined by Rapa.

"That will be quite enough out of you two," Gabrielle said trying to look stern but failing miserably. "Rapa you need to get cleaned up and report to Mallika for your punishment. I imagine my closest advisor can find a way to use up some of that excess energy you seem to have."

A playful smirk appeared on the Queen's face as she pronounced the weapons master's sentence. A slow, relieved grin drifted across Rapa's face as the type of 'punishment' she was being sentenced to.

"Yes, your Majesty," she said when Gabrielle finished speaking and with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, the weapons master bowed and finished. "It shall be done as you wish."

The happy woman spun and ran off toward the hot springs caves wanting not to waste a single moment of her time with the Queen's newest advisor.

Xena was watching her friend running off, smiling at the enthusiasm with which she approached her 'punishment'. She was roughly turned around and pulled down by her shirt to look into the dark green shining eyes of her lover.

"Now for you, my dear," the Queen growled her lust deepening her voice an octave. "You will also go to the hot springs and get into our pool, and then you will await me there."

With that, she began nuzzling and nibbling on the beautiful neck in front of her.

"As you w-wish." Xena tried to answer but the attack on her neck drove all rational thought out of her head. "By the gods, Brie, you're killing me, ohhh goddess."

Unable to take any more, the warrior swept her petite little bard into her arms and gave her a long fierce kiss that forced the woman to groan with lust into her lover's mouth.

Finally regaining some semblance of control, Xena released her now panting wife and looked into her smoldering eyes.

"I shall follow your orders to the letter, my Queen," the warrior said solemnly then leaned over and whispered into Gabrielle's ear. "Please don't make me wait too long, my love. I've been a very bad girl."

Gabrielle felt a shiver run down her spine as her warrior's hot breath washed over her ear. A loud hiss and groan escaped her throat when Xena's teeth closed on her ear lobe and she began gently sucking on the tender flesh.

Then without warning, Xena let her go and strolled off toward their hut to gather her bathing gear before heading to the hot springs. Gabrielle watched as her long-legged lover walked away and smiled at the confident swagger that had returned to her walk. A slow easy smile spread across the bard's lips while the heat in her groin rose to inferno status.

[By the gods, she is beautiful] the Queen thought lecherously [and she's all mine!]

Gabrielle stopped by the council hut and told her newest advisor, Mallika, all about what had taken place on the training grounds and the 'punishment' she had given Rapa. She advised Mallika to hurry home and take care of her errant lover.

With a huge, beaming smile on her face, the young advisor rushed out of the hut and do her Queen's bidding. With a satisfied smirk on her face and a mischievous sparkle in her quickly darkening green eyes, the pleased-with-herself little bard strolled off to join her loving wife in a nice hot bath and whatever else she had in mind.

==============

Much later that night the two contented lovers lay wrapped in each other's arms, basking in the comforting afterglow of their lovemaking.

Xena was sitting up, her back against the beautifully carved headboard, Gabrielle leaning back against her chest, her powerful arms holding her bard protectively. The young Queen sighed contentedly, and let her finger lightly trace the outline of the muscles of her warrior's hardened forearms.

"Xena?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, my heart?" the happy warrior sighed.

"Can I ah... well, can I ask you something kind of personal?" she asked, feeling a little apprehensive about the question her mind demanded to ask.

"Of course, sweetheart," Xena said shifting so that see could look her lover in the eyes. "To the one that keeps my soul safe from the darkness I have no secrets, you know that."

"Yeah...ok," Gabrielle whispered, gulping a little, she took a deep breath and continued. "Are you alright with everything that's happened since Ciros?"

"I'm fine, love," Xena answered wondering where her perceptive wife was headed with this line of conversation. "You're not still worried about me being upset are you? You know I am past all that and just happy to have you back healthy and at my side, right?"

"Yeah, I know that and I love you even more if that's possible." She smiled up at her lover's beautifully chiseled features. "That wasn't what I wanted to know though."

"Oh...ah I think I know what it is," Xena said, a light going on in her mind. "You mean about the thing about Athena and my mother and all that."

"Uh-huh," Gabrielle answered, hoping her lover wouldn't think she was prying too much. "It's just I know how you feel about the Gods and how hard it was for you to accept it when Artemis declared me her chosen. Now all of a sudden you're the daughter of the Goddess of wisdom. I mean how do you feel about that."

"I'm not sure," the warrior said, chewing on her bottom lip, thinking. "You're right; it's been a rough adjustment. I know I've said that I was tired of the Gods interfering with our lives but this is kind of different and in a way, it can be a good thing as long as Athena keeps her word and stays out of our marriage.

"For one thing, it means that Ares has to back off and leave us alone now that Artemis guards you and I know he will worry about making all Olympus mad if he interferes with the child of another Goddess."

"Especially Athena, she's *so* much smarter than him," Gabrielle laughed. "I bet it really put a crimp in his ego when he found out. All this time he was taking credit for creating such a fantastically talented warrior, when all along you could have done it without him. Like I always said, I knew you were naturally talented."

The little blonde waggled her pale eyebrows at her lover who immediately cracked up laughing as Gabrielle blushed at her own bravado.

"Goddess, I can't believe I said that," Gabrielle moaned, trying to hide her face in her hands. "This is what happens when an innocent country girl from Poteidaia marries the child of a Goddess."

She swatted Xena's abdomen making her 'oof' then laugh even harder.

Gabrielle waited until her lover settled down before asking her next question.

"Honey, I know these last few weeks have been hard on you," Gabrielle said, knowing her lover needed to hear how she felt. "I just wanted you to know that I'm always here for you and that I love you more than words could ever say."

"Thanks, Brie," the warrior whispered, her voice tight with barely controlled emotions. "I know, it but it's always good to hear."

Gabrielle lifted her head toward her wife and Xena's lips met her's half way. Their soft lips joined. Gabrielle's parted, begging her lover's tongue to enter and explore, an invitation Xena gladly accepted. A lust- filled moan escaped the bard only to be caught by her beloved wife who answered with an equally lustful growl from deep in her chest.

The two lovers shifted around so that they were laying facing each other so that both their hands were free to seek out the places that they knew would drive their lover's passions even higher.

"You know, my love," Gabrielle said looking into the fathomless light- blue pools of her lover's eyes. "I have given you my heart to hold safe from harm, forever."

"I know, Brie," Xena answered, forcing her voice past the emotional lump in her throat. "And I know that you are the keeper of my soul, to hold it safe from the darkness that would destroy it."

"Will you trust me forever?" Gabrielle asked, her emerald eyes shining with unshed tears.

Xena looked at her partner and soulmate and, with a look of complete love and total trust, softly gave her answer,

"Always."

Both knew their conversation was far from over, but they also knew it would have to wait for another time.

Right now, the only thing that existed for either of them was laying in that bed.

Everything else would have to wait for their questions and answers until another time.

FINIS