Not much violence: not even an egg is broken

All sex scenes are (after all) consensual

If you're under legal age or you don't like to read about love and sex between women, I'm sorry for you but you shouldn't continue reading. Grow older or grow up and come back then

All characters are property of Renaissance Pictures, no infringement of copyright intended. Even if characters like Xena and Gabrielle are universal. Homer doesn't hold Ulysses' or Achilles' copyright after all, and I'm sure Xena and Gabrielle will become universal and eternal characters too. In between, I have to thank Renaissance Pictures for letting us fanfic writers use those lovely characters in our writings

Written by Ignacio (nachoseli@hotmail.com), with the help of Prado (pgv@mhp.com)

I (Ignacio) want to thank Prado for all the time, help and illusion she put into this little writing

I also want to thank Femmy from X:WL. If my english doesn't sound too bad, it's only because of her help. If it sounds badly anyway, I'm the only one to blame

A campfire burns in the middle of the forest. Seems like there is no one around it, but a dark figure lies and moves beside it. But it's not a figure: there are two wrapped one around each other. They move more, still embraced, and one of them says:

"Auuu, Xena, stop a bit, you're hurting me with your armour."

"Ok, ok, Gabrielle. Get it out. Lets do it right."

Xena went apart from Gabrielle with a caress while her lover, anxious for her love, went for her warrior's armour. Her eager fingers made Xena's body free from her rigid armour. Then came the leathers and... Gabrielle, once again, admired the vision of the back, strong and soft, of her lover.

I could be this way, watching her, for all my life, thought Gabrielle.

Xena smiled at her, and Gabrielle, unable to wait much more, embraced and kissed her. Then Xena, reacting to that, held Gabrielle between her arms and, with a quick movement, rolled on her settling on top of her lover. Her legs wrapped one against the other firmly. Their bodies looked for the best position. Her hips started to move, rubbing their smooth tights in a more an more anxious movement.

Gabrielle, despite her excitement, felt a certain discomfort under her back. But Xena on top of her was something you can't escape from easily. And you don't want to escape either, not for a moment. Xena looked eagerly for her lips. Her tongue played with hers, very deep. Gabrielle closed her eyes. She could only feel the warmth from their sweating bodies, the feel of their skin touching, the pleasure from their wet lips.

Suddenly, Xena held her face apart from hers and looked into the depths of her green eyes. Her expression revealed an urgent need. Gabrielle couldn't hold back a moan. She went mad anytime Xena looked at her that way, making an intense fire burn deep inside of her. Their bodies continued moving burning with their pleasure. The moans only stopped when their lips went together in another kiss, making love as if it was going to be the last time.

Dawn was nearly there when they both, exhausted, lied on the blanket. Xena looked into her lover's eyes. She was glowing, satisfied. Gabrielle watched her. There was a bright smile in her expression and her eyes were looking at her directly, like coming from another world.

"What happens?", she asked.

There was a special light in Xena. It took her a moment to answer, but then her voice came out, thrilled.

"I love you", she answered.

Gabrielle hugged her and they went asleep that way, one holding the other under the blanket that was almost covering their naked bodies.

***

It was early in the morning after that, and the campfire was reduced to ashes, when Gabrielle heard a noise behind her. That awakened her, and she saw a bearded man's face standing on top of her, who smiled, showing black teeth, and said:

"Oh-oooh. What do we have here? Two naked beauties for us. Looks like the gods sent them!"

Gabrielle stood up fast, in defensive position. Xena was still asleep, but she finally stirred, opening one eye. When she saw what was happening, she stood up too.

"What do you want?", she asked to the men. There were at least ten men, all bad looking and smiling at their naked bodies. "Go away or you'll repent!", she shouted.

But the men smiled even more and went around them. Gabrielle was standing behind Xena, trying to cover her breasts and pubic hair with her hands. Xena, on the other side, was standing before Gabrielle, ready to attack and trying to protect her lover.

Suddenly, all the men shouted at time and attacked Xena. She gave the first one a kick on his head, making him fall. But another man took her foot and pulled it suddenly up, making Xena loose her balance anf fall on her ass. Xena seemed confused, and all the men seemed too, waiting for what was going to happen. Then Xena stood up and jumped high over them. But she finally fell on her head, lying unconscious.

Gabrielle was deeply astonished, but she reacted immediately. She started to kick the men on their faces, making them all fall around her. But some of them stood up and surrounded her with the others. Then, Gabrielle looked around her and sprung high over their heads. She rolled in the air, higher and higher, till she finally landed on a branch on a tree, on her both feet. Her face showed a big surprise, but then she smiled and held the branch in her hands and rolled around the branch, faster and faster. Doing so she kicked all the men's heads making them fall to the ground. With a last rotation she sprung high again and landed over the lying men. She whacked them wildly as they tried to stand up, till they finally ran away.

"... and tell yer mothers what kind of bastards you are!", Gabrielle shouted to the last fleeing men.

Xena wasn't unconscious after all. She was sitting on the ground, her legs apart and her eyes and mouth round open in a deeply astonished expression, looking at Gabrielle.

"Uh... What happened?", she said.

"Don't know, Xena. But I kicked'em asses, you can be sure!", Gabrielle smiled.

"No... I mean, what happened to me?", Xena asked confused.

.

"Oh, you nearly broke your neck with that jump. Are you ok?", Gabrielle answered, for first time looking concerned for Xena.

"I think so... ouch!", Xena said while trying to stand up. Gabrielle helped her, and after a while they were dressed again and sitting around a new fire.

"I feel strange, Gabrielle. Don't know what happens. I feel really slow...", Xena said then.

"Don't worry, it was only a bad moment. I feel great myself. I could kick some more ass!"

"How did you do all that, Gabrielle? Have you been practising your jumps?"

"Oh... well... Seems so, no?", Gabrielle answered. "Anyway, forget about that, we have nothing to eat for breakfast. Could you use your chakram and make some eggs fall from that nest up there? I will catch them."

Xena held the chakram in her hand, looking at it as if she saw it for first time. She looked awry at her friend. She was waiting for the eggs with a big satisfied smile. Xena sighed, got swing and threw her chakram. It flew against a tree, rebounded against it, flew over Gabrielle's head, almost cutting off her neck, and after a last rebound on a rock, fell at Gabrielle's feet, without touching a single nest or egg.

"What happened, Xena?", asked Gabrielle, shocked.

"Eh... uh... don't know... never...", Xena murmured sitting again. "I'm not feeling ok..."

"Don't worry, I'll do", Gabrielle said, holding the chakram firmly in her hand. The chakram flew fast, rebounding like a lightning bolt on trees and rocks, too fast to be seen. Suddenly, two eggs fell on Gabrielle's hand, and the chakram continued rebounding till it flew just before Xena, cutting a flower that fell by her hand. The chakram ended in Gabrielle's hand, who held it with style.

Xena seemed very scared, holding the trembling flower in her hand. Her lower lip trembled too when she said:

"Ww... What's happening? Gabrielle, I'm frightened..."

***

They were walking side by side, with Argo behind them, talking.

"Seems like you got all my strength and abilities, Gabrielle. And I lost them. How could that happen?"; Xena said, more calmly.

"Do you think? I thought I finally was a hero like you. I can't understand how that could happen. Maybe it was another trick of Ares...", answered Gabrielle, not smiling anymore.

"Don't think so, seems a bit too sophisticated for Ares. But could be. Anyway, we need to know what's happening. First: where did your abilities go?"

"Do you feel a strange urge to write this all down, Xena?", asked Gabrielle.

"No... nothing. Doesn't seem to go that way. But maybe we should try something. Give me your staff, Gabrielle."

"My staff? What for?", asked Gabrielle.

"I need to know if I'm simply slow or I got your physical abilities, if not your intellectual."

Xena and Gabrielle stopped, and Xena held Gabrielle's staff in her hands. She started to fight against Gabrielle, who was able to avoid Xena's attacks kicking the staff with her feet. But Xena went faster and faster, and she finally made Gabrielle fall to the ground hitting her on her feet.

"Mmm, seems like I'm very able to fight with this. Even against Xena", Xena said, smiling at the staff in her hands.

"Au, I thought you were invincible", Gabrielle stood up, caressing her butt.

"Now you know I am not", Xena smiled. "And that's a first answer: we exchanged our physical abilities, Gabrielle."

"But second and more important: how did that happen??", Gabrielle asked.

"Don't know, but we're going where we will know. To Delphi; we will ask the oracle."

"That's not cheap, Xena. We couldn't pay a question for the oracle, you know", said Gabrielle.

"I know. We will need to get some money, and that's what you'll have to do instead of me."

"Really?... Really! Now I'm Gabrielle The Warrior Princess, Destroyer Of Nations...", Gabrielle said with a smile Xena never saw on her face before. She interrupted her: "Ok, ok, slow down a bit, Gabrielle, it won't be easy. You didn't get my experience after all."

"Oh... Ok, don't worry, Xena. I'll do anything to help you. You have nothing to worry about, I'll take care of all... I'll take care of you", Gabrielle answered, an arm around Xena's shoulders.

***

Xena and Gabrielle were lying on the top of a hill. From there, and unseen, they could see the valley beneath them. And crossing that valley, a caravan was slowly approaching. Xena whispered to Gabrielle:

"Ok, that's a slave caravan. The plan is easy: we'll attack the soldiers, free the slaves and steal that dirty money."

"How will we do, Xena? I go and give them all a good beating?"

"Let's do it with a little style. First, I'll use your staff, so you better use my sword and chakram. Here, have them. Be careful and don't cut anyone's throat with them. But I guess you'll know how to use them right", answered Xena giving sword and chakram to Gabrielle. "We'll do it this way..."

Xena whispered her plan to Gabrielle, who assented to her words. Finally, Xena went openly to the head of the caravan, while Gabrielle sneaked behind.

"Stop! Hello all, I'm Xena", she shouted to the soldiers by the caravan. "Maybe some of you know me. Today's play goes as follows: you free those slaves, give me your money and go away. That right?"

"Arrrggg, Xena, damn! I have lots of soldiers now", the slave trader answered. "You'll have to fight hard this time!"

"Oh, I don't think so. In fact, I have a slight headache today", answered Xena, a hand on her forehead but smiling. "Anyway, there's my sidekick, Gabrielle, who will be happy to give you all what you deserve", continued Xena, pointing at the soldier's back to Gabrielle, who was standing there with a fierce smile on her face.

"Jojojo!... Jajajaja!... Arghh, that little girl will beat us? Ohhh please Gabrielle, don't hurt us, we're only poor mercenaries", the captain answered ironically, laughing as much as his men.

"I know about you Xena", the slave trader said. "And everyone knows about your so_called sidekick. Everyone knows she's only worth to get your bed warm! Get her, guys!!", he shouted finally.

The soldiers obeyed immediately. But Gabrielle stopped all their attacks with the sword, and at the same time she kicked many of the mercenaries to the ground. As they all were lying on the ground, they seemed very surprised, but they finally stood up and surrounded Gabrielle again.

At that time, Gabrielle smiled and took the chakram in her hand. She threw it, and after some fast rebounds it took a strange swing. It flied in a circle by the ground around Gabrielle, making all the mercenaries fall again. After that, it flew to the slave trader, cutting his belt and making his pants fall to his ankles. When the chakram finally flew back to Gabrielle's hand, the mercenaries were trying to escape from her.

Then they saw Xena, standing quiet and smiling. One of them shouted: "By the gods, if that's her sidekick, she will kill us with one finger! Escape guys!!"

And so did them all, leaving the slave trader behind them, not able to run with his pants down. Gabrielle held him from his shirt, shouting close and fiercely to his face: "You may save your filthy life today, but you'll have to give me all your money! Ha!?"

He threw his money bag, terrified, and was thrown away to the ground. He finally took his pants up and escaped too, giving a last astonished look over his shoulder to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle walked by the cages, freeing the slaves. They were all young girls from Arcadia, their destiny the harems of Persia. "You're now free! You can go back home!", Gabrielle shouted to them. The girls were very happy to be free. Gabrielle seemed very happy too. She looked, proudly, for her companion's eyes. But Xena, more practically, was holding the bag and counting the money. Then Gabrielle went directly to her, held her from an arm and pulled her to the near forest.

"Hey what are you doing Gabrielle!? Let me go!", Xena shouted, but Gabrielle was much stronger than her. When they finally reached a tree by the forest, Gabrielle pushed Xena against it.

"I'm very excited, Xena. This all is too great! I can feel my blood running sooo fast...", Gabrielle said, her face very close to Xena, a strange look on her eyes.

"Hey, Gabrielle... slow down a bit... what's up with you?", Xena said, a little surprised and, even if it seems impossible, frightened.

"I need you, I need you more than ever. Now I know how you feel when you're fighting. I can't resist, Xena, this is too much for me. I need you and I'm gonna have you right now", said Gabrielle, kissing Xena's neck.

"Hey... hey! Stop now. They could see us...", Xena said, trying to push Gabrielle away.

"I don't mind if they do. Maybe they will learn something. Now I'm the Warrior Princess, and I'm gonna have my pretty bed warmer right now. I don't know how you can resist to something like all this, but I can't...", Gabrielle whispered, still kissing Xena's neck and getting her naked with fast and anxious hands.

Finally, they laid by the tree, Xena naked and lying on her back, Gabrielle almost dressed but with her clothes in big disorder. Gabrielle was on Xena, and she held her hands up against the ground, controlling her with her bigger strength.

"Now you're at my mercy. I've always been like that for you, if you meant that way or not. But now things are different, and that excites me so much", Gabrielle said, her face very close to Xena's. Xena looked like she was going to fight, but suddenly she surrendered with a smile.

"Yes, yes Gabrielle. I've never experienced something like this. I'm at your mercy, do what you want with me", whispered Xena, moaning softly after.

Gabrielle, still holding Xena's arms against the ground, but now with only one hand, started to caress her body with the other. She caressed her breasts, twisting the hard nipples a bit, making Xena moan louder. Then her hand ran down her gorgeous body to the dark curly hair between her tights. Her fingers played there softly, feeling warm wetness, till two of them disappeared inside. Xena was moaning very loud, her eyes closed, biting her lips in deep delight. Gabrielle watched her from her higher point of view. She was loving to see her that way, straining from pleasure, with her eyes almost closed, biting her lower lip, moaning that way. She moved on her, going closer on her, finally letting Xena's hands free. Her left arm surrounded finally Xena's neck, and she kissed her lips, ears and neck. Her right hand was still between Xena's tights, moving there and sending strong waves of pleasure through Xena's body.

"Oooohhhhhgodddss!", Xena shouted loud, her fingers buried deep in the ground by her side. Then, Gabrielle went a bit away from Xena, removing her clothes while Xena was trying to catch her breath back. Finally, Xena opened her eyes, looked at Gabrielle and said: "I adore you my Warrior Princess."

Gabrielle sat by the tree, her back resting there and her legs open. Then she said: "Here, Xena, I'm excited beyond words. Come here, your warrior needs you."

Xena, still smiling and relaxed, looked at Gabrielle. For one moment seemed like she was going to argue, but then she smiled and said: "Yes, my warrior. I'll do whatever you tell me. I'll give you all you need." And then she stood on her hands and knees, her face approaching Gabrielle's body. Her head went a little down, between Gabrielle's tights, and closing her eyes started to lick there.

"Ohhh yes, Xena, do that, do that for me... ohhh I love you Xena, I love you so much..." Gabrielle was in deep delight, sucking on her own fingers that were in Xena just before. After a bit she took Xena's hair in her hands, shouting: "Ohhhh, please, you're sooo good, come here, please let me caress your body while you do that, come closer, but don't you stop, please... ohhhh."

Xena, still with her head buried between Gabrielle's legs, moved her body aside, letting Gabrielle caress her waist and round ass. Gabrielle was more and more excited, and she even gave Xena some soft spanks on her firm ass. The spanks sounded strong and, even if she sighed, Xena didn't stop. All the opposite, feeling the end coming, she continued making Gabrielle moan till she finally asked her to stop with a last loud moan. Then Xena sat by Gabrielle's side, both with an arm around their waists. They stayed for a moment, hugging, breathing hard. Xena smiled, and Gabrielle said:

"Uhm, Xena, sorry I was too kinky, I didn't really mean all that."

"Don't worry my love, it was great for me too. It was... different. I'll love you if you're stronger than me or not", answered Xena, giving Gabrielle a soft kiss.

"Thanks, Xena, I love you more than...", was Gabrielle saying, when they both heard a soft voice behind some bush, as if someone was trying not to laugh. A whole life as Warrior Princess made Xena stand up immediately and shout: "Hey! Who's there?"

The slave girls were all hidden behind that bush, obviously lurking. They stood up slowly, looking to the ground, some of them blushing.

"We didn't know where to go", one of them answered ashamedly.

"And we couldn't help hearing you both!", another one said giggling.

"Mmm, I wonder how much did you see", Xena said, making faces. "But I better don't ask. Here, have this money, we don't need it all. It will help you to travel back home to Arcadia."

"Thanks, that's nice, thanks for freeing us too", another girl said.

"And thanks for the show!", the one who spoke second said intrepidly.

They went finally away, while one of them was telling to another: "Ohh, they seem sooo in love, don't they?", and the one who was by her side answered: "Yes, but who could imagine that, hey? For her sidekick, the Warrior Princess is only her...", but Xena and Gabrielle couldn't hear how she ended, only some more distant laughs and giggles.

But one of them was still standing there, still looking to the ground.

"What's up? Any problem?", Xena asked, not smiling anymore.

"Oh, I... I thought... Maybe your sidekick would need... another sidekick for her... I mean...", she answered, looking at her feet and definitely red-faced.

Gabrielle opened her mouth wide, and for a moment seemed like she was going to answer with a yes. But then Xena gave her The Look, and she closed her mouth, finally whispering: "No, thanks, we don't need anyone else. Sorry. You better go with the others."

So she did, and Gabrielle winked to Xena, who was smiling again.

"That was funny, wasn't it?", whispered Gabrielle.

"Oh yeah, lots of fun, twenty girls watching us fuck," Xena answered, "and probably telling everywhere."

"I'm sorry, Xena", Gabrielle said.

"Don't worry, Gabrielle", Xena said. "It was fun anyway, and I guess you'll be never considered simply as my bedwarmer again", she smiled. "And now let's dress and... to Delphi!"

***

Xena and Gabrielle were walking side by side on their way to Delphi, and Gabrielle said:

"Aren't you mad all about that, Xena?"

"No my love. It was fun, really. And now I know myself a little better than before, and you too." Xena stopped, hugged Gabrielle and kissed her hair. "I love you love you love you!", she said between her hair.

"And now? What will we ask to the oracle?", asked Gabrielle, smiling bright and walking once again.

"Oh, I guess we should ask for what happened, no?"

"Mmm... We should think about that. You have to make a very clear question to the oracle. I read about a man who asked what day he would die. The oracle answered: the third day of targelion month... That was all; he should have asked for the year. Not to talk about Oedipus...", Gabrielle said.

"So, what do we ask, Gabrielle?"

"Let me think... yes... wait, I'll write it." Gabrielle stopped and wrote down: How can we exchange our physical abilities once again? Signed: Gabrielle of Potedaia and Xena of Amphipolis.

"What do you think, Xena?", she asked after writing, showing it to Xena.

"I think it should work. Thanks Gabrielle", Xena answered.

When they arrived to the temple of Apollo in Delphi, they had to wait outside; some others were waiting to make their own questions to the oracle. While they were waiting, Gabrielle was silent and thoughtful. Xena asked her why.

"Xena, if this doesn't work, I want you to know I'll be loyal to you. Things like that in the forest won't happen once again. I'll respect you and take care of you, as you did so kindly before with me."

"Stop worrying, Gabrielle. Everything will be ok, whatever happens. You know I only need you by my side, that's the only thing I need from you: your company and love. I've loved to protect you and take care of you, and if it goes to the other side, I'll be happy too", Xena answered. "All the rest, what the world might say, I don't care because you are my world, Gabrielle, now and forever."

After a while waiting, they went inside the temple, and stood before the Pythian Priestess.

"What's your question for Apollo?", she asked.

"Here, it's written on this scroll, Priestess", Gabrielle said, giving it to her.

"And here's the money", Xena said, giving the bag.

"Right. Wait here, I'll return with the answer of Apollo", the Pythian Priestess said, walking inside the sacred cave.

After some waiting which seemed too long, the Priestess returned and said: "Apollo gave me the answer for you. Here it is: You have to go back where it all started and burn the evil that lied beneath you both."

"That's all?", Gabrielle asked, but Xena told her to leave, and so did they.

"You have any idea of what that meant? Burn the evil? Seems like something poetical... I can't imagine...", Gabrielle said, worried, outside the temple

"I'm not sure. I guess we shall return to the campsite where we first noticed what was happening", Xena answered.

"You may be right, but I don't know what will we need to do there. I wasn't expecting that answer."

"Maybe not, but we have to return, Gabrielle. Let's go", Xena said, and so they did.

***

They finally went back to the place where they made love by a campfire, where it all started. The fire was reduced to ashes, and nothing seemed strange all around. But they looked here and there, till Xena went to the exact place where they lied that night and said:

"Nothing seems to be a particular evil in here. But look at this", and she pointed to a plant that was flattened to the ground. "We were lying on it, didn't we?"

"Let me see... Yes, I think it's... Take it off the ground, Xena", answered Gabrielle.

Xena tried to unbury the plant, but she couldn't. "Ohh shit, I can't!", she shouted, frustrated.

"Let me, I'll try", said Gabrielle. She easily unburied a huge root. It looked like a man's figure, and Gabrielle shouted when she saw it: "It's a manticore! We slept and made love on a manticore plant! That's what happened. Manticores have strange evil magic attributes... Now it's all clear. We shall burn it and all will be right again."

Xena started to make a fire in the same place they did before, when Gabrielle said:

"Are you sure you want all to be like before, Xena? Maybe we should talk about it a bit before."

"I want it. Don't you too? Please explain it, my love", Xena answered with a kind smile.

"It's not that I want you to be less than me, Xena. I've loved you because of all you were. But maybe I should take that responsibility from you for some time. You know I've loved to be protected by you, but I don't love you because of that. I love you for being by my side, for being kind, honest and beautiful. You've done so much for me, I would love to do the same for you."

"My love, you know what that means? You would have to protect me, Gabrielle. I don't dislike that, believe me. But you would have to take hard decisions in that case. You would need to kill. I don't want you to suffer that situations. I want to keep you away from evil, I want to protect your soul too, my love."

"That's so sweet", answered Gabrielle, leaning forward and softly kissing Xena's lips. "But maybe I should learn what's to be like you. I would love to do that so much."

"Hey, Gabrielle", Xena said, holding Gabrielle close to her. "I'll tell you something that has been for a long time in my mind. I know my destiny is Tartarus." Gabrielle shrugged at that word, but Xena continued. "I've done too many evil things in my life. But at least I'll protect your soul. I want you to go to the Elysian Fields, where you belong. I would hate myself if I would be responsible for your to loose that. That would be a real torture for me in Tartarus, and not whatever the destiny brings to me there."

"Don't you say that, Xena. I don't want that. I don't want to go the Elysian Fields if you're not with me there. Maybe, if you spent half of your life killing, and I do the same with my other half, we will go together after death, to Tartarus or to the Elysian Fields, I don't care. Happiness wouldn't exist for me without you, but with your company I would be happy in Tartarus, Xena", Gabrielle said, when a tear appeared on the green eyes of the young woman.

"Hush, hush, Gabrielle, please don't cry. And don't you say that. I need to protect you, you know I can't help. And you know I could escape from Tartarus anytime. I promise you I'll never stay away from you, alive or dead, not even with all the living and dead armies between us both. Let me burn that, and you'll never be without me, I promise", Xena said, holding and kissing Gabrielle between her arms.

Finally, Xena held the manticore over the fire, while Gabrielle watched, and threw it there. Then she came back to Gabrielle, hugging her again. After some moments of silence and some tears later, Xena kissed Gabrielle very tenderly. They caressed each other and, carefully, got their clothes off. They started to make love by the campfire, like that other time not much ago. When they were doing, their strength and abilities were interchanged again, but they didn't notice while they were loving each other tenderly.