DISCLAIMERS:

COPYRIGHT: Xena Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Perdicus, the Amazons, Ephiny, and Argo are the property of MCA/Universal and are used here without permission, but for entertainment purposes only, and for no monetary gain. No copyright infringement implied or intended. The storyline however, is mine, and reproduction or reuse of it is limited by my permission only.

SUBTEXT: Yes, this is alternate fan fiction which is based on the premise of two women who are very much in love with each other. There is absolutely nothing graphic here... in fact I wouldn't even rate it PG-13 if it wasn't for the violence. If this type of love offends you, if you are less than 18 years old, or if love is illegal where you live, climb on board the anti-subtext train and get outta town.

STRONG LANGUAGE: Yeah... There are some ca-ca words in here, but it is mostly limited to one scene and it's not the really "bad" stuff.

VIOLENCE: This fan fiction implies, and in some cases, describes, acts of violence and torture. This is after all, Xena, and not Little Miss Suzy Homemaker. If this type of story offends, you, I suggest you reconsider reading it.

TIME LINE: This story occurs immediately after the episode "A Family Affair" and deals with the reaction Gabrielle's family may have had to the events depicted in season 3.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I welcome all feedback, however, flames will not penetrate my aligator skin, so don't bother.

A WARRIOR'S FORGIVENESS

By : kd bard

e-mail: warriorx@together.net

Started 11/15/98

Finished 11/20/98

CHAPTER I

Xena and Gabrielle sat side by side in the barn, Gabrielle, with her arm around Xena's waist and her head leaning on her shoulder. The bodies of Hope and the Destroyer, lay tangled in the clutches of death, just a few yards away.

"It doesn't matter how we find our way, Gabrielle, as long as we find it together... You and me." Xena said, lowering her gaze to the floor.

A few more moments passed.

"Xena, We have to do something about the bodies." Gabrielle said, nodding towards the corpses.

"I know. We need to bury them, Gabrielle." Xena indicated.

"Wouldn't it just be easier to build a pyre, Xena?" Gabrielle questioned.

Xena turned to face Gabrielle. "No, Gabrielle. Hope came back from the dead through fire. Dahok manifests himself through fire. I don't want to take the chance that fire will bring them back again. No... We'll bury them." she explained.

Gabrielle nodded her head in agreement, reaching up at the same time to brush a tear off her cheek. "You're right, Xena. Let's get it over with." she said, rising to search the barn for shovels.

Xena rose with her and took her arm, turning her around to face her. "Gabrielle, look at me." she said, raising Gabrielle's chin with two fingers. Gabrielle turned tear-filled eyes to Xena.

"I know this is hard on you." she began. "As much as I am glad this is over, I realize that Hope and the Destroyer were your flesh and blood. I wish things didn't have to turn out this way, but you must see that it is for the best."

"Xena," Gabrielle began, her voice choking with emotion. "I am so tired of the pain. I sometimes feel that things will never be the same between us again. We have hurt each other so much... My heart feels like it is dying in my chest. Xena, my child is dead! Your son.... No!, Our son is dead! I can't deal with this anymore!" she wailed, on the verge of hysterics.

Xena wrapped the bard in her arms, pulling her tightly into her chest. "Shhhh, It's Okay, Gabrielle... It's over, my love. It's over." Xena whispered, trying desperately to calm the bard.

"What will happen to us now, Xena?" Gabrielle asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"We go on, Gabrielle... We still have each other. One thing I've learned through all of this, through the pain, through the trials of Illusia, is that I need you... I can't live without you - no matter how much we've hurt each other, I still love you, with all of my heart. You complete me, Gabrielle." Xena said, with more passion than Gabrielle had ever heard come from her warrior before.

"If I didn't know better, Xena, I'd say you're trying to take my job!" Gabrielle said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Not a chance, bard... No one could ever take your place... Not in my heart anyway." Xena said, lowering her head and placing a light kiss on Gabrielle's lips. "Now, lets' take care of the burial so we can put this behind us." She said, spotting a couple of shovels in the corner of the barn.

**********

The burial was a long and difficult task. Not wanting to dig two graves, Xena found some burlap in the barn and wrapped both of the bodies together, just as they lay in each other's arms. Next, came the chore of digging the hole. Considering the size of the Destroyer, the hole had to be wider, longer and deeper than normal. It was several candlemarks into the night before it was ready. Finally, Xena used a draft horse belonging to Gabrielle's father, to drag the corpses to the hole. Once the bodies were positioned properly, Xena and Gabrielle both started shoveling dirt over the top of them. Xena could see that Gabrielle was physically and emotionally drained from the experience and offered to finish the job by herself.

"No, Xena." Gabrielle replied. "I am responsible for bringing them into the world... it is my responsibility to see this through." Gabrielle drove the shovel into the dirt to continue the burial.

Xena, deeply upset by what the bard had said, drove her shovel deep into the pile of dirt and the walked over to Gabrielle. Taking the shovel out of her hands and driving it too into the dirt, she grabbed Gabrielle by the shoulders and sharply turned the bard around to face her. Gabrielle looked up into Xena's face, a little surprised and fearful of the rough treatment.

"Let's get one thing clear. Gabrielle." Xena said sternly, bending down to bring her eyes level with Gabrielle's and squeezing her shoulders a little tighter than she intended. "You are NOT responsible for any of this - Dahak is. You were taken against your will. I don't ever want to hear you blame yourself for this again! Do you understand me?"

"Xena, you're hurting me!" Gabrielle replied, trying to squirm out of Xena's grip.

Finally realizing what she was doing, she relaxed her hold and rubbed Gabrielle's arms where she had left imprints of her fingers. "I'm sorry." she said "...but I'm serious, Gabrielle. This is not your fault - none of it is."

"Xena, if I had only listened to you when Hope was born... If I hadn't lied to you about her... so much would be different now..." she cried.

Pulling Gabrielle into her chest, she rubbed her hands up and down her back, "You don't know that, Gabrielle. Dahak would have probably found a way to bring her back even if I had killed her as an infant. Now promise me you won't torture yourself with this anymore, Okay?" She asked, tilting Gabrielle's chin up to look into her eyes.

Gabrielle just closed her eyes and nodded her head.

"Look, why don't you go rest over there on that log while I finish this up. I won't take but a few minutes. All right?" Xena said as she grabbed her shovel to continue the burial.

"No, Xena, I'll help... It will get done faster that way." Gabrielle replied as she pulled her own shovel out of the pile and began throwing dirt over the bodies.

A half candlemark later, the task was done. Setting the shovels aside, Xena once again pulled Gabrielle into her arms as they stood there looking down on the grave. Gabrielle closed her eyes as Xena started singing the funeral dirge. When she was done, Gabrielle looked up into Xena's eyes.

"Thank you." she said to the tall warrior. "You didn't have to do that, you know... they didn't deserve such respect".

"Maybe not." Xena replied, "But you do. The truth is, Gabrielle, they were your family, and no matter how much pain and suffering they caused, they were still part of you." She paused for a moment and then continued. "I know it hurts you to go through this, Gabrielle, and I want you to know that I will always be here for you."

Wrapping her arms around Xena's waist and pulling her close, Gabrielle whispered "Thank you, Xena. I love you."

Xena kissed the top of Gabrielle's head then laid her cheek down on it. "I love you too, my bard. More than you'll ever know."

********************************************************************************CHAPTER II

The two friends walked back to the barn in silence, Xena carrying the shovels and Gabrielle leading the draft horse. Dawn was just starting to peak over the horizon. After taking care of the tools and settling the horse in the stable, Xena and Gabrielle walked hand-in-hand to the porch of Gabrielle's house, where they sat together on the swing. Gabrielle curled up into Xena's embrace.

"What would you like to do with your life now, Gabrielle?" Xena asked. Knowing that Gabrielle was still recovering from her fall into the lava pit, and stay at the hospice, Xena was careful not to push her friend too far or too fast.

Gabrielle scooted down on the swing, laying on her back and putting her head in Xena's lap. Looking up at her dark warrior, she said, "Well, I guess I owe my parents an explanation. They'll want to know who Hope really was, and why their lives had been put in danger ." she replied. "After that.... I really don't know Xena. I have a lot of thinking to do."

To Xena, that sounded an awful lot like "I'm not sure I want to travel with you anymore, Warrior Princess!". She was crushed. After spending so much time looking for Gabrielle, and then finally finding her, she didn't want to give her up again so soon. Xena's heart felt like a lead weight in her chest. She was dying inside, but on the outside, she presented Gabrielle with a cool exterior, pushing the swing back and forth with her feet and brushing the golden locks off her forehead with the fingertips.

"You don't need to decide right now, Gabrielle." she said supportively. "We've got time."

Just then, the front door swung open and Herodotus, Gabrielle's father, stepped out. Taking in the scene before him, he immediately grabbed Gabrielle's wrist and pulled her up out of Xena's lap and off the swing. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, girl!" he said sternly.

Xena rose to her feet, not liking Herodotus' rough treatment of Gabrielle, one bit. Gabrielle saw the anger in Xena's eyes and reached up to place a restraining hand on her chest.

"Xena, please. Let me handle this." she said. Turning to her father, she pulled her wrist out of his grasp. Rubbing away the red marks he had left there, she looked at him and said, "Yes, Father, I know. There is a lot that you and Mother don't know about my life over the past few years, and there is a lot you will never know. There are, however, a few things I do need to tell you before Xena and I leave."

All Xena heard was "...before Xena and I leave." The heavy weight was lifted from her heart. Gabrielle wasn't leaving her! Thank the gods for that.

"If you think I'm gonna stand by and let you leave with this barbarian again, you're out of your mind, little girl!", he shouted at her, grabbing her upper arm and dragging her towards the house.

Xena was by her side in an instant. She quickly put the pinch on Herodotus, causing him to release his grip on Gabrielle, and drop to his knees.

"Xena!." Gabrielle screamed. "Take that off him this instant!" she fumed.

"Gabrielle, I won't let him treat you like that." Xena countered.

"Xena, release him - NOW!" Gabrielle demanded.

Seeing the tears well up in Gabrielle's eyes, Xena turned to do her bidding. After releasing Herodotus from the pinch, he sank back onto his heels, gasping for breath. Xena turned and walked a few paces away, running her hand through her hair.

After regaining his sense of control, Herodotus rose to his feet and pointed at the warrior, while keeping is gaze locked onto Gabrielle. "Do you see what I mean? Has she ever done that - or worse - to you?" he demanded, still rubbing his neck with his other hand.

"No Father, Xena has never done that to me. I've never given her cause to!" She said.

"Are you saying I asked for it?" he asked in disbelief?

In reply to this, Xena walked up to him, looked him straight in the eye and said, "No one... not even her father... hurts Gabrielle, and gets away with it. You got that!"

Once again, Gabrielle stepped between them. "Xena, please!" She looked Xena in the eyes pleading with her to calm down. Xena relented and once again, back away a few steps.

"Father, we should probably go inside. I have a lot to tell you and Mother, and not all of it is pleasant." Seeing Xena and her father try to stare each other down was almost comical. Her father would never win that battle! Finally, Gabrielle just grabbed Xena's hand and led her into the house. Herodotus soon followed.

**********

Gabrielle paced back and forth in front of the hearth relaying the story of Dahok to her family. Herodotus, her mother Hecuba, and her sister Lila were all seated around the kitchen table, while Xena leaned against the mantle, her arms crossed, and her eyes focused on Gabrielle's trek back and forth across the room. She told them about Britannia, about Meridian's death and Khrafstar's betrayal. Her voice shook with unshed tears as she relayed the brutal rape by Dahok, her abnormal pregnancy, and the painful and terrifying birth of her daughter Hope. She told them how she had sent her child down the river in a basket to save her from Xena, determined to kill her for the evil spawn she recognized her to be and how Hope later returned to kill Xena's son, Solan. She told them about her painful attempt to poison Hope to rid the world of her evilness, only to have her return to haunt them once more, this time as an adult. Finally, she told them about her sacrifice to save Xena, by throwing herself and her daughter into the lava pit.

She paused in her pacing to look up at Xena, however, she continued to address the whole room. "I still don't know how I got out of the lava pit. All I know, is that I woke up in a hospice. I was in pretty bad shape for a very long time. Finally, I was well enough to leave and return home." She looked down at her hands, then at the group around the table. "You know the rest of the story from there." she said, then walked over to stand in front of the hearth and stare into the fire.

Hecuba was the first to break the silence. "You were raped? My poor child!" she cried, holding her arms out for Gabrielle, who entered them willingly. Gabrielle sat on the bench next to her mother, allowing herself to be held and comforted.

"Mother, it wasn't what you would call a 'normal' rape. Dahok was a god, not a flesh and blood man. Sure, I felt him violate my body, but he also violated my spirit and my mind." Gabrielle explained, surprised that she could actually describe the rape to her mother without falling apart. Xena, on the other hand, clenched her fists and tightly closed her eyes to prevent the tears from falling as Gabrielle recounted her story.

Herodotus suddenly erupted to his feet. Glaring at Xena, he demanded, "And where were YOU while my daughter was being violated, warrior? You were supposed to protect her! Obviously, you weren't doing a very good job!" he fumed, his fists clenched tight.

"I failed her, Herodotus." Xena admitted. "I was....."

Gabrielle interrupted her in mid-sentence, striding over to Xena and taking the warrior's face in her hands. "No Xena, you didn't fail me... You tried to stop him, but the Deliverer prevented you from reaching me in time. This is NOT your fault. Like you said - it was Dahok!" Gabrielle held Xena's tear filled eyes with her own.

"So that woman was your daughter." Herodotus said referring to Hope. It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes." Gabrielle answered, turning to face her father, her back to Xena. "And before you ask, that monster was her son, my grandson... your great grandson."

Hecuba dropped her head into her hands on the table and cried. Lila, too shocked to speak, just wrapped her arms around her mother.

"Gabrielle, you have brought shame and sorrow on this family. I knew running off after 'her' would bring you nothing but pain and suffering." He said, nodding his head toward Xena. "Warrior... I hold you responsible fore everything that has happened to my daughter. Leave my property immediately, and never return." he finished, pointing toward the door.

Xena stood up tall from her reclined position against the mantle. Looking at Gabrielle, she tried to gauge the bard's reaction to the command. As she expected, Gabrielle was furious.

"Father, if Xena is not welcome here, then neither am I." she said. Turning to face Xena, she placed her hand on the warrior's arm and said, "Xena, I see no need to stay here any longer... Let's go."

"You're not going anywhere, young lady." Herodotus said. "I will not allow you to bring further shame on this family. You will stay here where you belong. If we're lucky, we'll be able to find a man who wont' mind damaged goods to marry you off to."

Gabrielle stomped up to her father and slapped him hard across the face. "Don't you even think that I would ever consent to an arranged marriage, you narrow minded son of a b....."

"Gabrielle." Xena interrupted, after wrapping her arms around Gabrielle from behind and covering her mouth with her hand. "Don't say something you'll regret later, love. Let it go... it's not worth it." Xena finished by whispering in her ear, "You're beautiful when you're angry."

Gabrielle calmed down immediately, pressing back into Xena's chest, but continuing to throw hateful looks at her father.

While Xena stared Herodotus down, Gabrielle said good-bye to her mother and sister, promising to write often. Finally, she turned to Xena and said, "Let's go, I want to get as far away from here as possible before the sun sets."

Without saying good-bye to her father, the bard and warrior left.

They failed to see the hateful look of revenge in the man's eyes as they waked out the door.

********************************************************************************CHAPTER III

Gabrielle was so angry, she headed straight for the road without giving thought to collecting their bedrolls from the barn.

"Whoa... wait a minute Gabrielle. Unless you want to sleep on the hard cold ground tonight, we need to stop at the barn for our gear." Xena reminded her.

"I'm sorry, Xena, I just want to get as far away from here as fast as I can." she apologized, turning back to the barn with Xena.

Bedrolls in hand, they set out toward the road.

"Xena, where are we headed?" the bard asked.

"I need to find Argo, Gabrielle. I let her run free just outside of Amphipolis while I went to Siberia to the land of the dead." Xena replied.

"Amphipolis, huh?... Maybe we can stop and spend some time with your Mom. At least your family accepts me. That's more than I can say about mine. Then maybe we can go visit the Amazons afterwards. What do you say, Xena?" Looking at Xena and seeing that she was deep in thought, Gabrielle walked around in front of her and stopped, causing the warrior to come up short to avoid running into her. She looked up at the cold mask that Xena had pulled down over her features.

"Xena, I don't know what to say.... how to apologize to you for my family's behavior." she began.

Xena took Gabrielle by the shoulders, the mask quickly falling away. "Don't worry about it, Gabrielle. They've never liked me. I've known it from the start. I'm really not surprised at their reaction at all." she said.

"That doesn't excuse it, Xena. If they'd only let themselves see beyond your past, I know they would come to love you like I do." she finished, placing her hand on Xena's cheek. Xena turned her face into Gabrielle's palm, relishing the feel of the caress.

Taking Gabrielle's hand in her own, she kissed the back of the bard's knuckles then held the hand close to her heart.

"What have I ever done to deserve you, Gabrielle?" she whispered as she lowered her face to drop a chaste kiss on Gabrielle's forehead. Gabrielle closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. Suddenly, the rumbling in her stomach let itself be heard.

"Great timing, as always, bard!" Xena joked. "Why don' t you set up a fire pit in that clearing over there, and I'll see about finding us some lunch, Okay?"

"Deal!" replied the bard.

Within a quarter candlemark, there were two plump trout browning on spits over the fire, while wild potatoes and carrots that Gabrielle had found, roasted, wrapped in leaves on a rock close to the fire. Unbeknownst to Gabrielle, Xena had found some wild berries ON THE RIVER BANK, which she was saving as a surprise for later.

After eating their fill, they cleaned up camp and headed out once more. Being on foot, they were only able to cover a small portion of the distance between Potedia and Amphipolis before night fell. After setting up camp and eating the left over fish and potatoes for supper, Gabrielle laid out their bedrolls side by side, and sat down to write on her scrolls.

Xena returned to the campsite after doing sword drills to relax, and plopped herself down on the bedroll next to Gabrielle with a silly grin on her face. "Whatcha writing?" the warrior asked.

"Just a letter to send to Ephiny tomorrow, letting her know that we'll be by to visit as soon as we find Argo." the bard replied. Suddenly, Gabrielle noticed the look on Xena's face.

"Okay." Gabrielle said suspiciously. "I know that look.... what's up?"

"Close your eyes and open you mouth." the warrior commanded.

Knowing Xena wouldn't do anything to hurt her, she rapidly complied, only to be rewarded by a plump blackberry being pushed into her mouth. The berry burst with flavor as Gabrielle chewed and swallowed.

"Oh, Xena, this is wonderful! Where did you find these?" she squealed with delight, reaching for more.

"On the river bank where I caught the fish." the warrior said.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said as she pushed the warrior down onto her back and crawled up to sit on top of her, placing a kiss on her nose. "What would I do without you, Xena... You're always thinking of me."

"Hopefully, my bard, you won't get the chance to find out!" she replied, as she accepted a blackberry from Gabrielle. "Hey, these are good!" she observed. The friends rapidly finished off the tasty dessert and then got ready for bed.

Like they had done on countless nights, Xena and Gabrielle laid side by side, looking at the stars, Gabrielle's head lying on Xena's shoulder. One of their favorite games to pass the evening hours was to look for shapes created by the stars. They would lie there for hours, invariably disagreeing on several occasions, until one or both of them fell asleep. This night was no exception as Gabrielle quickly joined Morpheus in the land of dreams, while Xena covered them both with the blanket, wrapped herself around the bard, and joined her in sleep.

**********

Sometime near dawn several days later, Xena awoke with a start. Someone was in their campsite... she could feel them.

"Gabrielle." she nudged the sleeping bard. "Gabrielle!" a little more forcibly this time. "Wake up, we've got company." Xena whispered.

Gabrielle was instantly awake and reaching for her staff.

The next few moments were a blur. In one breath, the attacker was creeping through the brush, approaching the two women. In the next, he was flat on his back, with Xena's sword pressing into this neck. Gabrielle stood at Xena's back, ready to protect her against further attacks. After a moment or two, it became obvious that he was alone, so Gabrielle made her way around Xena to look at their intruder. Her eyes opened wide when she saw who it was.

"Pharis?" she asked? "Is that you?"

"Yes, Gabrielle, it's me. Please tell your friend to remove her sword.... I'm not here to do you any harm." he begged.

"Xena... It's Okay, he's a friend." Gabrielle said. "This is Pharis, from back home. Xena, I've known him for years. He and Peridcus and I used to play together as children." she added, not seeing the pained expression on Xena's face at the mention of Perdicus' name.

Xena, still unsure of the situation, removed her sword, but did not sheath it. "What are you doing out here at this time of night, Pharis?" Xena asked suspiciously.

"I have a message for Gabrielle, from her mother." he said.

"Mother?" Gabrielle asked, helping Pharis to his feet. "Is she Okay? Father didn't...."

"No... No, Gabrielle, she's fine." he said, waylaying her fears. "She just asked me to find you to let you know that she doesn't feel the same way your father does about Xena. She wants you to know that she still loves you, and if you want to come home, she'll find a way to make your father accept you." he finished.

"And will he accept Xena too?" she asked, bitterness clouding her voice.

"I don't know, Gabrielle." he answered. "The message was from your mother, not your father.... I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about Pharis. Thank you for bringing Mother's message to me." she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Xena sat on a log by the fire, watching the exchange. Her heart was breaking for Gabrielle, but something didn't feel right about this. She'd have to keep a close eye on Pharis until he left.

"Pharis." Gabrielle said. "It's almost dawn. I'd like you to stay for breakfast before heading back to Potedia, Okay?"

"Sure, Gabrielle. If I remember right, you're a pretty good cook. I don't mind staying if you have enough!" he said eagerly.

Gabrielle cast her eyes toward Xena, sending a silent message to the warrior to go hunt them something up for breakfast.

Xena felt uncomfortable leaving Gabrielle alone with Pharis, but with their limited supplies, she didn't have much choice. So, she stood, sheathed her sword and, with a glare at Pharis that said , "She'd better be safe and sound while I'm gone!", she disappeared into the woods.

**********

Xena had only been gone for about a quarter candlemark, when she sensed something was terribly wrong. She headed back to the campsite at a dead run. When she got there her worst fears were realized. There in the clearing, were five men, including Pharis. They had captured Gabrielle, and had her tied between two trees, shacked by her wrists and ankles. Her staff lay discarded by the campfire.

When Pharis noticed Xena entering the campsite sword drawn, he drew his own sword and placed it at Gabrielle's throat. He pressed the tip of the sword slightly into her neck, resulting in a trickle of blood running down her chest, disappearing into her cleavage. Gabrielle whimpered at the pain.

"Let her go if you know what's good for you." Xena warned, slowly advancing on the gang.

"Oh, I don't think so, warrior. We are being paid handsomely to bring you both in. Now be a good girl and throw down your weapons before your friend here suffers the consequences." he said, circling Gabrielle, teasing her with the end of his sword.

"Don't do it, Xena!" Gabrielle yelled, then turning to Pharis, she said, "You bastard! Let us go, and Xena just might spare your life."

Pharis backhanded Gabrielle across the face, splitting her lip and causing blood to run freely down her chin. "Shut up, Bitch!" he yelled back at her.

Xena lunged forward, but was stopped short by Pharis' curt words... "One more step, warrior, and Gabrielle dies. Do you understand?" he asked, a short blade resting over the bard's heart, slightly breaking the skin there.

Xena's eyes met Gabrielle's, sending heartfelt apologies for leaving her with this madman.

Pharis saw the exchange and spit in Xena's face in disgust. "You two make me sick, do you know that? Your kind of relationship is unnatural. You are freaks!"

Noticing that Xena had yet to surrender her weapons, Pharis again approached Gabrielle and started carving light lines down her bare abdomen with his short blade. Not enough to break the skin, he did succeed however, in leaving ugly scratches dotted with blood.

"Here are the terms, Xena.... Your weapons for her safety. Refuse to give them up, and I will mutilate her. Don't think I won't do it!" he threatened.

"Don't do it, Xena." Gabrielle begged in little more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle... I have to... I can't let him hurt you any more." Xena replied as she threw her sword and chakram on the ground.

"Get her!" Pharis ordered his men.

Xena found herself surrounded by four armed men. She had the undeniable urge to fight them off, but Pharis still held his blade to Gabrielle's throat, indicating that surrender was the only safe course of action for the bard. With a sigh, Xena threw her hands up and allowed herself to be captured.

********************************************************************************

CHAPTER IV

Violent sobs broke from Gabrielle's throat as she was forced to watch the thugs beat Xena senseless. Any sign of resistance from Xena, resulted in an injury to Gabrielle, so Xena gave herself freely to the beating. Gabrielle shouted at her continuously to fight back, regardless of the consequences. Xena refused, instead, accepting her fate at the hands of the men.

When she was beaten to the point of helplessness, they dragged her over to the trees and tied her in a manner similar to Gabrielle, spread eagle, with wrists and ankles shacked to the trees. Xena hung there between the trees with her chin slumped down onto her chest. Every now and then, Pharis would grab her hair to lift her face to his, checking to see if she had lost consciousness. Loss of consciousness was followed by a bucket of water in the face. They wanted her awake to savor every minute of torture.

"Pharis, Why are you doing this?" Gabrielle begged for an answer.

"As I said, Gabrielle, I'm being paid well." Pharis replied.

"Who hired you Pharis?" She asked. When she received no answer, she pleaded their case further. "We have a right to know our attackers, Pharis... who is it? Is it someone I know?"

"Oh, you know him all right." Pharis chuckled. "You know him quite well, in fact. He'll be here shortly, so you'll see for yourself."

Xena's head again, nodded down onto her chest.

"Wake her up!" Pharis yelled to the thugs.

One of the men slapped Xena hard across the face. Her head slumped further onto her chest.

"Wake up, Bitch!" the man shouted at her. When he didn't get the reaction he wanted, he kicked her hard in the thigh, breaking her leg.

Xena howled in pain.

"Nooooo!" Gabrielle screamed. "Please don't hurt her anymore... please!" she begged.

Trying to regain control of her senses, Xena started to compartmentalize her pain. "Package it up and push it into the background... control it, Xena, you can do it!" she told herself. Slowly, she brought herself back to consciousness, but kept her head slumped onto her chest.

Pharis approached Xena, grabbed a handful of hair and lifted her head. Xena stared right back at him and then spit in his face.

Pharis jumped back in surprise. An angry mask quickly crossed his features. "WHIP HER!" he commanded.

"Pharis, NO! Oh please, gods, no... please!" Gabrielle begged between the tears, trying desperately to get loose to help Xena.

Pharis walked up to Gabrielle and grabbed her chin roughly in his hand, bringing his face close to her's. "You are damned lucky I've been told to spare you, or you'd be next." he warned. Turning to his men, he said, "Begin... Give her 20 lashes to start with!"

A muscular man carrying Xena's whip came up behind her. Xena looked up into Gabrielle's face and tried to calm the hysterical bard by assuring her with her eyes that everything would be all right. Gabrielle wasn't buying any of it.

CRACK! The whip came down across Xena's back and bit a bloody stripe into her skin. Xena held her breath, but did not cry out. CRACK, CRACK, CRACK. Three more lashes, three more lines of blood. Still, Xena did not cry out. By the time the 20th lash lacerated her back, she was on the verge of losing consciousness. She had managed to withstand all 20 lashes without uttering a sound. Her back was a mass of torn skin and blood, her leathers shredded by the abuse. She hung by her arms like a rag doll, her broken leg unable to fully support her. Blood had run down her back, coating her legs and the ground around her with a thick, red goo. Finally, Xena let go and drifted into unconscious oblivion.

Gabrielle was so sickened by what she had witnessed, that she threw up all over herself and the ground in front of her. Her heart bled for Xena, her mind in total shock from the beating her love had endured. Gabrielle felt each one of those 20 lashed, not physically, but in her mind and in her heart. She was a bloody mess as sure as Xena was. A steady stream of tears rolled down her face as she saw Xena's head slump onto her chest for the last time. She had no way of knowing if Xena was dead or alive. Finally, she let her own head drop to her chest and drifted off into an oblivion of her own.

A short time later, Gabrielle was awaked by a rough hand gently patting the side of her face. "Gabrielle, wake up." a voice that seem to be connected to the hand, said. "Wake up."

"The voice sounds awfully familiar", Gabrielle thought. She suddenly realized that she was no longer tied to the tree, but was lying down on her bedroll, covered with a blanket. Her wounds had also been attended to.

"Gabby, wake up. Come on, girl... There, that's it, come on." the voice coaxed as Gabrielle slowly returned to consciousness.

Her first thoughts as her senses fully returned to her, were of Xena. Suddenly, she bolted into a sitting position, looking around wildly for her warrior. "Xena, Xena!" she shouted, "By the gods, Xena, where are you?" she continued, her eyes wild with fright for her friend. Her eyes took in everything around her, the bed roll, the men who had attacked them earlier, Pharis, her father.... Her father? "What was HE doing here?" she thought.

She focused her eyes on Herodotus. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she turned wild eyes on him and said "Father, they've got Xena... They've whipped her! Oh gods, I don't even know if she's alive. By the gods, please help her!" she cried uncontrollably.

"There, there, little one. Don't you worry about the warrior. She has gotten what she deserves. You're safe here with me now, Gabrielle." he replied.

Suddenly, reality hit her. "YOU!" she screamed. "You are the one who hired Pharis, aren't you?" Seeing the guilty look on his face, she started scrambling around, looking for Xena, finally spotting her, still tied to the tree.

"By the gods... look at what you've done to her!" she cried, getting to her feet to help her friend. "I've got to help her!"

"I don't think so, Gabrielle." Herodotus said. "You're coming home with me. Let's the vultures peck away at her for all I care." he said grabbing Gabrielle's wrist and hauling her to her feet. "If you had just stayed home in the first place, this wouldn't have been necessary." he added.

"Noooo, Xena!" Gabrielle cried as she tried to free herself from his grasp.

Herodotus reached up and backhanded Gabrielle across the face, sending her to the ground. Suddenly, an arrow pierced his shoulder, pinning him to a tree. Gabrielle looked up at him. "An Amazon arrow!" she thought. "Ephiny!"

Out loud, she yelled, "Ephiny! Where are you? Please help her, Ephiny, Please!"

Suddenly, the campsite was filled with Amazons over powering the four thugs. Pharis had escaped, running for his life.

"I'll go after him." Eponin commented as she ran into the woods behind him.

"Gabrielle!" Ephiny exclaimed, falling to her knees in front of her Queen. "Are you all right?"

"Ephiny... Please help her. Xena... She's tied to the trees... Please help her... They whipped her, Ephiny.... broke her leg... Oh gods, please help her!" Gabrielle was out of control, sobbing hysterically.

Before Ephiny could reach them, Solari and Ilana had already cut Xena down and gently laid her on the grass. Gabrielle was by her side in an instant.

"We need to clean the wounds... Oh gods, Ephiny, look at her back!" Gabrielle was quickly losing control of her sanity again.

Ephiny grabbed Gabrielle by both shoulders and shook her gently. "Gabrielle,.... Gabrielle, get a hold of yourself. You're not doing her any good by becoming hysterical."

Gabrielle slowly focused on Ephiny's face. When she had calmed down enough, Ephiny continued. "Gabrielle, we'll treat Xena the best we can right now, but we need to move her to Amazonia for proper treatment, Okay? We'll need to build a travois to carry her in. You need to be strong for her, Gabrielle, this won't be an easy trip. Okay?"

Gabrielle nodded her head and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

"Good, now why don't you see Celano to have your wounds treated, then go and hold Xena's hand while she is being tended to." Ephiny directed Gabrielle to where the healer was working on Xena. Gabrielle quickly made her way to the warrior, knelt down beside her and lifted her head into her lap. She spoke gentle assurances to a semiconscious Xena as the healer worked to treat the worst of the wounds before moving her. The healer paused in her treatment to tend the Queen's wounds, but Gabrielle just brushed her off, saying, "Xena first, Celano... her injuries are much worse than mine."

In the meantime, Ephiny directed several of the other Amazons to build a travois to transport Xena on. Once she saw that her orders were being carried out she approached the man that was still pinned to the tree by the arrow. She saw that he stubbornly refused to cry out in pain. There was something familiar about the man, but Ephiny couldn't quite place it.

Ephiny drew her sword and held it at the man's throat. "Who are you, and why were you attacking Queen Gabrielle and her consort?" Ephiny asked.

"Queen?" the man answered bitterly. "Gabrielle is a Queen?"

"Yes, she is the Amazon Queen, and Xena is her consort. They are both very highly revered by the Amazon Nation, which does not take kindly to their members being beaten almost beyond recognition. You had better have a good reason for your actions, or your life will be forfeit." Ephiny warned.

Just then, a commotion in the woods, drew Ephiny's attention away from the man pinned to the tree. She turned to see Eponin dragging a man into the clearing and throwing him down by the fire pit.

"I caught this piece of garbage trying to escape." she told Ephiny. "He'd make a lousy spy... spilled his guts before I even laid a hand on him. Seems like this old man you have pinned to the tree is Gabrielle's father, and he paid this little pissant to capture, torture and kill, Xena." Eponin finished, rage tearing out of her eyes for the two men.

"Gabrielle's father?" Ephiny said in disbelief. She turned back to the man pinned to the tree. "Why?" she asked.

"That warrior bitch has corrupted my daughter. Because of her, she's been raped, bore the demon spawn of an evil god, and has committed murder. She doesn't deserve to live! My daughter refused to leave her and return home. I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands!" he ranted.

"I've got news for you, Pops.... If something ever did happen to Xena, Gabrielle would come to us - not you. She and Xena have already agreed to that arrangement. So, it looks like all you did by beating Xena, was create one really pissed off six-foot warrior with lethal combat skills, not to mention a little bard that can be just as dangerous when riled. You have created a problem for yourself that a even a highly trained army couldn't help you out of. I feel sorry for you. When Xena recovers... you're a dead man!" Ephiny finished her little speech, then walked away, giving Eponin instructions to release the man from the tree and to let him go. Having listened to Ephiny's little speech, Eponin chuckled as she broke off the arrow and pushed Herodotus into the woods. "Nice knowing ya!' she said, laughing. Herodotus ran as fast and far as he could to get away from those evil bitches.

"As for you," Ephiny said, kicking a prone Pharis in the side. "You get the same treatment you gave Xena." Directing two Amazons forward, she said, "Tie him up... give him 20 lashes, break his leg, then let him go." she ordered. The two Amazons, who happened to be especially fond of Xena, took delight in their assignment, dragging Pharis out of the clearing so that their sensitive Queen would not have to watch the proceedings.

Having taken care of business, Ephiny returned to Xena's side to see how she was doing. She was fully conscious now, and trying hard not to show how much it hurt. Gabrielle was by her side, holding her hand and stroking the black tresses away from her forehead. Xena was lying on her stomach to prevent further injury to her already shredded back.

"How ya doing there, Tough Guy?" Ephiny asked.

"I have definitely been better, Eph." Xena replied. After a short pause, Xena continued. "Ephiny, how did you know where to find us?"

"Your bard here told me... In a letter to be exact. She said you'd stop by after you had found Argo.... and.... since Argo has been in Amazonia for the last moon, I figured we'd save you the search and bring her to you!" Ephiny explained.

Gabrielle's brows shot up. "Argo's been in Amazonia?" she asked.

"Yeah! That's one smart horse you have there Xena. Apparently, she remembered us from the last time you visited, and she just kind of invited herself to stay for a while. Kind of like a Warrior Princess I know." Epniny ribbed.

Xena reached up and took Ephiny's hand. Squeezing it lightly, she said, "Thanks, Eph."

"Any time, Princess." she said, smoothing back Xena's hair. "Any time".

Just then, the Amazons in charge of building the travois announced that it was ready and attached to Argo. Several Amazon warriors carefully grabbed the edges of the blanket that Xena way lying on, and gently lifted her up and onto the travois. Xena insisted that Gabrielle ride with her, so the bard gently laid herself down beside her warrior, careful not to disturb her injured back or leg. Once she was settled with Xena's head resting on her shoulder, the healer strapped them in, and the caravan set off for Amazonia.

********************************************************************************CHAPTER V

The trip to Amazonia would have taken healthy travelers two days, however, with an injured Xena, the going was much slower, forcing the group to stop several times to check on her status, and to call an early night at the end of each day. Gabrielle never left Xena's side, except for the call of nature. She ate little and slept even less.

In the middle of the first night, Xena developed a fever which caused her to toss and turn, the sweat pouring from her body and soaking her bedclothes and the blankets beneath her. Gabrielle was beside herself with worry for her warrior while she kept her silent vigil through the night, bathing her face with cold cloths. By morning, Xena was hallucinating, calling out to Lyceus and Solan.

"Celano, we need to do something!" Gabrielle cried. "It breaks my heart to see her like this."

"You are right, my Queen. A fever this high can be very dangerous. I have known it to cause permanent damage to the senses." Celano worried. Celano looked around until she spotted two strong Amazons. "Eponin, Solari!" she called to them. "Come here quickly. I need you to help the Queen and I to move Xena to the river. Her fever is out of control and we need to bring her body temperature down as fast as possible."

Eponin and Solari ran to Celano's side and the four of them each took a corner of the travois and lifted the warrior, carefully carrying her across the campsite and to the riverbank. They lowered her into the water, travois and all.

Xena gasped and started to struggle at the impact of the cold water on her injuries and feverish body.

"Hold her down!" Celano ordered. "Any more trashing around and she open the wounds we've have already managed to treat."

Solari threw herself across Xena to physically hold her in place. A dillusional Xena just fought harder.

"Solari!" Gabrielle cried. "Let me try." She said as she bent low to Xena's ear and started whispering soothing terms of endearment to her. Xena immediately calmed down and relaxed at the sound of the bard's voice.

"Keep talking to her, My Queen." Celano instructed. "We need to keep her as calm as possible to let the cool water do its job."

For the next two candlemarks, Gabrielle sat in the frigid water next to Xena, speaking to her in soft tones, and brushing the hair off the warrior's forehead. Finally, Celano directed the group to move Xena back to the campsite where they promptly removed what was left of her shredded leathers and shift. Gabrielle's tears were renewed with each new injury that was revealed during the unveiling. After applying salve and bandages to the worst of the wounds, Xena was covered with a clean blanket which Gabrielle tucked tightly around her.

"My Queen." Celano said. "You must get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold. You'll need your strength to see your warrior though this ordeal."

Gabrielle looked up and accepted the towel and dry shift being offered to her by the healer. "Thank you, Celano... for everything." she said, hugging the embarrassed healer. "Any Celano... my name is Gabrielle.... please drop the 'My Queen' stuff, Okay?"

Celano just smiled and walked over to organize her supplies as the rest of the group readied themselves to continue their journey to Amazonia.

**********

Xena was unconscious for most of that day, oblivious to the bumpy ride on the travois, that would have been torturous had she been awake. Gabrielle thanked the gods for small favors.

Although Xena's fever was still elevated, she slept through the next night without incident. By morning, her fever had lessened, however, was still there.

Ephiny came up behind Gabrielle, who was sitting on the ground next to the travois, holding Xena's limp hand.

"Gabrielle," she said quietly, handing her a plate with some fruit, bread and cheese. "Here, you need to eat some breakfast. You'll be of no use to Xena if you starve yourself to death." Sitting down next to Gabrielle, Ephiny noticed the dark circles and haggard look on the bard's face. "Xena's gonna kill me for not making her take care of herself!" Ephiny thought as she examined Gabrielle.

Gabrielle accepted the plate of food from Ephiny, but only picked at its contents. "Ephiny?" Gabrielle questioned. "She will make it, won't she?"

"Xena is too mean to die, Gabrielle. She'll be around to haunt us for many, many more years. Just wait... you'll see." Ephiny joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Gabrielle smiled and rested her head on Ephiny's shoulder. "Thanks Eph... I needed to hear that." she said.

The troupe set out once more, reaching Amazonia by lunch time. Xena and Gabrielle were immediately moved into the healer's hut.

"Gabrielle", Celano said to the queen. "My assistant Sarita will see to you wounds, while I see about setting Xena's leg. Please go with her into the other room." Celano instructed her.

Gabrielle was no fool... she knew they were trying to get her out of the way so that she wouldn't have to witness what Xena was about to go through.

"Nice try, Celano." she said, "...but I'm not going anywhere until Xena has been cared for. You may need me... remember the river?" Gabrielle reminded her.

Giving in, Celano relented, "You may be right, My Que... I mean Gabrielle. But I must warn you... this won't be pleasant."

"Celano, you couldn't begin to image what Xena and I have seen over the last three years. Don't worry about me... I'll be fine." she assured the healer.

"Okay, then... Sarita," she said to her assistant. "We need to set Xena's leg first then finish sewing and dressing the lash marks across her back. You'll need to hold her steady by the shoulders while I get a grasp on her leg to align the bones."

Sarita did not look thrilled about having the old the infamous Warrior Princess down while the healer inflicted intense pain on her. Luckily, Xena was still unconscious. Grabbing Xena under the arms and bracing her self against the edge of the table, Sarita gave Celano a nod, indicating that she was ready. Gabrielle stood by her side, ready to help if needed. Celano lifted Xena's lower leg and wrapped her arm around it. As she began to firmly pull on it to align the bones, deep moans of pain emitted from the warrior's throat, while she began to resist their ministrations. Gabrielle immediately took Xena's face in her hands and drew her own face close to Xena's. Kissing her lightly on the lips, cheeks and forehead, Gabrielle finally stopped at Xena's ear and whispered soothingly to her that it would all be over soon. Xena slowly opened her eyes and saw the beautiful green orbs staring back at her. So absorbed in the gaze, she hardly noticed when the bones aligned and snapped into place.

"There!" Celano said in triumph. "Sarita, hand me the braces and linen wraps." Sarita did as she was told, and soon, Xena's leg as wrapped tightly. "Okay, Xena." she said, addressing the now alert warrior. "We need to turn you over and see to the whip lashes on your back."

With Sarita and Gabrielle's help, Xena was turned over onto her stomach so that Celano could work on her back. Gabrielle sat at the head of Xena's bed, on a chair low enough to put her face to face with her warrior. Xena rested her chin on her hands in order to look directly into Gabrielle's face. Xena took a long look at the fatigue on Gabrielle's face, and the fact that her own injuries had not yet been treated. She could feel the anger rise in her chest. Without taking her eyes off Gabrielle, she said, "Celano... where is Ephiny? I've got a thing or two to tell her about taking care of her queen, here!" she said angrily, clenching her fists under her chin.

Seeing the direction the warrior was going in, Celano countered. "Calm down warrior. Before you take the Regent's head off for neglecting the queen, you'd better ask Gabrielle why!"

"Gabrielle?" Xena said, raising her eyebrows at the bard, already knowing the answer.

"Xena...." Gabrielle started, in her own defense. "I had to see that you were cared for first. My injuries are nothing compared to yours."

"Damn it, Gabrielle!" she fumed. "Don't you realize how important you are to me? To this Nation? If anything were to happen to you, I'd... I'd..." Xena couldn't finish... her emotions taking control over her tongue as tears filled her eyes.

Gabrielle ran her hands over Xena's face, wiping off the few tears that managed to escape her eyes. "I'm sorry, Xena, but I was so worried about you!"

"Sarita!" Xena called, her eyes still not leaving Gabrielle's face. "The queen is in need of you attentions here... right Gabrielle?" she said, challenging the bard to contradict her.

"Right, Xena." the bard said, a slight smile on her face as she went with Sarita to be treated.

Celano watched her go. "She's got some spunk there, warrior. I'll bet you've got your hands full with her?" she observed.

"You don't know the half of it, healer... You don't know the half of it!" the warrior replied grimacing as the healer pulled the needle through her skin. "Ow! Hey, take it easy back there!" Xena complained.

"I'm trying to be gentle Xena. Your back is quite a mess." After a short pause, she continued. "Xena, the queen said that you submitted to this willingly.... could I ask why?"

"The leader had a knife held on Gabrielle, Celano. Each time I resisted, or reacted, he hurt her. I had to give in... there was no other way." Xena answered.

"You love her very much." the healer observed. It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, I do. With everything that I am." Xena replied.

"Does she know that, warrior?" Celano asked.

"She knows that I love her... I have told her as much." Xena answered.

The healer had no patience for Xena's evasiveness. "But does she know that you're in love with her, Xena?"

Xena was silent. She tried to think of a way to deny the observation, but try as she might, no rebuttals came to mind. She was in love with Gabrielle. She had come to terms with that revelation a while ago, but feared saying anything to the bard in case she did not return the sentiment. She'd rather live silently with her love than to risk losing her.

"I thought as much, warrior." Celano said, Xena's silence confirming her suspicions. Celano continued... "You realize, Xena, that she will need your love even more after this?"

"How do you mean?" Xena asked.

"Well, it was her father that was responsible for your injuries... she will need to know that you don't hold that against her." Celano explained.

"Her father?" Xena exclaimed. "Herodotus?"

"I'm sorry, Xena.... I thought you knew. I shouldn't have said anything." Celano stumbled over her words, hoping she hadn't caused irreparable damage between the bard and warrior.

"Herodotus....!" Xena whispered under her breath. She remained silent for the rest of the treatment, turning her thoughts to Gabrielle and to her family's betrayal.

********************************************************************************CHAPTER VI

After tending to Xena's wounds, Celano gave the warrior some willow bark tea to take the edge off the pain. She also slipped a sleeping herb into the drink to allow the warrior to rest for several hours.

After being treated for her own injuries, Gabrielle returned to Xena's side. The warrior was alone in the room, fast asleep, under the influence of the sleeping herbs Celano had slipped into her tea. Gabrielle approached the chair that was still at the head of Xena's bed where she had left it, and sat down. She bent down and placed a light kiss on Xena's cheek. Xena continued to sleep, undisturbed by the light caress.

Brushing the hair off Xena's forehead, she started humming an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her at night. The song prompted memories of her childhood, and with it, images of her father, who had always been overbearing and stern, but who could also be tender when the mood struck him. Glancing at Xena's torn and tattered back, Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears. She was devastated at the thought of her father causing Xena this much pain. She knew.... No, they both knew that her parents weren't very fond of Xena, blaming her for taking Gabrielle away from them, but attempting to kill Xena was way over the edge.

"I'm so sorry, Xena!" she cried in a whispery voice, tears falling down her cheeks as she spoke. "How will you ever forgive me for this?"

"There is nothing to forgive, My Queen." said a voice from across the room. "... and I'm sure Xena would agree with me on that score."

Gabrielle looked up sharply to see Celano standing in the doorway. "Forgive me for intruding, Gabrielle, but Xena's injuries are not your fault. From what I have seen, you would sooner cut your own hand off then to cause her this much pain and suffering. Am I right?" she asked the bard.

"I would die first." Gabrielle responded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

Celano approached Gabrielle, picking up a cloth from a nearby table as she passed. She pulled another stool up beside Xena's bed and took the bard's chin into her hand, wiping away the remaining tears with the cloth. When she was done, she dropped the cloth into her lap and looked Gabrielle straight in the eyes.

"You are in love with her, aren't you?" asked the healer.

"Yes." Gabrielle answered. "I love her with everything that I am, Celano. She is the other half of my soul. I can't live without her." Gabrielle responded, dropping her eyes to her lap.

"Have you told her how your feel, child?" asked the older woman.

Gabrielle looked up, startled. "No.... I... I couldn't. I don't want to risk it." she stammered.

"Exactly what do you think you'd be risking, little one?" Celano asked softly.

Gabrielle took the cloth from Celano and wiped her eyes with it once more. Looking at Xena's face, but directing her answer at the healer, she said, "Her friendship, her love, her companionship.... I don't even know if she feels that way about women... or about me." Gabrielle explained.

The healer chuckled, angering Gabrielle. "What do you find so funny about this, healer." Gabrielle said in a stern voice.

"I dare say that you and the warrior are made for each other.... you are certainly two of a kind all right!" she said, rising and walking toward the door. Gabrielle's eyes followed her retreating figure, wondering just what she meant by that remark.

Celano turned when she reached the door. "I'm headed over the to food hut for some dinner... I'll bring something back for you and our patient there, Okay? Until then, if she awakens, get her to drink some of that water in the skin next to you. It is laced with healing herbs and will help take the edge off the pain. I'll be back soon." she said as she exited.

**********

Gabrielle spent every spare moment in the healer's hut with Xena, keeping her company, telling her stories, and watching her sleep. As hard as Ephiny, Celano and Xena tried to get her to take a break, she refused. On several occasions, she fell asleep sitting in her chair, with her head lying on the pillow beside Xena's, only to find herself in bed in her own hut the next morning after Celano called Solari or Eponin in to carry her home.

After four days of this, Xena was finally alert enough to notice the physical toll Gabrielle's vigil was taking on her. Her face was pale and her cheeks were sunken in. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and she had lost enough weight so that her ribs were highly visible through the thinly stretched skin on her midriff. She intended to put a stop to this right away.

"Celano!" Xena yelled after Gabrielle's head dropped to her chest, dozing off for the third time since noon.

"Yes, Xena. What can I get for you?" she asked, noticing the bard's slumped position.

"You can get me a couple of strong Amazons to help me to the queen's hut." she said. "Looks like the only way I'm going to force Gabrielle to go to bed, is by joining her there." she explained. "And by the way, you'll need a third one to carry Gabrielle."

With a sly grin on her face, she said to Xena, "Well warrior, I guess you're healed enough for your own bed... and I think you're right about our queen here.... she's quite the stubborn one, isn't she?" she finished, chuckling to herself.

"Like I said earlier, Celano... You don't know the half of it.... Now, about those Amazons..." Xena reminder her.

"Three Amazons, coming right up!" Celano joked as she left to summon some help.

Minutes later, Celano watched as Ilana and Solari carefully laid Xena down on her bed, careful not to pull open the stitches on her back, while Eponin gently deposited a sleeping Gabrielle next to her. Gabrielle immediately claimed Xena's shoulder as a pillow and snuggled up comfortably into Xena's side. After removing Gabrielle's boots, Celano pulled the covers up around the two women and ushered the three Amazons out of the hut. She turned and addressed Xena at the door. "Rest comfortably, warrior." she said, then turned to go.

Within minutes, Xena too was falling asleep, silently cursing Celano under her breath for those "damned sleeping herbs" she had slipped into her tea again. All was quiet in the queen's hut for the remainder of the night as the two women got some much needed rest.

********************************************************************************CHAPTER VII

The next morning, Xena awoke to the feel of a dead weight against her ribcage. As consciousness returned to her, she realized that Gabrielle was laying almost on top of her, with her head still cuddled into her shoulder, arm thrown carelessly across Xena's abdomen, and legs intertwined with her own. She didn't have the heart to wake the bard, seeing how comfortable she had made herself. "Besides, warrior," she told herself, "You're loving every moment of it!" Xena had to admit that she really was enjoying having Gabrielle in her arms. It was like the Ellisian fields to be able to hold her close, breathe in the fragrant scent of the jasmine shampoo she used, feel the soft texture of her skin as their bodies entwined. "By the gods, Gabrielle,... If you only knew how much I desire you... You'd probably turn tail and run in fear." she thought.

Xena lifted her free hand and ran it up and down the arm Gabrielle had thrown across her mid section. The caress caused Gabrielle to tighten her hold. Xena continued the message. Soon, Gabrielle began to move sensuously against the warrior's side, thrusting her pelvis against Xena's hip. "By the gods, Xena, I love you so much!" the bard whispered in her sleep.

Xena froze. "Did I hear that right?" she thought to herself. Dare she hope that Gabrielle could return her love? Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. She knew the bard loved her... they had told each other as much several times. The real question was whether Gabrielle was in love with her.

Holding the smaller woman in her arms as she was at that very minute, Xena realized that she wanted to spend the rest of her life waking up each morning just like this. There had to be a way to find out how Gabrielle really felt. Xena thought for several moments and finally resolved to draw the bard out in a way that Gabrielle least expected from her normally stoic warrior. Xena set her plan in motion by placing a light kiss on Gabrielle's forehead.

Gabrielle's eyes fluttered open. She was disoriented, not immediately knowing where she was. What she did know, however, was that she was wrapped around Xena like a ball of twine. The next thing she became aware of was that they were in her hut, and not at the healer's.

Coming up onto her elbow, she removed the arm across Xena's waist and immediately began inspecting Xena's wounds.

"Gabrielle, what are you doing?' Xena said, rolling over so Gabrielle could inspect her back.

"Xena, I'm sorry I used you for a pillow.... I could have hurt you.... I could have torn your stitches." she said as she continued the inspection of Xena's back.

"Gabrielle." Xena said, trying to get the bard's attention. "Gabrielle!" Finally, rolling back over to stop Gabrielle's probing fingers, Xena continued. "Gabrielle... It's Okay, really. I'm fine." she said, reaching up to trace the side of Gabrielle's face from temple to mouth with her fingers, allowing herself to linger a little longer than necessary on the bard's full lips.

Gabrielle looked at the warrior with wide eyes. She was unaccustomed to such caresses from Xena. Finally coming to her senses, she blushed, and then said, "Xena, how did we get here? And why aren't you at Celano's?"

Never taking her eyes off Gabrielle's, Xena answered, "Well, it seems that a stubborn little bard we know, who shall remain nameless, refused to take care of herself as long as a certain warrior was confined to the healer's hut. So... the warrior thought the best way to get the bard to go to bed, was to join her there." Desire smoldered just under the surface of Xena's eyes as she spoke.

"Smart warrior." Gabrielle remarked. "Is that passion I see in her eyes?" thought Gabrielle to herself? "Do I dare to hope?" Gabrielle could not make herself break eye contact with the warrior.

Drawn by some unknown force, Xena lowered her head and gently kissed Gabrielle full on the mouth. She had kissed her before, but always kept it chaste, almost sisterly. This time was different. Xena's lips lightly brushed over the bard's sensuously drawing a sigh from Gabrielle's mouth. Her tongue darted out, demanding entrance. Gabrielle's lips parted willingly, drawing Xena's tongue into her moist depths. This time, the moan came from Xena's throat. After what seemed like an eternity, their lips parted, both coming up for air.

"Wow!" said Gabrielle.

"Wow indeed!" echoed the warrior.

Gabrielle reached up to draw Xena's mouth to hers once more, when there was a knock on the door.

A brief flash of angry disappointment crossed Gabrielle's face as she pulled away from Xena and sat up on the edge of the bed. "Enter", she said as Xena lay back on the pillows with a smug smile of satisfaction plastered on her face. "Wow indeed!" she thought again.

**********

The unwanted visitor was Celano, coming to check on how Xena made it through the night. When she left her last night, the bard had her captured effectively in a bear hug. Entering the hut on Gabrielle's command, she immediately realized by the flush look of Gabrielle's face, that she had interrupted something. She gave Xena a knowing grin, helped her into a sitting position, and set to work removing Xena's bandages to inspect the stitches on her back. Gabrielle got up and stated pacing back and forth across the room.

Gabrielle watched the bandages come off, the heat level in the room suddenly becoming more and more uncomfortable as Xena's chest and back were slowly exposed. She had seen Xena naked before... several times in fact... while bathing, and during the numerous times she had to treat Xena's wounds... but with the memory of Xena's kiss still fresh in her mind, the warrior's nakedness suddenly took on a new dimension. Celano noticed where the bard's attentions lie, and made an effort not to block her line of vision. In fact, she decided to accelerate things a little.

"Gabrielle, come here please." Celano requested. "I need a hand with these dressings."

Gabrielle's mouth was very dry all of the sudden. Unable to tear her eyes away from Xena's exposed chest, she slowly made her way over to the bed. "What can I do to help?" she asked nervously.

Not meeting Xena's eyes, knowing the warrior would know what she was up to, Celano backed away from the bed and directed Gabrielle to finish removing the bandages while she mixed a poultice for her back.

"Why you little snake!" Xena regarded Celano in thought. "I know what you're up to healer... and it just might work!"

Gabrielle licked her dry lips, nervously reaching for the bandages and unwrapping the warrior's chest further. Xena kept her eyes on Gabrielle's face the whole time, causing the bard to flush a bright shade of red. Gabrielle's hand accidentally brushed the side of Xena's breast, causing the warrior to gasp. Their eyes met and held, desire written plainly on both their faces.

Seeing the interaction, Celano thought to herself, "I'd better get out of here as soon as possible.... before all three of us end up embarrassed." Clearing her throat to bring her presence back to mind, Celano approached the bed with the poultice. Gabrielle and Xena quickly looked everywhere but at each other... neither wanting their desire to be seen by the healer.

"Give it up ladies... I'm onto you!" Celano thought. Out loud, she said, "Gabrielle, I am needed back at the healer's hut, Zora arrived in labor just as I was headed over here. I need to get back to her in case the child is delivered sooner than expected. Here," she said, handing the poultice to the bard. "Rub this poultice into Xena's wounds every couple of hours to keep the stitches from drying out and pulling. Leave the bandages off for the rest of the day." Then turning to Xena, she said, "Sorry, warrior, but it looks like you'll be confined here for the rest of the day. No getting out of bed except for nature calls - and, you let Gabrielle help you with that, understand? You need to give that leg time to heal before putting weight on it, Okay?"

"Gee, and I had such a full day planned!" Xena replied sarcastically.

Giving Xena's stomach a light backhand, Gabrielle reprimanded, "Xena, be good!"

Totally ignoring the healer's presence, she looked at Gabrielle and said seductively, "Oh, I'll be good all right... I'll be very good." She emphasized the last two words with a husky drawl to her voice.

Gabrielle gulped and turned red. Celano, just turned around and left, muttering "Kids today!" under her breath.

An awkward silence filled the room. Finally, Gabrielle realized she was still holding the poultice, and used that realization to relieve the tension. "Xena" she said, putting the poultice down on the bedside table. "Let me help you roll over so I can spread this stuff on your back."

Reaching across the warrior, and trying hard to ignore Xena's full, firm, breasts just inches away from her face, she carefully lifted Xena's broken leg while the warrior maneuvered herself onto her stomach. Xena rested her head on crossed forearms and watched the bard. Repositioning Xena's bad leg as comfortably as possible, Gabrielle, pulled the blanket up to the warrior's waist then picked up the poultice. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began to rub the mixture into Xena's wounds. Xena winced as Gabrielle rubbed an especially deep wound across her shoulders, causing Gabrielle to jump.

"Xena, I'm sorry... I'll try to be more gentle." she apologized. While she massaged the medicine into Xena's back, she finally realized just how bad the damage was. Welts and cuts crisscrossed all across the warrior's back. Some of them just barely breaking the skin, others very deep and painful. Tears sprang to Gabrielle's eyes as she remembered that it was her father who was responsible for this. Gabrielle broke down and sobbed uncontrollably, getting up and moving away from the bed.

Hearing the bard's sobs, Xena quickly maneuvered herself into a sitting position. "Gabrielle, what is it, love?" she asked.

"Xena... How you must hate me for this... my father.... my father did this to you.... By the gods, Xena, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." she cried as she headed for the door. She needed to get away... she was too ashamed to be in Xena's presence.

"Gabrielle, stop right there... right now, or I swear, I will get up and follow you!" Xena threatened, knowing the bard would put the warrior's health ahead of her own distress.

As expected, Gabrielle froze, her back to Xena.

"Gabrielle, look at me." Xena commanded. "Please."

Slowly, Gabrielle turned around to see Xena sitting on the bed with her arms extended toward her. "C'mere." she said to the bard.

Gabrielle flew into Xena's arms, totally ignoring the warrior's nakedness. She held the sobbing bard, wrapping her arms tightly around her, purring terms of endearment in the bard's ear. After a time, the sobbing calmed and then stopped.

Lifting Gabrielle away from her chest, which was now wet with the bard's tears, she lifted her chin with two fingers and looked into her eyes. "Are you all right?" she asked the small red head.

Gabrielle nodded yes, then noticed the mess she had left on Xena's chest. She chuckled nervously and lifted the corner of the blanket to wipe the tears off the warrior's skin. "Look what I've done here." She said as she wiped.

"Call it a baptism of love, my bard... of my love for you." Xena replied, halting Gabrielle's ministrations. "It's okay... leave it." she said.

Gabrielle looked at Xena with awe. "How can you love me, Xena? I have brought you so much pain.... you really didn't need this on top of everything else we have been through over the past year."

"You didn't do this to me, Gabrielle... You're father did." Xena explained.

"Same thing, Xena. Me and mine... we seem to be really good at causing you problems." Gabrielle said. Then, in a small voice, she added, "Xena, I wouldn't blame you if you went after him."

Grabbing Gabrielle by the shoulders, she held her away at arms length and lowered her head so that their faces were level. Looking deep into Gabrielle's eyes, she said, "Gabrielle, I will not go after him. I couldn't do that to you. I won't let this come between us.... I have already let it go,.... now you need to the same."

Gabrielle's eyes teared once more. "I love you, my warrior." she said falling once more into Xena's arms.

"And I love you too, my bard." Xena replied. "Now, how about the poultice... the stitches feel a little tight."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Xena!" Gabrielle exclaimed, realizing she had stopped tending to Xena in midstream. "Here, let me help you lie down again so I can finish."

Soon, Xena was lying on her stomach, with the bard once again messaging the ointment into her wounds. Seeing Xena's eyelids droop during the treatment, Gabrielle started humming softly, until she felt the warrior drop off to sleep. Bending down a placing a kiss on Xena's cheek, she whispered into her ear, "Sleep well, my brave warrior... and thank you... thank you for your love and your forgiveness. I love you with all my heart."

Gabrielle climbed up onto the bed beside the sleeping warrior and sat against the headboard to write in her scrolls. She failed to see the broad smile that was spread across the warrior's face as she fell back into a deep sleep.

"Dear Diary,

The most incredible thing has happened... I am in love! In love with the most incredible warrior. My heart is held prisoner, and I never want to be freed. My warrior completes me. I am whole at last. My love has all the qualities of a fairy tale come true. Tall, dark, strong and sure, and certainly the most wondrous and beautiful sight I have ever set eyes on. Although I have caused my love great distress and pain, love endures, stronger and bolder than ever. I long to be held in those strong arms and caressed by that touch. I ache to reach the pinnacles of ecstasy at the hands of my love. Soon... soon, I will realize that fulfillment. Soon, the wounds of betrayal will heal and we will be one.

I am in love with a warrior, and her name is Xena.

THE END