Subtext ~ Isn't subtext here, it's the real thing here. All maintext. If you can't handle that sorta thing, I feel sorry for you. Just go check out another one of them stories that's general.
Emotional ~ I'll tell y'all this is planned to be emotional. Don't think it'll be like Titanic thing, but it's doing the whole emotional thing.
Copyright ~ Lets see, Universal and MCA both own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Dahak, Hope, Joxer, Ephiny, Amarice other Amazons. But I own Masika, Gabrielle's horse Torqueo, Teresa, Aster, Logos, and Rodhiya. So don't take my characters or story line, otherwise you'll have a life worth of bad luck.
Note ~ This is fast forward in the seasons compare to the rest of my stories. I think everybody can figure out relatively where I set it. The only thing is, there's two… three differences to the season I'm on. I think you'll be able to figure them out too, real fast.
Started: March 12th 2000 on Sunday
Series: The Binding of the Soulmates of Time Story: Seven
If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:
Part 4
Section 4
~*Part 9*~
Ephiny opened the door to her hut, she left her hut and headed straight to Gabrielle's. She knocked on the door twice, no response. She slowly opened the door and peered in, nobody. The regent sighed and left from the hut, she went stomping through the village, she then spotted Solari near the gates.
"Solari?"
The second in command looked up to see the regent coming. "Yeah Eph?"
"Have you seen the AQ?" She came up to stand in front of Solari.
"The Amazon Queen?" Ephiny nodded her head and Solari shook hers with an answer. "Nope, haven't seen Gabrielle all day."
"Hades." The regent looked down to the ground then back up. "Well as soon as you see her, tell her to come find me."
"Sure thing Eph."
"Oh by the way, we need you to sign these challenge letters."
Solari nodded her head. "Yeah, when you need it signed?"
"As soon as Gabrielle tells you too." The regent then grinned.
"Oh, Gabrielle's in charge of the signings this time?"
Ephiny chuckled. "Yup." Looking to her right she spotted the weapons master coming their way. "Hey Ep?"
Epinion came up to them to stand next to the two Amazons. "What's up Eph?"
"Seen the AQ anytime today?"
The weapons master grinned. "Yeah, she left about… a little less then a candlemark ago. Went for a ride with Xena. Why?"
The regent brought her hands up to her hips. "Need her to take these challenge letters and get them signed."
Epinion nodded her head. "I'd think they'd be back soon."
Ephiny grinned. "I doubt it with those two." She said that knowing more information then her two Amazon friends knew about the Soulmates.
"Well they went bare back." Epinion shrugged her shoulders afterwards.
"Maybe I'll be lucky then."
As if hearing Ephiny's words, the sound of horses' hooves clapping on the ground filled the air. All three Amazons looked to the gates to see the Soulmates coming in at a walk on their horses.
Gabrielle came up along side her three Amazons and looked down with a warm smile. "Hey you guys."
Epinion and Solari smiled back up.
Ephiny though took a step closer. "Been looking for you, AQ."
Gabrielle arched an eyebrow at her regent. "AQ… What?!"
The regent began to break out laughing right along with the second in command and Epinion. Xena had stopped Argo beside Gabrielle, she just grinned. Gabrielle though shook her head.
Ephiny look up again with a grin. "Amazon Queen."
"Oh gods, don't even Eph. Don't."
The regent looked back to her two Amazon friends with a grin. Both Solari and Epinion grinned back in understanding. Ephiny looked back to the Queen. "Don't worry my Queen."
The small warrior sighed and took a deep breath. "So what's going on Eph?"
"Well, we have all nine of the challenge letters finished. We just need to get them signed and sent."
The Amazon Queen nodded her head. "Great, they're in your hut?"
"Yes, I'm headed back there. Just come by when you're done with Torqueo."
Gabrielle nodded. "Okay, I'll be there in a minute or two."
Ephiny nodded. "Great. Catch you there." The Amazon then headed off towards her hut.
Epinion watched Ephiny go for a second, she then looked up to Gabrielle. "Nice ride?"
"To say the least." The small warrior bit back her devilishly grin.
Solari had raised an eyebrow. "Must have been heck of a ride."
Gabrielle chuckled with a grin. "Quite, few words to explain."
Both Amazons looked to each other then back up to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle then smirked a little. "Well, I need to go stable up Torqueo."
The second in command nodded. "Right, and I need to do something with myself." She laughed and turned around to head off. "Bye Ep, Xena." She then turned around and walked backwards as she looked up to Gabrielle. "Bye AQ!" Solari grinned and turned back around and power walked off."
Epinion was chuckling. "I'll see you Gabrielle. Bye Xena."
The warrior looked to Epinion nodded with a smile. Epinion smiled back and headed off.
Gabrielle looked to her Soulmate. "Damn Amazons."
Xena grinned. "Hey, remember we're both Amazons."
"Gods, don't remind me." The small warrior then did a click command and Torqueo started walking, Argo walking right beside them.
Once inside of the stables, they had their horses back in the stalls and cooling down. Gabrielle first came out of Torqueo's stall then Xena out of Argo's.
The warrior walked up to her partner with a smile. "I'll come with you."
Gabrielle looked up. "You sure?"
"Yes." Xena then leaned down to place a light kiss to Gabrielle's lips.
"Mmm." The small warrior then sighed. "Xena, it was fun, it was real, it was real fun."
The older woman chuckled. "Wellll… I try." A grin fell into place.
The smaller female shook her head. "I'd say you did a majestic try."
"Good." She then leaned down once more to kiss her partner. This one was more loving.
Gabrielle only ended up wrapping her arms around Xena, pulling her in. The warrior's own arms went around the small woman's waist. After the kiss ended, the small warrior dropped the side of her head against Xena's chest.
"We should go Gabrielle."
In response the Amazon Queen tightened her arm, the warrior had to grin at that. She didn't want to move either. So she decided to go with it for a while. Her head came down to rest on top of Gabrielle's.
"I love you Xen." Gabrielle's breath caught after saying that. She hadn't called Xena by that nickname in ages.
Xena lifted her head after hearing that, she looked down to Gabrielle.
The younger woman lifted her head as well and looked into Xena's warm eyes.
The warrior repeated Gabrielle's words in her mind. How those words tasted so sweet coming from her Soulmate's lips. They flowed so perfectly that it made Xena's eyes soften another degree while a warm smile crept up across her lips. "I love you too." She lowered her head down to let her forehead lean against her partner's forehead.
Gabrielle smiled back warmly yet it hinted sadness in her smile. Her eyes began to burn a little, then she couldn't stop it. Slowly a few tears trickled down her cheeks. She quietly whispered back to Xena. "Gods, Xena I've missed you so much."
"Hey its okay." Xena then reached up with her right hand to carefully push Gabrielle's head against her chest. "I'm not leaving you Gabrielle, never again."
The small warrior closed her eyes tighter at hearing that. Gods, it had been to long for the both of them. No, not ever again. Gabrielle lifted her head and smiled to her Soulmate. "We better go." A pause. "Thanks Xena."
The warrior smiled back down. "Hey, I'm always here for you." Leaning down, her lips placed a kiss to Gabrielle's forehead. "Come on."
They released each other and made their way out of the stables and headed straight to Ephiny's hut. Once inside, the pair walked over to Ephiny whom was at her desk again.
The regent looked up with a smile. "I know it takes awhile to stable up bare back horses."
Gabrielle chuckled. "It does, trust me."
Ephiny nodded with a grin. "I can imagine." She then looked to her desk. There on the desk was a stack of nine new scrolls. "Those are the challenge messages."
Gabrielle nodded. She reached forward to pick up one, her Soulmate stood beside her. The small warrior unrolled the scroll and began to skim down it. Xena was doing the same. The Amazon Queen kept nodding at what she skimmed through. She came to the end and looked to Ephiny. "Looks perfect." She then grinned. "Ready to sign them Eph?"
The Amazon grinned. "Do I have a choice?"
"Nope." Gabrielle then placed the open scroll down on the table.
Ephiny reached to her quill, dipped the tip into the ink well at the front edge of her desk. She then looked up to Gabrielle, holding the quill to her.
The Amazon Queen took the quill, she leaned forward and signed the first scroll as; Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons.
As she did that the regent reached to the stack of scrolls, pulled the top one off and unrolled it. Once Gabrielle was done signing the first, she placed the second down on top of the first. Gabrielle signed it. They repeated the same actions till the small warrior signed all nine.
Once the last was signed, the Amazon Queen dipped the quill tip and looked to Xena. "Next." Gabrielle stepped to the side holding out the quill.
The warrior grinned, she took a step forward, plucked the quill from her partner's fingers and leaned down to sign the top scroll. After she signed the first as; Xena Warrior Princess, Consort to Queen Gabrielle, the regent removed the top. Xena then signed the second that was underneath. They repeated it all over again.
Xena finished her signings then tipped the quill herself and Ephiny stood, with the unrolled scrolls in her hands. She placed them back on the desk and took the quill. Now she signed with; Ephiny, Regent to Queen Gabrielle. Gabrielle took the top scrolls signed by the regent and rolled them up and placed them back on the desk. By the time Ephiny was done, she had the quill placed back in its home.
"Ephiny?"
The regent looked to her Queen. "Yeah?"
Gabrielle looked from the Amazon down to the scrolls. "I'll make a speech tonight at dinner about this to the Amazons."
Ephiny smiled. "That's a good idea." Gabrielle looked up and Ephiny added more. "I'll make sure to let the chefs know it's a formal dinner."
The small warrior nodded, her expression is quite serious. "Okay, that sounds good. I'll take care of getting these signed by Masika and Solari."
"About the messengers Gabrielle." Ephiny took a deep breath. "I think it'd be a good idea to have them leave tonight."
Gabrielle's head bobbed up and down, she stared at the wood floor for a moment. She looked back up. "Good idea. These need to be out. Horse back I assume?"
"Definitely."
"Gabrielle?"
The Amazon Queen looked to her Soulmate with her questioning eyes.
"You'd be better off sending any of the Amazons here that came from another tribe as the messengers." Xena then crossed her arms against her chest.
Gabrielle reflected with that idea. She then nodded. "You're right." She sighed. "It'd look more friendly." She then grinned a little. "Besides that they'll know how to get there the fastest way."
The Warrior Princess nodded her head. "Exactly."
"Eph, who do we have from what tribes?" Gabrielle looked to her regent.
The Amazon dropped her head as she thought. "Um, Rodhiya and Amarice can take the southern tribe. Teresa is from the southwestern tribe." She kept thinking.
"What about Aster?"
Ephiny looked up. "She's from a northern Nation."
"Is there any Amazon from the Chin Amazons?"
The regent began to shake her head. "No… the Chin Amazons never come west here. We hardly have a connection with them."
Gabrielle brought up an eyebrow. "Is that going to be a problem?"
Xena then cut in. "It won't."
The Amazon Queen looked to the warrior. "I've never met Yakut."
"Don't worry, she's a good Amazon." Xena looked down for a moment then back to Gabrielle. "You might have a problem with the culture."
"What you mean Xena?"
The warrior looked away for a minute then back. "The eastern Amazons have a different way of life then the Greek Amazons. They're… they're more revolved around the spirit and almost magical powers."
Gabrielle nodded her head. "You said they have shamans right?"
"Yes, they're sort of like the Artemis' priestess. But they don't quite… believe in Artemis."
The Amazon Queen looked to her regent then back to the warrior. "Hades, that's going to be a problem. None of the other Nations will go for that."
"It won't really matter Gabrielle." The warrior took a deep breath, she explained. "Once all the Nations come together, everybody will mix, all the different cultures."
"She's right Gabrielle. Each tribe is a little different then the other."
Gabrielle looked to Ephiny. She then nodded. "They all will be. But one thing is for sure." She grinned now. "All Amazons like the trees and wear leathers with feathers." Ephiny groaned while Xena chuckled, Gabrielle kept her grin. She then looked to her regent again. "Okay, I better get moving. Get these signed."
Ephiny nodded. "After you're done, bring them back here so I can get them sent out. I'll stay here and figure out whom to send out as messengers."
The Amazon Queen nodded. "Make sure its two Amazons for each message. Except… have three go to Chin. It'll be safer."
"Right."
Gabrielle nodded then turned to the desk. She began to collect the scrolls in her arms. Xena then came over and picked up a few. They began to stroll out of the hut. "Bye Eph and thanks."
The regent smiled. "No problem Gabrielle. Bye. See you Xena."
The warrior looked back with a small smile. "Bye Eph."
The Soulmates then were gone. Gabrielle had walked a little ways away from the hut then stopped. She carried four scrolls, Xena had five. The small warrior looked up to Xena. "Hey, I wanna talk to you… back in our hut."
Xena searched her partner's eyes for a moment. She then answered back. "Sure." Her body had tensed after hearing that.
They walked in silence back to their own hut. Gabrielle kicked open the door, went to the table and placed the scrolls down on the table.
Xena came over and did the samething. The warrior then moved to sit on the foot of the bed. She looked to Gabrielle.
The small warrior was pacing back and forth in front of Xena. She stopped and looked to Xena. "Xena tonight at the dinner…" Gabrielle stopped herself. She shifted to stand in front of her Soulmate. Bending down to her knees, Gabrielle placed her hands on Xena's legs. "I want to… tell the Amazons to stop with these rumors."
Xena stared at her Soulmate. "Gabrielle… why?" It came out in a low whisper.
The small woman looked down to her own hands then back up. "I can't let them keep talking about you like that Xena. I can't."
"It doesn't matter Gabrielle."
"Xena… how… how can't it matter? Gods." The younger woman stood back up, her right hand went through her hair as she turned her back to Xena. She turned back around to face the warrior, her hand falling to her hip. "Xena… it's not right."
"Gabrielle, I don't think you can stop them."
Gabrielle's eyes closed then opened again. "I can, I will Xena." She took a step closer to her partner. "It isn't right Xena. They have no damn reason to be talking behind your back nor mine. We both know all the stuff they say is just bullshit. Pure bullshit."
"I wouldn't say that Gabrielle." It came low in anger from the warrior's lips.
"Well I would Xena." She crossed her arms against her chest. "They were not there Xena. They do not know what happened."
"They didn't have to be Gabrielle."
"Yes they did Xena. They can't talk about something they don't know." A pause. "Don't understand."
Xena looked down to the floor, she didn't know what to say.
"Xena?" The small warrior got no response. She took another step closer and went down on one knee to be eye level with her Soulmate. "Xena?"
The warrior looked up.
Gabrielle smiled a little. "They don't know us or understand us, they have no right. Not only that, it affects you, affects me, and affects us… it can even affect my role as Queen. I will not have my Amazons talking about stuff like this. I don't care who or what it was about. This is disrespectful. The Amazons weren't created to do this sort of centaur crap."
The warrior kept her eyes locked with Gabrielle's, her mind working the reasoning out. She sighed. "Just don't be doing it for me Gabrielle."
The Amazon Queen smiled some. "I'm not, not for you or me. For us, Xena. I owe it to us after everything."
"No, you don't owe anything Gabrielle."
Gabrielle's eyes fell to the ground then she looked back up. "Xena… I have always felt like I do, thought it. I need… I need to do this to help myself heal." She paused. "I'm going to protect us Xena. This can't happen again."
Xena sadly smiled to her Soulmate. "I know Gabrielle." She leaned forward and placed a gently kiss to Gabrielle's lips. At the end of the kiss, she only pulled back a little. "I'm okay with it."
"Thank you Xena. I… I… I just can't let this go on. It's to important."
The warrior nodded her head. "I know." She took in a shaky breath. Deciding this is the best point to stop the talk, she smiled some. "You going to get those messages signed?"
The small warrior chuckled. "Yeah I better huh? Eph will be on my butt." She then grinned. "What you going to do? I don't think you wanna come."
"I'm going to work on my sword techniques. Could use some practice."
Gabrielle nodded. "Okay, sparring fields?"
"No, I'll go out into the woods. More peaceful."
"Wow, you don't want a bunch of drooling Amazons over you?" Gabrielle then began to grin devilishly. Xena arched an eyebrow. The small warrior started to chuckled. "I was kidding Xen."
The older woman smiled. "Uh huh. Maybe I'll go to the sparring fields then."
"Oh no you won't. You're mine, nobody is allowed to have you, let alone drool."
The warrior grinned. "That's what I figured."
Gabrielle nodded. She then stood up from Xena, as she shifted her left arm from her partner's leg she found a stiffness in her shoulder. "Hades."
"What's wrong?" Xena then began to stand up from the bed.
The Queen reached to her left shoulder with her right hand, she began to massage her shoulder a little.
"Here let me do that." The taller female went behind Gabrielle and brought up her hands to massage her Soulmate's shoulder. "Sore?"
Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah."
"That wound is almost gone thankfully." She stopped the massage for a moment. "Come here and sit down." Xena shifted first to the bed and sat down, her legs spread apart.
Gabrielle then moved and sat down between her partner's legs. Her back sunk into Xena's warm body. Their legs became tangled together.
The warrior reached forward with both of her hands to Gabrielle's left shoulder. She started her massage again. "How's that feel?"
"Hmmm, real good." She then dropped her head back to rest against the older woman's right shoulder. Her eyes closed. "Make sure I don't go to sleep."
Xena grinned to herself. "Uh huh."
"No really, this isn't the right time."
The warrior smiled. "Don't worry, just relax for me."
Gabrielle nodded her head. Her body did begin to relax. She felt good from this, a sigh escaped from her.
Xena smiled to herself. Her hands worked out the knots in Gabrielle's shoulder.
"Xena?"
"Mmm?"
"You know, I could just run away from here with you right about now."
A very warm smile took over the warrior's lips. "Same here."
Gabrielle also had a smile, her eyes still closed. "I just want to spend the rest of my life with you alone, nothing else."
"That would get a little boring."
The Amazon Queen began to chuckle. "I don't know Xena, everyday is an adventure."
"Really? I saw it more as, everyday with you is an adventure."
"Oh no. You… attract all the trouble Xena."
The warrior grinned at that. She finished the massage then wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's waist. "Think so huh? As I recall, I was always the one getting you out of messes."
"That's because I didn't know any better." The small warrior then snickered at her own words. "Xena, you have to realize that I never ever got into any trouble when I was younger. Then I ended up traveling with you and all I got was trouble."
Xena began to chuckle. "If I remember right, you were the one telling me a while back ago how much mayhem you caused for your family. Not to mention the fact you decided to travel with me on your own free will after stalking me."
Gabrielle started to laugh. Her eyes opened now. "I didn't stalk you, I… nicely followed you."
"Uh huh, leave Poteidaia stalk me to Amphipolis into my mother's tavern. Tell you to leave then you stalk me to my brother's tomb. I fight Draco then you stalk after me in the woods in the middle of the night."
"I did not." Gabrielle grinned. "Okay okay, I'll admit I did sort of stalk after you in the woods at night. But I was cold with no food. What did you expect?"
Xena chuckled. "Oh I was waiting to see how long you'd stay out there too."
"Uh huh, see? How could it be stalking when you knew I was there?"
The warrior chuckled. "You might have a point."
"I know I do." Gabrielle then sighed. She then mumbled low under her breath. "You still bring all the trouble."
"No I don't. You do."
"You do Xena." Gabrielle then moved to now sit in Xena's lap and face her.
The warrior grinned. "Gabrielle you do."
"Xena-" She was quickly cut off as her Soulmate's lips captured hers.
The kissed ended and the warrior grinned. "We could be at this all day."
Gabrielle grinned devilishly now. "Which part, the trouble or the kissing?"
"Mmm, both." Xena then leaned back in to kiss her partner.
Gabrielle had her hands on the other woman's sides. While the warrior had one hand behind Gabrielle's head, the other on her thigh.
The small warrior was the first to pull back, her forehead leaning against the older female's. "Xena, I think I came up with a compromise."
Xena grinned. "And?"
"And well, we both draw the trouble in, together."
"Perfect compromise."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Thought so myself." She brought her lips forward to lightly kiss Xena. After pulling away, Gabrielle got up from her Soulmate's lap. She walked over to the table.
The warrior stood up and came up near her. "Mmm, you need a bag for those." Xena then went to the saddlebags, she opened up one bag and pulled out a rolled up leather satchel, bit old. She came back over and opened it.
Gabrielle lifted two scrolls at a time, she then placed them inside and then took the satchel. She brought the strap of the satchel over her right shoulder. "So I'll catch you in the woods."
Xena grinned. "Yup, I'll be there practicing."
The Amazon Queen smiled. "Okay, great. See you then." She leaned up while Xena leaned down. Their lips met halfway. The kiss only lasted a few seconds or so. They then walked over to the door, opening it and heading out.
Gabrielle went one way while the warrior went the other. Looking back with a smile, the small warrior called to Xena. "Bye Xena!"
Xena looked to her Soulmate and smiled. "Bye Gabrielle." She then looked back to the direction of the woods, making a beeline to them.
Gabrielle took a deep breath. She lifted the scroll and began to read the list. She kept nodding as she read the list of Amazons going to each tribe to deliver the messages. After finishing with reading it, she looked up to Ephiny. "It looks good."
Ephiny nodded, she crossed her arms against her chest and leaned back in the chair. "Well, I pretty much matched up every Amazon with their original village as best as possible." She then looked to the satchel Gabrielle had all nine scrolls in. "So they're all signed?" The Amazon looked back up to her Queen.
"Yes they are, sign just need to be sealed and sent."
The regent smiled. "Great, I'll take care of that."
"Sending them out this afternoon?"
The Amazon looked up from the scrolls again to her friend. "Yes, Solari was just here and I told her to have all the messengers sent here to my hut. We're going to have a quick meeting about what's going on. Then I'm going to send everybody off."
The small warrior nodded. "Okay, that's great." She sighed. "I think tomorrow we should work out the plans for the challenges."
Ephiny nodded. "I agree, we should have Solari here too. We need to get organized where we're going to keep all the Amazons."
"Right. We'll do that." Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "Okay, I think I'm going to go find Xena. It'll be dinner soon."
Ephiny studied her friend's eyes, she could see a bit of uneasiness in them. She reached up with her right hand to Gabrielle's arms. "Hey, don't worry about tonight. The Amazons will support you in the idea. Promise."
The Amazon Queen smiled a little. "I know, they're my Amazons."
"Exactly, nothing to worry about." The regent released Gabrielle's arm.
"Thanks Eph."
"No problem." The Amazon smiled.
Gabrielle then padded to the door. "I'll see you at dinner Eph."
"See you then AQ."
The small warrior groaned, she opened the door. "Bye AR." She stepped through the door and left.
"AR…" Ephiny stared at the floor, she then chuckled. "Amazon Regent, huh." She grinned and turned to her desk again.
Gabrielle dropped her head forehead some as she ducked under a low tree branch. She looked to her left, that's where she knew her Soulmate went. She could feel it. Following her connection with her partner, it led her right to the warrior.
The small warrior walked a little ways as Xena came into view. The warrior practicing in an open area. Gabrielle came up to a tree, she smiled and leaned against it. She watched her Soulmate practice with her sword techniques.
Xena thrusts foreword with her sword. She then brings it back over her head, the blade pointing down behind her back. Spinning around, the warrior does a number of sword slashes and thrusts. Flipping the sword in her hand, the blade came to run the length of her arm. She then practiced her sword work with the blade under her arm.
The Warrior Princess twists her wrist to make the sword spin in a circle. She then bends down to one knee and thrusts foreword. Staying in that position, she takes a deep breath to calm her body. Slowly she rises back up and sheaths her sword. Looking to her right, she finally takes in a full view of her Soulmate. She walked over to Gabrielle.
"Hey." The small warrior then straightens up from the tree. She smiles to the warrior heading to her.
Xena came up to her partner with a smile as well. "Hey yourself."
"How was the work out?"
The warrior grinned. "A partner would have been nicer."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Sorry, your partner was off getting Amazon business done."
"You did get it done?"
The younger female nodded. "Yeah pretty much. Eph has the scrolls and she's waiting for the selected messengers to come to her hut. She's going to tell them what's going on then send them off tonight."
Xena nodded. "Good plan." A pause. "How you feeling?"
Gabrielle sighed. "Alright. I feel a little tired when I have no reason to be."
"I feel the same way, don't worry."
The small warrior chuckled. "We'll be tired together huh?"
Xena grinned. "Of course, wouldn't have it any other way."
Gabrielle smiled, she looked to her right some. There she saw the sun's rays streaming through the woods, the last rays of sun at that. "It's going to be dark soon." She sighed and brought her arms up against her chest.
"You're sure you're feeling okay Gabrielle?"
The small warrior looked back to Xena. She stared into Xena's eyes for a moment then looked down, she took a deep breath. Looking back up, she retorted back. "Just… just a bit nervous about tonight."
Xena nodded her head a few times. "You'll be fine. The Amazons will understand." She then smiled a little. "I'll be there huh?"
Gabrielle nodded with a warm smile. "Yeah, that's all I need." She then stepped forward as she uncrossed her arms. Her arms then went around Xena, the side of her face resting against the other woman's chest.
Xena tightly wrapped her arms around Gabrielle while her chin rested on top of Gabrielle's head.
Slowly the sun descended, leaving only a little bit of light. Gabrielle then quickly realized they needed to go. "Xena we better move it."
The warrior chuckled. "Right." It was fairly dark out by now. Xena released her partner.
Gabrielle turned around to face the way she had came. "Xena?"
"Yeah?"
"You wanna lead the way?"
Xena chuckled. "Yeah, come here." Reaching out she grasped Gabrielle's right hand. Xena stepped ahead and began to walk through the dark woods. Walking along in the leaf masked dark woods wasn't the simplest of things. The warrior felt herself walk over a large fallen branch. "Gabrielle watch out-" She stopped talking as she heard her partner just find that branch.
"Hades." The small warrior stumbled forward only to release her Soulmate's hand. Her small hands grasped Xena's waist. They'd both stopped walking. "This is insane. Serves me right."
The older woman grinned. "We'll take care of this little problem right now." Turning around, Xena reached to Gabrielle's waist and began to lift her up into her arms.
"Xena, I can walk you know."
"I know." She turned back around. "But you also might trip again." The warrior began to walk slowly through the woods again. She knew that she could move a lot fast through the darkness with or without Gabrielle in her arms. But for once, going slowly while having your Soulmate in your arms was much more appealing.
"Xena, the Amazons?"
"What about them?" She stepped through a mine field of rocks.
"They'll see us."
"We'll be fine." Xena then stopped in her tracks. "I know I'm going a different route."
Gabrielle looked ahead, she spotted a low light ahead. "Well we're close that's for sure."
"I know, but there's a fallen tree in front of us."
Gabrielle widen her eyes. "Really, I don't see it."
"Trust me there is. See it right there." She pointed with her right hand.
"Not at all."
"Don't look directly at the spot Gabrielle. Look out of the corner of your eyes, you'll see it then."
The small warrior turned her head to the right some, she looked from the corner. "Oh gods, that's a huge tree. We're going a totally different way."
Xena grinned. "I know, it'll be fun. Hold on." She began to sprint ahead, her arms tightening around Gabrielle.
"Xena, no no. Xena don't jump that." But she was to late. The warrior pushed off the ground and went soaring through the air. Gabrielle closed her eyes as she knew the flip part was coming. And it did, she felt herself go upside down then Xena's body tucking against hers. "I still hate heights!" Then Xena untucked, spread her legs. Gabrielle felt them land to the ground with a hard pound. The small warrior was breathing hard.
"That wasn't so bad." Xena started walking again towards the village.
"Remind me not to do it again with you."
The warrior chuckled. "Was it really that bad?"
Gabrielle grinned in the darkness. "You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
"Well…" The small warrior huffed. "I kind of liked it."
"That's what I figured."
The pair came to the edge of the woods. Xena carefully lowered her Soulmate to the ground again. They then headed straight to the dinner hut.
~*Part 10*~
Slowly the Queen of the Amazons rose up from her seat. She stepped over the bench seat, turned to her right some, and began to walk ahead. In front of her was a small stage with nothing on it. Just to merely rise somebody above the crowd and be seen by all. Gabrielle went up onto this stage and faced her Amazon Nation with a serious expression. Her Amazons went silent at seeing her come up onto this stage.
Looking down to the table she'd just left she spotted her Soulmate, opposite of the vacated seat she was in. Next to Xena was her regent. Ephiny looked up with a smile and nodded. Gabrielle then looked to her Soulmate. Xena was already looking up, her eyes twinkled up in confidence as a warm protective smile creased her lips.
Gabrielle couldn't stop herself from smiling back. She then looked back up as her face went serious again. Her eyes scanned her Amazons to see them all waiting for what she had to say. Some knew, some didn't, some weren't sure about what she'd be talking about. Gabrielle took a deep breath, then just let it all roll from her old bard side. "I am not sure of how many of you know of this Nation issuing challenges to all the other Nations. But I can tell you it has been done."
She paused after that, all the Amazons started talking lowly to each other. Gabrielle took another deep breath. "Just yesterday," she waited for the silence from the Amazons, it came. "Ephiny, the council, and myself all had a meeting together. We've decided to issue these challenges for a couple of reasons. As most of you know some of the Amazon Nations are fighting amongst themselves. This needs to be stopped before things get worse. That is one reason. The main reason is because it is about time these Nations come back together as one."
Again she stopped, her Amazons began to talk to each other. Gabrielle let it go for a second as she took a few deep breaths. "As of right now there are nineteen Amazons that have been sent out with challenge messages." Her Amazons are silent again, listening intently. "We will be expecting a huge number of Amazons here. The challenges will go on for several days between all the Queens. Which ever Queen comes out winning overall will become the Queen of all the Amazons. The Nations then will form together as one again."
The Queen crossed her arms against her chest, her face still serious. "I'm sure many of you are wondering why the council, Ephiny, and I decided to have all the Nations join. I know for me it is a dream, I do not expect it to be each and every Amazon's dream. But let me tell you why I had this dream. It is because over a century and half-ago all the Nations were one, there were no Nations. Just a Nation. Then the Nation split into smaller Nations. As time passes on each Nation slowly disappears into the background then finally fades out. Masika herself can tell you how when she was younger there were thirteen Nations, three are gone. Now there are ten of us, that is nothing. It is only nothing because we are separated, it will be something if we join."
Gabrielle paused for effect. "Together we will live through time. The Amazons will survive as one. That is why I had my dream. I only pray it comes true and that the new Queen will be able to up hold this. Only destiny will tell us. Now I leave it to each and every one of my Amazons here to decide if this is a dream we are chasing blindly in the dark or if we should stand together and embrace it. You decided."
The Amazon Queen stopped and let everybody converse. Her mind worked on what to say about her and Xena. She had to say this right or she'd screw everything up. Her eyes drifted down, she thought, she took a deep breath, she looked back up. "Now that I've made that speech," her Amazons went silent and listened again. "I have more of request on a… personal level from each of you." She took a deep breath. "I know what's been talked about since I've first arrived here a few days ago. I know that each of my Amazons that sit here before me tonight knows what might of happened between myself and Xena."
Gabrielle stopped, there was dead silence. "I myself have yet to fully understand why these things are being talked about behind my back along with Xena's. My only guess is because it's the Queen and something bad happened to her, something to talk about. But that's only a guess. I do not only know that all of my Amazons are talking about Xena and I but I know you all dislike… hate… shun Xena."
She uncrossed her arms and began to pace back and forth on the stage, she stopped and looked to her Amazons. "I quite don't understand that part either. Many of you know that rumors can be quite false and or blown out of proportion. But that's all in a general level, let me talk to you from my own personal level about these rumors." The Amazon Queen took a deep breath, she felt a bit of a lump in her throat. "For me these rumors are nothing but disrespectful and…. well painful. I stand here wondering why there are rumors when none of you were there to know what really happened between Xena and I. I wonder why, I get very tensed. I see all my Amazons shun Xena, I get stressed. I don't like seeing something like that. Very few of you know Xena for who she truly is. There are five Amazons here that know Xena, they talk to her because they know her. They know that most of those rumors are false."
Gabrielle brought her right hand up to run through her hair. Her eyes started to sting. "I can tell you these rumors affect me, they affect Xena, and they affect my Nation. I came to this Nation to be at a home with people I feel like family with. I don't feel at home here now because I know my best friend and I are being talked about behind our backs. Not only does it affect Xena, this Nation, and myself but also it affects the relationship between Xena and I, it affects us."
The Queen crossed her arms against her chest, a few tears trickled down her cheeks. "I am asking all of my Amazons to stop these rumors. I am asking my Amazons to let the past be the past, it is over with. I am asking my Amazons to give Xena another chance. To let her and I be accepted here together." She stopped for a moment and brought her right hand to rest over her chest. She still cried, but she just managed to keep her voice from shaking. "For Xena is apart of who I am. If you do not accept her then you are not accepting me, your Queen. I have been the enemy these past two years, Xena hasn't. I am asking my Amazons."
The hut is dead silent.
Xena had seen her Soulmate crying. She couldn't take it any longer. She moved from her seat and in a flash was up on the stage. Everybody was still silent. Xena didn't care what these Amazons thought now. It is always going to be about her Soulmate, forever.
She came up to Gabrielle and pulled her into her arms. Gabrielle buried her head down into Xena's chest as she wrapped her arms around the taller woman's body. Xena had her arms tight against her Soulmate's body, she placed a gentle kiss to Gabrielle's forehead.
That's when it started, a single clap, then another, a third, a fourth, yet a fifth, the entire hut filled with the Amazons clapping. All of them began to stand up from their seats.
Xena saw this and smiled to herself. "Gabrielle, look."
Slowly the small warrior lifted her head from Xena's body and looked with red eyes through the hut. She saw all of her Amazons standing and clapping with warm smiles. She then watched as Amazons began to go down on one knee and bow their heads. Soon the hut was filled with all the Amazons bowing their heads on one knee.
Gabrielle smiled and looked up to her partner. Xena looked down to the Queen with a smile as well. They both then looked back. The Soulmates had an arm wrapped around the other's waist.
The warrior looked down to Gabrielle again. "Come on."
The small warrior nodded. The pair walked down the stage and onto the hut floor again. They went back to their table as all the Amazons stood up again. Everybody carried on with their dinners for the remainder of the evening.
Gabrielle at first didn't talk much, trying to take in everything. Near the end she was laughing and smiling, she felt like more weight had left her shoulders. But as the Amazons began to leave the hut, they seemed to all take a detour to Gabrielle. All of them saying relatively the samething but yet it held such meaning. Those words were generally; we believe in your dream and welcome home. Once the Amazon would say that, she would leave Gabrielle's side, walk to Xena. Grasp the warrior's closes shoulder and squeeze. The warrior would look up every time to the Amazon and smile, the Amazon would flash a warm smile back and then leave the hut. Every single last Amazon in Gabrielle's Nation did this.
By the end of this only Ephiny, Solari, Epinion, Gabrielle, and Xena are left in the hut. Their spots were cleared and they were relaxing together, telling old jokes. Everybody just finished laughing at something Solari said.
Gabrielle sighed and took a deep breath. She looked across to her Soulmate. Xena smiled to her. The small warrior then mouthed something to the warrior.
Xena nodded and winked. She looked to Ephiny. "Eph, I think Gabrielle and I are going to run."
The regent grinned and looked to the warrior. "A little late at night to do some running."
The warrior arched an eyebrow.
Ephiny chuckled. "I was kidding Xena."
Solari and Epinion both looked down to Xena. That's when they finally noticed something. Then Solari looked to Gabrielle, the weapons master doing the samething. They watched as Gabrielle brought up her left hand onto the table. Two small items on the small warrior's hand sparkled and twinkled up to the two Amazons.
Solari's mouth hung open. "Well I'll be centaur crap. Ha."
Everybody looked to the second in command.
The second in command grinned and looked to her Queen. "You didn't tell us." She then looked to Xena. "Nor did you."
Both the Soulmates looked to each other in question then back to Solari.
Epinion then cut in with a grin on her lips. "Nice rings Gabrielle."
The small warrior's iv y eyes widen as she just realized she had her left hand on the table. "Oh Hades." She groaned and looked to Xena. "I knew it wouldn't last long."
Xena grinned. "Considering you like to flash those rings around, it wouldn't."
Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "Complaining?"
The warrior grinned. "Oh no, complete opposite." She then brought her right hand up to the table and reached towards Gabrielle.
The Amazon Queen smiled and reached forward. Their hands clasped halfway, they both then looked back to the three Amazons with a grin.
Solari then looked to the regent with a grin. "When do I get a ring?"
Ephiny began to blush very deeply. She coughed and looked to Solari. "Solari." It was certainly a warning.
The second in command grinned and chuckled.
The weapons master looked to the Soulmates. "When did this happen?"
Gabrielle took a deep breath. "This morning."
"Oh wow." Epinion nodded then smiled. "That's so great to see."
Both Soulmates smiled, Gabrielle though responded. "Thanks Ep." She then took a deep breath. "Really though, Xena and I are going to head out."
Ephiny looked to her Queen. "Make sure you come by my hut tomorrow." Gabrielle nodded, the regent then looked to Solari. "You too."
The second in command nodded. "Sure, what time?"
Ephiny reflected for a moment she looked to Gabrielle. "Noon?"
Gabrielle nodded her head. "Fine with me."
The regent looked to Solari. "Okay with you?"
The second in command nodded. "Yup, I don't think I have much choice otherwise."
Ephiny chuckled and looked back as the Soulmates stood up from the table after releasing each other's hands. "Goodnight you two."
Gabrielle looked to her regent. "Night Eph. Sleep well."
"Night Eph."
The regent nodded to the warrior in response. "Goodnight Xena."
Solari and Epinion both then talked about the sametime. "Night Xena and Gabrielle."
Both Soulmates smiled, Gabrielle answered back. "Night Ep and Solari." The pair then left the hut, heading out into the cool night. They soon came to find the night sky sparkling and twinkling with bright stars, the moon still hidden below the horizon. The weather perfectly serene.
Gabrielle looked up to her partner. "Let's go for a short walk. I wanna get some air."
Xena nodded her head.
They walked through the village passing by an Amazon here or there. They headed to the opposite end where there were few huts and the sparring fields lie. Once they were a good distance from the main part of the village, Gabrielle shifted closer to Xena. She wrapped her right arm around her Soulmate.
Xena smiled and wrapped her left arm back behind Gabrielle's shoulders. "You did a good job Gabrielle."
The small warrior grinned. "I knew you'd say that and love it."
The warrior smiled. "I'm getting to readable."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Nah, only I can read you."
A chuckle from the warrior. "Right." She paused as she went serious. "Gabrielle?" They both stopped walking as they came to the sparring fields. Xena looked down to her partner. " You're not the enemy."
The smaller woman looked down to the ground then back up. "I'm not sure about that part."
"I know." Xena took a deep breath. "But I'm telling you. Remember you said we can't seem to forgive ourselves inside?" Gabrielle nodded, the warrior smiled a little. "Well then entrust in me to tell the truth to help you forgive yourself. You are not nor weren't the enemy for those two years."
Gabrielle smiled warmly while sadness was in her eyes. "Thank you Xena." That's when she realized her Soulmate might think the samething about herself. "Entrust in me Xena, I'll only speak the truth to you as well. Believe in me and you'll heal yourself. You never are or were the enemy."
Xena smiled back, she bent her head down close to Gabrielle's head. "I do trust and believe with my soul. Thank you Gabrielle." She lowered her lips to brush against her Soulmate's, she then whispered. "I love you Gabrielle."
"I love you too Xen." She smiled then finished the distance kissing her partner lovingly. But the kiss went from just loving to deep. Breath taking as some would say.
Gabrielle soon found her hands going to Xena's waist and pulled her closer. The warrior's own hands shifted to Gabrielle's back.
The small warrior pulled back first with a smile. "Come on." Gabrielle released her Soulmate and started walking towards their hut.
Xena grinned with a chuckle and walked beside her partner. She kept her arms crossed against her chest to stay in control.
Gabrielle was the first into the hut, she turned around as soon as the warrior closed the door. She pressed her body against Xena's as she went in for a strong kiss.
Xena was pressing hard against the hut door, wondering if she'd break it. As soon as the kiss was over, Gabrielle's warm lips were traveling down her neck. "Gabrielle?" She leaned her head back against the door as she closed her eyes. "Wait, Gabrielle?"
The small warrior stopped and rested her head against Xena's chest, she was breathing hard. Her hands went to her Soulmate's hips.
Xena looked down with a serious face. "Are you ready for this Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle looked up with a grin. "Xena, you know the answer to that."
The warrior chuckled. "Right, just go, I know." She then went serious again. "Are you sure about this after everything?"
Gabrielle kept her eyes locked. "Are you Xena?"
Xena smiled. "Yes."
The smaller woman smiled. "I know, so am I. I need you."
"But Gabrielle…" The warrior stopped herself, not sure what to say.
"Xena?" The warrior looked to her, Gabrielle continued. "Just stop trying to find excuses." She grinned for an instant then went stern. "Xena, I'm… I'm ready to move on. I'm sick of looking at our past… of… of letting it judge our future. I can't do that anymore Xena. I'm ready to look at my past, learn from it, turn around and walk on. But I will not do that with out you, I couldn't. Please Xena lets move on together. I don't care how dark or light I just want to be with you. Please."
The older woman smiled so warmly. "We are. I don't' want to face my future without you, otherwise it wouldn't be my future. I need you Gabrielle." Xena then leaned down to capture her Soulmate's lips. Her large hands then moved up to the small warrior's shoulders. They pulled away from the kiss, now it was Xena's lips going to Gabrielle's neck. Xena's lips slowly descended down Gabrielle's chest as her large hands slowly pushed the leather straps off Gabrielle's shoulders.
Gabrielle dropped her head back some as a moan escaped her lips. She felt her partner's warm hands slide down her muscular arms. Then Xena's warm lips came back up to claim hers in a demanding kiss.
The warrior had quickly found out that her Soulmate's body had changed some in two years. Gabrielle's body more muscular yet was still soft, a perfect contrast the small woman's body. Gods how she'd miss the feeling of Gabrielle's body. And as she kissed Gabrielle she removed the straps. After the kiss, she slipped the top off her Soulmate's body from over her head. The maroon leather top landing to the wood table near them.
Gabrielle grinned and leaned back up to kiss Xena. Her bare chest pressed into Xena's leather clad body. She had a tight hold on the warrior's side and began to pull her Soulmate with her. They soon found themselves on the bed, Xena on top. The warrior grinned, her lips lowered down to Gabrielle's right breast.
~*Part 11*~
Xena looked around in the dark space of nothing, she couldn't see anything. She then slowly watched as stone walls reappeared around her. Then a stone alter in front of her, a pit behind it. Then lastly was a small blond leaning against the altar appeared, crying.
Xena's eyes widen. "Gabrielle?"
Slowly the blond turned around from the altar and looked to Xena. "Xena?"
Xena smiled sadly, she rushed over to Gabrielle's side. "Hey, yeah it's me." She bent down to one knee in front of Gabrielle. Xena noticing Gabrielle was in her old attire of green halter top, brown skirt, and red boots with her hair long
"Oh gods what happened?" Gabrielle looked up to Xena.
"I don't know Gabrielle."
Gabrielle looked around in the temple, she then looked back to Xena. "Why'd you leave me here Xena?"
"W-what?"
"Why did you leave me in Dahak's temple Xena? I can't understand, I thought you loved me."
"I do Gabrielle."
"Then why'd you leave me here?"
Gabrielle looked to her right then her left, she couldn't see anything, pitch black. She ran her hand through her short hair as she reflected. Her head quickly turned to the right as she heard a familiar voice, Xena's.
"I didn't mean to leave you here Gabrielle, I swear. Gods I-"
"No Xena! I don't want anymore excuses from you."
Gabrielle's eyes widen as she heard her own voice ring through the air. That's when it happened, she watched as a temple she knew all to well materializes before her. She spotted her Soulmate leaning down in front of herself. But it was her from two years ago, long hair and her old outfit. Gabrielle stood there stunned, she couldn't believe it.
Xena slowly up from bending down, she took a step back from Gabrielle. "I didn't mean to leave you here Gabrielle. I swear!"
Gabrielle rose up from the stone altar. "Do you think I believe you even for a second Xena? You left me here to be raped! I've never been the same since and it's all your fault!"
Gabrielle shook her head. She quickly rushed forward to touch her Soulmate, but her hand went through Xena's body. "Gods no. Xena! Xena!?" Gabrielle quickly found out her Soulmate couldn't hear her. She looked to her younger self and narrowed her eyes. Reaching out to the other Gabrielle, her hands also went right though the fake Gabrielle.
The young Gabrielle narrowed her eyes, she took a step through the older Gabrielle as if she wasn't there. She came up to Xena and continued with her persecution. "Xena, it's your fault everything happened. It all started here!"
Xena shook her head. "No… no Gabrielle."
"Yes, and you know it Xena!"
The older Gabrielle ran her right hand through her short hair frantically as she tried to think of what to do. "There's gotta be something." She began to think of her dream with the demon angel and how Xena reached her. Gabrielle's eyes widen as a small smile crossed her lips. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She began to whisper what she was thinking. "Come on Xena, I know you can hear me. Let me in."
Xena took steps back again from the young Gabrielle. "No Gabrielle please."
"Please what Xena!? You destroyed me! You created me and now you can't handle me? Oh come on Xena, you are my creator. Embrace your creation, confront me!"
The older Gabrielle tightened her eyes more, concentrating more. "Xena, I created myself." Gabrielle's words then repeated aloud in the temple and echoed.
Both the younger Gabrielle and Xena stopped. They looked around in the temple trying to find the owner of the voice. Xena looked around, she knew it was Gabrielle's voice, she quietly whispered. "Gabrielle?"
The older Gabrielle opened her eyes and looked to her Soulmate, she smiled. "She can hear me."
The younger Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and looked to Xena. "You created me Xena. You do realize that? It is your own fault your son died."
Xena looked to the younger Gabrielle, her eyes horrid filled.
The older Gabrielle closed her eyes again, she concentrated as she whispered her words. "Xena, it was my choice to kill Hope or not. I didn't, it was my fault Solan died." Her eyes watered as her words were repeated in an echo through the temple.
The younger Gabrielle growled and took a step closer to Xena. "Don't listen to that voice Xena. Because of you I had Hope."
The older Gabrielle shook her head. "Because I didn't stay by your side Xena, I had Hope. Because I trust Kraftstar instead of you I had Hope."
The younger Gabrielle now ignored Xena and looked around in the temple. "No! Xena destroyed me! Her son deserved to die!"
The older Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Because of Hope Solan died, because of my ignorance Solan died."
Xena looked up from the stone floor to the younger Gabrielle, her eyes narrowed. "You're not Gabrielle."
The younger Gabrielle whirled around to face Xena. "What?"
The older Gabrielle opened her eyes with a confident smile on her lips. "That's it Xena."
Xena took a step towards the younger Gabrielle. "I said you are not Gabrielle."
The younger Gabrielle laughed bitterly. "Then tell me dear Xena, who am I?"
Xena crossed her arms against her chest. "As Gabrielle once said, you are my guilty conscious."
"Either way Xena, you'll never be rid of me."
"Oh I think so. I created you, I can destroy you just as fast." Xena's eyes narrowed as she bent down close to the younger Gabrielle. "Even more so when my Soulmate is here."
The younger Gabrielle smirked. "You have no Soulmate."
The older Gabrielle grinned as she came to walk up beside the two women while talking. "Oh Xena definitely has a Soulmate." She crossed her arms against her chest.
Xena looked to her right to see Gabrielle, but with short hair with her maroon leathers.
The younger Gabrielle looked to her left to see herself but a little older. "No… no you're not here."
Gabrielle grinned as she looked to her younger mirror image. "Oh I am. Next time you decided to guilt my Soulmate, try using facts to back yourself up."
The younger Gabrielle shook her head stepping away, shaking her head. She began to dissolve. "No!" The younger Gabrielle screamed but it wasn't heard as she disappeared into nothing.
The older Gabrielle grinned and looked to her Soulmate. "Stupid guilty conscious huh?"
Xena looked from the spot where her image of her conscious had disappeared from, she looked to her Soulmate with horrid filled eyes.
Gabrielle saw that horror set in her Soulmate's deep blue eyes. She quickly moved forward to gather her Xena into her arms. "Hey I'm here Xena. It's real me."
Xena began to cry hard in Gabrielle's arms. "Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle tightened her arms more around her Soulmate. "Its me Xena."
Xena then only cried harder. The Soulmates' felt their legs weaken and they went to the ground. Gabrielle pulled her Xena into her arms even more, her head buried down into Xena's head. Xena had her arms tightly wrapped around Gabrielle, her face buried in between Gabrielle's breasts, crying.
"Its okay Xena, I'm here." Gabrielle was crying herself.
Xena looked up with red eyes. "Gods, I'm sorry Gabrielle. I did destroy you."
"No Xena, no." Gabrielle smiled sadly. "You didn't, I wouldn't be here now then if that were true." She paused. "Entrust in me Xena. I won't leave you ever again." Leaning down she placed a gentle kiss to Xena's forehead.
Xena then began to cry again, she closed her eyes and buried her face back down into her Soulmate's breasts. Gabrielle closed her eyes and lowered her head down into Xena's. She rocked both of their bodies in comfort.
The small warrior took a deep breath, her arms stayed tight around the older woman's body. She then took notice to the fact things felt different. Her body was running up and down the length of Xena's body, her legs tangled with her Soulmates. Not to mention she was nude along with Xena, bodies pressed against each other.
Slowly Gabrielle opened her eyes and noticed she was back in the hut. She looked down to find Xena's head buried under her chin. The warrior was crying slightly. The Amazon Queen lowered her head and placed a kiss to the older woman's head.
Xena lifted her head and noted to the fact she is in the hut and not Dahak's temple. She then realized the position of her body with Gabrielle's. "We didn't fall asleep like this."
The Amazon Queen nodded. "I know, I was sleeping on top of your body when we went to sleep."
The warrior furrowed her brows at that.
Gabrielle chuckled. "Just don't even ask Xen."
Xena chuckled. "I wouldn't even dare, we'll never find out." She then closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, her eyes opening again. "Thank you." She looked up to Gabrielle.
The small woman smiled warmly. "Anytime." They kept their eyes locked. Gabrielle then noticed something different in the warrior's eyes. Her sapphire eyes were rich and warm, no walls. No walls. Nothing but pure trust. Gabrielle smiled with such warmth that she must lean down to kiss Xena lightly on the lips.
The warrior smiled back as Gabrielle pulled back from the kiss. She knew what her Soulmate was smiling about. The small warrior had broken her last barrier that she had standing. The last barrier to her heart. No separating these two Soulmates of time.
"We better go back to sleep Xena." She began to shift.
"No." Gabrielle stopped moving and Xena grinned a little. "This is perfect." She then tucked her head under Gabrielle's chin and closed her eyes.
The Amazon Queen smiled, she tightened her arms again and closed her own eyes. She knew Xena still wanted comfort, something she demanded very rarely openly. But Gabrielle is always more then happy to give it. She placed her chin on top of Xena's head and closed her eyes. "Xena?"
"Mmm?"
"See you in our dreams soon."
The older woman smiled and Gabrielle felt it against her skin as she mirrored that same smile. They both went to sleep and would soon meet each other there.
The sunlight rose up and came beaming through the window, the light centering to the chests of the soulmates. Then ever so slowly the sunlight spread from their chests to up and down the length of their bodies, it warmed them.
Gabrielle felt warm lips touch her own, she kept her eyes closed while her body came to life. She felt those lips pull back and she opened her eyes final to look into sky electric eyes. She smiled. "Morning."
Xena grinned. "Good morning."
The Amazon Queen chuckled. "How'd you sleep?"
The warrior grinned. "Well." She then brought her hands to her Soulmate's sides. She then rolled onto her back bringing Gabrielle with her. The small warrior lay on top of Xena's body, the warrior kept her grin. "Mmm glad it's not to late in the morning."
The younger woman chuckled. "For what?" She then leaned down to kiss her partner.
One of the warrior's hands went to through Gabrielle's hair while the other was on her back. "Mmm how can I put it?"
Gabrielle chuckled in the middle of the kiss, which pretty much ended it. Her face falling into Xena's neck. "Let's not put it anyway and just-"
"Gabrielle."
The Amazon Queen started to laugh. She took a deep breath and looked up to Xena with a sparkle in her eyes. "I love you."
Xena smiled. "I love you too."
Gabrielle smiled then it formed into a grin. Her lips came down to kiss the warrior on her lower chest.
The older woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt Gabrielle's warm hands come down to her side and caress her. But the small warrior's lips came down to one of Xena's breasts.
It had been five days now that they've been in the Amazon village. How things went from one extreme to the other in a matter of five days. Funny how life works like that huh?
Xena took a deep breath, Gabrielle's head rising up because of it. The smaller woman had her head resting on top of the warrior's chest. Her body at a diagonal to Xena's.
"That would be interesting."
The small warrior sighed as she responded. "I think it would be interesting."
Xena grinned. "You really like that idea huh?"
Gabrielle chuckled. "Well, if we ever have to split up a couple of days for some reason. I guess we'll find out if we'll still have dreams together."
"Mmm." Xena took another deep breath. "For once, I don't want to find out."
The small warrior smiled. "I agree, but it's still interesting."
Xena had her right hand across her own bare chest, her fingers running through Gabrielle's hair. While her left arm was snaked down Gabrielle's side, her hand locked with Gabrielle's left hand. Both their hands resting on the small female's stomach. Then the Queen had her right hand resting on Xena's stomach. The covers just stopped after Xena's breast, under Gabrielle's chin, their bodies completely under the covers.
"Xen?"
"Mmm?"
"I really don't want to move."
The warrior grinned. "I know what you mean."
Gabrielle's right hand then began to caress the older woman's stomach lightly. "Do you think we should go visit Cyrene? I know the last time she saw us was a while ago."
Xena sighed as she thought. "Yeah, you're right."
"She was really worried about us too."
The warrior nodded a little. "I know she was and I didn't know what to tell her."
"Neither did I." She squeezed her Soulmate's hand for a moment, then Gabrielle lightened her hold again.
"Gabrielle?"
"Yeah?"
"We better get moving."
"Yeah you're right." She said it, she'd thought about it, but she wasn't doing it. Neither Soulmates were moving. Gabrielle then started to laugh after a minute. "Okay, I thought we both just agreed to get up."
"We did, not on the when part."
The younger female chuckled. "Right. This is just to comfortable."
"Mmm, perfect."
The small warrior then groaned. She released Xena and rolled to her right onto Xena's body. She buried her head into the warrior's neck. "Xena, remind me to never be the Queen of Amazons again in my next life."
Xena chuckled. "I'll try to remember. As long as you remind me not to be a warrior."
Gabrielle lifted her head with an eyebrow up as well. "Why? I like you as a warrior."
The older woman grinned. "To much physical work."
The Amazon Queen grinned. "Good for you, keep you in shape."
"Very funny Gabrielle."
"Wasn't trying to be." Gabrielle kept her grin. "I love having my warrior."
Xena chuckled. "So I'm noticing."
The small woman dropped her head back down. She took a deep breath. "You know what I just realized?"
"What's that?"
The Amazon Queen lifted her head again, crossed her arms on top of Xena's chest and rested her chin on her arms. "You can't call me your bard anymore."
"I know, been working on that."
Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "Really? What?"
Xena bit her lower lip with a grin.
"Xena?" Warning tone.
The warrior started chuckle. "Well I was thinking along the lines of… my little warrior."
"Xena!" Gabrielle uncrossed her arms quickly and reached to her right to a pillow. She then slammed it down at the warrior's face. "That isn't funny!"
Xena was laughing through the pillow. She grabbed at it and pulled it off her face to her left side. "You don't like it?"
"No!" Gabrielle's face wrinkled up as she thought of the words again. "Oh gods, I would die."
The warrior still had her grin. "I was kidding." She then smiled.
Gabrielle sighed. "Good." She leaned down to start kissing Xena.
Xena though started to laugh in the middle of the kiss.
"Xena, don't." The small warrior backed away from the kiss with a stern expression but a small smirk was on her lips.
Xena grinned. "Don't worry, I won't." She then brought her right hand up to the back of Gabrielle's head. She brought the small woman's head down to claim her lips.
After the pair's kiss they did finally get up. They had quickly dressed and knew it would be midday soon. So once they were dressed, they made their way out of the hut and directly to Ephiny's.
Epinion stopped for a moment in her path, she looked to her left at Ephiny's hut. She smiled to herself. Looking up, she took note to the fact that it is yet another clear day, no clouds. In turn it made things cold. That thought of cold made the weapons master tug her cloak closer against her body. Her eyes then drifted back to the hut, she sighed.
Then she heard somebody coming up to her right. She looked to her right to see the head Amazon Chef coming her way, she smiled. "Hey Logos."
The chef is carrying a tray of food. "How are you Epinion?"
"Not to bad. How about yourself?"
Logos smiled, she shifted the tray in her right hand. "Fine thanks. Just delivering some food to Gabrielle and the others."
Epinion chuckled. "Yeah I heard they've been in there since midday."
The chef Amazon nodded. "They have, Solari came out asking if something could be sent over to eat."
The weapons master grinned. "Well the Queen does have an appetite."
Logos chuckled. "So I've heard." She then looked away then back to the other Amazon. "Nice weather huh?"
Epinion nodded. "It is, wish it was like this all the time."
The chef nodded. "Yeah, it'll be winter soon."
"Yup, I hope we get these competitions done in time."
"I'd think they would."
The weapons master smiled. "Hopefully, find out." She paused. "I better go. I'll talk to you later Logos."
The small chef smiled. "Yeah I need to deliver this stuff. Bye Epinion."
"Bye." Epinion then started walking off.
Logos then continued on her trek to the regent's hut. She slowly opened the door to Ephiny's hut. What she found was her Queen shaking her head, sighing and sitting back in her seat with a grumble. Beside Gabrielle Logos noticed was the Warrior Princess. Across from those two are the second in command and Ephiny.
Ephiny looked up as Logos came in. "Hey Logos, thanks for bringing some stuff."
The chef smiled. "No problem. Where would you like the tray?"
The regent looked to her second in command. "Can you move the small table over here?"
Solari nodded. "Sure thing." She got up and went to the table near the head of Ephiny's bed. She lifted it and carried it to stand off to the side of the group.
Logos them carried over the tray and placed it down on the small table. She then looked at the group. "Is there anything else you four need?"
Everybody shook their head. Gabrielle then looked up with a smile. "Thanks Logos."
The chef Amazon nodded with a smile. "Welcome." She then turned to head to the door. "Bye." Everybody said goodbye and Logos went out the door, closing it quietly behind.
Xena reached up to the tray, she pulled out two red apples that were resting in a wood bowl. She handed one to Gabrielle.
The small warrior smiled to Xena in thank you, she then looked back to Ephiny seriously. "We can't do that Ephiny." She leaned forward in her seat.
The regent sighed. "Gabrielle, we can't have all these Amazons just sitting outside our doors and not invite them in."
Gabrielle began to toss the apple back and forth in her hands. She looked up from it as she kept tossing it between her hands. "Ephiny we can not put all these Amazons in this villages. Its crazy, there's no way."
The Amazon regent sighed. "Then what are we gonna do? We can't leave them outside the gates."
The Queen sighed. "We are going to have to."
Xena quickly cut in as her right hand came down to rest on her leg with the half eaten apple. "The Queens should be in the village."
Gabrielle looked to her soulmate as she looked to the apple in her left hand. "You're right." She looked to Ephiny. "We have enough huts here for nine other Amazons?"
Ephiny nodded. "Of course."
"Then we'll just have the Queens with their consorts, if they have any, in the huts. Then keep their other Amazons outside of the village. That's the best we can do Eph."
The regent nodded her head. "Okay, I can work with that."
Solari then decided to express her opinion. "We're going to need room in the woods to do that. Maybe we should cut some trees down."
The Amazon Queen nodded her head. "I agree, get some people on that Solari." She grinned. "Fire wood for the winter."
The second in command nodded. "In front of the gates?"
Gabrielle looked to Ephiny. "Gates?"
The regent nodded. She then looked to Solari. "That would be the best spot."
The small warrior sighed and rested back in her seat, she still held that apple in her right hand. She looked down to it as she spoke. "What's next on the list?" She looked back up.
Ephiny looked up as she thought. "Last thing is going over the challenges." She then looked to her Queen.
Gabrielle nodded, she reflected it. As she did, Solari got up to move to the tray and she picked up a pear, she began to munch on that. The small warrior then looked back up. "I would like to keep the two rules I expressed to the council."
"I agree." Ephiny then crossed her arms against her chest.
Solari swallowed some of her pear and then spoke. "What about the consorts and champions?"
The Amazon Queen sighed, she looked up to Xena as the red apple rolled out of her left hand into her right.
Xena looked down to her Soulmate with a serious expression. Understanding passed between them. So Gabrielle looked back to her Amazon friends. "Only Queens fight, no consorts or champions."
Neither Ephiny or Solari said anything or moved for a moment. The two Amazons could not believe their Queen's words.
Then slowly the regent nodded. "Alright." She took a deep breath.
Gabrielle straightened back up in her seat. "Once all the tribes arrive, I'll have a meeting with the Queens and their head council members. Go over everything."
"Okay, Solari and I will have to try and keep them calm. Hopefully none of the Queens will get in arguments between each other."
"Do we know which tribes are unfriendly with each other?"
The regent sighed, she then answered Gabrielle's question. "I'm not sure. I believe the three southern tribes are arguing over land. The west tribe and northwest tribe had problems with the Amazons they traded. Supposedly one Amazon went to the west tribe from the northwest and caused some problems. The west Nation then blamed it on the northwest tribe for it. Only been getting worse."
Xena had finished her apple a few back, the remains were now laying on the table to her left near the tray. "Exactly who are the southern Queens?" The warrior then looked to Ephiny.
The regent looked to Xena. "Aureus is the Queen of the most southern tribe. The southeast is-"
"Mairead?"
Ephiny nodded to Xena. "Mairead is the southeast and…. Zahra is of the southwest Nation."
Gabrielle looked up from the apple in her right hand. "Who are the Queens of the west Nation and northwest Nation?"
"West is Caitriona and the northwest Nation is Queen Parvulus."
Gabrielle nodded. "Good thing to know." She looked up to Xena.
The Warrior Princess faintly nodded to Gabrielle and she looked to Ephiny. "Are any of them known for being… rough?"
Ephiny grinned. "Mairead is a tough Amazon as is Caitriona. Along as you're on their good side, they're okay with you."
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow. "And how do you get in good with them?" Xena then crossed her arms against her chest.
"You fight them and win."
The small warrior sighed at Ephiny's answer. She then mumbled under her breath. "Warrior thing."
Xena looked to her right at her Soulmate. "I heard that."
Gabrielle looked up and grinned. "I was just kidding."
"Uh huh."
The Queen went serious again as she looked back to her two Amazons. "Is that everything?"
Ephiny nodded her head. "That covers it… for the most part. I'm sure we'll run into problems later."
"Great." Gabrielle then chuckled. "Okay, well lets get this village ready. Get the sparring fields fancied up for these challenges."
Solari looked away from the pear core in her right hand to the small warrior. "Gabrielle, we might need to expand the size of the sparring fields."
"Then do that the best way you can."
The second in command nodded. "Alright."
The Queen then stood up, her right hand still held that red apple. Xena rose up from her seat as Gabrielle talked. "We'll catch up with you both later tonight."
The regent nodded while she looked up. "Sounds good. It's possible that two or three Queens might arrive tomorrow."
"Okay, let me know. We need to get these challenges done and fast before winter sets in."
"Definitely, we should have enough time Gabrielle."
The small warrior then grinned. "The Amazons might, but I don't." She chuckled a little.
Both Amazons looked to each other and arched eyebrows. Ephiny then looked back with a semi stunned expression. "Right."
Gabrielle smiled innocently and moved pass the table and began to walk over to the door, Xena right behind. "See you Eph and Solari."
"Bye AQ." Both Amazons said it at the same time.
The Queen sighed and opened the door.
Xena looked back to her friends with a smile. "Bye."
"Bye Xena." Ephiny then grinned. "Stay out of trouble."
The warrior grinned. "Of course."
Solari chuckled. "Bye Xena."
"See you Solari." The Warrior Princess then stepped through the door and closed it behind. As soon as she came up to Gabrielle's side, she looked to her. "Not in the mood for an apple?"
Gabrielle lifted her right hand with the apple, she tossed it up and then caught it. "Not in the mood for eating." She looked up to her Soulmate.
"Why?"
The small warrior shrugged. "Not hungry."
Xena sighed. "Gabrielle, you haven't eaten all day."
"Yeah I know." She looked back down at the apple. "I'll get something at dinner."
Xena's eyes narrowed faintly, narrow in suspicion. She knew something was going on but wasn't sure of what just yet. But she still responded in a half worried, half frustrated tone. "Alright."
The smaller woman looked up into Xena's eyes, she saw that frustration. So she reached up with her left hand to Xena's arm. "Hey, it's nothing to worry about Xena." A pause. "I'm just not as hungry as I use to be."
The older woman nodded. "Okay but I'm still worried."
"I know." She grinned a little as she released the warrior's arm. "Thanks." She then tossed the apple up to the warrior whom caught it.
Xena nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem." Gabrielle started walking, Xena walking beside her. "I'm ready to crawl back into bed."
The warrior grinned. "My Queen, you have yet to fulfill your duties today."
The smaller woman looked up to Xena with a half glare. "Funny." She grinned as she looked back ahead. They were headed to the gates of the village. "You know, sometimes this whole Queen thing gets to me."
The warrior nodded. "That's how I felt every once in a while with being a warlord." Xena then looked to her Soulmate. "Granted a warlord is a bad analogy."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Nah, I could see that. Being in charge of a bunch of filthy warriors. Had to be nasty job."
"You get use to the scent after awhile Gabrielle."
The small warrior looked up to partner with a raised eyebrow. "No thanks Xena. I don't know how you did it." She looked back ahead, she saw the gates of the village ahead.
"I don't know either."
Now the pair came to the gates. The walked past them and to the edge of the woods.
Gabrielle placed her hands on her hips as she looked around. "How large of a space you think?"
The warrior crossed her arms against her chest. "Well let's do some calculations. Nine Nations."
"Twelve council members per Nation. So that's… hundred eight Amazons there."
Xena nodded. "Plus how many warriors each Queen brings."
"Could be between thirty to sixty."
"So we make it fifty Amazon warriors each nation."
Gabrielle closed her eyes as she did the math. "Four hundred fifty Amazons plus the hundred eight it comes to about… five hundred fifty-eight Amazons total." She opened her eyes and looked up to Xena.
The warrior grinned. "Good math, I got the same."
The Amazon Queen turned her head left and right scanning the woods trying to imagine five hundred and fifty-eight Amazons taking the space up. "Hades Xena, that's a lot."
"It is."
"We're going to need a huge sparring field for this. The two we have now won't cut it."
Xena nodded. "Have three or four sparring fields."
"Think so?"
The warrior nodded. "Yeah, two here then two in the village." She looked to Gabrielle.
"It'll make things go faster." Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "Think we can get these trees cut down in time?"
"Yeah." A pause. "If you get enough Amazons on it."
The Amazon Queen nodded. She uncrossed her arms and pointed to her right. "Starting there to here?" She pointed far to her left."
"Mmm, add a little more to the right side. That should cover the space." Xena then uncrossed her right arm and pointed to a tree to her far right. "Start from there of one sparring field." She then brought her arm to the left some to another tree, a good distance from the first. "End sparring field there and start the camp." Moving her right hand to the far left she pointed to an olive tree. "End the camp there and start the other sparring field."
Gabrielle then pointed to a tree a good length from the olive tree to the left. "Stop the second sparring field there?"
"Exactly." Xena then reached up between her breasts to remove her breast dagger. "Let's go mark them." She then began walking to her right, the small warrior right beside her. Xena came up to the tree she'd pointed to earlier. Lifting the dagger up and cut some of the bark off the tree.
The Soulmates turned to their left and walked a ways till they came to the second tree she'd pointed to earlier. Xena cut some of the bark off there. They walked over to the third and fourth, also marking them. The warrior then slipped her dagger back.
Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "Start from the middle of the camp and work out huh?"
Xena nodded. "I agree, best way to go." They both then looked back to the woods.
"Xena?"
"Mmm?" The warrior looked to her partner, but Gabrielle's didn't looked to her.
"I think I don't want to be the Queen of all the Amazons." She then looked up to Xena. "I don't want leave you."
The older female completely turned to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle you wouldn't be."
Gabrielle sighed, she turned her body to face Xena as she looked up into crystal blue eyes. "Xena, we both know if I were to be Queen then I'd have to stay here. Set things up."
Xena reached forward with both her hands to the other woman's shoulders. "Listen to me Gabrielle, I don't care how long it may take to set this Nation up. I will stay here and help you. I'm not going to go off running around Greece and leave you here, there's no way."
The Amazon Queen looked down to the ground. She then looked back up. "I know how you are about being in one area for so long."
Xena grinned. "That's only if I don't have you. As long as I have you beside me, I'll be more then happy being stuck somewhere." She then mumbled lowly. "Even if they are Amazons."
"I heard that." Gabrielle then chuckled, she felt her Soulmate pull her in. The small warrior wrapped her arms around Xena, the warrior doing the samething.
The Soulmates both then pulled back in the embrace some. Xena's head leaning down, Gabrielle's coming up. They met half way for the warm kiss.