CHAPTER ONE

There are no shadows without the light.
No light, without a dark shoulder for it to lay its head against.
No truth, without lies,
No jealousy, without revenge,
No revenge as costly as that of a god denied!
No Redemption sweeter, than that born of a lover's heart!

Redheart 1998

As the ship gently rocked, light from the rising sun stole quietly into the ship's cabin as not to wake the new lovers. Xena yawned, shifted her leg slightly from where it was pinned under Gabrielle and brought her hand up to brush a red-gold wisp of hair from the corner of her mouth.

Gabrielle's half-lit face rested on her dark shoulder, glowing in the early sunlight. Xena raised her head to steal her first daylight look at that face that held all the mysteries of her universe. She saw her lover's hand resting on her chest, her small thumb held captive in her cleavage, her nipple flanked by the delicate fingers of the small hand that had given her such pleasure just a few short hours before.

Even in her sleep she holds me captive! Xena thought, and as if Gabrielle had heard that thought, two white fingers closed gently along Xena's dark nipple, causing not only IT to rise, but also a hot, tingling glow between her legs. Xena's head began to spin,; she shut her eyes, swallowed hard and tried not to wake Gabrielle from her peaceful sleep as she took a deep breath, trying to stay the feeling rising in her body.

Too late! Before she could exhale, Gabrielle's head flew up, and with concern in her eyes asked.

"Are you ok, Xena, am I getting too heavy?

"No, my love, you could never be too heavy," came Xena's sultry reply. Had Gabrielle been awake after all; had she deliberately squeezed her nipple hoping for the response it produced! Sly little fox! Xena smiled at the thought, not wanting to spoil the mood she hoped would lead them into another bout of ecstasy. She brought her hand up to fondle her lover's cheek, moving to her lips with soft intent strokes.

Well, dear heart, how do you feel the morning after you MAIDEN voyage!

"Xena, what are you talking about", irritation edging her voice," I have been on a ship before, or did you forget the three days of retching I indured on our way to... oh, I get it.... very funny, having a little joke at my expense are we?." "Ok, fine, have your fun Xena, but.... let me ask you this mighty warrior", cocking her head to one side, her voice lowering into a deep sultry tone, matched by the deepening of color in her eyes. Xena braced herself for what she hoped was coming, but was not prepared for the next step her lover took, or the words she heard next from her lover's mouth.

"How does it feel to know that I now hold your heart in these hands!"

And with one fluid movement she leaped to straddle her lover's hips, grabbed a soft breast in one hand and the other in the hand that had never left its home. Xena had no time to draw a breath before the soft, wet lips of her lover came racing down to hers, only to stop......! She nearly fainted then and there, as Gabrielle's tongue seductively slid from between those perfect lips and began to trace her own, from corner to corner, parting them ever so gently, teeth nibbling at her lower lip. Gabrielle's hands slowly worked themselves over the dark, round breasts beneath her.

Xena's head raced! She tried to take a breath but Gabrielle was everywhere, kneading... probing... intoxicating! Xena could not control herself any longer and with one hand urged Gabrielle's hips up off her abdomen. She held her there, suspended, as she slide her hand into Gabrielle's warmth, as expertly as if sheathing her sword. Gabrielle exhaled with a force great enough to fill Xena's own breath deprived lungs! By Zeus! Did I ever draw a breath before Gabrielle? Do I only breathe because she is my breath, my heartbeat, my desire, my life.........!

Gabrielle pushed down against Xena's hand. In and out it slid. Harder, faster! Matched only by the movements on Xena's breasts and the tongue so sweet in her mouth!

After what Xena had hope would take an eternity, but seemed more like an instant, Gabrielle's hands stopped their movement, causing Xena to let out a cry of despair, cut short by Gabrielle's tongue shot long and hard into Xena's mouth. At the same time Gabrielle brought the weight of her pumping hips down so hard on the long fingered hand inside her, Xena's felt it completely disappear, as sweet, hot, juices came streaming all the way to Xena's elbow. Softness closed around her wrist.. once... twice.... th..!

She longed to bring that hand to her own mouth, taste its sweetness, but was suddenly pulled to an upright position as Gabrielle arched her back into the climax, stiffened, then fall forward, bringing her head to rest on Xena's warm, soft chest, shaking and gasping, thankful for the strong arm that reached around her, crushing her into her lover's body!

"By all the stars, Gabrielle!," came the astonished sound of her warrior's voice,

"What in the all the realms of heaven and earth have I created!"

"Heaven and Earth indeed!" Gabrielle breathed into Xena's ear, just before she flicked a soft, warm tongue into it, causing Xena to tighten her embrace even more.

"Gabrielle," Xena hesitated for words, her mind swimming in a sea of passion, fearing that she would never again regain control of her thoughts. She thought of all the ones she had used in the past, trying to reach this part of her. All the arms she had lain in, the mouths she had kissed, all the climactic moments of lust she sought after a battle, sought to try and take her to a place were she was alive. A place where she longed for the heart of a women to sing, not the cold, silent heart of a bloodthirsty warlord, always left beating there, when the lust had faded into memory.

She reined in her thoughts, as she slowly extracted her impaled hand from Gabrielle's warm center, regretting the gasp of pain it brought from her lover's lips. Then she traced those lips with her still moist hand, watching jealously as Gabrielle sucked the sweetness from them. She slowly raised her eyes to look into those emerald pools still dark and glazed with passion, and tried to find her own voice.

"Gabrielle," she could barely make the sound audible, "I...I have never had a lover so....." She swallowed hard against a dry throat. She could not even bring herself into enough coherence to finish any of the thoughts in her head. She swallowed again, cleared her throat, and forced herself to speak.

Gabrielle never moved, she know how hard this was for this mighty warrior to express her feelings, that is feelings of a sensitive nature. She smiled against Xena's breast, remembering all the times she had expressed herself quite well enough when some low life scum stood in her way, or when any situation even hinting that she, or anyone Xena loved was a target.

"Gabrielle"! Xena snapped, then quickly softened, "about holding my heart in your hands"

"Do I Xena, do I hold your heart in my hands?"

"By all the gods, Gabrielle, not just my heart, but its every beat, my breath, my thoughts...! Gabrielle pushed into the tanned form beneath her, not wanting this first outpouring of true expression to end but finding it hard to control her desire for this woman any longer. She reached and took Xena's breasts in her hands.

"Yes, those too", Xena sighed.

"And that", as Gabrielle traced her mouth with her tongue, where just a trace of her sweetness lingered, so recently sucked from the fingers of her warrior's strong hand.

"And those", as Gabrielle stroked Xena's thighs.

"Yes, oh yes!", she breathed in rapture as Gabrielle's slender fingers slid into the moist, warm opening between Xena's legs. Gabrielle rested her head on Xena's abdomen, brought the other hand to rest on Xena's breast and slowly, forcefully begin to pump into Xena's inner being. Occasionally she placed a moist kiss on the flesh of her lover's stomach, or dipped into her navel, all the while keeping the rhythm of both hands steady, forceful, pushing further and further and further, until her name rang out in her ears.

Xena shook, violently at first, then softly, as warm fluid run over Gabrielle's hand. After a moment of floating ecstasy, Xena reached to gather her lover to her tight, shut her eyes, wound a hand into the strawberry tresses, and whispered into the face so close to hers.

"Not only do you hold my heart in your hands, my love," struggling to catch her breath. "You hold the key, to a door that has never been opened....until now...until you! "I love you Gabrielle!

"I love you too, Xena! came Gabrielle's reply as she stroked Xena's nipple with a wet finger. Gabrielle's center went weak as she heard her warrior say in a sleepy, husky, satisfied voice.

"And I thought YOU were the virgin here," she replied as she closed her eyes to the sleep she know was coming. Tightening the embrace around her one true love, she thought she heard the metal chink a sword makes as it is being drawn from its scabbard.... and a whispered curse.

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Coldness ripped at the cloak thrown halfway over her shoulder. Xena spun at the sounds of the horses galloping down the hillside onto the beach where she stood. Horror gripped her tightly as she caught sight of the figure hanging on the all too familiar cross planted further up the beach. As Gabrielle's pleading eyes closed, bracing herself against the impending blow she knew was about to be delivered just below her knees, Xena screamed her name so loud that the sea lost its voice. When she looked again, the cross and her lover were gone! From the back of her mind Xena heard a familiar chuckle.

Gabrielle came fully, soberly awake at hearing her name screamed in a way that brought utter terror to her now stopped heart! She realized she wasn't breathing. She sucked in air saturated in fear, spun around to see want danger she could possibly be in to cause such a cry from her lover's lips. She was standing in the middle of the room. Quickly she focused her eyes, seeing only the cabin of the ship as it had been before. The clothes she and Xena had thrown in a heap during their first bout of lovemaking still lay on the floor at her feet. The candles lit, what.... a day ago burned completely. Xena's maps and charts scattered on the desk at the other end of the room. Sunlight fading just below the water. How long have we been asleep? Then from the bed behind her she heard the beginnings of that sound! The hair on her neck stood up, a cold, fearful chill shot down her spine as she willed herself to turn. Her eyes went wide to see Xena, standing fully erect, naked, holding her sword in both hands, high above her head. Her eyes filled with hatred, her lips drawn tight against her clenched teeth as she hissed at something or someone behind Gabrielle's head.

" WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!"

Gabrielle ducked just as Xena brought her sword down and thrust it into....thin air! Brought it flying upwards, making a sideways slice as if cutting off the head of the attacker! But no one was there! Gabrielle watched in horror as Xena's head was knocked from side to side, three deep, jagged wounds appeared on the upper part of her left arm, another along her right cheek. Her head was beaten to the side, her body recoiling from invisible blows. She watched helplessly as Xena was struck in the chest, sending her flying into the corner at the other side of the room.

Xena stumbled, fell, and cried out in pain, the sword dropping from her hand. It slid to rest beside Gabrielle's frozen, half sitting form, just a few paces from the body of her now bleeding, wounded lover!

What in all of Tartarus was happening! The smell of sulfur rich smoke filled to air, gone as quickly as it came. She sat there wide-eyed, hot sobbing tears streaming down her face, until a moan made her rush to her lovers side. Dropping beside her wailing, she feared she would find her dead! Feeling her heart rip into two sharp pieces, she looked at the face of her beloved Xena motionless, staring up blankly, devoid of color except the dark red pooling in the hollow of her neck from the wound on her cheek, blood from her slashed arm smeared across her breasts, dripping on the floor beneath her.

Gabrielle bent her face to her lover's as a strangled gasp escaped the pale lips. With her right hand shaking she reached for the pulse she was sure would be gone at the side of Xena's neck.

But, No! Hot tears renewed her eyes, as trembling fingers found the spark they had hoped for! One beat, two, three! Xena was still alive! barely, but alive! Gabrielle gently pulled Xena's head into her lap. She could hear soft ragged breath from her lover's mouth and in the distant darkness a muffled curse.

Gabrielle didn't know how long she sat holding Xena's head. Her hand sticky with the blood from pressing into the wounds of her lover; trying desperately to stop them from bleeding. She knew she had to tend to her wounds. So with all the strength she had, Gabrielle pulled at Xena's strong, muscular, limp body somehow managing to get her back in bed.

She started a fire in the small stove, put some water to heat and looked around for something to use as bandages. She decided the bedsheet would be the best. Then walked over to get her salve, a small bottle of cinnamon oil, and piece of snakeroot from her bag by the desk. She poured hot water into two separate bowls, adding cinnamon oil into one and crushed snakeroot into the other. While the mixtures steeped, she tore the sheet into strips, then brought everything to the bed and sat down to attend to her lover's broken, blood stained body.

She started with the wounds on her arm. They were deep, gaping.... white bone stared back from each one. Gabrielle washed them first with the solution of snakeroot, to soothe the pain, then the cinnamon oiled water to help keep infection to a minimum. Skillfully she stitched them, a grimace forming on her tear-stained face each time the needle pierced Xena's flesh. Xena moaned softly a few times, but the stitching seemed to have little effect on her. Just as well, Gabrielle thought, they well be painful soon enough. With that done she turned her attention to the wound on Xena's face...that beautiful, beautiful face... get a grip Gabrielle! It was not the time to think about that! The wound was not as deep as the ones on her arm, but it ran the full length of her cheek. A large, angry, purple bruise was forming under it, spreading over Xena's entire right cheek, her right eye already swollen shut. It was going to leave a scar, but Gabrielle didn't think it would be very noticeable with time.

She washed Xena's face, stopping only once to press her lips to the cold, pale lips of her lover, choking back a sigh of relief as they moved beneath her own, ever so slightly! She then turned to wash the rest of Xena's tanned, bloody body, adding the scent of lavender to the water, Xena's favorite. Here too she was to carry a reminder of those horrifying, invisible blows. She hoped the ribs beneath were not broken, as she ran the warm cloth across her breasts. Xena moaned, and the muscles in her abdomen tightened. By the gods, even near death my touch can reach her!

Having finished all she could for the moment, Gabrielle washed herself quickly in the water left, ran a trembling hand through her own hair, gathered Xena's cloak from the chair and spreading it over her lover, slid in beside the unconscious warrior. She placed her thumb into Xena's cleavage, laid two delicate fingers along either side of her half erect nipple, and closed her eyes. The ship rocked, the moon shone through the small window above the lover's heads, and in the distance came a muffled curse.

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

Gabrielle woke suddenly. Her mind caught in fear. She felt the heat on her body where it curved along her sleeping lover, felt the sweat forming beneath her hand in Xena's cleavage. She raised up cursing herself for falling asleep, noticing the flush on Xena's face; the bruise on her cheek, and the sticky, moist darkness seeping through the bandages on her left arm.

"How could I sleep at a time like this!" She quickly got out of bed, pour cold water into a basin tore more strips from the bedsheet she was using for bandages, throwing the rest of the sheet into the cold water. She came to sit at her lover's side. Carefully she removed the bandages from Xena's left arm. She was met with the red, hot, swollen anger of Xena's wounds, she cursed. Xena moved, her head rolling from side to side, mumbling something. Gabrielle tried to catch it, but couldn't quite it make out. She hallucinating!

New fear grabbed at Gabrielle racing heart. "Fever, got to break the fever"! She retrieved the bedsheet from the icy water, wrung it out and laid it fully over the heated body in front of her. She then wiped her lover fevered brow, and busied herself with the angry wounds on the left arm. She knew she had to open them; had to drain out the infection. Shaking, she reached for the small knife Xena used for just this purpose. She cut the stitching, with a trembling hand, took a deep breath, and pierced the flesh of all three wounds, the bloody contents spilling onto the bed. Xena roared in pain, then fell silent. Gabrielle cleaned up the mess, put a couple of stitches in all three wounds lose enough so they could drain, and rebandaged them carefully. "How could I let this happen, how could I sleep at a time like this!", she chided herself.

Xena stirred and mumbled.

Wa...t...er" then nothing, just the movement of her eyes rapidly rolling under closed eyelids. Gabrielle reached for the small water skin hanging on the nail above the bed, raised Xena's head carefully, slid herself in under to rest it in her lap, and tried to pour a small amount of water onto the dry cracked lips. It rolled down the corner of Xena's mouth before she could open it to drink. Gabrielle grasp Xena under her chin, and run her thumb over her lips, causing them to open enough for Gabrielle to pour a small amount of water into it. Xena held it there then swallowed hard, grimacing as her head fell sideways bringing her hot cheek to rest on Gabrielle's thigh.

Gabrielle sat there for one full rising and setting of the sun, her only movements were replacing the cold sheet over her lover's body, attempts to get her to drink or to wipe the eye swollen and blood-shot. Her only thoughts were how she could ever go on if this life...her life..... now resting in her lap ceased to be! How could there be any life at all if Xena was not there to give it meaning... not there to touch her....love her.... mold her! Why did I wait so long to make her mine! Why did I let all the chances to hold her, to tell her, slip by! All the nights I wanted to lie beside her, pressing my body close to hers. The times I almost reached for her beneath the water when we bathed or swam together. The times I missed hugging her when she reached up to lift me down from Argo's back or steady me when I stumbled as she taught me to use my staff. All the missed looks never held around the campfire! Why didn't I ever put my arms around her and pull her tightly to me when she asked me to ride behind her. Was she telling me then, trying then to let me know how "SHE" felt?

"Not enough time, my love, not enough time!", she numbly whispered into the silence, and mentally made a vow, that if the gods let Xena live, she would never let her go again, never ever let a chance to show her how much she loved her slip away. No matter where their lives took them, into whatever dark danger or peace there would be, she would never leave this warrior's side. She leaned her head back against the wall of the ship behind her, but jerked it forward again as she heard the soft binding whisper.

"I will hold you to that vow!"

She looked around quickly, but only caught a faint thread of light receding into the shadows. She shot a quick look at Xena, checked her eye, the bandage on her arm and rewet the cold sheet over her body before she leaned her head back against the wall. The hair on her neck stood up as she wondered who could be watching.

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

Two more days passed, days filled with an unknowing fear as to the outcome. As Gabrielle's head swayed sleepily with the rhythm of the rocking boat, her thoughts full of the tortured cries Xena had shouted through the fever, the names and places. Gabrielle could only guess at their meaning. She wondered where Xena was at those times, what events were torturing her lover's mind and what she would recall if... no when she returned from this tormented prison. What had she said...fire, end of everything... heart of darkness...... the names... Callisto... Caesar... Boadicia... Lao Ma, green drag....the places... Chin... Gaul.. Britannia...hatred...betrayal... madness...kill mother! the temple, most destroy the temple! I'm here Gabrielle, I'm here,.... Never leave you, never leav.....!

What did it all mean! Gabrielle turned cold as she realized she might just one day find out. Her eyes flew open, as she became aware of the violent trembling in her lap, and the wetness, on her legs and sheets beneath her.

"The fever, it's broken, thank the gods! She whispered to the heavens.

She carefully eased herself from under her lover's head for the first time in three days, quickly removed the cold, wet sheet covering Xena's body. She lit a small fire to bring some warmth into the cold cabin, searched Xena's bags until she found her fur lined cloak. Spreading it over them both, Gabrielle slid into bed beside her shaking lover, pressing close to her, bringing the cloak up tight around them both. Slowly the warmth of her body reached Xena's as the fire chased the chill from the room. Xena's body relaxed. Gabrielle reached to settle her thumb into Xena's cleavage and lay her two fingers along the sides of her nipple. She waited until Xena's breathing was slow, deep and even. Her outbursts of terror, madness, and death stilled in her throat, and the rolling of her eyes ceased, before Gabrielle let sleep claim her too.

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UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! came the sound of deep, bone crushing pain from Xena's lips. Gabrielle spun quickly and raced to her lover's side just in time to grab Xena's hand before it raked across the wound on her cheek. She brought it to her lips and kissed it hard, hard enough to stop the tears swelling in her eyes at the sight of her lover's purple face and the clear blue eye lying inside an angry sea of red. As she sat softly on the bed, Xena's moaned.

"The pain Gabrielle, by Zeus the PAIN!!!!!!!, she growled through clenched teeth.

"Sssh, lie still Xena, please! Your hurt, badly and I think you may have some broken ribs!"

Xena stared at Gabrielle's face, trying to understand what she was saying. She tried to pick up her left arm to touch Gabrielle, but only cried out in pain, fighting the blackness at the edge of her mind, willing herself to stay conscious.

"Stay here, stay here!" she repeated.

Gabrielle misunderstood, thinking it was directed at her, reached to stroke Xena's forehead and tenderly replied.

"I'm here Xena, I'm here, I will never leave you ...ever."

I'll hold you to that vow! came the echo inside her head.

"The pain Gabrielle, what happened, who did this, are you alri...!" Xena struggled to sit up but the blackness threatened to take her again.

"No, Xena, please lie still, your arm is badly injured, they are not stitched completely because of infection, I don't want you to break them open! "You have a bad cut on your cheek, not as bad as your arm but bad enough, and bruises, everywhere! Your right eye is blood-shot and swollen and I think you may have broken ribs." Xena just stared into that face, trying to comprehend what she had just been told. Gabrielle shifted her weight. Panic met her movement as Xena cried, "Don't leave me!

"I'm here Xena, I won't leave you. Xena stilled.

"Is there any water, Gabrielle", Xena choked through cracked, bleeding lips.

"Yes, love, here." Gabrielle tried to steady Xena's head as she poured the water into the waiting lips. Xena winced as she tried to open her mouth to drink, the swelling and pain in her jaw made it almost impossible.

"Slowly, love careful, you don't want to make yourself sick, it has been three days since you have eaten or drank anything.

THREE DAYS! Xena's mind screamed! "Gabrielle, what happened, who did this! It hurt to speak.

"I..I... Do..Don't know Xena, it was invisible, horrible, I...I couldn't help you... I just watched fro...frozen...I...."

"SSH, Gabrielle, ssh, You can tell me about it later".

"Come on, come lay down here beside me, I need to feel your skin on mine, need to feel you pressed against me, need your touch to erase this PAIN! "Please Gabrielle", she pleaded when she saw the hesitation, "you won't hurt me, I need you close, PLEASE!"

As gently as she could, Gabrielle curved her body next to her lover, laid her head on that dark shoulder, careful not to press to close to the wounded cheek and closed her eyes to hide the tears Xena knew were there. After a few moments Xena said.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?", came Gabrielle's puzzled response.

"Your hand Gabrielle......, put it back where it belongs."

And with tears rolling down her face pooling between the skin of her cheek and the skin of her lover's chest, Gabrielle brought her hand up to the cleavage of the warrior's breasts.

CHAPTER TWO

'THEMIS!" Ares shouted at the Goddess of Justice. "I demand a judgement!"

"You demand!, who are you to demand anything from me NEPHEW!, spit Themis into the snarling face of this arrogant child! God of war, INDEED!

"I am the God of War, Themis, the son of Zeus and Hera, the Leader of Great arm.....

"You forget yourself, Ares!", she interrupted. "You forget that I am your Aunt, or to be more precise, your GREAT aunt, and that your father, my NEPHEW, is ONLY the grandson of HIGHER, OLDER gods, MY PARENTS!, Ares, Uranus and Gaea!" "And that you little god, are the arrogant result of an incestuous union of a brother and his sister, only brought into existence to fulfill a need, a battlefield for mortals to test themselves on, a place for the light and darkness of their lives to war against each other! "But you Ares, you with your godly powers, went a step further."

She turned swiftly to face the hatred building in the eyes of her nephew, arm outstretched, pointing her finger into that hated look. "But you brought something else to that battlefield didn't you nephew! "YOU BROUGHT AN DARKNESS TO WAR, ARES, WHEN YOU POISIONED MENS SOULS WITH BLOOD-LUST, THE PROMISE OF WEALTH AND POWER, BLINDING THEIR EYES AND MINDS TO THE FACT THAT IN CONFLICT THERE IS RESOLUTION, IN DARKNESS THERE IS LIGHT, HATRED CAN BE TURNED TO LOVE, AND YES, ARES," seeing the look of surprise on his face, "DARKNESS CAN BE REDEEMED!"

"Darkness serves a purpose, Aunt, if there was no Darkness, then this, all this, the world WE have created would have no reason to exist, WE would have no reason to exist!"

"If that is true, nephew, then why are you so worried about the DARKNESS yet to come?"

"Because, I...I can't....can't.....," the words caught in his throat.

"Control it, is that the word you are looking for, Ares?" "I hear the pleas you have yet to make to those you think can save you," "Oh yes, I hear them!" "Not only the warriors in this land, but the ones across the sea, far to the north. "I hear the drunken plotting in your temples with your drunken priests, trying to get the CONTROL before it is too late. "I also hear the twisted plots you weave to trap the only one you could never possess, the only one you ever wanted, the one saving grace your small mind and devious hand ever played a part in creating!

" I am still in control Themis, I am the God of War, I created that darkness remember?"

"Not this DARKNESS, Ares, this DARKNESS has another creator" "Beware of the alliances you chose, Ares, they may come back to haunt you." "You may find that the very ones you choose will be the undoing of the world as we know it" "But you have plans don't you?" "Yes, you have plans, but you may just be the victim Ares, you may get caught in the trap you are setting." "Do you really think the Furies will believe the lie you are hatching in your wicked little mind?"

"Why Auntie, I don't know what you are talking about."

"Oh please, I'm not stupid Ares!" "And if your plan should work can you control the creation?" "I remember another creation of yours, what was its name...Oh yes.... Gregis...but didn't Hercules destroy him?" she taunted. Ares seethed. But then THAT is a whole other matter isn't it?"

"So this time it's Madness, and for what Ares, not avenging the death of a father, a father you deluded into thinking the daughter was not his, not the mention the mother, Ares, the mother so consumed with fear at the loss of her daughter she took her husband's life, the life of one of your most devoted warrior's!" "HE WORSHIPPED YOU!

"And you call yourself a God of War! God of Betrayal would suit you better, Ares!"

"I have never betray..... Ares shouted before he was cut short.

"Oh, but you HAVE, and you WILL again Ares, dear sweet Ares, You will, mark my words and REMEMBER them ringing in your ears, in the not so distant future, when the very one you longed to control, longed to possess, spits them back into that haughty face of yours." "Remember those words Ares, if you remember nothing else said here!, and remember from whose lips they will be hurled!"

Xena!, he thought.

"Yes, Ares, Xena!", Themis whispered, her back now turned to her nephew's ashen face.

"You forget Themis, I control Xe......

"You control nothing!" she roared, as she spun around to greet her nephew's wide stare. "Xena was never yours to control." "As I said you only had a hand in molding her, your dealings with her were only tolerated as long as they served the purpose of making her stronger! "Doesn't it ever bother you that she can always outsmart you, no matter what wicked, twisted trap you lay to bend her to YOUR will?" "Or the way she can sense your presence without seeing you! Looking at his face, she softened her words for the first time since this whole mess began. "Yes, I see it does."

"Then who controls her, Themis, Destiny?", Ares spat.

"Destiny... destiny, dear nephew, is a two sided coin" "On one side is the Destiny..... Fate, would be a better word, guided by the gods, guided in the lives of people too weak to chose one of their own." "It is for those people YOU exist Ares, the sheep willing only to be lead, manipulated!" The other side on Destiny's coin is were you will fine your beloved Xena, there among the very few who can spit into the face of a god and wrestle her Destiny out of their selfish, jealous little hands and make it into whatever she wants! Those people are the true heroes here Ares, the ones "THIS DARKNESS" wants to destroy! "Not you, not the other gods of this world, they are already lost!" "Lost to the ones whose Destiny they already control. Remember, YOU lead sheep, and sheep will follow whatever shepherd comes to lead them. Fear THEM Ares, for they will be your undoing, not Xena!

"And what has she chosen for her Destiny, Themis", Ares sneered, "Savior!"

"No Ares, Xena would never feel deserving of that title." " Guardian Sword, would be more of her choosing, a strength this "DARKNESS" will not recognize." "Believing her already to be lost to darkness, IT will not see her coming, not realize that the darkness in her is not the same darkness that beats in IT"S chest." "She will face it, she has faced darkness before and won!"

"Xena still is...."

"Yes, Xena has known darkness, been it's instrument, lived it, smelled it, tasted it, and even lain with it, and she understands it. You have made sure of that, haven't you Ares!' But, you missed one important thing," she said looking straight into those dark seething eyes, "You made this one fatal mistake!" "By understanding it, She is able to look at it without fear and met it head on!" " And, She was able to be redeemed! 'Hercules was able to reach that small glow of light left within her, Ares, Her SOUL!" "The place you could never go!" "Remember, I said darkness has the chance to be redeemed"

"Then why fear THIS DARKNESS, Themis, if darkness can be redeemed!"

"Because, Ares, because THIS DARKNESS, like no darkness yet in this world, IS the very heart of EVIL!" "Not only its creation, but its creator! "And, dear frightened, deluded nephew, IT HAS NO SOUL, NO LIGHT TO REDEEM!" Xena will be the one to recognize that fact when the time comes. She will see it for what it is when all those around her are blinded by it disguise, yes Ares, she will know!

" You fear it too, Themis, you stand to lose just as much as the rest of us in this, don't you!"

"I only fear the dark days and long tortured nights this world will be plunged into if IT is allowed to enter this world." "JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL, Ares, just as the earth and sky will prevail." "Only the players and the battle field change, any the names of the Gods they worship will change, and only redemption, Ares, redemption born of Grace, unconditional love, the ability to find the light in the darkness, or embrace the darkness in the light, not JUDGING it either way, will redeem what this world is facing. That redemption is the very birthplace of the SOUL! Only that can save the world to come!" The redemption Xena finds in her love for Gabrielle.

"So, Xena IS it's savior," Ares accused, thinking he had finally caught Themis in a trap.

"NO, not Xena, Ares, the SAVIOR of that world has yet to be born, his coming has only been foretold." "Xena is the sword, as I said. "Like metal she is, blackened by fires of past sins, forged by hatred, blood lust, empty sexual desires, hardened by the hammer of betrayal, the loss of her son, brought to a razor-sharp edge by the constant grinding against the Destiny YOU have tried to force on her! "Finally her heart polished to a shining gem at the hands of one..."

"Irritating little blonde!", Ares spit out the words like bile, sickened by the passion in his aunts voice.

"Yes, Gabrielle is the missing piece to Xena's life, the only one who can ever touch her heart, the only one who really has a hand in helping Xena shape her Destiny!"

"Well", Ares snarled, "She had her hand in more than her Destiny the last time I saw them!

"And that just pisses you off doesn't Ares?" "A woman, a mere mortal, able to do what you or no other man could ever do!" "Justice, I'd call it!

"Justice!", Ares spat back at her, Justice, you..you don't.."

"Careful Ares, remember Justice is a woman too." Her calm confidence caused Ares to clinch his fist and rage.

"Then, Mighty God of Justice, Give me a Judgement!

"Against who, Ares, Xena?, Gabrielle?" "No, no, no, dear nephew, Justice does not make the judgment, She only keeps the scales in balance so the playing field is fair". The Judgement is the outcome of the efforts of the people involved!" "May the best man, or should I say woman win! "The balance has been restored"

"Are you sure, Themis?" Ares hissed. " You call it balance if Xena remembers the ranting of her fevered mind and then understands the meaning behind those rantings!" " You call that a fair playing field!, giving her the advantage of foreknowledge against the Gods!"

"YOU ARROGENT, JEALOUS, LITTLE BASTARD!, Themis roared. "Don't try to twist this sick game you are playing with Xena's mind into a neat package and place it in my hands!" "BUT HEAR THIS, Ares, and understand it fully, Mnemosyne will protect not only Xena's memories, but those of Gabrielle's as well, Yes Ares, I know of the plots you are hatching in that sick mind of yours, the plans of betrayal you are planning for Xena and Her lover!" With the word LOVER Ares brought his hands over his ears. "LISTEN TO ME ARES!" "Mnemosyn will erase the memories of any dirty little thought you care to plant in either of their minds before its time. "Leaving only the instinct of how to deal with them, for Xena, and Gabrielle's unwavering faith in Xena to guide them." The memories of your sick little peep show will only become permanent after the events play themselves out! So play your twisted mind games, Ares, the playing field is fair and the situation is in Balance!"

"Why the tough talk, Auntie?" "And why do you have the knowledge of what is to come?'

" I am sorry to treat you so, Ares, but my harshness I fear is not enough to stop your evil little plots is it?" " Has nothing said here convinced you that you can never bring Xena under you will!" "So as long as you continue to fill her head with these VISIONS they will continue to be balanced" "And as for my knowledge of the future, I am the God of Justice, I know all the facts in this case, I have to, to keep that balance! "

"You are supposed to be blind to the facts!" He hurled, with an accusing finger.

"Wrong, dear boy, not BLIND, just impartial.

"How can you say you have been impartial in all this Themis!" Ares thought he had a chance to win this round after all.

"As I said before, I have no control over the outcome, I am not the one who passes judgement, that is determined by the strength of will and passion for truth of the players involved, determined by the pureness of their hearts. I only serve to Balance the Scales and they have been BALANCED!"

"Go find some one else to convert, Ares, someone more IN TUNE with your outlook on the world." "Leave Xena in Gabrielle's capable hands, she has won her fair and square, the physical expressions of their love for each other are only a tangible gift given to them to ease their pain and give them comfort in the dark days to come and to understand the things already consummated in their hearts." "But then, they WERE made for each other, weren't they."

"Just as the Darkness enfolds the Light, Light will chase away the shadows of Darkness, forever, finding their peace with each other in the dawn and dusk of each new day! "Right mother!"

"Yes, daughter, came the OLD VOICE high above Ares head.

He turned his hate filled eyes from Themis', only in time to glimpse a thread of light fading into the shadows. He let out a muffled curse!

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

Gabrielle was standing at the small window at the far side of the cabin, looking out the porthole, wondering where they were, how she was ever going to figure it out without Xena's help, toying with the idea of just letting it go for now and returning to her lover's bed, thankful her fever had finally broken this morning.

Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that neither one of them had eaten for days, but she could not bring herself to think about her needs when Xena was so ill, nor had she wanted to leave her love, even long enough to prepare a meal.

Suddenly her attention was drawn to the thrashing on the bed. She ran to Xena's side and watched helplessly as Xena's head rolled from side to side, face twisted in what pain, fear? Then the ranting started, the incoherent ranting. " Father murdered...... fire...No! Gabrielle kill it its evil.....! banshees, banshees, run, run...! Push! Push!, Gabrielle... Push and breathe!... that is not a child....kill it! kill it! Solan...Solan.... He's dead...., that thing killed him....must go to Chin...must kill Green Dra......!

Slowly her voice trailed off, her head and body stopped thrashing, and a terrified Gabrielle took her first breath since this latest outburst began. With a trembling hand she touched Xena's forehead. "No fever!", she said out loud, then she caught sight of the new, dark red stain on Xena's left arm and knew the thrashing had broken the stitching, blood saturated the bandages. "Hades!", she cursed. She walked to the desk, where she had spread all her medicines and healing tools for easy reach and picked up a needle, several lengths of thread, some cinnamon oil and a clean set of bandages. She poured some hot water into a bowl and came to sit beside Xena's newly bleeding arm. Xena didn't make a move until she had all the bloody bandages removed and began to wash the wounds with the cinnamon oil.

"Take it easy", Xena shouted as her good hand grabbed Gabrielle's tightly.

"You take it easy, Xena, I have had about enough of this!, she spit at the wounded warrior gripping her hand. Xena saw the controlled exhaustion in Gabrielle's face at the same instant Gabrielle saw the regret in the clear blue eye staring back at her.

"I'm sorry!" they both said together, then smiled, then laughed.

"Gabrielle, I'm sorry to be such a bother, you look exhausted!' "Come lie down and rest."

"No Xena, I have to stitch your arm again." Xena raised to look at her jagged, bleeding arm and remembered why she grabbed Gabrielle's hand.

"What happened?'

"You were thrashing around, yelling out all sorts of strange, disconnected terrifying thoughts, I...I thought you had the fever again...and I..I"

"Oh, Gabrielle, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"Stop it Xena! "Stop thinking about everything and everybody else for once, think about yourself, you were almost killed, and there were days when I didn't think I would ever look into your blue eyes again, feel the touch of your hand, or hear your voice call my name!"

"Gabrielle"..."

" No Xena, stop it, listen to me, listen!" "I don't know how far we have drifted, I can't read the stars the way you can!"

"Gabrielle, the crew....

"There IS no crew Xena!", she shot back into wide eyes. "They left days ago, right after you started your ranting and shouting!" Dear Zeus! what have I put her through, Xena thought.

"You have been either a feverish, raving, lunatic, or so still I feared you were dead, for days. "This morning when your fever finally broke and I could take a breath, knowing that I was not going lose you, I thought it was over!" "Then out of a sound sleep you start ranting and thrashing, tearing your arm open, shouting the most terrifying things at who, Xena, at who!" she screamed as she brought both of her hands to hold Xena face. WHO!"

"I don't know Gabrielle." Xena's eyes filled with tears, "I can't remember!" Softened by the warrior's tears, Gabrielle bent to kiss them away, brushing her hand along Xena's unharmed cheek.

"It's ok, it's ok, we'll find our way out of this, we always do." "Now be a good girl and let me stitch your arm.' Xena didn't move a muscle until Gabrielle had finished with her arm. She watched her clean up, put the needle away, and only spoke when it looked like she was not planning to return to her side anytime soon, having leaned forward to rest both hands on the desk, hanging her head in exhaustion, sighing raggedly.

"Gabrielle, come lie down you need to rest!"

"Xena I am warning you don't start with me, you don't rest when I lie with you, Hades woman!, think of yourself of just this one time would you!"

"Such a mouth you have, you curse just like a sailor!, Xena teased.

"Xena I'm warning you!"

"Gabrielle, come here!" she commanded, and Gabrielle could not refuse a command, not from her!

"What!, she barked as she reached to bed.

"Get in!"

"Xena, you won't rest with me pressing against you."

"I won't rest until you are, Now GET IN THE BED, PLEASE!"

"You know you can be so exasperating sometimes!"

"Who, ME!, exasperating, look who's talking!, barking orders like a general, cursing like a sailor, besides I'm jealous."

"JEALOUS!" Gabrielle laughed. "You want to be in these boots!' she looked down at her bare feet. Xena let out a laugh that caused her breath to catch from the pain in her jaw. She looked at that shining face, eyebrows lifted, looking sideways; Gabrielle hoped Xena would just let this little joke go for now!

Xena started choking.

"Well that's what you get for being a smartass!" Gabrielle sniffed.

"Gabrielle!" she croaked through the pain, "get me some water will ya?" "I'm choking to death here!"

Gabrielle rushed to her side, leaned over Xena to reach for the water bag hanging on the hook on the wall, just as Xena's good arm reached up a grabbed Gabrielle's breast.

"Smartass, huh?" Gabrielle knew she had fallen for yet another one of Xena's tricks. A broad smile came across her face, as she forgot the water bag and slipped into bed beside her lover, curved her warm body along the tanned form she loved so much, laid her head down on that dark, soft shoulder. Suddenly Gabrielle raised her head to look at Xena's face.

Without turning her head Xena barked "What?"

"Jealous of what?" came the reply.

"Jealous, because you have been awake and able to hold me for the past four, four, right?".....

"Right," Gabrielle replied.

"Four days and I have some catching up to do"

"Exasperating, simply exasperating," she said as she laid her head back down on Xena's shoulder. After a few moments, Xena called.

"Gabrielle,"

"What is it now Xena?"

"Your hand Gabrielle". They both closed their eyes as Gabrielle slipped her hand into its home on Xena's breast.

CHAPTER THREE

Gabrielle had just finished bathing Xena and changing the dressings on her arm, if you can call it bathing. It was more like a game of dodge the gabby hand, but she managed. She then sat and brushed Xena's hair.

"Did ya tie off the wheel like I said?"

"Yes, Xena"

"Let the anchor down a few fathoms so we won't drift so fast?"

"Yes, Xena"

"And did ya secure the sails and tie them down so they won't come undone and catch a wind and cause us to...Hey! take it easy will ya!" "That's my hair you're pulling!"

"Yeah, well it might be YOUR hair, but it happens to be in MY hands at the moment, so if you want to keep it on your head, STOP drilling me like one of your troops!", Giving Xena's head a little tug.

"Jeeze, I'm sorry Gabrielle, I just feel helpless and you won't let me get out of bed and take care of it myself".

"Maybe tomorrow, Xena, I'll let you go up on deck and do our thing, with that thing, you know that thingy you look at the sun and stars through to see where we are."

"You mean the sextant thingy," Xena mocked teasingly.

"Yeah, that thingy," Gabrielle called over her shoulder as she poured some hot broth she had made from boiling some dried meat, into a mug for her feisty charge. She hoped Xena could open her mouth enough to drink it. The swelling was still pretty bad on the right side of her face. She set the mug on the table and picked up the bowl of dried cherries and figs she had found in one of the food lockers, just as SNAP! came a well placed flick of a towel she had neglected to remove from Xena's deadly reach. It caught her hard on the buttock, sending the fruit flying as she spun and hurled.

" XENA, if you don't behave yourself I'm going to come over there and...

"And, what, Gabrielle?"

"And grab you by your..."

"Grab me by my what..?

"Grab your, your...

"Yes!"

"YOUR BRAID AND WRAP IT AROUND THAT NECK OF YOURS AND STRANGLE YOU WITH IT!"

"Oh Gabrielle, can't you think for something better to grab and torture me with than that!"

"Xena.... Xena, I have one unfrayed nerve left and you are dangerously close to unraveling it!" Realizing she may have gone a bit too far, Xena lowered her head and pretended to pout, hoping Gabrielle would forgive her.

"Oh, stop pouting, you aren't the injured party here", she snapped as she turned to survey the damage to her backside, having to raise her skirt to do so.

"Look at this, Xena, look at this welt you gave me!"

"Well, haul yourself over here and let's have a look see". Gabrielle slowly backed towards Xena to give her a better look, stopping suddenly.

"Oh no you don't!" "I'm not falling for that trick again!" "You would just love to get your hands on me, wouldn't you?"

"You bet'ya!', Xena beamed. "Ah, come on Gabrielle, I sorry I hurt you, I'm just a little bored, and we haven't made l...."

"Love for days, I know all too well how long it has been," she sighed, "but with you out most of that time and now needing to rest and get your strength back it isn't a good idea." "You need to try to see if you can eat something." "If I bring you some broth do you think you can behave long enough to try and drink it, PLEASE!"

"OK, you win, I'll be good, promise!" Gabrielle picked up the fruit, brushed it off, got the mug of broth for Xena and a couple of pieces of beef jerky for herself and came, cautiously, to sit on the bed by her lover. She handed the mug to Xena, and without looking at her began to nibble on the jerky and dried fruit. Several minutes went by before Gabrielle became aware of the intent stare on Xena's face.

"What?" "What, are you looking at?"

"Can I have a bite of that?' Xena said eyeing the jerky hanging from Gabrielle's mouth.

"Do you think you can chew it?"

Xena clenched her teeth to test her jaw, and winced with pain. "OW, no I guess it's still too painful"

"Then drink your broth, Gabrielle urged, and went back to chewing her jerky. After a few more moments of silence, Xena broke in.

"You know.... YOU could chew it for me"

"OH GROSS! "You want me to chew this up and then give it to you?"

"Yeah, that's what you do with babies before they get teeth." "Oh come on Gabrielle, please, I'm starving..... and lovely as this looks," eyeing the broth with a raised eyebrow, "it just ain't gonna to cut it!"

"Oh, alright," she relented, taking a bit of the chewed jerky and placing it into Xena waiting mouth.

"Satisfied?"

Xena swallowed, then answered, "Bit too spicy for my tastes!" "Stop it, or you don't get anymore!"

"How about some fruit?" Gabrielle complied, actually she was enjoying this more than she cared to let on. After she had fed Xena all the fruit and jerky she wanted, she looked around for something to wipe off her sticky fingers.

"Here, let me help you," Xena cooed, as she reached over with her good arm, grabbed Gabrielle's sticky fingers and licked them clean. Gabrielle just sat a watched wide-eyed as Xena sucked the last bit from her thumb.

"Enjoying yourself Xena?"

"Oh yeah, all done, you cooked, I did the dishes!" A satisfied smile came cross her face. Gabrielle left her hand there softly stroking the bottom lip of the one she loved most in the world and huskily announced, "I think, my love you got the better end of this deal, as usual, but you missed a spot." And with that she bent forward slowly, keeping her emerald eyes locked on the clear blueness staring back at her until at the last minute she closed them, placing her hot, moist lips ever so softly against the ones she had burned for. A sigh escaped from Xena throat. She could only stand this light teasing contact so long before she reached her uninjured arm up, grabbed a handful of that sun-kissed hair and pulled Gabrielle into the long, passionate kiss she had been longing for, tongues wildly dancing, probing, sucking. Deep passionate moans, until Xena pushed herself away gasping!

"What's wrong?", Gabrielle said, afraid she had hurt Xena cheek.

"Nothing," Xena said gasping for air.

"Did I hurt your cheek?"

"Well it is a little tender, but worth the pain trust me"

"Well then, maybe we should wait until you are healed." I don't think we should start something we can't finish."

"Oh, I can finish it alright, my love, I can finish it!", Xena assured her.

"But your arm, the bruises, how...I'll hurt you if we...."

"Gabrielle, take off you clothes and lie down with your head towards my feet, here on my good side."

Gabrielle complied without question, curious as to what Xena's mind was up to.

"Now bend your left leg up and lay it on my chest."

Gabrielle did as she was told, causing her to lie on her side to do so. Perfect Xena thought. Then Xena slowly slid her good hand into the warm, liquid center of her beloved Gabrielle, placing her thumb against that sensitive spot as she slid further in. Gabrielle arched her back slightly, to allow Xena to press harder with her thumb. It didn't take long for Gabrielle to turn to place her still tingling lips into the soft, dark spot between Xena's legs, or to reach down with her hand and part that sacred place, sliding her tongue in and out until she had matched the rhythm of the hand so deep inside her. Thank the gods she is a fast learner! Xena shouted in her now passion driven mind. Faster and faster, harder and harder they pushed each other. Their breath coming in long moaning gasps, until at the same instant they stiffened, hung on tight to ride out the climactic waves, then relaxed against each other. Xena withdrew her hand and called.

"Gabrielle, sit up, come here" Gabrielle came willingly and laid down in her lover's waiting embrace, still gasping from the intensity of sharing that same moment in time. Several minutes passed until Gabrielle could find hr voice. She spoke into her lover's neck.

"Xena....I...I never dreamed this could get any better, never dreamed I could possibly love you any more than I did the first time you took me to this moment...I...I"

"I know, I know...", Xena replied, "it's one of the things about making love."

"Xena?"

"Yes, My love."

"Has this happened to you before...I mean..with the others you have been with?"

"I'm sure it did, Gabrielle"

"When!" She sat up quickly, hurt showing on her face. She had hoped for a negative answer to that question.

"Oh, Gabrielle, don't look so hurt, it happens, not every time, but it happens." She stroked Gabrielle's cheek, looked into her dark green eyes and whispered, "it is sweetest when you share it with someone you truly love." Gabrielle settled back into her lover.

"I can only remember one time...with Borias...the night I conceived Solan. "You know........ looking back on it now, it seemed to be a way of telling me that it had been different that time, I knew something had happened, but didn't know for sure until missed my moontime. "I don't remember any of the other times....until now...with you!" Xena voice was dangerously close to breaking ...."something was trying to tell me that it was not just other battle- crazed," she choked, "lust-filled attempt to reach some part of me I lost long before I even got a chance to experience it!...A Wom....A..Woman's..... Her voice cracked.

"Heart", Gabrielle finished. All Gabrielle could do was hold her. After sometime, Xena started again.

"I didn't know what love was, I was ONLY eighteen when I conceived Solan. Borias and I been together for sometime." "I lost what innocent girl's heart I had when I plunged my sword into my bother's murderer, then, after Caesar, I set about replacing it with a heart filled with an evil lust for power and blood that stripped away what little goodness was left. By the time I met Borias I was already deep into a world of darkness, betrayal, and lust. "But that night... that night I conceived Solan I felt, maybe, just maybe, I still had a chance to....."

"Oh, Gabrielle!", she held her tight, "I never held him to my breast, never suckled him!" "He never knew how much I loved him!" " I made the decision to give him up, just a few hours after he was born!" "I knew all goodness was surely dead in me ...forever........until NOW! Gabrielle, until YOU!"

"SSSHHH, SSSHHH, Xena rest now, please, you need to rest."

"NO!, Gabrielle, please I have to say this now!" Xena reached up and held Gabrielle's face close to hers. "Gabrielle, there is goodness in me somewhere, I know it, I see it everytime I look into your eyes, feel it everytime you touch me, hear it each time you say my name, and I will go to the ends of the earth and back for you, even death will not keep me from your side, from the light in your face!" "I will never leave you, I love you Gabrielle, I love you!" And somewhere in the darkness came the binding whisper.

"I will hold you to that vow!"

Gabrielle gently stroked the warrior's face, until Xena stilled and could look at Gabrielle again.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle, I...I don't know what got into me, usually I am at a loss for words, have a hard time with this emotional stuff."

"Oh, I thought you expressed yourself quite well, my love!" Gabrielle curved her body along her warrior love, placed her head on her shoulder. "I know what it must have taken to tell me what was in your heart", she breathed against Xena's warm neck, knowing she might never hear the warrior express herself like this again.

" And I want you to know....no I want you to understand, that I feel the SAME way about you"

"I know you do my love", Xena returned as she nuzzled Gabrielle's nose with her cheek, "I know you do."

"Well, I guess you right about on thing, Xena"

"What's that Gabrielle"

"You sure do know how to finish anything you start!"

"Told ya!" "Now let me take a little nap, huh?, we need to get this ship back on course and home soon"

And as the two lovers drifted off to sleep, Gabrielle's hand came to rest in the warrior's soft cleavage. A sword was drawn and a curse was muffled.

CHAPTER 4

Gabrielle woke with a shudder, reached out her hand for her lover and touching nothing, snapped open her eyes, realizing why she was cold, she was alone. "Oh great!" where is she now!' She slid out of bed, dressed and raced up the stairs to the deck above.

Xena had been up for hours and saw no reason, well maybe one, to wake Gabrielle. After sleeping for so many days, Xena used the silence after Gabrielle had fallen asleep to ponder over the events of the past few days. "Who is behind this?" she wondered, as she looked out over the sea. Her eyes narrowed into that familiar Xena look as she tried to force herself to remember anything of the rantings of her fevered mind. Nothing, not a clue, and when she had pressed Gabrielle for answers, again nothing, only the fear in Gabrielle's eyes, told Xena more than she wanted to know.

She heard Gabrielle's footsteps coming up the stairs and hide in the shadows.

"XENA" silence. "Xena". Nothing. "Alright mighty warrior, you have one candlemark to show yourself or spend the rest of the day without any attention from me!"

"Oh, come on Gabrielle", she said as she caught her from behind, holding her tight. " I was just having a little fun, let's go back down stairs an.....

"Oh no you don't lazybones, we have work to do if we are going to get home. I'm sure Argo will be glad to see you and your mother was expecting us two days ago, she is probably beginning to worry by now. "Xena let me go now or there well be no..."

"No what?" she asked as she reached to grab a breast and a kiss.

"No that, that's what!" Gabrielle snapped as she twisted out of that deadly embrace.

"Aw c,mon, just a quick little roll in the sac......."

"A quick little what?" Gabrielle roared. "Just who do you think you are talking too, some trollop you picked of in a tavern somewhere, Miss OVERSEXED WARRIOR PRINC...!"

"Oversexed, me?" "Now look who's talking, Miss JUST ONE MORE TIME... PPLLEEASEE..........!"

G: "Tramp"

X: "Hussy"

G: "Harlot"

X: "Vixen"

After a long pause, they both broke into laughter, tears rolling down their cheeks.

"What AM I going to do with you!" Gabrielle mused as she shook her head.

X: "How 'bout a big hug?"

G: "NO"

X: "A little hug?'

G: "No"

X: "Can I touch your....."

G: "XENA!"

X: "How 'bout your....."

G: "OH, you are evil!"

X: Then how about a big kiss?"

G: "NO"

X. "PPLLEEAASSEE Gabrielle, just one little kiss!"

"No, Xena you won't stop with one LITTLE kiss and we have work to do if we ever want get home" "You do want to get home don't you?" "Or did you think we would spend the rest of our life just sailing around?"

"Well, that's not a bad idea, Me and You ...... alone forever....."

"If I didn't know better Gabrielle, I would think you are getting tired for spending time alone with me." "You know when we get back things will be different."

Gabrielle softened a little, reached up to place a quick kiss on her lover's lips. " I am as tired of you as I am of breathing my love!" She was too fast for Xena and turning with a smile said, "Now take off your shift and toss it here!"

Xena took a step forward, huge grin on her face, "You change your mind did ya?"

"Oh you would like that wouldn't you!" "But no, I want to wash everything, it is a little, well, let's say you could smell us coming!"

Xena slowly, seductively, removed her shift as Gabrielle watched, eyes darkening with passion, a small sigh escaping her lips. As the shift hit the deck Gabrielle drew in a long breath raised an eyebrow and said. "Nice try, You almost had me, but we have work to do." If you will be good, finish your chores up here while I wash the clothes and make us some breakfast, I PROMISE when we are all done you can have your way with me, ok?

"Ok", Xena replied, let's shake on it!"

"NO,NO,NO, I'm not getting anywhere near you until we finish our work!"

"JEEZZEZ, and you think I'm bossy!" "Ok, work first, play later. But..... you better save some of that energy for me!"

"Oh, have no fear princess, I have all the energy you can handle!" And with that she ran down the stairs leaving Xena to wonder how she ever lived before this green eyed beauty came into her life; fear gripped her as she wondered what she would become her if she ever left. Xena shook off that last thought and walked over the check the rigging. After making her rounds, securing the sails, the ship's wheel and double checking the course, she looked towards the door hoping to see the object of her affections. Zeus, she is taking a long time! She picked up her chakram, and threw it several times to the far end of the ship, catching it easily as it returned. Then she decided that if she had to wait to release her pent up tensions until Gabrielle returned, she might as well get in a little sword practice. Gabrielle was right, she had become a lazybones and needed to get her injured arm in shape.

Below, Gabrielle was lost in her own thoughts. She collected all their clothing to wash, stopping to finger the fabric of one of Xena's shifts, smell the leather or touch the cold metal of her armor. "Dear Zeus, how I love her, need her, want her!" "She is never out of my thoughts." "Her smell, her touch, her feel are as necessary to me as the air I breathe." She brought the leather to her face, inhaling deeply and faltered as her knees weaken at the smell. After several moments lost in musing about her love, she shook herself back to reality realizing that if she did not hurry she would have one pent up warrior to answer to. She smiled as she recalled her win over their little difference earlier. She knew that it would not happen often and decided not to push her luck. Rapidly she finished washing the clothes, poured hot water into two mugs of tea to steep, swept the cabin, burned all the old bandages and opened the window to air the place out. She placed the wet laundry into a basket, filled a bowl with dried fruit and meat, set it on top of the wet clothes, grabbed the mugs, lifted the basket to her hip and raced up the stairs.

As Gabrielle reached the top of the stairs, her eyes saw a sight that burned into her memory. The sight of the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, naked, tanned, glistening in the sun from the fine layer of sweat that covered her muscled body, moving like water as she went through her exercises. The sheer beauty of her rippling muscles, her graceful stance at the end of each set of drills, took her breath away! She forced herself to return to her task, quickly hanging the wet clothes over the rigging, never fully taking her eyes off the glorious sight halfway down the deck.

The moment was not lost on Xena either. She was all too aware that Gabrielle had returned to the upper deck, naked, out of breath, strawberry hair lit by the sun. She watched from the corner of her eye as Gabrielle bent to pick up the wet clothes, watched as she stretched her firm body to throw the laundry over the rope rigging to dry. As Gabrielle turned coming fully into Xena's view, the sword she held high over her head, in the last move of the last drill in her routine, dropped, landing point down right between the toes of her right foot. She stared frozen. She hadn't missed this move since she was girl. She hoped that Gabrielle hadn't noticed, but she had and was at Xena's side so fast, she swore she had wings.

"Xena, are you alright, I have never seen you miss a move in all the years we have been together!" "What in tartarus is wrong!"

"Calm down Gabrielle, it's ok, I'm just a little off since the injury, I guess I worked my arm a little too much the first time, just lost my grip, that's all".

She hoped that Gabrielle would except this and not press it, not discover that the sight of her, naked and glowing had been the real reason Xena had faltered. Who was she kidding, the sight of Gabrielle fully clothed with a sack over her head would have caused the same reaction! Xena frowned at that thought, cautioning herself that she had to get a grip where Gabrielle was concerned. What if they had been in a battle, that missed step could have gotten them killed!

"What is wrong, Xena?" Gabrielle had caught the frown on her lover's face.

"Nothing, Gabrielle, leave it for now, ok?

"Ok...here have some tea and something to eat".

She led Xena over to the crate she had set for their breakfast without saying another word.

Xena played with her food and started blankly over the rim of her mug. Several moments went by until Gabrielle spoke.

"Xena what is wrong?" "Have I done something to upset you?"

"Dear Zeus, No!!!! She answered snapping her head up to look at Gabrielle. Then as quickly she lowered her gaze, "But we do need to talk......about us......about..

"About what, Xena?"

"About our feelings for each other"

Holy Aphrodite no! screamed Gabrielle's mind, please don't let her say it has been a mistake!

Xena didn't know quite how to start, but the look on Gabrielle's face told her she had better hurry and find the words.

"Gabrielle," She started slowly, "There are alot of people who would like to see me dead, who would use any means to see that deed carried out, even hurting the ones I love, hurting y...." Xena choked. Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by Xena raised hand. "No let me get this out and over with!" Several tense moments when by.

"Gabrielle, I could say this better if you would come here and sit by me."

Gabrielle came to stand in front of her lover, but instead of sitting by her side she lifted herself into Xena's lap, facing her, wrapped her legs around Xena's waist and her arms around her shoulders.

"Is this better, my love?"

"Well, yes and no...." Trying to concentrate with Gabrielle so close was not helping but she did not want her to leave; she began again. "Gabrielle I need to tell you that you are the most important thing in my life!" "I love you as I have never loved another!" But there is danger in that love!" If it becomes common knowledge that we are more than friends, more than traveling companions, that we are in lo...that we are lovers, every two dinar scum will be coming out of the woodwork to get a chance at me, using you as the weapon! "Hades, Gabrielle, it has already happened! Callisto, used you to get to me, and if you hadn't been traveling with me Morpheus and Valesca would not have made you a target. Dear Zeus, I still can't forgive MYSELF for hitting you the time you stood up for me when those villagers thought I had killed their friends; can't forgive myself for letting, no making, you go up against Thalmadeus, or for taking you through the war between the Mintoans and Thessalians.!" " What in tartarus was I thinking of, putting you in such danger!" "I almost lost you ...forever!" "And now, now that I have dared to claim you as my lover...my mate......!" She tightened the embrace she had on Gabrielle, and took a deep breath. 'What is going to happen when it becomes known that you, my heart, my life, ARE to only thing in this world I cannot live without, the only thing I WILL give my own life to protect! "It is too risky for you. What happens if I get distracted in a fight and you are hurt or kill......... "her throat closed as she burned an intense look into Gabrielle's eyes, almost as if she were looking at her for the last time, trying to memorize her face.

"So that's it," Gabrielle replied stroking her thumb across Xena's warm lips.

"Gabrielle", Xena whispered, trying to quill the passion threatening to over take her.

"Xena, now you listen to me." Xena's eyes locked into Gabrielle's, her attention focused solely on the green-eyed beauty in her lap.

"I accepted that part of our life even before we made love to each other." "I have always been aware of your feelings of responsibility towards me, that my being with you caused you to be distracted at times, fearing for my safety." "There were times in the beginning when I thought you would be better off if I left." Xena opened her mouth to protest, but was cut short by a quick kiss. "But I couldn't Xena, I loved you and being near you was all I could think about, all I ever wanted!" "I learned to use the staff so you wouldn't always have to protect me and I got good enough to even help you at times." "We have been able to handle things so far, haven't we"? "We can't hide our love for each other now any better than we hid our friendship." "We wear it like we wear our clothes!" "You are the light in my eyes, the breath in my lungs, the passion in my blood!" "Others were aware of it long before we were, even your own mother knew!" "How can I hid that, can you?"

"NO," she whispered.

"Xena I am not that little girl you let tag along, I've grown up, or haven't you noticed?"

"Oh, believe me I've noticed", Xena whispered as she draw a burning line down Gabrielle's spine from neck to waist, causing Gabrielle to tighten her hold. They stayed that way for several moments, lost in the closeness of the other. Gabrielle listening to the beat of her lover's heart; Xena lost in the thought of how well their bodies fit, Gabrielle's head tucked perfectly under her chin. The world drained away, the salt air blew about them, the sun warmed their naked flesh. For the first time since Xena had left her home in Amphipolis, all those years ago, she felt peace; for the first time since Gabrielle left Poteidiea she felt she was truly home.

As close as they were at this moment, close enough to wear each other's skin, breathe the same breath, share the same heartbeat, Xena needed more. She reached to bring Gabrielle's face to hers, lowered her head and placed a kiss on those perfect, warm lips. As the passion was about to overcome them, Xena shuddered, the hair on her neck rose, and her skin crawled. Opening her eyes, but not braking the kiss, she spoke against Gabrielle's lips.

"Gabrielle, don't move," she cautioned urgently, "don't ask any questions, just trust me"

Xena reached for her sword lying on the crate beside her, slowly rose, Gabrielle still wrapped around her, kissed her quickly, then let her slide down her body to the deck, guiding her to stand behind her. Xena raised her sword to the empty air in front of them. With a crackle and a flash, Ares appeared, sword sticking through his neck, a crooked smile on his lips.

"Oh you really must tell me how you do that Xena." Ares words held a little too much passion in them to suit Xena's taste. She really loathed this arrogant god and didn't miss an opportunity to let him know it.

"How I do what, Ares?" She spit back.

"How you always know when I'm around, BEFORE I show myself." "Could it be that you have feelings for me." His voice low and seductive.

Xena sneered. "Oh I have feelings for you, Ares, I have a feeling right now in fact."

Sneering, she walked slowly toward Ares, pushing the sword through his neck to the hilt, coming face to face with the god of war.

'And what feeling is that," he asked drawing a line down her arm and a curse from her lips.

"The feeling of how much I would like to RIP out your heart and FEED it to you," she answered twisting the sword as she spoke.

"Is that anyway to greet an old friend?"

"Old maybe, but definitely not a friend!"

"After all we have been through together... Xena?......" he cooed.

"You mean after all YOU have PUT me through, don't you Ares." "I don't remember you ever suffering through anything!"

"Speaking of through, my dear, could you remove the sword, we do fell pain you know."

"Good," Xena snarled, twisting the sword one more time before she withdrew it. "I'd would hate to be the only one enjoying myself."

"And you certainly have been enjoying yourself lately haven't you, my dear?", eyeing Gabrielle.

"What do you want, Ares, I really don't have time for your little games"

"Can't I just drop by to say hello to my favorite warlord." "Love the outfit by the way."

"You never struck me as the sociable type, Ares, and I am no longer a warlord and I was NEVER yours!" She hissed back into his face as she turned to rejoin Gabrielle. "And stop staring, scum!"

"Oh sure you were Xena, and you will be again, I promise you that."

"In your dreams, Ares, in your dream... Suddenly clarity struck Xena like a thunderbolt! "Or should I say in MY dreams, you rotting piece of sheep dung!" "You are the cause of my nightmares, YOU did this to me, didn't you!" She raised her arm to the God of War.

Ares paled, but did not speak.

"Well, play your little games, Ares, I have always been able to outsmart you." "Try all you want, I do NOT and NEVER will belong to you!"

"If not me then who, Xena, your little friend there, you belong to her?' "You give your heart to her... along with your body?" His anger could not be hidden.

"Gabrielle has nothing to do with the things between you and I, Ares, so leave her alone!"

"She has everything to do with what is between you and I, but you will learn that in time, my dear, then you will return to me"

"I will never come back to you, I'd kill myself first, and you'd still lose, wouldn't you?"

And here was the one thing Ares could not deny was true. Xena was telling the truth, she was willing to die before she would come back to him, He knew that, so he would have to find a way to rid himself of this irritating blonde and make Xena dependent on him without her losing her life, but how! Kill Gabrielle and take advantage of Xena's grief, perhaps, but not likely. Ask the Fates to drive her mad and control her through that madness...... I still think that plan has promise Themis, He thought, recalling the recent encounter with his Aunt.

Xena saw the mused look on War God's face. It fueled a look of anger Gabrielle had never seen before, but Ares had, He put it there! His smile broadened to see it back. This may be easier than I expected, He thought!

Xena boldly stared into Ares face. "Whatever evil, twisted plan you seem to be hatching, Ares, I will fight you!"

"Oh, I count on it, my dear", reaching up to draw the back of his hand along Xena cheek.

Grabbing his wrist she sneered, " And I promise you, I'll Win!" She held his look in a bold stare.

"We'll see about that, won't we my dear?" In a blink, he was gone.

She stood there for a few moments, trying to still the rage. She didn't know which was harder to control at that moment, the flame of hated for Ares, or the smoldering, unquenched passionate need for Gabrielle. She needed Gabrielle now, desperately, but knew her intense rage would bring her to intense passion! Gabrielle was not ready for this side of her nature, she may never be, Xena's brain cautioned, If I reveal that kind of passion, I may lose her! Focus Xena, Focus!

Gabrielle broke her silence.

"Xena, be careful, He is not someone you want to anger." "And what did you mean He is the cause of your nightmares, your injuries?"

"Gabrielle, I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out." "Ares was behind this whole thing, his twisted way of trying to lure me back." He put those tortured scenes in my mind." "But, there is something else, something I can't put my finger on..... someone else.." With a flash of anger she brought her sword down so hard she cut the crate they had been sitting on in two. Xena turned and stormed off down to the far end of the ship's deck, but not before Gabrielle caught those sky blue eyes rimmed in a dark sapphire glow.

"Xena!" she screamed after her lover.

Xena just keep walking, swinging her sword wildly over her head, connecting with everything in her path. She cursed as she caught the fear in Gabrielle's eyes, her heart ached as a cold fist clenched around it, seeing Gabrielle run down the stairs. Just as well I guess. I would only hurt her if I took her now, or lose her! "But I need her, I need to lose this anger in her touch, put out its fire with the wetness of her kisses.....her...."

Below, Gabrielle had thrown herself across the bed, their bed! Hot, salty tears streamed down her face, she beat the surface under her with her fists.

"Why does she run from me?" "I know she wanted me, I could feel the heat coming off her as if standing by a fire." "I could help her release that rage!"I WANT that warrior passion!" "Probably still thinks she has to protect me, sees me as a little, naive' girl that doesn't understand that sometimes love is not just soft touches and tender words. "She forgets that I lived with the Amazons, Ephiny told me about battle-lust, actually it was more of a warning, Oh gods even she knew how we felt each other!" "She told me that it took a true bondmate to be able to put out the fire of battle-lust, to be able to join with a warrior for life...for life!" "Oh how can I make her understand that I can take everything she can give, that I want her to share with me the need of a warrior for her mate." "I want her to possess me totally, holding back nothing; to be the only one who can quench that rage, that passion!." "I know I hold her heart, I need to hold her soul!" "And in doing that, she will then hold mine!" "Oh, Xena..........." new tears rising to claim her voice.

On the deck above she could hear the attempts at releasing the rage. With every blow Xena's sword made, every cry of frustration, every curse, Gabrielle ached to take her lover in her arms. She longed to be the field Xena fought her battle on. Longed to let her fight it out, with her, then to hold her, love her, the only way a true mate can. Ephiny told her of the strength a warrior's mate must have to take that battle-lust and turn it into tenderness, to save them from the horrors of battle, of rage. That is why joining was taken so seriously among the amazons, why they took time to live together, before making the decision. Now she understood Ephiny's warning, "A queen must chose wisely, for she only chooses once!" Gabrielle was determined to reach Xena's soul, take all her lover had to give, tender or otherwise, and with that thought she realized what Xena had never found with all her lover's, someone able to give her the one thing she had always sought, the one thing Gabrielle now hoped only she could give, Peace!

With a renewed purpose, she gathered the large comforter from their bed, and headed for the upper deck. Slowly she walked to where Xena now stood, panting, flushed, and drenched in sweat. Gabrielle reached out to touch Xena's arm. Before she could speak, Xena gripped her wrist, pinned her arm behind her, took her breast roughly in her other hand, and crushed Gabrielle's lips with her own passion crazed warmth. Gabrielle stood her ground. Even though the kiss stung, her arm and breast ached, she met Xena,s devouring lips with her own insatiable passion, bringing a hand up to cover the one assaulting her breast, the other to pull Xena's head more fully into her kisses.

Xena grabbed a hand full of strawberry softness. Pulling Gabrielle's head back to look into her eyes, she growled.

"You want me, you want this, amazon, well you got it!"

Gabrielle was not going to loss this battle. She grabbed Xena's hand and placed it inside her. Xena arched an eyebrow, but never took her dark, smoky eyes from the the deep forest green, staring back at her. Gabrielle just smiled as she took a dark nipple in her mouth and traced it with her tongue, forcing Xena to match the rhythm with her fingers. Gabrielle intensified her action. Xena, try as she might, could do nothing but follow. The battle had begun! As Gabrielle closed her teeth around Xena's hard flesh, Xena grabbed her own erect prize.

"Gabrielle, if you have any doubts, please tell me now, any further and I won't be able to stop!"

Gabrielle said nothing, she just lifted herself to look Xena in the eyes, wrapping her legs around her lover's waist.

"Xena, if you truly love me, take this last step!" "I can take whatever you give, trust me, I love you!"

"Then forgive me, my love!"

"You will only need forgiveness if you stop, my princess, only if you stop!"

As Xena lowered Gabrielle to the soft blankets at her feet, she lowered herself to the flesh clinging to her, knowing that at the end of this she would either be redeemed, or damned! She would either lose her soul to the flames of Tartarus or to the green-eyed savior now pinned beneath her!

Gripping both of Gabrielle's hands, she pinned her arms above her head, then began her assault. Fierce, driven, she left not part of her lover untouched, inside or out, except her eyes. Those she would leave for the end, for there would be her sentence, the look in her lover's eyes!

Gabrielle took it all, every bite, every thrust, every grasp of flesh. She had suspected Xena was capable of this fierceness, but she had not expected she would be so excited by it! Time and again Xena took her to the edge, only to stop, cruelly leaving Gabrielle at the edge of madness! She strained against her captor trying to free her hands, to join in the passion, but she was held in an iron grip. She never uttered a word, she knew better.

Xena's mind raced, fevered with lust! This is not for pleasure, not love, she repeated over in her mind! But her body was saying something else, something she had not experienced during raging lust before, it was asking to be set free, to lose itself in the form beneath her. As the edge of release again reared its head, Xena realized she was as close to it as Gabrielle was, and her mind screamed, RUN, RUN now before it is to late! Her mouth screamed ENOUGH, ENOUGH, NO MORE, NO MORE! She let go of Gabrielle trapped hands, and started to get up, but Gabrielle was faster, and caught Xena with both arms and legs before she could escape her.

"Finish it, warrior, if you truly love me, finish it!" Gabrielle cried breathless.

"Sweet Mother of Zeus Gabrielle, please let me go, I can't!", Xena cried.

Reaching to lift her lover's face to hers, Gabrielle said.

"Xena look at me, LOOK AT ME!"

Xena, terrified, looked into the eyes of her lover..... and was sentenced......

A look of utter, complete, undying love shone in the dark, emerald eyes swimming in tears.

Xena know this was the crossroads, the point of no return. If she let this chance go she, knew she would lose Gabrielle for sure. No one in her life had ever been able to turn this rage, this lust into wanting, into need, into love! She was shaking, but somehow found the strength to gather her lover back into her arms, tenderly this time, and kiss her, touch her lovingly. Quickly the passion rose, the force, the driving, burning need, but this time not from pain, not in rage, but in passion, a passion Xena later learned was to replace the rage. She had yet to learn that she would take her lover many times with just this same intense need but never again in rage, no that beast was dead, slain by a green-eyed savior!

As she slid her long fingers into the warmth of her amazon mate, she took one of Gabrielle's nipples in her mouth, and the other in her free hand. She laid her own hot, passion soaked center firmly on the muscled thigh beneath her. Gabrielle moaned at the feel of the liquid fire sliding up and back against her, searching between them to take Xena's nipple with one hand and closed the other around the wrist sliding in and out of her. Passion rose, until it's heat threatened to consume them. With long, forceful strokes Xena took them both to the edge, willingly plunging over, both together, both fevered, both wild! Her thought as they released their passion in unison, was that this was becoming the rule, instead of the exception! She silently asked that she never have to experience anything in life from that moment on that without Gabrielle at her side. Before Gabrielle could recover, the warrior launched another assault, driven, focused, wild. Again, and again, and again they fell as one, smooth slickness against smooth slickness, sky blue staring into sea green, golden tan melting into ivory cream. One heart beat where once there was two. One breath, one soul, one eternity, one destiny!

In the shadows leered one God, one hatred, one purpose, one jealousy! From his lips a single curse, a single vow, "Soon, my Dark Warlord, soon!" As he left, the sound of a drawn sword, and a single thread of light receding in the shadows beside the lovers, now in the midst of a kiss, riding out the last waves of their passion.

Spent, Xena rolled to the side and started to get up, but Gabrielle caught her by the wrist, pulling her back down on the blankets. Xena sat there, head and eyes lowered not yet being able to look at Gabrielle. How had this women been able to do what no one else could ever do? When did I fall so completely in love....? I must be out of my mind!

Sighing deeply, she tried to leave again, only to be caught by her lover's hand, soft and warm on her shoulder. She wanted to turn and take Gabrielle in her arms again; she wanted to run. Ambivalence held her, just as Gabrielle's grasp held her, and she could do nothing but sit, her heart pounding, mind swimming, blood boiling!

Gabrielle sensed that this was a new experience for Xena. She could see the outward signs of the inward battle play across Xena's face. How could she have never known this kind of love before? She is so beautiful, so passionate, so.....? Gabrielle wanted to take her lover in her arms; she wanted to erase the past from her mate's mind, wanted to leave only this, her love, her desire, her memory!

She could do nothing but sit, afraid she would scare her lover into leaving if she pressed her to much to talk. She slowly ran her fingers along Xena's arm, and waited.

She did not have to wait long.....Xena turned and took Gabrielle again into her arms, and laid her back into the blankets. Kissing her tenderly, asking for entrance with her tongue, Xena began to run her hands down her lover's sides.

They both headed to that now familiar cliff and jumped off. At the bottom, during that moment of recovery, Xena realized that Gabrielle had won. Xena realized that she had just made LOVE! Not lust, not rage, LOVE! Desire born from the need to be complete! Xena started to rise, but again Gabrielle caught her. It was time to speak.

"There is no need to run, my love, not this time, not from me." Her words were as soft as the breeze that played at their sweat soaked bodies. Gabrielle rose and came to sit in her lover's lap. Xena could not bring herself to look into her eyes. Gabrielle understood why, she could wait.

"You never had this happen before have you?" No one has ever turned that raging lust into passion, into love, have they?" Gabrielle's voice was but a whisper against her mates chest. "Once you satisfied your battle-lust, put the raging beast back in its cage, you'd just leave or send your lover away." "You never let yourself need anyone, I mean really need them, did you?" She leaned back to look at her lover, who was still unable to met her eyes. Gabrielle had but one question, one need left and then it would be real, never again to be doubted.

"Why now, Xena, why me?"

That question drew Xena eyes to Gabrielle's like a magnet; locked them in love, tears ran unchecked down her face, she answered.

"Now, because I can no longer fight my passion for you!" "You, because I love you, I need you with all my being, no one else Gabrielle..... you, I am in love with YOU. I have been in love with you from the first moment our eyes met! You hold my soul, my light, you have me completely, my mate!"

MY MATE! Tears escaped Gabrielle's eyes as well, falling on her breast. Xena followed them as they ran down to settle on the bruises she had left. A reminder of her rage, of how strong Gabrielle had been. She grimaced, then bent to trace their path with her tongue, lightly kissing each destination.

"Gabrielle, I'm so sorry...I needed you so much...I didn't want you to see this......didn't want to hurt you!"

"I'll live", she whispered as Xena continued to lightly kiss the bruises on her lover's breasts.

"And if that is your treatment for bruises, I"ll gladly take another."

"By all the gods, I don't deserve you, my love," half-crying, half-laughing.

"You may not deserve me, but you have me, for the rest of our lives!'

"Well then, here's to a long life!" came Xena's reply as she bent to kiss her mate.

Gabrielle leaned into it, pushing Xena back against the deck. After several moments of passionate kisses, Xena asked.

"Haven't you had enough, for one day?"

"Who me, never!" Besides we have some unfinished business," she breathed as she took a dark nipple in her mouth.

"Oh Gabrielle, just how much did Ephiny tell you?" "Ouch, what was that for?" Gabrielle had left her own mark.

"That, my sweet princess, was for doubting me, and this is for trusting me," she replied as she pinned Xena's arms over her head, with a wicked smile.

"As for what Ephiny told me, you will just have to wait to find out." "Let's just see if you can take all I can give!" Tenderly she repeated all the moves Xena had made in rage. Xena did not resist. She gave her body over to her mate as she had given over her soul!

After Gabrielle had spent her passion, as Xena had spent her rage, she nestled herself along her lover's side, pulled the blanket over them, and laid her glowing face on Xena's dark shoulder. Gabrielle tucked her thumb into her mate's cleavage, and as they drifted off to sleep she thought she heard "Peace" slip from her lover's lips!

CHAPTER 5

Xena had awakened from a nightmare a few candlemarks after she and Gabrielle had fallen asleep. She was wet with sweat and trembling. She struggled to bring herself under control before Gabrielle woke and found her shaking. To let Gabrielle see her warrior lust was one thing, to let her see her trembling like a frightened rabbit, was quite another. At least she now knew that if that raging beast returned, she had Gabrielle's love and strength to help her deal with it. She was still amazed at the strength of her lover. Amazed that this small emerald-eyed beauty lying in her arms had done what one other being had been able to do, had brought her peace. She closed her eyes against the tear threatening to fall and whispered a thankyou to whatever God was listening for the gift clinging to her in sleep, legs entwined, head resting on her chest, hand securely tucked into her cleavage. In the distance she heard the thunder, smelling the scent of rain in the air. She brought her hand up to stoke the cheek of her mate, slowly rising. The movement had Gabrielle awake in an instant.

"What is it, what's wrong Xena".

"Nothing, my love, but I think it is time to go below, it will be raining soon," she replied as the distant thunder rolled. Reluctantly, Gabrielle got to her feet and began to gather the washing. Xena collected her sword, chakram, and the blankets, following her lover below as the first raindrops fell. Once below deck, Gabrielle made the bed and put the clean laundry away, as Xena cleaned her sword and returned it to it's scabbard.

"Would you like some tea to warm you up," Xena called as she watched Gabrielle put the last of the laundry into their traveling bags.

"Oh I can think of a much better way to warm up," came the low throaty response.

"I'll just bet you can, Miss Imagination!" she retorted as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"ME?" Miss Imagination, huh?" "Well tell me you weren't thinking the same thing, Miss One track mind!"

"One track mind is it?" I'll have you know that is called focus, Gabrielle....F.O.C.U.S. focus!"

"Well, warrior, F.O.C.U.S on this!" she seductively purred as she came to stand in front of her lover, breasts just inches away from Xena's hungry lips.

"Oh I love it when you talk dirty!" "Tell me want you want Gabrielle.....what you need."

"I want you to take me in your mouth, to put your hand inside me right now!" I need to feel your skin on mine, feel your heat!"

Without a flicker of hesitation, Xena took an erect nipple in her mouth, sucking and biting tenderly, while she reached around with both hands to knead Gabrielle's firm butt, lightly raking her nails across the soft flesh causing the amazon to shudder.

After several moments of this torture Gabrielle's knees started to weaken causing her to fall forward placing both hands on Xena's strong shoulders for support, moaning in ecstasy!

Xena, aware of her lover's loss of control, stood bringing Gabrielle with her, turned and gently laid her on the bed. Moving from her queen's breasts to take her lips in a passionate kiss, Xena stretched her tanned form its full length, slowly sinking into the warm creamy flesh beneath her. The breath caught in her throat! Would her desire for this beauty ever decrease? Would her need of her ever NOT be the first thing she thought of with the sunrise? Ever NOT be the last thing in her mind as she drifted into dreams? Would the passion in her blood ever cool where this green-eyed wonder beneath her was concerned? NO, came the answer! Never, not even an eternity would be long enough to love her!

As she broke the kiss, Gabrielle whispered with passion, "Xena if we lived an eternity, I would never get enough of you!" "Please, take me, take me with a warrior's heart, a warrior's touch!" And Xena knew that her mate wanted all she could give, unyielding, intense, heated! The soft touches and gentle words would come later, just before sunrise, just before they slept, exhausted, content!

Several candlemarks passed before the two lovers, spent and glistening with sweat, wrapped themselves around each other to sleep.

"I love you, my sweet," came Xena contented voice.

"And I you my Warrior Princess, my love!" whispered the bard into her lover's chest.

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Xena woke suddenly, not from the clap of thunder or the sound of rain, but by the coldness and lack of pressure where Gabrielle should be.

"Gabrielle", she called into the dim cabin. "Gabri...., she called again but before she could get out her name she noticed her mate at the desk, head resting on her arm.

"Gabrielle, it's late, can't you write whatever is on your mind in the morning, and come back bed?" It's cold all by myself" Gabrielle?" Gabrielle?" Fearing something was wrong with her love Xena rushed to her side only to find her sleeping, her quill still in her hand. Eyes gleaming with love and a smile of utter joy on her face, Xena bent down to gather up her lover and return to their bed. That is until her eyes fell on a parchment under Gabrielle's arm, a parchment written in that small, perfect script Xena knew so well. She always marveled at the perfect lines and curves to Gabrielle's handwriting, and how she always could keep the lines straight.

"Oh, my love, what a rare gem you are", she whispered, taking the quill out of Gabrielle's hand and once again reaching to gather her in her arms. Then her eyes caught sight of the title of the poem and without thinking she reached for the parchment, bringing it to the candlelight to read.

Redheart 1999

The tears run unchecked down the chiseled cheek, her chest filled with a warm glow she had never felt before, that is until Gabrielle came into her life. Lying the parchment back on the desk, she picked up her life, her destiny lovingly in her arms and brought her back to their bed. She pulled her lover into her arms while her thoughts drifted back to to words she had just read. She slowly trace circles on the naked flesh of Gabrielle's shoulder, letting a tear escape from her eyes. How could she have those kinds of feelings for me? I could never measure up to the image of the person in that poem, probably just a bard's view, that freedom of fancy they seem to have for stretching the truth.

As she continued to ponder over the poem, Xena missed to fact that her lover was now awake. It only took Gabrielle a few seconds to realize that Xena had brought her back to bed and therefore, she must have also read the poem. Gabrielle turned her head to look at her mate, catching the wetness on her cheeks and the far away look in her eyes, she knew she had assumed correctly.

"So you read the poem", she whispered.

"What?" came a far away reply.

Raising up on one elbow, stroking Xena's cheek with her hand to get her attention, Gabrielle repeated,

"You read the poem, didn't you?"

"Yes, Gabrielle, I read it, but it isn't m...."

"Oh yes it is, my love, my warrior!" "I only write the truth"

"Are you sure you didn't add a few things, just to give it that touch?"

"No Xena, this time it is 100% accurate, if anything I had trouble finding words to say how much you mean to me. "Where you are concerned my love, I am better at live demonstrations!"

They kissed, passionately, Gabrielle slowly letting her hand travel to the heat between her warrior's legs. Xena gently reached to fondle her amazon's breast, turning her palm against the nipple in slow circles. Now was the time for soft words and gentle touches, now as an orange-pink glow peered over the horizon.

Soft moans filled the dawn air, and somewhere in the shadows came a muffled curse, the chink of a sword being drawn, and a slender thread of golden light receding into the darkness.

The two lovers rode each other's passions as the ship rode the waves, all three vessels searching for their way home. As they returned once again from that climactic abyss, Xena drew her arms around her lover and whispered softly in her ear.

"Gabrielle, you are my Peace!"

The rest of the trip was uneventful or should I say there were no more Godly interruptions.

Little did the lovers know what awaited them on their return........ or did they"

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To be continued in Part two "Redemption of Darkness". Comments can be sent to Redheart at ZNA@netscape.net, but only those of a sensitive nature.