GENERAL COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER
Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, are
the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. This is just for fun. No copyright infringement was intended.
For other disclaimers please refer to the first chapter Festival1
The next morning the travelers gathered their belongings and set off on the road to the Amazon village. Gabrielle was moving beside Argo with a free, swinging gait that ate up the leagues. The bard's mind had wandered into the trees wondering if there were any berry bushes. Xena pulled her attention back with the statement, "You still need to tell me about the other nights at the festival."
"Well, they aren't exactly equal to the sexual exploits of the Warrior Princess, but if you insist," agreed the bard.
...
The second day of the festival dawned cool and clear with a slight breeze coming in from the South. This went unnoticed by the occupants of the royal hut who spent the early morning cozily snuggled together on the bed. When Gabrielle's eyes finally opened, she found her head pillowed on a soft breast with one arm and a bent leg thrown casually over her bed mate. The body beneath her seemed smaller and somewhat softer than she was expecting and her sleep-filled mind tried to reason why this was so. With a start, Gabrielle realized this was Ephiny's shoulder not Xena's and details of the previous evening came flooding back. "Good morning," said the Regent softly as Gabrielle smiled up at her. "You certainly cuddle up in your sleep. Do you do that to Xena too?"
"Oh yes," agreed Gabrielle. "Sorry, I forgot about that. We started to sleep together when it was cold. Then Xena and I both had bouts of nightmares. Sleeping together helped. It is cheaper at inns and Xena says it's safer. Now it is just habit."
"Sure it is," chuckled Ephiny stretching. ["Xena is that a blush?"]
Gabrielle just looked at her friend and shrugged. "So what is the event today?" The bard asked rolling over and sitting.
"Already looking forward to my replacement?" Ephiny joked as she moved to the wash basin. The Regent noticed that her friend was watching closely as she cleaned the last traces of the night's passion from her body.
"No, that is not it at all," stammered the Queen red faced remembering exactly what the winner of the day's event received. Gabrielle looked coyly at her friend as she too started to dress for the day. "Besides how do you know it won't be you?"
"Another night with you is a wonderful incentive," assured the Regent warmly. Ephiny allowed herself a slight caress as she adjusted the Queen's bracer. "But I know my limitations. Today is the edged weapons competition. There will be knife throwing contests, dagger matches and sword bouts. Swords are judged the hardest so the winner of today's round with most likely be the weapons master. I am not bad but I lack the necessary strength needed to win the event."
"Hum," Gabrielle murmured as the finishing touches were put on her outfit. With thoughts of olive toned, rippling sinew running through her head, Gabrielle whispered, "Strength is good."
"Somehow I was sure you would see it that way," Ephiny laughed as she ushered her friend out of the hut. "Come along, my Queen. Let's go get some breakfast and start the day's festivities."
After breakfast, the Queen resumed her seat on the reviewing stand and the warriors commenced the games. Gabrielle thought the knife throwing particularly beautiful as each Amazon stood poised on the line for an instant before loosing the glistening weapon at target twenty paces away. The event winner was a scout that Gabrielle had never met before. The young woman blushed rosily when the Queen congratulated her on the victory.
The opponents in the dagger matches moved quickly around the fighting circle, each one trying to score first blood while avoiding the other's flashing blade. Eponin defeated all comers; often offering unsolicited critiques of their performance as she went along. The Queen finally had to remind her that these were not training classes and to save the comments for another time. After watching Eponin trounce her challengers, Gabrielle settled in to view the next event. The yard was cleared and the fighting circle enlarged for the sword matches. The young Queen's heart was in her throat as the warriors surged back and forth in their deadly dance. During the final bout, Eponin strove against a younger, faster opponent. Eponin stumbled and went down hard. The warrior looked up from one knee at the blade streaming down. As the weapon descended, Eponin spun to the left and the sword struck a finger's length into the earth. Eponin rolled back on top of the blade trapping it and ripping the handle out of the attackers hand while bringing her own blade up to the woman's throat for the final tag. The tableau stood frozen for an instant before the defender conceded. Eponin rose flush with victory.
The weapons master swept the Queen an elegant bow as she approached the reviewing stand. Gabrielle descended two of the three carved steps to greet the victor. "Thus I offer the Amazon kiss of friendship," Eponin intoned as she clasped Gabrielle's shoulders and formally kissed both cheeks.
"Thus I confer the Queen's blessing," Gabrielle replied solemnly kissing the warrior on the forehead.
"And this one is for me!" Eponin continued with a maniacal grin as she lifted the Queen in her arms and spun her in a circle, all the while kissing her deeply.
"Eponin, put me down!" ordered Gabrielle. The order would have seemed more forceful had it not been issued in a breathless voice as the Queen gripped the rock hard sinews that held her aloft.
"Anything you say," agreed Eponin letting Gabrielle slide the length of her body to the ground. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'll get cleaned up while you judge the children's games and I'll see you at dinner." With a quick wink, the weapons master trotted off towards the communal showers.
The Queen's roll as judge for the juvenile games was purely ceremonial. Nonetheless, the participants looked anxiously to Gabrielle for any sign of approval and shone with pride as she praised each performance. The sword bouts had been deemed too advanced for the younger amazons so they had joined their mothers and friends in as spectators. Now however, the contestants went to work with fervor. As had happened with archery, the children's games mirrored the adults in the dagger bouts and throwing events. The winner of both events today was a slim girl named Keri. When the Queen congratulated her on the day's events, the girl's smile threatened to split her from ear to ear. "I see you have garnered another one," Eponin whispered as she joined the Queen.
"I don't know what you are talking about," began Gabrielle as she turned to face her friend. The Queen's voice trailed into silence. The warrior was resplendent in her formal leathers. Eponin's gear included an additional shoulder piece with brass overlay indicating her position as weapons master for the tribe. Gabrielle noticed the armor had been polished until it gleamed. The warrior straightened as she caught the Queen's approving gaze and offered her arm to escort her to the feasting.
The evening meal included many items unfamiliar to Gabrielle. Eponin noticed her escort eyeing her plate warily and inquired, "Is there something wrong?"
Gabrielle gave the large, steaming red creature on her plate a distrustful glance and answered, "How exactly am I supposed to eat this?" *
Eponin smiled and quipped, "The right tool for the right job." With that she took a pair of nut crackers from in front her plate and deftly broke the shell. The warrior speared the pink meat with the tip of her dagger and brought the morsel to the Queen's lips.
Gabrielle closed her eyes and sighed blissfully as she tasted the steaming treat. The Queen looked at Eponin and opened her mouth for more. The weapons master grinned and proceeded to feed Gabrielle the remainder of her meal in the same fashion, taking small bites of her own food in between serving the Queen.
The surrounding Amazons rolled their eyes at Eponin's obvious flirtations. Then again it was her night. They decided that if she wanted to spend it feeding the Queen, that was her right.
After the meal the dancers took over the fire circle. This performance was not to last as long as that of the opening banquet, but the Queen thought it a nice way to round out the evening. Gabrielle's attention kept straying from the forms swaying in the firelight. Under cover of the dinning cloth Eponin had casually placed her hand on Gabrielle's right knee, just below the slit in her ceremonial skirt. The gesture, instead of being rebuked, was met with a slight tensing of the leg. The warrior began tracing idle patterns on the soft skin as she watched the dancers. Gabrielle began to twitch visibly as the fingers caressed their way along the inside of her thigh. At one point the queen leaned toward her escort and grated, "I am going to get you for this, Eponin."
"Oh I hope so Gabrielle," Eponin replied, her eyes resting two or three hand-spans below the Queen's face. "Besides, this is only the beginning."
Gabrielle was growing warm both from the sensations caused by the hand on her leg and the intensity of the warrior's' gaze. "Uh, Eponin. My eyes are up here," Gabrielle replied indicating the green orbs with one finger.
"Up here you say?" Eponin queried as she slid her hand up to firmly grip Gabrielle through the breechcloth.
The move caused Gabrielle to surge to her feet in surprise but not before Eponin felt a distinct dampness against her fingers. Luckily for the Queen her sudden move coincided with the end of the dancing and many took it as an overly enthusiastic gesture of support for the performers. Any of those with other opinions wisely kept it to themselves. After applauding the dancers, Gabrielle turn to her escort and firmly commanded, "Eponin, we will retire now."
"Anything you say, my Queen," replied the warrior with a grin.
After bidding the royal guard a hasty goodnight, Gabrielle entered the hut ahead of Eponin. The bard wondered that it was so dark. Normally there were lamps lit on either side of the bed as well as one on the desk to one side. Tonight there was only one small candle on the far side of the bed that shed little light on the room. "I wonder..." began Gabrielle, her mind drifting from her previously erotic thoughts.
"Don't," answered Eponin as she spun the queen around for a breath stealing kiss. Several minuets passed as Gabrielle felt her mouth being plundered by the weapons master. "I arranged it like this before I rejoined you at the games," Eponin continued as she strode forward, effectively backing Gabrielle into the wall of the hut even as she unfastened the Queen's laces. Gabrielle could feel the smooth grain of the wood against her back and the cool feeling of the warrior's armor against her suddenly bare chest. The air had been scented and a breeze blew noises from the party in through the open window. All that was lost to the sensations gathering in her lips, nipples and groin. Eponin's kisses had been rough on first contact but now it seemed that she could not get enough. Eponin backed off just enough to run callused hands across Gabrielle's nipples. Wanting more, Gabrielle pressed forward so that both breasts were enveloped by the weapons master's large hands. As the warrior kneaded the soft mounds Gabrielle brought her lips forward for another heated kiss crushing Eponin's hands between them.
"Harder," grated Gabrielle against Eponin's mouth.
"Is this what you want?" Eponin slid her palms to the sides and firmly grasped each nipple between thumb and forefinger. She alternately pinched and pulled as Gabrielle ground her pubic bone hard against her center. "Or could it be this?" Eponin pushed between Gabrielle's legs with one thigh. When the Queen moaned, Eponin unclasped the skirt then used both hands to grasp her lover by the hips and drag her upward. Bracing her foot on a lower cross beam, Eponin drug the Queen back and forth against her raised thigh. When Gabrielle's moans started to take on a rhythmic quality, Eponin paused and pushed her flush against the wall. Starting at the side of her mouth, Eponin kissed down the body in front of her until feasting on the large pulse point at her throat.
Gabrielle, concentrating on the lips at her neck, was unaware of the weapons master's intention until she felt the smooth kiss of steal on her leg. Before she could flinch, Eponin had neatly sliced through both sides of her breechcloth and resumed sliding her up and down the solid leg beneath her. The motion soon caused the torn rag to be displaced and slide wetly to the floor. At the feel of smooth skin beneath her and strong suction on her breast, Gabrielle's thighs clamped down on Eponin's leg and shuttered as her orgasm overtook her.
When the shaking subsided, Gabrielle opened her eyes and looked down at the still fully dressed warrior on whose leg she was resting. "I am afraid that was rather one sided, wasn't it?"
"Not nearly so much as you think," replied Eponin with a grin as she lowered the Queen to the ground and led her over to the bed. "Besides, like I said. This is only the beginning."
Now that her eyes were more accustomed to the dim lighting, Gabrielle could clearly see the covers turned down on the bed. There were flowers on the far bedside table with the candle. The opposite table held a bottle of oil, a collection of straps and what looked like a wooden tube in a leather sheath.
Gabrielle picked up the object and turned it slowly in her hands. She looked up to see Eponin disrobing and queried, "What is this?"
Eponin just looked at her. "Gabrielle, you must be joking."
"No," she disagreed. "What is it for?"
"It is for pleasure Gabrielle," answered the warrior as she finished with her boots. Eponin was truly a fine specimen. Her arms and legs rippled with muscle. Years of training had marked the olive skin with a mydrid of small scars. She had removed her leathers and boots and stood before her queen garbed only in a leather choker and a handful of feathers.
Gabrielle examined the object with renewed interest. "How does it work?"
"I would be more than happy to show you," murmured Eponin. The Regent had briefly filled her in on what had and had not been happening between the bard and her partner on the road. "Are you sure Xena doesn't have one of these?"
"No..." Gabrielle trailed off. "Wait a minuet. Do these come in different sizes? Xena has something like this only bigger. I asked her about it once and she just said it was a weapon."
"Well, I guess it can be," agreed Eponin. "The come in different sizes, shapes, colors, and materials. You name it. Some strap on like this. Some are hand held. We even have an artisan who specializes in them."
Gabrielle looked at the weapons master even more confused. "Why would you strap it on?"
Eponin just shook her head and adjusted the straps around her thigh. "Gabrielle, you have been with a man right?"
"Yes," she agreed.
Eponin attached the item, turned to face Gabrielle and asked, "Now what does it look like?"
"I can see Xena and I are in for a long talk," murmured Gabrielle.
Eponin just laughed. "Come here. As long as you are going to discuss these you should really know what you are talking about. Lay down on the bed. Now take the oil and rub it along the shaft."
Gabrielle poured a generous amount of oil on the tip of the shaft. The oil caused the leather to darken and swell slightly as it coated the cylinder. A small stream ran onto Eponin's thigh and down onto the bed. "Hades, Gabrielle. If you are going to put it on me at least warm it first!"
"Sorry," Gabrielle muttered as she rubbed the oil into the muscles of Eponin's firm stomach. Gabrielle slowed as she felt the smooth ridges under her fingers. She poured a small handful into her palm and blew on the liquid softly. "Like this?"
Eponin watched with eyes glazing over as Gabrielle bent over to rub the heated oil into her shoulder and down her arm. "Yes, just like that," Eponin agreed as Gabrielle set to work on the other arm. After liberally coating the second arm, Gabrielle proceeded to drag her nails up the sensitive skin from fingertip to shoulder. Eponin's only response was a shudder. When Gabrielle repeated the maneuver on her legs, the tremors seemed to shake her whole body.
"I seem to have missed a spot," murmured Gabrielle sliding her fingers between Eponin's legs. With an incoherent moan, Eponin shifted her legs apart and Gabrielle slid two fingers inside her. Even with her limited experience, Gabrielle could tell that Eponin was close to the edge. "Tell me what you need," she urged her.
"The shaft unhooks at the base. Please use that," begged Eponin.
Gabrielle quickly found the catches and unhooked the cylinder. As she slid the shaft in, a shudder racked Eponin from head to toe. "Faster." Gabrielle alternately followed the prompts of "Harder. Faster. Deeper. Again," until Eponin finally tensed so hard she tore the shaft from Gabrielle's hand and collapsed.
"That was certainly something." Gabrielle grinned down at Eponin.
"Well, the intensity makes up for only being able to do it once an evening," the weapons master grinned.
"If you want, I could..." began Gabrielle.
"No, no. It is not you," laughed Eponin. "Gabrielle, women are different. Some orgasm from something as simple as a kiss. Some can find pleasure several times a night. Some are more like men. One good one and we are done with that for the evening."
Gabrielle slumped back on the bed. She eyed the discarded apparatus somewhat wistfully and said, "Well, goodnight then."
"My friend," laughed Eponin, "just because I can't do that again doesn't mean you shouldn't. I get pleasure by giving pleasure and I did promise to show you the uses of this thing." Eponin was recovering as she spoke and leaned over to deliver a lingering kiss to the bard. As the motions grew more heated Gabrielle noticed that Eponin had reattached the shaft and was moving over her. "Tell me if this hurts or if I do anything you don't want me to. I want to please you," Eponin assured her friend.
Eponin slowly slid the sheath along the outside folds of Gabrielle's womanhood. "Does this feel good?"
"Oh yes," groaned the Queen. Gabrielle began to feel a sense of emptiness and want. "Inside please," she begged.
"Anything you say," agreed Eponin as she positioned the shaft at Gabrielle's apex. "Enjoy the feel. All it takes is the right tool." As Gabrielle opened her eyes to glare at her weapons master, Eponin slid the shaft smoothly inside.
"Oh sweet Artemis," Gabrielle groaned out as her eyes snapped shut. Gabrielle raised her knees to slide along Eponin's sides. The smooth friction of skin on skin and the fullness in her womb combined to flood Gabrielle's senses. Then there was only silence but for the soft murmurs of directions as Gabrielle and Eponin found a pace pleasing to the Queen. The next invocation came as the chosen one screamed out her Goddess's name.
"Thank you, Eponin," gasped Gabrielle.
"Anything you ask," murmured Epinon. After that, there was only silence, as the weary occupants slept to prepare for another day.
* Author's Note: All right, so I am not sure that lobsters are a delicacy in Greece. They are still more appropriate than anything Falafel serves.
As always, positive comments are appreciated. Constructive, negative comments are even welcome. Flames are really more trouble to write than they are to throw away.
I am going away for a couple of weeks to a camp where there are *gasp* no computers. Still, I will try to make it to town and check my e-mail. It not I will get to it at the beginning of August.
Thanks, Ryen
ryen__@hotmail.com
If you have questions or comments you can e-mail me at: prosper4@hotmail.com
Unkind comments will be wasted.
URL: /STO/amazons/festival3.html
UPDATE: 082499
© July 1999