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These pages were last updated: August 29, 1997
ŠJuly 1997
The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
She looked so regal. Powerful. Looking at her for a few moments in the sun could take Gabrielle's breath away. Xena's posture, while astride Argo, conjured up images of nobility. Gabrielle's image, meanwhile, conjured images of the sidekick, the follower. Yet, she was the Queen and Xena was the consort. The thought produced a smile on the strawberry blonde's lips and her eyes narrowed to one filled with seductive heat as she thought, "and such a luscious consort, too." Her heart swelled with a kind of pride. There weren't many who could call the Warrior Princess their own. Not that she felt like she owned Xena, but she knew very well that a piece of the warrior's heart was and always would be hers. That thought alone set her pulse to racing.
They'd made good time on their way to the Amazon's capitol, neither dawdling, nor being over hasty. Soon they would be on Amazon soil and Gabrielle would assume her mantle, but for now she was content with appearances. Xena was the Warrior Princess and she the lowly bard. There was room for both ways of being.
They'd left their haven early, so she could respond to the summons Ephiny sent their way. The bard already missed the almost constant skin on skin contact, even though she'd known it couldn't last forever. She just hadn't expected it to end so soon. Gabrielle deliberately hurried her pace, so she could walk besides her lover. She rested her hand against Xena's calf and received a genuine smile. The days of the warrior's jumpiness at Gabrielle's touch was long over. The genial warrior slowed Argo, "Would you like up?" The bard considered, weighing the pleasures of walking versus the pleasures of being with her mate. She realized that she really did feel the need to be touching Xena now. There would be other times to walk.
Xena scanned the bard's face and saw an unspoken need in her eyes. She made an executive decision, something she was very good at, and lifted her bard to the front of the saddle. Then she wrapped an easy arm around the woman's waist, lightly stroking that firm belly with the flat of her palm. She smiled as she felt Gabrielle's warm flesh respond to her touch. The warrior resisted the urge to do more and simply held the bard and when she felt the young woman's head roll back to Xena's strong shoulder, she knew she'd made the right decision.
It was a pleasant ride and it gave her mind some peaceful time to contemplate the phrasing of the summons. Ephiny had not stated an urgency, yet the request of itself made the the note seem pressing, especially since the Regent knew that the Queen was on her honeymoon. Yet, the messenger couldn't offer any word as to what the summons could be about. As far as she knew, all was well in the Nation. Which mean that this was not a commonly known matter. It gave one pause and it frustrated Xena, a little, because there was no further information for her to conjecture about. She usually liked to have as much information as possible. . .well, now that wasn't true. There'd been many times when she'd not had as much information as possible. Perhaps it was better to say, she liked to have enough information to make an educated guess. This was something Ephiny had not provided and this was what had Xena thinking. The only thing that was obvious as a probable object of discussion was the joining. But they had agreed to wait on discussing the ramifications until the festival.
So, Xena concluded, it was a matter of some urgency and possibly about the joining. Xena sniffed, No doubt someone had found some antiquated law or bylaw or sublaw or something to get Ephiny all in a stew. It was, after all, what had caused the dilemma (which Gabrielle handled admirably well) in the first place. That is, if this was about the joining. Really it could be anything. She let her mind wander around a bit as she contemplated the possibilities, though always paying strict attention to her surroundings and to Gabrielle's even breathing. Perhaps it was some political affair. They'd been summoned for one of those before, when the a few members of the council had questioned Gabrielle's right to the throne. Yet that kind of conflagration seemed unlikely. Gabrielle had won most of the council over right away and the others had followed later.
Xena smiled down at her snoozing bard and gave her a gentle squeeze. She decided to let the problem go for now, trusting that her instincts would take over if necessary. Thus, they rode in soft silence for a good while, until Xena gently nudged the Queen awake. There was no sense in having her be less than alert. The warrior stopped Argo, realizing Gabrielle would probably want a stretch before they continued on. Gabrielle smiled gratefully and allowed herself to be helped down. Then Xena leapt down herself, causing the bard's eyebrows to shoot up. "Argo could use a moment of rest and you could probably do with a snack."
Gabrielle grinned. "You know me so well."
The warrior smiled gently in response. "Yes. I do." Then she leaned and gave her wife a very earthy kiss. Their lips parted wetly as the separated for a breath. Gabrielle shuddered, savoring the warm results of the kiss. Xena looked up and cocked her head to the side a little, "Besides there's a stream nearby, and we could do with a refill." She nodded at the flask, which though not thoroughly empty was not entirely full and hung limply near the saddle. Gabrielle nodded understanding and procured the flask.
"I'll take care of this. It'll give me a chance to walk myself out a bit." Xena smirked a little. She did know her bard. The warrior watched with smoky pleasure as her lover walked away. What was it about that woman's hips? She loved watching them move. It was why she hardly ever protested when Gabrielle didn't want to ride. Well, there was also the heavenly view from up top. Looking down at Gabrielle had it's hidden benefits too. It was good for Xena any way. With that thought, the raven haired beauty grinned at herself and set about making a simple snack for the two of them.
The stream burbled along and Gabrielle found what she thought might be a good spot. She knelt down. She unstopped the flask and prepared to dip it when she thought she heard a very watery, "Noooo." She stopped and listened, shook her head and started to dip again. "Noooooooo." It sounded firmer this time. She stopped, looked around for Xena, because the warrior sometimes liked to fool her.
"Xena?" she asked the air and nothing answered. She did another bit of confused head shaking and shrugged. Then she started dipping the flask again. "NOOOOO." Suddenly her kilt was sodden and she found herself gaping at a watery, yet determined looking face.
She gulped and looked around, then back at the shimmering face that seemed to flow, yet be solid. She decided to play the bard. "Is there a problem."
"Prooooblem." The water answered.
She thought maybe it was a water sprite. She'd heard of those before. Maybe she just needed to ask permission, "Our flask is almost empty, we wish to refill it. May we?"
The waterface bubbled back and forth, "nnoooot here."
Gabrielle's answer was eloquent, "Huh?"
"Looook." Then the water splashed against the surface, moved forward and turned as if waiting.
"Oh, you want me to follow you?"
"Follow." Then the face burbled backwards and Gabrielle followed, but they didn't go very far before Gabrielle saw the problem. A small, bloated carcass lay in the water. Gabrielle suddenly felt a little green. That would not have been good. She looked around for a second and spotted a likely tool, then she very carefully removed the carcass from the water. The sprite, or whatever it was bubbled up to the surface again. "Thaaaank Yooou."
"You're welcome." Gabrielle said kindly. Then she looked at her flask and sighed.
"Follow." The waterface vocalized. Gabrielle hated to go further, but supposed she could follow the stream back to where she was before. She nodded and the face moved back some more. They went a little ways, though not as far as Gabrielle had feared, until they came to a spot where the water bubbled up clear and fresh.
Gabrielle clapped her hands when she spotted the spring. "Oh this is even better! Thank you!"
The water being seemed to smile then bowed. "Welcome majesty." Then it faded away with the stream. Gabrielle dipped her flask until it was full and the resealed it. Then she followed the stream back, past the carcass and to about where she thought she'd first met the watery being.
Xena looked up after deciding against playing a bored game of pebble toss and hearing familiar footsteps. "Took you long enough."
Gabrielle grinned and her bard self took over. "Have I got a story for you."
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These pages were last updated: August 29, 1997
ŠJuly 1997