WARNINGS AND DISCLAMERS

Gabrielle had been riding behind the warrior all morning. She started noticing that Xena seemed to be really tense. Xena was usually always calm and collectedÖ the perfect stoic warrior and only showed the slightest tension when she felt they were in danger, but there hadn't been any danger that the bard could perceive.

Xena's tension was starting to get so strong that Gabrielle actually thought she could feel it radiating off the warrior. Gabrielle continued to scan the area around them with one eye, looking for any sign of danger and trying to figure out what was spooking the warrior. She kept the other eye on the warrior as they continued down the road. If anything did go wrong Gabrielle was going to be ready to move, at least as fast as her sore and battered body would allow her. After everything she had been through since yesterday the bard didn't feel at all calm about the way Xena had been acting all morning.

It took about three candlemarks to finally reach their old campsite, arriving just before noon.

Xena stopped a short distance away from the camp and dismounted. "Gabrielle stay on Argo while I go check out the camp and make sure everything is ok first."

It was only a few minutes and the warrior returned. "Gabrielle everything seems to be as we left it, so maybe we'll be safe long enough to have lunch before we move on and I really need to apply some more salve and clean bandages to your back."

Gabrielle looked nervous and doubtful. "Ok... Just so long, as we don't have to stay too long." The bard was still feeling apprehensive over the nervous tension that seemed to be coming from the warrior.

"I'm just going to the lake to catch some fishÖ you're welcome to come along with me if you'd like to." Xena was trying to make the bard feel better if she could. Xena however felt like she really needed to go alone to try to release some of that tension that the bard was worrying about.

"I think I'll stay here and start packing up some of our gear and get a small fire started for the fish. You should be able to hear me if I yell, so I should be safe enough alone for a while." Gabrielle said with uncertainty in her voice. Gabrielle walked away slowly using her staff for a crutch and started to gather their things and pick up any small pieces of wood to use for kindling to start the fire.

Xena walked back over to Argo and released her so she could graze for a while.

Gabrielle was busy this time and didn't see the warrior get in her bag of personal gear before heading to the lake.

The warrior's 'battlelust' had become a constant burning and was starting to be almost too much to control. She was beginning to worry about what might happen if she didn't find some real outlet for it very soon. There had always been othersÖwarriors, slavesÖ this had never been a problem for the warrior before and she wasn't sure how she was going to deal with it.

Xena had gotten far enough from camp that she felt it was safe to stop and take care of her personal business, which didn't seem to do much good this time. The object that her lust had settled on after the battle was out of reach for many reason, only the latest being virginity. GodsÖ I still can't believe it. The warrior finally headed to the lake and caught some fish before returning to camp.

When Xena walked back into camp the fire was going, their gear was packed, and Gabrielle was sitting on a log by the fire looking extremely bored. I must have been gone longer than I meant to be, the warrior thought as she looked over at Gabrielle. I just hope she doesn't ask any questionsÖ I really don't think I could make it through an explanation of battlelust and the effect it has on things like, emotions, passions, and sexual needs to name a few.

To the warrior's relief Gabrielle didn't even look up at her when she entered the camp, but continued staring into the fire like she was looking at and studying something far off in the distance.

Xena put the fish on the fire and moved off to a clearing just a few feet away and started practicing with her sword hoping maybe just the shear exhaustion would be enough to help cool her blood for a little while at least. The burning battlelust that was trying to drive the feelings she had for the bard was the price she was having to pay for letting the warlord loose with that much rage and anger. She'd never found it too difficult to control the warlord until Brantius took the girl she loved and hurt her. The fact that Gabrielle hadn't been raped as Brantius had bragged did little to diminish the raging fire of her blood.

Gabrielle watched as the warrior practiced. The little honey-blonde loved to watch the strong muscular body move as the warrior worked out. It was almost like watching an erotic dance for the bard.

Gabrielle had never seen the warrior put such effort and fury into her practice session before though. Usually the warrior's practice sessions focused as much on self control and discipline as well as skill, but Xena was making this practice session look like an all out war with the demons of Tartarus. The warrior never put this much effort in with her sword except in a heated battle.

The bard was even more curious now than she'd been earlier. The warrior had been uncharacteristically tense all morning and now she was going full out in practice. Gabrielle had no idea what was going on, but decided that maybe it warranted keeping a little closer eye on the warrior for a while.

When the fish was done, Gabrielle yelled at the warrior. "Xena come on and eat now, it's ready."

Xena stopped practicing and took a couple of steps toward the camp. The warrior then looked from the plate in Gabrielle's hand to the face of the beautiful young bard with the jade green eyes and could feel the fire instantly starting to rekindle in her loins. "I'm not really hungry, go ahead and eat what you want and then we'll go."

Xena walked back over to the small clearing and threw herself back into her practice picking up where she'd left off. The practice seemed to be helping some and she didn't want to stop now. Besides, being too close to the bard right now would undo all her effortsÖ staying hungry was better.

Gabrielle picked at her fish for a while continuing to watch Xena practice. Finally the bard decided that she didn't want any more of the fish and finished cleaning the campsite and put out the fire. "Xena I'm ready to go whenever you are."

Xena stopped and looked over at Gabrielle. The warrior realized that the bard had already finished cleaning and packing up the campsite and had put the fire out.

The warrior sheathed her sword and fetched their medical supplies from the saddlebags and walked over to where Gabrielle was standing. "Will you need some help removing your tunic?" The warrior asked.

"No I think I can manage, just give me a minute." The bard replied. She turned her back to the warrior and started to remove her tunic. Xena could hear the bard trying to stifle her whimpers as it obviously hurt her stiffening back to try to pull it over her head

Xena took a step closer. "Here Gabrielle please let me help." As the warrior's hand touched the bard she jerked away. "I'm sorry Gabrielle did I hurt you?" the warrior said concerned.

"NoÖ not really. But I think I have it now anyway." The bard said as she renewed her efforts with even more determination. The honey-blonde's skin was still tingling where the warrior had touched her.

Xena said nothing else. She only stood and waited for Gabrielle to remove the tunic herself. Once the tunic was off, Xena again stepped forward to start removing the old bandages.

The bard again flinched as the warrior touched her.

The warrior hesitated in her ministrations thinking that she may have hurt the bard, but when Gabrielle said nothing and didn't move any further Xena continued.

"Gabrielle your back is still looking pretty bad. Hang on while I get something else to put on it." the warrior said as she walked back over and again got into the saddlebag with the medical supplies in it. Xena took out another powder and mix it into the salve she already had and returned to the bard.

"Here this should take a little more of the swelling out and may help some with the soreness." Xena said as she started to apply the salve to the small bard's back, which caused a little more whimpering from the bard. When Xena finished with the salve she then wrapped Gabrielle's back with fresh bandages. When Xena finished she turned and walked back to Argo and replaced the medical supplies in the saddlebags.

"Gabrielle would you like some help with the tunic?" the warrior asked, knowing the answer before she asked.

"No, my back is feeling much better now, I think I can get it this time." Gabrielle replied blushing.

Xena walked back to the golden mare and started putting the medical supplies back in their bag. When she turned the bard was still struggling with the tunic. "Gabrielle are you sure that you don't want my help?"

"Xena I said that I could do it!" the bard replied a little hotly.

"Do you want to ride?" the warrior asked.

"No Xena! I'm not a child I think I can take care of it and deal with it." the bard snapped at her.

Xena mounted the golden mare and again set out slowly in the direction of the Amazon Nation, while Gabrielle continued to struggle with her tunic.

The bard started to admonish herself, Gabrielle she offered to help. Why can't you control your stubborn pride? Now you can't get the damn tunic on by yourself and you're going to feel like a fool to have to ASK for help. Aren't you ever going to stop working so hard making yourself look and feel like an idiot? With these thoughts going through her mind she sit back down on the log she'd sat on earlier and buried her face in her hands. She bit down on her lip trying to control the tears of anger and frustration that were threatening to start pouring down her cheeks. Real grown up and adult of you bard!

Xena continued on for a short distance even when she realized the bard hadn't started to follow yet. When she did stop, she turned Argo around and faced in the direction from which she'd just come. Xena debated on her next action and wasn't exactly happy with the one she thought best to make. She turned the mare to the side of the road dismounted and sat down in the shade.

She had no idea how long Gabrielle was going to need to work this one out, but she was tired of trying to help and appease the little bard that so obviously didn't want any of her help and told her so.

After about a quarter-candlemark the warrior could feel the tension again start to build. She stood and removed her sword and again started to practice. Xena continued to practice for another candlemark and then decided it was time to do somethingÖ this had gone on too long already for the warrior. She mounted Argo and slowly walked the mare back toward the bard. Xena stopped directly in front of the bard, but kept her seat on Argo.

"Gabrielle what do you want to doÖ what do you want me to do?" The warrior asked.

The bard only shrugged and continued to watch the ground at her feet. She was too embarrassed to look the warrior in the eye. Trying to get Xena to see her as a woman just wasn't working out very well, not when she seen herself as a 'helpless infant' unable to even dress herself. It still wouldn't have been as embarrassing as it was now if she'd just accepted the warrior's help in the first place.

"Do you want me to help you put your tunic on or do you want me to go away and just leave you alone? Just tell me what it is that you want me to do and I'll do it." With that the warrior remained silent waiting for an answer.

Xena waited another quarter-candlemark and then dismounted Argo.

The warrior looked straight at Gabrielle, who was still studying the ground at her feet. "Gabrielle I've really enjoyed traveling with you and I would like to continue, but just as I didn't force you to go with me in the first place, I will not force you to go with me now." Still there was only silence. Xena turned and started to remove the bard's things from the mare, laying them on the ground beside the bard. The warrior remounted, "Gabrielle I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world."

Xena turned Argo and started back down the road before Gabrielle could see the tears that the loss of the bard was causing her. The warrior hadn't hurt this bad since she'd had to say goodbye to her brother Lyceus at his death.

The warrior had reached the spot that she'd spent over a candlemark waiting on the bard to make up her mind, when she heard Gabrielle scream her name. She turned the mare and looked back. The honey-blonde was running toward her holding the tunic over her breasts. Xena walked Argo back toward the bard and dismounted as she reached her.

"Xena I'm sorryÖ sometimes I let my pride overrule my mind and I tend to make a fool out of myself. I want to go with you if the offer is still open and you can forgive my foolishness." Tears were rolling down the bard's face.

"Gabrielle I'll never leave you behind unless YOU want me to." The warrior replied. She wanted to try to comfort the bard, but it seemed that Gabrielle jumped or flinched every time the warrior touched her lately.

"XenaÖ will you please help me with my tunic?" The bard said sheepishly lowering her head.

"Of course, if you want me to." The warrior moved forward to help the bard put the tunic back on. With that accomplished she asked the bard, "Do you want me to get your things?"

"YeahÖ I'm ready to go. I don't really want to hang around here all day." Gabrielle said as she walked back to her things with the warrior. Together they repacked the bard's things on Argo and Xena remounted yet again.

"Do you want to ride with me or walk?" The warrior questioned no longer taking anything as a given and let the bard dictate her own rules that they would play by.

"I think I'd like to ride for a little while." Xena really hadn't expected that answer and was pleasantly surprised and smiled as she extended her arm for the bard to take.

"You ready?" Xena asked the bard.

"Yeah, lets go!" Gabrielle replied

² Copyrighted January 1998 by DelShannon