Warlord Daze

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.

Xex Alert: Oh Boy Is There. .This is a Prurient Piece with a Bit of Kink (If you hear the crack of the whip then you'll be in the neighborhood) Proceed at your own risk. :)

When Xena and her mate returned to the camp, there was no uproar, no, "where have you been," no indication that they'd been gone for more than a few candlemarks. There was a comment of, "gee, that was quick," from a certain cheeky guard at the open flap of their tent, but it was the gold hoops in Solari's ears got the raised eyebrows from the warlord. The Amazon just smiled and bowed to Xena and her Queen respectfully. Gabrielle somehow managed to maintain her nonexpression, but it was a hard win. She entered their tent, following Xena, with majestic grace and nearly lost it when she saw the Esther and Vivian wearing gold rings too. Vivian had hers in her navel (She had a thing about needles nearing her face and the Amazons had compromised)

Xena grinned. She couldn't help it. This was SO like the Amazons. No doubt many of the Amazons would be pierced on some body part by the time this was all over. She could only imagine what would happen when they found out Gabrielle was tattooed. It would surely happen one day. Amazon baths weren't the most private of affairs and there would be times when Gabrielle was clean shaven (since they'd discovered they both intensely liked the sensation.)

Esther bowed, "Lord Xena, Queen Gabrielle." Her manner was very respectful and the words indicated that the rumors had been accepted as truth in the camp. The Amazon nodded to Vivian, who handed the woman a scroll. Esther presented it to the warlord, "Lord Xena, a message arrived for you while you were away. It was delivered by Darvin, but he was not the original messenger." The warlord knew what that meant. Don't kill the messenger. It's bad news. Killing the messenger was something she never did anyway (except once, and that had been a have to situation). Maiming, now that was another story entirely.

Xena graciously accepted the proffered message. She looked Esther in the eye and thanked her, then spoke, "Your Queen and I could use a warm bath. Please see to it." Gabrielle blinked, but that was all. This was the first time that Xena had acknowledged, to the Amazons, that Gabrielle was of any royal status whatsoever. Her beautiful woman was implementing a new filter to their roles. It made sense. Apparently Xena was going to take advantage of the rumors. The warlord began unrolling the scroll, her manner dismissive.

The Amazon bowed again, not in the least peeved. Their actions had been accepted. Amazon pride had been respected, "As you will Lord Xena." Esther nodded towards Vivian and the two Amazons were off and doing.

Gabrielle, set the items she'd been carrying upon the table. Carefully she removed the items from the saddlebag, especially the precious box. The strawberry blonde had no idea what was in the box, but Xena had smiled as she'd looked at the contents and had asked (nicely, with some really hot lip movements) that Gabrielle wait until the warrior said she could look. With a very quiet sigh (which the warrior absolutely heard and grinned at) the bard set aside her curiosity and the box, which was lighter than she'd expected, and pulled out the remaining items so she could put them away.

Meanwhile, Xena read the scroll. It didn't take long. Payne had accepted Hercules' call and had used some spicily colorful words to tell her so. It was what she expected. She crushed the missive in her hand decisively. Tomorrow she would take the bastard down. No mercy.

She looked up from her mental growl to see her lover directing her fellow Amazons in setting up the bath. There was that professional efficiency again. She looked to the table and noted that while everything else had been put away the box remained visible. Gabrielle was taking no chances. All the nasty feeling she'd been just experience was washed away with the thought and the warlord grinned. Battle tomorrow, love tonight.

Xena tossed the wadded scroll into the hearth fire, picked up the box and strolled lazily to her chair. Her eyes narrowed in erotic anticipation, though she had to laugh inwardly to herself. It had, after all, only been a few candlemarks and already she was thinking lewd thoughts. A mighty distraction was her bard. Now she was getting wet just at the thought of the woman. The warlord sat down and set the box in her lap. She laid her palm upon the smooth metal and lightly tapped her fingers against the lid as she thought about what she was going to do with the contents Aphrodite had so thoughtfully provided.

The bath was wonderful warm. The water luxuriously slid against their skin as they bathed each other. It was such a temptation to make love, but they held back, instead choosing to prepare themselves for the evening. The Amazons, save for whoever was currently guarding the tent, had been excused for the evening. Gabrielle was aching to find out what was in the box and Xena was just as eager to show her. The dry down was sensuously tender and interspersed with many kisses. Again, the only thing that kept them from tumbling right into bed was the bard's need to know and Xena's need to show.

The leather cuffs were beautifully crafted, soft and downy on the inside. There would be no chafing. They fit Gabrielle's wrists and ankles perfectly and she lay comfortably. Her wrists were definitely restrained, allowing a limited range of motion. Her legs spread, calves dangling over the softened edge of the table. Her ankles were loosely restrained, so Xena could move her about as needed.

The warrior would adjust things later for her own convenience. Right now it was enough to hear her bard moaning in an mix of pleasure and pain as she pricked the sensitive skin. She had to place a towel on top of the fur and under her lover, the woman had become so wet. Of course, it didn't help that Xena would pause in her creative endeavor now and again to stimulate the woman with tongue and hand. The warrior had long since given up trying to ignore her desire or keep her own seat dry.

The tattooing was going much quicker than she'd anticipated. Xena's hand made sure marks, even as her mind delivered the image. It was as if her mind and heart took over and drove her on. Candlemarks slipped by and the markings began to take on lyrical shape. She could see the difference in the way the tattoo formed. Her style and Gabrielle's were obviously different, yet shared a commonality. Her marks were dark and Gabrielle's color was a beautiful red hue.

It was as if All of who Xena was and had been and would be filled her hand, guided her choices. She watched fascinated and surprised, as if from a distance, as her hand indeed crafted a sigil, reminiscent of her original mark, but varied, among the other patterns that swirled into being. She would recognize the design as her own, anywhere, anytime, but the mark was unique and Gabrielle's own. Her soul was laying claim to the bard as surely as the Gabrielle had laid claim to hers so long ago.

Xena thought the tattooing might hurt less, or else Gabrielle was simply enjoying it more. Xena couldn't gage from the fair woman's reaction, for it seemed from the very beginning that Gabrielle had moaned in pleasure as soon as the needle struck. (and indeed it had been pleasure, but it had also been mixed with pure joy, which killed all sense of pain for the bard or at least changed the nature of the sensation) All Xena knew was that in a few candlemarks the tattoo was almost a third of the way done. At this rate, the mark would be done in three nights. Had it been this quick for her? Xena couldn't remember. Perhaps. A candlemark had seemed like a long time to her then. How long had those stories taken?

It didn't matter, she guessed. She was done for the evening. Xena looked up from her careful work and began the process of freshening the tools and her bard.

The bard cried out at the change of sensation, at the tenderness that was her mound (but it was less tender than she expected. Xena had a gentle touch), at the sweet slicking fingers that fondled her affectionately. Gods, could she raise her hips at last? She'd been aching, aching to move, just a little. She looked at Xena watching carefully as the warrior put away the utensils and dye. The strawberry blonde tried to tilt her body up so she could look, but she was well and truly bound (which produced it's own aching need). Her mouth found the words. "Please, Xena."

The warrior looked at her mate and smiled, "Please what?" The bard gasped at the way Xena's fingers found her center again and unable to articulate more, the red head tilted her hips so slightly. "Ah. I see." The bard groaned in acknowledgement and tried to push against Xena's hand.

Xena grinned in anticipation, "Don't worry my love, you'll be moving soon enough." She moved her hand away, stroking a long wet finger down Gabrielle's inner thigh. The bard whimpered at the loss. She wasn't sure if she could take much more of this. Gabrielle closed her eyes in erotic agony and Xena smiled as she picked up the last item in the box and quietly strapped it on.