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. :)

Violence Alert: Yep, a little bit of violence ahead. Duck and cover as needed.

She was beautiful to behold. That was what was so amazing about watching these battles. Xena as warrior, in the midst of battle, even in her worst form (it's not like she didn't get sick every now and again), was a marvel to behold.

It was like watching art form itself in front of one's very eyes. The sight took Aedal's breath away, and it was sheer will power that allowed him to make his next strike undistracted. He knew he wasn't the only one who watched during battle. Not that there was much time, but when he could he would sneak a glance and always be rewarded with some fantastically heroic image.

See, now, he was only facing one man, feeling pressed, and she. . .she was holding five at bay, whittling away their numbers without so much as a flinch. Upstroke, stab, whirl, kick, shove, stab, cut and the third one's head comes off. Gods, they were already gone, just like that.

Her face was so full of passion. It was like watching her make love except deadlier. He blushed to remember how he'd felt watching her interaction with his cousin that one night. He hadn't been as asleep as he appeared, though he had been very very drunk. The only safe place for him had been at that table, where no one could see the results of his desire. Ah, finally an opening. Aedal made a final thrusting movement and pushed the body off of his sword with his foot. Gods, if he could have bedded them both that night he would have, and felt no guilt about it in the morning.

Funny what one thinks about when fighting. Who would have thought he would be thinking about lust at a time like this. Usually, he thought about nothing at all. Aedal screamed and charged at the woman with the shield. She was going down.

Well, it wasn't lust, was it. More like such a deep admiration that it became desire. He wondered if that was why so many warlords lost to Xena. Desire had very little place on the battlefield, other than as motivation to get home.

Aedal knew he didn't have a chance with the Lord and he didn't really want it anymore. Not in that sense. He loved his cousin more now, than when he'd first renewed his acquaintance with her, and there was nothing in the world that he would do to purposely hurt Gabrielle.

The woman's shield went down and Aedal caught her underneath her armor. The look of gored surprise was always the same on either gender. Gods, he hated when his hands got bloody. It made things slippery.

What he wanted now was what his cousin had. Not Xena, whose golden horse was trampling yet another soldier who got in it's way, but the love that drew one back home, that drove one to do more than fight for gold. That was why he'd stayed when the power shifted. Now he fought the noble cause and it really did make a difference.

Oh ho, here came two, one behind, one before. Well, we'll see about that. Aedal stepped aside and let them have each other. They died embracing.

That was what gave him room to see. He looked up and in a pure wonder saw that his Lord was surrounded, as never before. He thought he counted ten, but numbers were not his strongest skill. Xena fought hard and they fought slow, but there were so many of them and he saw that there were more to come.. Aedal saw Doba running forward about the same time as he made his own decision. But they were too late.

The enemy piled upon Xena, drove her down. One man struck her with the hilt of his sword from behind. Her knees buckled and Aedal swore he saw her eyes roll as her body seemed to bend under the weight of the assault.

He thought Lord Xena was done for. He was sure of it. His heart wrenched within him and he had no idea what he would tell his cousin. He couldn't bear the thought of grief upon her fair face. Apparently love in any form was good enough as motivation and he raised his voice in rage and ran even harder than before to meet the foe.

Then, the most miraculous thing happened. Aedal halted despite himself and watched gapemouthed as a bodies seemed to be hurled from Xena's wilted form. Gods. She wasn't dead.

She was Very Not Dead. In fact, she was wrathful and any mercy she might have had left, dissolved in the thunder of her war cry. Her wild mane of hair flung about, and strong arms and legs propelled her victims away from her proximity. Doba handled the ones that flew in her direction with angry almost Amazonian precision.

Aedal lifted his sword and cried out his Lord's name, "XENA!!!" and rushed finish the ones that were propelled in his direction. After that he didn't keep too far or too close to the beautiful Warlord. Instead he forgot to think and thrilled to the battle lust that filled his body as he worked to defend his cousin's lover and his liege.

He didn't even see when Xena took Payne's head. Aedal was too busy taking a few lives of his own. But he knew the battle was over, when he saw the desperate shift in his enemy's eyes. There weren't that many that got away and a flag of surrender was thrown up.

The blood lust hadn't settled much, but he was cognizant of his surroundings and sat upon his mount with the graceful ease of a warrior. They'd not suffered huge losses this time and for that he was grateful. Doba's mournful glance told him that she thought they'd lost too many and they exchanged understanding glances. These losses were much more personal than in the past, for they were lives given for honor's sake. He knew that Doba would seek even stronger ways of training, but death was a part of war.

He would have to remind her of that, be a friend to her. Perhaps he could get Gabrielle to talk to her too. He watched in silence as the troops gathered their dead and wounded. He could still smell the blood on his hands, though he had wiped them with a cloth earlier. He was looking forward to a real bath.

He watched as Xena took command of the rest of the Payne's troops. Then, when she was finished she turned around and happened to catch his eye (Happened? Happened? Hell, he was staring. Of course, she was going to notice) She looked at him assessingly, then she leapt upon her golden steed and sauntered the horse in his direction until she was positioned in front of him.

Her gaze was blue fire and she looked him up and down. Her expression sent a bolt of lightening to his loins. Her voice was a command and brooked no argument, "You will bathe with me in my tent." Her meaning was very clear. Xena smirked at the look that crossed his face and turned her mare to the side, signaling Doba. He didn't hear a word she said to the dark skinned woman as his mind reeled with one thought.

Gabrielle!