Musings Chapter 1

Musings

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright 1997       

                      @@@@@ Chapter 1 @@@@@

     Xena stopped to wipe away the annoying sweat trickling

down the back of her neck.  She dunked a piece of cloth

in the cold spring water and draped it across her

shoulders then leaned against Argo with arms folded across

the mare's back for a brief rest.  Grooming the patient,

but very dirty mare, was taking its toll.  Despite the

shade it still felt as hot as the Athen's steam caverns

and nearly as humid.  Argo reached around and

nudged Xena in protest. 

     "No, I'm not finished.  But unlike you I'm not just

standing in a half-doze.  I'm working and I want a

break."  Xena laughed and began absently scratching

her horse behind the ears.  

     For too many years comfortable to admit, this animal 

had been Xena's best friend, her confident and unquestioning 

companion.  It didn't matter the atrocities that Xena committed.  

Argo stayed with her, came immediately when she whistled,

kept her company when she was lonely and protected her

when she was frightened.  All Argo asked for in return

was to be fed, daily if at all possible, watered,

scratched occasionally and groomed constantly.  The

latter of which was never done to Argo's satisfaction.

     Xena used the horse as a sounding board for asking

questions of strategy or as a safe place to vent her anger

when carefully laid plans fell apart.  She was free to

laugh at herself or bury her face in Argo's mane to hide

the rare tears that sometimes appeared.  Argo returned

all these things with only unconditional acceptance of

this unusual, but charming, human, an occasional flat

stare when Xena would ask a really stupid question, or

a not so gentle nudge when she felt that her rider was

being a little too stubborn for her own good.  It

seemed those were coming more and more often

lately.

     Argo was all the companionship Xena needed, or

so she thought, that is until this shy, young, beautiful,

strong-willed, opinionated and spirited redhead

literally fell into Xena's life.

     Nothing had been the same since.  While it took

Hercules to convince Xena that she could indeed

change, it was taking Gabrielle to make sure she

stayed on her new life's path.  The moment Gabrielle

fell from that tree-limb into the middle of Xena's

camp, landing rather unceremoniously on her rump,

Xena heard Destiny's smithy go to work. The ring of

hammer striking chisel echoed in Xena's head and in

that moment she knew that no matter what the Fates

wrought, her life would be forever entwined with the

gentle bard's.  She also knew most of the Gods and

Goddesses well enough to know that the details of

their relationship would evolve as they went which

meant nothing would come easy.

     Xena sighed.  The immortals could be very tedious

and infantile when they wanted to be.

     The clack of wood striking wood brought Xena out

of her musings. The resulting flash of light as the sun

bounced off a gleaming silver breast plate caught

Xena's attention.  She looked up just in time to

see Perseus land on his back and Gabrielle begin her

downward stroke to finish off her opponent.

     "Hold!"  Perseus called out as he brought his arms

up to protect his head.  The end of Gabrielle's staff

stopped inches from Perseus' jaw giving him ample

opportunity to study the intricately wrought

metalwork decorating its tip.  She held it there for a

moment absorbing the fact that she had, for the first

time, knocked her teacher off his feet. 

     "You're gloating.  It's very unattractive you know."

Perseus grinned as he moved the staff away and

climbed awkwardly to his feet.

     "Of course I'm gloating.  I'm entitled,"  she teased.

"A simple bard has knocked the great Perseus, son of

Zeus, smack on his tender rear-end."  Gabrielle

paused, "I feel a story coming on, perhaps even

an epic."  The bard, showing no signs of fatigue,

backed away from her opponent. Bouncing on the

balls of her feet and twirling the staff in her hands, she

looked at Perseus.  "Let's do it again."

     Perseus looked at this bundle of energy, this

determined and newly confident bundle of energy.  He

grew tired just watching her and groaned inwardly.  "I'm

too old for this." he mumbled to no one in

particular.  "Gabrielle, a few more minutes in this

getup and you'll be serving me on a tray with an apple

stuffed in my mouth.  I need rest and water."

     Perseus turned and started walking towards the

well.  He suddenly found himself face down in the

dirt.  When he turned over there was Gabrielle,

standing over him leaning against her staff.  "One

should never turn one's back on one's opponent unless

one is certain the opponent is not going to get up."

She leaned closer, "I believe that is a direct quote."

With a wink, she spun on her heal and walked in

the direction of their rooms.

     Gabrielle floated back to the inn, positively light

headed over her latest accomplishment.  She barely

noticed that there were only a few other patrons sitting

about the common room.  It was too late for the

midday meal and too early for the various craftsmen

and laborers to stop in for a drink before they went

home to children, wives and chores.  Later however,

with the tables full, she would be called upon to ply

her trade.  The outlying townships were hungry for

stories and she had plenty to tell.

     Gabrielle began to make a mental list of which
stories to tell and what news to pass on. Because all
of her attention was focused on that task, she never
noticed the shadowy figure sitting at a table in the far
corner. She also didn't notice that same figure watch
her to the top of the stairs then slip out of the side door.

                                @@@

     "Xeeennnnaaaa!" echoed through the inn, across the

courtyard and into the open stable doors. 
     Xena and Perseus looked at each other, dropped
what they were doing and raced towards the source
of the scream.

     Gabrielle didn't know which scared her more,
the unusual creature that had been sitting on the window

sill or the explosion caused by two huge, angry and

worried legendary warriors bursting through the door.

Small slivers of wood from the now non-existent door

frame covered the room and the door creaked, gently

swinging from its only attached hinge. 

   That did it.  The bard dropped into a chair and covered
her face with her hands.  Her heart was going to explode
from fear, she was certain of it.  She began to cry gentle

tears of fatigue and frustration. 

     Xena moved quickly to Gabrielle's side and as soon as
the bard felt those strong arms around her, gentle tears
became body racking sobs.  Xena held her friend tightly,
displaying a side of her that she rarely showed and certainly
not in front of anyone else except Gabrielle.  Xena felt
responsible.  She tried to explain to Gabrielle what life
would be like while traveling with her but Gabrielle
promised she could handle whatever came at them.  This
was proof that even though Gabrielle put forth a strong
outward appearance, inwardly, things were taking their toll.  

     Perseus respected the intimacy of this moment and

began to look around the room for any hints of what

had caused his sparring partner to cry out so.

     Gabrielle wasn't sure how much time had passed

before she was able to regain her composure.  It didn't

matter.  What mattered was why it had happened and

that was a question she could spend enormous

amounts of time trying to answer but it would have to

wait... for now.

     "You OK?" 

     Gabrielle dabbed her eyes with her shirt-tail before

answering Xena's question.  "I think so."

     "Can you tell us what happened?"  Perseus asked as

he sat down on the edge of the bed across from

Gabrielle.  "Every detail.  Don't leave out anything."

     Xena handed her a cup of water.  Gabrielle took a

deep drink and a calming breath, "It just sat there

staring at me.  I know it wasn't there when I came in

and then suddenly it was.  Poof, just like that."

     "What did it look like?"  Xena asked softly.

     "It... it was small, child-like except it wasn't a child.

It's skin was brown and sort of rough looking, eyes

green and hair, I don't know...brownish/greenish I

guess.  When it disappeared I found this in its place."

Gabrielle said as she produced a large acorn from her

shirt pocket.

     "Artemis."  Xena and Perseus said in unison.  Xena

cracked the shell revealing a tiny piece of parchment.

On it was written:

/Guard well the storyteller.  She/

/is all that stands/

/between you and the God of War./

     "I hate riddles.  Why can't the Gods and Goddesses

just come out and say what they mean?"  Perseus

sighed wearily.

     "Because they aren't supposed to interfere with

mortals' lives, not directly anyway."  Gabrielle turned

her steely hazel eyes on Xena, "Now why would the

goddess Artemis take such a personal interest in you?"

     Xena caught the danger in Gabrielle's voice.  She

also heard something else like...jealousy?  Perhaps, or

perhaps Xena was simply misinterpreting.  Either way,

this reaction from Gabrielle prompted her to choose her

words very carefully.  "Artemis rules the woodlands

and the creatures who dwell there.  Some also call her

the Great Huntress."  Xena cleared her throat.  "I'm her

chosen because... because I showed her

something...once...a long  time ago." 

     She could feel the color rising in her cheeks.  It's

not as if Artemis was the first woman Xena made love

to but it was certainly the first time she had done so

with such abandon.  There had been no place on the

hunter's body left untouched by Xena and certainly no

place on hers that was immune to the uninhibited

passion unleashed by Artemis. 

     Xena remembered sleeping in that glade for two

days, undisturbed by the woodland creatures.  When

she did finally awaken she found it empty.  The only

evidence of Artemis' presence was a note, held down

by an acorn, stating,  'I see I chose wisely'.  "It's hot in

here," she finally said getting a drink of her own.

     "Is it?"  Gabrielle growled to herself forgetting just

how sensitive the warrior's ears were.

     "So, now what?"  Perseus asked, oblivious to the

unspoken exchange taking place between the bard and

her protector.

     "Nowhere until this door is repaired." the innkeeper

said as he surveyed the damage. He carefully stepped

over the rubble and when he raised his head he came

face to chest with the glaring Xena.  "N-n-not that you

would, being honorable people and all, but I'll take

steps if  I have to...I will."

     Gabrielle put a soothing arm around the nervous

man and assured him that the damage would be

repaired, very soon, and, as repayment for his

understanding, she would make sure that the stories

she told this evening made her listeners very thirsty

and very hungry.  He bowed his thanks then, taking

one look at Xena, he all but ran from the room.

Perseus followed, mumbling something about a bath,

trouble, dinars and Xena's shadow.  Gabrielle couldn't

quite catch it all. 

     Tension filled the room as the two women moved

about trying to straighten things up.  From the corner

of her eye, Gabrielle saw Xena jerk her hand away

from the door she was trying to prop up and place it in

her mouth.  She had seen the warrior do the same

thing hundreds of times before but something was

different now.  The mere mention of  Artemis' name

had awakened strange and new, but not unpleasant,

feelings in the bard.  She watched Xena.  She recorded

every visual detail, every nuance of the warrior's

powerful body.  Her breathing took the rhythm of the

muscles rippling in Xena's forearm as she picked at the

splinter.  Her heart raced as she pictured the powerful

thighs hidden beneath the loose fitting breeches that

Xena wore.

     Gabrielle willed her legs to work and moved next

to the warrior.  "Sit down and let me do it."  Retrieving

a needle from their packs, she took Xena's hand and

began the gentle task of removing the splinter.

     Concentration was difficult at best.  She was

painfully aware of how close Xena's body was to hers,

the scent of Xena's hair, the softness of Xena's skin

and this new sweet musky odor that engulfed the two

women threatening to rip away what little restraint

Gabrielle was able to hold on to.

     The bard had never felt this way before, not even

with Perdicus and he was her one true love... or was

he?  She was not prepared for the involuntary

responses coursing through her body and she was

certainly not prepared for the warm, wet feeling

growing between her legs and spreading down her

thighs.

     "There.  I think I got it.  I hope I didn't hurt you."

     Xena cleared her throat, "I didn't feel a thing... in

my hand." 

     Gabrielle looked up at Xena's face with every

intention of giving her a brief smile than going about

preparing for tonight's performance.   The one thing

she didn't count on was the intensity of Xena's eyes. 

Those blue eyes, those hypnotic blue eyes beckoned to

Gabrielle's soul with their siren's song.  They engulfed

her, surrounded her with their protective shielding

filtering out the outside world until all that the

bard was aware of was the desire building within

her and how close the target of that desire was.  In

those same eyes, she saw the very same desires

growing within Xena, threatening to take control and

claim the warrior.  With regret, she also witnessed the

warrior triumph and break free.

     Xena blinked.  Gabrielle blinked and they both

drew in deep breaths.  "Uh, it's... I...shouldn't you be

getting downstairs?"  was all Xena could manage to

say.

     Gabrielle reluctantly released Xena's hand and put

the needle away.  It took her longer than usual to get

dressed.  She struggled to control her trembling hands

and offered a quick prayer to whatever God or

Goddess was responsible for giving her the gift of

storytelling and not of playing a stringed instrument.

     Gabrielle turned around, caught in the golden hues

of the setting sun, her hair burst into flames.  The light

shown through the pale yellow poet's shirt and Xena

could see the silhouette of Gabrielle's breasts, the curves
of her waist and the hard flat belly. 

     "You coming?"  Gabrielle asked.

     "I'll be down in a minute.  I need to freshen up." 

     After Gabrielle left the room, Xena threw herself

back on the bed and covered her face with one arm.

"You idiot!"  Xena popped off the bed and looked at

herself in the polished silver disk standing on the

table.  "You great big idiot!...letting the memories of

Artemis nearly get the best of you.  What ever were

you thinking?  You weren't, that's the problem.  Don't

mess it up between you two, not this time."

                                @@@

     "What took you so long?  It's been an hour since

Gabrielle came down."  Perseus asked as Xena
plopped down in the chair next to him. 

     The serving maid immediately placed a cool ale in

front of the warrior and before Xena could produce a

coin, she held up her hand,  "Tis on the house tonight,

darlin'.  The tightwad be makin' money hand over fist,

praise be to your storytellin' friend, so he's feelin' a

wee bit generous...says to keep you three happy."  She

leaned over, wiping the table with a slow rhythmic

motion, giving Perseus a personal view of her ample

cleavage.  Raising one eyebrow, she continued, "And

that's what I intend to do, so if'n ye be needin'

whatever, just ask."

     Perseus watched her walk away.  There was

something about that lilting roll of the tongue that
caused plans for the remainder of his evening to
begin forming. 

     Xena downed the last of her ale, in an effort to hide

her amusement, and signaled for two more. Even in

this dim light, she could tell his face was flush. 

     "You never told me that our innocent bard knew

such invigorating stories,"  he said, trying to re-direct

the attention away from him.  "Hoping to keep them

all to yourself were you?"

     "What stories?"

     "That's OK," he continued, "I probably would have

too.  Hey, guess what?  I found a carpenter that has

agreed to repair the door for my price.  Can you

believe it?  He'll start the second hour after sunrise."

     Perseus continued to chatter but Xena didn't hear.

She was too caught up in her own thoughts, trying to

sort out the confusing feelings wreaking havoc with

her body.  She would catch glimpses of Gabrielle

leaning against the bar, roaming through the crowd,

touching others as she drew them into her stories, and

every time she looked at Gabrielle her heart came alive,

threatening to burst from her chest. 

     Nor was she aware of the passage of time until her

tablemate stood up.  "I've arrangements to make.  See

you in the morning."  He winked then went in search

of their serving maid.

                                @@@

    The combination of storytelling, smoke and the cool night

air made Gabrielle's voice deeper than usual.  Xena

looked towards the bed and saw Gabrielle propping

herself up on her elbows.  She was glad it was dark,

the goose bumps wouldn't show.  "What took you so long
to come downstairs tonight?"

     "I lost track of time.  Our serving maid said you

made the innkeeper happy tonight."

     Gabrielle chuckled, "My stories made a lot of

people happy.  Too bad you didn't hear any."

     "Mmm."  Xena mumbled as she fumbled with the

laces of her boots.  They had never given her this

much trouble before, why should tonight be any

different?

     "Here, let me help you.  I'm sure it's because of your

sore hand."   Gabrielle smiled, taking Xena's hand

leading her over to the chair.

"Sit." 

     Xena obeyed.  Gabrielle knelt in front of her

trembling friend and began to deftly untie the knot and

loosen the laces.  With both boots and socks removed,

Gabrielle moved up between Xena's knees and began

to unfasten the breeches buckle. 

     Xena put her hands over the bards.  "That's OK.  I'll

take it from here,"  she croaked.

     "Will you?"  Gabrielle came closer.  Xena tried to

sink further into the chair. 

     "I don't think... I mean I'm not certain... maybe..."

Xena's last words were cut off by Gabrielle's lips

closing over her's.

     Gabrielle marveled at how such an otherwise hard

woman could possess lips so soft and tender.  She took

her time, allowing her tongue to pay adequate

attention to each lip before moving on to explore what

lay beyond.  Mouths opened, blinding energy coursed

through their bodies as tongues met for the first time

beginning the ritualistic dance of greeting and

exploration. 

     Xena felt Gabrielle crawl into her lap and straddle

her hips.  There was no stopping the moan that escaped
Xena’s throat when Gabrielle’s hands slipped beneath
her shirt.   Nor could she have stopped the

muscles in her stomach from quivering as the touching

moved closer to her chest.  Thumbs brushed across

each nipple leaving them hard and sensitive. 

     She forced herself to take Gabrielle's face in her
hands and push it away.  She needed a moment to catch her

breath which wasn't easy with those incredible eyes

locked on her own deep brown ones.  "What are you

doing?"  Xena asked.

     "You aren't serious.  Have you never been seduced

before?  Or do you just not recognize it when it

happens?"  Gabrielle replied, her voice becoming

more baritone with each word.

     "I don't think you're ready for this."  Oh that was

brilliant Xena thought to herself. 

     Gabrielle pulled back further.  She wanted to get a

good look at Xena.  "You don't think I'm ready?  You

don't think I'm ready?  Look at me, Xena, I mean really

look at me.  I've never been more ready for anything in

my life."

     "But you've never... I don't want to... You're so..."

     "What?  Young?  Inexperienced?  I'm a bard, for

Zeus sake, I've heard the stories.  I told most of them

tonight.  I know enough about what can happen."

Gabrielle's voice lowered, "You fill in the gaps."

     "Why tonight?  I mean, we've shared the same room

and bed before.  We've bathed together, massaged

aches and tense muscles, all many times before.

What's different?"

     Gabrielle thought for a minute.  What was so

different about tonight?  "I don't know. I know who

Artemis is and what she likes and I was fairly certain

what the favor was. The thought of you two together

made me jealous.  When I took out that

splinter, Xena--I've touched your hands a hundred

times before and it never affected me like it did today.

For that matter I've touched every part of your body,

well not every part, but almost and my heart never

jumped like it did today.  Right now, when I look at

you it's all I can do to breathe.  I want to hold and be

held by you.  I want to know every inch of your body

and what happens when I kiss or touch it.  I want to be

with you-consumed by you.  I don't ever want to be

without you."

     "Are you sure?"

     The only answer Xena got was Gabrielle's lips on

hers.  Not the timid lips of inexperience but fierce,

determined lips.  This was a kiss of possession and

Xena could not - would not fight it. 

     Gabrielle felt herself being carried and gently

laid on the bed.   Her skin tingled everywhere that

Xena touched it and Xena touched it everywhere.  The

warrior princess kissed each nipple, teasing and

dancing across one then the other with her tongue,

brushing and biting lightly with her teeth.  She slipped

her hand between Gabrielle's legs and explored every
crease and valley.  Lips followed where the tongue led,
the small of the throat, across the firm belly, inside

each thigh and behind the knees.  Gabrielle's breathing

became harder and her movements quickened. 

   Xena slowly introduced one finger, then two, deep

inside and quickly took up the rhythm of the rocking

hips, each thrust becoming more urgent. 

     "I need all of you."  Gabrielle whispered.

     Xena responded immediately.  She took Gabrielle
in her mouth tasting the salty and sweet that was Gabrielle. 
Her tongue explored the folds beneath the triangle of
curly amber hair and finally focused its attention on the
one sweet spot. 

     Gabrielle's hips moved faster.  Fingers thrust deeper
and worked harder while Xena's tongue kept pace with
the increasing rhythm.

     The orgasm began in her loins and spread through

Gabrielle’s body leaving every muscle quivering in its wake.  
She cried out, releasing the last bit of tension held in her
taught muscles then fell back, limp and barely conscious,
on her pillow.

     Xena slowly pulled free and lay next to the spent bard. 
     Her spent bard. 
     She liked the sound of that but she liked knowing
that she now belonged to this sweet creature even better.

     Gabrielle's head was laying in the hollow of Xena's

shoulder and she could feel the amazon princess

beginning to relax.  Shifting slightly, Xena was now

able to look at the face, the face that she thought she

knew, that is until tonight.  Everything seemed

different, the lips were softer, just a little redder, the

cheeks more pronounced, her skin definitely

smoother.

     Gabrielle opened her eyes and smiled up at her

partner.  She nipped at the fingers skipping over her

lips.  "I think I'm..."  her  voice was silenced by gentle

kisses. 

     "Shhh.  Sleep."  Xena whispered as she traced the

outlines of Gabrielle's sated face.  She could take care

of her own needs, if  necessary, but she wanted her

lover well rested for tomorrow.  It was a wicked, wicked smile.