Musings Chapter 2

Musings Chapter 2  

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright 1997

     Gabrielle cracked one eye and lifted her head to

look around.  She wanted to get out of bed but found

that to be impossible.  There was a large leg draped

across her hips and an almost as large arm laid across

her chest.  She put her head back down and smiled. 

"So I didn't dream it.  Splendid." 

     Xena snorted and rolled to her back exposing her

bare chest.  Gabrielle seized the opportunity and began

tracing lazy figure eights around each breast.

Eventually, her hand found its way beneath the sheet

and down to the ebony curly hair that marked the point

at which legs began.  She traced abstract designs in

that curly mound, all the while thinking about what

had happened last night.

     Doubt began to creep into her mind.  Would things

be different?  Well of course they would she thought

mentally slapping her own forehead.  Ok, so how

would they be different? 

     Would Xena be more cautious in her dealings with

the outlaw scum?   Doubtful, she had always been

concerned for the bard's safety, now would be no

different.  Would the warrior be less likely to jump in

and help the less fortunate.  No, I'm the one that

usually drags her into those situations.  Nothing likely

to change there.  Gabrielle smiled.  I'll come to her

with some hard luck story, she'll roll her eyes, give

a big sigh, try to come up with some puny argument as

to why they shouldn't become involved and I'll give

her my look (just like in the past, she can't resist it)

and she'll pretend to reluctantly agree.  Far be it for

anyone to believe that Xena, Warrior Princess has a

heart.  Would she be more protective?  Absolutely,

make a note -  nip that one in the bud immediately.

After all, I still need to experience life, she thought.

    More and more thoughts raced through Gabrielle's

mind and, falling back on her bardic training, she paid

the proper amount attention to them all, filing each

one away in the appropriate corner of her mind for

later use.  So caught up in her ruminations was she

that she hadn't noticed Xena watching her.  One

moment she was contentedly running her fingers

through Xena's curly hair, the next - wham!- she's flat

on her back with a six foot, aroused (scratch that -

very aroused), determined woman on top of her

kissing her face, her eyes, the ears and lips.  Xena

could be very persuasive, when she wanted to be, and

Gabrielle quickly got the point of this argument.

     Her body had begun to respond in the usual manner

when they heard heavy footsteps coming towards their

room.  Xena leaped from the bed and, in an instant,

was behind the propped up door, chakram in hand,

waiting.  The door creaked as it was slowly pushed

from the outside.  Suddenly, Xena reached around the

door and pulled the unsuspecting intruder into the

room.  She held him against the wall with her hand

around his throat and the sharp edge against his chest.

"What in Hades do you think you're doing?" she

hissed.

     He tried to answer but no sound came out.  He

looked at Xena then to Gabrielle who was now

kneeling on the bed, covers laying to the side.  His

face was turning red and his breathing was labored. 

     "Um, Xena.  That's the carpenter.  He's the one I

saw Perseus talking to." Gabrielle said quietly.  "Why

don't you let him step outside for a minute?"

     Xena looked over her shoulder at Gabrielle who

raised her eyebrows and gestured at her body.  Xena

looked down at her own very naked body and tried to

hide the smile tugging at her lips.  Gaining her

composure, she put on her most fearsome face and

turned back to the carpenter.  "One word of this and I'll

have your liver for dinner.  Understand?" 

     The carpenter nodded his head and exited as fast as

he could.  His sensibilities had been sorely tested.

This just wasn't going to be a good day.

     When the door was closed again, Xena turned

around and exploded in laughter.  She tossed the round weapon

up, caught it then tossed it down next

to her boots.  It embedded in the wood with a

resounding thud.  She crawled on her hands and knees

across the bed backing Gabrielle up against the

headboard.  "Unfortunately, our carpenter friend has

altered my plans a bit but don't worry.  A good

warrior always has a backup."  Xena growled.  "Let's

get dressed so he can go about his business."

                                @@@

     The common room wasn't crowded.  Judging from

the sun, most had already broken their fast and started

their usual days work.  Even Perseus was already gone

and he was usually the last one out of the bedrolls

every morning. 

     Gabrielle and Xena took a table and asked for some

food and hot drink.  The innkeeper saw to their needs

this morning.  He brought them a sizzling skillet of

spiced potatoes and onions, two loaves of fresh hot

bread and mugs of steaming spiced wine. 

     "Eat all you want.  I have plenty for you, my way of

saying thanks for bringing such good fortune to this

humble inn.  You tell a mighty fine bawdy tale, lass."

     Gabrielle blushed, part from the compliment and part

from her participation in the re-enactment of some of

those tales.  "My thanks.   By the way, our door is

being repaired as we speak.  By this afternoon it'll be

just like new."

      "Ahhh, I wasn't worried..." 

     Xena popped another bite into her mouth and cut

her eyes towards the round innkeeper. 

     "...Much,” he added in a quiet voice

looking away before he could catch the slight upturn

at the corners of Xena's mouth.  "Say, how long are

you three planning on staying?"

     "Depends." Xena said. 

     "Is there a business proposition in that question?" 

Gabrielle said as she laid her fork down and crossed

her arms over her chest.  

     Xena inwardly shook her head.  This was the

bargaining pose that she had seen the bard take on

numerous occasions.  The innkeeper was in for a bad

time of it. 

     "Perhaps.  The trade caravan from Delosia is

scheduled to stop here this afternoon.  They usually

conduct business for two or three days, sometimes

more.  They're a rowdy bunch, not vicious, just...well,

this is the first town they have seen in a week and they

like to release some of their frustration, if you get my

meaning.  They pay well so I don't mind them staying

but..."

     "But you need entertainment and protection." Xena

interrupted.

     The innkeeper nodded.

     "I don't see any reason why not.  You two can work

out the details.  I need to see to my horse. Oh, one

more thing.  Cut Perseus in on this also.  He needs the

money.  Actually, I need the money he owes me."

                                @@@

     Xena stood up and walked towards the door.  She

caught some movement out of the corner of her eye

and looked just in time to see the same hooded figure

from yesterday duck out of the same side door.  She

filed it away for later.  There were other, more

pressing matters, to attend to now.  Later she would

regret that decision. 

     Xena chuckled as she reached for the door handle.

The words "outrageous" and "final" came floating

across the room.  Poor innkeeper.

       Xena spent the next several hours in the livery.

Argo needed shoes, she needed some armor repaired

and various nicks and dings hammered out of her

sword.  The smith's hammer became her metronome

and she used it to maintain the rhythm of her oiled rag

against leather.

     "Morning.  Get your door fixed?" Perseus asked

flopping down on a bale of straw next to Xena's pile of

neglected tack.

     "Far as I know he's still working on it.  How long

are you planning on traveling with us?"

     "I don't know.  Until something calls me away I

guess.  Why?"

     Xena pointed back towards the Inn, "I left Gabrielle

negotiating a business arrangement with the

innkeeper.  Seems a trade caravan is due in this

afternoon and he needs some strong arms.  You

interested?"

     "Yeah.  I'm getting bored and you know what that

means."

     "Good because I already told her to cut you in." she

smiled.

     "Still treating me like the little brother are you?"

     "I suppose I feel some responsibility.  It's my fault

they threw you out of Delphi."

     Perseus knocked the warrior in the shoulder, "Hey,

that's right!  This could work to my advantage."

     "Don't get to comfortable, if you'd been minding

your manners the mayor wouldn't have sent for me to

track his missing daughter and you wouldn't have been

chained in his cellar.  It cost me a fair amount of dinars

to buy your freedom."

     "Well...it was an honest mistake.  She said she was

being forced to marry this ugly, mean old fart  She was

helpless, what else could I do?"          

     Xena put the bridle down and looked at Perseus. 

"You mean she batted her eyes and flipped her skirt at

you.  I don't think your father would approve."

     "My father...my dear sweet attentive father is

responsible for who and what I am." he said quietly

with a hint of anger in his voice.  

     Xena looked at this young man, not much younger

than she, and felt compassion for his lot in life.  He

had certainly not benefited from his breeding - if

anything it had caused him more than his fair share of

grief.  "I suppose.  It's pretty easy to get caught up in

and controlled by..."

     She was cut short by some shouts coming from the

square.  Xena grabbed her re-worked sword and

sprinted towards the commotion, Perseus right on her

heals.  After elbowing her way to the center of the

crowd, Xena could see a figure, slumped over in the

saddle, dressed from head to toe in well kept but worn

armor.  The horse's sides were heaving, signs that he

had been ridden hard. 

     "What happened?" she asked the constable who

now had the reins and was leading the horse and rider

towards the Inn. 

     "I don't know yet.  I can't...."

     The injured rider groaned and raised her head.  "I'd

recognize that voice anywhere.  What a bucket of luck

finding you here."

     Xena reached up and pulled off the helmet.

"Tarbetha.  By the gods, what happened?"

     "My outfit was hired to protect the Delosian trade

caravan.  About five miles back we were hit and hit

hard.  We did our fair share of damage but...thirty is no

match for one hundred."

     "A hundred!  Who?"

     "I'm not certain but they were well trained and well

organized."

     Xena looked at Perseus then at the faces

surrounding them.  There might be a few men and

women in this village able to go after the raiders but

not many.  "We'll have to try and put together some

sort of organized group to go after them."

     She was cut short by Tarbetha's hand on her arm.

"There's more.  It wasn't the trade goods they were

after.  They took the wife of Delosia's most

prominent, and wealthy, merchant. He put her in at the

last minute so I didn't have time to recruit more

mercenaries.  We had to make do.  Whoever hit us

knew that she was with us and knew we weren't

prepared."

     The constable started to ask more questions but

Xena stopped him.  "Questions can wait. She needs

rest and a healer.  Someone take care of her horse." 

     Xena and the constable helped Tarbetha to the inn.

They were met at the door by Gabrielle and Perseus'

serving maid. 

     "There aren't any more rooms so I said she could go

to ours,"  Gabrielle said.  "I didn't think you would

mind... I hope?"  Xena just smiled and shook her head.

                                @@@

     "She'll live.  Mostly cuts, bruises and exhaustion.

She'll have a horrendous headache when she wakes up.

Brew up some willow bark.  Keep the bandages clean

and changed.  Watch for infection.  I'll be back

tomorrow afternoon to look in on her." 

     Gabrielle watched the healer walk away then turned

her attention to her companions just now joining her

at the table.   "Not a very talkative type."

     "Tell us." Perseus sighed.  "I'm hungry."

     "So?  What happened?"  Gabrielle asked. 

     Xena related the story to the bard, careful not to

leave out any details.  She learned that lesson early on

and learned it very well.  The bard was not to be trifled

with where potential stories were concerned.   

"Now what?"  she asked when Xena

finished.   

     "I don't know.  Something about this doesn't sit

right.  Maybe the constable will have more to add

when he gets back.  He and his men should be back

with the caravan, or what's left of it, any time now. 

We can come up with a plan then."  Xena looked

around the common room and noticed the hooded

figure sitting at his usual table.  She caught their

serving maid's attention and motioned her over.

"Don't look now but do you know who that is over

there by the door? The one with the hood."

     "He got here 'bout the same time you three did.

Never says a word, no food or drink either but always

leaves a few dinars on the table.  I don't ask questions.

It's a nice arrangement."

     "What's your name?" Xena asked.

     "Jere'.  Why?"

     "Curious.  If you find out anything about him

would you pass it on?"

     "If you make it worth the effort."

     "I think I can handle that." Perseus said and winked

at his new friend.  "You think he had something to do

with what happened today?" he added after Jere'

walked away.

     "I don't know.  I'm just considering all possibilities.

I guess we should be doubly alert tonight."  They

finished their evening meals over small talk and

speculation. 

     The caravan arrived an hour after sunset without

any further incident.  There were only ten survivors

but, fortunately for Tarbetha, they were fairly healthy.

A few scrapes but nothing life threatening.  The

constable, Michael, didn't have anything to add to

what they already knew.  He did find it curious that the

raiding party made no effort to hide their tracks.

     Xena stood in the window and watched as the

bodies were unloaded from the wagon and placed on a

funeral pyre.  The priest blessed their journeys to the

other side then touched the kindling with his torch.

     She turned away from a sight that had become all to

familiar to her. How many had she sent on their final

journey?  How many innocent villages or trade

caravans had she attacked in the past?  She wiped

her eyes and blamed the tears on the smoke.

     Despite the crowd, there were very few incidents

that she or Perseus had to handle.  A drunken shoving

match here, a serving maid needing reinforcements

there.  The innkeeper paid each their evenings wages

and was glad to do it.  Not a single piece of furniture

had been destroyed. 

     Xena pulled herself up the stairs.  She was looking

forward to crawling in beside her already sleeping red

head.  The memory of her skin touching Gabrielle's

made her head swim.  She slowly opened the door and

slipped into the room.  The light from the single oil

lamp was enough so that maybe she wouldn't trip over

anything.  She crossed the room and sat down in the

big chair by the window.  Gabrielle was laying at her

feet, nestled into the pallet that she and Jere' had

put together from extra blankets and some straw. 

     Xena began to take off her boots and other pieces

of armor.  As usual, her chest and back plate buckles

were giving her trouble.

     "Let me help.  You'll be forever at it if you do it by

yourself," Gabrielle whispered.  With deft fingers, she

quickly removed both pieces of armor leaving the

under garments and Xena's soft cotton shift.  Gabrielle

took Xena's hand and pulled her down on the pallet.

"Roll over and I'll work on these knots.  Your muscles

are hard as rocks."

     "Mmm...that feels good.  How's Tarb?"  She winced

as Gabrielle went to work on a particularly stubborn

knot.

     "She's resting.  The healer gave her a strong brew of

skull cap so I don't expect her to stir until late

tomorrow."

     "Good."  Xena rolled over and pulled the bard

down on top of  her.  She framed Gabrielle's face in

her hands and spent several moments just looking into

perfect hazel eyes. "The gods have blessed me, I don't

know why, but they have.  They know I'm not perfect,

nor do I want to be, but I hope they also know that I

will do everything in my power to make sure I stay

worthy of this blessing." 

     Gabrielle bent down and kissed away a tear.  "Well,

if nothing else they should be entertained for a good

long while."  She took Xena's hands and pinned them

above the warrior's head.  "I believe this is where we

were before we were so rudely interrupted." 

     She stretched her legs out along Xena's and began

to gently rock her hips against those beneath her.

Xena's skin was cool, a stark contrast to the warm lips

making their way across her chest.  Gabrielle took

each nipple in her mouth gently teasing and caressing

with both her tongue and teeth.  Her leg had slipped

between Xena's and she could feel how wet the

warrior was.  Xena pushed against the leg and began to

rock her hips back and forth. 

     Gabrielle continued her journey downward, her

hand leading the way.  Her fingers opened Xena

and she began to use her tongue to tell a very specific

story.  Fingers disappeared leaving no part

of those inner reaches unexplored and she was

soon rewarded by  Xena's reaction when she found the

one particular spot that sent Xena over the edge.  

     Gabrielle moved her fingers back and forth across

that spot and Xena's hips pushed hard against her

hand.  Her tongue flitted ever faster and she worked

to keep up with the movement of desperate hips.

 Xena held her breath.  Gabrielle opened her eyes

and watched the orgasm ripple through her partner's

body.  She felt the legs tense and relax.  She saw

the belly contract and she saw Xena arch and lift

her back off of the pallet then drop back down.

     Xena lay there, totally motionless and completely

spent.  The only signs of life were her breathing and

the muscles still contracting against Gabrielle's

fingers, the lamplight reflected in the drops of

perspiration covering Xena's body. 

     When the contractions stopped, she slipped her

fingers free and crawled up to lay next to Xena,

pulling the soft cotton shirt back down to cover a still

trembling stomach.  Propped on one elbow, she began

to trace the contours of Xena's completely relaxed

face.

     "I can't move my legs."  Xena blurted out.  "For

someone who has never been with a woman you

certainly don't show it."

     "I'm a quick study besides, I had a very good

teacher."

     Xena rolled over and covered the small bard's body

with her own.  "Well, let's see what else I can teach

you."  she murmured.

     Gabrielle didn't know how much time had passed

and didn't really care.  She was content knowing that

Xena lay next to her, totally satisfied and sleeping

peacefully.  Nothing else mattered for the moment.

She allowed her thoughts to drift back over the events

of the last two days, especially the nights, and soon

sleep claimed her as well. 

     There were no dreams to disturb her, only the

subconscious knowledge that she was safe, snuggled

next to her life's partner with strong arms wrapped

protectively around her.