A Warrior by Any Other Name
By Melissa Good
Contact: merwolf@worldnet.att.net
Lestan turned away from his oldest friend, despair set in the line of his broad shoulders. "Mika, I can't do that. You know I can't" he turned and spread his good arm out, in supplication. "Yes, I was taken with the woman. Yes, my son is involved. Yes, Hectator is now an ally. Yes, Yes, yes... but risk one drop of the blood of our village, no" He sat down. "How could I call myself a leader, if I lead where my heart takes us, and not in the good interests of our people?"
Mika sat, stroking the soft tan fur on his chin. "And your heart takes you with him, doesn't it?" He smiled in deep understanding. "As does mine." He restlessly stood and paced. "As does mine." Finally he whirled and went to his knees in front of Lestan. "Please." His pale, pale eyes pleaded. "I love your son as if he was my own. I can't... .Lestan, I can't let him go alone."
"Mika" Lestan groaned. "I can't do this. I can't command this. I just can't do it. I... ." His eyes sparked. "I... .can go myself." He looked at Mika, kneeling before him. "I can't command anyone else to go." He whirled and looked at the near dawn sky. "And anyway, it's probably too late."
"Ask them." Mika answered, a glow in his eyes. "Ask them, Lestan - ask the warriors of the people what their choice is. It's only fair." He glanced up as Wennid entered, having heard the last of the conversation. She walked over to Lestan's chair, and circled her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. They floated peacefully in their bond for a moment, then she spoke.
"I love you." Her low voice carried to the far corners of the room. "More than life itself." She closed her eyes, and rested her cheek against his. "I would go to the end of the world to keep you from harm. You know that. " She paused. "But this will shatter your heart, my love, if you don't follow it." She whispered in his ear. "I feel it in you. We are what we are. Mika is right. Ask them."
Lestan sat, frozen for what seemed an eternity. Finally, he sucked in a huge breath, and blew it out again. "All I will do, is ask them." He growled. "And take their answer, as my answer as well." He turned and matched looks with his lifebonded. "and, I love you too." He kissed her, then turned and headed towards the door, missing the glance that crossed between Wennid and Mika. They watched his face, as he threw open the door, calling back, "Ask the people to gather in the courtyard."
"No need" Mika murmured, as Lestan turned his head, and looked out the door.
Torchlight scattered wild shadows across the large space, the only sound that of the breeze snapping the battlecoats on 300 mounted, armed, silent warriors. A horse snorted. Deggis appeared, leading Garan towards him, stopping 10 paces away, waiting. Eyes glowing.
Lestan felt tears rise in his eyes, and stop the speech in his throat, as he spread his arm away from his body to allow Mika to slide the battlecoat over his head. His people. Chills started running down his back, and he felt the battle fever rising. Mika buckled the longsword across him, and gave the straps one last tug. He turned and faced him. "You knew."
"Aye." Mika answered, eyes shining. "I surely knew." He fastened the buckles on his own gear, and whistled for his trusty Esten.
That left him on the porch with Wennid, who slid her arms around him. "Bring back that son of ours." She teased him, squeezing hard. "I have a few things to say to him." They kissed, and separated, looking deep into each other's eyes. Lestan felt their bond ignite, filing him with a deep warmth, which he returned in full. "I'll come back." He vowed. Breaking the lifebond was... .unthinkable.
"You'd better." She warned, trailing one finger across his cheek. "Or I'll just have to come after you." Beyond understanding, beyond better judgment, beyond death itself. The old saying played itself in her mind. Truer than they had ever known.
"Let's go." Lestan shouted, as he turned to Garan, and vaulted to his back, lifting one arm to his waiting people. A many voiced yell answered him, and they moved out. "If we're in time at all."
*****************
Dawn broke over a still, silent plain. Xena had placed her troops where she wanted them, and now sat on Argo at the point of the two escarpments with Jessan and Hectator at her side, waiting. The approaching army was swelling across the horizon, and it had become evident that they were not going to stop and negotiate.
Xena raised herself up in Argo's saddle, and gestured towards the waiting troops, who yelled back in response. She cantered Argo to the center of the mounted line, and turned her around, facing the troops and holding up her hands for silence. All eyes were on her.
"This isn't about territory." She shouted, her voice carrying across the plain almost back to the castle. "This isn't about trade, or plunder, or crops." Xena put force into her voice. "This is about your homes, and your families, which are going to be taken if you don't defend them." Their eyes were fastened on her, drinking in what she was saying. "Your families love and depend on you, and nothing... NOTHING in this world is more important than that." She paused. "Do you hear me?"
A yell in response. "This enemy has nothing to fight that with - make it your strength, and they will not defeat you!." Xena could feel the chill start up her spine at the low growl that came back from the soldiers, a growl that built and built and built into a wall of sound that crested over her like an ocean wave. She whirled Argo, as Hectator and Jessan cantered up to join her in the very front line.
"Whatever happens, Xena... .it's been my honor to know you." Hectator spoke, keeping his voice low. He reached across his saddle, and extended his hand. Xena shook it without a word.
Jessan swallowed hard, containing his excitement. He could see the advance troops very clearly now, and the rumble of hooves was shaking his very bones. He glanced at Xena, who was settling her bracers and checking Argo's straps. She turned her head and met his gaze, then smiled. He smiled back, in perfect understanding.
She raised up on Argo's back, ready to give the signal to advance, when motion behind them caught her sharp eyes. As she saw what it was, a grin formed on her face, and she laughed. Hectator turned, startled, and saw what she was looking at. "Well, I'll be... ... "
Jessan also turned, and stared, and stared, in delighted disbelief. His people. hundreds of them., armed and mounted, were adding to the numbers behind them. Lestan threaded Garan forward to join them at the front, giving his son a little nod, and what looked suspiciously like a wink.
"Lestan" Xena said, with a slight laugh.
"I heeded your warning, Xena." The forest leader commented, drawing his sword. "And now, I think we have company."
Xena turned again, and raised her arm for the advance. She gestured, and the anxious Argo forged ahead, leading now nearly 700 mounted fighters towards the advancing troops.
Jessan kept Eris' head even with Argo's tail, watching as Xena set her knees firmly into the saddle rolls, and drew her sword. She had spotted what looked to be the leader of the approaching army, and was headed straight for him. Jessan drew his own sword, and grinned in intense wild pleasure. He tipped his head back, and let out a roar, which was immediately echoed by the following forest dwellers, then, as if in tandem, came the answering, higher pitched yell of the human fighters. Oh... this was going to be glorious.
Xena drove powerfully towards the advance guard, spotting the telltale signs of a stupid battle leader. He was surrounded by heavily armored retainers, and they all held banners. She met the first of the leading soldiers, and swept through, sweeping her sword in tight arcs. A yell bubbled up out of her chest explosively, as she let the battle fever take over, and just went with it. Jessan to her right was cutting soldiers in two with that greatsword, and Hectator had just cut the head off one luckless rider with a single cut.
The guards were too slow - they were no match for her speed, much less her skill. Behind her, she was aware that Hectator's troops were carving a big hole in the advancing army, fighting with a fury which overcame their lesser numbers.
She unseated one of Ansteles's personal guards with a well placed kick, then a second fell to her sword. She wove a net around herself they just couldn't penetrate, and when they tried, Jessan was there, sweeping them off their mounts with his great strength alone.
One guard was good - he launched off his saddle, and caught her in the chest, trying to pull her off Argo. She slung him over Argo's sweat drenched shoulders, and off the other side, then slid down to meet him, as he whirled and cut. Her sword just parried it, then she ducked and slashed again, this time catching him across the wrist. He cursed, and slammed his hilt against her chest armor, trying to push her down.
Xena grinned, and pushed back, surprising him. He came back off balance, and she caught him on the chin with the hilt of her sword. He went down again, and this time didn't get back up. She looked up as Ansteles was about to behead a stunned Hectator, too close for effective range of her chakram. Instead, she launched herself at him, catching Ansteles on the downstroke, inches from Hectator's bared neck. She hadn't had time for finesse, just a basic body block, but it worked. They rolled over and separated, and Xena bounded back up and struck the sword from his recovering hands.
Ansteles stared at her, in disbelief, then grabbed a pike from one of his gaping guards, and came up off his knees in a blind fury. Jessan yelled a warning, but the pike met clean air, as Xena launched herself up and into a tight somersault, clearing Ansteles' head, and landing behind him. She took the opportunity to kick him in pants, so hard he cracked his head into a tree stump and slumped to the mud.
Then a wave of the fighting rolled over them, and Xena was hard pressed to keep her skin whole, as 100 of the enemy army, in a group, surrounded them. She found herself back to back with Jessan, matching strokes with him as though they'd been fighting together for years. They cleared a circle around themselves, then started in on the now retreating enemy soldiers. They went shoulder to shoulder, then, forcing the troops backwards, Jessan's booming roar and her wild yell unnerving the men to the point that they started running.
Jessan stopped as the enemy soldiers took to their heels, and paused for breath. Beside him, Xena also paused, and took a moment to adjust a slipping bracer. "Not as bad as I thought.' Xena commented, then stiffened, as she spotted a knot of enemy soldiers surrounding what she could just barely make out as one of the forest dwellers. Cursing, she vaulted onto Argo and bolted towards them.
Ansteles' soldiers didn't hear her coming. All of their attention was focused on their target, the tall, unmistakable form of Lestan. He was holding them off, just barely with powerful one armed sweeps, his back to a large boulder. Two soldiers teamed up against him, though, and he was losing the ability to keep their swords from his body. Wennid... .his mind called out, beloved...
The large soldier finally knocked Lestan's sword from his exhausted fingers, and caught him a blow against the side of his unprotected head. Lestan collapsed, and the solider grinned grimly. and raised his weapon for a final stroke. The blade descended... .and fell crashing against the rock face as the soldier was knocked to the ground senseless by a hurtling, yelling, leather clad body nearly as big as his own. Xena rolled, and came up slashing, taking the head off the second soldier in one clean slice. The startled ring of soldiers paused, then gathered their courage and descended on her like a pack of wolves.
This could possibly have been a mistake Xena thought, grimly, as she fought hard to keep her feet in the rush of bodies and moving weapons. She stood over Lestan's unconscious frame, and by force of will alone kept the mob back, cutting and slashing until the flying blood nearly blinded her. She reached down deep, to reserves of strength she seldom had to call upon, reserves which responded more readily than she had anticipated. No two bit mangy half armored scuz petit soldiers are going to take me down., not today. she vowed grimly to herself. Not today. Still they came at her, still, stubbornly, she kept them off, laying down a carpet of bodies all around her, refusing to give ground, refusing to let them inside her guard, until, finally, finally, it was over. The soldiers were dead, or dying, or being scattered by the arrival of reinforcements from Hectator's troops.
Xena leaned back against the boulder, and took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart. She closed her eyes and waited for her body to stop shaking, gripping her sword tightly to keep from dropping it. She glanced down at Lestan, who had come to groggy consciousness, and was gazing at her with bright eyes. She crouched down next to him, and examined a long gash along his bad shoulder. "You'll be ok." she assured him, clapping him on the opposite arm.
Lestan studied her face, memorizing every detail. He had opened his eyes to see her standing over him, solid as a granite outcropping against which the enemy soldiers broke like so many ocean waves. Like he had once stood over Wennid. He didn't even care that she was human, it was so very, very glorious. "Xena." he said, hoarsely, nodding. "by Ares name, I'm glad I didn't challenge you at the fording of the stream." He grinned at her, delight in his eyes. "Looks like my family is sliding ever further into your debt." He gazed into her eyes. "My lifebond also thanks you. Again."
Xena grinned crookedly at him. "Anytime, Lestan. " She glanced around, then back at him. "After all, I couldn't let that bond be broken, now could I?"
They looked at each other for a long moment. Then Lestan smiled, and so did she. "You do understand." he breathed. "At last. One of your people who sees what we see. " He struggled to his knees, then upright with Xena hauling on his good arm. "Maybe there is hope for us after all."
The battle lasted all day, most of the rest of which was Hectator's forces tracking down and eliminating little pockets of resistance. The survivors of Ansteles troops deserted the field after the sun was dropping to the horizon, and only some mopping up was left to be done.
"So." Xena asked the weary Jessan, as they slowly walked through the bloody battlefield. "How did you like it?" She was covered with dirt, blood, and sweat, some of the blood her own, but not much. He had several cuts, a few deep ones, and was also liberally coated with mud and grime.
"Loved every minute of it." Jessan answered, from his heart. "You gotta teach me that one across and back slice you do. It's killer." He grinned at her. "You are just poetry to watch, you know that?" His eyes glowed intently. "I was stuck in a mob of them when you went to save my father, and I gotta tell you, I was so busy watching you decimate that crowd I almost got my leg cut off. " He shivered in excitement. "Never, never have I seen anything so... ... " he hesitated, looking for the right word. "beautiful" Jessan finished, sighing.
Xena burst out laughing. "Jessan, I'm sure only you would describe me that way." She shook her head. "But I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." She patted him on the back. "Your people saved the day, you know."
"No.' Came Jessan's surprising answer. "We would have won anyway." He looked at her, something not human glinting in his golden eyes. "You saved the day."
"Give me a break, Jessan." Xena scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm only one person. Remember?" She waved her left arm to indicate the battlefield. "We won because your people tipped the balance in our favor. I just... ... helped." She hesitated. "and... I had a promise I had to keep."
"Uh huh." Jessan answered. "OK, believe what you want, then, Xena... but when they put a statue of you up in both Hectator's city and my village, maybe you'll see my point of view." He ignored the outraged expression on Xena's face. "yes, and see all the children named after you... ."
"Jessan." Xena growled.
"And imagine the story Gabrielle will make out of THIS... ." Jessan continued, enjoying himself probably more than was good for him. "yes, I can hear it now... ." He stopped as Xena turned slowly to face him, arms crossed, a menacingly chill expression on her face. "uhh... .sorry. I'll stop now." he squeaked, backing away from that icy glare.
Xena held the gaze a moment more, then quirked her eyebrow at him. "Nice to see that still works." she commented dryly.
They continued on in companionable silence, and he took the opportunity to slit his eyes shut, and use his Sight to See her with. Quicksilver, as he had first seen her, with hidden, shifting currents. Suddenly, as he Watched, she took on a softer, golden sheen to his Sight. Intrigued, he opened his eyes, and looked at her, wondering what caused the shift, and the corresponding smile on her face. Being an artless cub, the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
"Xena, what are you thinking about?" He could have clapped his hand over his own mouth, but it was too late. She was turning to look at him, puzzled.
"Why?" Xena asked, wondering what made him ask at just that moment. At just exactly that moment.
"Oh." Jessan recovered. "Just asking." He avoided her stare. "you just had a smile on your face, that's all." Well, she had. "It just looked like you were thinking about something that made you really happy."
Xena looked at him, thoughtfully, then slowly smiled. "That's very true." she allowed., then "can you read minds, Jessan?"
"No." the forest dweller promptly answered. "No, well, my mother can, a little. Well, mine anyway." He made a face. "But the rest of us, no." He swallowed. "We can... .sense... the life force in the things around us... whether a person is good, or bad, and if they're close by, we can sense emotion, sometimes." He glanced at her, trying to decipher her expression.
"Is that why you decided to trust us, after we rescued you from the village?" Xena asked unexpectedly, now really curious.
Jessan gave her a little smile. "No. The head injury knocked out my world sense, for most of the time we journeyed. I only got it back the night I told you my parent's story." He glanced at her, noted the interested expression. Oh boy. "No, I had to decide that the old fashioned way."
"How?" Xena pursued, caught up. "What made you decide? You knew who I was." She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his answer.
Shall I tell her? I wonder if she realizes what her eyes show, to me at least. Probably not. Humans are... so unaware. Jessan mused thoughtfully, before raising his eyes and meeting hers.
"The first night." He enjoyed the surprised look on her face. "When Gabrielle had nightmares, and you got her out of them." Now her blue eyes were guardedly astonished. "The look on your face. I knew... anyone... .who had that much love in them... .wouldn't hurt me."
He had gotten to her, saw the reaction to his words. Maybe too much. Time to back off. "I'm sorry." He put a conciliatory hand on her arm. "Have I made you angry?"
Xena walked on in silence for several paces, then let out a low laugh. "No." She glanced sideways at him. "I'm not angry." A few more paces. "You're very perceptive." A reluctant smile was crossing her lips.
"It's a gift of my people." He answered, glancing at his blood stained boots.
Xena snorted. "Your people have a lot of interesting gifts." She peered at him out of the corner of her eyes.
Jessan chewed on his lip for a moment. "Yes, we do." he paused., and took a resolute breath. "You know, Xena, there's something that I... .can see... between you and Gabrielle."
"I know." Xena answered, turning her head fully and looking at him with a grim smile.
"Oh." Jessan answered. "You do?" Why am I ever surprised at this woman? This human?
"Yeah." Xena sighed, her expression resigned but peaceful. "But it's not in her best interests, so I try not to dwell on it.
Jessan started. "What? Wait... Xena... you don't understand."
The warrior looked at him. "Yes, I do." she glanced off into the distance. "But we're not your people, Jess. We have a choice." Now she turned a looked him in the face, and the weight off all her years and the times of her life was in her eyes. "And I choose not to allow her into a future that only offers darkness, and danger and... " She lifted her arm and gestured around them, "this."
"She could change that" Jessan said, gathering his courage.
Xena shook her head. "No." She gave him a half smile. "I can pretend otherwise, but this is what I am." She patted his arm. "Besides, she's a great bard. I need to get her someplace where she can let that gift grow. Not out wandering the countryside."
Ah Xena. Jessan mused quietly to himself. You only think you're in control of this. My parents thought so, too. For a while. "Whatever you say, Xena." He responded, lightly.
She fell silent, and regarded the looming doors to Hectator's stronghold. She was spotted by several men at arms, and cries of her name began to ring out across the open courtyard. She glared at Jessan, who just shrugged sheepishly.
Two pages ran up, offering to take their horses. Xena knelt down so that she was eye to eye with one. "Do you know how to take care of battle injuries in horses?" she asked solemnly. He looked round eyed at her, then showed her his pouch, which contained wrap bandages and cleanser. "Good' she said, then handed him Argo's reins. "Take good care of her." She tousled his hair, and received a look of utter worship in return. He and his partner led off the two weary animals, leaving their riders to cross the castle forecourt and climb the stairs to the main doorway.
The courtyard was full of battle debris, and walking injured, along with their whole companions. Xena could feel their eyes on her as she crossed the stones, and she made an effort to make eye contact with as many of them as she could before starting the long climb up to the door. So. This is what Hercules must feel like all the time. She mockingly told herself. Funny. If I'd have been at the head of Ansteles army, I doubt they'd be so enamored. I could have taken this city, forest people or no forest people. I wonder if they realize that. I wonder if they care. Don't they realize they need to worship heroes who bring life, not a gods cursed, darkness steeped war-horse like me, whose greatest skill is killing people?
A dark form crossed her path. "Alaran." Xena said, stopping to peer down into his face. He had gotten some minor injuries, but was essentially in one piece. "I'm glad you made it out of there." She smiled at him wearily.
"Xena." The grizzled solider breathed. "You know, I had forgotten just what it was like to fight under you. " He reached out a hand and touched her battered armor. "You made me forget the odds again, Xena. You said we were unstoppable, and we were. I'd forgotten you could do that." He laughed a little. "They didn't have a chance. You haven't lost a step, you know that? In fact, I think you've gotten better. How did you manage that?"
Xena sighed in resignation. Then she got a mischievous look, and whispered something in Alan's ear that made him choke in laughter. "But don't spread that around." She cautioned, and gave him a quick embrace. She chuckled a little as she and Jessan continued up the broad stairs towards the lighted doorway above.
*****************
Gabrielle had started off watching the battle from the upper turret, but stopped after she spotted Xena diving off Argo and going into hand to hand fighting. She had been glad to see the forest people, but realized that Hectator's forces were still outnumbered. She spent the time organizing the healers and the people running supplies, and tried to ignore the sounds from the outside.
After the wounded and the dying started coming in, she hadn't had time to think about much except for trying to save as many of the soldiers as they could, and she spent her excess energy on making sure all the resupply was going on as scheduled. The battle leaders had been the first ones to go out, they would be the last to come in, she knew, and that was how Xena operated anyway. She knew Xena was alive - that much had filtered in from the battlefield, that all the battle leaders had survived, though Lestan was in here getting his shoulder bandaged up, and Hectator was supposed to have a pretty bad knock to the head. Knowing didn't help the huge knot in her gut, though. She wanted the evidence of her own eyes.
They had won, most of Ansteles army was scattered or destroyed, and they had a relatively low level of loss themselves, so Gabrielle guessed that it was a success, so far as that went. As she assisted the injured, she started hearing stories of the forest people, of Hectator, of Jessan, but especially of Xena, and what they'd done in a fight that none of these men had expected to survive. She had won some staunch friends in this group of soldiers, and they were telling some pretty unbelievable stories. Curious, Gabrielle went in search of Lestan, finally finding him surrounded by mostly forest people, along with two human battle surgeons.
"Gabrielle!" Lestan shouted, as she came into view. "Oh boy, are you going to have stories to tell about this battle." He chortled, ignoring the surgeons attempt to stitch up his wounded shoulder. "And I'm an eyewitness to one of the best ones."
"So I've been hearing' Gabrielle grinned, settling herself on the stool next to the pallet he was lying on. "But each time I hear it, the number of enemy soldiers keeps getting larger." She glanced at some of the surrounding forest people. "It was, oh, around 200 or so the last time I listened. So... .what 's the real story?"
Lestan settled back with a smug look. "I don't know, exactly." he admitted. "I was facing a ring of enemy soldiers, and got my sword knocked out of my hand, then took a flat blow to the side of my head. I went out like that." he snapped his fingers. "I figured that was the end of that." He took a sip of the water one of the other surgeons was urging on him. "Thank you. Anyway, next thing I know, all I can hear is yelling and swords clashing, but none of them are touching me. I look up, and there's Xena, holding off... oh... what seemed like... I don't know. Hundreds of them, for hours. I have never." He shook his head. "never seen anything like it. " His eyes showed amazement. "There were so many of them, and gods, they tried, but she just wouldn't let them get close. It was incredible."
"It was idiotic." A low, wearily amused voice corrected him. Eyes turned towards the doorway, where Xena was leaning, arms crossed, watching them.
Gabrielle felt the tight pressure she'd had in her chest since that morning evaporate, making her almost lightheaded with relief. Covered in blood and dirt, but whole, with blue eyes smiling into her green ones. "As promised." Xena commented, with a twinkle. "Though I think I carried half the battlefield back here on me." She grimaced ruefully, glancing down at the mud and grime, then looked up at Gabrielle and shrugged.
The bard laughed. "I wouldn't care if you came back covered with black ooze from the River Styx." she said, as she walked over and gave Xena a hug, armor, dirt, blood and all . "But it would probably ruin your armor." She tugged on the armor in question. "Come on. Let's get you out of this before you rust in that spot."
Xena followed peacefully into a little alcove, where she sat down on a crate and started to undo the armor straps. She looked up as Gabrielle came back in from a storage room off the alcove, hands full of cloth. Xena lifted off her shoulder armor, and heard Gabrielle's quick intake of breath. "Wow." the bard breathed, getting a closer look at the gash on the side of the warrior's neck. "That was pretty close."
'Yeah." Xena winced, flexing her arm on that side. "Didn't have a choice - Ansteles was about to take Hectator's head off. The only thing close enough to stop him was me." She busied herself removing her vambraces. "That stroke was headed for the back of his head - it just nicked me when I crashed into him."
"Let me get some cleaner." Gabrielle answered, in a quiet voice. She left the room, and Xena started working on removing her leg armor. Gingerly, she eased the left one free, exposing the bruising she expected from deflecting that guard who tried to pull her off Argo. Not too bad, actually. She looked up as Gabrielle returned, carrying a set of bandages and some herbal cleaner.
Xena sat quietly, eyes shut, as the bard cleaned the long gash, and put in a few stitches to keep it closed. "Thanks." she sighed when Gabrielle was finished. "That feels better already." She smiled at her companion. "You have good hands."
Gabrielle flushed slightly, and glanced at the ground, then lifted her eyes back to meet Xena's. "Tired hands." she admitted, clearing her throat a bit. "So many... ." her gaze drifted back into the large open room, and she shook her head. "We lost a lot... there was just too much damage... .I... " she paused, and lifted a shaking hand to her temple, then sighed, and took a deep breath. "A few slipped away while I was... .Anyway, .I was just glad that... .I didn't know any of them." She raised her head, and glanced at Xena's still, quiet face. Quite without her conscious permission, her hand reached out and she laid her palm against Xena's blood stained cheek.
Xena later told herself she had just been too tired to move when Gabrielle reached out to her, too tired to pull back away from that gentle touch, too tired to keep her eyes from gazing into the bard's misty green ones for what seemed like far too long a moment, seeing far too much reflected back to her. Finally, she blinked, and Gabrielle moved her hand down towards the long gash she had so recently dressed, fussing a bit with the bandage.
"Any more of these?" The bard asked softly.
Xena tilted her head thoughtfully. "No... " She winced slightly. "Mostly bruises everywhere else. A few scratches, the usual." Her tone was light. "Less than I expected, to tell you the truth." she grinned. "I haven't had to do that in a long time. Thought maybe I was getting a little soft."
Gabrielle chuckled. "You?" She poked one of Xena's muscular shoulders. "Yeah, right." Her face had relaxed, as she fell into a bit of their usual banter. "You'd better get those leathers off, though, before they stiffen."
"Uh huh." Xena surveyed her blood and grime covered body with a grim chuckle. "I'm going up and wash all this off." She glanced up at Gabrielle, who had leaned back against the counter nearby. "You... ." she narrowed her eyes at the bard. "Are going to get something to eat, and sit down for while. You're white as a sheet... " The bard rolled her eyes. "Don't make me pick you up and put you in a chair." she added, with a mock glower.
Gabrielle smothered a grin. "Ok... Ok... ." She gestured towards the broad stairs leading up. "I'll compromise. I'll get some food, and bring it upstairs so we can both eat." She returned Xena's mock glower. "Go on, tell me you don't need it."
Xena just smirked, and padded out in silence. Gabrielle remained in place for a moment, thoughtfully examining her laced boots, then shrugged, and twitched her shoulders as she picked up a trencher on her way out the door. Boy, I must be way overtired to have done *that*. she mused. And all I did was help out here. Imagine how Xena must feel. She's been fighting since dawn, and it's after dusk. Soft, huh? Gabrielle laughed to herself.She saw the eyes of most of the soldiers, humans and forest people alike follow Xena out the door, recognized the stark adoration reflected in their faces. She enchants people so effortlessly, the bard mused, as she slipped past the still working surgeons. I should know. she admitted privately. And she has no idea she's doing it. These men would follow her to Tartarus now... they don't even mind that she's a woman. They just fall in love with her. Truth. On more levels than she was willing to think about.
Water. Xena mused, as she doused herself from head to foot to remove all the blood and dirt from her body. Not a bad arrangement, either, did Hectator have here. There were large stone conduits running through the center of the building, which channeled water that could be heated for bathing or drunk when thirsty. Xena forbore the tedium of heating, and had hers ice cold. Not that she didn't like hot baths she chuckled to herself. But clean was clean, and if it took ice cold water to achieve, so be it.
She finished scrubbing off all the dried blood, and took a final rinse before shaking herself partially dry, using a piece of soft linen to finish the job. The relatively warm air of the room felt nice against her chilled skin, and she paused for a moment to study her reflection in the room's mirror. The result was a self depreciating snort. Ok. So Gabrielle has a point. she mocked her reflection. not much softness here. No wonder you scare people when you walk into a room. Xena shook her head in wry amusement, and pulled a soft linen shirt over her head, the tails of which fell to her knees. Then she sat down cross legged on a small carpet near the room's fire, and started the involved process of cleaning her armor. Most people would have left that for the morning, she realized. Guess that's why I'm not most people.
"What are you doing?" Gabrielle said, in a tone oozing with sarcasm as she pushed the door open a short time later, and stepped into the room. "I can't believe you're cleaning armor... ... no, scratch that. I can believe it. I can't believe I'm actually surprised that I can't believe it." She stopped and reviewed her last sentence. "I think I got too many negatives in there somewhere." she finished, and crossed the room to where Xena was sitting, now with her chin on one hand, watching her companion with an entirely too amused grin.
"Hello to you too, Gabrielle" The warrior drawled. "Your turn to get the blood off you." She nodded at the bard's crimson stained clothing. "Hope you like cold water." she added, with a sly twinkle.
Gabrielle groaned. "You're lucky I'm too tired to care." she sighed, and deposited the trencher loaded with food at Xena's side. "Here. start on this while I clean up." She moved off towards the bathing area, with a stifled yawn.
Xena picked up another piece of armor with one hand, and a chunk of cheese with her other. She balanced the piece on her knee while chewing, using the linen scrap to clean the last of the grime off the dully gleaming metal. She had finished both cheese and armor bit before Gabrielle returned.
"Brr." the bard chattered, hugging her clean shirt around her. "How do you stand that?" she asked, plaintively, as she crossed the room and collapsed on the rug next to Xena.
"Here" Xena answered, passing over a cup. "That should help." She watched as Gabrielle sniffed at the contents, then grinned and sipped, warming her hands on the outside of the cup. "Better?"
Gabrielle took a moment to breathe in the warm steam rising from the herbal tea. "Yeah. Thanks." She leaned back against the hearth. "So." she eyed Xena. "Tell me about the 200 enemy soldiers you defeated." She asked, with a grin, as she took a big bite of bread.
"Oh, don't you start." Xena groaned, rolling her eyes. "Please. I had Jessan giving me that all the way back to the stronghold." She put down the last bit of armor, and captured another piece of cheese. "What was I supposed to do, let Lestan be chopped into a dozen pieces?" She leaned her head back against the hearth, and looked at Gabrielle. " I wasn't trying to give you story fodder. Really."
Gabrielle laughed. "I'm sorry I didn't get to see it first hand." She liberated a grape, and popped it into her mouth. "On second thought, if there really were 200 of them, I think I'm glad I didn't see. it. I would have been scared half to death."
Xena just looked at her, a very tired grin tugging at her mouth. The end of a very long day was finally catching up with her. "Uh huh." she muttered, then closed her eyes and laid her head back against the hearthstone. "OK, Gabrielle. If you want there to have been 200, there were 200 of them. " She rolled her head to one side, and reluctantly opened an eye to gage the response. "Right now, it feels like there were 200 of them. At least." she admitted.
"Come on." the bard replied, dropping her bantering tone, and laying a hand on Xena's arm. "Time to go to bed. " she started to stand. "If I can get up that is."
Xena gave her a lazy grin, then collected what energy she had left in reserve, and smoothly stood up, carrying the bard, still hanging on her arm, up with her. "No problem." she drawled, earning a disgusted look from Gabrielle. "You said you wanted to get up." The warrior yawned and headed towards the bed, wincing a bit at the now stiffened bruising. She laid down carefully, avoiding jarring her neck, and watched idly as Gabrielle fussed with the fire, then joined her, curling up on her side facing Xena.
They looked at each other for a moment, then Xena tilted her head to make direct eye contact wit the bard. "You OK?" she asked, gently, watching the minute reactions of the well known face next to her.
Gabrielle nodded mutely. Sure, I'm fine, now. Now that my worst nightmare is over, and I can wake up again, and have it not be real. But I can't say that, can I? How can I tell you what it's like to watch you die in my dreams every night, without having you take that guilt, too, on your shoulders? "Yeah, I'm fine." she whispered, finally. "now." That last word slipped out unintended, went to far, she knew, told too much. A hand reached out, and smoothed the hair from her eyes, a touch that almost, almost undid her resolution to tough it out. Gabrielle kept her eyes closed, knowing that opening them would mean eye contact, would mean she'd break down and cry like child in simple relief. And that, she gritted her teeth and swore, she was not going to do, not going to burden Xena with after a day like today.
Xena banished her fatigue temporarily as she studied the bard's face, seeing the tension, the emotion written there, no matter how hard the woman tried to still herself. She's really good at getting me to open up, yeah... .and I'm so really bad at getting her to. Ok... let's try plan A.
"Gabrielle." Xena's voice was low, and compelling. The bard felt it rumble down her eardrums, touching a chord in her that no other voice did. Damn. A hand now on her chin, feeling those blue eyes focusing on her, even through closed eyelids. Damn. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, and met Xena's steady gaze, and felt the tears begin to well up.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really tired." Gabrielle mumbled, passing her hand over her eyes. "It's been a really long day." She took a deep breath, and released it, and felt no relief from the suffocating pressure on her chest. Damn. Grow up, Gabrielle. She just killed I don't know how many people, is injured, is tired, and doesn't need to deal with your hysterics. "I'll be fine. Really."
"Gabrielle?" Xena said, Gently, gently... . "look at me for a minute." Ok... ok... plan B, then.
The bard sighed, and glanced up, blinking a little. "Yeah?" She managed to whisper, hoping she could hold it together for just a few minutes more.
"Thank you for caring." Xena said, simply. "It means a lot to me."
Caught between a breath and a heartbeat, Gabrielle just froze for a long moment, then closed her eyes, and felt tears slide down her face. Fingers brushed the tears away, and she somehow found herself being cradled in a hug that she wasn't sure how she got into, but knew, with a sudden blinding clarity, that she never wanted to get out of.
I shouldn't do this. her mind scolded. I should pull myself together, and just make her go to sleep after the day we had. I should... .but gods... it feels so wonderful to just let it out... and I can't help it... I need this... A very long moment later, after the tears had finally stopped coming and Xena released her, settling her back on the bed but keeping a protective arm curled over her shoulders, she reopened her eyes, reluctantly.
"Xena, I'm sorry... " Gabrielle sighed, wiping her eyes in quick irritation. "I didn't mean to do that. I don't know what came over me." She rubbed her temples with one hand, willing away the ache from crying. "Like you needed to deal with that. " The bard shook her head in disgust.
Xena remained silent, but shifted one hand to the bard's neck, and started working out the tenseness she found there. After a few minutes, she felt Gabrielle's muscles loosen, as the bard let her head drop forward against the bed. "Better?" the warrior commented, keeping her voice light.
"Yeah." Gabrielle answered, in a muffled tone. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Xena said, drawing the word out. "We ex warlords have to be good for something, right?" She got the expected snorting chuckle from the bard, and grinned in response as Gabrielle glanced up at her from beneath damp eyelashes. "Don't judge yourself by me, Gabrielle." Xena said, softly. "After a day like today, that was a normal response from any sane person."
The bard mulled this over. "Hm. I guess." she finally admitted, settling her head down on one arm. "I just feel so... .useless... sometimes." She shrugged slightly.
"Gabrielle... ." It's too late, and I'm far too tired for this... .I know I'm going to say something awkward... . "You're not useless... not to me." She hesitated, then bowed to an overtired mind and continued. "You're a very important part of my life. I don't know what I'd do without you." Did I just say that??? I must have... .it sure sounded like my voice... question is... did I mean it? Damn... I think I did.
"Really?" A tenuous whisper from Gabrielle, a sudden stillness to her body that Xena could feel under her casually draped arm.
"Really." came the reply.
"Good." the bard sighed. "Because you mean more to me than anything else in the world, and the thought of losing you again scares me to death." There. She got it out all in one breath, almost like she had rehearsed, several thousand times.
Gabrielle reached up and laid her hand on Xena's arm and continued, before she could think about stopping. "Did you know last night was the first night in months I haven't had that same old dream... .I think my brain was so overloaded by what was going to happen in the morning, it just blanked out. "
Xena battled with several conflicting emotions. Unexpected warmth at the bard's confession, anger at herself for provoking it, regret for causing the woman nightly terror. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle." she sighed.
Gabrielle took a breath. "I'm not." came the surprising answer. She answered Xena's puzzled look with a gentle smile. "Some people go through their whole lives and never get to feel anything at all, Xena." Absently, her thumb rubbed against the small fine hairs on Xena's arm. "They never get to experience the kinds of anger, fear, despair, joy, or love that I have... " her eyes flickered to meet Xena's at the last. "That's pretty useful for a storyteller, don't you think?" She saw an answering smile in those blue eyes. "It makes it all real... and you have to have that in order to be able to make other people believe it."
Xena chuckled. "You never cease to amaze, oh bard of mine." She ruffled Gabrielle's hair and received a tired grin in response. "Time to get some rest" She reached out an extinguished the candle, leaving only the fireplace light in the huge room, then let her eyes drift shut. As always, her other senses intensified to compensate for the lack of vision. She could hear the small sounds outside in the courtyard, subtle thumps and rattles inside the stronghold, the sounds of horses in their distant stable, and the ugly sound of scavengers out in the battlefield. Beside her, Gabrielle stirred, and Xena felt the faint shiver from the cool breeze playing about the room shake the bard. "You cold?" she asked
Too long a pause. "No." Gabrielle answered at last. "I'm fine."
Xena glanced at the unseen ceiling, and smiled, then shook her dark head. She leaned close to the bard's ear. "You're lying." she whispered, trying to keep a chuckle from tainting her voice.
"Yeah." Gabrielle sighed. "But I'm way too tired to get up and get a blanket. I'll survive." She yawned, and curled up into a tighter ball. "I don't seem to have some sort of mystical internal heat source like certain Warrior Princesses do."
'Very subtle, Gabrielle." Xena commented wryly. She flexed the arm already around the bard's shoulders, and pulled her closer in fairly impressive display of strength, given the circumstances. "I've been called many things, but this is a first for being a hot water bottle." She directed an invisible though no less affectionate glance at the bard.
"Mmm." Gabrielle mumbled, relaxing into sleep at last, curled up against Xena's warmth. I think I'm losing control of something here... .she laughed softly to herself. but I'm not sure I care.
***************
Jessan blinked slowly, lazily, as the sun's rays moved into the room he was in, and spread warmth across his chest. His eyes roamed around the walls, so different than the ones he was used to, and he stretched to his full length on the large padded bed. Sore, but not too sore, he thought, vaguely satisfied. He squinted at the window. Overslept. He yawned, showing his massive canines, and wondered if the rest of the stronghold had done the same. He cocked his ears, and heard mostly silence. A grin. Probably they had. He closed his eyes and let his Sight drift - yep. Sleeping, mostly, even... .he cast to his left, mildly surprised. Even Xena was still asleep. Not that she wasn't entitled, he mused. But... .oh... isn't that interesting... Suddenly a grin crossed his face, and his eyes slid open. What kind of trouble can I get into... ...
Jessan spent a short but amusing time in the bathing area, splashing the water around in delight, and loving the feel of the soft linen as he dried himself off, being careful to miss the cuts and gashes liberally scattered all over his big body. He pulled on a tunic and trousers, and eased his door open, peeking down the hall with an impish grin. I'm way too big to be tiptoeing around but... . Jessan slunk down the hall, and paused in front of the next door, gently gently, he pushed the door in, inch by inch, until he could poke his golden head in and peer around the door frame.
The morning sun was streaming gently across the bed, bringing out the fiery highlights in Gabrielle's hair where she lay sprawled on her side, one arm curled under her head, the other wrapped firmly around Xena. Both women were still deeply asleep, a rare thing for the warrior, as Jessan most assuredly knew. He watched them for a moment more, noting the more than usually peaceful look about them, then gently closed his eyes and let his Sight extend... ah. His snub nose wrinkled as he grinned in happy reaction. He silently shut the door, and continued down the hall, suppressing the urge to whistle out loud. . You have a choice, Xena? Ohhh... .no. I don't think there's any choice involved... .that bond's as strong as any I've seen... .and I'm beginning to think you can feel it too. Am I right? Am I? Perhaps I am... .hmmm... .
Breakfast, I think. he decided, stifling a yawn. And a visit to father. Lestan had spent the night in the infirmary, after receiving a long series of stitches for the gash in his shoulder. He padded down the stairs, vaguely amazed that he, that they all had adjusted to this close contact with humans so fast. Too fast? Hmm. Possibly. He had already stopped thinking of some of them as humans, and begun to consider them just funny looking members of his kind... and that was very dangerous.
"Good morning." the young daughter of the Hectator's chief of household said, as she spotted him on the stairwell, giving him a nervous, but basically polite smile. "Uhm. We have some breakfast in there, if you want to, well, I mean eat."
Jessan looked at her with some interest. Pale blond, and very slight, and pretty eyes. "Thank you." His low voice startled her a bit. "Do you have a... .a tray, or something that I can borrow?" She backed away as he came closer. Sighing, he stopped. "I have some friends I'd like to bring some breakfast too. It's ok... I'm not going to hurt you." Humans. He rolled his mental eyes.
"Well... ." she hesitated, "My name is Sharra. And, yes, I can find you a tray." Sharra looked at him shyly. " You're the one they call Jessan, aren't you?" She studied him, playing with her hands in a distracted way.
"Yes." Jessan said, raising an eyebrow at her. "I am." He resumed his forward motion, albeit more slowly. "Thanks for offering to help me out, Sharra." He tried a small grin at her, and was relieved when she gave him a quick smile in return. "Did you say there was breakfast?" he asked, with a wistful look.
"In there." the blond gestured, keeping well back of him. Another nervous smile. "Do you need... .something... .raw? Or anything?"
Jessan stopped dead, and stared at her, giving her his best imitation of Xena's raised eyebrow 'look'. "Raw?" he answered, a touch gruffly. "The last raw thing I ate was honey, and I paid for it in stings." He put his fists on his hips, and cocked his maned head at her. "And there were those raw nuts Gabrielle found the other day, but that hardly counts." He snorted. "What makes you think I want something... ugh... raw?"
"Uhm... well... ." Sharra stammered, confused.
"Because of these?" Jessan asked, baring his canines. "Maybe I'll have you for breakfast... ."
Sharra shrieked, and turned to run.
"Whoa... whoa... whoa... " Jessan yelped, hurriedly. He waved his hands at her for quiet. "Relax! Relax! I was only joking!" His golden eyes caught hers. "Really... .it's ok... please... .I eat oatmeal for breakfast. Honest."
Sharra paused, giving him a hard stare. Then she moved a little closer, and sniffed. "That wasn't nice."
Jessan whoofed. "Neither was assuming I'd like raw meat for breakfast."
The blond studied him for a moment. "You're right." She shrugged. "I apologize."
Jessan gave her his best sheepish expression. "Me too. Mom always tells me not to scare the girls."
She giggled. "You're nice." Sharra pronounced, and turned to lead the way into the dining hall. "Come on. I'll show you where breakfast is. " She waited for him to catch up, and the walked in silence for a few paces before she turned to him in curiosity. "You're a friend of the Warrior Princess, aren't you?" She gave him a sideways glance, now more at ease with her strange charge.
"Xena, you mean?." Jessan answered, wondering where this interrogation was leading. A friend? unlooked for, unlikely, but thoroughly without question. "Yes. I am. Why?"
"She's scary." Sharra said, lowering her voice and glancing around. "She even scares my brother." She darted a glance at the forest dweller. "I bet she doesn't scare you, though, does she?" She arched a brow at him, taking in his size and tapered muscularity.
"Uh." Jessan mumbled, torn between honesty and ego. Honesty won out. "Well, to tell you the truth, yeah, she does." He paused. "Sometimes." he added, hastily. He shrugged his big shoulders at her. "But she can also be really kind, and very nice most of the time." A look of total disbelief from Sharra. "If you don't piss her off." Jessan amended, with a grin. He gestured towards the food laden table. "In fact, that's who the tray's for. "
Sharra considered him, tilting her blond head to one side. "Really?" She was intrigued. She couldn't imagine Xena doing anything as ordinary as eating. "I'd heard she just drinks blood, or something like that."
Jessan raised both eyebrows at once, and stopped walking. "What?" he sputtered. "Where did you get THAT idea from? Blood? Uck. Gross. " He stuck his tongue out in a comical expression. "No! That's not true at all. She eats what you, and I and, I guess, everyone else eats. Bread, cheese, meat, fruits... .did you know she can catch fish with her bare hands?' He watched her jaw drop. "It's true! I've seen her. And she likes herbal tea." He cocked his head at her. "Where do you get these weird notions from? I mean, she's just a person. Like you... Like me." Like no one else on earth. Like no one else I have ever known, nor ever will. But what would you know of that, little human child? Are you trapped here already in your narrow-mindedness? Perhaps we can broaden your horizons a little. Hmmm? As mine were?
"I've heard stories about her half my life." Sharra answered, matter-of-factly. "And my uncle fought in her army." She glanced up at him. "They're pretty bloody stories."
"Stories don't tell the whole tale." Jessan answered, in a more gentle voice. "And people change, and change again throughout their lives." He smiled at her. "Give her a chance. I didn't regret it."
Sharra moved closer to him, intrigued despite herself. "You?"
Jessan nodded, slowly. "Me. I knew her by tales, and imagined her pretty much as you do. Then we met, and I found out just how much those stories left out." He propped his chin up on one hand and gazed at her. "She saved this city, you know."
Sharra nodded thoughtfully. "I heard that." She glanced at him appraisingly. "I'll have to think about what you said."
"Good." Jessan answered, quietly. "Let me know what you decide."
Sharra smiled as she handed him a trencher, and passed him a slice of warm bread. "Here, eat this." Her eyes examined his face as he munched. "You're kind of sweet." She chuckled again at his blush. "I'll help you with your tray after you're done, if you promise to make sure I'll stay in one piece."
******************
The coming dawn woke her, as usual. Xena lay quietly, watching the beginnings of the first hint of gray touch the eastern sky and thought, as she always did in this peaceful time before the morning.
Carefully, so as not to disturb the soundly sleeping bard still tucked snugly against her right side , she flexed her abused muscles, to determine the extent of yesterday's damage and was pleasantly surprised. Not too bad at all, barring the throbbing ache in her neck, to be expected, and a lingering soreness in her ribcage from several blocked pike blows. All in all, she didn't have much to complain about.
Neither did Hectator, she reflected, then winced. He was going to make a big deal over this, wasn't he. Xena wondered if she could escape the tributes and just leave, quietly... .then she glanced at Gabrielle. Nope. She'd kill me. The warrior grinned at the ceiling. She'd absolutely kill me. I'd never hear the end of it. So, I'm stuck here for a few days.
Which, she admitted, wouldn't be so bad. She hadn't had a break in while, if you didn't count being dead for a week, and this wasn't such a terrible place to take a few days off. Hectator had a good marketplace, and she could get herself a new set of leathers, and turn Gabrielle loose on the merchants. Maybe even she could do a little shopping... .
Xena glanced at the window, where the gray was slowly inching to deep pink. She knew she should get up and check Argo, finish the armor, do a dozen things that had to be done... but at the thought, she found her body in uncharacteristic rebellion, wanting very much to stay right where it was curled up in this ridiculously soft bed. That's a bad sign. she warned herself. I need to nip that in the bud right now and get moving.
But Gabrielle chose that moment to snuggle closer, sliding an arm across Xena and pinning her firmly in place. The warrior's eyebrows both rose, as she studied her companion, and felt the arm tighten then relax as the bard slipped back deeper into sleep with a contented sigh. . On the other hand... .A quirky grin crossed the warrior's face as Xena wrestled with her seldom indulged and always well hidden lazy streak and decided one morning sleeping in probably wouldn't do her too much damage after all. She resettled her arm around her companion and drifted back into sleep...
The sunlight was streaming into the room when she opened her eyes again, and she blinked in surprise, then glanced down to meet the mischievously sparkling eyes of Gabrielle. The bard was still sprawled lazily at her side, and she made no move to get up now.
"I can't believe I actually woke up before you did. " The bard smirked. "I gotta get up and write this down." Actually, she had only been up herself for a few minutes, but she wasn't about to admit that now, no... not when she had an unparalleled opportunity for some first class teasing here. She had been really startled to wake and find Xena still soundly asleep, in fact, her first reaction was alarm until she was able to clear her sleep blurred eyesight and was reassured by the warrior's steady breathing and normal color.
Gabrielle had lain very still for quite some few minutes, since Xena still had one arm curled around her shoulders, and the bard knew if she moved much, it would wake her friend up. And she had so few opportunities to study the warrior this close unobserved. She made the most of it, noticing that even in sleep Xena wasn't completely relaxed - the arm curled around the bard's shoulders retained a springy tension, and Gabrielle could see faint twitches in her otherwise still face that were her so very sharp senses keeping track of the world around her while she slept.
I've seen her go from deep sleep to fighting full out in less than the time would take me to say it. How many times has that saved our necks? And I think I'm the only one who could wake her up without getting knocked across the room. The only one. So weird - she's completely dangerous, and even... even when she's mad at me, I always feel... .safe. Even when we spar. Even when we play around and wrestle. I know she can break me in half. But I know she won't, and sometimes I feel a little like a lion cub being carried in it's mother's jaws.
Wow... this is way too profound for before breakfast. I gotta stop that right now. But there's a story in that thought somewhere... ...
She was glad she had woken up in time to let loose her stranglehold on the poor woman - Gabrielle could imagine, without much effort, the raised eyebrow stare she would have gotten for that. She's been more than usually tolerant with me lately, but... ...
So now she just grinned at Xena, and smirked. "Another first... ... must be my week."
Xena gave her a lazy grin in response. "Well... ." she drawled, rolling onto her side and propping her head on one hand. "I would have gotten up at dawn, but someone was holding me hostage, and I didn't have the heart to wake her." She watched the flush creep up Gabrielle's face and let out a soft laugh. "You're a bad influence, Gabrielle."
'Hah!" the bard snorted, recovering quickly. Busted. But she doesn't seem... mad... bothered? What am I looking for here? Whatever. '*I* am a bad influence." She rolled over onto her stomach, and waggled a finger at Xena. "This coming from the Terror of the Plains herself, the mighty Warrior Princess. *I* am a bad influence!!!" Getting into her subject, she flipped back over, and addressed the ceiling, "I ask you."
Xena watched in amused toleration, until that last flip. Then she saw her opening, and took advantage of the bard's inattention by reaching over and getting in a good tickle, enough to cause her companion to squeal in outrage, and as she kept it up, to dissolve into a fit of giggling.
"That wasn't fair." Gabrielle gasped, when she finally caught her breath and stopped laughing.
"No." Xena agreed, laughing now herself. "But it certainly was funny."
"Oh yeah?" the bard asked, giving a mock scowl.
"Yeah." Xena answered, still chuckling.
"I'm warning you, Xena... one of these days... ... " Gabrielle rolled over, and got within inches of her companion's face. "I'll find that ticklish spot of yours."
"Oh really?" Xena answered, eyes dancing. "Well, it'll be interesting to see you try. " She smiled at the bard's returning blush. "Do me a favor, though... .the trick is in the surprise... and if you intend to try surprising me... ." She leaned close to Gabrielle's ear and whispered. "Remember to duck."
"I will." Gabrielle promised, grinning. "So." She continued, propping her head up on one had, mimicking her companion. "How many parades do you have to be in for this?" Subtle revenge. "One statue, or are they doing a series?" After all this time, she had a pretty good handle on Xena's tease points, and enjoyed the aggrieved scowl she got in return that meant she was right on target.
"Actually" Xena commented wryly. "I was contemplating knocking you over the head, and leaving early this morning before sunrise.'
"Oh." The bard murmured. "So... .what happened?" She wondered if Xena was really serious. Sometimes even she had a hard time figuring that out, especially when it came to things like his. Xena hated fuss. And this promised to be a great deal of fuss, with her as the star attraction.
"I got over it." the warrior shrugged. "I'll survive, I guess. Besides, I did promise you some shopping, didn't I?" She teased, giving Gabrielle a poke in the shoulder. "And I want to do some myself."
Gabrielle snorted. "You?" Laughter bubbled up from her. "Oh yeah... right. I gotta see this."
Xena rolled up off the bed and padded over to where she had stored Argo's saddlebags, aware of Gabrielle's unwavering attention. She reached down deep inside the right one, and took out two linen sacks, grinning to herself before wiping the look off her face and turning around to walk back towards the bard. "Here." she said, tossing one of the bags to her companion. "One condition. You have to use all of it."
Gabrielle caught the bag, startled at it's heaviness, and the muted clink. She glanced briefly inside, then up at Xena, who was leaning against the bedpost, waiting for reaction. "But isn't this... ' she stopped, as Xena nodded. "Xena, this is yours. I can't... ."
"Yep. its mine." Xena agreed. "And that means I can do whatever I want with it." She tossed her own bag up and caught it again. "And what I want to do with it is give it to you. We're partners, right?" Her eyes went serious for a moment, and Gabrielle noted the change. "So, you'll please do what I ask, just this once, without arguing with me, OK?."
Gabrielle chewed on that for a while. "Ok." She looked up at Xena and smiled. Partners. I think I like the sound of that. "Thanks. This will be fun." She slid off the bed and tucked the bag away by her staff. "Breakfast?"
****************
"Oh. Well, I don't think that will be much of a problem" Jessan assured her, finishing his bread. "Delicious, by the way. I'm sure you're in no danger from Xena."
"Yeah." came a low chuckle from what seemed like inches behind him. "I only sacrifice babies once a month." Xena drawled, more amused than anything else. She gave the petrified Sharra a mild glance, and stepped around Jessan, selecting a slice of bread from the basket on the table. Dressed in a simple belted linen tunic, she wasn't nearly as intimidating as when she sported leather and armor, but Sharra still backed away nervously. "Relax... All I want is some breakfast." Xena said, taking a healthy bite of the bread, and chewing away.
"Well." Jessan drawled, giving her a deliciously evil look. "About time you woke up." He blithely ignored the dour glare he got in response. "And here I thought I was going to have to serve you breakfast in bed." His golden eyes sparkled and he poked the tip of his pink tongue out at her.
Xena couldn't resist a wry chuckle. "One of these days, Jessan." She warned him, with a sly grin and a devilish look in her eyes. "When you least expect it... ."
The forest dweller crossed his arms on his muscular chest, and jutted his chin at her, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Ah... idle threats." he shot Sharra a superior glance. "I'm so scared." he stuck his tongue out at her again. Getting a barely suppressed giggle from the blond girl, which only inspired him further. He waggled his eyebrows at Xena, daring her to do her worst. "I think you're just bluffing" He finished, not seeing the sudden mischievous glint in those pale eyes, forgetting her unpredictability, forgetting the speed of her reactions.
And react she did, moving so fast he had no chance of blocking her, no hope of stopping her sudden assault, no thought of resisting as she captured his face, and kissed him soundly on the mouth. Shock and the blood rushing to his head made him momentarily lose track of his lower limbs, and he slid off the bench to the floor. He knew he was crimson from the neck up, and just sat there blinking at her. Coherent speech was beyond his scattered wits, not helped by the wild giggling of both Sharra and the newly arrived Gabrielle. "uhhh." he stuttered covering his eyes with one big hand.
"Ooo... .Xena." Gabrielle called from the other side of the table. "that was slick." She reached over and patted Jessan on the head. "I told you she has many skills." She slid into a place next to Sharra. "Hi. I'm Gabrielle." she extended her hand, which Sharra took hesitatingly. "You work here in the stronghold, right?"
"I never bluff." Xena commented, smiling. then relented, extending a hand to Jessan. He grasped her arm, and she pulled him up off the floor. He brushed off his clothes, refusing to meet her eyes, his face still flushed. Finally, he peeked down at her and gave her a rueful grin.
"Payback, huh?" His eyes sparkled. "You're dangerous, Xena."
"So I've been told." Xena responded dryly. She steered him back to the table, and took a seat next to him, across from Gabrielle and Sharra, who were chattering together like old friends as Gabrielle was extracting information regarding the city's merchants. She ate in silence, listening until Gabrielle took a break to breathe. "Why don't you get Sharra to show you first hand, Gabrielle?" she suggested casually. "I have some business with the leather merchants and the armorer - I know you hate going in there."
Gabrielle glanced at her, but found nothing but mild interest in Xena's expression. "Uhm. Ok. That would be a great idea." she raised an eyebrow at Sharra, who nodded enthusiastically. "We'll see you all later, then." The bard continued, and she and the castle worker slid out from behind the table, and headed for the door.
Xena's eyes followed them until they were outside the room, then looked to her left, and saw Jessan gazing at her with a knowing look. "What?" she growled,
Jessan just smiled, and ducked his gaze back towards his plate, which was almost cleared.
Xena snorted, and rose from the table herself. "Well, I have things to take care of. See you later, Jessan." She left through the portcullis, and started towards the commerce squares. Armorer first, she mused, and turned towards where she could hear the distinctive rhythmic clatter of a well hit anvil. She stood and watched him work for a while, as a short sword took shape beneath his skilled hands. He was aware of her standing there, but she didn't ask his attention until the sword was being well cooled in a water bath nearby. Then he walked over, wiping hands darkened by decades of smith work on his apron.
"Nice piece of work." Xena commented, nodding her head towards the water bath.
"Thanks." the smith smiled crookedly. "What are you in the market for today? Not a sword, surely." His deep brown eyes glinted. "Saw yours yesterday. Nice."
Xena chuckled. "No, not today. Two boot daggers. I managed to hang on to everything else" She cast her eyes around his workshop idly as he went to a chest and brought out some daggers. Her eyes fastened on a set of working knives on a shelf at just eye level to her. Single edged, small tang, nicely wrapped hilts, she mused, then grinned. "And those, too." she jerked her chin at the set.
The smith looked up in surprise. "Those are working blades, m'lady. For butchering and the like."
Xena tilted her head towards him. "I know" She leaned closer. "And I'm no lady." A feral smile followed, and the smith stepped back a pace. She sauntered out a moment later, her package tucked under one arm, and headed for the leathercrafter, whose downwind buildings were bustling with soldiers getting repairs to their essential armor after the battle yesterday.
The mastercraftsman, an older man with grizzled ginger hair and soft gray eyes glanced up as she entered from where he was arguing with a battered soldier over a battle apron, concluded his argument hastily, and approached her with a smile. "Ah. Our heroine. " he smiled wider at her rolled eyes. "Hello, Xena. Long time no see." the leatherman added warmly, offering her his arm in greeting.
"Hello Teldan." Xena answered, with equal warmth. "Thought I'd come down and give you a little business, for old time's sake. " Her eyes twinkled. "Besides, you do good work." She clasped the offered arm and smiled at him, remembering the last time they had met. "Last set's done well till now."
"From you, that's a fine compliment, girl." the leatherman answered, all business now. "C'mon back here. I have some really well done new hides... you pick one." He guided her towards the curtained off area where his whole hides hung curing. Xena strolled between them, brushing each one with her sensitive fingertips until she found one she liked the texture and weight of "Full set of leathers." She said, briefly. "This one is fine." She gave him a side glance. "Same pattern as last time."
The craftsman gave her a big grin. "Now there's a commission I like to hear. Come on - let's see if your measurements changed any before I start cutting." He grasped her elbow gently and guided her towards a back area. "And after all those hairy tallowheads, won't this be a pleasure, let me tell you."
Xena just sighed and rolled her eyes, as she stripped out of her tunic, and stood with negligent ease while he took what information he needed.
"Looks like you've been working hard." Teldan commented, scribbling notes on a piece of paper. His fingers brushed lightly over the bruises under her ribcage. "Get those yesterday?"
"Uh huh." the warrior answered. "You know how it is."
"Yeah." Teldan grunted. "I know." He moved around behind her, and measured the breadth of her shoulders, raising an eyebrow a little and making a note. "You been moving rocks or something?" He peered around and caught her bemused gaze. "You got about two inches more across here since last time."
Xena lifted both hands in a shrug. "Been fighting a lot, I guess." she answered. "It's not like I keep track." Two inches? What have I been doing?
Teldan grunted in amusement and continued his scribbling. 'I guess not. Those bruises and this cut all you walked off the battlefield with?" He watched the muscles move across her whole back as she turned to look at him.
"Got lucky." Xena shrugged.
Teldan walked around to face her, and let his eyes slowly travel across her form. He snorted a laugh and shook his head. "Lucky? C'mon Xena. You ain't lucky. You're just damn good. Don't sell yourself short, all right?" He bent a fond gaze at her. " I get to see all kinds, girl, and I do wish I got to see more like you." He tossed her the tunic. "Put that back on before you drive me to do something I'm likely to get a broken arm for." He chuckled and leaned on a nearby press, to complete his notes. "Be two, three days." He glanced up. "You are staying around for the festivities, aren't you? "
"Yeah," Xena nodded, as she crossed over and leaned on the same press. "that'll be fine." She smiled at him. "Thanks, Teldan."
"Anytime for you, girl." Teldan smiled back. "You be careful, huh? I'd like to go on making leathers for you for a long time to come."
Xena shook her head "No promises, Teldan." But she winked at him before she scooped up her package and exited the leathercrafter's workshop. That took care of the immediate needs... .now Xena paused for a moment, trying to decide on her next course of action. Finally, she shrugged a little to herself, and headed towards the nearby cluster of merchants, no end target in mind.
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