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It had been a shock, really, the first time she’d come wearily into a tavern they were staying by, and caught Gabrielle in the middle of a story.. about her. She hadn’t been sure whether to be embarrassed or mad, or both, or a little flattered to be honest. But she’d slipped into a seat in the rear of the room, hidden in shadows and out of the bard’s line of sight. And she’d just listened.

It was one of their milder adventures, to be sure, but the sound of Gabrielle’s clear, sometimes slightly hesitant voice describing what they’d done.. how they’d done it.. intrigued her and she’d gotten to see herself through the bard’s honest eyes for the first time.

That’s not me she’s talking about. Was her first reaction. But she knew the story, and eventually had to come to the conclusion that this... rational, brave, heroic person the bard was describing however unlikely she deemed it, was supposed to be her.

It changed something forever. She tried to deny that, tried to convince herself it was just Gabrielle’s misguided hero worship speaking through the bard’s voice. Tried to tell herself that it was just silliness.

But those clear, green eyes had held a conviction that drew her in, and for a tiny, short while in that wood smoke filled tavern, she’d gotten a glimpse of a possibility.

Then it had ended, and the crowd eagerly thanked her, and asked for more, and the bard had produced a delighted grin, which froze as her eyes lifted above the heads of the front rows, and met Xena’s own, there in the shadows.

She’d stumbled all over herself as they walked outside. "Uh.. I didn’t think you’d be back.. I wanted to.. try that out I mean... I didn’t want to get you.. or maybe you’d be embarrassed, or angry or.."

"Gabrielle." She’d said quietly.

"Look.. Xena, I’m sorry.. I didn’t mean.."

"GABRIELLE." Xena had raised her voice.

"Yyyes?" The bard had stammered, sending her eyes anywhere but up to meet Xena’s.

Xena had gripped her shoulders, the unusual physical contact making the bard start in surprise, and look up. They had looked into each other’s eyes for a long instant, before Xena had spoken.

"Look.." She’d said, searching for words. "No one’s ever... What I mean is... most of the stories..." She’d given up. "Oh Hades. " She’d sighed. "Thank you, Gabrielle. It was a very good story."

The bard’s eyes had widened, and gentled. "You didn’t mind?"

"No." Had come the answer. Then, "You’re quite the storyteller."

And Gabrielle had hesitantly clasped the hands still on her shoulders. "I have a lot of inspiration." She’d said.

Xena had smiled, and patted the bard’s cheek. "C’mon. For that, you deserve a decent meal sitting down indoors for a change. "

I'd gone from trying to find a way not to let her drive me crazy, to inventing things to do for her.. wonder if she realized it? Wonder if she realized she just took my heart like a spoil of war. And that was a strange feeling, Xena mused. Because Gabrielle was the first person in her life that she’d just... surrendered everything to. Held nothing back. All the rest of her involvements.. she’d been in control of. Dictated exactly how far she was willing to give, of herself, of her time...

Not this one. The warrior admitted to herself. I have no more control over this than I do the path of the sun. Her eyes studied Gabrielle’s face. Damn.. how can something this chaotic feel.. Her eyes closed and she let a warm wave crest over her. So wonderful. Even the dark situation she now found them in couldn’t put a damper on that.

"Hey." Gabrielle’s voice startled her, and she glanced up, to find the bard at her side, a concerned look on her face. "You all right?"

Xena grinned sheepishly, and rubbed her temples with one hand. "Yeah.. I was.. uhm." She sneaked a look at the bard’s worried expression. Whoops. "I was.. uh.. planning." She even managed to keep a straight face. "For tomorrow."

"Uh huh. " Gabrielle remarked, perching neatly on the arm of Xena’s chair. "So.. like what part of tomorrow were you planning that put that goofy grin on your face?"

The warrior laughed. "Ok.. you caught me. I was daydreaming." She admitted, lacing her hands around her propped knee. "Satisfied?"

"You?" The bard squeaked. "YOU were daydreaming? About what?" And found herself being regarded by intent blue eyes, and gifted with a half smile that brought it’s own answer. "Oh." She murmured softly, feeling the blood heat her face. I put that look there? I did?

Xena broke off their absorbed gaze, and took a breath. "Well done on the stories, by the way." She glanced up. "You changed around the ending part on the Trojan War."

Gabrielle gave a little start, and rested her arm on Xena’s shoulder. "You noticed?" She let out a short surprised laugh. "Didn’t think you paid that close.." And saw the look in her partner’s eyes and stopped. "Sorry. I know better." She finished quietly, touching the backs of her fingers against Xena’s cheek. "My own dumb lack of confidence just poked its head up there."

To her surprise, Xena just nodded a little, and took a deep breath. "I noticed." She said, giving Gabrielle a brief grin. "I liked the change."

"Thanks." The bard murmured, studying her closely. "How are you feeling? You look a little out of it."

And got a light shrug back. "Just thinking, really. Different scenarios, that kind of thing." Xena reached over and picked up her cup, taking a swallow of ale. "It’s what I usually do the night before a battle." She gave Gabrielle a nudge. "Besides, I had a really nice nap this afternoon."

The bard rolled her eyes, leaned against the convenient shoulder next to her. "I have only your word for that." She complained, having been gently woken up by Xena’s playful nibbling on her neck. "*I* wouldn’t know."

Xena laughed softly, and rested her head against Gabrielle’s side. "Cross my heart, Gabrielle." She took another sip of ale, and regarded the crowded room. Lestan had made a brief, informal announcement about the clan adoption. Good.. short and simple, just how I like them. Xena mused. And they had proceeded on with the banquet, which had been along the lines of stuff everyone as full as possible, pour ale down their throats to relax them, then get the storytellers up to get their minds off tomorrow.

It had worked, Xena chuckled, even, to a small extent, on her. She’d enjoyed the meal, liked the ale, and allowed herself to get lost in Gabrielle’s tales for most of the evening.

It really had been a nice nap, and she was feeling pretty good, despite her morning’s activities. This might even work... she considered, feeling Gabrielle’s fingers tangle themselves idly in her dark hair. And if not... she sighed inwardly. There was always plan B.

Plan B, which called for her to take a much more.. personal.. role in what happened tomorrow, above and beyond leading the forest dweller’s forces. Which would pit her directly against the enemy’s leader who, by all reports and despite Lestan’s assurance, might be too much for her to handle. And that was the first time ever that she’d considered an opponent that way. Wish I knew why.. this isn't like me at all. Even Hercules.. who any rational person would have avoided challenging, she lit into without a thought.

Do I stake this entire village on something I’m not sure I can deliver? Was the question rattling around in her head. Only if there’s no other choice. The answer kept coming back, repeatedly. Because that would have dire consequences not only for Lestan’s people, but also for her, death being a likely result, and that would mean...

Her mind slid past that, deliberately shunting the thought off. Am I that scared of dying? Gods...What was that you told Hectator? People who go into battle thinking they’re going to die, generally do? Knock it off, Xena. They’re forest dwellers, just like these guys here and you beat up 100 of them this morning. How bad could this possibly get?

The door opened, and a very dark furred forest dweller stumbled in, scattering startled villagers until Jessan had the presence of mind to grab him. "Restie?" Jessan rasped, holding him up. "What happened?"

The dark Restie grabbed Jessan’s golden arm, and remained silent, his chest heaving. "Hold on." He gasped. :"Gotta catch my breath."

By now, the group had quieted, and a small ring surrounded the two of them. Jessan glanced up as his father appeared behind him. "He was on north border duty." He quietly reminded Lestan. "Restie?"

"He’s mad." Restie got out, after taking a large breath of the close air. "He’s lost his mind, Jessan. He’s going to... " His dark eyes flickered to Lestan’s face, then back. "If he wins tomorrow, he’s going to take the village apart.. he’s going to kill all the lifebonds."

"What?" Wennid gripped his arm, appearing as if by magic next to her lifemate. "All of them?"

Restie’s eyes met hers and his nostrils flared. "No. One of each pair."

A shudder passed through the room, bringing deathly silence, in which the crackle of the cooking fire could be clearly heard.

And a voice fell into the well of quiet. "Why?" Xena had threaded her way through the tightly packed crowd somehow, and was now standing next to Jessan. Her pale eyes captured Restie’s dark ones.

The forest dweller snorted wearily. "Because he can. Because he likes making other people hurt. That archer he brought to the village today... " He just stopped speaking and stared at the ground. "They branded him."

A buzz went up, and Xena could feel the panic start to build. She let it, for a moment, to allow Lestan a chance to calm his village, but the tall leader was staring at Restie with a blank expression on his normally good-natured face.

Now what? She felt her mind calming, her body relaxing as she responded to the familiar tingle of danger circulating the room. Now I put a cap on this. "All right, everybody calm down." She said, her voice quiet, but penetrating. A hand touched her back, and she leaned into the contact, needing Gabrielle’s comforting presence. The bard slipped into place next to her, and left her warm hand on Xena’s back as she watched the faces surrounding them.

Xena’s voice caught their attention, and after a long tense second, the buzz in the room dropped, and a very uneasy silence descended again. Everyone always told me I’m a natural born leader. Xena mused privately. Maybe it’s just that I’m always telling everybody to shut up, then I have to think up a reason why they should. "You heard all this?" She questioned the dark furred Resti quietly.

He nodded, eyes fixed on her. "They’re making noise enough to scare a deaf warthog over in their camp. I got into a tree not far, and just listened for a bit. I heard.. that archer scream."

She nodded slowly. "So they’re pretty confident, huh?"

Resti nodded. "It’s not like they even think they’re going to be fighting."

"Point one in our favor." Xena said, giving him an easy smile, and she felt, in the little quiet after she spoke, that seductive tingle of excitement as the fighters surrounding her shifted, and picked up her meaning.

"They think you won’t fight." Resti added, nape lifting as he unconsciously responded to the crackling air of energy around her.

"Point two in our favor." Now Xena’s smile turned feral, and she deliberately relaxed her posture, crossing her arms on her chest and leaning on one leg while crossing the other at her ankles.

Resti took a deep breath, and nodded. "He wants you." A glance went to Lestan’s face, which was darkening in anger. "He wants you bad."

Xena was aware of the eyes on her, of the expectant silence in the room that waited her response. Aware of Gabrielle’s tense body brushing hers, and the rapid beating of the bard’s heart that she could see as a fluttering at the base of her throat. "Well.’ She drawled, lifting an eyebrow and chuckling. "He’d better be careful what he asks for. " She paused. "He may just get it."

She felt the expanding circle of confidence that had her at the center, and let her eyes travel around the room, collecting theirs. Xena knew, at this moment, she held them neatly in her cupped palm, as she had done with armies since she’d been fifteen years old. They believed utterly, because she did. Or they think I do. She quietly amended to herself. I only wish I had that option. I’d like someone to believe in, right now. "

"All right. So they’re coming in overconfident, and they don’t think we’ll be much of a challenge." She nodded judiciously. "That’s not a bad position. We can work with that."

"We?" Lestan muttered, quietly.

"Hey." Xena just as quietly muttered back. "You adopted me, remember?"

Lestan let a smile cross his somber features. "Xena.." His voice was very low, and hidden in the again rising buzz of the room. "There is too much death in this. I don’t want you part of it." His eyes flicked to Gabrielle’s face. "Please."

Xena took a breath, and felt Gabrielle’s arm tighten around her. She looked down at the bard, and found those mist green eyes fastened on hers.

"You took us into your clan, Lestan." Gabrielle said, not looking at him. "What kind of clan members would we be if we ran at the first sign of trouble?" Her eyes remained locked with Xena’s, and gentle promises passed between them. "We’re in for the duration."

Ah Gabrielle... Xena’s mind caressed the thought. "She’s right." That to Lestan, whose eyes held a resigned understanding. "Besides, you need us." And felt a warm squeeze from Gabrielle at the words. Had to train myself to say us, my bard. Hope you appreciate that. Even with my other lovers, it was never us. Always me, and them. But you and I... I’ve think I’ve finally accepted that. "Time for us all to get some rest, I think."

Lestan nodded, and raised his arm, commanding attention. "Sleep now, the rousters will wake the fighters pre dawn. The rest of the village will pack, and make ready to move if needed. No one, NO ONE gets caught behind, in any case, for those carrion eaters."

They dispersed, filing slowly out of the hall and into the dark of the cloud-covered night. Xena stayed a moment, reviewing last minute strategy with Lestan, then gave him a shove towards the door. "Gwan, Lestan. Get some sleep. " Her eyes fell on Jessan. "You too. "

Jessan stepped up to her, and their eyes met. Xena grinned at him.

"You know." He breathed, smothering a smile. How does she do that... magic again, I suppose.

"I guessed." Xena drawled, patting the side of his face. "Jess, I’m glad for you."

Gabrielle just gave him a hug, and tugged his chest fur with a smile.

"Thanks." He replied, shyly. Then his eyes darkened, and he swallowed. "But if.."

Xena put her hands on Gabrielle’s shoulders, and stepped closer to him, meeting his eyes over the bard’s head. "Don’t." She said softly. "Because I’m not gonna let that happen." And with that, the battle crossed the line with her, and became very personal.

Because she was, she suddenly realized, one of the people Secan meant to devastate with his insanity. He’d kill Gabrielle... and a fierce jolt of anger shook Xena’s body, and sent an icy mask over her features. "Get some rest, Jess." Her voice held a chill in it, and the forest dweller backed a step.

Gabrielle felt it, saw the subtle shift in her features, and turned, sliding her arms around Xena’s waist and looking up at her. "Hey." She called softly, watching the icy blue eyes slowly track to hers, and look through her for an endless moment, before they focused, and warmed, and brought her partner back to her. She tugged hard on the warrior, and was rewarded with a quirky half grin. "You too, hero."

Xena nodded. "Yeah." She said, "Let’s go." She steered the bard towards the door, pushing Jessan ahead of them. "Tomorrow’s going to be a long day. "

Gabrielle walked slowly through the darkness of the central grassy square, aware of the soft voices on all sides, and the comforting warmth of Xena's hand resting casually on her back. Sidelong glances told her that the warrior's face was tense and still, and she remained quiet, giving Xena time to assimilate the information of the evening.

What's she thinking? The bard wondered, studying that angular profile. Then an idea occurred to her. I could just ask her. That was a new thought, she pondered, as was the very real possibility that her close-mouthed partner just might tell her. She waited until they were inside the cot, though, before putting a hand on Xena’s side, feeling the warm skin through the coolness of the fabric covering it.

The warrior half turned towards her, and raised an eyebrow, focusing her attention on the bard. "What?"

"Dinar for your thoughts?" Gabrielle asked evenly, moving a little closer, and allowing herself to feel their connection. Knew that Xena was feeling it too, from the involuntary smile that shaped her lips, and the almost unconscious lifting of her hand to the bard's cheek. "What's bothering you, Xena?" And.. how far we've come, she silently mused that I can now just ask her that. Question is, will she tell me?

Xena's eyes searched hers, and her mouth quirked. "The fact we're going to fight against a homicidal maniac tomorrow?" She offered tentatively, brushing her thumb against the bard's cheekbone. "Lotta things can go wrong, Gabrielle." Her voice had dropped to a near whisper. "I don't.." She fell silent, unable to voice her fears.

But the bard understood, and sat down on the low couch, tugging Xena down with her. The warrior collapsed onto the cloth surface with an uncharacteristic lack of grace, and spread both arms out across the back, stretching her long legs out and crossing them. After a minute, she rolled her head to one side, and regarded Gabrielle soberly.

"Stakes just got a lot higher, huh?" Gabrielle asked seriously. And got a nod back in confirmation. Do I go serious here, or try to get her to relax a little? No.. no serious stuff before going to sleep. There's enough time for that tomorrow. "So.. what is it with us? Do we just attract disasters, or something?" She made a disgusted noise, and was rewarded with a wonderful, full smile. "I mean it, Xena. If we went to go buy lunch, we'd cause at least one small war, the theft of the village temple altar, and the birth of a three-headed goat. I swear."

Xena started laughing, and reached over, grabbing Gabrielle's arm and pulling her squawking across the couch. "C'mere." She said, wrapping the bard up in a fierce hug.

Well, that worked. Gabrielle sighed in satisfaction, as she burrowed happily into the warrior's warm embrace. "Did I ever tell you just how much I love when you do this?" She mumbled, then tilted her head back to gaze fondly up at Xena.

The warrior smiled back, and kissed her gently.

"Mmm..." Gabrielle chuckled deep in her throat. "That too." She rested her head against Xena's shoulder, and took a breath. "This.. makes it harder, doesn't it?" The words were out before she thought about it, and she felt Xena's breathing catch. Thought we weren't going to do serious, Gabrielle.. where in Hades did *that* come from?

Xena smoothed the red gold hair out of her partner's eyes, and let her fingers trail down the down soft cheek. "Yes, it does." She admitted quietly. "It raises the stakes.. beyond price."

A long still moment, when the only sounds were two sets of gentle breathing, the subtle popping of the fire, and the fading noises from outside coming in the window. Even Ares was motionless, lying tucked under Xena's extended legs.

"Are you.." Gabrielle whispered, then stopped as Xena touched her lips with stilling fingers.

"No regrets, Gabrielle." The warrior murmured. "No second thoughts, no what ifs." Her eyes were very serious. "Just something I have to take into account, that's all."

The bard closed her eyes, and let her fingers tangle into the soft cloth shirt Xena was wearing. Then she sighed, and raised her glance up again. "I'm going with you tomorrow morning." Her tone was inflexible. "I'm not staying behind here."

No, never again, my bard. Xena thought silently, we'll do what we do together. "Of course not." She acknowledged, feeling Gabrielle's heart skip a beat where the bard was pressed hard against her. "Who would watch my back?" She put a fingertip on the bard's nose. "I'm counting on you."

But then she took a very deep breath. "Gabrielle.. if it goes bad tomorrow.. " The bard's body went very still. "I.. want you to go home." She paused. "Please. I'd like to know you'll be someplace.. " She stopped. Gabrielle's hands clenched tight on her shirt, and she cleared her throat. "Someplace where you'll be loved."

Gabrielle stayed very still, letting the words play over and over in her mind until her breathing had settled, and she thought she might be able to speak. And what she said was something that she'd made a decision on, during that long, torchlit ride back from the mountain, with Xena's shallowly breathing form cradled in her arms. "No." Her voice was steady, and she saw the widening of the blue eyes locked with hers. "If something.. happens." She put a hand on Xena's cheek. "You just wait a heartbeat for me, all right?"

"No." The word on an explosion of air "You don't.."

"I do." Gabrielle spoke forcefully. "I can, I will, and nothing you're going to say, or do is going to change the way I feel." Her fingers twisted in fabric "I am not going to live like Warrin, Xena. Don't ask that of me." Her voice cracked a little. "Please. Promise me you'll wait."

Xena felt her whole world shift, then settle down again. Come on, Xena. You knew this. No matter what you told Lestan, and what you kept telling yourself, you knew it. She felt a mass of tension dissolve as she let her heart accept the concept. "On one condition." Came the quiet answer.

Gabrielle's eyes studied her. "What?" Trust Xena.. to go and try to put conditions on this.

"You make me the same promise." Xena replied.

Oh. The bard's mind reflected. Of course. "I promise."

A nod. "I promise too."

Gabrielle put her head back down on Xena's chest, and let out a deep sigh. They sat in companionable silence for some time, gazing at the fire, each lost in thought. Finally, Xena kissed the top of Gabrielle's head, and tightened her grasp. "Let's get some sleep."

The bard yawned in agreement. "OK." She unwound herself from Xena's arms, and stood, indulging in a long stretch. "Sounds like a good idea." She extended a hand to her still seated partner, and smiled when the warrior grasped it firmly. "Come on."

Xena allowed herself to be hauled to her feet, then padded across the room and stripped out of her light tunic, pulling a sleep shirt out of her saddlebags. She turned in time to see Gabrielle do the same, and stepped closer to the bard, casting a critical eye at the fading scratches on her stomach. "Looks ok." She pronounced, running a finger over the smooth surface. "Lucky for him."

Gabrielle knew what she meant, and traced the lines herself. "Yeah." She agreed quietly. "Doesn't even sting today."

Xena took the shirt from her, and gathered up the sleeves, settling the fabric over the bard's fair head. "There." She chuckled, giving her a pat on the side.

"Thanks." Gabrielle murmured, studying her. "Bruises are gone." She commented, tapping lightly on Xena's chest, then trailing her fingertips down the centerline of the warrior's belly, and felt the muscles shift under her hand. Then she reached up and touched Xena's forehead. "What about up here?"

Xena sighed, and shrugged. "Mostly." She acknowledged. "Still don't like closed places much." She pulled the shirt on. "But then, I never did, so.."

Gabrielle let that slide. "I know how you feel." She said quietly.

Xena stopped, and glanced up at her. "Huh?"

"Coffin." The bard said, succinctly.

"Ah." Xena breathed, raising her hands and cradling Gabrielle's face. "I should have realized."

"Yeah, well.." Gabrielle sighed, letting herself fall forward against Xena's warm body. "It never came up."

"Suppose not." The warrior muttered, tilting the bard's face up and studying it with a unhappy frown. "Gods, I'm sorry. If I'd just been faster.."

"Whoa.. whoa whoa..!!!!" Gabrielle barked, grabbing Xena around the ribcage and shaking her. "Don't you even think about going there." She would have laughed at the startled expression on the warrior's face if she hadn't been so mad.

"OK..OK.." Xena blinked. "I was just.."

"I know what you were just doing. " The bard growled. "So just don't.. please?" She let her head bump Xena’s collarbone. "Not tonight."

Xena tilted the bard’s head up again and kissed her. "All right." She murmured as they separated for s second, then resumed. The warrior chuckled as Gabrielle moved closer, bringing their bodies into contact all along their length. She wound her arms around the bard, and straightened up, lifting her off her feet. "I can think of a better place to do this." She commented, as she walked over to the bed, and launched both of them up a little, twisting in mid air so that she’d land on her back with the bard nestled on top of her. "There."

"Much better." Gabrielle mumbled, as her hands explored and found bare skin, then sucked in a sharp breath as she felt a sudden, knowing touch in return. "Gods.. I’m sure glad you don’t have cold hands." Was her indistinct comment.

A low chuckle was the only response.

Concluded in Part 8

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