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Gabrielle sat at the table impatiently tapping her fingers on the rough surface. Xena was out there, somewhere, with *that woman.* The tavern was in full swing and in the background a chorus of women could be heard singing, "Rollinszya, Rollinszya . . . " The tune sounded oddly familiar but the bard had no time to ponder this. Nope, her thoughts were on two leather- clad women who obviously had a past (something that had become quite upsetting for our bard).

"Here you go bard-warrior." Solari, who was extremely proud of her triumphant queen (she loved it when Amazons kicked ass because she secretly harbored fantasies--harmless, healthy fantasies-- of Amazon domination over the known world), set a plate of food in front of Gabrielle. "Sorry it took me so long but the bartender is pretty taken with you." The Amazon gave the bard a nudge and a wink. "Wanted to know what you were like, if your hair color was real, and if you had a boyfriend." Solari snorted at the last remark. "Yeah right," she said as she gave Gabrielle a hearty slap on the back.

Gabrielle, shocked out of her jealous contemplation by Solari’s ‘hearty slap’, shook her head in confusion. "What?"

Solari tilted her head at the bard. "You didn’t hear a word I said did you?"

"Sure I did." Gabrielle’s tone was indignant.

"Okay, so it’s set. You have a date with the bartender."

Gabrielle’s eyes widened with confusion then turned her head toward the bar to see a lanky man with missing teeth wave shyly to her. Her head whipped back around to face Solari. "WHAT!"

The Amazon erupted into fits of gleeful laughter. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hands, she managed to get herself under control. "Take it easy. I was just kidding. Now, I know perfectly well that you weren’t listening and I know perfectly well where your thoughts were."

Ephiny had just emerged from the crowd and took a seat next to Solari. She had just caught the last part of the conversation and Gabrielle’s reddening cheeks. "Oh let me guess, we’re talking about Xena."

"Arrgh," Gabrielle screamed into her hands.

*****

I would scream too. Wouldn’t you? Oh my friends, things were not going well for our two fated lovers. Nope. Things had just become . . . well, how to put this gently . . . extremely complicated (in a way that made you feel like you were standing knee deep in a pile of Cyclops dung). Just when you think that these two are going to finally admit their feelings for each other then whammo! Something, like interrupting Amazons and angry ex-lovers, jumps into the picture. Hey, don’t get all pissy at me. I’m just telling you how it happened. If you’re frustrated, just think about how Gabrielle feels.

Yes, poor frustrated Gabrielle. Every time the bard thought she was getting past the iron fortress around Xena’s heart, something or someone clipped her from behind. If the bard had been more cynical (which is virtually impossible because hey, this is Gabrielle) she would have thought there was some cosmic conspiracy to keep them apart. Okay, so maybe a certain god would rather them not get together but there wasn’t really a conspiracy. Nuh uh, just incredibly bad timing.

Of course, we have the benefit of knowing that they are destined to be together even when the prospects look rather dim right now. For these two, there will be no others. Through their angst beats a love that is timeless and fathomless. Remember love is like magic and for reasons beyond our comprehension, this love was meant to be. Trust me here.

So, what about Tess? Well, she certainly threw a curve into the whole story didn’t she? And she certainly put Xena in a grumpy tizzy, as you will soon see . . .

*****

Gabrielle continued to rest her face within her hands while Ephiny and Solari shared understanding looks. These two Amazons were not strangers to the exasperation of love. For Ephiny, the sadness of losing Phantes could still be heard in her voice and she wondered if she would ever love again (there is nothing sadder than a love lost). On the other hand, Solari had yet to find what she was looking for. Although a she had lovers, ( oh my did she have lovers) not one had come close to capturing her heart. So, for this sturdy warrior, the frustration came from not being able to find ‘the one’. Yes, both Amazons knew that love was never easy.

"Rollinsya’! Rollinsya’! Rollinsya downsk da Reeev-ah!" The lyrics brought the two warriors out of their reverie. "Hey," Ephiny said. "Doesn’t this band sound familiar?"

Solari turned in her seat and craned her neck toward the stage. A group of several women were engaged in intricate dance steps while one rather hefty woman belted out the heavily accented lyrics. "Yeah, they sound familiar." She turned back toward Ephiny. "They look like Bulgarian milkmaids," she said as she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Oh nooo you don’t. Stow that kinky milkmaid fantasy right now! Remember last time you *churned butter* with a milkmaid? I’m not going to save your libidinous butt again." (And Ephiny still sported the scar from said rescue.)

"Hey, I didn’t know she was marri-" Solari was cut off by a disgruntled Warrior Princess falling into the chair next to Gabrielle. Of course, to Gabrielle, a disgruntled Xena was better than no Xena at all (by the gods that girl can smile big).

"Hi Xena," Ephiny greeted the warrior.

"Hmmph," Xena returned the greeting.

The bard narrowed her eyes at Xena. "What’s the matter? Who was that woman?"

"Nothing’s the matter and that woman was just an old acquaintance. I’m thirsty." With agitated movements, Xena looked around for the barmaid. ‘Where the Tartarus is that barmaid. This band sucks.’ The band continued to sing, " . . . downsk da Reeev-ah . . . "

"Yeah I bet," mumbled Gabrielle. ‘Thirsty for that woman? Okay Gabrielle get a grip.’

Xena’s supersensitive hearing picked up the sarcastic remark. "What’s that supposed to mean?" She asked the question but blue eyes warned that the subject should be dropped. However, Gabrielle rarely heeded such warnings. She was just about to answer when . . .

Suddenly, Solari snapped her finger. "Hey I got it!"

All three heads shot toward her. When Solari offered no response Ephiny rolled her eyes and asked, "What?"

"The band. The Bulgarian women . . . I think we saw them performing at some wedding. Remember?"

Ephiny’s brow creased in concentration. "Nope."

Xena whose agitation was increasing exponentially in relation to the grating lyrics of the Bulgarian women and the elusiveness of the barmaid had just about reached the end of her proverbial rope. Suddenly, this had all become too much. The sexual tension she felt in the presence of her bard, this stupid tournament, the bet with Tess, the annoying Amazons, the absent barmaid and that song! The same lyrics over and over again driving the super cool Warrior Princess right to the edge. "Rollinszya, Rollinszya . . . " In a blur of dark leather and crisp bronze, the warrior shot straight up from her chair. ‘Rollinszya this!’

*****

The Bulgarian women weren’t really that bad it was just that Xena was in a very, very bad mood. Consequently, this was very, very bad news for everybody else. Because, in a cunning display of skill, she had been out maneuvered with few options for escape. Oh yeah, the woman who held the infamy of being the ‘Destroyer of Nations’ had been duped (and not in a small way). Tess had managed to zone in on Xena’s weakness, her bard. Thus, what had begun as the innocent defense of her beloved Gabrielle turned into a game of sexual conquest. Now, let’s be honest here. Sexual conquest had been Xena’s specialty in her darker days and she didn’t mind a toss in the bedroll (as long as she was the conquistador). However, things had changed and she knew sex with Tess would be wrong.

But why was it wrong? This was the very question making our stoic warrior so cranky. Why? Well, we know why and the stubborn warrior did too. Slowly, dawning upon the raven-haired ex-warlord was the undeniable fact that, she indeed loved Gabrielle and not like a sister. However, our fearless Xena wasn’t so fearless after all; for giving one’s heart can be more frightening than facing a herd of raging minotaurs. And I do believe she would rather face that herd than tell Gabrielle how she felt. ‘What if I scared her away?’ Xena thought to herself. No, Xena wouldn’t risk it. However, she knew that doing the nasty with Tess would be wrong. Her love was taken and in a moment of sentiment for this hardened warrior, the sweetest notion engulfed her heart. She would wait for Gabrielle.

So, unknowingly they struggled together. Gabrielle with her own fears and Xena with hers. Silly isn’t it? However, I’m sure that we’ve all been there.

*****

Xena stood, her hand poised on her chakram when she felt a firm grip on her arm. The bard looked at her with worried confusion. The warrior’s eyebrow shot up (you know the one) and Gabrielle released her grip. Xena softened her look instantly. She hadn’t intended on scaring Gabrielle. ‘This isn’t going well.’ She turned her fury on the singing women. "HEY!"

Again, everybody froze in place. The wrath of the Warrior Princess was directed at someone and it was definitely safer to not move. "I’m talkin’ to the band." Xena didn’t have to yell because everything was deathly quiet. The lead singer, a hefty Bulgarian woman named Helga (yeah the name isn’t important but what the heck) pointed at herself, obviously dumbfounded. "Yeah, I’m talkin’ to you St. Pauli Girl. Don’t you know any other song? I’m getting pretty darn tired of ‘rollinszya, rollinszya," Xena said with her best Bulgarian accent." This made the bard chuckle against her will but she quickly quieted when Xena shot her a warning glare. (Although, secretly Xena felt some of her tension ebb with Gabrielle’s laughter.)

The Bulgarian woman turned to look sheepishly at the other Bulgarian women who stood behind her. She shrugged and they shrugged in return. She pointed to the band. "A von, a two, a von, two thwree . . . " A pounding bass beat started and the Bulgarian women came to life. Each woman swaying and thrusting their ample hips. The tavern patrons began to move with the suggestive beat. Helga threw herself into the vocals."She’s a vaary kinksky gaerl.."

"Xena..." the bard gently turned the warrior to face her. "What is wrong?"

"Um, Solari . . . let’s dance." Ephiny subtly eyed her friend.

"No, I don’t think so. I’m kind of tired-hey!" Ephiny grabbed the (somewhat clueless at times) Amazon by the arm and drug her out to where the other patrons where bobbing and gyrating to the Bulgarian women’s song. "...De kind you dun’t tek home to motherskya.."

Xena shook her head. "Nothing is wrong."

"WHAT?" The bard shouted because the music was becoming quite loud. "...she’s a sooper freakskya, she’s sooper freakskyazsyi!"

Xena bent down so she was very close to Gabrielle’s ear (a fact the neither of them minded one bit). "I said nothing is wrong." She stood back up to full height believing the conversation was over. She felt an insistent hand on the back of her neck pulling her down. The action brought a slight tingling to the area below her waist (if you know what I mean).

Gabrielle positioned her mouth next to the warrior’s ear, resisting the urge to delicately trace the folds with her tongue, and spoke firmly. "Don’t lie to me Xena. I know when something’s wrong. Please tell me."

Xena, who had long ago realized the futility of arguing with the bard, reluctantly gave in. "Gabrielle I-" The warrior was drowned out by the whole tavern singing, "such da freaksky scene . . . whoo!" It seems like Xena’s ‘little pep talk’ got the Bulgarian women inspired’. Xena grabbed the bard and ushered her out into the cool night air, past two Amazons who were treating the patrons to some rather provocative dance moves. "...dat gaerl is prettsky wild nowsk!" (After all, Amazons did dance a lot.)

*****

They stood outside the tavern and the music became a dull thud in the background. The night was clear and warm and a breeze drifted upon their skin. Xena took a deep breath before addressing her bard. "Gabrielle you need to win the tournament."

Gabrielle tilted her head in confusion and placed a hand upon her hip. "Xena, I’ll try my best but it is just a tournament."

Xena whipped around and walked a few paces from the bard before a hand stopped her progress. ‘I can’t tell her it would put too much pressure on her’. The warrior plastered on her best ‘everything is okay’ smile. "Look Gabrielle, I’m just worried about you that’s all. I’m sure you’ll do fine. All those people are making me edgy I guess. That’s all."

The worry didn’t leave Gabrielle’s green eyes. "Do you want to go for a walk? Promise I won’t talk too much." (That was quite a promise from the bard. But then again, she would have promised Xena anything.)

Xena chuckled then cupped the bard’s face with her hand. "I love your voice my bard but I think what I need to do is go check on Argo. Now, go get some sleep . . . okay?"

‘Did she just say ‘my bard’?’ Gabrielle would have jumped into Xena’s arms right then and there if she hadn’t cultivated the iron self-control needed in such situations; a self-control which was only exceeded by Xena’s. So instead, Gabrielle leaned into her warrior’s touch and nodded her head. "Xena please."

There it was again. The phrase that was the Warrior Princess’ eternal undoing. A phrase that turned this stolid warrior into a pile of mush. "Okay." Xena bent down to place a light kiss on Gabrielle’s cheek (of course, she was oblivious to the fact that this small act caused havoc on the bard’s life functions). "I made a wager Gabrielle. If you lose it kinda puts me in a difficult situation."

"What kind of wager . . . what difficult situation? It’s that woman isn’t it?" (Here comes that irrational jealousy that plagues us all.)

"Her name is Tess and we were-"

"Lovers." Gabrielle turned from Xena and tried to calm the uprising of her stomach. ‘Why can she love everybody else but me?’

"Not exactly . . . it was one night a long time ago. After we were done, I left and never saw her again."

"Oh." That fact didn’t make Gabrielle any happier.

The hurt in her bard’s voice chilled Xena to the core. She didn’t stop to wonder why Gabrielle was so hurt or why it hurt for her to hear it. No, the warrior’s first instinct was to comfort. A tendency that only the bard brought out. "Gabrielle," Xena pulled the bard close. Standing behind Gabrielle, she wrapped strong arms around her shoulders. "She was a mistake. When I was a warlord, I made a lot of them. I’m sorry that I used her but she means nothing to me. The only person that I care about . . . " Xena stopped herself. The declaration of her love became trapped in her throat, halted by fear. She wrapped her arms tighter around her bard while silently cursing herself for the weakness.

Gabrielle reveled in the comfort of Xena’s embrace. Softly she spoke, so soft that her voice could have been lost in the wind if it weren’t for Xena’s hypersensitive hearing. "I know Xena . . . I feel the same way."

*****

Oh our lovers were so close. Gabrielle with her gentle declaration had exposed herself to her warrior. And Xena with her loving embrace had displayed her own torturous struggle. Both of them afraid and unsure of the next step. Unfortunately, the mistakes of the past hung over them like an oppressive black cloud. Together they balanced between euphoria and pain.

*****

Xena buried her face into the strawberry-blonde hair. Its sweet scent taking her to the place she was sure to never find. "Gabrielle this wager . . . "

"Yeah," Gabrielle turned in the embrace making sure to keep herself enfolded within Xena’s arms.

"Tess is competing and if she beats you . . . then she gets . . . me."

The bard pushed off from Xena. "WHAT!" (It looks like they just edged over to the pain part.) The warrior reached out for Gabrielle but her hands were brushed aside. "What do you mean Xena! Tell me now!" (Oh yeah, Gabrielle was pissed. The little green monster was tap dancing on the bard’s logical mind.)

"Gabrielle, it’s just for one night. Not forever."

"It could end up as ‘forever’."

"Don’t be ridiculous."

"I suppose by ‘gets you’ she means sex?"

Xena looked sheepishly down at the ground. "Yes" Xena thought about denying this but, for some reason, Xena wanted everything out on the table.

"Can you get out of it?"

"I gave my word. I accepted before I knew the conditions and that was stupid but now it’s too late. When I was a warlord, my word meant nothing. Now, it means everything. I can’t back out." She reached for the bard again. "Besides," she spoke in her best smoothing voice, "you’ll win." (And Xena desperately wanted the bard to win.)

Xena’s words bounced off the images racing through Gabrielle’s mind. Her warrior’s words of assurance had no effect against the carnal thoughts of Xena and Tess together (and she was conjuring up some real dandies). Gabrielle whirled around in a frustrated circle; without thinking, the bard lashed out. (You see, jealousy and fear was making her heart hurt so very much.) "Why Xena? Just go and get it over with. You haven’t had it in a while. If you wanted to do her why make the stupid bet? It’s not like we’re lovers or anything. You don’t owe me your fidelity. I’m not naive Xena. You have needs . . . I have needs." In fact, there’s this cute little groupie that keeps following me around. Perhaps I should get to know her. " (Ouch! The bard certainly knew her marks.)

Xena moved fast and grabbed the bard by the arm. "I don’t want to ‘do her’! I don’t want to *do* anybody but you. Do you understand Gabrielle? I don’t want anyone but you." (Whoa! Wait a minute. There it was, the declaration that the bard, and the rest of us, had been waiting for. Too bad that it was born out of hurt. But not everything is perfect . . . not like in fairy tales. Gabrielle had pictured this moment over and over in her minds eye and never had it been like this. However, things could always be fixed.)

Gabrielle blinked as she tried to fathom what Xena had just said. However, it was too late. Xena was hurt that much was clear in the cold blue eyes. Gabrielle had pushed too far and what had started out so promising had ended up a big fat mess. Instantly, she wished she could take back her stinging words. Xena let go of the bard’s arm. "Go find your groupie Gabrielle. I’ll see you in the morning."

She turned to leave before Gabrielle managed to breathe again. ‘Why does this have to be so hard?’ Tears formed in the lovely green eyes. "Xena stop!" It was now or never for our bard. The warrior stopped but did not turn around. "I love you . . . stupid warrior," Gabrielle pushed the words out with shaky determination.

Slowly, Xena turned, her eyes narrowed with hurt and confusion. They stood motionless, a few paces apart. The moonlight bathing their skin and the wind soothing the heated words from their lips. In this village, surrounded by rock, the only two creatures that mattered were the bard and her warrior. The words that had left Gabrielle’s mouth gently floated across the distance and landed in Xena’s heart like cherry blossoms (ah yes, remember the cherry blossom?). The warrior brought her hand up to cover her armored chest; she accepted the fragile gift. There they remained, focused only on each other, and the only sound heard was the combined beating of their hearts. From the depths of their souls that spark ignited again. This fight was over and it was time to give in. Now, this is how it was supposed to be.

Gabrielle trembled where she stood. It seemed like an eternity since she voiced her love. "Xena . . . please say something."

Xena didn’t say a word. Instead, she closed the distance like a bolt of lightning and gathered the bard into a crushing embrace. Through eyes shut tight, they desperately searched for the lips that held the promise of forever. The kiss was heated and it drove them to their knees. They fell together, holding on in fear that this was all a dream and the softness of each other’s mouths was an illusion. But it wasn’t an illusion. This was more real than anything they had ever experienced. The magic enveloped them and the spark of love fused them together for eternity. For one another, this had become elemental. As flesh needed water, they needed each other.

Breathless, Gabrielle pushed against the bronze chest of her love. Her lips swollen from the passion she shared with her warrior. She looked into Xena’s cloudy blue eyes. "Tell me I’m not dreaming."

Xena tenderly touched her love’s face. "It is a dream Gabrielle. It is my dream." The warrior who had always been economic in her word usage, nearly caused the bard to swoon with her simple speech. Xena bent down to kiss Gabrielle and lost herself when the bard parted her lips as a gentle invitation. The softness that she encountered caused a moan to erupt from deep within her throat. She had to stop or she would end up taking the bard in this dusty village center. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss and rested her face in the bard’s neck. Her body shook with barely contained need. "Gabrielle."

The bard stroked the raven-hair and tried to calm her trembling warrior. Although, her body thrummed with the same excitement. "Say it Xena," she gently urged. "Please say it."

"I love you Gabrielle . . . I love you."

The bard gripped her warrior’s face with both hands and brought her mouth up to meet hers. The kiss was deep and hard as they claimed each others souls. Gabrielle could feel her desire building to a blinding, pulsating need. "Xena," she moaned as the warrior nipped at her neck. "Xena if you don’t make love to me right now I’ll. . ." she lost her train of thought as a callused hand moved to gently squeeze her breast (oh my).

"You’ll what my bard?" Xena moved her thumb over an erect nipple.

Gabrielle yelped then moaned out her response. "I’ll never speak to you again."

Xena laughed against the tender skin at the base of Gabrielle’s neck. "Well I certainly can’t have that," she growled. She stood up abruptly and dragged the (oh so eager) bard behind her.

*****

So, our two fated lovers made their way, rather quickly, to the inn. Unbeknownst to them they had a silent observer. Emerging from the shadows stood Tess. Brown eyes darkened and followed the couple as she contemplated what was to come tomorrow. You didn’t think that this tale was over did you? On no my friends there is always tomorrow.

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