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So, it seemed like the next logical (at least to me) step, for our heroic duo, was the consummation of their recently admitted love (oh goody). The way back to the inn was a blur for the bard. All she could see, smell or hear was the leather-clad warrior who led her there. They reached the door of their room but before they went in, and with a quick scan of blue eyes for strangers because Xena hated being interrupted, the bard was thrust up against the wall. The bard’s body went into automatic pilot, her ability to think clearly, leaving her as she felt the leather waist that was grinding (oh so wonderfully) against her.

Always one to return the favor she claimed the warrior’s mouth with deep thrusts of her tongue. Her hand wrapping itself within the ebony locks while she moaned Xena’s name with abandon. Oh yeah, now this pushed Xena to her limit. (Hey, pent up sexual frustration and the Warrior Princess? You do the math.) Gabrielle felt the wood of the wall scraping along her back as her body was thrust up and down in an erotic motion. "Get me in the room Xena . . . now," Gabrielle groaned as one particular maneuver by Xena added new urgency to the bard’s plea.

Lips still tracing an oh so delectable pattern down the bard’s neck, Xena reached for the door latch and took a few steps in before she heard someone clearing their throat. Inside stood Solari and Ephiny, whose keen Amazon hearing (yeah right) picked up the sexual commotion outside the room. There they stood beaming proudly at the two heated lovers to be, with their bedrolls neatly tucked underneath their arms. ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about those two,’ thought the ex-warlord through her love haze. She dropped Gabrielle to her feet and straightened out her battledress as if nothing was out of the ordinary. (Smooth Warrior Princess . . . smooth.)

The Amazons snickered, for it was hard to embarrass these two, and plowed past the eager lovers. "Don’t mind us we’ve made other sleeping arrangements. Carry on," this was said with a wink toward the bard who blushed brightly. They closed the door behind them. Amazons knew when to beat a hasty exit.

Once outside the room Solari turned to her Regent. "Well it’s about gods-damned time."

Ephiny chuckled. "You’re telling me?"

"So where do we sleep tonight mighty Amazon leader?"

"Well my faithful warrior . . . the stables are always quite delightful."

"For some people," Solari said with a wry grin.

"Hey!" Ephiny landed a swift kick to her friend’s butt as Solari quickly raced down the stairs and toward the stables.

*****

Early the next morning Gabrielle woke up to an empty room and as she always did every morning, she reached over to feel how long Xena had been absent. The coolness of the sheets told her it had been a while. She rolled over onto her back and became aware of the musky scent of their lovemaking. This, of course, brought a wicked smile to the face of our innocent Gabrielle. Oh how she wished that Xena didn’t rise so early. However, she knew the Warrior Princess was a creature of habit and this one would be a hard one to break but gods if she wasn’t going to try. (You see the bard had many skills of her own.)

Fighting the urge to stay in bed (in hopes of Xena coming to get her) she quickly dressed and joined her friends downstairs for breakfast. Ephiny greeted her first. "Gabrielle! Well it’s about time you got your lazy butt outta bed." She couldn’t help but notice the glow of the Queen. "You did get some sleep . . . didn’t you?"

The bard simply smiled and swiped a sweet roll off the Regent’s plate. "Where’s Xena?"

"Checking her horse. You know Gabrielle that warrior spends way too much time with that horse. I’d be a little worried if I were you," Ephiny finished with a sotto voice. Gabrielle gave Ephiny a playful punch and then swiped another sweet roll. "Hey! Get your own breakfast." Ephiny made an unsuccessful grab for her roll before continuing. "She seemed a bit edgy this morning."

"She’s nervous about the tourna-" The bard stopped in mid-sentence when she spotted the brown-haired woman from last night. ‘Well this is going to be dandy.’ she thought to herself as Tess made her way toward the table and stopped.

"Good morning Gabrielle." Tess looked and sounded pleasant enough.

The Amazon Queen swallowed her half-chewed sweet roll and fumbled out a response. "Good morning."

Tess smiled then gave the bard a long and appraising look; similar to that you would expect when buying a horse. ‘Oh yes, looks strong, good legs, nice coat . . . I think she’ll do nicely.’ Tess smiled broadly which made Gabrielle quite uneasy. "I’ll see you at the tournament." She moved away leaving a confused bard in her wake.

Ephiny nudged Gabrielle. "What the Tartarus was that about?"

"A Warrior Princess."

"Oh."

*****

The second day of the tournament drew an even larger crowd. It also appeared that the number of Gabbites grew too. Within the crowd, devotees of the bard wore facsimiles of the trademark bilious top (and not only the women) and merchants were selling ‘authentic’ Amazon war staffs. Solari had discreetly bought one of the said staffs (she was always a victim to consumerism) and had hoped to smuggle it home without the others knowing about it. However, the Regent, who was always aware of her warrior’s weaknesses, was one step ahead of the hapless Solari. (Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty when the two Amazons returned home and the staff was brought out with an autograph, ‘To Solari my greatest Gabbite. Love Gabrielle.’)

Anyway, Gabrielle and Ephiny waded through the sea of Gabbites toward the arena. They were almost there when familiar shadows loomed overhead. Eclipsing the sun were Hansuhl and Gretahl. Believe it or not, they looked bigger than usual. Beefy forearms crossed themselves over a full chest and stout Austrian eyes looked down upon the two Amazons. "Ah, zey are here Hansuhl, Zeena’s little fwriends."

"Ja, right . . . fwriend." Hansuhl nudged his sister and laughed at their private (or not so private joke).

Gretahl snorted out her nose while contemptuously eyeing Ephiny. "Zis is ze infamous Amazon? Big deal . . . or small deal in vou case." Gretahl laughed and the sheer force of air coming out of her mouth almost knocked the Queen and Regent over.

*****

Okay, so let’s return back to the Scroll, "Things to Know before Approaching an Amazon". Gretahl had just made a faux pas of epic proportions: when first meeting an Amazon never, never ever, insult their size. Insult friends? Sure. Insult their horse? Maybe. Insult their size. Never.

*****

"Now listen here you mutation!" Ephiny was particularly sensitive, although she wasn’t small, she was the smallest in her family. Therefore, she had received some serious teasing when she was growing up. "I may be smaller than you but I can still run up that mountain you call an ass and kick it into next week!" (Oh yeah, she was sensitive all right and it made logical thought nil.) Ephiny was fierce but Gretahl was just plain huge (not to mention she had an equally large sibling) and pain was sure to be eminent.

"VHAT!?" The siblings said in unison.

Gabrielle grabbed Ephiny and quickly placed a hand over the cursing mouth."Now calm down. My friend here . . . she’s on medication." This is what made Gabrielle such an effective queen; she knew when to retreat. Subtly, she moved herself and Ephiny toward the arena and away from the behemoths. "She is not well. In fact, we hardly let her out in public these days . . . "

"Whmmph temmph fphat bummph," Ephiny continued to mumble through her Queen’s hand. (She is so temperamental.)

"Ja, runt," Gretahl knew she would have her revenge soon enough. "I owe Zeena and I vill be glad to take zat out on vou and after I’m done, manners I vill teach ze Amazon."

Oh, that did it. "Why you over grown freak of natmmph," Ephiny lunged but Gabrielle’s strong hold tightened and kept the regent firmly in place. Gabrielle smiled and pulled the feisty Amazon toward the arena. A bard’s work is never done.

*****

Xena and Solari stood next to the arena waiting for their two companions. "You know, I don’t think those bilious green tops are very flattering," said the Amazon as a Gabbite walked by. She was desperately trying to lighten the mood. You see the Warrior Princess had not uttered a complete sentence since Solari found her. No, all Xena did was grunt (and even those were clipped). "What do you think Xena?"

The ever stoic warrior tightened her fist slightly (this was downright fidgety for Xena) and continued to ignore the Amazon. Instead, she focused on the crowd in hopes of spotting Gabrielle. She was worried, not only about the bet with Tess but also of the change in her relationship with the bard. And oh what a change it was. If one were to look closely, they could see the faint flush in the warrior’s cheeks and the slight smile that touched the corners of her mouth when she thought about Gabrielle.

Indeed, that morning had been the best in this warrior’s hard life. She had never awakened more happy or giddy (well, as close to giddy as Xena could get). Xena was hopelessly head over heels in love with the beautiful bard and this scared her beyond belief. Never before had she felt more vulnerable. Even in battle with a dozen swords slashing at her, she felt more confident than she felt right now. This is what drove her from the bed before the bard awakened. This warrior, who was so adept at seduction, was an amateur when it came to love.

Oh yeah, Xena had been in love before, but it wasn’t this love. This love could strip away the nightmares, it could bring a tingling of her stomach, an uncontrollable smile, an irresistible urge to touch and hold, and a black rage at the thought of anybody hurting her precious Gabrielle. In this love, Xena could be complete; she would find redemption.

So, for possibly the first time, the Warrior Princess was insecure (yes, even the strongest succumb). For even with all the whispered assurances passed between them the night before, Xena was afraid that Gabrielle would reject her. ‘What if she wakes up and thinks that it was a mistake,’ was the thought the warrior could not shake. After all, Xena couldn’t really blame her. She was dark and brooding while Gabrielle was light and joy. What would Gabrielle want in her? Never mind the fact that it was the bard who declared her love first. (Silly ol’ warrior.)

*****

"Xena!" The bard’s voice shot straight to Xena’s heart. She turned to see Gabrielle emerging from the crowd arms spread wide, with a smile, that could melt Xena’s bronze armor, plastered on her face. The warrior had little time to react before her fair bard’s arms had engulfed her waist and a blonde head was firmly ensconced against her chest. In a heartbeat, Xena’s fears had been dismissed. The ex-warlord smiled (yes, in public and it was such a wonderful smile too) and gently held her lover to her. It was at that moment they both wondered if there could be anything more perfect?

With a squeeze to Xena’s waist, the bard pulled slightly back and spoke softly to her warrior. "I missed you this morning."

"I had to check on Argo-" Xena was stopped by two gentle fingers placed upon her lips.

The bard gave Xena that lopsided grin (you know the one we all find so endearing and a bit sexy). "Xena, I know." Nothing more need be said.

As I love--loved am I!" 

Gabrielle stood in the middle of the arena. The crowd chanted, "Gab-rielle! Gab-rielle!" Two beefy men were beating an aggressive beat onto drums placed outside the cage. Inside two women stalked each other, trying to find some advantage. It had come down to two fights: Gabrielle vs. Gretahl and the winner would take on Tess. Yes Tess, who stood confidently amongst the crowd silently waiting for her revenge. Brown eyes fixated themselves on the bard as a vulture might hungrily stare at a dead rodent. ‘Just a friend Xena? Yeah right. That blonde doesn’t stand a chance. It’s for her own good anyway. She’s too innocent for the likes of you.’ (Anger is such a difficult thing to let go of . . . isn’t it?)

On the outside of the cage, Xena watched, pacing back and forth following the action. There wasn’t any pretense of being the stoic warrior. Nope, it was obvious to every one present that Xena would just as soon rip their heads off then stand outside the arena. However, she had no choice (and these days ripping off heads was no longer an option) so she paced relentlessly and no one dared get in her way. Ephiny and Solari stood behind the warrior silently praying to their goddess Artemis that nothing happened to the bard, because if it did, they had little chance of stopping a lovesick Warrior Princess.

Gabrielle and Gretahl continued to circle each other, staffs poised and ready to strike. "So vunt, zi pain ah vou veady to veel?" The gigantic woman taunted her smaller opponent.

The bard smiled then replied, "You know Gretahl, a wise friend of me once said something that might help you in this situation."

"And zat is vhat?"

"Fight now and talk later!" Then she struck, using her shorter stature to her advantage, she moved in and under Gretahl’s arms. It was just close enough for Gabrielle to attack and bind up the larger woman’s reach. Before Gretahl could take a step back, Gabrielle launched a series of strikes. A good shot to the ribs got Gretahl’s attention but it was the second, slightly harder, shot to the ribs that got her mad. (Oh dear) In a surprising display of speed the behemoth swung her staff and in an arching swing struck the bard’s back. Gabrielle thrust forward as her body tried to escape the blow. The resulting crack of wood on flesh reverberated throughout the crowd.

"OH!" The crowd groaned at the vicious hit and Xena lunged forward ready to kick some Austrian ass. Solari and Ephiny, who had been shadowing the warrior, each grabbed a deceptively lean but strong arm. (And believe me it took a lot to hold our Warrior Princess back.) The need to protect her bard was instinctive and gods help those who got in her way. "Let," the ex-warlord swung the two Amazons around, "me . . . " but the two women hung on valiantly, "GO!"

Ephiny gritted her teeth and held on for dear life even as she saw poor Solari being thrown unceremoniously into the crowd (later, she would have a good chuckle over this but right now she had her hands full . . . so to speak). "Xena, this is Gabrielle’s fight! You-OUCH!" she cried as she was butted up against a bony spectator. "You can’t barge in there . . . LET HER FIGHT!"

Suddenly, the Regent was staring into clear blue eyes. With a low and measured tone Xena spoke, "Let me go." And Ephiny did as she was told (it was this quiet voice of Xena’s that held the most danger). The Warrior Princess adjusted her arm bracers, nodded slightly to the Amazon then turned her attention back to the fight. Ephiny was right, and as much as every muscle in Xena body wanted to pummel Gretahl, this was up to Gabrielle.

In the ring, the women were exchanging heated strikes. Whack. The sound of Gabrielle’s staff hitting the Austrian’s head brought the crowd to its feet. Gretahl spun around from the blow her eyesight momentarily fuzzy (you know that had to hurt). Gabrielle moved in again but her strike was blocked and the hard end of a staff made contact with her abdomen (lucky for Gab she had a rock hard stomach . . . oh yeah.) "Uh uh vunt, better vuo will have to do. I vas vonce kicked in zi head by a horse wis no damage."

The bard stumbled back trying to regain the breath that had been knocked out of her. "Well, Gretahl that explains quite a bit."

"Hey! Vou mean by zat what?" Gretahl came in swiftly and was now unleashing a series of devastating overhead strikes, each one forcing the bard back and down. The Austrian woman was using her size and considerable power to her advantage. Gabrielle’s staff was poised over her head, muscled arms bracing against the jarring attack; Gabrielle fended off each blow. Using the strongest part of her body, her legs, the bard pushed up after the last bone-numbing strike. Using the increased space, she went for the sweep, hoping to at least knock the gigantic woman off balance. Nope. Gretahl’s legs remained firmly set. (Not good)

Gretahl smiled then winked at her small opponent. Then Gabrielle felt pain. It centered in her right knee blinding the bard to anything but the pulsing sensation of discomfort. Suddenly, she wasn’t standing anymore but lying on the dusty ground. It was probably no more than a second between the Austrian’s hit to her joint and the results. Gabrielle was down, her face a window to the pain that was immobilizing her, while Gretahl moved in for the kill (well not really kill but the . . . surrendering blow). She advanced on the struggling bard, large hands tightening their grip. "All vight leetle von, vor vou is nighty night."

"GABRIELLE GET UP!" Xena’s cry flew out over the arena. She was pressed up against the cage with the Amazons next to her (although at this point they would have just let Xena go . . . even they had their limits to seeing their Queen hurt). The warrior was just about at the end of her legendary control and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold herself back much longer. ‘Please get up,’ the warrior silently pleaded.

In the crowd, Tess also heard the warrior’s cry. Brown eyes focused, not on the fight in the arena, but on Xena’s face. In an unguarded moment of emotion, Tess was able to see what the warrior had once denied. Xena’s heart had been claimed by the little blonde in the ring. It was so clear as Xena’s body reacted and the stoicism was lost in the creases of the forehead, raise of the eyebrows and the biting of the lower lip. Then Tess saw the ex-warlord close worried blue eyes in an act that she instinctively knew meant fear and prayer. Xena had told her once that she didn’t pray to the gods believing that she controlled her own destiny. It was just a moment but Tess knew it had happened. Love is the only thing that could make things seem so out of control. Tess tried to remain unaffected but inside her heart broke for things that could never be.

Xena’s cry pierced through the numbing pain that Gabrielle was feeling. With a quick look to her anxious love, she found her determination. She directed her eyes back toward the advancing giant and struggled to a crouching position. Putting weight on her knee sent screaming sensations throughout her body. The bard’s adrenaline increased and sent signals to her muscles that tightened in response. Green eyes narrowed as Gretahl brought her staff up for another strike, but Gabrielle tucked and rolled.

Gabrielle scampered to her feet balancing most of her weight on her good leg. ‘Focus bard . . . you can win this.’ And focus the bard did. She waited and dodged each blow sometimes using her staff as a crutch and or simply rolling out of the way of the Austrians strikes. Gabrielle’s poise on this day would go down in the annals of history (well maybe not the annals of history but for some time a traveler could hear the story of a feisty Amazon queen and a very large Austrian woman.)

"Arghhh!" Gretahl had become very irritated at the whole situation. In a desperate move, she charged at Gabrielle bringing her staff up to strike down one final time. However, the bard had sensed Gretahl’s desperation. This time she waited until the last possible moment to move. Green eyes narrowed at the approaching giant willing herself to stay until Gretahl’s staff came down to strike. As the Austrian’s staff descended toward the bard’s head she tucked and rolled once more. The unexpected miss hurled Gretahl off balance. She lurched forward and thrust the tip of her staff down into the dirt to brace herself. There she stood, most of her weight leaning on her staff, but she had prevented a most embarrassing fall to her face. She took a moment to breathe out a sigh of relief (yup, you guessed it major mistake). No sooner had the breath passed over her lips when she felt her body hurling (or rather toppling like a huge tree) to the harsh arena ground. ‘Zis sucks.’ With a thud, she fell and a cloud of fine dust shrouded her body.

"TIMBER!" The crowd yelled before breaking out into a cacophony of noise.

Gabrielle had knocked out Gretahl’s staff from under her and now stood over the fallen giant, staff tip pointed menacingly at Gretahl’s face. "Do you give up?" The bard muttered out through gritted teeth. The pain in her knee was excruciating and she definitely needed a speedy end to this bout.

Gretahl rolled her eyes and ceded to the little blonde terror that stood before her. "Ja, given up."

"Oh thank the gods," Gabrielle sighed in relief then sunk to the ground. All she wanted to do was take the weight off her knee. " The bard jerked when she felt a stout hand on her back. Gretahl crouched down beside the hurting bard. The little blonde had just bested the large Austrian and Gretahl couldn’t help but respect that. (You see Gretahl, under that big exterior, was really a nice person with a few insecurities. As a child she had been taunted all her life for being different and being different was never easy.) "I vill help you to Xeena . . . ja?"

Gabrielle smiled then nodded yes. She lifted her arm and allowed the bigger woman to slide in next to her. With a reassuring look from Gretahl, the bard was lifted off the ground. Gingerly, the two women made their way to the edge of the arena. Just before reaching the crowd that had assembled on the edges, they both heard a familiar, but somewhat frantic, voice. "GET THE TARTARUS OUTTA MY WAY!" Xena emerged with blue eyes slightly wild with worry. "Gabrielle!"

The bard couldn’t help but giggle at Xena’s state. Gone was the stoic warrior of lore only to be replaced by a woman who was so obviously worried about her lover. And for a moment, that thought made Gabrielle’s pain disappear. (Just for a moment.) As Xena neared, the bard’s arms reached instinctively toward her. The warrior embraced her love with pride and concern. "Are you okay?"

"Would you believe me if I said yes?"

"No."

"I didn’t think so."

"C’mon let me have a look at that knee."

"Hold on," Gabrielle said as she turned toward her beaten opponent. "Gretahl . . . " The large Austrian turned toward the pair. "Good fight huh?"

"Ja, vittle one . . . good vas fight." With a smile the gentler giant walked away to find her brother.

"Hmm," Xena mused aloud.

"What?"

"Oh nothing, just that was a switch for Gretahl."

"I have a calming effect on people." Gabrielle chuckled as Xena rolled her eyes. " Besides she wasn’t that bad," the bard said as she winced in pain.

"Yeah, right. Let’s get you fixed up." And the bard and warrior made their way to their room with two Amazons in tow, while a pair of sad but resigned brown eyes followed.

*****

"Ow!" growled the bard through clenched teeth.

"Gabrielle, I’m not going to be able to help you if you keep squirming," said Xena as she reached for the swollen joint once again.

"Oooo Gabrielle that knee looks pretty bad. I bet it hurts like Hades. Gods it might be brok--hey!" Solari looked over at her Regent who had just elbowed her sharply in the ribs. Ephiny brought her right hand up to her neck and made a slashing motion all the while mouthing the words ‘shut up’ to the loveably clueless Amazon warrior. Solari shrugged her shoulders innocently and mouthed ‘I’m sorry.’

"OW!" the bard yelped again as Xena found a particularly sore spot. "That’s it . . . Amazons I order you to attack Xena." (It was meant as a joke but at that moment, Gabrielle wouldn’t have stopped her loyal friends.)

"Nuh uh, I’ve grown very fond of living," Ephiny retorted trying to keep her Queen’s mind toward the banter and not on her knee.

Gabrielle smiled and then looked at Xena’s face, which had suddenly become very serious. "Xena what is it?"

"Your knee is dislocated. I’m going to have to pop it back in."

"That doesn’t sound very pleasant."

"It’s not."

"Oh great. Okay, go ahead . . . let’s just get it over with." Gabrielle sat back and braced herself with her arms. As Xena reached for her knee, she put her hands up in a halting motion. "Wait, before you do that promise me one thing."

"Anything love." Ephiny and Solari snorted at the term of endearment (it just sounded really silly coming from the big bad warrior princess) but they were quickly quieted by ‘the’ look from Xena. (You know, the look that says, ‘let me introduce you to my concept of tough love.’)

"Next time I wax poetic about entering staff tournaments whack me over the head," Gabrielle continued.

"I have a better idea," said Xena as she tenderly gripped the bard’s knee. "How about if I take you in my arms," she said as she gently rubbed the inflamed joint, "and . . . " she leaned over and whispered something in the bard’s ear. (It must have been something nice because Gabrielle’s face took on a positively dreamy look and she got that goofy smile on her face but . . . ) Xena tightened her grip and in a quick motion, applied pressure to both sides popping the bard’s knee back in place.

"Ooo," Solari and Ephiny said in unison as the resulting pop was heard.

"Arghhh!" Gabrielle screamed and grabbed for the offending joint but Xena quickly gathered the bard into her strong embrace. Gabrielle murmured against Xena’s breasts (that she had conveniently snuggled closer to), "Wasn’t there some pressure point technique you could have used."

Xena smiled and held her bard closer. "I never learned that one."

Gabrielle pushed herself away from the warrior and looked into the clear blue eyes. Then she punched her in the arm. "Learn it because the other method really hurts."

Ephiny cleared her throat. "Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Gabrielle you need to go out to the arena again. Your next fight starts soon."

"Oh right," said quickly and started to stand up.

"Gabrielle wait!" Xena grabbed at her bard.

"Yow!" The bard screamed and immediately took the weight off her knee. "Xena I thought you fixed this."

"Yes, I popped the knee back in place but it’s still gonna hurt like Hades for awhile. I’m sorry Gabrielle . . . but you’re not going to be able to fight."

"What? Xena I have too-"

"No Gabrielle, I won’t allow you to-"

"You won’t allow me to?" The bard said in a quiet but disbelieving voice. She cocked her head and stared at Xena for a long moment. A moment so long that the two other Amazons started to get a bit uncomfortable. Xena, on the other hand, was used to these standoffs and simply stood with her hands firmly placed on leathered hips. Then Gabrielle shook her head (the kind of shake that really says, ‘I can’t believe you just said that’), grabbed her staff and limped out the door.

"Gabrielle! Gabrielle wait," Xena screamed as she quickly followed her indignant lover. Once outside the room and in the hall of the inn she grabbed Gabrielle’s arm. "Look, Gabrielle you can barely stand on your knee. You’re not going to be able to fight at your full potential. If you go out there, you risk doing permanent damage. I won’t allow you to do that. Can’t you understand that?" ‘Please understand that if anything happens to you I’ll never forgive myself.’

Gabrielle did understand but she also understood the bet Xena had made with Tess. And with that understanding, the bard knew that Xena would never go back on her word. The thought of Xena with anyone else but her was more unbearable than the pain she felt right now. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Xena I have to fight . . . " Gabrielle looked down at her feet suddenly feeling very vulnerable. In a small voice she asked, "What about Tess?"

*****

As our two lovers stood in the hall, around the corner and out of sight stood Tess. She had been on her way to her room. Surprised by Xena’s voice she stopped in mid-stride and began to turn around. After al,l it was rude to eavesdrop. However, when she heard her own name all became fair in love and war.

*****

Xena threw her hands up in exasperation, "What about Tess? This isn’t about her it’s about you. I don’t care about Tess." (Around the corner Tess felt her heart bruise.)

"Xena I care okay! If I don’t go out there and fight she wins and it may sound petty but the thought of you sleeping with her is like someone ripping out my heart. Oh sure, I hear of some Amazon’s doing that ‘open relationship’ thing but I can’t. I have to know that you are here for me and me only. I have to have all of you or nothing. I’m sorry. If you sleep with her I don’t think I can . . . I can forgive you."

"Gabrielle I don’t want to sleep with her . . . "

"I know Xena," Gabrielle said in a shaky voice, "I do." Tears began to fall from soft green eyes.

Xena felt her world become very small at that moment. When Gabrielle cried everything else ceased to have meaning. The only thing that was important was wrapping her arms around her bard. "I don’t love her, I love you . . . with everything that I am. Good and bad Gabrielle, I’ll always love you. Nothing," Xena lifted the bard’s chin, "will ever change that. If you only believe in one thing . . . believe that."

Gabrielle looked up and smiled at her princess. "When I was a little girl I used to dream about the day someone would say those words to me, but never in my dreams could I have imagined how it would feel when you spoke them." She brought her hand up to stroke the raven hair. "You could say "Hi" right now and I think I would swoon. "

Xena smiled brightly and as she cupped her lover’s face with gentle hands she spoke, "Hi."

Gabrielle melted and molded her body close to her warrior’s. With her head tilted back and mouth slightly open she breathlessly whispered, "Kiss me Xena." And Xena did. In all the bard’s life, she would never have a more perfect moment in time. Everything that happened after this would never diminish the fact that Gabrielle knew how much her warrior loved her. No doubts, no questions. The magic was accepted.

When the kiss stopped Xena looked into her love’s eyes reassuringly. "You know Gabrielle, I don’t know a pressure point for dislocated knees but I do know a pressure point to stimulate short term memory loss."

The bard looked at Xena inquisitively. "I don’t understand."

The warrior smirked, "Well, if Tess doesn’t remember placing a bet she can’t collect."

Gabrielle smiled but then it was quickly wiped away by a frown. "No, I can’t let you do that Xena."

"Why?"

"Because, you told me that ‘your word meant everything.’ I won’t let you compromise your honor for me."

"Gabrielle, I would give my life for you . . . don’t be ridiculous."

"No Xena-"

"Oh there you two are." The two lovers spun around at the sound of Tess’ voice. " I was just on my way to your room."

Gabrielle moved out of Xena’s embrace as she knew the warrior was never comfortable with public displays but to her surprise Xena grabbed her hand and held on to it. "What is it Tess. The competition hasn’t started yet," Xena said in her coldest tone.

The brown haired woman smiled (Tess was really quite beautiful when she smiled). "Actually, that’s what I need to talk to you about. I...um . . . won’t be able to compete because a friend of mine has fallen ill."

"Oh I’m sorry," Gabrielle said sincerely. "Is it serious?"

"No, just some bad squid . . . he’s allergic and didn’t know it. He’s going to need some help and I’m the closest thing to family he’s got."

Xena smirked, as she knew that Tess’ story was a big load of dung. "That’s very kind of you Tess."

Tess winked but her brown eyes dimmed with a touch of sadness. "Unlike some of the stories you may have heard . . . I do have a heart."

Xena smiled and nodded her head. "That you do."

"Well, I really should be going. Congratulations Gabrielle, the tournament is yours. You really did fight superbly."

"Er . . . thank you. I hope your friend will be okay and if you ever need some help feel free to contact us," Gabrielle said without a hint of untruth.

Tess looked at the bard not believing that she could be so sincere after what had happened. But as she looked, innocent green eyes looked back and Tess knew the truth. She laughed, then patted Gabrielle on the shoulder. "You really are too nice Gabrielle. Xena, you better be good to this one or someone might just steal her away from you." With a wave, Tess walked down the hall and away from her past.

"Huh,"Gabrielle looked at Xena who stood there as if nothing had happened. (In fact, the warrior even yawned.) "Tess really wasn’t all that bad. In fact, she’s very nice."

"Uh huh," Xena said as the eyebrow went up (c’mon you had to expect the eyebrow).

Gabrielle contemplated with her warrior for a few moments more, then with a ‘whoop’ (that would rival Xena’s battle cry) the bard quickly jumped (well, really limped) into her warrior’s arms. As for the stoic warrior, whose weakness for Gabrielle was surer than the rising of the sun, she cracked a smile and held her love in a tight embrace.

"Hey," the bard leaned back to look at Xena, "you know what this means don’t you?"

"Yeesss, I think I do know what this means. It means that . . . "

"I have a lot of free time now. Wanna do something."

Xena chuckled. "Okaaay, what do you want to do."

Gabrielle waggled her eyebrows. "Well, it involves a bed and some privacy."

"Oh so you want to be alone? I guess I could go check on Argo-" the warrior joked before her head was pulled downed and her lips were claimed with a hungry growl by a rather ferocious bard.

Gabrielle released the now breathless warrior and spoke in a sultry tone that was only for Xena. "Like I said, it involves a bed and some privacy."

"Oh . . . yeah . . . right." Xena reached for the latch only to have it opened by two Amazons (who had spent the better part of a candlemark with ears pressed up against the door) beating a hasty retreat once again.

"Excuse us, pardon us," Ephiny said as she dragged Solari behind her. "We . . . uh . . . heard that there’s a.. uh . . . poetry reading . . . somewhere. So we’re gonna go check it out. Bye."

Xena rolled her eyes then pulled her bard into the now empty room with a smile (that bordered on a leer). "I also plan on some poetry." The wooden door was closed as purple and orange tendrils of the setting sun embraced two lovers who had discovered that joy resides in the soul.

Well, my friends, so concludes this story of love and its magic. I hope you could see that the magic of love is not exclusive to our fated dynamic duo. Nope. Being the hopeless romantic that I am I believe that the love between bard and the warrior is so pure and real that it has the ability to thaw hearts frozen in time. For Tess, her heart just needed to be reminded of things it intrinsically knew. Forgiveness can be freeing. Yes, that is what I believe.

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