Reunion
by
JenX
Revised 10/24/2002
Disclaimers
Standard: I don’t own Xena and Gabrielle. They belong to a someone, who I’m sure is
very glad to own them. I do own Melosa,
Terreis, Lycia, and Xenia. Even though
their names are familiar, their characters are all mine.
Sex/Language:
F*ck yeah! And it’s between two women who love each other. If you shouldn’t be reading this for various
reasons [like it’s illegal or you’re not old enough] than you should leave
now. Actually just a few swear words
are sprinkled through out.
Hurt/Comfort: I guess technically this story fall
into this realm.
Angst Warning: This is MY version of what I
think may have happened to end our ladies’ time together. In my story, what happens is final, and of
my own vision.
Thanks
to my wonderful beta readers. Your powers
of language are a great help to me.
Like
it? Hate it? Let me know, drop me a
line at mailto:jfishco@hotmail.com
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The
tired warrior stood outside the entrance to the tavern. Every thing her life has come to could be
standing on the other side of the door.
It was almost twenty years to the day that she stood in the same spot,
and although so much time had passed, nothing about the tavern, or Potideia had
really changed. Every thing was a bit
older, and worn, just as she was.
She
gathered her courage, and stepped through the doorway into the dimly lit
room. She was confident that she
wouldn’t be recognized, because she no longer wore her leathers and armor. Those things were gone. In their place was a simple chain mail
tunic, that gave just as much protection, but was less a reminder of her past.
“What
can I get for ya?” the barkeep asked.
“Port,
please.”
The
man quickly poured her drink. “Anything
else tonight?”
Xena
shook her head and laid the dinars on the bar.
She was content to sit in the corner, away from prying eyes, away from
the people who still seemed to stare at her.
She
glanced as the barkeep. “I, uh… I’m
looking…”
“Yes?” His smile was warm and genuine.
“I’m
looking for a friend. Her name’s
Gabrielle. She’s about this tall. She
lived in one of the houses down the road.”
Xena raised her hand to show the man her friend’s height.
“Ah,
yes Gabrielle! She’s a lovely
woman. But you won’t find her here.”
“No?”
Xena’s heart was in her throat.
“Nope. After her husband died, she left the
village. Settled in Philandea, same
village where her sister lives.” He
wiped the top of the wooden bar with a rag.
“Do
you, uh… Can you tell me where that is?”
She swallowed nervously. The
place sounded familiar, but it has been several seasons since she had been in
the area.
“Sure
thing. Follow the road out of town,
until you get to the crossroads. One
way goes to Amphipolis, the other goes to Philandea. Follow that road for two
days. Can’t miss it.”
“You’ve
been very kind. Thank you.” She gave
him a genuine smile, and turned to leave the tavern.
“Wait!
Miss, Philadelphia is a big village.
You’ll find Gabrielle’s house across from the academy.”
Xena
nodded to the kind man, and shut the door behind her.
As
the warrior climbed upon her dapple-gray horse, she recalled the last time she
had seen Gabrielle.
“No… no, please… don’t leave me…
GABRIELLLLLE!”
The warrior sat straight up in her bed,
pain filling her body. She looked
around, and had no idea where she was.
The room was dark, with a few candles for light. A fire burned in the
far wall, and hushed murmurs filled the air around her.
Her eyes landed on a shadowy figure at
her bedside.
“Gabrielle? Is that you?”
“Sssh, I’m here now.” she whispered.
“Am I dreaming? Is that really
you?” Xena could hardly believe her
eyes.
Gabrielle nodded. She could hardly believe it herself. Just a week ago, the warrior had come
stumbling into the village, blood seeping from the wounds in her legs.
“I found you in the village square. You
were bleeding, and unconscious” Gabrielle’s hand covered her mouth and she
choked back a sob.
“You saved me.” Xena took Gabrielle’s
hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I couldn’t let you die.”
Xena looked away. “Thank you.”
“Xena, what happened to you?” Gabrielle’s hand stroked the warrior’s arm
lightly. “Tell me please. Who hurt you?”
Xena’s eyes focused on a crack in the
wall next to her bed. “I’ve been really
tired lately. I wasn’t paying
attention, and the thugs got the better of me.”
Tears over flowed the younger woman’s
eyes. “Oh Xena.” She laid her head on the warrior’s stomach.
“I’m so sorry, so sorry.” Her tears became
a torrent.
“Gabrielle, Gabrielle,” Xena lifted the
woman’s head so she could look into her eyes. “It’s not your fault! I did this to myself, with my carelessness.”
Gabrielle wiped her tears on the hem of
her skirt. “Xena, it’s been three years
since my wedding to Perdicus. Where
have you been? What have you been up to? I thought you would have sent
word.” She sniffled.
“I went south, to the land of the
pharaohs.”
Just then, the door of the healing hut
burst open, and a toddler came rushing in.
“Momma, momma!” The child jumped
into Gabrielle’s arms, giving her a big wet kiss. The small child, whose golden soft baby curls framed her face,
smiled shyly at Xena.
“Hi sweetie,” Gabrielle kissed the
child back. “I want you to meet my best
friend, Xena. Xena, this is my daughter
Terreis.”
Xena put her hand out and the toddler
grasped the offered arm and shook it.
“She’s cute, Gabrielle.” A genuine smile graced the warrior’s face. She was not expecting her friend to have a
child, even though she knew the young woman would make an excellent mother.
“Go play, little one,” Gabrielle stood
and softly patted the toddler’s rear end.
The child squealed and ran back out the way she came.
As Gabrielle ushered the child out,
Xena got a good look at the other woman’s profile. “You’re with child.” It
was a statement of fact.
“Yes, the baby is due in about 4
moons.” She lovingly rubbed the top of
her stomach.
“Congratulations.” Xena wanted to be glad, but it was very hard
for her to see her friend happy, when she herself had been so miserable.
“I won’t stay long. I don’t want to be
a burden.”
“Xena!
You can stay as long as you need.”
She squeezed Xena’s hand in both of hers, knowing her friend was going
to leave in the next few days, wishing that she wouldn’t.
The
warrior rode for a half dozen candle marks before reaching the crossroads the
man in the tavern told her about. It was late afternoon, and the sun was hot, beating down on her
back. She thought about her life, and
the precious years she wasted, running from the one person who truly was her
light.
She
turned away from Amphipolis, heading to Philandea. She would ride all night, to try to put as many miles underneath
her feet as possible.
The
night was not only cold and damp, but also lonely. It was during the deepest part of the night that she would dwell
on the past, and wonder if she could have changed the future by doing something
different. No matter how much she
regretted the past, she always told herself that just knowing Gabrielle made
her life worthwhile.
The
next two days passed uneventfully, and it was just after dawn of the second day
that Xena was within the town’s limits.
The barkeep was right. Philandea
was a very large town. It was situated
around a main square that held the market, but was also large enough to hold
most of the inhabitants on festival days.
Xena
approached the first merchant she saw.
The woman was selling cloth and had fine pieces of clothing that were
made in far away lands. Lovingly,
Xena’s fingers traced the floral embroidery on a lovely piece of sky blue silk.
“It’s
from Chin.”
Xena
looked up at the woman and nodded. “Yes, I know. I’ve been there,” she said.
“How much?”
“For
you warrior, 12 dinars.” The Merchant smiled
at the tall woman standing in front of her.
“Sold,”
Xena smiled. “You drive a hard
bargain,” she joked.
“It
is a lovely piece of fabric, and it matches your eyes like it was made
especially for you. Besides, a woman as
beautiful as you should have beautiful things.” The market woman handed the bundle to Xena, smiling.
Reaching
for the material, Xena asked, “Do you know where the academy is?”
“Yep,”
the market woman pointed to a street at her right, “It’s right up that
road. You can’t miss it.” She smiled.
Xena
nodded. “Thanks, you’ve been very helpful.”
Taking her horse’s reins, she started on her way.
Xena
walked slowly, one foot in front of the other.
She had to concentrate on the movement because walking had become difficult
for her lately. It seemed she tripped
on roots, stones, or nothing at all.
Sometimes when she swung her sword, the same thing would happen to her
arms. She couldn’t seem to make
movements that had at once been like second nature to her. It was not for a lack of practice. She would practice and practice, but it was
of no use.
“Higher, Xena! Higher!!”
“Gods be damned! Don’t you think I know
that?!” Xena threw her sword straight
into the earth and stormed away.
“Wait Xena,” called Gwenda, “I know
it’s hard for you.”
“It shouldn’t be,” Xena growled. “I’ve been doing this shit for my entire
life. These moves are like second
nature to me.”
“Xena, maybe you’re…”
“I am NOT old!” Xena’s eyes threw daggers at the other
woman.
“I know your not, Hon, but maybe your
body is telling you it’s time to stop fighting.” Gwenda wiped sweaty bangs from Xena’s eyes and Xena sank to her
knees.
A single tear escaped from a blue
eye. “Xena, Baby, why are you crying?”
“I’m… I’m afraid.”
Gwenda caressed Xena’s cheek. “Of
what?”
Xena took a deep breath. “When I was a
child, the same thing happened to my Grandmother. Eventually, she couldn’t move her arms and legs, and then one day
she stopped breathing. But before that,
she was stuck in her bed. People had to
feed her and carry her to the toilet.”
Gwenda hugged the sad woman close.
Xena
had been so lost in her reverie that she hadn’t realized that she was standing
in front of the academy. It was a very
large stone two-story building. Above
the double doors, was a larger wooden sign that read “Bard’s Academy”.
Turning
slowly around, Xena took a long look at the structures that were across from
the academy. There was a scroll shop
that according to the sign specialized in the finest papyrus in the area. Next to that stood a wooden toy shop. There
was a rocking horse in the front, and other lovely toys in the window. Next stood the only house on the block. It was an average looking house, with a
large front porch. The front window was
covered with a bright blue cloth, and the door was decorated with curious
looking carvings.
“That’s
got to be it,” Xena thought to herself, “It looks like Gabrielle’s house. Or at least what I imagined her house would
look like.”
Gathering
up her courage, Xena tied her horse to the post and stepped up to the front
door. Here she got a good look at the
carvings. They were tiny chakrams, and
they covered the whole door. She was
surprised by this, and a little of the doubt that she felt at seeing her friend
again dissipated.
Taking
a deep breath, Xena raised her hand and knocked loudly on the door. The sound echoed down the empty street. From inside, there was a shuffling, a thud,
and then a curse. Finally, the door
swung open. A young woman with slightly
mussed up brown hair, and deep green eyes stood before her.
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