Feelings by Cheeya

Comments to [email protected]

"Gabrielle? Are you ok? You’ve barely said three words all morning."

The bard looked slowly at her best friend.

"Xena, I’ve had the weirdest feeling all morning… something’s wrong… but I can’t put my finger on it."

The Warrior Princess smiled at the faraway look in her young friend’s eyes.

"Gabrielle, are you sure this isn’t just your bardic imagination?"

Xena had been expecting a sharp retort at her teasing comment but Gabrielle thought about her question seriously.

"You know, I hope it is ‘cos this is a bad feeling, Xena."

Gabrielle looked at her best friend and Xena could see the fear in her eyes.

"Hey, we’ll be ok," said the warrior in her gravel on silk voice.

The bard saw the concern on Xena’s face and tried to cheer up a bit.

"Sure we will. We always are," she said with a smile and Xena relaxed… slightly.

"So, how about we stop for a while and have some lunch?" asked the warrior, changing the subject.

"Good idea. Do you know of any lakes or rivers around here? I’d love a swim."

Xena grinned wickedly.

"Well, it just so happens that I know of a hot spring not far from here… but you wouldn’t be interested in that, Gabrielle."

"Not interested in a warm bath? Xena, it’s me, Gabrielle," she teased in reply.

The six-foot tall warrior laughed and flicked her raven-black hair away from her eyes.

"Ok, we’ll be there in a few minutes."

Xena was true to her word and soon the two women were soaking in the warm water. Gabrielle grabbed their sponge and washed Xena’s back.

"This is wonderful," she purred.

"No, Gabrielle, what you’re doing there is wonderful. My shoulders are killing me," Xena replied.

The bard rubbed her shoulders for her, pressing down as hard as she dared.

"Oh yeah, that’s great," the warrior growled and let her head slump forward.

After a few minutes, Xena let her off the hook and washed her back for her. The warrior noticed the tension in her friend and put her hand on her shoulder, turning her around so she could see her face.

"Gabrielle, you’re really spooked by this feeling aren’t you?" she asked with concern.

At first Gabrielle was going to deny it but she knew she was a terrible liar, especially to Xena, and just nodded.

"Look, I understand how this can upset you but if we go on a maybe, we’ll end up driving ourselves crazy!" Xena continued.

"I know you’re right, Xena, but I can’t shake it. Would you mind if we stayed here a few days." At first the warrior was going to object but she relented when the bard whispered to her. "Xena, I’m really scared."

"Alright, Gabrielle. We’ll take a break from the road for a few days. We don't have anywhere to be at the moment anyway."

After their bath, the friends set up camp and Xena went hunting. She returned an hour later with a small deer. Gabrielle raised a questioning eyebrow at the warrior as she dropped the deer off her shoulders and Xena grinned.

"Well, if we’re going to be a few days, we might as well get enough food in. It’ll save me from having to leave you alone."

Gabrielle smiled her thanks and started a fire as Xena prepared the deer, cutting the meat into large steaks before burying the remains. She threw two of the steaks onto their frying pan and set it over the fire and then looked at Gabrielle and saw that the bard was lost in her own thoughts.

"Gabrielle, would you please build a small fire over there for me so I can cook the rest of this meat? Gabrielle? Gabrielle!"

"What? Sorry?"

Xena got up and went to her, surprising the bard by hugging her tightly.

"Please don't worry. Everything’s going to be ok."

"You’re acting strangely," said the bard with a grin.

"Pardon me?"

"The hug, Xena. It kinda unusual for you."

The tall warrior smiled crookedly.

"Well, I thought you needed it."

"I did, thanks. Now what did you ask me to do again?"

Xena chuckled.

"Build another smaller fire so I can cook the rest of this meat."

Gabrielle did as she was asked and soon the friends were eating their steaks, washing them down with some wine that they had brought with them from the last town. Xena pushed Gabrielle to drink the wine, hoping that it would calm her down but instead, the bard got quite drunk. Xena sat down beside her, nudged her playfully with her elbow and grinned, sending Gabrielle into a fit of giggles. The bard nudged her back and suddenly Xena jumped on her, tickling her mercilessly.

"Aagghh! Xena get off me!" she cried and tried to fend off the warrior’s strong hands. Xena laughed and pulled the bard up for another hug. Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the tall woman’s waist and held her fiercely.

"Oh gods! Xena, I’ve just realised what today is," she said, tears running down her face.

"What is it Gabrielle?" asked Xena softly.

"Hope… she… she would have been two today," she said and broke down, sobbing against the warrior’s chest. Xena’s breath caught in her throat as she realised what this meant to Gabrielle.

"I’m sorry… I’m so sorry," she whispered against the bard’s hair and then kissed her forehead gently.

"I’m a failure, Xena. I failed her and you and Solan and my family and…"

Xena put her finger over her lips.

"Sshh, Gabrielle. You’re not a failure. You took responsibility for her actions and you tried to stop her. Gabrielle, listen to me. She was never yours. She was always Dahok’s. I’m sorry, I’m really not saying this to hurt you. I want you to understand that it wasn’t your fault. None of it was."

"But, Xena…"

"No, Gabrielle. None of it was your fault."

Gabrielle’s face suddenly turned hard.

"I should have killed her when you first said, Xena. You were right but I couldn’t see it," she said, squinting at the warrior through her drunken haze. Xena couldn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say so instead, she pulled the bard closer and held her tightly.

"I love you and I’m sorry for everything that happened," she whispered.

"I love you too, Xena and thank you for holding me."

"I’ve wanted to for so long…" Xena whispered and then gasped as she realised she had spoken out loud.

"What?" asked Gabrielle, lifting her head to look into Xena’s piercing blue eyes.

"Nothing… nothing, Gabrielle," she stammered in reply.

"No, you said you’ve wanted to for so long. Xena, what are you saying?"

The bard was swaying slightly and she suddenly felt sick. Her eyes went wide as she felt her stomach flip-flop and Xena knew instantly what was wrong. She lifted her and ran to a nearby bush, barely making it there before the bard lost her dinner. Xena rubbed her back as she was being sick, whispering soft, reassuring words to her. When the bard turned to look at her, her face was chalk-white and her eyes were glazed over.

"I don't feel so good," she whispered and Xena couldn’t help but smile.

"I gathered that, Gabrielle. Come on, let’s get you into bed, huh?"

She helped the younger woman walk to her bedroll and sat her down.

"I'll get your boots."

Xena knelt down and removed her friend's boots and then went to her saddlebag and retrieved a cloth, some herbs and the waterskin. She knelt down in front of her, dampened the cloth and wiped the bard’s face and then gave her the herbs mixed with a mug of water.

"This should take care of your stomach," she said.

She stroked the bard's cheek and suddenly, Gabrielle’s arms went around her neck and she placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you so much, Xena," she said, smiling up at her tall best friend.

"No problem," Xena choked out.

Gabrielle traced the warrior’s jaw with her finger.

"Gods, Xena, you’re so beautiful."

The warrior thought that her heart would pound out of her chest and she started to tremble as Gabrielle’s index finger trailed across her lips, along her jaw and down her neck. Xena suddenly withdrew from the bard’s embrace and stood up.

"Goodnight Gabrielle," she said and went to check the camp perimeter.

Once out of sight, she slumped against a tree and tried to calm her emotions and her body down. She willed strength into her knees and finally sat on the ground, hugging them tightly and taking deep breaths.

Gods, she doesn’t know what she does to me. I love her so much but she’s drunk. She wants comfort but she’s confusing it with sexual feelings.

After a few more minutes, Xena felt strong enough to return to the camp. She saw that Gabrielle was asleep with her blanket tucked up under her chin. Xena smiled at the bard’s peaceful face and then changed into her own sleep shift. After checking on Argo, she lay down wearily on her bedroll, which was beside Gabrielle’s and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, the younger woman rolled over and laid her head on Xena’s shoulder. The warrior could barely stifle a moan as she realised that the bard was naked against her. She felt a wave of lustful passion overwhelm her and before she knew it she had gathered the younger woman into her arms and was holding her tightly, loving the feeling of her soft skin under her hands. Gabrielle stirred and her hand moved to caress Xena’s stomach through her shift.

"Gabrielle, are you awake?" Xena whispered tightly.

There was silence for a few seconds but then she heard a tiny voice.

"I’m awake, Xena."

The warrior stiffened as she felt Gabrielle’s hand move against her breast, teasing the nipple to hardness and she was unable to stop the moan that quickly surfaced. She ran her fingertips lightly along the bard’s back and heard a soft sigh float up to her. Gabrielle raised her head and smiled.

"Take off your shift," she said quietly and the warrior immediately sat up and did as she was asked.

"Gabrielle? Are you sure?" she asked nervously.

The bard sat up and pushed her gently back onto the blankets, sliding her body on top of her and kissing her softly on the lips.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I want to make love to you," she finally answered and then kissed Xena passionately. The warrior felt her tongue flick over her lips and opened her mouth slightly to allow the bardic tongue access. Gabrielle growled deep in her throat and the sound made Xena’s blood boil. The warrior’s hands suddenly had a life of their own and they moved up and down Gabrielle’s sides and then moved to cup her firm behind and pull her closer. Gabrielle ground her sex into the warrior’s muscular thigh trying to quench her passion and Xena gasped as she felt Gabrielle’s wetness slick against her skin. The bard lowered her head and sucked Xena’s nipple into her mouth as she moved her hips and her hand snaked between the warrior’s legs.

"Gods Xena, you’re so wet," she exclaimed in awe and then went back to her suckling.

The pleasure was incredible and Xena knew that she was moving close to the stage of incoherent thought. Her hips bucked involuntarily as Gabrielle parted her thighs and quickly slid two fingers inside her.

"Gods Gabrielle!" she cried and gasped as she saw the bard withdraw her fingers and put them in her mouth, licking them clean.

"You taste wonderful," she said huskily and then slid her fingers back inside her lover, thrusting them slowly. Her thumb found the warrior’s swollen centre and she caressed it as she thrust. Xena felt herself nearing the edge and, as Gabrielle increased the tempo of her hand movements, she drove the warrior over. Xena clutched at the bard and her back arched high off the bedroll before crashing back down again. Her scream of ecstasy echoed around the forest. The loud cry and look of absolute pleasure on her lover’s face sent the bard close and, with one more grind of her hips, her release stormed over her. After a minute, Gabrielle rolled off her and gathered her trembling lover into her arms, stroking her dark, sweat-soaked hair away from her forehead.

"Gabrielle…" Xena said hoarsely but the bard just kissed her gently.

"It’s ok, Xena. Rest now," she said and held the warrior tighter against her as both women felt the echoes of their climaxes.

After long minutes, Xena’s breathing returned to normal and her heart slowed to its normal rhythm.

"Are you ok?" Gabrielle asked her, now fully sober.

"That was incredible," the warrior replied and Gabrielle grinned.

"I’m glad, I wasn’t sure what I was doing…"

"You were amazing," the Warrior Princess said quietly.

Xena chuckled as Gabrielle used one of the warrior's favourite phrases.

"I have many skills," she said with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes, you have," Xena growled, "But I think it’s my turn to show you my many skills!"

"I love you, Xena," said Gabrielle softly as Xena’s long slender body slid on top of her.

"I love you too, Gabrielle," the warrior replied and began her quest to show her lover just how much.

The End