The Joining by Cheeya

Comments/Constructive Criticism to [email protected]

Chilapa rose from her seat and bowed from the waist as her Queen entered her hut.

"Queen Gabrielle. It's a pleasure to have you and Xena back."

The bard strode to her Regent and hugged her.

"Chili, it's so good to see you! How are you?"

The Amazon grinned and returned the hug.

"I'm well, thanks. Things have been quiet lately. I've just finished negotiating a trade agreement with a village in the next valley. It went very well!"

"I'm sure it did," Xena said, clasping arms with the smaller woman. "Hello Chilapa."

"I'm so glad you both came back! I hope you're going to stay for at least a few weeks. Your last visit was so short."

Gabrielle looked down and sighed, remembering the last time they had been in the village. She felt the pain of loss as she thought about her dear friend, Ephiny, who had been killed in a battle against the Romans. She looked up as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and Xena looked into her emerald green eyes.

"It’s ok," she said softly and Gabrielle nodded, blowing out a long breath. She forced herself to smile and turned back to her Regent.

"We're here under happier circumstances this time," she explained and Chilapa waved her hand, offering them both a seat. Xena chose a low-backed chair, laced her fingers together in her lap and crossed her long legs while Gabrielle sat opposite the Amazon, leaning forward slightly in anticipation.

"Chili, Xena and I have some good news. We want to become lifebonds and we'd like you to perform the ceremony."

She paused to let the news sink in and saw a huge smile spread across her Regent's face.

"Gabrielle, Xena, that's wonderful news! Congratulations!" Chilapa stood up and hugged Gabrielle and then moved to squeeze Xena's hand. "I'm sooo happy for you both!"

"Thanks," the warrior replied. "We'd like to do it as soon as possible. I brought my mother with me and we're going to send out invitations to a small number of friends and family."

"Of course," Chilapa replied. "I'll send some of our sisters personally with the invitations. This is going to be great! Our Queen is getting married! It's going to be huge!"

Gabrielle looked at Xena in shock and the warrior stood quickly, stretching to her full height.

"Uh, thanks Chili, but we don’t want a huge ceremony. Just our friends, family and the Amazons in this village, ok?"

Chilapa sighed and then nodded.

"I understand. Draw up a list of guests and I'll take care of it," she said. "Now let me show you to your hut."

Xena and Gabrielle followed the Regent to the Queen's Hut and she had one of the sisters bring their gear in. Cyrene had been shown to her own hut and was settling in when Xena went to check on her.

"Hi, Mom. Everything ok?"

Cyrene smiled and tucked her saddlebag into a small press.

"Everything's fine, Xena. Did you speak to Chilapa?"

"Yeah, we did. She was delighted and she's going to perform the ceremony for us."

"That's good news. Oh, by the way, did you get a ring for Gabrielle?"

Xena shook her head and frowned.

"I was thinking of heading to the next village to get one. I didn’t get a chance before we left."

"Well, I have a better idea," Cyrene replied. She slid her ring from her own finger and placed it in the warrior's hand. "I was going to give you this anyway, Xena but now I think there might be someone you'd want to pass it on to."

The Warrior Princess gazed at the gold ring in her hand and shook her head.

"I can’t take this, Mom," she said softly. "It’s your wedding ring."

"Despite what happened, Little One, I loved your father when I married him. I want you to have my ring. It's my legacy to you. The gods know, I have nothing else left to give you. I always said I was going to give it to you on your wedding day… even though it turned out a little different than I planned. Take it, Xena, please."

The warrior pulled her mother into her arms and hugged her.

"Thank you so much, Mother. It should fit Gabrielle perfectly and it'll mean so much to her."

Cyrene wiped a tear off her daughter's cheek with her thumb and smiled.

"It means a lot to me that she will have it. I love her like she were my own daughter."

"And I know she loves you too," Xena replied. "Now I was going to get something to eat while Gabrielle is going over some official business with Chilapa. Care to join me?"

"Great, I'm starving," Cyrene replied and followed her daughter out of the hut. As she walked, Xena lovingly caressed the ring in her palm and then tucked it into her waist pouch.

"What do you think?"

Xena frowned and tilted her head in thought.

"I really don't know, Gabrielle. You should invite them, but whether they show or not is another thing."

Gabrielle sighed unhappily and leaned back in her chair, running her fingers through her hair.

"Mother and Lila will more than likely come but Father is a different story. I don't think he'll be pleased with the fact that I'm marrying a woman, let alone the Warrior Princess."

"Hmmm," Xena replied. "Just invite them and see what happens. If they come it'll be great."

"Yeah, you're right. If he doesn't want to come, he doesn't have to."

Xena added Lila, Hecuba and Herodotus to the scroll in her neat handwriting.

"Anyone else?" she asked.

"Minya," Gabrielle replied.

"Minya? Ok." Another name was added and then Xena nodded. "I think that's everyone."

"What about Aphrodite?"

The warrior smiled.

"I have a feeling she'll be there, Gabrielle."

There was a sudden flash of light in the room and the Goddess of Love appeared before them.

"Hi 'Dite," Gabrielle said.

"Hi Cutie. Of course I'll be there! You two are my greatest achievement! Took you long enough though. Later Babes!"

She waved her hand and disappeared again, leaving a shower of golden sparks behind her. Xena added Aphrodite to the list and then rolled the parchment up.

"I'll give this to Chili and get her to send out the invites. We should be ready to go in about a week."

"A week. Gods, Xena, can you believe it? In a week's time, we’ll be married."

"I know," the warrior replied. "Listen, Gabrielle, there's something I wanted to ask you and I'm not sure how to say it."

"Just say it out straight, Xena. It's the easiest way."

The warrior took a deep breath.

"Well," she said uncertainly. "I was wondering how you would feel about having children." She almost regretted mentioning it when she saw the look on the bard's face. "Forget I mentioned it," she added hastily but Gabrielle shook her head.

"No, it's ok, Honey. I just… I guess I wasn't expecting that."

"I shouldn't have sprung it on you like that."

"Xena, it's ok. Really. To be honest, I don’t know how I feel. First of all, if we were to have a baby, which one of us would carry it? And who would we ask to father it?"

"Would you want to carry it?" Xena asked.

"Well, I wouldn’t be against it. What about you?"

"I… I don’t think I could, Gabrielle. Not now. I'm older than you are and my body has taken a lot of punishment over the years. I don’t even cycle regularly anymore."

"I know. Well, it looks like I would be carrying the child. What about a father? We'd have to ask someone we know and I don’t know whether I'd be comfortable making love with anyone other than you."

"Gabrielle, I understand what you're saying but if we wanted to have children, it would be the only way. Any other way would be a miracle for Eli's God."

The bard chuckled and shook her head, gently tousling her blonde locks.

"Yeah, it would. Xena, tell me honestly. Do you want a baby?"

Xena looked her soulmate straight in the eye and smiled.

"I would love to raise a child with you, Gabrielle," she said softly.

"I'd love to see you teaching our son or daughter to ride in a large, green meadow full of sweet smelling flowers and tall trees."

Gabrielle closed her eyes and imagined the picture in her head, her bardic mind filling in colours and shapes.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes?"

"Let's do it. Let's have a baby."

The bard nodded and hugged Xena tightly.

"We still have to think about who to ask," she whispered.

"What about my brother?" Xena suggested but Gabrielle shivered at the thought.

"No, not family, Xena. I couldn't sleep with your brother. It would have to be someone else, a friend."

"Like who? Oh, what about Iolaus?"

"Iolaus is a possibility. What about Autolycus?"

"We could ask, I suppose."

"You don't think he'd do it?" Gabrielle asked.

"No, I think he would but I think he'd enjoy it and then I'd have to kill him. Remember the hands on your butt thing?"

Gabrielle giggled as she remembered. "Those were your hands, Xena… weren't they?" She was suddenly uncertain.

"Well, yes actually, but he left them there after I gave him back control. That was why I had to hit him!"

"Oh, ok. So Autolycus is out then. Well, I guess its back to Iolaus."

"Unless, we could get a little divine intervention," Xena replied.

"Aphrodite?"

"Maybe. Tell you what. Why don’t we ask her at the wedding?"

"Hmmm, ok, yeah."

A week later, the Amazon village was buzzing with preparations for the joining ceremony. The cooks were busy preparing the meal, the children were practising a special dance for their Queen and her consort and Cyrene was running around like a headless chicken, barking orders to the team of Amazons who had been assigned to decorate the village. Xena sat in a chair outside the Queen's hut and took a drink from the mug she held in her hand.

"Xena?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"I need a favour. Would you please hang that up there for me?"

Xena stood up and took the decoration from her mother. She stretched up and hung it on the top of a post, making sure it was straight.

"How's that?" she asked.

"Perfect. Thanks, Little One."

Xena caught her arm as she bustled away and kissed her on the cheek.

"No, thank you, Mom. You've worked so hard to make this a special day for Gabrielle and I."

"It's my pleasure, Xena. It's going to be a wonderful day. Now you realise that you and Gabrielle have to sleep apart tonight and get ready separately tomorrow, don’t you? It's tradition." She saw the unhappy look on her daughter's face and smiled. "It's one night, Xena. You'll be fine. Just think about what Gabrielle will look like when you see her tomorrow."

"Yeah, you're right, Mom," Xena replied and went to find her soulmate.

"Hey, Gabrielle! What are you doing?"

The bard looked down from the ladder she was perched on and grinned.

"Just checking what everything looks like. There's a great view from up here!"

Xena chuckled.

"Come on down here. I don’t want to be marrying a cripple tomorrow," she teased.

The bard made her way slowly down the ladder and Xena lifted her down the rest of the way.

"I'm gonna miss you tonight," she said as she kissed her soulmate gently on the forehead.

"Yeah, me too, but don't worry. It'll be worth it tomorrow night. Wow, our wedding night, Xena."

The warrior raised an amused eyebrow.

"We've had a lot of those, Gabrielle," she teased.

"Yeah, but this one will be official," the bard replied, backhanding her gently in the stomach. "How about we have some dinner and a few mugs of port. I think I'm starting to get nervous."

"So am I," Xena admitted. "Have you heard anything from your parents?"

"No, nothing. I don't think they're coming, Xena."

The warrior was very angry with the bard's family when she saw the hurt in her eyes but she tried to be tactful.

"They just don’t understand, Sweetheart. Don’t blame them for it, ok?"

"Yeah, you're right. Now come on before I fall over with hunger."

Xena and Gabrielle were joined by all their guests for a meal in the dining hut and they had a really good night, laughing and drinking but soon it was time to retire for the night and Xena walked Gabrielle to the Queen's Hut. She was sharing with her mother for the night but she wanted to make sure Gabrielle was ok.

"Goodnight," she said as they stood on the porch. "After tomorrow, we'll never have to be apart again."

"Xena, I love you. I love you so much and I can’t wait for tomorrow. Goodnight, My Love."

They kissed deeply and then Gabrielle went inside and closed the door. Xena sighed and went to back to her mother's hut. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes but she couldn’t sleep and she lay awake most of the night, thinking about the wedding and picturing the slight smile on Gabrielle's lips as she slept. She finally fell asleep a few hours before dawn and dreamed of a future with the woman she loved.

"Ok, I'm ready. How do I look?"

Cyrene looked her daughter over and sighed as she realised how beautiful she really was.

"You look stunning, Little One. How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok. A little nervous, but pretty good actually. I wonder how Gabrielle's doing?"

"Last I heard, she was being scrubbed from top to toe by two Amazons. I don’t think she's had much time to think about her nerves."

Xena laughed and imagined the annoyed and indignant look on her soulmate's face.

"She's gonna be shining like a new pin," she said and then sighed heavily. "I think it's time."

"Do you have the ring?" Cyrene asked and Xena nodded, indicating a tiny pocket she had sewn into the bodice of her dress. "Well, let's go then."

The two women walked to the platform where the ceremony was to take pace and Xena smiled as she heard the gasps of the Amazons she walked through. They all thought she was beautiful, but Xena's thoughts were only of Gabrielle. She couldn’t wait to see her. Chilapa joined her on the platform and smiled.

"Gabrielle's almost ready, Xena, five more minutes, I'd say."

"Thanks," the warrior replied, a fixed her skirt nervously.

"Relax, Warrior Princess. You been in tougher battles," the Regent teased.

"I know but this is different, Chili. This is Gabrielle's future and mine. I can’t wait to be joined with her."

When she didn’t receive a reply, she turned to follow the Regent's shocked gaze and her breath caught in her throat as Gabrielle appeared. She was dressed in a long, sleeveless, emerald green dress, cut low in the front to show a hint of cleavage. The bodice was fitted and clung to her slender waist without so much as a ripple in the material. Her hair was braided with tiny flowers and was tucked back behind her ears and she was carrying a small bouquet of flowers. Xena's mouth went dry as she saw the bard's arm muscles ripple slightly as she nervously adjusted her grip on the flowers and wanted nothing more than to take her right there and then. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing her trembling body to calm down. Gabrielle walked slowly to her as the drums pounded around them and Xena prayed to the gods that this wasn't a dream. She couldn’t speak so instead, she held out her hand to help her soulmate step up onto the platform.

Gabrielle emerged from the Queen's Hut and saw Xena waiting for her on the platform. Her eyes filled with tears as she beheld a sight more beautiful than in her wildest dreams. The warrior was dressed in a long sleeved, scarlet dress, fitted to her long, muscular figure. The bodice was fitted like Gabrielle's own dress but the skirt was long and totally straight and it accentuated the warrior's long slim legs. Her raven-black hair had been washed and brushed to perfection and shone in the bright sunshine. Gabrielle nervously adjusted her grip on her bouquet and prayed to the gods that this wasn't just a dream. She walked slowly to her soulmate and smiled as the warrior offered her hand to help her step up onto the platform.

"Thanks," Gabrielle whispered, as she lifted her skirt to step up.

"Don’t mention it," the warrior replied hoarsely. "Gabrielle, you look beautiful," she said, her eyes and voice filled with awe.

"So do you, Xena. When I saw you just then, I thought you were a goddess."

"No, Gabrielle. You're the goddess."

The bard smiled and stroked her love's cheek. They gazed at each other until Chilapa took her place in front of them.

"Ready?" she asked in a low voice and both warrior and bard nodded.

"Never been more ready," they answered in unison and then grinned at each other.

"Alright then. Let's begin."

Chilapa turned to make sure everything was in place and Xena glanced behind her. She spotted something and leaned down to whisper in her partner's ear.

"Your parents and Lila are here," she said and Gabrielle turned to look. She spotted them and gave them a full smile, noting that her father didn’t look too angry.

"Ok," Chilapa began. "My friends, my sisters, my Queen. We are here to celebrate the joining of Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons, born of Potedaea and Xena, Warrior Princess, born of Amphipolis. It is my great honour as Regent to perform this ceremony so without further delay, let us begin.

"Queen Gabrielle, do you wish to become the lifebond of Xena of Amphipolis? Do you wish to share her life, to love her and cherish her forever?"

"I do," Gabrielle replied, a tear running down her cheek as her emotion threatened to overwhelm her.

"Xena of Amphipolis, do you wish to become the lifebond of Queen Gabrielle? Do you wish to share her life, to love her and cherish her forever?"

"With all my heart, I do," the warrior replied.

Chilapa smiled and cleared her throat.

"Do you both have a gift to give each other as a symbol of the unbreakable bond between you from this day forth?"

"We do," they answered together and Xena retrieved her mother's ring. She took Gabrielle's left hand and gazed into her liquid, green eyes.

"Gabrielle, this ring belonged to my mother. She gave it to me as her legacy and now I want you to have it. I promise you that I will love you for eternity and I will do anything to make you happy. You found an old, beat up ex-warlord and you showed her a life worth living. You led her… me… into the light and I will be eternally grateful to you for that. I love you, Gabrielle."

She slid the ring onto the bard's finger, hearing the sharp inhalation and choked sob from her and smiling as she felt her own eyes begin to fill. Gabrielle took a few deep breaths to compose herself and then she took Xena's hand. She fastened a gold bracelet around her wrist and smiled.

"Xena, this bracelet is something I've been wanting to give you for long time but I've never found the right moment until now. When we came back from Britannia, I spoke to a fortune-teller and she said that I was in love with someone I was close to. She gave me this bracelet from her own wrist and told me that it would lead me to my destiny and that I would love the person I gave it to for eternity. Xena, I don’t believe everything she said but I do believe that you and I are meant to be together. We've proved that time and again. We always come back to each other, no matter what happens. You met a scared little girl six years ago and you changed her forever and I'll always be grateful to you for that. I love you, Xena."

Chilapa stepped forward again and took Xena's left hand and Gabrielle's right. She joined them and smiled.

"It is my great pleasure to pronounce these two women to be joined for life. You may kiss your lifebond!"

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her soulmate's neck and the newly joined couple kissed, as if for the first time. They kissed slowly and passionately, their tongues dancing slowly and the whole world around them ceased to exist. Finally, they broke apart and locked eyes, grinning at each other as a loud cheer rose all around the platform. Xena stroked her lifebond's face and whispered in her ear.

"I love you, Gabrielle. I always have and I always will."

The bard was overcome with emotion and she just held her lover tightly, never wanting to let her go. She had no choice however, when people jumped up onto the platform to congratulate them. Gabrielle accepted the good wishes and then scanned the crowd for her family. She saw them standing slightly apart from the other guests and went to speak to them.

"Mother, Father, Lila! It’s so wonderful to see you! Thank you for coming. It means so much to Xena and I."

Herodotus looked sternly at his eldest daughter and then scowled.

"I only came because I had to see for myself if you were really going to make this mistake. I can't believe you married a woman and… Xena… of all women!"

Gabrielle looked down and shook her head before glancing at her mother.

"Is this your opinion too, Mother?" she asked and Hecuba nodded.

"Gabrielle, you're my daughter and I love you but I agree with your father. I think this is a mistake. It won’t last."

"It's lasted six years already," said Lila under her breath.

"What?" Gabrielle asked.

"I said it's lasted six years already. Mother, Father, you're being ridiculous and cruel. Any fool can see how much Xena loves Gabrielle and I know that my sister loves Xena with all her heart. What does it matter that Xena is a woman when they make each other happy?"

Herodotus shook his head.

"It matters plenty. Gabrielle, you're my firstborn and I love you but I will never accept your marriage to Xena and that's it. Your mother and I are going back home now. Lila, you can stay if you want but I won’t stand by and participate in this… this… abomination!"

Herodotus took his wife's hand and led her away from her daughter and back to their horses. Gabrielle watched in silence as they rode out of the village and then shook her head.

"Don’t worry about it, Gabrielle. You know what father is like. He has the same opinion on everything. It has to be his way or no way. Same shit, different shovel!"

Gabrielle couldn’t help but laugh, despite her hurt and walked with her sister back to Xena.

"Hi Lila!" the warrior said, kissing her on the cheek. "Glad you could make it. Where are your folks?"

"They couldn’t handle the abomination so they went home," Gabrielle replied and Xena shook her head.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Gabrielle. As I said, they just don’t understand."

"Yeah, I know. Xena let's just forget about them and enjoy the meal, huh?"

"Alright. C'mon Lila. I saved you a seat beside Iolaus. He's great for telling stories!"

She took her lifebond's hand and led her to the dining hut where everyone was waiting for them. The feast went on late into the night and finally, a few hours from dawn, Xena and Gabrielle got to bed.

"So, how does it feel to be a lifebond?" Xena asked as she undressed her lover.

"I've never felt so complete in my life before, Xena. I love you so much and I'm so happy."

"I was going to say the exact same thing. I feel like our souls have become one."

Gabrielle slid the dress slowly down Xena's body and smiled seductively.

"Our souls are one. Now it's time for our bodies to join them," she purred and pushed her lifebond back onto the bed, kissing her passionately. They didn’t get to sleep until daybreak. They woke late the next morning and Xena smiled down at her lover who was sprawled across her chest.

"What do you think about what Aphrodite said?" she asked, stroking the bard's soft skin with her fingertips.

"I think we should do it," Gabrielle replied and lowered her head back onto Xena's shoulder. "Yeah, we should do it."

The End