Soul Vengeance

Disclaimer: I do not own Xena or Gabrielle or any other television named characters in this fanfiction. Not even Mara was my original creation. *tear* But HA! Denora's mine, mine, mine.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Rape. BAD BAD BAD RAPE!
Description: Sequel to “Life and Love”

A note to my readers:

Welcome back into my twisted (and rather perverted) mind! I take it that you liked my previous fic, “Life and Love”, and would like to see what happens next. Once again, I am writing this story from my high school classes, where I am expected to be taking notes (as if! :P). Enjoy. Just to tell you, I am not a fan of rape in any shape or form, but when one writes, they should look for something to add drama to a story. Hence, I chose rape. Sorry if it makes you hate me.

Your humble bard,
Warrior Mutt

If you are under 18, please leave! I don’t want to corrupt your young mind(s). If you are offended by two women in love and/or having sex, here’s a big hug for you, you silly rabbit. If you are in a state where this sort of story is illegal, don’t read, and move to Massachusetts.

And……………………begin!






“Gabrielle, I love you dearly, but must you elaborate so?” Xena inquired her lover. The couple had been together for two weeks, but that hadn’t stopped the bard from telling practically half of the known world of their love story. On the way to Potedaia to tell Gabrielle’s family of their love, they had stopped at an inn, and due to the fact that the innkeeper knew of Xena’s fame as both a warlord and a hero, he had given them a free room complete with a double bed and table with chairs. Xena took a sip of her port, which tasted different than what she was used to. Almost heavier. Tossing her raven black hair over her shoulder, the Warrior Princess raised her eyebrows at Gabrielle, who smirked and poked Xena’s ribs.

“Come on, Xena, you know you loooove our story,” Gabrielle giggled. Before the warrior could say anything, Gabrielle leaned over and kissed her lips tenderly.

“Mmmm, that was good,” Xena smiled, “but you’re not off the hook yet.” At the bard’s jaw dropping in shock, Xena lifted Gabrielle’s hand and kissed her fingers. “Want more? No more telling.”

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and dropped her chin, gazing into Xena’s icy blue pools. “Are you saying that you’d deny me love?” She asked in a seductive voice.

Xena felt her body become aroused. That voice of hers…it ALWAYS gets me, the warrior thought to herself. “Gabrielle,” growled the Warrior Princess, “behave yourself.”

Gabrielle smirked. “Why, my love? Am I being naughty?” She said in that same voice. I know what that voice does to Xena, the bard thought, just as I know how hard it is for her to control herself when I’m wearing this shirt. The bard looked down at her scantily clad upper torso, then met Xena’s gaze and winked.

The Warrior Princess’ nipples tightened as she eyed Gabrielle’s top. The top was made of a thin, triangular cloth, and two of it’s corners were tied behind Gabrielle’s neck, while the last corner dangled just above her navel, leaving her back bare. Xena could clearly make out Gabrielle’s taut nipples erect beneath the cloth, and licked her lips at the way her rotund breasts curved in the tightness. (Author’s note: Dear sweet Jesus, I’m turning myself on!) Damn it, Xena cursed herself, how can I resist her when she’s so incredibly gorgeous? “Yes, Gabrielle, you are being *very* naughty.” The warrior said, her voice shaking with desire.

“Oh?” Gabrielle teased. “And what are you going to do about it, my warrior?” She drew a finger up the warrior’s arm.

That was about all Xena could take. With a low growl, the Warrior Princess scooped Gabrielle up in her arms, and carried her to the bed just a few feet away from the table. With a grunt, Xena jumped onto the bed with Gabrielle still in her arms. Laying Gabrielle’s body along the bed, head on the pillow, she kissed her hard, causing the bard to moan into her mouth. Slipping her hand up Gabrielle’s skirt, Xena teased her lover’s clitoris. With her free hand, the warrior untied the tied corners of the bard’s top, and put her mouth on one of Gabrielle’s now accessible breasts. The bard moaned her pleasure.

Although Xena was enjoying her lovemaking to Gabrielle, she couldn’t help but notice that her eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. Something was in that port!, she realized, and she lifted her head to tell Gabrielle, but the bard pushed her head back down, pleading her to continue suckling her nipple. “Gabrielle,” the warrior tried to say, but her words were slurred against her lover’s breast, and the bard assumed that Xena was moaning her name and patted the warrior’s back lovingly. Suddenly, Xena heard the window breaking, and Gabrielle screamed. The warrior tried to stand up, but discovered that from the neck down, her body was asleep. A blow went to her head, and then there was only darkness.






“Warrior Princess, wake up!”

Xena awoke with a start, and her hand went to her belt, looking for her chakram, only to find that she wasn’t wearing her armor. Looking down at her was the innkeeper, worry on his face. Slowly, her memory came back to her. With a smile, she remembered Gabrielle’s teasing, and the couple beginning to make love. Then, her smile faded as she remembered becoming drowsy, the window breaking, Gabrielle screaming, the warrior trying to get up but failing, and then being knocked out. Xena jumped to her feet and looked around.

“Where’s Gabrielle?” She demanded of the innkeeper.

“Your friend? The blonde? Um, I don’t know how to tell you this,” the innkeeper began, “but she’s gone.”

Xena felt her body go numb. “She’s dead?” She asked, her voice shaking.

“No, not necessarily dead. Though it’s likely that woman will kill her. She meant business,” the innkeeper told her.

“Woman? What woman?” Xena asked angrily. She grabbed the innkeeper’s collar. “What did you see?”

“Lady, calm down! Please!” The innkeeper begged, only intensifying Xena’s glare. “Some blonde, armored woman took her. She must have come in through the window, but she took your friend out through the front door!”

Xena’s heart skipped a beat. Blonde, armored woman? Oh, crap. Not again! “This woman,” she began, “did she have anyone waiting outside for her? A few soldiers, or a small army?”

“Why, yes!” The innkeeper exclaimed. “There was a soldier waiting outside for her! He had longish, curly black hair. Do you know this woman?”

Theodorus? Well, that confirms it, the warrior thought with a pain in her gut. “Yes, I know her. Her name is Callisto.”






Gabrielle rode, bound and gagged, on a dark brown steed, being closely monitored by Callisto’s second in command, Theodorus. Xena! The bard’s mind screamed. Help me, please! Gods, I am so stupid! I should have fought back, protected myself rather than just sitting there and letting myself be taken! Just curious, though; why didn’t Xena protect me? The ride came to a halt, and Gabrielle was hoisted off the horse and thrown on the ground. She felt shockwaves of pain flow to her brain from her shoulder.

“Take her to me,” yelled Callisto from a distance.

Oh, damn, damn, damn! Gabrielle swore inwardly. Theodorus picked her up, and carried her over his shoulder to the blonde warrior, and dropped the bard at her feet.

“Hello, Gabrielle,” Callisto greeted her in a chilling voice. “I bet Xena didn’t count on me escaping, did she?” Seeing as how Gabrielle was gagged, Callistro drew a dagger and cut the cloth covering her mouth.

“Blech!” Gabrielle spat, gasping for clean air. “Bleh. Callisto, she suspected you could get out; she just didn’t have time to deal with your crap.”

Callisto’s face grew dark, but then something changed in her eyes, and that insane smile returned to her face. “You know, *Gabby*, when I was in prison, all I could think about was causing Xena pain. I knew that to truly penetrate her heart, I’d need to kill you. But when I escaped, with the help of a foolish little boy (he’s dead, by the way, dear), I heard a rumor that Xena had a lover, a young bard named Gabrielle. Now, isn’t that *your* name?” Callisto smirked. “Knowing Xena, she’s probably afraid that I’ll just outright kill you, just to torture her the way that I promised. But no, I won’t,” she paused. “Do you know why, Gabby, dear?” Gabrielle shook her head. “Because instead, I’m going to break through love’s boundaries.” When Gabrielle looked unafraid, Callisto rolled her eyes. “Don’t you get it? I’m going to rape you, over and over, until you’re afraid to make love with women in general. It will an agonizing experience for you each time as you feel your body and soul being violated. I will have you so afraid of sex- no, of love, that you will never be able to even look at Xena again. That will be torture for her since she has gone through so much just to win your love.”

Oh, Gods, Gabrielle thought in horror, she can’t be serious. Please, please, let her be lying to me, let her be trying to scare me.

Callisto grinned evilly at the bard. “Afraid, Gabrielle? Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the sensual pain that I’ll give you night after night till your *lover* figures out where you are and rescues you,” she laughed, a sound terrifying to Gabrielle’s innocent ears, “if she ever figures out where you are.”

Xena, please rescue me! Please, gods, let her come rescue me! Don’t let this monster take me! Gabrielle prayed to whoever was listening.






As Xena strapped on her armor and sheathed her weapons, images of Gabrielle, dying or living with torture, flashed through her head. Anger set in the warrior at the thought of Callisto allowing her soldiers to have their way with Gabrielle. I’ll save her, Xena thought in a cold fury, because if I don’t, I won’t be able to save myself.

Exiting the inn, the Warrior Princess approached some of the villagers, asking if they had seen Callisto or any of her soldiers. Most responses were “Nope, sorry”, “Don’t know what you’re talking about” or even “Didn’t see nothin’”. Finally, she noticed a young woman, probably around Gabrielle’s age, sitting alone at a corner of the city streets. Xena’s gut told her that this was a person who had seen everything, and possibly knew important information.

Xena approached the woman, who was running her fingers through her golden locks nervously. “Hello,” she began, “this morning, a blonde warrior woman in dark armor broke into the inn where I was staying, and kidnapped my friend. She went out inn door. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

The woman looked up at Xena, and the Warrior Princess noticed a cut across her left cheek. “Yes,” the woman replied in a voice full of pain, “I know who you’re talking about. She cut me when I begged to be fed.”

Xena felt sick to her stomach. “My name is Xena, and I will bring this woman to justice,” she vowed, “but I need you to tell me everything you know.”

“The woman gave her a strange look. “You haven’t even asked my name.”

A sorrow filled the warrior’s heart as she regarded this woman with pity. “What is your name, and where did the blonde warrior go?”

“My name is Denora,” the woman answered. Wiping the blood from her cheek with a cloth, she continued. “You can say her name. I know she’s Callisto. My dad threw me out of the house last week because I wouldn’t marry his friend’s son, and I’ve been homeless ever since. I asked her if she would give me some meat. She told me she’d give me some if I kidnapped someone for her. I said no, and she humiliated me in front of her soldiers. But I don’t even care about that. What upsets me the most is that she stole a family heirloom, the only thing of value that I have left.”

Oh, Gods, Xena thought, Callisto wanted her to kidnap Gabrielle! Poor girl. Though, why would Callisto steal something? “Heirloom? What kind of an heirloom?”

“It’s a gold coin with a hole in it, and a chain running through that hole. It’s really important to me.”

“Denora,” Xena began, “I can give you some dinars and you can stay in the inn until you find somewhere el-“

“-No, Xena! If you want to know anything about Callisto, you need me, and I’m not saying anything unless you take me with you.” Denora told the Warrior Princess.

The warrior gazed at her sadly. “Denora, I can’t take you with me. It’s not safe. Just tell me what you know.”

“No, damn it! I won’t tell you information worth a dinar! You bring me, or you’ve got nothing!” Denora told the warrior stubbornly.

Xena was about to argue, but then she thought of Gabrielle screaming as the men ravaged her and treated her as though she were worth nothing. Fighting back anger, she turned to Denora. “You may come with me, Denora, but first, I need to know if you know how to use any kind of weapon.”

Denora pulled a pair of sais from her boots. “I’ve been training on these since I was eight years old,” she declared proudly. “I didn’t attack Callisto with them because, well, she’s Callisto.”

“Excellent choice. Are you any good with them?” Xena asked. “I need you to be able to defend yourself against whatever we face.”

Denora twirled the sais in a series of different arcs, and for the finale, flipped them before returning them to her boots. “It’s all good.”

All right, I suppose she can take care of herself, Xena thought to herself. Now to do something about her anger management. “Denora, there’s another thing you need to understand. When I work, I can’t have you rushing off whenever you see fit. You need to obey me.”

“Ob- excuse me? Did you just say ‘obey’? What am I, your dog?!” Denora protested.

“No, but you’re my responsibility, as you are traveling with me,” the Warrior Princess told her.

“Ugh. Fine. I’ll do as you say, but just so you know, I’m in this for getting my coin back.” Denora informed the warrior.

“You need to be careful,” Xena told her.

“Whatever. Let’s just go,” Denora replied, “the sooner I get my coin, the sooner my soul can rest.”

Xena sighed. I need Gabrielle so badly, she thought. For Denora, this may just be about her damn coin, adventure, and who knows what else, but for me, this about rescuing both Gabrielle’s soul…and mine.






“Well, well, well, little lady. Looks like it’s sunset. Looks like the army is stopping. Looks to me, little lady, like it’s time for you to spend some time with me,” a burly soldier told Gabrielle, and he pulled his pants down and came at her. As Gabrielle’s mind screamed, suddenly there was a flash of metal and the next moment, the soldier lay decapitated on the ground. Also removed was his manhood.

“Such silly men. I *know* that I told them that you were all mine, but you know how lust is, don’t you, Gabby?” Callisto told the bard in her girlish, taunting voice. “Now, come here, *love*.”

“There is no way in Hades that I would ever make love to you!” Gabrielle threw at Callisto. “You are a sick, cruel bitch and if you honestly expect me to just let you do what you want to me, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Callisto cackled. “Dear, do you honestly believe that I want it to be consenting? No, no. I want Xena to hate me, and the best way to do that is to take you by force.” Callisto approached Gabrielle and untied the ropes that were binding her ankles and wrists together. Then, in one fast grab, Callisto brought the bard to her and kissed her. Gabrielle’s arms and legs flailed against the evil warrior, punching and kicking wherever she could using all of her strength. Callisto only proceeded to kiss Gabrielle harder, shoving her tongue in the bard’s mouth and trying to send it down her throat. Gabrielle screamed into Callisto’s mouth and her thoughts were of panic. Breaking the kiss, the evil warrior used her dagger to cut the clothes from Gabrielle’s body, then removed her own armor and leathers. “I told you, Gabrielle! I like it rough!” Callisto screamed at the terrified bard. She curled her hand into a fist and shoved it against Gabrielle’s labia. The bard screamed and struggled against her, trying to kick the evil warrior away. Callisto laughed and squeezed Gabrielle’s injured shoulder so tight that the bard could almost hear cracking. Gabrielle started crying.

Xena, please! Save me, the bard’s mind screamed.

Seeing Gabrielle’s tears, Callisto grew angry. “You want something to cry about, little girl?” She screeched at the bard. “Fine, I’ll give you something to cry about. Freeing her hand from Gabrielle’s shoulder, she punched Gabrielle hard in the face, bruising her. Gabrielle wailed, and Callisto punched her again. “Bitch, don’t cry if I tell you not to!” The evil warrior fisted harder against Gabrielle’s labia, and once again gripped her wounded shoulder. Gabrielle screamed, half in anguish, and to her own horror, half in stimulation. “Yes! Now we’re talking!” Callisto laughed evilly, and with that, the evil warrior began grinding her heat against Gabrielle’s, crying out as she lapsed into orgasm.

After her orgasm subsided, Callisto grabbed Gabrielle’s breast. When no response was received, she raised her hand to slap the bard, but looked down to see that Gabrielle had passed out from the pain and horror. With a smirk, Callisto pulled her leathers back on, strapped on her armor, and put a tunic on the unconscious bard.

(Author’s note: Thank God that scene is over! I was starting to feel sick to my stomach)






Xena rode on Argo as the mare galloped through plains and forests alike. Behind her, a brown mare was carrying Denora. Never stopping, never resting, the pair rode through the night.

Finally, Argo became tired, and Xena decided to stop for a rest. It was only slightly after midnight, but the Warrior Princess insisted to herself that she could see the sun poking out of the corners of the horizon.

Settling on her bedroll, Xena gazed at the fire beside her. So bright and beautiful…just like Gabrielle. Tears formed in the warrior’s eyes at the thought of her missing lover. As the salty drops rolled down her face, Xena thought of the tortures that her beloved bard must be enduring. Gabrielle, I promise you. I will find you, and I will save you. If you’re traumatized, or permanately damaged, I will stand by your side and protect you as though she had never taken you.

As she lay gazing at the fire, Xena started to hear hooves approaching. Leaping to her feet, the Warrior Princess gripped her chakram tightly. A black mare approached from the trees, and when Xena glanced up at the rider, she smiled at seeing a familiar face.

“Well, Sorraya, looks like we’ve found our target,” the rider told her horse.

“Mara! What are you doing here?” Xena asked her friend.

The Amazon’s smile faded. “That’s all I get? No ‘Mara, I’m so happy to see you’ or ‘Mara, how are you’? Sheesh,” Mara said dryly.

Xena gave the Amazon a grave smile. “Mara, I am glad to see you, but it’s a very tough time for me right now.”

“I’m here because Ephiny sent me to tell you that Callisto has-,"

“-Escaped. I know. That’s who I’m after,” Xena told the Amazon.

“You know? How do you know?” Mara asked, surprised at Xena’s knowledge.

“Because she kidnapped Gabrielle, and attacked an innocent girl.” Xena informed her sadly.

Mara’s mouth fell open in shock. “Wha? She did WHAT?! Oh, well, this is NOT good. I was supposed to come here and help you before she did anyone harm, but I’m too late!”

“No, you’re not too late. You’re skilled at fighting, and you could help Denora head off Callisto’s soldiers while I go in for Gabrielle.”

“Denora? Who’s Denora?” Mara asked. Xena gestured to Denora’s sleeping form. “Oh. Ohhh. Hmmm. Um, why is she going after Callisto?”

Xena could tell that the Amazon was taken by Denora’s beauty. It made her smile inside. Same old Mara checking out women, she thought. “Mara, remember when I mentioned that Callisto attacked an innocent girl? That girl is Denora. Denora is poor and begged Callisto for food, and she refused because Denora wouldn’t kidnap Gabrielle. Callisto humiliated her and stole something very important to her. She won’t let me get it myself, so she’s coming along with us.”

A look of pity came on Mara’s pretty face. “Gods, that must be some item that Callisto stole for her to be standing up to you! And stealing from Callisto? Does she realize who Callisto is?”

“I’ve told her that Callisto is dangerous, but she doesn’t seem to care,” Xena put in sadly. “Mara, while you’re with us, could you keep an eye on her?”

Mara’s face lit up, and she displayed that dazzling smile of hers. “Oh, of course! Pretty girl like that, I’d be more than happy to take care of her!” The redheaded Amazon went to her horse, and removed a bedroll and a soft, fragrant green blanket. “Well, if we’re going to hit the road tomorrow, we should get some sleep,” Mara said with a grin.

Xena smiled. “Goodnight, Mara.”

“Night, Xena.”

As Xena curled up on her own bedroll, a question came into her head. “Mara, whatever happened with you and Aphrodite?”

The redhead blushed to her roots, and her green eyes twinkled. “Well, after a few nights of…erm…fun, she told me that it was fun, but she couldn’t be seen sleeping with a mortal because that was ‘so cliché’,” she said with a chuckle. “So now, I’m single and looking,” she glanced at Denora, “and if things work out, I’ve found someone.” She grinned. “I can just imagine running my fingers through those golden locks.”

Xena laughed. “You’re a crazy woman, Mara."

“Yeah, I am.”






The next morning, Denora awoke to feel a soft blanket covering her own. “Whoa, what in Tartarus?”

“You looked so cold,” said an amused voice.

Denora rolled over quick to see a redheaded, emerald green-eyed woman looking at her with a dazzling smile. Wow, she’s gorgeous, Denora thought. Whoa, wait a minute! Who is she, why is her blanket on me, and why is she here?! “Whoa. Where’s Xena, and um,” Denora shyly avoided gazing into the beautiful woman’s pretty eyes, “could you tell me who you are?”

“Oh, where are my manners?” The woman chuckled. “I’m Mara of the Amazons, and I’m here to help you and Xena take care of Callisto.”

Mara. Maaaarrrrraaaa. It’s like music, Denora thought, smiling happily.

Mara chuckled. “Dinar for your thoughts?”

Denora snapped out of her daydreaming. “Um, nothing.” She realized that she was still wearing a goofy smile on her face, and blushed. “Just wondering where Xena is.”

“Oh, she went out to catch us a quick breakfast. Left me here to watch over a sleeping beauty,” Mara said with a sly wink at Denora. Ooh, I am goood, the Amazon giggled inwardly.

Denora blushed even more, and with her hand, brushed some of her golden locks out of her face. This girl is a charmer, she thought, but does she like me?






After catching a stag and cooking the meat separately from her two friends, Xena approached the campsite quietly. She noticed that Mara was flashing her famous dazzling smile at Denora, who was blushing and wearing a goofy grin of her own. It was clear that Mara had begun to seduce Denora. “Sorry to intrude, but we’ve got to get moving. Come get some breakfast,” the warrior told the silly pair. She couldn’t help but chuckle as Mara walked over to Denora and extended her hand to help her up. Oh, gods, the warrior thought, trying not to laugh out loud, Mara’s on the prowl. When Mara pulled Denora to her feet, she brought her hand to her lips, kissed it, and walked passed Xena, hips swaying. Xena noticed an even redder blush on Denora’s cheeks.

After a nice, delicious breakfast, Xena’s stomach was still in knots over missing Gabrielle. “All right. Denora, you mentioned that Callisto was heading towards Leros.”

Denora nodded. “I heard her men talking about a fortress that they had built there while she was imprisoned. From what I could understand, it’s located just outside the Flateles Forest.”

“The Flateles Forest is just north of the woods we’re in right now,” Xena told her friends. “Here’s my plan.” She told them of the plan that she had been formulating since the night before. “So, are we all good on it?”

Denora was pale. “Xena, that’s insane. It’ll work, but by the gods, I’ll never feel clean again.”

Mara chuckled. “You’re not the only one,” she told the golden-locked woman.

“When you go in for Gabrielle, don’t forget to look for my coin. Please, Xena, it’s so important and it’s too difficult to explain why,” Denora told Xena.

Xena smiled. “All right. We should be there in a few hours if you two can ride behind me through some shortcuts.”

“What kinds of shortcuts?” A curious Mara asked.

“Oh, over mud traps, fallen trees, that sort of thing,” the Warrior Princess said with a shrug.

“Oookay,” Mara responded, her emerald eyes wide.

“Let’s get going.”






Gabrielle awoke with a gasp. Gods, tell me that didn’t happen. Tell me that Callisto never touched me that way. Looking down at her body, Gabrielle opened her mouth in horror. Bruises were masking her body, many on her inner thighs. Damn it, Gabrielle thought as she started to cry, now I’m going to feel dirty for the rest of my life. A positive thought entered her head. Xena will come for me, and she will save me. Callisto is nothing compared to Xena…






“Hey boys, wanna have a little fun?”

The guard outside Callisto’s fortress turned, and saw a scantily-clad golden-haired woman winking at him.

“Oh, gods, thank you,” he mumbled as he approached the woman and unbuckled his belt.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be thanking them,” the woman purred at him.

The guard chuckled hornily. “Oh, really? That’s heresy, and I’m going to have to punish you.”

“Oh, yes. Spank me for being naughty, *Daddy*,” she purred in return. That did it. The guard lunged at the woman…

…who drew a pair of sais and stabbed him. Gasping, the guard keeled over and died.

“Hornball,” Denora muttered.

“Can’t say I’d blame him,” Mara grinned as she dragged the dead guard’s body into some bushes.

Denora blushed, then composed herself. “How can we get all the guards out of there so that Xena can be clear?”

Mara chuckled. “Easy.” Drawing her mace, she opened the gate and stabbed the nearest guard. A yell of rang out of her intrusion, and soon Callisto’s small but strong army rushed out to battle.






As the guards rushed out to battle her friends, Xena peered out from a tree at the now empty walls. “Great job, Denora,” she whispered. Throwing a grappling hook at the wall, she swung to the wall and climbed up. She flipped onto the wall and ran down a corridor, peeking into rooms as she went. Her dog-like hearing picked up on a gentle sobbing. Gabrielle. Anger filled the Warrior Princess at the thought of the horrors her bard was facing. She ran down the corridor until she came to a securely locked door that the sounds until she came to a securely locked door. Taking a second to pick the lock, Xena kicked the door open, and and choked as she saw her lover. She forgot entirely about Denora’s coin. “Gabrielle?” The warrior whispered. “Oh, no. No, no, no. What has she done to you?”

“Xena?” Gabrielle croaked as she lifted her heavy head. “Is it really you?”

“Gabrielle!” Xena ran to the bard and picking her up, she held Gabrielle in her arms. “My love, I have missed you! I haven’t stopped thinking about you at all!”

“Xena,” Gabrielle tried to control the shaking in her voice, “take me out of here. Please. I need to get out of here.”

The warrior felt tears flowing down her cheeks, but wiped them away. “Yes, Gabrielle! I’ll take you out of here. Can you walk?”

“My shoulder hurts, and my legs are bruised badly. I don’t know if I can walk,” Gabrielle whimpered, “Xena, I love you. Please tell me you love me. Please!”

“I love you, Gabrielle!” Xena declared to the bard. “I’m going to carry you out of here, my love.” She lifted the bard in her arms, and kissed her cheek. The warrior carried Gabrielle out of the room and back to the place where she had climbed up.






“You know, you’re not bad with those things,” Mara told Denora as she deflected a parry from a soldier. The pair was fighting the mini-army back-to-back. The Amazon chuckled as she saw a victim of Denora’s sais go flying over her shoulder. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah, it’s good on my end,” Denora said with a grin as she killed two guards at once, then pushed their bodies into the lunging guards, who tripped and fell. “How about you? You think you can handle everything?”

“It’s all good, lovely lady,” Mara flirted as she diced a guard with her mace.

Denora giggled. “You’re a charmer. Oops, guy got past me, coming up on your left!”

“Got him,” Mara replied, flipping the specified guard over and smacking him on the head. “Yeah, I’m a charmer, but only to the ones I like.”

“Oh, so then you like me?” Denora flirted back at the Amazon.

“You could bet on it,” Mara returned, and downed another guard. There was a whistling sound, and suddenly several soldiers discovered that their swords were broken. “That’s Xena’s signal. She must have gotten Gabrielle. Let’s go!”

Denora and Mara hurried into the woods, leaving the soldiers crying out to be saved after being beaten so badly by two women.






Gabrielle closed her eyes and tried to feel cleansed as she bathed in a tub of hot water. Xena gently massaged her back with a soapy cloth, worrying very much for her beloved. If I tell her, she’ll go crazy. She might even go evil, Gabrielle thought miserably.

Feeling her lover’s shoulders tense, Xena leaned down and kissed them, at which Gabrielle twitched nervously. Whoa, the warrior thought, why is she so tense? Is there something wrong with touching her? She must be very traumatized. “My love, I know you’ve only been back with me for a few hours, but are you ready to talk about what happened? The sooner you talk, the sooner you’ll recover,” Xena told the bard gently.

Gabrielle sighed. “Xena, I…I got very scared, with all that went on, though I always knew that you’d come and save me, just as you’ve always done. But bad stuff still happened, and I don’t know if I can ever talk about it. Not just because of my pain, but because I don’t want to cause you pain that could lead to you going back to your warlord ways.”

Wow. Xena was shocked. It’s so bad that it has her doubting me? That really must be something. “Gabrielle, I promised you that I would never go back to my old ways, and I meant it. When have I ever said something I don’t mean?”

Gabrielle closed her eyes and scratched nervously at the wound on her shoulder, which Xena had treated and dressed. “Never. You’ve never. I know. It’s just…I know that it will hurt you and you’ll be angry when I tell you what happened.”

“Gabrielle,” Xena gently grasped the hand that was nervously scratching the wounded shoulder, and squeezed it lovingly, “of course I’ll be hurt and angry. There’s no avoiding that, not when I love you so much. She kidnapped you and I don’t know what horrors you’ve been through, but I know it’s bad. I’ll deal with Callisto in due time. Honestly, I’m shocked that she didn’t stop me from getting you back, or stop Denora and Mara from killing her army. Do you know anything about that, my love?”

“I don’t, but whatever the reason, I doubt it’s good,” the bard replied, shivering.

Xena dipped a hand in the bath water, which had begun to chill. “All right, my bard. Time to get out of the bath.”

“No, please!” Gabrielle cried. “I don’t feel clean!”

Xena was again shocked by the bard. What in the name of Zeus did Callisto *do* to her? “Gabrielle-“

“No! Please! Let me bathe! I’m so dirty!” The bard sobbed. “Make me clean, Xena. Please!”






“Oooh, you’ve got another cut here,” Denora said as she bandaged Mara’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I remember that one. The guy tried to get around to you, but I got him with the mace, and I guess he got me a little,” Mara replied. “Any more cuts?” Denora examined the Amazon’s body, not being able to stop herself from licking her lips. “Got dry lips?” Mara teased.

Denora blushed a deep hue. “Shut it,” she said in mock annoyance to the redhead, who chuckled and winked. “I think we’ve covered all your little owwies, little girl.”

Mara’s mouth dropped open. “Little girl? I’m only a few inches shorter than Xena, and you’re at least a foot shorter than her!”

Denora smirked. “Oh, yeah, and Tartarus is only a few inches from Olympus.”

Mara felt herself about to burst out laughing. “Well, *milady*, let’s see if you’ve got any nicks.” She took the alcohol and swabbing cloth from Denora and bent down to examine the golden-haired woman’s legs. “Aha! Found one already.” She applied the alcohol to the cut, causing Denora to twitch.

“Hey! Watch it with that alcohol!” Denora grunted.

Mara chuckled. “Well, gee, for someone who just made a point of calling *moi* a ‘little girl’, you certainly act like one when the nice healer is dressing your wounds.”

Denora snorted. “Nice healer? You, my dear, are naught more than a cunning vixen trying to make her move on me.”

Mara couldn’t restrain a laugh. She stood up and looked Denora in the eye, laughing her heart out. “Cunning vixen? Are you saying I’m skilled in my dark, evil ways?”

“Oh,” Denora replied, mirroring Mara’s dazzling smile, “I think it’s safe to say that,” she found herself getting lost in Mara’s emerald oceans, “is a yes.”

Mara let instinct take over her body, and leaned over to Denora, pressing her lips on the golden blonde’s. Denora closed her eyes, happy to finally be tasting the Amazon’s mouth on hers. She allowed Mara’s smooth tongue to open her mouth, and grew weak as Mara’s tongue probed the sensitive spots in her mouth. The kiss seemed to last forever, and when it ended, both gazed into each others eyes dreamily before embracing warmly.

“Wow,” Denora whispered, “please tell me this isn’t a dream.”

“It isn’t, or the real nightmare would be waking up and finding none of this real,” came Mara’s soft reply.

“Mara,” Denora backed up to look the Amazon in the eye, “I want to know something. What do you feel for me?”

“I really like you. You’re sweet, and warm, and beautiful, and good with weapons, and, uh, more.” Mara said proudly.

“What’s ‘more’?” Denora asked eagerly. Please let her be falling in love with me the way I’ve started with her. When I woke up and saw such a nymph watching me sleep, it was a crush. But when we were fighting back-to-back, that’s when I started falling for her.

“Um,” Mara scratched her head, “Nothing.”

“Mara, say whatever it is.”

“Can’t. Now what do you feel?”

“Okay, that’s deflecting. Why can’t you say it?”

Mara opened her mouth, then shut it. “Denora,” she said gently, “look, I have never told anyone before that I love them. You need to understand that even though I might feel it for you, I don’t know if I can say it.”

Denora couldn’t believe her ears. “You love me?”

“I…I…I…,” Mara tried talking, but found herself unable to get past the first word.

“Mara, you love me, yes or no?” Denora was impatient to hear those words.

“Denora, I love you,” Mara began, her voice shaky, “and I have since I arrived that night and saw you sleeping. I hoped that I had found my soul mate in such a beautiful, peaceful beauty. I want to be with you, but I won’t force anything. Just know that I am forever yours.”

Denora was amazed. Can this flirtatious, wildly outgoing girl really be capable of loving me? “What happened to the confident Mara that knew she’d win me?”

“She’s still in here,” Mara patted her chest, “but right now, she’s looking for someone to fill the hole in her chest that appeared when she gave her heart to you.”

Awww! Denora could feel the tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks. “Of course you can have my heart to fill that hole,” she whispered as she turned back and looked at the Amazon, “I love you, Mara.”

Mara responded by closing the distance between them and kissing Denora passionately. Once again, the pair reached the bliss of exploring each other’s mouths.






All right. Her skin is getting prunier than that of a crone three times her age. It’s time to get out of the bath, the Warrior Princess thought as she scrubbed at Gabrielle’s legs, which were covered with bruises suspiciously located on the bard’s inner thighs. “Gabrielle, if you were any cleaner, you’d be a bar of soap. Time to get out of the bath, okay?” Gabrielle made a whimpering sound that tore at the Xena’s heart. She bent over and lifted the wrinkly bard out of the tub and wrapped her in a soft towel. Leaving the bathroom, Xena led Gabrielle to the bed, and lifted the bard onto it’s softness before tucking her in.

“Xena?” Gabrielle whispered weakly. “Could you…get in bed with me? Not to hold me though.”

Wait a minute, she wants me in bed with her, but not to hold her? I gotta know what the matter is. Xena walked around to the other side of the bed and lay next to Gabrielle. Their feet brushed briefly, at which Gabrielle twitched, then curled her toes around Xena’s foot. Awww, so timid, yet so adorable, Xena smiled.

“Xena?” Gabrielle whispered weakly.

“Yes, my love?”

“Could- could you sing to me? I know you have a good voice, even if you do deny it.”

Shockingly enough, Xena blushed. “Gabrielle, you want *me* to SING?”

“Y-yes. Please, Xena. It would help me feel at peace,” Gabrielle whimpered.

Xena felt sadness for her lover. “Of course, Gabrielle. What would you like me to sing?”

“Anything,” the bard whispered, and she rolled over so that Xena spooned her bruised body.

She feels so small and fragile, the warrior thought as she draped an arm over Gabrielle’s side and positioned her hand on her flat stomach. She began singing to the bard in a foreign language. Gabrielle closed her eyes and drifted off into the realm of dreams.






Laughter sounded in the room that Mara and Denora were sharing. The new couple was playing “Truth Or Dare”, and Denora had just dared Mara to call a barmaid for help with a fire, and when the barmaid came running, Mara said while cracking up that the fire was between her legs, and then winked at the barmaid, who scowled and went back to work.

“All right, Miss Evil, truth or dare?” Mara asked the chuckling blonde.

“Truth,” Denora grinned.

“Sissy. You’re just trying to get out of making an ass of yourself,” Mara told her in mock seriousness, poking Denora’s ribs.

“Well, yes, and I’m succeeding,” Denora said, closing her fist around Mara’s poking finger.

Mara tugged her finger, trying to free it. “Leggo!”

Denora pulled the finger to her lips and kissed it, then released it. She flashed a sexy grin at Mara, who giggled and waggled her finger at her golden-haired lover. “Now, are you going to ask me anything or not, Amazon?”

Mara grinned. “All right. Are you a virgin?”

Denora burst out laughing. “Well, gee, Mara! That was only a little bit personal, you know.”

Mara smirked. “I like knowing what I have to compete with.”

Denora smirked back. “Presume much?”

“Uh huh.”

Giggling, Denora revealed the truth. “I’m a virgin.”

Mara grinned wide. “Oh, so I get to play teacher?”

Denora narrowed her eyes and her voice grew husky. “I never said I didn’t read instruction manuals.”

Mara felt something rise in her throat. “Really?” She managed, struggling to maintain her composure.

Oh, I’ve got her, Denora thought with a smirk, the huntee has outwitted the hunter. “Really. Now, truth or dare?”

“Truth,” Mara replied, controlling her rising desires.

“I know you’re probably not a virgin, so who have you slept with? Give me their names,” Denora grinned at the redhead.

“Oh,” Mara suddenly felt very nervous. If she knows about Aprodite, she is going to be pissed. “Ginnykrystalrajekiaphrodite. Truth or dare?”

“Wa-wa-wa-wait a minute!” Denora grinned. “I want each of those names, slowly this time.”

“Ginny, Krystal, Rajeki,” Mara dropped her voice to a mumble, “Aphrodite.”

Denora half-heard the Amazon. “What? Did you just say Aphrodite?”

Mara looked at her with a weak grin. “Yep.” Hades, this is not gonna be good for the relationship.

“Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love? You and her…?” Denora gaped at Mara. I can see that Mara’s a hottie, but she’s done Aphrodite? Dang!

Mara gulped nervously. “Uh huh.” Gods, stop looking at me that way. Please. I love you, not her.

“Oh,” Denora said, “and who were these three other girls, hmmm, Missy?”

Now Mara was shocked. She can ignore it just like that? Why is she not yelling at me or leaving me? “Oh. Um. Well. Ginny is from Crete, and uh, she was my first. She and I met when she came and was talking to Melosa, because Melosa asked me to bring something for her.”

“And Krystal is?”

Mara giggled. “She was another girl that was visiting our tribe, and she had to share my quarters, and we got a little too comfortable.”

“And Rajeki?”

Mara gazed at Denora sadly. “Rajeki was an Amazon from a northern tribe. She wanted Melosa to talk to their leader, about what was the Centaur threat. After we spent the night together, she was killed the next day by a warlord, and Melosa didn’t even see fit to let me, let alone anyone, avenge her death.”

Denora took Mara’s hand in her own. “Did you love her?”

Mara shook her head. “No, but I cared about her enough to be sad when she died. Then, I started thinking about love, and decided to look for it,” she told her lover, then grinned, “and then Xena tried to hook me up with Gabrielle, but that didn’t work, and then along came Aphrodite.”

Denora laughed. “You’ve got to tell me this story!”

Mara looked her in the eye. “You promise you won’t get hurt or jealous?”

Denora smiled. “I promise. Mara, those girls may have been your past, but I want to be your present and your future.”

Mara flashed her the trademark dazzling smile. “Well, okay. Xena loved Gabrielle, and Gabrielle loved Xena, but neither of them knew about the other’s feelings. Then, Xena found out how Gabrielle felt, but instead of being happy, she was worried that she would only put the bard in danger, so she dropped Gabrielle off in the Amazon territory where I was living. She talked to Ephiny, our leader and the girlfriend of my aunt, Eponin, and Ephiny told her to leave Gabrielle in my hands. Now, I admit it, I thought Gabrielle was gorgeous, but when I tried to kiss her, she wouldn’t let me even though she was drunk, and she revealed that she loved Xena.”

“So what did you do?” Denora wanted to know.

“I couldn’t come between them when it was so clear of the trueness of their love. I spoke to Ephiny, and she sent me after Xena. I caught up with her in the night and tried to convince her to go back to Gabrielle. She sort of listened, but at the same time, she still felt it wasn’t right. Then, enter Aphrodite, who told Xena they were meant to be. She brought Xena to Gabrielle, then came back for me,” Mara finished, hoping that Denora wouldn’t pry for more information.

Denora seemed to read the Amazon’s mind. “Na-na-na-na-noooo! Hold up there, Mara. I wanna know *details*,” she smirked, knowing she was being a tease.

Mara looked at Denora in mock annoyance, to which the golden blonde laughed. “All right, you nosy seagull. She persuaded me to have sex with her despite the fact that her husband could chain me up for all eternity. After 2 days of non-stop screwing, she was worn out, and we decided to end the fling there so that she wouldn’t become attached to a lowly mortal.”

“Hey! I didn’t put it *that* way!” Came an indignant voice from behind the couple. Mara and Denora spun around to see the Goddess of Love herself standing in the doorway. “Well, Zeus, Mara! After forty-eight hours of passion, all you can say about me is that I dropped you like a rock? How annoying!”

Mara glanced at Aphrodite. “Well, Aphrodite, that is true. You went into detail about how it would be if I became a goddess and moved to Olympus and then how embarassing it would be to divorce Hephaestus for some ex-mortal war-chick.”

“Well, I meant it with a certain degree of caring! I don’t want anything bad to happen to you! You’re not hurt! And look! You’ve even found someone whose hair is almost as pretty as mine. No harm done,” Aphrodite insisted.

“’No harm done?’” Denora repeated. “’No harm done?’ You’ve basically told her that it would be humiliating if the other gods and goddesses saw her with you. That’s harsh,” she told the Goddess, then added, “and my hair is fine, thank you.”

“Well, it’s true! You just *don’t* get attached to mortals. It’s a no-no. Ares is the laughingstock with his little obsession with Xena.”

Denora turned to Mara. “Baby, go downstairs and drink or listen to stories. I’m going one-on-one with the Goddess here.”

Mara opened her mouth. “But-,"

“No ‘but’s!” Denora told her sternly.

Mara was shocked. Wow, this new lover of mine is certainly assertive. I should go downstairs now. She means business.





“Xena?”

At the sound of Gabrielle’s soft voice, Xena opened her eyes and looked down at the warm body she was holding in her arms. “Yes, Gabrielle?”

“I’m ready to talk about what happened,” Gabrielle whispered. She rolled over in her lover’s arms, wincing as her bruises pressed against the bed, until her face was pressed to Xena’s chest. Please don’t let her be too hurt.

Xena smiled. “Gabrielle, as happy as I am that you’re being open with me, feel free to stop if you start to feel uncomfortable.”

Gabrielle just buried her head deeper against Xena’s chest. “I know that when something hurts, it’s just easier to say what it is, and then I’ll feel better. It’s just that it really, really hurts me to think about it.” She sighed. “Xena, Callisto told me that she knew about us, and that led her to the horrifying conclusion that to hurt you, she would need to cross love’s boundaries.”

Xena realized where she was going in an instant. “Gabrielle, she *raped* you?” She said, feeling tears go to her eyes.

Gabrielle closed her eyes. “Yes, my love. She raped me.”

Xena struggled to talk calmly. “What did you do while she raped you?”

Gabrielle began to remember the pain. She told her lover the story of her rape, feeling Xena’s heart pound within her chest.

When the story ended, Xena put her hand under Gabrielle’s chin and lifted it to look the bard in the eye. “Gabrielle, I am so sorry. This is my fault. If I hadn’t touched that port, this never would have happened,” the Warrior Princess whispered as tears flowed down her cheeks.

“No, Xena,” Gabrielle told her. “You didn’t know that she drugged your port. It isn’t your fault.” Seeing Xena’s obvious guilt, Gabrielle leaned up and kissed the trembling lips gently. “I love you, Xena.”

“I love you, too, Gabrielle.” Xena kissed Gabrielle desperately, expressing all her sorrow for Gabrielle’s pain with her lips and tongue.

Breaking the kiss, Gabrielle looked into Xena’s icy pools. “I missed this so much. I missed you.”

“Oh, Gabrielle,” Xena told her lover with a smile, “I missed you, too. It felt like I was going crazy without you here.”

UPDATED!

“I know what you mean,” the bard responded, “because I was feeling the same way. Oh, Xena, I don’t ever want to be apart from you again. I need you.” Gabrielle crawled up in Xena’s arms until her forehead rested against her lover’s.

Xena seemed to think for a moment. “I wonder where Callisto is right now?”

Gabrielle nipped the warrior’s ear. “Let’s not speak of that beast, my love.”

“Gabrielle, now that she’s proven that no jail can hold her, the only solution is for me to kill her. You know that, right?” Xena felt worried that her gentle lover would be against the killing of Callisto despite what she had been subjected to.

“Yes,” came Gabrielle’s reply, her breath on Xena’s neck, “I know that. And although I hate killing, she needs to be stopped before she hurts anyone else.”

Xena kissed Gabrielle’s chin. “Gabrielle, I know you’ve been through all kinds of horrors today, but I need to ask you something.” She drew something from under the pillow and pressed it to Gabrielle’s hand. “Gabrielle of Poteidaia, Queen of the Amazons, I swear my heart to you. Will you be my wife?”

Gabrielle looked Xena in the eye, and then opened her hand to see a beautiful gold ring with a chakram around a staff engraved on the inside. “Xena, of course I’ll be your wife! I love you!” She kissed the warrior hard. “This is beautiful! Where did you get it?”

“I’ve been keeping it since you started working with your staff. I didn’t think I’d ever get propose to you with it, let alone be involved with you, but I kept it just for the sake of my dreams. I have one, too.” She revealed a matching ring on her own finger.

“When did you slip that on?” Gabrielle asked curiously.

“While you were asleep. After all the times I’ve almost lost you, I couldn’t wait any longer to propose to you,” Xena told her whilst grinning widely.

Gabrielle slipped the ring on her finger and kissed Xena again. If wonderful things happen every time I get rescued, I’ll be willingly kidnapped everyday! “When do you want the wedding to be?”

“As soon as possible,” Xena told her wife-to-be. “That way, we can be joined, and we’ll be wife and wife forever, no matter what happens to you or me.”

“But Xena, who will join us? We’re both women, and some priests are against the idea that two women should be married to each other,” Gabrielle said with a worried tone.

“Yes, true, and they are ignorant fools. But don’t worry, Gabrielle. I know someone,” Xena said with a wink. “While we’re on the topic, I need to ask you something. Is it all right if your family doesn’t attend your wedding?”

Gabrielle chuckled. “Not too keen on them being your in-laws, are you?”

Xena smiled gruffly and pinched Gabrielle’s cheek gently. “My love, I ask because one, your parents have never approved of me. Two, they strike me as the type to be crying at the wedding, but NOT with happiness. Three, with them near, if we don’t get Callisto out of the way, they’ll be targets for her to aim for. I don’t want you to have to endure any more pain caused by her.”

Gabrielle took Xena’s finger in her mouth and sucked on it, causing the warrior to shiver with desire. “Well, that does all make sense, Warrior Princess of mine. Just remember, we need to get a nice room for our wedding night. I’ll see that it’s extra fun.”

Holy crap! She got raped the other day, but already she’s recovered to the point of making sexual promises! Xena’s heart started to race, though her face remained calm. “Oh, Gabrielle, I’ll see that it satisfies you like never before.”

Gabrielle grinned sexily. “But until then, my warrior,” she purred, “we’ll abstain from making love.” Oh, I am a baaaad, naughty girl.

Xena gave her a sexy grin of her own. “Your wish is my command, Gabrielle.” Damn, how am I going to keep my hands off of her? She’s too damn hot!

“Oh? Then you don’t mind if I tease you a little until that night? You know, to get you wanting it even more?” Gabrielle whispered coyly. I’ve got her. She may be acting calm, but I can feel her heart beating fast against my chest. She can barely take the heat.

Xena almost gulped. Gods, does she know what she’s doing to me?! This is almost too much. She kept her face calm as she said, “No problem, Gabrielle. I won’t give in ‘til our wedding night.”

Haha. Excellent control now, warrior, but how will you feel when I’m bathing before your eyes, and you can’t touch? Gabrielle giggled as she noticed that Xena was struggling to control the twitching of her hands. “All right there, Xena dearest?”

Oh, you nymph. You naughty, naughty nymph. Xena’s mind raced as she tried to speak calmly to her lover. “S’all good here, darling.”

Gabrielle yawned. “Well, wife-to-be, as much as I love teasing you, I have to sleep and dream of that special night.” The bard snuggled up to Xena once more and nestled her head beneath the raven-haired beauty’s chin. “Goodnight, Xena.”

“Goodnight, Gabrielle.” Xena kissed the top of Gabrielle’s head, briefly remembering when the bard would say that to her before they were together, and smiled. With that safe, sound moment, the couple drifted off to sleep.






“Look, Aphrodite, I know you’re the Goddess of Love and all, but as far as Mara is concerned, she’s mine, okay? Hands off,” an exasperated Denora told Aphrodite. “And about the fling you two had? Do you even care that you hurt her with the things you just said of it?”

“Of course I care!” Aphrodite burst out. “She was fun. She’s a nice person, a good friend, and I don’t want to hurt her, but I can’t be seen with her.”

“You won’t be, because she’s mine, but if she wasn’t, what’s so wrong with her?” Denora demanded.

Aphrodite sighed. “The truth is that we Olympians look down on anyone who isn’t in our family. Take Ares, for example. He was born as the result of two gods, Zeus and Hera. He is a true Olympian.”

“But?” Denora prodded.

“But people who aren’t born into godhood or immortality, such as those who consume ambrosia, aren’t true Olympians. It takes the blood of an Olympian to create an Olympian. Hercules is a half-god, but that half is of Zeus, and so he has the respect of some. Warlords that consume ambrosia, however, are looked down on lower than mortals.”

“So what are you saying? You can’t mess around with a mortal because that’s embarrassing, but for her to go that extra mile to become a goddess, she’d be even more humiliating to you?” Denora’s temper was rising as she thought of her kind, beautiful lover being looked on as trash.

“Yes! Exactly! And to add to that, I wouldn’t want that for her. No Olympian would favor her, no mortal would look with respect on her because of escaping her death that she would have experienced as a mortal. Even though I never loved her, I do care about her, and to me at least, she’s a friend that I’ll have forever,” Aphrodite finished.

Denora realized that she was finding it difficult to be mad at the goddess after hearing that. “This isn’t just about you being embarrassed, is it? You really do see her as a friend.”

“Well, duh! She’s a nice one, and I’d hate to see anything bad happen to her, which is why I’m glad she met you. You seem like a good person for you to be trying so hard to protect her from beings such as myself,” Aphrodite said with a smile. “So, are we good?”

Denora smiled back at the Goddess of Love. “Yeah, we are. But I need you to do something.” And she told Aphrodite what to do when she next talked to Mara.






Mara sipped a shot of- what did the bartender call it? It sounded strange to the Amazon. “Barkeep, what did you call this?”

“It’s called ‘tequila’. New from some unknown region. Tastes burning on it’s own, so I put some additives in yours,” the bartender told her.

Mara took another sip. This shit is loaded. I drink anymore, I’ll be drunk off my ass. She put the drink down. “Um, may I just have some water?”

The bartender grinned. “Too much for ya?” Mara nodded. “All right, here ya go.” He filled a glass with water and slid it to her.

“Thank you,” Mara replied as she caught the water, and drank deeply. I wonder what’s going on with Denora and Aphrodite? Her train of thought was distracted when two soldiers wearing Callisto’s insignia strode into the bar. Mara hid her head in the hood of the cloak she was wearing.

“Barkeep! Bring me some tequila!” One soldier bellowed. The bartender slip two tequila shots down to the two soldiers, who downed both of their drinks in one gulp. “More!” He bellowed again, and his companion nodded. The bartender refilled their shots, and muttered about the soldiers treatment of him.

“So, Vladius, why do you think she wants us to attack Lazardos tomorrow? Why that village?” The other soldier, now quite drunk, asked his companion.

“I dunno, but whatever the reason, I like a good killing! I can’t wait to slaughter all those kids. I hate kids,” Vladius replied.

Mara listened to their conversation, making a mental note to obtain as much information as possible. Lazardos? That’s not too far from here, she thought, and for those two to be in here like this, Callisto must be near. I’ve got to tell Xena! But first, let me find out more.

“When she went off after doing that blonde the other night, do you think she learned everything she could from that Alti woman?” The second soldier slurred in question.

“Yeah, I’d bet. Rumor has it that after Lazardos, she’s off to some human-centaur village to kill a little boy, who is supposedly the warrior bitch’s son.”

Xena has a son?! Mara thought in shock. Nevermind that…I need to warn Xena before Callisto gets to him, and Lazardos! And who is this Alti? Probably a villain from Xena’s past, and from what I just heard, she definately isn’t a positive memory.

Just then, another soldier sporting Callisto’s insignia strode into the bar. “You two,” he hollered, “we’re moving! Get back to the camp!”

“Yessir, will do,” slurred Vladius, “ain’t that right, Willis?”

Willis, the second soldier, nodded drunkenly. “Uh huh! Let’s go!”

The three soldiers left the bar, and Mara ran upstairs and knocked on Xena’s door.






After Mara told Xena, Gabrielle, and Denora what she had learned, Xena’s face was pale, and worry shone in her eyes.

“Solan,” the warrior whispered. “No, no, she can’t take my son. She can’t.”

“Xena, I don’t understand,” Gabrielle told her lover. “You have a son? And who is Alti? And why is Callisto attacking Lazardos?”

Xena gulped. “Back in my warlord days, I had a lover named Borias, and I was pregnant with his child. I was attacking a centaur village and looking for the Ixion stone, and Borias betrayed me because he knew it was wrong. He wanted to be good. I ordered for him to be captured on sight, but something happened, and he was killed on the same night that I gave birth to our child, Solan.”

“And Alti?” Gabrielle inquired.

“She was some kind of witch. She was an Amazon until being exiled, and then, she went to me to ‘aid’ me in becoming the Destroyer of Nations. One thing led to another, and now she is my enemy. She knows about my son, and I don’t know how she managed to return to life, but however she did it, it can’t be good,” Xena told her. “She has…powers. She can see into the future, and what’s more, she can go into your mind and use memories of pain to hurt you. She’s very dangerous.”

“Where does Lazardos fit into all of this?” Mara asked of the Warrior Princess.

“Lazardos. I had planned to attack that village when I was a warlord, but when we arrived, and I was threatening its people, I saw a little girl. Something about the way she reminded me of myself as a child persuaded me to show the village mercy. I left them all alone,” Xena replied, “and Alti never let me forget it.”

“Well, that explains it!” Denora exclaimed. “Remember that family heirloom that Callisto stole from me? I’ll tell you why it’s important. It has the abilities to either cleanse a soul of sin, or take the soul away completely. The souls removed will be held in the gold coin itself, and whoever wears the chain around their neck will gain the life years belonging to the souls within the coin, had they survived.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute there,” Mara cut in. “Do you mean to say that if I were to live to be 100, and if she took my soul now, while I’m 23, she’d get my 77 years left?”

“Yes, and she’d be as young and strong as ever. Aging would be even more gradual, and each time a soul is taken, you add on more years,” Denora confirmed.

“Well then,” Mara asserted, “that’s kinda hokey.”

“Just think,” Gabrielle murmured, “someone with that kind of power could live forever.”

“And cause destruction forever,” Xena put in. “I don’t know whether Alti wants it for herself, or if Callisto is using it, but either way, what were *you* doing with something of that power, Denora?”

Denora blushed. “I actually am the last heir of the Monagis, a line of female guardians of the soul receiver. My mother guarded the soul receiver before me, but when she died, it was passed to me. My father could never get over her death, so that’s why he threw me out of the house; I reminded him too much of her.”

Mara reached over to stroke Denora’s forearm. “That jerk. Don’t worry, you can have a home with me or-“

“Denora, is there any way of putting a person’s soul back into their body once it’s been removed?” Xena interrupted.

“Nope. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. The only ways to kill the wearer of the soul receiver are drowning, fire, or lightning.” Denora answered.

“Drowning, fire, or lightning,” Xena reiterated thoughtfully. Then she grinned. “Gods, I have an idea. An idea that’ll surely work, if everyone’s where they need to be at the given time.” She glanced at Gabrielle. “Gabrielle, would it be all right if our wedding took place in Lazardos?”

“Wedding?!” Mara blurted. “You two are tying the knot?”

“Yep,” Gabrielle said with a loving smile as she gazed at Xena. “Of course it’s all right. But your friend, the one who can perform the ceremony, will he, she, whoever it is, will they be okay with it?”

Xena grinned. “I’m sure that *he* will be fine with it. He gets around. As a matter of fact, I believe he’s there right now examining the new display of gems that they have there.”

Something clicked in Gabrielle’s mind. “Autolycus? You’d have the king of thieves marry us?” She quirked her eyebrow in a way that Xena found adorable.

“He has experience in those matters. He’d be perfect,” Xena frowned, “unless you don’t want him to?”

Gabrielle seemed to think for a moment. “Ah, well, I guess he’s a person we’re familiar with, and therefore perfect for the job.”

Xena smiled, and stroked Gabrielle’s blonde hair. “Are you sure, or are you just trying to make me happy?”

Gabrielle took Xena’s hand and kissed her fingertips. “Both.” The couple smiled at each other, then, looking to Mara and Denora, noticed the blushes on the pair’s faces, and blushed themselves.

Mara stopped blushing and smirked. “Aww,” she remarked, “so cute. The Warrior Princess is a big, fluffy puppy.”

Xena scowled and slapped Mara’s shoulder. “Shut it.”

“Shhh, widdle puppy. Don’t get upset,” Denora teased.

Xena poked Denora hard. “Knock it off, or you’ll be having a slumber party with Argo.” Turning to Gabrielle, she smiled sweetly. “Okay, Gabrielle. We’ll leave in the morning. I know shortcuts that can get us to Lazardos before Callisto’s army is within half of day’s distance from the village. For now, we should all go to bed and rest.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Mara grinned, and saluted the warrior gingerly. Xena quirked her eyebrow at the redheaded Amazon. “Oh, fine. I’ll behave,” Mara grumbled.

“Come on, troublemaker,” Denora giggled as she took Mara’s hand and led her from the room, leaving Gabrielle and Xena all alone.

Gabrielle yawned and stretched her neck. “I’m so tired that I could just collapse.”

Scooping Gabrielle up in her arms, Xena carried Gabrielle to their bed, and tucked her in beneath the blankets. She kissed her bard’s forehead. “Goodnight, Gabrielle.” She turned to go to the balcony.

“Wait, wait, wait, just *where* are you going?” Gabrielle demanded.

“I need to think,” Xena told her gently.

“Oh,” Gabrielle’s face fell, “you know, if you’re having doubts about marrying me, we don’t have to.”

“Gabrielle!” Xena exclaimed. She ran to the bed and jumped on it, holding Gabrielle tight in her arms. “More than anything, I know I want to marry you. I could never doubt that. I’m just worrying for what might happen to…well, someone.”

“Your son?” Gabrielle asked knowingly.

“Yes,” Xena confirmed. “I don’t want Solan to be hurt, or killed, or anything of that kind. It was in having him that I learned that there was still light beyond the darkness within myself. I may not have seen him in 9 years, but I still love him as though I’ve watched him grow up everyday.”

“Xena,” Gabrielle took her warrior’s hand and held it to her chest, “I’ll love him as though he was my son, because if he’s important to you, he’s important to me as well.”

Xena leaned in and kissed the strawberry blonde’s lips gently. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Mmmm, no problem,” Gabrielle replied, and kissed Xena passionately.

The couple fell asleep and dreamt of their marriage to come.






“So, what did you talk to Aphrodite about?” Mara murmured into Denora’s hair as she spooned her lover in her arms.

Denora stroked Mara’s wrists. “Oh, we just lay down some guidelines in how to treat you.”

“’Lay down some guidelines’?” Mara repeated, shocked. Chuckling, she kissed the golden blonde’s hair. “You know, you’re dealing with a god here; you can’t just tell her how to behave or it’s zap! Bye bye ‘Nora.”

“Mmmm,” Denora shifted, enjoying the feel of her lover’s lips on her hair. “Well, let’s just say I gave her some advice then.”

“Advice? Oooh, you are a cocky one,” Mara bit Denora’s ear gently.

Gods, she is a vixen, Denora thought to herself as she turned in Mara’s arms, and kissed the Amazon’s sweet lips. “You’re teasing me. Mind telling why?”

“Well,” Mara paused to respond to Denora, who had started kissing her lips in small pecks, “I figure that if Gabrielle and Xena can tease each other, but not touch each other till their wedding night, maybe we should wait.”

Wait? Wait?! After turning me on, she wants me to wait?! Oh no she didn’t. Denora rolled over so that she was on top of the redhead. “Silly Amazon. You have the opportunity to deflower me before anyone else does, and you want to wait? For all we know, tomorrow I could be kidnapped and raped, or killed and I would lose the chance to give you my virginity. To me, my virginity is the greatest gift that I could ever give anyone, and I want to give it to you.”

Mara shuddered when Denora said “deflower” and “I want to give it to you”. “I’m trying to respect you,” she whispered, though she knew that if Denora continued speaking to her that way, respect was nothing; she would take Denora at a fast pace and leave her mark in the golden blonde’s core.

Denora smiled. Now who’s teasing, vixen? “Oh, fine. Respect me, then.” She got out of bed and went over to a chair at the table in their room, and reached under her nightshirt to begin stroking her own clitoris and moaning faintly at the pleasure she was giving herself, as well as the pleasure she felt when she saw Mara’s jaw drop.

Gods! Must…restrain…myself. Must not get up and take her! Mara’s hands gripped the bedposts tightly, struggling to keep her hands off Denora.

“Ohhh…mmmm,” Denora moaned as she stroked her stimulated clit. Then, approaching orgasm, she took the game to the next level. “Ohh! Oh, Mara! Mara!”

Mara flew at Denora, knocking her off the chair, and the pair rolled on the ground, kissing each other hard and fierce. Mara straddled Denora and pulling with all her might, she ripped the nightshirt from her lover’s body. She groaned as Denora’s strong hands reached up to pull apart her tunic, ripping the buttons from the silky material in doing so. Taking a glance at Denora’s naked body beneath her, Mara leaned down to take Denora’s breast in her mouth. She stroked the soft, pink nipple with her silky tongue, causing Denora to shudder in rapture, though she remained quiet. “Hmmm, you’re quiet comer, eh? I’ll take care of that.”

Denora’s eyes grew wide as she watched Mara trail her tongue down her flat stomach, briefly dipping her tongue in her navel. She shuddered as she held in a pleasured moan.

Mara noticed right away, and sucked the area just below Denora’s navel before saying, “Still being quiet? I’m going to have to fix you.” She lowered her mouth to the golden curls of Denora’s mound, and breathed in her sweet scent. It was clear that her lover wanted her. Mara tongued Denora’s clit, tapping the tip briefly. “See, Denora, you might think that you can tease me, and then not make a noise when I give you pleasure, but hear me; I’ll make you scream into the night like an animal becoming prey to a predator.” She took the clit into her mouth, and sucked on it hard.

Denora couldn’t hold back a squeal. “Mara! Oh, Gods! Mara!”

Mara looked up at her face, and seeing the look of intense pleasure, she grinned in knowledge of the contentment she was bringing her lover. She sucked harder, and enlisting the help of her hand, she slid a finger into Denora’s heat, which was slick with wetness. Mara pumped the finger in and out, tugging at her lover’s clit, and as Denora came, she broke through the barrier of Denora’s virginity.

Denora only noticed a quick instant of pain within the intense orgasm that seemed to throw her mind into outer space. She collapsed against the floor, spent and in need of sleep. “Mara,” she whispered, “did you like my gift to you?”

Mara crawled up to Denora’s side and kissed the golden blonde’s wet lips. “The greatest gift I could ever ask for,” she replied in her own whispering voice. She took the golden blonde in her arms, and together, they fell asleep, happily dreaming over and over of the night’s excitement.




Updated!

Xena watched while riding Argo as Mara and Denora gave each other sly winks. Well, they must’ve had fun last night. I walked in to wake them up this morning and they were naked on the floor. Ah, well. They’re a cute couple.

Gabrielle walked alongside Argo, taking quick glances up at her lover. Hmmm…she’s holding up well…time to tease. She yawned and stretched her arms, thrusting out her chest, which was scantily clad in a soft blue top that just barely contained her breasts.

Xena looked down and had to hold in a gasp. Her breasts are out there! Look how they’re popping out at me! I want to touch them! She looked away, keeping her eyes on the road.

I saw that look! Gabrielle thought with a giggle. She reached up Argo’s side and stroked Xena’s knee, causing shivers to run through the warrior’s body. She started to stroke the beginning of Xena’s thigh, but then dropped her hand back to her side, walking along as though innocent.

Gods, why is she doing this?! She knows that I’m going crazy, and it makes her proud, the little nymph. I need to remain passive for as long as I can. “Gabrielle, you’re looking tired. Want to ride behind me on Argo?”

Oooh, that gives me some ideas. “I’d love to, darling.” She allowed Xena to hoist her onto the horse, and wrapped her arms around her lover’s back, laying one hand on the breastplate of Xena armor.

Xena choked. Crap, that wasn’t supposed to happen. The idea was for her to behave herself! “There, give your legs a rest. Is that better?”

Ha! She’s falling! “It’s perfect, Xena.” She started to rub her thumb around the breastplate, as though trying to get dirt off of it.

Xena tried not to think of Gabrielle’s thumb rubbing her nipple that way. Gods! She looked on the road, and as if to rescue her, there was a sign reading “Lazardos: 4 miles”. She turned the horse to face Mara on Sorraya and Denora on her brown mare, whom she had named Pokinicus, nicknaming her Poki. “We’re four miles away from Lazardos. If I’m right, Callisto’s troops are still going around that steep hill that we went over, so they won’t be here for a while.”

“’If’ you’re right? If?!” Denora exclaimed. “Xena, they could be here any moment!”

The Warrior Princess grinned. “Not if they have to go around a rock slide as well. Remember?” She tapped her chakram.

“Oh, yeah,” Mara muttered as she remembered how the warrior had taken a few seconds to angle her chakram before throwing it at the rocks. “That’s true.”

Xena turned Argo back on the trail, and with a shout, she rode at a fast speed towards the village, Gabrielle hanging on for dear life.

Mara turned to Denora, who nodded, and they sped off as well.






“Villagers of Lazardos, hear me. I have called you together to warn you of an army that is coming to destroy your village. The warlord is Callisto,” Xena informed the villagers, hoping for no resistance to her help.

An elder stepped forward. “Your army came to attack us many years ago, did it not?”

Xena’s mouth was a straight line. “It did.”

“Yes, it did, but you showed us mercy, though we do not know why. However, it is because of that mercy, and the fact that we’ve heard that you have begun a journey of redemption, that we shall allow you to assist us,” the elder told the Warrior Princess, “but beware. Our village favors Athena, and should your intentions for helping us be false, may you suffer the War Goddess’s wrath eternally.”

Xena smiled sadly. “My intentions are true.” Turning back to the villagers, she spoke calmly. “What stopped me from destroying all of you was when I attacked, I stared into the eyes of a young girl, and I lost all will to hurt any of you. With Callisto, I doubt that will be the case. She’s emotionally numb to everything around her, probably because I am the one that did that to her. Since she cannot remain imprisoned, I will have to kill her.” The words felt strange to her. When I last imprisoned her, she begged for me to kill her…now, I have no choice but to give her what she wants: death.

The villagers cheered. “Death to the beast Callisto! Kill the bitch!”

The elder spoke again. “My name is Cranius, and I speak for all of Lazardos when I say this: You have our help as well. We are trained in hand-to-hand combat, and so we could help bring down soldiers, possibly even Callisto.”

“No,” Xena argued, “I have to be the one to take down Callisto. She is a skilled fighter, and she could kill all of you in only seconds. Leave Callisto to me.”






“Xena, could you come in here and hand me the soap? I can’t reach it,” Gabrielle called from the tub of hot water where she lay bathing.

Xena sighed. She knew that Gabrielle was only trying to lure her into the bathroom so that she could tease her more. She also knew that if she refused to do something as “simple” as handing Gabrielle the soap, she wouldn’t be allowed to forget that one either. Putting down her chakram, which she had been sharpening, the warrior walked into the bathroom, and as she had predicted, Gabrielle began teasing her.

“I’ve always had fun taking baths. It’s so wonderful to feel yourself floating. Don’t you agree?” Gabrielle said coyly as she allowed herself to float on her back.

Xena couldn’t help but look. Her eyes went to the tub, and seeing Gabrielle’s body afloat, with her taut nipples seeming to wink her in the eye, and her mound of wet curls glistening. Xena’s jaw dropped.

“Something wrong, my love?” Gabrielle purred, and she spread her legs slightly, giving the warrior an excellent view of her pubic region.

“I…you…Gab-,” Xena tried to form words. Recovering, she cleared her throat and straightened. “Here’s the soap, Gabrielle.” She put it in the tub, and walked out, before turning and putting her head back in the room. “Um, I’m just going to be in our room. Call me if you need something.”

“Oh, I do,” Gabrielle responded sexily.

Xena gulped. “What do you need?”

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and gazed at the warrior with a sexy look. “I need you to scrub my back because I can never reach back there.” She stood and turned so that Xena had a full view of her beautiful back and curved bottom.

Xena started choking. “G-G-Gabrielle, p-please sit down. I can wash your butt- your back while you’re sitting.”

“Oh, okay,” Gabrielle replied sweetly, a smirk on her face. She sat down in the tub.

Xena began to scrub Gabrielle’s back with a cloth. Think calm, safe thoughts. DO NOT think about the naked woman who is trying to get you to take her. Think of your wedding night. You can do it.

“Darling, could you go lower? I’m really dirty on my lower back,” Gabrielle told her. She changed position so that she was kneeling.

“Oh, of course,” Xena replied calmly. No harm in the lower back, right?

“Here, let me show you wear the most dirt is,” Gabrielle offered, and she took Xena’s hand and put it right on the left cheek of her bottom.

Ahhh! Of course she meant her butt! Of course! Gods, someone rescue me before I lose control. Xena scrubbed the desired area clean. Standing up, she started to exit the bathroom. “Uh, I’ll be around. See you later, Gabrielle.” She ran out of the bathroom and jumped on the queen size bed in her room. “Gods,” she gasped, “that was intense.” Reaching down with her hand, and then sliding it beneath her shift, she pleasured her clitoris with her strong thumb while pumping her middle finger in and out of her slick heat. “Ohhh,” she moaned. As she dripped from the intense pleasure she was giving herself, she pictured Gabrielle’s wet, naked body in the tub. Remembering the musky scent of Gabrielle’s need, she moaned, and more of her juices escaped. “Gabrielle,” she said with a groan, “oh, Gabrielle.” She could all but see her curvy body, and the shape of her breasts. Her hot flesh rubbing against her own. The smell of her hair was intoxicating, and Xena knew, as she stroked her nub more and more, that release was near. Finishing the mental images with Gabrielle licking her hot center, Xena gave a sigh, and collapsed against the bed, spent.

“My, that looked fun,” purred Gabrielle’s voice.

Xena lifted her head at the sound of her lover’s voice, and saw the bard standing in the doorway, wrapped in only a towel, her body dripping onto the floor. “Put some clothes on before you catch cold,” the warrior whispered weakly.

Gabrielle smirked. “Why? I’m enjoying the cold breeze touching my body.”

Xena tried to look away, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Gabrielle. “That cold breeze will freeze you. Put clothes on, my love.”

Ha, she’s barely holding on. That’s a good sign. It means she can barely resist me, but that small amount of resistence is healthy. “Oh, all right, Xena,” Gabrielle said with a mock sigh. Then, in one last tease, she dropped her towel, turned away from Xena, and bent to pick up her freshly washed clothes, her butt staring Xena in the face.

Xena choked on the water she had just picked up to drink. Gods! Her butt! She keeps teasing me with her butt! It’s so round, yet firm, and tight as anything! Gods, I would love to just- oh, but I can’t ‘til our wedding night. Oh, Gabrielle, you had better watch out, because on our wedding night, I’m going to take you in a way that will leave you spent for weeks. She sipped her water, now in control because of the visuals of her taking Gabrielle, not the reverse, playing in her mind. She smiled and set the glass on the nightstand. Slipping beneath the silk sheets, she closed her eyes and waited for Gabrielle to join her. In a few seconds, she felt her lover, now wearing a shift, snuggle up next to her.

“Goodnight, Xena,” the bard whispered.

“Goodnight, Gabrielle,” the warrior responded, and they slept together, snug and content.






“Sooo,” Denora began. She glanced at Mara, who was lying across from her on their bed and facing her with a sly grin.

“So?” Mara repeated, a twinkle in her emerald eyes.

“Yes, so. Sooo,” Denora tried again, “what do you want to do tonight, what with battle preparations and the big battle tomorrow?”

“Well, I dunno, what’s your fantasy, baby?” Mara replied, putting emphasis on “baby” and making Denora squirm with need.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about something. I never got to make you happy last night the way you made me happy,” Denora told her lover.

Awww, she feels like she owes me something! Mara thought in adoration. “Sweetie, it’s okay that we didn’t get to it. You don’t owe me anything. Because it was your virginity, last night was your night.”

“Yeah, but I still want to make you scream the way you did to me, you know?” Denora explained to the Amazon. “So, are you interested, or…?”

Mara smiled and got up from where she lay to crawl over to her lover, rolling her over and kissing her passionately. “I’m interested, but are you sure now is the time? I don’t want you to be so exhausted that you collapse tomorrow.”

For about five minutes, Denora seemed to think quietly. Mara settled back lying down on the bed, thinking her lover had changed her mind. Suddenly, Denora was on her in just one quick move, and biting her neck.

Whoa! Mara’s mind thought in shock. I guess she’s made her decision!

Denora licked the bite marks that she was placing all over Mara’s neck and shoulders, causing her lover to twitch. In one flick of her tongue across the redhead’s nipples, her buds were swollen and taut. She took one between her teeth and tugged it gently, evoking a gasp from Mara. As she tugged the nipple, her tongue played across the tip, and she know she was getting to the Amazon.

“Gods! Denora! Ohhhhh, that feels so good!” Mara moaned, desperate for more. “Please, lower!”

Smiling at the obvious pleasure she was giving her lover, Denora trailed her tongue down Mara’s chest and over her flat, muscular stomach. She paused to dip her tongue in the soft navel and grinned as Mara twitched beneath her.

“Denora,” Mara growled, “lower! Please! Go *lower*!”

“Yes’m,” Denora giggled, and she spread Mara’s sculpted legs. A musky scent that reminded her of honey filled her senses, making her want to pleasure Mara even more. She lowered her mouth to Mara’s clit, and tapped it lightly with her tongue. Mara shuddered beneath her. Denora, remembering the knowledge she had gained by both sexually active friends AND by sneaking a peek at one of Gabrielle’s more erotic scrolls, put her knowledge to use gently licking the moist nub that that was twitching in anticipation. She flicked it up and down, knowing she was driving Mara wild by the moans coming from the redhead’s mouth, and the shudders that shook her body. Switching the tongue flicks to side-to-side, she ran through her mind Gabrielle’s written imagery, and remembered another trick. She gently nipped Mara’s clit, causing a shiver, and tugged it in small, yet pleasurable pulls. Then, taking the whole thing in her mouth, she sucked the clit, while pumping two fingers in and out of Mara’s wet, dripping center.

“AHHHHH, Gods!” Mara cried out as she came at a rapid pace. “Denoraaaaa, ahhhh!”

Denora smiled and lapped up Mara’s sweet juices before returning to her side and holding her tightly. “Did you have fun?”

Mara was still gasping for breath. “Fun! Lots of fun!” Managing to breathe, she looked at Denora strangely, her eyebrow quirking at her lover. “Those must’ve been some instruction manuals!”

Denora giggled. “I have friends back home that have given me ideas, and to add to that, I kinda borrowed one of Gabrielle’s more, um, informative scrolls.”

Mara burst out laughing. “Gabrielle writes down her experiences with Xena?”

Denora nodded. “Yes, and she gives plenty of details that are extremely helpful to rookies like me.”

Mara gaped at her. “Rookie? No, no, no. Tonight proved that you are not a rookie. Nope. You’re an old pro!”

It was Denora’s turn to burst out laughing. “Fine, I’m a pro, but I’m not old. Only twenty-one.”

“Awww, you’re a little baby,” Mara teased, and she tickled Denora’s ribs. “You’re just a young ‘un that shouldn’t be exposed to things like violence and love-making-,”

“Love-making?! Whoa whoa whoa waaaait a minute!” Denora exclaimed, removing Mara’s hands from her ribs. “Are you saying you don’t want me to pleasure you?”

Mara seemed to think for a second. “Good point. I take that back.” Her hands resumed their spot on Denora’s ribs, and she pulled her lover to her. “As much as I love these talks we have, we need to get to sleep.”

Denora settled her head below Mara’s chin. “Mmhm, we do.” She considered her current position; she was sprawled on top of Mara’s body, and although she didn’t want to move at all, she worried that she was crushing the Amazon’s ribs. She started to shift, but Mara’s strong hands held her in place.

“Don’t move. You know you’re comfortable,” Mara said sleepily.

“But aren’t I crushing you?” Denora asked.

“Naw, not at all. I like having you on me,” Mara replied with a smile. “Now, come on, sleep time.”

“Oh, all right,” Denora mumbled, and she closed her eyes and listened to her lover breathe.






Morning came, and Xena arose from her slumber, being careful not to awaken Gabrielle, who was sleeping with a cute smile on her lovely face. Dressing herself in a clean shift, and then her armor, the Warrior Princess left their room, taking care to lock the door so as to give Gabrielle some environment of safety. She entered the food hall and sat at herself at a small table in a corner with no windows, for it was in her experience that those sitting in restaurants near windows were easy targets.

A server approached. “What can I get you?”

Xena thought for a second. “What do you have in the way of meat?”

“Well, two of our hunters set out half an hour ago to catch some deer. Groban came back a while ago, and he caught a stag. Brison hasn’t returned, so it’s safe to assume that he caught something large and is having trouble bringing it back. Do you want to wait for Brison, or do you want Groban’s stag?” The server asked the warrior.

“I’ll take some stag,” Xena replied, and then picturing Gabrielle teasing her about politeness, she added, “please.”

“Anything to drink?” The server asked.

“Just some water,” Xena responded, knowing that a port at this time in the morning would only make her dizzy.

“Okay, your meal will be ready soon,” the server answered, and went to tell the cook.

Xena sat at the table and pondered the events that would soon take place. The day before, she had separated the townspeople into groups that would do special tasks to prepare for the battle against Callisto and her small, yet brutal army. I can predict where and when Callisto will attack, and what her goals might be. What I don’t know is if she’s expecting me. Callisto has an insane, yet cleverly mysterious mind. After a few minutes of thinking, her server arrived with her meal.

“Here’s your food. Enjoy, and this’ll be two dinars,” the server told the warrior.

“Thank you,” Xena replied, and she paid the server her wage.

As she sat and chewed the well-cooked meat, she heard a scream outside. Rushing to the window, she peered out into the village, where a horse and its decapitated rider rode into town. Xena ran outside and calmed the spooked horse, then removed the headless body from the saddle. A nail had been punched through the dead man’s hand, and stuck with the nail was a scroll where an untidy scrawl had written a cruel message.

Callisto is coming with her army. Get out while you can; she loves a good chase.

Xena examined the body. The man was dressed in the dark clothes of a hunter, and there was no doubt that he was Brison.

The server who had served Xena rushed out. “Brison! Gods, Brison! No! You can’t be dead!” She looked up at Xena with tears streaming down her face. “He was my brother-in-law!”

Xena looked at the woman with pity. “Your loss will be avenged.” Turning to the shocked villagers, she spoke to them in a sharp tone. “This is Callisto’s work. She’s been moving faster than anticipated, and chances are, it’s time that we prepared for battle. Where are the groups I assembled? Get with each other!” The groups took a minute or two to put themselves together. “Good,” Xena appraised, “now I want Group One to go boil mass amounts of water. Group Two, bring all of your weapons out your shops. We’ll need them if we’re to defend ourselves one-on-one against Callisto’s men. Group Three, did you get everything that I asked you to get yesterday?”

An old man in group three nodded. “Aye, ma’am, and I must say, a stranger request you couldn’t’ve made.”

“What’s your name?” Xena asked the old man.

“The name’s Matthias, and I tell ye, warrior, I don’t have the faintest clue what you want us to do with this here-,”

“Matthias, you’ll find out when I tell you what to do with it. For now, just keep it, erm, moist.” Turning away from Group Three, Xena addressed the rest of the townspeople. “Cranius, did you manage to secure that breast dagger to where I told you?”

“Yes’m, it’s fastened,” Cranius told her. “Can’t imagine why you’d have us tie a fine weapon like that to the roof of a shed.”

“I have my reasons, Cranius. Are your archers ready for action?” Xena was determind to get things going the right away.

“Yes. Well, all except for Tucker. He’s one of our best, but he’s never shot a living target,” Cranius informed her.

“Which one of you is Tucker?” Xena asked.

“I’m Tucker,” a teenage boy with sandy blond hair answered.

“Tucker, I want you to remember. Don’t shoot where the moving target is, but where he is going to be. I recommend aiming straight for the heart, because although a shot in the head is more likely to kill them, it’s also hard to get through their helmets.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll do that,” Tucker agreed enthusiastically.

“Good. The rest of you are women and children, correct?” The townspeople nodded. “All right. Go into that cave just west of here where you’ve been garnering your food for the winter. You should be safe there.” As the townspeople left, Xena noticed a familiar face. A young woman with curly brown hair smiled at her, and it struck Xena: this woman was the girl that Xena had saved all those years ago! Approaching the woman, Xena smiled faintly. “Hello. Er, I remember you from my last visit to your village.”

The woman smiled. “How could I forget you? You showed my village mercy. I remember looking you in the eye when you were moving in your army. Although, since you didn't continue, it goes to show you that your heart wasn’t as cold as you’d have wanted everyone to believe.”

Xena smiled brighter. “I suppose that it does. May I ask your name for future reference?”

“Absolutely. My name is Kylie. And I already know you’re Xena,” Kylie replied with a mishievious glint in her eyes.

“Ah. Glad to formally meet you at last, Kylie. I owe you more than you know,” Xena replied, and she meant it.

“I owe you much as well. Had you proceeded to destroy everything in my life, I might’ve lived and become a monster like Callisto,” Kylie replied, this time sadly.

Xena felt stung. “Yes, and the thought kills me that I could’ve destroyed two young girls' childhoods instead of a single tragic one.”

Kylie smiled then. “I didn’t mean for it to hurt you. Hey, I understand that you’re having a wedding soon. Congratulations to you and your beloved.” Turning away with a smile, Kylie departed towards the group of villagers as they lumbered towards the cave.

Xena watched as she left, and hearing footsteps, she turned to see Denora and Mara walking towards her. “Sleep well?” She asked with a smirk, and the couple blushed.

“We’re with you, right, Xena?” Denora asked, toting her sais as she spun them professionally.

“Yeah, you’re not gonna leave us hangin’, are you?” Mara asked, stealing a glance at the approaching Group Two with their weapons. “You’re doing the ground assault with Group Two, right?”

Xena smiled at her friends. “Yes, you’re coming with me, and yes, ground assault with Group Two. Gabrielle will lead the attack from the walls.”

“Oooh, little Gabby’s your lieutenant, eh, killer?” Mara teased the Warrior Princess.

“Yes. What of it?” Xena asked with an icy glare.

“Nothing, nothing. Just, it’s cute about the whole General-marrying-her-lieutenant thing,” the redhead replied.

Xena quirked her eyebrow at Mara. “Do you have anything to say about that, Mara?” Her tone was amused, but still dangerous.

Mara gulped at the glare Xena was giving her. “No, ma’am. Not all good. Good on you, getting married.”

To Mara’s surprise, both Xena and Denora laughed out loud. “Mara, I was teasing you. You have no reason to be afraid,” Xena told the timid Amazon.

“Pffft. Teasing the nice friend who came all this way to help you. Real nice, Xena,” Mara grumbled.

“Awww, you’re so timid,” Denora cooed at her lover.

“Shut it,” Mara shot back.

“All right, all right. Enough teasing,” Xena chuckled. “Are your weapons ready?”

“Yep,” they replied in unison, then grinned at each other.

“I sharpened my mace last night. It will be even more lethal than it was the other day at the fort in the Flateles Forest,” Mara announced proudly.

“That reminds me,” Xena began, “how much of Callisto’s army did you take down the other day?”

Denora and Mara looked at each other. “Hmm,” Denora mused, “I’d say that since it’s a fairly small army, we took down maybe a fourth.”

“A fourth? Good job. Were they easy?” Xena wanted to know.

“Some more than others. There was a group of them with scythes, and they were a pain ‘cause they slashed a bit much, but we still could take them down,” Denora answered.

“Hmmm. A group with scythes. Those must be her elite officers, and chances are, there are more of them. The three of us could probably take them all down assuming that the rest of Group Two would have no trouble defeating the rest of her soldiers. However, it isn’t safe to assume anything,” Xena said thoughtfully. Turning to Group Two, she regarded them closely. Most of them were muscular young men, with a few tall ones towering over the smaller ones. “Do any of you have experience with the usage of weapons?”

Almost everyone raised their hand. “We have experience from battling against Draco’s soldiers, miss,” one young man told her.

“Draco? He attacked you, and you’re alive to tell the tale?” Xena was shocked that the normally brutal warlord had let them live.

“Yes. We battled against him, about a year ago, and then he left for Poteidaia for some unknown reasons,” the young man replied. “Name’s Nick, by the way.”

Xena remembered then that it was nearly a year ago that she encountered Draco’s men taking several maidens from Poteidaia hostage, including her own lover, Gabrielle. She remembered the struggle that ensued, followed by her victory against the warlord and his army of cretins. “Yes, how I remember,” Xena mused with a smile. That was when Gabrielle begged me to take her with me, and our love story began. Snapping back to the situation at hand, Xena looked Nick in the eye. “Is it safe to say that you and your companions are skilled with weapons?”

Nick grinned. “More or less, miss.”

Xena smiled back. “Good. I’ll need you to be in fierce combat against the soldiers in her first few lines. Mara, Denora and I are going to take on her elite officers, though if a situation arises where we need help, are you going to be able?”

“Yes, I’d say so, miss,” Nick replied, “although, at some point or another, we may need help as well.”

“We’ll do what we can, Nick,” Xena responded. Something about this young man and his cheeriness reminded her of Lyceus, her long-dead younger brother. She smiled sadly. You’ll always be in my heart and mind, little brother.

“Xena!” Somewhere Gabrielle’s voice was calling. Turning, Xena saw Gabrielle run towards her. “Groups One and Three have boiled the water and collected the, uh, well, what you asked for,” her lover informed her. “Cranius and hsis archers are prepared to shoot arrows. Should we take our positions on the wall?”

“Yes, Gabrielle,” Xena told her, and reached out to run her fingers through a hanging lock of Gabrielle’s strawberry blonde hair. “Gabrielle, be careful. Remember to duck constantly in case of opposing archers, and wear this.” She pulled a helmet from the pile of armor that had come with the weapons. “Unless you need to flee, do not open the gates to leave, okay?”

Gabrielle reached up to kiss her lover’s lips gently. “Of course. Now stop worrying; I’ll be fine.”

Xena lowered her head to kiss Gabrielle deeply, not caring that people were watching, for she knew that if things didn’t go right, it might be the last kiss that she would share with her lover. Stop thinking that way, Xena chided herself, both of us will live and grow old together. We were meant to be together. Everyone makes their own fate, and that’s ours. “I love you, Gabrielle.”

“I love you, too, Xena,” the bard replied happily. “All right, time to get to the wall.” Stealing a quick peck at Xena’s lips, Gabrielle turned and jogged off to the ladders. A minute later, Xena looked up to see Gabrielle smiling down at her from the wall.

“Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom, favor us, and watch over Gabrielle,” Xena whispered. She turned back to Mara, Denora, and Group Two. “We’re going to go through the underground tunnels until we come to a ladder that will bring us to the woods just outside this town. We’ll sneak up behind Callisto’s army, and take them out from the back, while their front forces get wiped out from the wall by Gabrielle and her people. Any questions?” The group was silent. “Good. Let’s get going.” She proceeded to lead the group to the stairs leading to the underground tunnels.

“Mara,” Denora whispered, “you and me, we’re fighting back-to-back, right?” She dropped her hand to quickly grasp Mara’s, and gave it a tight squeeze before releasing it.

“’Course, ‘Nora. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mara replied lovingly. She leaned in her head for a quick kiss, savoring the taste of Denora’s mouth for a brief instant. They heard rumbling above ground, and knew it was the sound of Callisto’s army marching towards Lazardos. “Whatever happens, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Denora whispered, and they walked behind Xena as she led them to battle.






Gabrielle watched as Callisto’s army approached, and grimaced as she saw a lieutenant of the evil warrior’s army ride ahead on a black horse. “Archers, ready yourselves,” she ordered calmly.

“People of Lazardos, bow down before the great Callisto, Warrior Queen,” the lieutenant called.

Warrior Queen? Now that’s ri-goddamn-diculous, Gabrielle thought to herself with a giggle. She ducked, remembering that Callisto didn’t have a clue that she was there, let alone that Xena knew of her plan. She nodded to Cranius, wanting him to speak for her back to the lieutenant.

“Soldier of Callisto, we do not welcome Callisto, nor her troops, and we ask peacefully that you leave our village and never return,” Cranius informed the lieutenant.

“In that case, prepare to be eviscerated. We shall take no prisoners and show no mercy,” the lieutenant sneered. “Attack!”

Cranius snapped his fingers and his archers mounted their arrows, which had been dipped in oil and then lit. “Ready. Archers, hold them steady.” Callisto’s men were getting closer. “Fire!” The archers released their arrows, which flew straight into the chests of Callisto’s front line.

“Wow, great aim,” Gabrielle exclaimed. She noticed that one archer had gone pale and his hands were shaking. She glanced at Cranius, who met her gaze, and then looked pointedly at the pale archer.

“Tucker, what’s wrong?” Cranius asked. “Come now, lad, what’s gotten you so upset?” To the other archers, he said, “Fire again!” Soon, many of Callisto’s second line lay dead.

“I…I…I killed someone,” Tucker whispered as a few tears slid down his face.

Gabrielle immediately pitied the poor boy. “Tucker, how old are you?”

“Fifteen,” Tucker croaked in reply.

Fifteen? Gods, he’s just a kid! “Tucker, you should be with the women and children!”

“I’m not a child!” Tucker replied angrily. He wiped at his tears. “I’m a man now! That’s why I signed up for this battle!”

“Tucker, you’re fifteen! I know that fifteen is commonly misconstrued as the age of maturity, but it isn’t! You’re still in your teens, and your brain hasn’t fully developed yet. You’re too young to be fighting!” Gabrielle told Tucker exasperatedly.

“I am mature! I just have never killed anyone, that’s all,” Tucker shot back.

Gabrielle sighed. “If you want to fight, fine, then. Fight all you want, but we can’t have you getting upset every time you shoot someone.”

“Fine!” Tucker spat. He wiped his tears, and resumed his position on the wall. Mounting an arrow, he aimed, and shot with the others one of Callisto’s approaching front line men.

Gabrielle looked at the quivers where the archers arrows were quickly being drained. Four shots later, the archers were out of arrows. Callisto’s men were on their seventh line, and approaching at a rapid pace. “Group Three!” Gabrielle called. “Fire the dung!”

Matthias looked at her blankly. “You wanted us to gather cow dung so that we could throw it at them?”

Gabrielle nodded. “Yes. Now, again, fire the dung!”

Matthias shrugged. “All right then.” Group Three had anointed the cow dung with oil, and with their shovels, they dipped the waste into fire, and flung it in catapult movements at Callisto’s army. Men from several lines were hit, and they went up in flame. Screams filled the air, and the battle went on.






Xena and Group Two moved silently through the brushes as they approached Callisto’s rear line. Xena saw a shock of platinum blonde hair, and knew that her enemy was near. Around Callisto was a group of seven of her elite officers, all brandishing their scythes proudly. “Group Two, move in on the regular soldiers,” Xena whispered. With a nod to Mara and Denora, they charged at Callisto’s elite officers. As one officer turned slowly, Xena ran him through her sword, and life left his eyes.

“Gah! Xena!” Callisto screeched. She noticed Denora and Mara back-to-back in combat against her officers. “Get them! Leave Xena to me!”

“Likewise, Callisto,” Xena taunted knowingly. Now that I’ve got her attention, I’ll need to lead her to her death! She turned and ran back towards the hole in the ground, and slid down the ladder.

Callisto was furious. She leapt from her horse, landing squarely on her feet as though she was feline. “Deal with her brats. I’ll take Xena!” She ran and jumped into the hole in pursuit of Xena.

Denora watched them as they went, then turned her head and faced her opponent. Both she and Mara had taken down one officer each, and now five surrounded them. Denora deflected a flurry of moves from the officer facing her, and then brought her sais down across his chest. He wheezed as his life left him. However, she had forgotten that the officer to her left was still armed and dangerous. He slashed at her with his scythe, cutting her cheek. “Ow!”

Mara heard Denora’s cry, but was unable to get to her as she faced three opponents. Damn it! I need to help her!

“Now we’ve got you,” the officer sneered, and he started towards Denora.

“Hey, dumbass!” A male voice yelled, and the officer turned to see Nick charging him. Nick proceeded to disarm the officer and then in one quick gesture, he killed the officer. The officer slumped to the ground, a red line of blood across his throat. With a smile at Denora, Nick turned charged a nearby soldier.

Mara twirled her mace like a staff to deflect blows from one officer then quickly jabbed the mace through his heart before pulling it out to connect the blunt end with the second so he was stunned. “Denora,” she called behind her, “are you all right? I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you in time!”

“It’s okay, baby, there was nothing you could do,” Denora replied, and she took out the third officer facing Mara. Happy that all the officers were just brutal memories, Denora stole a quick kiss from Mara. “I took out more than you,” she teased her lover, “and I’m going to get even more.” She ran towards the regular status soldiers and battled against them, taking them out one at a time.

“I almost lost her,” Mara whispered, and she felt her face heat up with shame.

“Then it’s a good thing I gave Nick a point in the right direction, isn’t it?” A cheery voice spoke from behind her.

Mara spun to see Aphrodite grinning at her. Trying not to show her surprise, Mara regarded the goddess with a raised eyebrow. “You told Nick to save her?”

“Mmhm, I did, and by the way, I know you’re shocked to see me,” the Goddess of Love replied. “I just thought we could talk sometime, and seeing as how you’re beating yourself up for not being able to play hero and rescue your damsel in distress, I think now is perfect.”

“It’s the middle of a battle, Aphrodite. Did you not notice the death and bloodshed?” Mara asked sarcastically.

“My, aren’t we morbid. How could I not notice? Some blood squirted out from that last guy Denora took out and got on my outfit. See?” Aphrodite showed Mara a small spot of blood. “Icky, isn’t it? Ah, well. Nothing one of Athena’s special detergents can’t take care of. Of course, I’ll need permission to borrow it. Things at Olympus have been hectic lately because everyone’s been borrowing each other’s stuff. Just this morning, Ares had on Zeus’ favorite shirt, and whew, what a fight that was! I could just bleach my clothes white, but that’s the color of purity, and,” she chuckled, “we all know I’m not pure.”

Mara couldn’t suppress a grin at Aphrodite’s babbling. “No, you’re definitely not,” she replied with an amused tone. “So I take it that you’ve been watching me and waiting for the right time for us to talk?”

“Maybe,” Aphrodite mumbled, as though embarrassed.

“Must not feel good, huh? That you’ve been spending time on a lowly mortal?” Mara asked.

Aphrodite felt stung. “Mara, I don’t think that you’re a lowly mortal. I’ve never thought that, and I never will.”

Mara wasn’t convinced. “So when you told me in bed that I was fun but still human, you didn’t mean that in a bad way? Come on, Aphrodite. Who’re you trying to fool?”

“Honey, let me tell you something. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t like admitting when other people are skilled at something that I consider my thing. Especially when they’ve got skills to rival even mine,” Aphrodite told Mara, and to the Amazon’s shock, she blushed.

“Skills to rival yours? You mean I’m that good?” Mara asked in astonishment.

“Yes, but don’t let it go to your head. Cockiness makes any ride less fun,” Aphrodite replied with a wink. “Look, I just want you to know that even though I don’t love you, I’ll always see you as a great friend to me, and someone that I can depend on when I’m upset. It goes both ways because you can depend on me as well.”

Mara realized that Aphrodite was telling the truth, and hadn’t meant any offense afterall. “Yeah, I guess I can, and yes, you can depend on me when you need a friend.”

Aphrodite smiled warmly. “So are we good?”

Mara smiled her dazzling, designated “Mara” smile. “We’re good.”

“Great. I’d hug you, but you’re covered in sweat and blood from your little fight here,” Aphrodite told the Amazon gingerly.

“Yeah, I am. Speaking of which, I need to go protect Denora so that she doesn’t wonder why I’m not watching her back,” Mara realized aloud.

“Go get her, hon,” Aphrodite said with a sweet smile. She waved her hand in a royal manner.

“Okay. See you later,” Mara replied quickly, and with a nod of her head, she ran off to join her lover in combat.






Xena ran at an even pace. She didn’t want to lose Callisto as the blonde warrior pursued her through the underground tunnels. “Coming, dear?”

“Oh, my, aren’t we glib, Xena? I know you’re masking your anger. I know your irritating blonde whore told you about the little sleepover we had!” Callisto taunted in her singsong voice.

Xena felt her anger build at Callisto’s reference to Gabrielle as a whore. Still, she knew she couldn’t let her anger show. “Yes, and my, Callisto, I never knew you were such a novice in the sack. Gabrielle fell asleep long before you could figure out how to do it.” She turned a corner and proceeded down the tunnel. In about twenty yards, there was a light at the end, and Xena would have to lead her to her much needed demise.

Callisto screamed in fury, then cackled. “I know you so well, Xena. You think you can infuriate me so that I’ll lose my mind and you can trick me. Well, it’s not going to work, Xena dearest.” She was only fifteen feet behind Xena.

Xena was thankful to all the exercise she got daily, for any lesser person would have collapsed after the long chase. The light was getting closer, and she was almost out.

“I can’t wait for us to beat out our issues, Xena. Don’t you know that I just love a good wrestle,” Callisto called down the tunnel.

“As do I, Callisto, but then you knew that,” Xena replied, and she reached the end. Running up the steps, Xena looked up at the sky and smiled. Just as she had predicted, a storm was approaching. She turned and looked down the stairs. Callisto stood at the bottom step.

“My, Xena, was it very wise to lead me into the village? Not too clever, are you?” Callisto cackled.

“Callisto, are you going to talk all day, or are we going to settle things once and for all?” Xena demanded, drawing her sword.

Callisto smiled, and drew her own sword. “Fight it is.” With a screech, Callisto charged Xena, and their swords clashed.

Xena parried each of Callisto’s strikes, backing up as she went. A couple more steps backwards now, she thought silently. Callisto delivered a blow that could’ve decapitated the Warrior Princess. Okay, one more step...there we go! Xena performed a backflip onto the roof of the shed, looking for the bonds Cranius had left up there. Seeing them, she realized that she would have to work fast.






“Steady, men!” Gabrielle yelled. The wall groups were out of airs and cow dung, and now they were resorting to yet another of Xena’s ideas. Grappling hooks had been thrown up onto the wall, and Callisto’s soldiers were steadily climbing, one behind the other. When they were near the top, Gabrielle called out her final order. “Pour the water!”

“AHHHH!” Callisto’s soldiers screamed as Group One poured several gallons of boiling water down the wall, soaking through their armor and scalding their bodies profusely.

A few soldiers were still on the ground. “Screw Callisto!” One soldier screamed. “I’m getting out of here!”

Gabrielle watched as the remnants of Callisto’s army fled into the woods, leaving the village for good. “Come on, Xena, take that bitch out,” she whispered.






Using a wooden beam to balance, Callisto leapt onto the roof of the shed. “I don’t know what you have planned, Xena, but let me tell you. You won’t be able to kill me.”

Xena smiled. “If you mean that you’re invincible wearing the soul receiver, let me inform you that there are ways to kill the wearers.”

“Like what?” Callisto sneered.

In one quick move, Xena lashed out her whip, and it closed around Callisto’s hands, binding them together. Xena rushed over, and put shackles on the evil warrior’s wrists and ankles. Callisto screeched and struggled against her bonds.

“Let me go, Xena!” Callisto screamed.

Xena looked her squarely in the eye. “That’s the thing, Callisto. I *am* letting you go. For too long, I’ve carried the guilt of turning you into a ruthless killer, and that guilt has prevented me from putting you out of everyone’s misery. But now, I’m letting you out of this world.” She jumped off the shed. Xena looked up at the sky, and as if on cue, lightning struck the shed where her breast dagger served as an electric conductor. Callisto was electrocuted instantly, and her burned corpse wore an expression of shock.






“Friends, family, and all you other people,” Autolycus began, earning a glare from Xena, “we are gathered here today in the holy matrimony of Xena, Warrior Princess, and Gabrielle, Bard of Poteidaia.”

Xena glanced at her wife-to-be excitedly. Gabrielle looked gorgeous in her white gown, and Xena itched to remove the veil from her eyes and kiss those soft lips. Xena herself was wearing a black dress, and from Gabrielle’s expression of desire, she gathered that she looked attractive in it. To her left stood her two best men, Hercules and Ialous, and to her right, her son Solan stood clad in his dress tunic and trousers. The Warrior Princess smiled as she considered the past few days. After the death of Callisto, she and Gabrielle had traveled to the centaur village where Solan was being raised, and explained to Solan that she was his mother, and she loved him dearly. Solan expressed happiness at meeting his mother and asked that he may travel with his mother to learn about the known world. Xena was still considering that last part, but until she made her decision, she had brought Solan back to Lazardos with her for him to attend the wedding. Standing next to Solan were Mara and Denora, Xena’s two maids of honor.

Gabrielle felt her lips curl in an amused smile as Autolycus droned on about the importance of marriage. It’s so exciting that we’re about to be married! Gods, I never thought that my dreams would come true, and they are!

Autolycus finished rambling, and asked loudly. “Is there anyone here that believes that these two should not be married? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“I do!” A familiar voice drawled. “You two shall not be joined!” The voice seemed to be coming from the top of the temple, and naturally, everyone looked up. What they saw was a most unique and rather grotesque sight. Holding a knife and clinging to a beam, there was a monkey that wore the face of a villain from Xena’s past.

Alti, Xena thought with a groan. Typical that an old warrior like me couldn’t have a wedding without someone from my past crashing the party. “Alti, could you leave, and then we take this outside?”

“Is that a plea, Destroyer of Nations?” Alti sneered, and a strange monkey sound filled the air. Xena realized Alti was laughing.

“No, Alti, it’s a command, and I suggest you follow it. You know that I don’t like asking twice,” Xena replied, edge in her voice.

“You forget, Xena; it was I who made you who you were! All your evil, all your brutality, I made you that way!” Alti howled. “And look at you! You threw it all away and now you’re a simpering fool marrying some bard.”

“Yes, I’m marrying a bard. What’s wrong, Alti? Are you jealous?” Xena replied calmly. “Also, I’d like to state that I was quite brutal before I met you, but that’s another story.”

Alti screeched at the top of her lungs, and flung her wickedly-curved knife at Xena’s bride. “Die, child!”

Xena leaped into the air and caught the knife, and in a split-second, flung it right back at Alti, who took the blade hard in the chest.

“Ahhhh!” Alti screamed. “I knew…I should’ve…been…a bear.” With a final gasp, she died, this time for good.

“Uh huh,” Autolycus muttered. Looking at Xena, he continued the ceremony. “Xena, do you take Gabrielle to be your loving wife? Do you accept the responsibility of caring for her through sickness and through health, through life and honoring her in death?”

Xena looked Gabrielle squarely in the eye, and smiled lovingly. “I do.”

“Gabrielle,” Autolycus began, and he restated the previous question to her.

“I do,” Gabrielle squealed excitedly. YAY!

“Good,” Autolycus smiled warmly at his favorite couple. “I now pronounce you wife and wife. Xena, you may now publicly make out with your bride.”

Up ‘til that last comment, Xena had been happily listening. At hearing Autolycus’ make out comment, Xena glared at the king of thieves. “Autolycus,” she growled.

“Oh, all right. You’re no fun,” Autolycus grumbled. “Xena, you may now kiss the bride.”

Before Xena could take Gabrielle into her arms, the bard leapt on her and kissed her hard. “Gabmmmm,” Xena moaned into her mouth, surprised at the velocity of her new wife.

The crowd clapped, and cheers were heard throughout the village.






The wedding celebration was lively and the Warrior Princess found herself wishing that night would come so that she could finally let loose on her desires and take Gabrielle. Come on, Oranos, let night pour through. She gazed upon her beautiful wife and smiled at the happiness she found in Gabrielle’s eyes.

“What are you smiling at, my wifey?” Gabrielle asked with a smile of her own.

“How beautiful you are, and how happy I am that you’re finally my wife,” Xena replied, and she felt her eyes grow teary. “I never imagined that you would love me the way that I’ve always loved you.”

Gabrielle reached up to kiss away the tear rolling down Xena’s cheek. “How could I not? The way you fought against Draco’s men and saved my life was so selfless.”

Xena took Gabrielle in her arms and held her in a warm embrace. “Gabrielle, I don’t knew whether or not you knew this, but just before I fought Draco’s men, I had buried my sword and planned never to fight again. Then I saw you, and you were so beautiful. Gods, Gabrielle, you’re amazing. I was taken by your beauty the first moment that I laid eyes on you. So, when Draco’s soldier was about to hurt you, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t let anything happen to someone who had so quickly stolen my heart right out of my chest.”

Gabrielle savored that moment of listening to Xena’s confessions while laying her head just beneath the warrior’s chin, and inhaled the fragrant scent of her neck. She felt Xena’s body shake, as though she was laughing. She looked up and saw Xena’s amused face. She was staring at something behind the bard, and the sight obviously was hilarious from the warrior’s expression. Gabrielle turned around, and within seconds, she burst out laughing.

Mara was shaking her fist at Ialous, who obviously had mistaken Denora for a party crasher. Ialous kept insisting that he had never seen Denora at the wedding, and that it was a safe assumption because she hadn’t been there. Mara was scowling at the blond man and suggesting that he had never noticed Denora because he had been making eyes at Hercules. The whole situation was hysterical, and when both couples realized they were being watched, they blushed and withdrew. Mara and Denora looked pointedly at the exit, and left together.

In due time, a beautiful sunset covered the sky, and Xena thanked Helios for retreating. Grasping Gabrielle’s hand tightly, she led her wife to their cozy room.






Denora massaged Mara’s back with fragrant oils, and the Amazon moaned, relaxed and content. “Enjoying yourself?” Denora asked with a grin.

“Gods, baby, you have the most amazing hands, no joke,” Mara groaned.

“Mm, I try to make you happy. Is it working?” The golden blonde purred.

At this, Mara turned and looked into Denora’s eyes. “You make me the happiest woman in the world. Were I a goddess, I couldn’t be happier. You complete me.”

Denora’s words absorbed Mara’s words with her heart pounding. “I feel the same way,” she whispered to her lover. “Mara, you make me whole.” Feeling the impulse to get lost in a world of passion, Denora leaned in and pressed her lips to Mara’s.

Mara had also been desiring the kiss, and with her tongue, she parted Denora’s lips and gently explored her lover’s mouth. When the kiss ended, Mara smiled at Denora, who wore a tired expression on her beautiful face. “Tired, honey?”

“Yeah, the ceremony really drained me, and then that Ialous guy pissed me off, and now I’m exhausted,” Denora said with a yawn.

“Awww, poor baby. I’ll take care of you,” Mara cooed at her lover.

Denora gave her a sweet smile, then stole a soft kiss before slipping under the bedsheets and beckoning to Mara to join her. “Come snuggle, Amazon of mine.”

“’Course, ‘Nora,” Mara replied sweetly. She slid under the blankets and curled up next to Denora, and the couple slept peacefully.






Xena carried Gabrielle in her arms ‘til they were just outside their bedroom door, and nudged it open. The strawberry blonde hopped out of her wife’s arms and scurried out of sight. Xena was about to inquire as to what Gabrielle was up to when her lover ran out of the bathroom naked and jumped on top of their bed. She spread her legs and thrust her breasts pointedly at Xena.

“I know I’ve been teasing you, and finally you get to something about it, wifey,” Gabrielle purred.

Xena grinned somewhat maniacally. “Yes, well, Gabrielle, I think it’s safe to say that I will have my revenge for your merciless flirtations.”

Gabrielle was caught off-guard. “You will?”

“Oh, yes,” Xena replied in a husky voice. She reached under the bed and revealed to Gabrielle several leather bonds. “I think it’s safe to say that you’ll be begging me for mercy by the time I’m finished.”

Gabrielle felt a wave of desire flow through her. “Xena,” she began in a sultry tone, “bond me. I want you to take me while I’m bonded.”

“But of course, my love,” Xena replied with that same crazy smile. She gently tied Gabrielle’s ankles and wrists, making sure that the knots would hold. The Warrior Princess pulled out a bag from under the bed.

“More surprises?” Gabrielle asked.

“Yep,” Xena responded, and from the bag she pulled a phallus, a harness, and a covered container of what looked like fresh whipped cream. Then, she slid out of her wedding dress, tossing it at a nearby chair.

Gabrielle gazed with desire at her gorgeous wife. She looked Xena up and down, eying the bronze flesh that covered her lover. Her breathing became ragged as her eyes traveled from Xena’s full breasts down to her dripping center. “Xena,” Gabrielle whispered, “I want to feel your heat against mine.”

“All in good time, my love,” Xena replied. She hopped onto the bed, and proceeded to straddle Gabrielle’s hips. Leaning down, Xena began a passionate assault with her tongue on Gabrielle’s right breast. She licked around the ring of the bard’s nipple before taking the swollen bud in her mouth and sucking lightly.

“Ohhh,” Gabrielle groaned. “Xena, that feels absolutely fabulous.”

“Tastes good, too,” Xena growled. Switching to Gabrielle’s left breast, Xena continued her sensuous assault until she felt Gabrielle getting closer and closer to orgasm. The warrior trailed her tongue down the bard’s chest, over her stomach, until she reached the mound of pale blonde curls. The musky scent of Gabrielle’s desire was intoxicating to Xena, and the Warrior Princess knew that she would make their wedding night *very* memorable. Xena leaned down to take Gabrielle’s twitching nub into her mouth, causing the bard to arch her back in ecstasy. Xena sucked her wife’s clit enthusiastically, giving it small tugs that made it hard for Gabrielle to restrain her moans.

“Ohhhh, ahhhh, Xena, please,” Gabrielle moaned in pleasure.

Xena inserted two fingers into Gabrielle’s moist center, delighted at the wetness she found there. I guess she’s not the only one that was teasing…when I pleasured myself the other night, it must have aroused her. The warrior pumped her fingers in and out of Gabrielle, then inserted a third finger to continue the vaginal stimulation.

“Xena!” Gabrielle screamed in abandon. Her hips began to buck wildly as she started to come. “Oh! Oh! Xenaaaa!”

Xena lapped up the womanly juices that poured out of Gabrielle, savoring the taste of each drop. Then, as her wife’s orgasm subsided, Xena stood and strapped on the harness, attaching the phallus in the front. “Now, my little bard, you will know what it’s like to be teased the way you teased me.” The warrior teased the lips of her victim’s sex with the phallus for a few seconds, then ceased her torturous motions.

“Ahhh,” Gabrielle moaned in ecstasy. “Xena, please!”

“Not yet, Gabrielle; first you must know the uncontrollable desire for what is denied to you,” Xena told her wife. Xena teased the center of Gabrielle’s passion once more, this time a bit longer, and then withdrew again.

Gabrielle tugged against her bonds. “Xena! Please!”

Xena smiled as she knelt down to peck Gabrielle’s lips. As soon as the bard began to return the kiss, she pulled back, and the bard whimpered as Xena once again began her torture on her center before, as was becoming usual, pulling back.

“Xena,” Gabrielle, to Xena’s shock, growled, “unless you are trying to kill me, YOU, PHALLUS, IN ME, NOW!”

Xena’s mouth dropped open in shock. My bard is *that* horny? “Gabrielle?!”

“XENA! NOW!” Gabrielle howled, half in anger, half in anticipation of pleasure.

“Yes, ma’am,” Xena replied, and she got on top of Gabrielle to insert the phallus into Gabrielle’s hot sex, pumping it in and out, fast and hard.

“XENA!” Gabrielle screamed as she came, “Gods, XENAAAAA!”

As Gabrielle’s orgasm subsided, Xena untied the leather bonds shackling her love, and was shocked when Gabrielle leapt on top of her, pinning her to the bed.

“Xena,” Gabrielle purred. “Oh, Xena.”

“Gabrielle?” Xena asked meekly.

“You, my love, are in for one hell of a wedding night.” With that said, Gabrielle grinned and there was a feral look in her eyes.

Oh, gods, were Xena’s last thoughts before Gabrielle made good of her promise.

THE END.

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