THE FEVER

 

 

            Gabrielle looked at her lover with concern. As usual, Xena had been pushing herself too hard and it was starting to worry Gabrielle. Though sitting her horse, Argo, as though nothing was wrong, Xena’s eyes were unfocused as she gazed into the distance. The dark-haired woman had also been silent for most of the day, letting Gabrielle carry most, if not all, of the conversation. While no one could describe Xena as talkative, she had always responded to Gabrielle’s chatter with smiles and chuckles depending on the subject. 

            “Xena, are you all right?” Gabrielle asked hesitantly. When there was no response, Gabrielle walked closer to the horse and put her hand on Xena’s leg. “Xena?”

            Starting in surprise, Xena’s leg kicked out. Gabrielle caught it easily, holding it fast in her strong hands. Meeting Xena’s blue eyes, Gabrielle repeated, “Are you all right?”

            “I’m fine, Gabrielle, just tired,” Xena answered irritably. She pulled her leg out of Gabrielle’s hands and replaced it into the stirrup. “Once we get to a town, we can have a good long rest and I’ll be back to normal.”

            Which told Gabrielle that Xena didn’t feel well. Now really worried, Gabrielle nonetheless held her tongue. Xena wouldn’t ever admit to feeling poorly and if Gabrielle made a fuss over the healer, Xena would just retreat from her. It always frightened Gabrielle when Xena withdrew into her silent shell, the way she had been before they had met.

From all accounts that Gabrielle had gathered over the last six months of their travels together, Xena had always been a quiet but welcoming healer. She had kept to herself, visiting the various townships and villages close enough to benefit from her training. There was a reserve to Xena that hadn’t lent itself to fast friendship and the villagers had respected Xena too much to try and broach that wall of silence.

            Gabrielle snorted silently, watching as Xena and Argo moved forward. If the villagers had truly cared for her, they might have seen how lonely that existence had been for Xena. Except for her family, and Callisto, Xena hadn’t truly had any friends. That name brought a darkening to Gabrielle’s thoughts as she remembered the blond warrior who’d nearly killed her. Discreet inquiries, without Xena around of course, had turned up that Callisto was indeed tracking them. For what purpose, Gabrielle could guess.

            The last of the afternoon passed just as silently and when Xena finally dismounted from Argo, Gabrielle saw her nose was red and swollen. “Xena, if you’re sick we should keep going until we get to some real shelter.”

            Xena shrugged off Gabrielle’s hand and stepped away. “I just need a good night’s sleep. It’s a case of the sniffles, that’s all.”

            Hurt by the brush off, Gabrielle said, “All right. If you’re sure.”

            “I’m sure,” Xena said firmly. Sighing, Xena took Gabrielle’s hands in her own and said, “I’m sorry I was short with you, love. I know you’re concerned but really, there’s nothing to worry about. Once we eat, we’ll just turn in and snuggle into dreamland, how’s that?”

            Gabrielle smiled and squeezed Xena’s hands with her own then went to unsaddle Argo. Xena had finally talked some sense into the mare and Gabrielle no longer had to worry about being smeared with gunk from the horse sneezing on her. She had no idea how the horse had understood what Xena was saying but took it on faith since there hadn’t been any other episodes resulting in Gabrielle having to change clothes.

            By the time Gabrielle had finished with Argo, Xena had a fire going and was sleeping close to it. Gabrielle smiled faintly and knelt beside the long form. She pulled the blanket over Xena’s shoulders and brushed hair from Xena’s forehead. Gabrielle bent over and kissed her cheek. “Rest my healer, in the morning we’ll find someplace better for you to get well.”

            Not in the least bit tired, Gabrielle took out the parchment, quill and ink that she’d bought at the last market. Ever since her travels with Xena had started, Gabrielle had been rediscovering her love for the written word: both her own and others. She tried to write at least once a day, whether it was about what had happened during the day or describing her favorite subject: Xena.

            When the moon had traveled halfway across her journey, Gabrielle yawned and finally put away her writing equipment. Rubbing her eyes free of the strain, Gabrielle grabbed her own blanket and settled down beside Xena. Gazing at her finely chiseled features in the moonlight and flickering firelight, Gabrielle wondered if there was anyone else as beautiful in the world. She seriously doubted it. Turning over, Gabrielle snuggled her back against Xena’s front and even in sleep, Xena’s arm went around Gabrielle to hold her tight.

 

 

 

            A loud sneeze woke Gabrielle the next morning, as did the wet spray across the back of her neck. Restraining a groan at the early hour, the sun was barely up, Gabrielle turned over and found Xena holding her head. Immediately alert, Gabrielle put her hand on Xena’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

            Giving her a faint grin, Xena said, “You’ve been asking me that a lot lately, haven’t you? I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you yesterday.”

            Gabrielle kissed her cheek. “Not a problem. You can make it up to me when you’re feeling better.”

            “Thanks, love. Right now I’m so miserable I don’t even want to move,” Xena said. Her breath caught, hesitated, then another sneeze exploded.

            “You poor woman. Is there anything I can do to help?” Gabrielle asked sympathetically.

            “Unfortunately not,” Xena answered. She grabbed the handkerchief that she’d lain beside her the previous night and blew her nose. “It just has to run its course. Don’t worry, everyone gets the sniffles on occasion, even me, the mighty healer. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep going.”

            “Xena, if you’re sick…”

            “No, Gabrielle, don’t coddle me, please? I always feel like such a nuisance when I’m sick. It’s better if we just go and find the next town and stay there awhile,” Xena interrupted.

            After a brief hesitation, Gabrielle nodded and stood up. “You rest and I’ll get breakfast ready.”

            Xena held up a hand, looking suddenly green. “Not a good idea. Can we skip breakfast today?”

            “Sure. I’ll just eat on the way,” Gabrielle agreed. “I’ll pack up and we’ll get started.”

            The morning’s ride was punctuated by loud sneezes from Xena and head-held groaning. Gabrielle stayed close to Argo, ready to help Xena at a second’s notice if she got worse. The sky began to darken shortly before noon, clouds gathering quickly and the wind coming up fierce. Worried that getting wet would make Xena much worse, Gabrielle kept her eyes open for shelter from the coming storm but nothing appeared.

Gabrielle took out Xena’s rain-cloak and handed it up to the miserable woman silently. Xena took it with a slight smile and wrapped it around herself without a word of protest. Her face was pale and her nose chafed from the constant blowing and sneezing. Gabrielle’s heart went out to her. It was partway through the afternoon that the sky opened up and rain began to fall. It was a light rain, fortunately, and slid off the rain-gear Xena and Gabrielle wore. The time between sneezes grew longer and Gabrielle began to hope that the cold had run its course.

They came to a series of caves along the shores of a huge lake. Gabrielle hadn’t ever been to this part of Greece but Xena had heard stories about the beautiful countryside and had wanted to visit. Of course, not knowing how close they were to a town, or not, Gabrielle decided to take shelter in one of the caves rather than risk exposing Xena to more of the bad weather. She searched out a large one first, making sure that no dangerous animals made their lair inside. Upon finding it secure, Gabrielle returned outside and led Argo within.

Gabrielle helped Xena down and was shocked at how bad she looked. Her skin had taken on a pasty tone and her eyes were rimmed in red. Before she could say anything, Xena held up her hand to forestall her words.

“We had to find shelter,” Xena said simply, answered the unspoken demand.

Unable to find fault with the logic, Gabrielle scowled and said, “You. Stay. Here. I’m going to get a fire started. Then we’ll get you out of those wet clothes and cover you up good and warm.”

Xena saluted weakly and rested against Argo’s warmth.

Gabrielle made quick work of the chores and had the fire going within minutes. It helped that there was plenty of dry brush in the cave so that she didn’t have to go looking. As soon as the fire was roaring, she turned to Xena and helped the other woman undress, wrapping a blanket around the tall body and trying to rub some warmth into the cold limbs. Several sneezes later, Xena was dressed in her spare clothes and lying in front of the fire wrapped in all their blankets.

“You’re going to need to keep warm too,” she whispered weakly.

Gabrielle managed a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I’ll just sleep with Argo.”

An even weaker chuckle; Xena knew how Gabrielle felt about the horse. “Just make sure you change if she gets the odd idea about sneezing on you.”

“I will.” Gabrielle watched as, within seconds, Xena’s eyes closed and she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Gabrielle stripped, and pulled on her own spare set of clothes, which had also been snug and dry in the bottom of the saddlebag. She walked to the edge of the cave where she found that the rain was continued, even harder. Not knowing what else to do, Gabrielle returned to the fire and sat beside Xena, watching her carefully.

 

 

 

Her body felt as though it were encased in ice. Uncontrollable shivering possessed her, relieving her of the command of her own body. Her hand strayed against her stomach and she almost cried out at the painful, icy touch to her hot skin. Her bones and muscles ached and throbbed. Well and truly enthralled to a fever, then, was the thought that crossed her mind fuzzily. Opening her eyes, she saw that Gabrielle had fallen asleep sitting up, probably watching her, and smiled.

She brought her hands up to feel her throat and sighed in relief to find nothing swollen. Xena couldn’t tell from her own touch just how hot she really was, knowing that anything would feel hot to her cold hands. Her toes were frozen as well and she curled into a ball under the blankets, trying to get warmer. Her nose and mouth were dry for a change and she licked her lips, wanting something to drink but not wanting to move to get it.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Gabrielle?”

Green eyes immediately opened and locked onto her own. Worry etched itself in Gabrielle’s face as she said, “Yes? What’s wrong?”

“Could you get me some water?” Xena asked.

Scrambling to her feet, Gabrielle fetched the water skin and Xena struggled to raise herself onto her arm to drink.

“Wait,” Gabrielle said. She sat above Xena and gently pulled Xena onto her lap. “Let me help, Xena, please?”

Xena nodded and relaxed against Gabrielle’s strong legs. She let the smaller woman press the water skin to her lips and Xena drank gratefully. After pushing away the water skin, Xena asked, “Feel my forehead, how hot am I?”

Gabrielle’s hand rested lightly on her forehead and Xena jerked away from the cold touch with a gasp. “Well, either you’ve got cold hands or I’ve got a pretty bad fever,” Xena muttered, closing her eyes. She turned onto her side and rested her head on Gabrielle’s lap. “I’m tired. I’m just going to sleep for a little while longer.”

Darkness claimed her sooner than she thought and she tumbled down into the softness.

 

 

 

It was early the next morning, sometime before the sun rose, when Xena began dreaming into delirium. At first the coldness receded and she was grateful, sinking into a deeper sleep. Then the heat started to build within and sweat marked her body, clothes clinging to her with the dampness. She only vaguely felt Gabrielle holding her, like an echo that she couldn’t quite hear. Much more real and vivid to her was the colorful world in which she found herself.

Callisto’s command tent, a place she had visited often enough when the warrior was fighting against Gabrielle. Xena was lying on the soft pillows, held in an erotic embrace by the younger woman. Long blond hair teased along her sensitive body and a hot mouth pressed into her skin, tracing a path down her throat to her breasts, then further down to her navel. As tall as Xena, but slimmer and more delicate, Callisto’s brown eyes bore fiercely into her own blue ones.

“You are mine, Xena. That little whore Gabrielle will never truly love you as I do. She’s a murderer, Xena, a soulless murderer who has butchered hundreds in her quest for power. Can someone like that ever understand your needs the way I can? She’s only playing with you and when she gets bored, she’ll kill you and leave you.”

Xena shook her head, trying to think clearly. Between the heat inundating from within her body and Callisto’s mouth, it was very hard to think at all. A moan of pleasure escaped her before she could restrain it. There was something she should remember, half a thought that was trying to come forward but Callisto spoke again, banishing it.

“I’ve loved you since I was a girl, Xena. I helped you recover from your leg injury. I saved you from those bandits, do you remember? I’ve always been there for you. Aways. Do you think Gabrielle can claim as much? What’s happened to you since you left me, Xena? Always on the move, fighting against those who want the little bitch dead, never knowing when you will next find shelter. Never having a home. I can give you all that and more. Just love me, Xena and everything you want will be yours.”

Xena gasped as Callisto’s mouth latched onto her sex and her tongue slipped between the folds of her skin. This was wrong. Xena knew it was wrong. There was something holding her to this world of dreams because she knew it was a dream and yet could not wake up. After a few minutes of incredible sensation, Xena thrust Callisto away and rolled off the pillows. Standing on shaking legs, Xena gasped out, “I don’t love you, Callisto. Not the way you want me to. I love Gabrielle. She is my life and my home. You can’t give me what I already have.”

Eyes narrowing in fury, Callisto strode over to Xena and grabbed her by the neck. Her fingers dug into the tender flesh and began to crush.  “Do you really think I will let you go without a fight, Xena? That bitch has cast a spell on you and I intend to break it! You’re mine and I will never let you go!”

Xena struggled against the vice-like grip but the hands were impossible to budge. She screamed for the one person who could help her. “Gabrielle! Gabrielle, help me!”

 

 

 

Gabrielle twitched awake at the first moan from Xena. At first she thought she was mistaken and stilled herself to listen. Then there was another moan, unmistakably the sound of arousal. ‘At least she can feel good in her dreams,’ Gabrielle thought with a smile. She turned onto her back and stared at the rocky ceiling for a moment then turned the rest of the way onto her side to face Xena.

Wet with sweat from the fever, Xena’s eyes moved restlessly behind their lids. Gabrielle lightly brushed hair from Xena’s face, staring at the face of her lover intently. It was rare that she got to watch Xena sleep, the healer was always the last to sleep and first awake no matter how hard Gabrielle tried. Her earlier worry rose even higher at the pale taint to Xena’s normally tanned skin.

Xena began to move restlessly and then to cough as though she couldn’t breath. Gabrielle heard her name in a panicked tone calling for her help and sat up in alarm, grabbing Xena by the shoulders. “Xena wake up! Wake up, it’s a dream!”

It seemed forever until the blue eyes opened and when they did, they stared unseeing passed Gabrielle. “Xena, can you hear me?”

“Callisto, let me go!” Xena’s voice was weak as her head moved back and forth.

Gabrielle knew then that Xena was gripped by delirium and the panic overwhelmed her. She’d never had to deal with this type of fever, had only heard about it from others. Those who survived its onslaught were never the same. “Xena, please, please answer me!”

Struggling feebly against Gabrielle, Xena tried to get away from her. “Let me go, Callisto, you’re hurting me!”

“You need to put her in the lake, the fever has overtaken her mind,” a new voice ordered from behind.

Gabrielle released Xena, jumped to her feet and grabbed her sword in the span of about five seconds, facing the intruder. It was a man, dressed in gray robes and holding a small bag similar to the one Xena carried. “Who’re you? What do you want?”

Kind brown eyes looked at her with sympathy. “My name is Semreh and I am a priest at the temple of Hermes. I was sent here to help Xena.”

Gabrielle regarded him suspiciously, not lowering her sword. “Why would Hermes want to help Xena?”

“She is important to him with her good works. She has always been a faithful servant to his cause of helping those in need. He needs her in this world, not in the Elysian fields. If we don’t drop the fever, she will die,” he answered quietly.

Gabrielle looked back at the twitching form behind her, torn between her ignorance and distrust of anyone wanting to help. Her love for Xena rose within, banishing her resistance to anything resembling help for the embattled healer. “That lake has got to be freezing. Doesn’t she need to stay warm?”

“The time for that is past,” he replied firmly, setting his bag down on the ground. “Her body is burning up from within and the only way to stop that is to submerse her in cold water, the colder the better.

Decision made, Gabrielle replaced her sword and walked back to Xena, about to pick he up.

“Undress her. The clothes will only be a hindrance,” Semreh ordered.

Gabrielle shot him a suspicious glare but saw he had that same, distanced look Xena got when intent on saving someone. That was what finally convinced her that he was for real and she gently pulled off Xena’s clothes. After wrapping her in a blanket, Gabrielle lifted Xena into her arms and left the cave, Semreh trailing after them.

Easily two stones’ weight heavier and much taller, Xena was heavy in Gabrielle’s arms.  She hadn’t been fighting with broadswords and battle-axes for the last seven years not to have incredibly strong arms, however, and Gabrielle carried Xena without worry. The lake was a good distance away and took nearly ten minutes to reach. Stopping at the shore, Gabrielle asked, “Now what?”

“Just walk in there and keep her body submersed for as long as she’ll bear it, at least two to three minutes,” Semreh answered.

He helped pull the blanket from Xena and Gabrielle carefully toed off her own boots and socks before descending into the water. She gasped at the bitter cold that surrounded her but gritted her teeth and walked further. She halted at waist deep waters, slowly lowering Xena’s somnolent body into the icy grip of the lake.

The reaction was immediate and panicked. Xena shrieked in pain, breaking Gabrielle’s heart with the sound, and thrashed around so much that Gabrielle almost lost her grip. Holding tightly to the larger woman, Gabrielle dropped the rest of the way into the water, bringing them both below the surface for a brief moment.

“Gabrielle!” Xena’s scream was intense and filled with anguish when they broke back above the water. She was struggling fiercely to escape but was bound by arms of steel.

Sobbing with her seeming betrayal, Gabrielle continued to hold Xena in the water. Looking back at the impassive monk, she found him staring at her with compassion.

“Go under one more time,” Semreh called from the shore.

Bracing herself for the fight to come, Gabrielle dropped them again all the way beneath the waters. Her heart stopped in panic when Xena went still, collapsing against her, and Gabrielle shot to her feet, exploding out of the water. Xena coughed weakly, showing Gabrielle that she hadn’t accidentally killed her lover.

When she started moving back to land, Gabrielle found the waters dragging at her, clutching her numb legs with a strength she’d never before encountered. It took all her will to get them out of the water to stand beside the monk. He immediately draped the blanket around the both of them and helped support Gabrielle on the walk back to the cave. Without his help, Gabrielle doubted that she would’ve made it.

“Strip and then lay with her by the fire. Warm her with your body-heat,” Semreh ordered, starting to build up the fire.

“I th-thought we w-were trying to c-cool her off,” Gabrielle exclaimed angrily, placing Xena on the blankets by the fire. She had never felt so cold in her life and shook with it, teeth chattering to break up her words.

“We were but now her temperature is below normal and we need to bring it back to where it should be,” he explained patiently. “Not to mention that I don’t need you to get sick on me, either. I’m going to make medicine to help banish the rest of the illness.”

Scowling, Gabrielle stripped from her sopping clothes and curled up behind Xena, pulling two of the blankets over them. Pressing her chest to Xena’s back and twining her legs with Xena’s, Gabrielle snaked one hand under the healer’s neck to cushion their heads and the other around her waist to hold her tight. Weight dropped on them and Gabrielle looked in surprise at the monk who was dropping more blankets over them. “Th-thank you,” she said, still shivering.

He smiled kindly. “That’s what I’m here for. Rest now. I will keep watch over her.”

As though he commanded a spell, Gabrielle found the call from Morpheus to be more than she could fight against and drifted into sleep. She faintly heard him say, “Join in dreams, one to the other, banish the monster and unite together.”

 

 

 

“Did you like that, Xena? Would you like more?” Callisto asked, arching a lazy eyebrow.

Xena was bound, ropes wrapped tight around her entire body so that she couldn’t move. Callisto had spent an hour trying to drown her. When she had grown tired of the game, Callisto had her soldiers tie Xena with heavy ropes that cut into her skin. She was tired, sore and in pain from the many small cuts that Callisto had drawn into her before trying to drown her. “Why are you doing this, Callisto?” she asked wearily. She barely had the strength to speak.

“If I can’t have you, and it certainly seems as though you’re going to be stubborn on that point my dear, then she damn well isn’t going to have you,” Callisto answered brightly. She walked to Xena, then knelt beside the form on the floor. Her hand tenderly wiped the hair out of Xena’s face and she said, “Why do you love that monster, Xena? She’s like every other warlord that kills and rapes and brutalizes every village she comes across. You helped me when my parents were killed, murdered by one just like her. I’ve loved you ever since. Protected you so that you would never have to face anyone like her ever again.”

“Then why did you tell me where she was? You were the one to spare her life that first time,” Xena asked, honestly wondering what the answer to this.

Callisto slapped her, pouting. “I already told you that I don’t know. I think it was the Gods meddling or something but if I knew then what I know now, well let’s just say little Gabrielle would not be the thorn in my side that she is. Not only would she have died, but I would have made it slow and painful and end it with her begging for Hades to rescue her.”

Xena’s face stung from the casual slap but she held her tongue. How was she going to get out of this? Where was Gabrielle? Where were they that Gabrielle hadn’t found them by now?

“I know that look, Xe-na!” Callisto exclaimed with an insane laugh. “You’re wondering where the little bitch Gabrielle is, aren’t you? She’s never going to find us, Xena, never. We’re in dreamland. Ares has been kind enough to help me in my little quest to win you over. I don’t know why, but he seems to think you’d be a good team player.”

Despair fell over Xena at the announcement. So she’d been right at first, this was a dream. There was no escape from Callisto and her madness. For it was indeed madness that glittered at the back of those soft, doe eyes. Xena had always known that Callisto was a little unstable, that losing her family in such an awful way, and at such a young age, had caused the woman emotional harm. It had never occurred to Xena that Callisto had latched onto her as a replacement, though.

Not until Xena had tried to love someone else, that is and Callisto had reacted violently. Still Xena had dismissed it and gone blithely on her way with Gabrielle even though the warrior had obviously had second thoughts. If she ever got out of this, Xena was going to apologize to Gabrielle for doubting her.

“And what have we here?”

Callisto went rigid at Gabrielle’s easygoing question and Xena’s eyes sought out Gabrielle’s from across the tent but the warrior refused to look at her. Gabrielle stood in the door of the tent, dressed in her warrior’s armor and holding her giant sword easily.

“You!” Callisto shrieked, rising to her feet furiously. “How did you get here!”

Gabrielle shrugged, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Doesn’t matter to me how I got here. But I am here, Callisto, and I think it’s time we finished what we started, don’t you?”

That insane giggle erupted from Callisto again and she nodded. “Oh yes, Gabrielle, we definitely need to finish this.”

Xena watched, heart in her throat, as the two warriors clashed, swords drawing sparks upon meeting. The battle was much more vicious than the one outside her home all those months ago. Or maybe it was just that Xena now saw Callisto in a clearer light and knew that nothing would be held back in her attempt to kill Gabrielle. Not that Gabrielle seemed to be holding anything back in her own cold fury.

Xena had never seen Gabrielle like this before. Every movement was precise and icy, moving in and out so fast that it was hard to follow. The long, deadly iron was an extension of Gabrielle and Xena swallowed apprehensively at the unrestrained power residing within the smaller woman. Now Xena could see Gabrielle of Potedeia in all her glory, as she must have looked on the battlefield. This was the woman who had conquered almost half of Greece before being defeated: first by Callisto and then by Xena’s love.

Back and forth they ranged over the too-small tent, knocking furniture out of the way as they went. Callisto drew the first blood, slicing her sword across Gabrielle’s thigh. Gabrielle grunted with the impact but otherwise seemed oblivious, continuing to press her attack. Thrust, parry, thrust, block, slam, slam, slam against the sword before her. Slowly but surely, Gabrielle wore down Callisto’s insane rage and sword-arm.

Xena watched helplessly as the two women fought. The ropes were tight and she was unable to move her hands to even attempt to undo the knots. Then it occurred to her that this was a dream, however real, and that she could probably do anything. Closing her eyes to concentrate, Xena willed the ropes to loosen and then fall off her altogether. It took too long, her ears keeping track of the battle raging violently around her.

Finally able to move, Xena opened her eyes and stood up just in time to see Gabrielle send Callisto’s sword flying across the room. Just as Gabrielle’s sword descended in a killing blow that would have severed Callisto’s head from her shoulders, Callisto disappeared. Gabrielle spun around with the force of her blow, coming to a ragged stop and leaning on her sword. Breathing heavily, Gabrielle’s eyes met Xena’s and the healer cringed within at their coldness, staying where she was.

For several eternal minutes, Gabrielle stared at her unseeing, green eyes frozen in hate and blood lust. Xena quivered at their intensity, wondering that she could ever have thought Gabrielle cold. This kind of passion was something that drove people to kill, bound them to darkness and power. Slowly recognition returned to Gabrielle’s eyes and Xena began to breathe again.

She didn’t breathe well, however, because the blood lust glowing in Gabrielle’s eyes quickened her pulse and wreaked havoc on her senses. Throwing the sword to the floor, Gabrielle strode across the distance and grabbed Xena’s neck, pulling their mouths forcefully together and thrusting her tongue between Xena’s lips.

Unprepared for the attack, Xena stiffened and tried to pull away. Gabrielle’s hands were like iron around her neck, however, and Xena couldn’t move. If the truth were told, she didn’t really want to move. This was a side to Gabrielle she’d only dreamed of encountering. Xena had heard rumors about Gabrielle’s virility with those she conquered; willing or unwilling to start with, they always surrendered, screaming their pleasure in the end.

Xena knew that their lovemaking to this point, while always athletic and filled with passion, was not what Gabrielle was used to. Invisible boundaries had descended that Gabrielle was obviously unwilling to cross. It was something that Xena had been a little fearful of as well and so had been grateful that Gabrielle was willing to keep it in check. But Xena knew that to love Gabrielle, she had to accept every part of her. Here in this dream world, Xena surrendered to Gabrielle of Potedeia’s forceful demands.

Gabrielle released her hold on Xena’s neck the second she felt the surrender and pulled back to gaze at the supplicant. Flush with need and submission, Xena stood before her naked and waiting. A heady sense of power filled Gabrielle such as she hadn’t felt in many months. That this incredibly strong and beautiful woman would submit to whatever Gabrielle wanted to do moved her.

“Don’t move,” Gabrielle whispered. She saw goose bumps raise along Xena’s flesh at the command and smelled the other woman’s arousal. “You are my spoil of war, my prize for defeating that bitch, your mistress. Do you understand? I am your mistress now.”

Held spellbound by Gabrielle’s eyes Xena nodded.

Gabrielle moved closer, trailing her fingernails lightly up Xena’s arms and whispered, “I’m going to fuck you until you beg for mercy and then I’m going to fuck you some more. If you come without my permission, you’re going to regret it. Do you understand?”

Still wordless, Xena nodded once more, barely able to control the trembling need that kept her rooted to the spot. Already she was wet, almost dripping, just from Gabrielle’s voice. She didn’t know what she would do when Gabrielle touched her.

“Good.” Gabrielle pressed her hands into the full, heavy breasts. They always spilled out over her small hands and she loved the weight of them. She pinched the nipples between thumb and forefinger then squeezed the breasts again. She shoved her leg between Xena’s, grasping the taller woman around the waist to be certain she didn’t fall from the unexpected move.

Holding her tight by the waist, Gabrielle’s hungry mouth descended on the hardened nipples. She sucked on them, in turns gentle and rough, going between each with equal devotion. Xena shuddered and Gabrielle stopped, looking up into those compelling blue eyes. “Do I have to remind you of what I just said?”

Xena shook her head, still wordless.

“Clasp your hands behind your back,” Gabrielle ordered. When Xena complied, Gabrielle couldn’t resist a sigh as the healer’s breasts were thrust forward. “Perfect,” she breathed, renewing her assault.

While her mouth attacked Xena’s breasts, Gabrielle’s hands traveled down from the firm waist to the juncture of legs. Her fingers twined into the coarse hair, massaging then slipping into the hot wetness the hair tried to hide. Xena gasped as Gabrielle’s fingers found and played with her sex. Her other hand slapped Xena on the ass causing a sharp intake of breath.

“Stay with me, healer. Don’t you dare find release until I say so,” Gabrielle commanded. The blue eyes she so adored were closed, the full lips wet and open as Xena struggled to breathe against all the different sensations.

“Gabrielle, please,” Xena moaned. Everything Gabrielle was doing was driving Xena crazy. Her hips reached after the strong hand within her, her breasts ached from being suckled and bit, her backside stung from the hard slap.

“No. Wait for it and I promise you, Xena, you will find the Elysian fields you so deserve,” Gabrielle vowed. Ignoring the groan of disappointment that followed her fingers’ withdrawal, Gabrielle said, “Open your eyes, healer. Look at me.”

Xena’s eyes fluttered open reluctantly and her groan changed into a whimper as she watched Gabrielle lick her essence from each finger. Her knees weakened at the wicked smile on the warrior’s face and she swallowed heavily.

Gabrielle shoved Xena down to land on the cushions. Slowly, Gabrielle unbuckled and unhooked her armor, knowing how much this aroused Xena. She wasn’t sure why, but Xena loved to watch her undress from the leather and metal. Rewarded by the hooded look, Gabrielle momentarily forgot to breathe. Taking a ragged breath, Gabrielle let the leathers fall to the floor in a heap then walked to stand over Xena. “Your mouth, healer, now.”

Xena didn’t wait to be told a second time, immediately sitting up and latching her mouth onto Gabrielle’s sex, devouring her prize. Her tongue invaded the soft folds and she breathed in the musky scent. Gabrielle’s hands dug into her shoulders for support and Xena reveled in the way she could bring the warrior to her knees with this simple act of love. When Gabrielle dragged her head away, Xena growled in protest.

“Ah-ah, healer. I’m the one in command here,” Gabrielle gasped, restraining herself, barely. Raising her foot to rest on Xena’s shoulder, she gently pushed Xena back into the cushions then dropped onto her knees, one leg to either side. Lowering herself forward onto Xena, Gabrielle captured the soft lips with her own.

Tongues circled and played, teasing and demanding by turns. Gabrielle breathed in Xena’s breath then returned it passionately. Her hips moved of their own volition against Xena’s core, grinding against the other woman’s hot center. Strong legs surrounded her thighs and Gabrielle thrust and jerked against Xena. Opening her eyes, Gabrielle saw Xena’s face a mix of pain and need and suddenly remembered the promise she’d extracted.

“Come with me,” she gasped, her own release eminent.

Which was exactly what Xena had been waiting for. Her sex throbbed under Gabrielle’s forceful assault, her legs slick with the need that had been dripping from her. The words triggered the explosion and was driven on by the shuddering orgasm of the woman above her. Screaming wordlessly, Xena collapsed a split second before Gabrielle’s shout of triumph.

Gabrielle fell heavily on top of Xena, breathing hard. When she caught her breath, Gabrielle murmured, “I love you, Xena.”

Xena’s arms surrounded her, holding her tightly. “I love you, Gabrielle. Sleep now.”

Unable not to comply, Gabrielle snuggled against her lover and let her eyes drift shut.

It seemed seconds later that Gabrielle’s eyes opened and she looked around in confusion at the darkness. Where was the tent? Then she remembered that it had been a dream, that Xena was sick and burning up with fever. Though the body in her arms seemed a normal temperature, Gabrielle scooted up to look at Xena’s face.

“You look tired, love,” Xena observed with a yawn.

Tears came unbidden and Gabrielle bit back a sob of relief.

Xena’s hand wiped away the tears that fell and her eyes were worried. “Are you all right, Gabrielle?”

“I am now!” Gabrielle exclaimed fervently. She pressed against Xena, full length, and buried her face in the hollow of the healer’s shoulder. “I was so worried about you. You were delirious and I didn’t know what to do!”

“Hush, Gabrielle, I’m okay now,” Xena assured her, holding the small woman tightly. When Gabrielle began shaking with her tears, Xena became alarmed and sat up, bringing the warrior with her.

“It’s been a long two days for her,” a new voice said.

Xena’s eyes snapped to the source. She was startled to find Hermes present. “What are you doing here?” she asked, rubbing Gabrielle’s shoulders.

“I was helping out a little. There’s too much for you to do to let Ares win, especially in this manner,” Hermes explained. “I didn’t actually do anything, just told her what to do. She loves you very much, you know.”

Xena nodded, relieved that Gabrielle was calming down somewhat. “Just what exactly happened?”

“Ares and Callisto have joined forces. It seems they both either want you to themselves or want you dead. When you became susceptible to the fever, Ares strengthened its hold and held you to Morpheus’ realm while Callisto tried to keep you there permanently. If they had succeeded, you would be a lifeless body, your soul trapped. In any case, this brave woman went after you. I can hardly believe she’s the same Gabrielle,” Hermes commented, obviously impressed.

“I’m not,” Gabrielle said, turning away from Xena’s shoulder for the first time. “I’m not at all the same woman. Xena has released my heart. And enslaved it at the same time. I will do anything to protect you, Xena, anything. I love you so much.”

Xena looked into those green eyes, stunned by the magnitude of the vow, knowing that Gabrielle meant every single word. Her heart soared at the declaration and yet she was disturbed by it, too. Inside, Xena knew that she had the same inexorable need and fiercely protective instinct to save Gabrielle from harm. The intensity of her feelings was incredible and frightening. “And I, you.”

“I think I’ll leave now,” the god commented, feeling suddenly superfluous.

Neither woman acknowledged his discreet vanishing, eyes locked onto each other. After a timeless moment, Xena pulled the blankets back up over their naked bodies and drew Gabrielle down. Holding her close, Xena said, “Sleep now, love. We’re both safe.”

Warm in the cocoon of blankets and Xena’s naturally hot embrace, Gabrielle tried to crawl into Xena then rested her head on the soft pillow of her breasts and closed her eyes. For now, they were safe and she would take the chance to rest with her soul mate while she could.