Disclaimer: The characters of Xena: Warrior Princess and Gabrielle are owned by RenPic and Universal. This story depicts a love/sexual relationship between two consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturb you, you may wish to read something other than this story.
If you would like to send email to Rosemary - please forward your mail to Mary at kira@zip.com.au and Mary will forward your mail to Rosemary.
"The Vengeance Factor"
by Rosemary
The tavern is overflowing, the cloying smell of sweat, dirt, and liquor burns
Xena's nose. She sits as always with her back to the wall, her right leg
flung onto the scarred table. Half listening to snatches of conversation
around her she watches as her companion weaves an intricate story to a small
audience.
So intent is her focus that the dark man is almost upon her before she
realizes his presence. Silently cursing herself for her lapse, she
concentrates on the man before her. He is slightly smaller than she, compact.
His armor has no distinct markings, and a long cloak brushes the ground. His
only weapon, a short sword strapped to his side.
"Are you Xena?" he asks.
"Yes," she answers cautiously.
"I have a message for you." She tenses as he reaches inside his cloak, and
then relaxes when he removes a scrap of paper and tosses it to the table.
"What is this?" contempt mixes with curiosity.
"The message will explain it all," he pauses as his attention is drawn to the
bard as she gratefully accepts a cold drink from a young man, a small smile
appearing on his face.
"You could say it's a game."
"I don't play games with strange men." Xena answers standing to tower over
the smaller man.
Slowly he looks her up and down.
"Pity," he says "I believe you would be quite good at that sort of
thing."
Turning his back to Xena he leaves a quickly as he appears.
"Who was that Xena?" Gabrielle asks as she places her ale on the table.
"I don't know." She picks up the note as she sits down "And I don't like
it."
Hello Xena, surprised to hear from me again? Ah, but then
you don't know who I am. Well, all in good time, but first I
propose a quest, a challenge if you will, and as in all good
quests you have a limited amount of time to accomplish your
goal. To do what, you ask; why to save a life Xena. It's what
you do now is it not, save innocent victims from warlords,
bandits, and petty tyrants? You have three days. If you fail a
person dies. It's up to you to find out who, where, and how.
However, in the interest of fair play I'll give you a clue...The
only way to save this soul is to look into the heart; the answer
is there; as is the path to salvation. Good Luck Xena, you will
need it.
"So what does the note say?" Gabrielle asks. Xena says nothing and pushes the
note to her friend. Gabrielle reads it, a dawning look of fear on her young
features.
"What are you going to do Xena?"
Xena stands a withering look upon her beautiful face.
"I'm going on a quest."
She does not notice the man at the bar watching her with hate filled eyes.
Gabrielle runs to keep up with the long angry strides of her friend as they
abandon the warmth of the tavern.
"Xena, wait." She cries as they head to the stables. Xena stops and turns to
face her. "You can't just go rushing off like this. We need a plan, you don't
even know who the note is from, or who this supposed victim is." Gabrielle
takes a breath, "Maybe it's even some sort of trap, did you think of that?"
"Gabrielle, a person is in danger because of me. I have to try to do
something. It might even be you." Xena brushes her fingers across Gabrielle's
face, lingering on her cheek. "What would you have me do? Forget the note?
Pretend it's some game of the Gods? I can't do that." With a last touch of
her fingers, Xena continues to the stables. After a long pause Gabrielle
follows.
Xena saddles Argo as Gabrielle watches, admiring her economy of movement and
the flow of firm muscles as she tightens the reigns and saddle.
"I want you to stay here Gabrielle, that way I'll know your safe." Xena says
in a voice that brooks no argument.
"Xena I...."
"No, you will stay here." Xena approaches her and places both hands on the
shoulders of her smaller friend an unreadable expression in her eyes. "Please
Gabrielle, I need to know your safe, I won't be able to do this if I thought
you were in any danger."
Gabrielle looks into the eyes of the woman she knows so well, and yet seems
to barely know at all.
"Alright, I'm not happy, but I'll stay here and.........guard the tavern or
something." Relief floods Xena's face and she bends and places a soft kiss on
the bard's cheek.
"Thank you Gabrielle, I'll be back in three days. Win or lose."
She boards Argo with practiced ease. She rewards Gabrielle with a rare
brilliant smile and turns toward the woods. Gabrielle watches her leave until
there is nothing left to see, save the mist of the early evening. She returns
to the tavern a troubled expression clouds her face.
Xena rode for hours replaying the note in her mind turning the small clue
over and over in her head. To save this soul is to look into the heart. She
knew right away the heart referred to was her own, and the victim no doubt
someone she loves, someone this evil person knew she loved. A litany of names
ran through her mind, Hercules, her mother, her brother Taurus, Marcus, and
Gabrielle. She would to find them all and warn them. "At least Gabrielle is
safe at the tavern." She thought, and as miles begin to separate her from the
tavern her expression hardens into that of the Warrior Princess. "If I lose
another person I love, Zeus himself will not keep me from seeking revenge,"
and she rides on.
As dawn begins to lighten the sky Xena reigns Argo in and begins to make a
quick camp. After a spare meal of bread and cheese, she falls into a fitful
slumber.
Gabrielle walks down the stairs leading into the main room of the tavern.
After the mob of the previous evening the room fells empty and shabby. She
notices the young man who had brought an ale the night before sitting alone
at one of the tables. She moves off to join him.
"Good morning," she chirps sitting across from him. "Thank you again for
the
drink last night."
He looks up and smiles. "You're welcome." He glances around. "Where is your
rather imposing friend?"
"She has some things to take care of, I'm waiting for her here." She answers
suddenly missing Xena's presence.
"Well it truly must be my lucky day." He offers her his hand. "My name is
Nicholous, but my friends call me Nick. I would like to count you as one, a
friend I mean."
"Gabrielle," she returns his hand shake.
"Gabrielle, would you like to join me for a walk this beautiful morning?"
"Sure" she answers.
They walk out together in the bright sunshine.
Xena is packing up her small camp, the half remembered dreams of her earlier
rest plaguing her thoughts. "I'm missing something," she mutters under her
breath, as she saddles Argo. Suddenly it occurs to her, the truth so painful
as to make her cry out in agony.
"GABRIELLE!" She screams to the blue sky......and drops to her knees "It's
Gabrielle, of course, look into the heart, that's what it meant. Hercules,
mother, Marcus they all know I love them, but she does not, path to
salvation, my salvation, if I tell her how I feel it could be my own
salvation," she pauses "and hers." She climbs to her feet and grabbing
Argo's
reigns fairly jumps into the saddle for the long journey back to the tavern.
Gabrielle and Nick walk though the nearby meadow, enjoying the cool breeze
and the smell of flowers in the air.
"Gabrielle," Nick stops her with a touch of his hand.
"How long will your friend be gone?"
"About three days, why?" looking at the sky she missed the cruel smile that
plays quickly across his face.
"Just curious." They continued their walk.
"Have you known her long, your friend?"
"A little over a year I guess. I met her when raiders came to take my
village. There was an evil warlord Draco who Xena had to fight almost to the
death before my village was saved." She looks at Nick. "I've been traveling
with her ever since, she's my best friend"
"Is there more?" Nick asks.
"More what?" seeing the expression on his face she answers quickly "No, no
nothing like that, she...we...I..." she stops and blushes furiously.
"I want to show you something." He takes her arm and heads for the stables.
Xena rides as if Hades was at her back. Argo sensing her mistress's haste
gallops ever faster pushing herself to her limits. A thick lather gathers on
Argo's powerful flanks and still Xena urges her on. Finally, she sees the
village and brings Argo to a canter. They ride for several minutes until the
stable that she had left the night before comes into view. She dismounts
Argo, and even in her rush to see Gabrielle, she pauses to stroke Argo's head
and nose. Bringing her toward the stable a new sound reaches her ears.
Letting go of the reigns she draws her sword and approaches the doors to the
stables.
Gabrielle follows Nick into the dark stables, pausing to let her eyes adjust
to the change in light. Nick releases her hand and makes his way to the far
corner of the room. She hears muttered talking and for the first time is
afraid.
"Nick," she calls "Where are you?"
Silence is her only answer. As she turns to leave a new voice assails her
ears, one she has never forgotten.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little girl from Poteidaia. It's been a long
time, and your certainly no longer little." the voice hisses like a coiled
snake.
"Draco!" she cries.
"I'm flattered you remember, what with your adventures with Xena," he spits
out her name. "I thought I would be just a footnote in your memory."
He strides toward her now, looking at her so intimately she felt naked before
him. Without turning away from her he orders Nick to leave. Nick walks by
Gabrielle without a second glance.
"Draco if there is some left over when your done, toss her to me" with that
the doors shut behind him.
Xena has heard what was said. Her blood boils and she feels as if a fever is
coursing though her veins. "Focus" she says to herself. After she frees
Gabrielle there will be time enough for payback. Stepping to the back of the
stables her eyes search for another entrance. Seeing a small window set high
above the ground she clenches her teeth and jumps, grasping the opening with
her fingertips, she scrambles in. Quietly making her way though hay and feed,
she reaches an area that looks out onto the stable floor. She struggles not
to cry out. Gabrielle stands in front of the warlord, her dress slightly
torn, his hand upon her breast. As Xena watches Draco leans in to nuzzle her
exposed flesh. Gabrielle kicks out at him, a blow he easily sidesteps.
Bringing his hand up, he knocks her to the ground.
Xena jumps from her hiding place, her ear piercing battle cry echoing off the
walls. She drops a few feet from Draco, sword drawn. Her eyes a sea of wrath.
"Draco." She says contemptuously.
"Ah, Xena, back so soon?" He paces towards her. "I thought it would take
you
days to figure out my little message.''
"No, the message was as simple as you are." She keeps moving, the distance
between them never varying.
"I was just about to have a little fun with your friend here." He waves
towards Gabrielle now sitting up. "Would you care to join in perhaps?" He
adds with a lavicious smile on his face.
"I don't think so. You know..." she says conversationally, "I really should
have killed you when I had the chance. Who would have thought a scum like you
would have survived this long?"
Draco bows slightly.
"A small talent." He finally draws his own sword.
"So Xena are we going to banter all day and night, or finish what we started
so long ago?"
He charges Xena then, she feints with her sword and drives a solid fist into
his face, he staggers but remains upright. Not so daring now, he paces side
to side as if weighing her skills.
Xena's eyes glance in Gabrielle's direction, she is nudging toward the door
watching the battle with wide eyes, a slight cut on her mouth bleeds, but is
ignored.
Her concentration returns to the fight before her and a smile comes to her
face. This is what she loves so well, a fight with equally skilled opponents,
good and evil, dark and light. She weaves an intricate pattern in the air
with the tip of her sword eyeing Draco, and awaiting his next move.
She does not have to wait long. With a powerful yell, he again charges toward
her sword at the ready. When the point of the sword is close enough to cut
deeply into her flesh she flips into the air and kicks out with a strong leg,
connecting solidly with the soft underside of his throat. He gasps and drops
to the ground unable to catch his breath. Xena stands over him sword pressed
to his back.
"Get up," she growls.
He remains huddled on the ground, floundering to breathe.
"You disgust me," she dismisses him with barely a glance and goes to
Gabrielle.
Draco rises and moves to bury his sword into Xena's back.
"Xena!" Gabrielle calls out.
With no emotion on her face, she drops to one knee driving her sword up and
back, into Draco's chest. She rises, driving her weapon up as she does. Draco
is dead where he stands, impaled upon her sword. She pushes him off without a
thought. She sheaths her weapon, turns to Gabrielle and leads her out to the
sunlight. Gabrielle begins to cry. Xena takes her into her arms and holds
her tightly.
"I was so scared Xena, he was....," she whispers.
"I know, I know, it's alright now, I'll never leave you again." Xena breathes
fiercely into Gabrielle's hair.
Gabrielle pulls back from Xena's tight embrace to look into her eyes, and for
the first time Xena hides nothing from her ,a slow smile comes to Gabrielle's
face.
"It's about time you figured it out," she chuckles.
"Figured what out?" Xena says puzzled.
"That your in love with me, silly." she snuggles deeper into their embrace.
"I knew it the moment we met, I thought you would NEVER catch on."
"I guess I was on a quest," she smiled..