"Stars were falling deep in the night sky
as dew fell softly on pedals at dawn.
As I stood, alone in the darkness,
softly I sang, calling your name.

Soon then the sun rose, over the mountains
such was the stillness, I never felt before.
Was this the answer, pulling me to you
so softly I sang, calling your name.

Heal my heart. Heal my soul.
Can I find peace here, calling your name."

small scroll, entitled "Gabrielle"
found in The Tomb of Ares, Macedonia 1942
author unknown, carbon dated circa 625 B.C.

 

 Chapter XIX

 Xena and Gabrielle stood side by side on the docks of Athens port watching Sappho bid her faithful musicians a fond farewell. The sun had just risen over the horizon and a slight breeze offered the hope of a beautiful day. The poet was giving her drummers, Alecto and Meager, a big bear hug urging them not to cry as she would see them again one day soon.

Xena turned her head in the breeze as sensitive ears caught the sound of feet approaching. Salmoneus was walking toward them in the sunshine. Xena turned and smiled at her friend, the salesman.

"Salmoneus!" Xena called, "Glad to see ya."

Gabrielle turned at the mention of the entrepreneur's name, adding her own smile to the greeting.

"Good to see you too, Xena, "Salmoneus answered, grinning in return, "I see you and Gabrielle found each other,"

"Never lost her," Xena replied with a wink.

"Well, it was quite a night. That guy, Samthus was one arrow short of a quiver, wasn't he?"

"More like the quiver was empty," Gabrielle mumbled as she walked up to her companions, "Well, at least he's where he won't hurt anyone."

"Let's hope they keep him there," Xena commented.

"The dungeons are a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!" Salmoneus stated, and turned to leave, "Well, take care!"

"Salmoneus wait!" Xena called out, stopping Salmoneus's next step. She walked up to meet him with a serious expression on her face. "I want to thank you for helping us. You put yourself in danger and I won't forget it."

Salmoneus looked at his feet, blushing, suddenly embarrassed. "Yes, well, anything for you, Proud Warrioress,".

Xena grinned at the color in his cheeks, "You've always been a good friend. Even from the very beginning. Thank you."

"Yes, well, you're welcome. I do have one regret, though," Salmoneus added with a frown.

"What's that?"

"I never did get to see Sappho's command performance."

"She was brilliant!" Gabrielle chimed in, "If I do say so myself/"

That remark earned Gabrielle a highly arched eyebrow from Xena and a deep, hearty chuckle from Salmoneus.

"Til next time, then!" he waved and walked away.

"Til next time!" the warrior replied with an answering wave.

Xena and Gabrielle grinned at one another and turned around to face the docks. Sappho was gripping each of the Amazons hands in a warrior shake and talking. One of the Amazons called to Xena and Gabrielle and they all raised their staffs in a salute before walking away.. Sappho moved on to thank the stagehands and they left at a run.. Apparently, they had signed up with a performing circus which was leaving Athens shortly.

Sappho was left on the dock facing her chorus. They were standing in a line waiting patiently for the poet to acknowledge them. The Tenth Muse stood tall in front of them and opened her arms. They moved as one, surrounding the poet, hugging her and one another. Gabrielle could not hear what they were saying, but she assumed that the words were tender. She and Xena waited at a distance, giving them the privacy they deserved.

Finally, when all good-byes were said and done, the chorus lined up before Sappho one last time. Gabrielle smiled as she watched them bend on one knee, bowing to Sappho this time. Then the bard had to shield her eyes from a sudden flash of light. When she looked back, the chorus had disappeared.

"What just happened?" Gabrielle exclaimed. "Am I missing something here?"

Xena was dropping her hand from shielding her eyes. She looked at her partner with the same confused expression etched across her features.

"I don't know," she mumbled, "Wait a minute! Calliope … Melpomene … Europe …"

A candle lit over Gabrielle's head and she continued for Xena, " Erato … Thalia … Polyhmnia … by the gods, Xena! Those were the Muses! How could I have been so stupid? And I call myself a bard."

Gabrielle hurried to the poet who was now left standing alone on the dock.

"Sappho," the bard said, striding up in annoyance, "were those the Muses?"

"Who? "Them? " Sappho answered with a smirk, "Oh, yeah." Didn't you know?"

"All nine of 'em?"

"Every last one."

"Why didn't you tell me we were traveling with the Muses?

"I don't know." Sappho shrugged, "I guess it didn't occur to me that you didn't know.".

"But you were teaching them."

The Tenth Muse shrugged again. "Well, they've got to learn from somebody."

"Ha. Well. I guess they do." For once, the bard didn’t know what to say. She had been traveling with the Muse and didn't even know it. She suddenly felt the urge to hit Sappho for keeping it from her. And so she did, slapping her on the arm.

"Hey!" Sappho yelled, stepping away from a suddenly angry friend.

"Anything else you haven't told us?" Gabrielle asked, narrowing her eyes at the poet.

"Plenty," Sappho answered smiling, "but you'll find it all out on your own, I'm sure."

Gabrielle was about to say something when she felt Xena's presence behind her.

"Come on," the warrior grumbled to Gabrielle, "we've got to get going. We should probably put as much distance between us and Athens as possible."

Sappho smiled broadly at her two protectors. "I'm really going to miss you both." She stood in front of Xena and looked up into soft, blue eyes. "Well, then, how can I begin to thank you for everything you've done."

"Just get home safely, that'll be thanks enough," Xena answered, grinning down at the gregarious, charismatic poet. Although Sappho had caused her nothing but trouble, the warrior liked her well enough. For Xena, that said volumes.

"Xena," Sappho's expression turned somber, "we need to talk about M'Lila."

In all the confusion, Xena had almost forgotten about her part in Sappho's life. The warrior lost her grin and her normally cold, blue eyes turned sad. Sappho noticed the change immediately.

"I guess I've known all along that she was gone. Please don't blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault. M'Lila made her own choices and I'm sure she knew what she was doing. In fact, I'm certain of it."

The poet reached down into her bag and retrieved a small scroll.

"For everything, there is a reason. I know you don't feel that way right now. But believe this: I do not hold you to blame for what happened so many years ago. We need to let go of it. You and I, both."

The poet handed Xena the small scroll and smiled, "Here."

Xena unrolled it carefully, revealing a poem entitled, "Gabrielle." The sadness left the warrior's eyes as she read.

"As I promised, written just for you by the Tenth Muse," Sappho whispered. "I hope you like it."

"I do," Xena answered softly, nodding.

"And Xena," Sappho added, causing the warrior to look up from the small scroll, "Life is short. Don't wait too long to give it to her."

The warrior rolled the scroll up carefully and caressed it in her hands.

"I won't. I promise," she pledged.

"Good," Sappho nodded, pleased. "And do me I favor, would you, Xena?" the poet asked, taking a step closer to whisper.

"What’s that?" Xena answered, almost afraid to ask.

"Would you do me a favor and just kiss the girl?"

Before the warrior could answer, Sappho had stepped away and was walking to Gabrielle, smiling broadly. "Gabrielle!"

"Sappho," Gabrielle answered, with a compassionate grin.

"What can I say to you?" Sappho declared, pulling the bard into a big hug. Gabrielle hugged her back.

The poet pulled away and stared into the bard's bright green eyes, sighing deeply.

"Oh, Gabrielle," Sappho whispered, "If I thought I had a chance, any chance at all, I would whisk you away with me and keep you all for myself. But I don't stand a chance, do I?" Sappho's steel gray eyes gazed into the bard's looking for any glimmer of hope. What she saw there was a promise of a friendship that would last forever.

The poet groaned, "Well, if you won't take my offer, then at least take this."

She reached down into her bag and produced an entire roll of scroll papyrus. Sappho handed it over to Gabrielle, who took it with a hesitant smile.

"That's not just any papyrus, Gabrielle. That roll was given to me by The Muses. It is a never-ending roll of papyrus. You'll never run of out scrolls again."

Gabrielle's eyes opened in wonder, "I can't take this from you. Wouldn't The Muses be angry?" She tried to hand it back, but Sappho stubbornly refused.

"Oh no, they won't be angry. I have two other rolls just like it. They each wanted to give me one, but what would I do with nine never-ending rolls of scrolls? I swear, sometimes they just have no common sense whatsoever."

Gabrielle looked at Xena. The warrior smiled at her proudly and nodded in agreement that she should, indeed, accept the gift.

"Thank you so much, Sappho." Her green eyes looked into Sappho's, taking the poet's breath away once more.

"Good bye, Gabrielle. We'll meet again, soon I'm sure." Sappho grinned and kissed Gabrielle very softly on the lips. The bard was startled when she actually felt a jolt of electric shock at the soft contact. Sappho pulled away, chuckling and left Gabrielle to stare at her retreating back. The bard touched her lips in quiet wonder.

Xena watched Gabrielle, frowning at the expression on her friend's face.

"Good bye my friends!" Sappho picked up her scroll bag and lyre, and stood on the gangplank. "You will always be welcome in my home. I hope you'll come to see me soon. And Gabrielle, I'm going to start that school. If Xena ever lays down her sword and you decide your traveling days are done, you will have a place there waiting ... for the both of you."

The poet walked up the gangplank and onto the ship. Xena and Gabrielle waited and watched until the ship slowly drifted away from shore.

Then Xena turned to Gabrielle. The bard still had a strange expression on her face.

"What's the matter with you?" the warrior asked, noting the way Gabrielle kept touching her lips with her fingers.

"I just can't believe it!" Gabrielle answered, almost to herself.

"Believe what?"

Gabrielle looked up at Xena, still touching her own lips, "I can't believe it! I've been kissed by Sappho. I've been kissed by Sappho, the Tenth Muse!"

"Oh for the love of Zeus!" Xena said rolling her eyes, "What's the big deal about that?"

Gabrielle turned and began to walk down the road away from the docks, clutching her roll of papyrus, mumbling all the while, "I've been kissed by Sappho!"

Xena couldn't believe her reaction. The warrior put her hands on her hips and called after her friend, "What is the big deal?"

Gabrielle turned around.

"You didn't make such a big deal when I kissed you!" Xena exclaimed.

Gabrielle's hand dropped from her lips, "What? When?"

Xena walked closer, now that she finally had her attention, "When I kissed you. Remember? I was dead, you were crying." Xena huffed in exasperation. "You didn't make this big of a deal of that!"

"Oh ... then." Gabrielle laughed and waved her hand, dismissing the entire event, much to Xena's dismay, "That didn't count. You had a mustache at the time." The bard turned and walked away, leaving Xena frozen in her tracks.

"What do you mean, 'that didn't count'?" Xena called after her. But the bard ignored her, walking away from Xena and the docks. Xena stomped over to Argo and grabbed the reins. "What did she mean, 'that didn't count'?" Xena complained to the horse.

Argo snorted in answer.

She spent the rest of the morning following slowly behind Gabrielle, sulking over the bard's words. Gabrielle, for her part, chose to ignore her friend, even when she could hear Xena mumble something like 'how could that not count' several times to no one.

Finally, sometime around mid-day, Xena, on her mare, trotted up next to Gabrielle and extended an arm, the warrior's signal that it was time for them to ride.

"Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Gabrielle clutched the roll closer to her body.

"Where are we going?" she repeated suspiciously.

"Give me that roll!" Xena grabbed the roll out of her hands and secured it under the saddle pack. She extended her arm again.

"UP!"

The bard complied.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see. Hold on!"

Xena kicked and Argo took off, causing Gabrielle to throw her arms in panic around Xena's waist. They galloped, veering down a secondary road that led far away from Athens.

"I hate it when she gets like this," the bard mumbled, sullenly under her breath.

Argo snorted in agreement.

"For I would rather behold her pleasing, graceful movements
and the radiant splendour of her face
than all the Lydian chariots and foot-soldiers in full armour"
- Sappho, fragment #22 circa 625 B.C.

They rode for the rest of the day. Gabrielle wanted to complain, wanted to question where they were going, wanted to have some kind of conversation, but knew it was better to keep quiet. Xena was in a mood and there would be no talking to her until she was good and ready.

Instead of complaining, Gabrielle enjoyed the sights and smells of the passing scenery, recognizing, in pleasant surprise, a glade full of trees and a windy meadow. They were back at the lake just outside of Arkarna. Gabrielle smiled and breathed in the fresh scent of the green meadow and clean crispness of mountain air. She was glad she had followed her instincts and not complained to her companion. This camping spot did, after all, hold a particularly fond memory for her. Secretly, the bard wondered, if this was just a happy coincidence.

Xena rode Argo through the meadow, guiding the mare to the same tree under which they had camped only two nights before.

"So," Xena said, helping Gabrielle down from the saddle.

"So," Gabrielle replied.

Xena jumped off the mare and looked at her friend. She could not prevent a small smile from invading her stern features. Gabrielle laughed and twirled around playfully.

"I'm glad we came back here, Xena. Good idea. It's beautiful!"

Her friend's reaction was all that was needed to shatter the stern mask into pieces. Xena smiled broadly and watched Gabrielle spin in a circle in the grass.

"Careful, you'll fall off the world," Xena warned with a smirk.

Gabrielle chuckled heartily, remembering Laci with fondness.

"I'm going to miss her," Gabrielle whispered, suddenly turning sad.

The warrior made no comment, but silently admitted the same and began to unload the supplies they would need to camp for the night.

Gabrielle started her task of collecting the wood and tinder they would need to start the fire. They both remained silent until the camp was prepared and a small fire was blazing. Gabrielle threw another branch into the flame and sat down next to her partner.

"So, do you want me to tell you the rest of the story?"

"What story?" Xena asked, turning as she lifted her arm, giving Gabrielle access to unlatch her armor. The bard complied.

"The story of the Mole and the Owl."

"Oh, that story," Xena slipped the armor over her head and laid it behind her, "don't need to."

"That's right. I forgot. You already figured out the end of the story. Well, if you're so smart, Warrior Princess, then why don't you tell me the end of the story."

"All right," Xena shrugged nonchalantly as she pulled off a gauntlet.

Gabrielle waited with her arms crossed.

Xena took her time, pulling off the second gauntlet and laid that one with the other.

"I'm waiting," Gabrielle prompted.

Xena smiled sweetly, "The wolf followed the mole, saved him from the cat, helped the owl to escape and they all lived happily ever after."

Gabrielle's mouth dropped open. "How did you know?"

"Easy," Xena said with a smug smile, "After all, if I was the wolf, I would have followed the mole to ..."

" ... make sure he found his love and was safe?" Gabrielle finished for her, thinking she should have known.

"Well, actually ... to make sure he either found his love ... or ... to collect on my meal."

Gabrielle paused with wide eyes, and then let out a bellowing laugh.

Xena turned away, back to her work, surprised at the sudden rush of emotion that Gabrielle could provoke, just by laughing. "I'll finish setting up camp. It'll be dark very soon."

"I think I'll go wash up before dinner," Gabrielle announced and turned to walk toward the lake, hiding a rush of some some pretty strong emotions of her own.

"Good idea. I'll do the cooking."

The statement caused the bard to stop dead in her tracks. The change in body language did not go unnoticed.

"What?" the warrior asked, "Is something wrong with my cooking?"

"No. Not if you don't mind burned on the outside, rare on the inside," Gabrielle answered, under her breath.

"I heard that!" Xena yelled, laughing as she threw a rag at the bard. "Don't worry, it's leftovers."

"Oh well, in that case ... you do the cooking." Gabrielle skipped off to the water.

Xena watched the bard frolic through the grass, for the shore. She picked up a bed roll and smiled to herself, heading down to the lake in the same direction. It was, most certainly, time to get things cooking.

Gabrielle stripped off her clothes and threw them to the ground. She untied her boots, flipped them from her feet into the air and waded into the lake with a sigh of pleasure. Water was a good thing. The bard watched with a grin as the sun disappeared behind the trees, and the sky grew dusky and soft. Finding the perfect rock, she sat down in water up to her shoulders and closed her eyes in relief, soaking in the darkening silence.

She heard a splash, but opening her eyes saw nothing. Gabrielle squinted into the dusk searching for the source of the noise. There was nothing in the lake but the reflection of the trees and the sky, and a slow series of waves that trickled out in never ending circles licking gently up against her bare skin.

Gabrielle held her breath and sat very still, suddenly afraid that something had joined her in the water. She held her breath and waited, listening closely to what her surroundings might reveal. The lake betrayed no secrets.

Just as the bard was about to dismiss the disturbance to her own imagination, Xena's head and shoulders came crashing up through the surface of the lake sending a spray of silver droplets into the air. The warrior smiled broadly as water flowed down her head and shoulders. She caught Gabrielle's eyes with her own and took a graceful stroke forward, grinning seductively at her friend.

Gabrielle blinked, wanting to be sure that she wasn't seeing things again. She sat very still and waited as Xena slid through the dark water, right for her.

The warrior swam until she was floating right in front of Gabrielle. She smiled softly and reached out with her hands for the bard.

Gabrielle gave her hands to Xena and together they drifted away from the shore.

Floating on her back, Xena pulled Gabrielle along with her. The bard smiled as she felt the cool water pass over her warm skin. They held hands and kicked, swimming out into the center of the lake.

Xena stopped their movement and they drifted, suspended for a moment, holding hands as they treaded water slowly to stay afloat. Then the warrior grinned and pulled the bard to her. Drawing her in close, Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle, slowly lowering her head until she brushed Gabrielle's lips with her own.

Gabrielle closed her eyes and moaned softly as their lips touched. The contact was deliciously tender. When Xena pressed their bodies together and deepened their kiss, Gabrielle slid her arms around Xena's neck and held her tight.

Their lips parted and Xena withdrew, smiling broadly.

Gabrielle blinked several times wanting to be sure that this was not some kind of fatigue induced hallucination. It wasn't. They were still in the water, together, and she could feel Xena's warm body floating against her own.

"Well?" Xena said, breaking the magical silence.

Gabrielle didn't know what to say. Instead of answering, she smiled crookedly and tried to draw Xena in for another sweet kiss, but the warrior moved her head, and thus lips, out of reach.

"Does this count now?" Xena asked, refusing the bard her desire until she answered.

"Oh, yeah. This counts. This definitely counts." Gabrielle nodded enthusiastically, attempting to pull Xena close once more, but the warrior pulled away again.

"So is it better with or without?"

Gabrielle sighed. "With or without what?" she asked impatiently.

"With or without the mustache?"

Gabrielle raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What does it matter?" she whispered in answer, "as long as it's you."

The bard closed her eyes and puckered her lips, desperately desiring another kiss.

Xena pulled her head way back and eyed Gabrielle with a raised eyebrow. She waited until the bard re-opened her eyes.

"What now?" Gabrielle sighed, with annoyance.

"I'm not sure I'm happy with that answer."

But before Gabrielle could complain again, Xena pulled her into a strong embrace, capturing the bard's lips with her own. Gabrielle moved her arms tighter around Xena's neck, pulling their bodies together in the water. The bard moaned again as she felt the silky sensation of skin touching skin. Xena slid her lips softly against Gabrielle's, caressing the bard's tongue with slow, sensous strokes. The warrior ran her hands over wet, honey red hair and then touched everywhere across Gabrielle's back, finally lingering at the soft, tender skin in the curve of her spine.

Xena reluctantly broke away from this breath-stealing kiss, worried only that if they didn't stop, they would drown. Gabrielle stared at Xena wordlessly in wonder.

"So, better with or without the mustache?" Xena whispered, stroking Gabrielle's cheek, and hardly able to speak at all.

Gabrielle's smile filled Xena with warmth, right down to her toes.

"Definitely better without the mustache. Definitely."

"That's more like it." Xena grinned. So, we'll drown, she thought and then she kissed the girl again.

Sappho's braids whipped around in the ocean breeze as she stood on the stern of the ship, staring out at the black sea. The sun had fallen into the River Ocean and she had long ago lost sight of the mainland as the ship sailed steadily back to her home. The ocean blended black into a star-filled sky.

The poet shifted her lyre and was prepared to sing, when a shimmer on the deck lit the darkness.

"Well, I was wondering when you would show up," Sappho said, smiling, "How are you Lachesis?"

"Lachesis! How formal!" Laci smiled at the poet and ran over to kiss her on the cheek, "I like it better when you call me Laci."

Sappho grinned and kissed her once on each cheek," How is Clotho or should I say Cleo? Is Atropos mad that I kept you so long away from your weaving?"

"Long?" Laci dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand, "One, two, five, ten seasons ... what does it matter? What's long to you mortals, is a mere snap of the finger for us, the three Fates. Atropos hardly knew we were gone. But Cleo is fine. She's back at work on her favorite threads and happy to be home. She only came along to keep her eye on me."

"What happened anyway?" Sappho asked, suddenly curious at the youngest Fate's abrupt and unexplained departure.

"Well, I couldn't let you drink that poison and Cleo didn't want Xena and Gabrielle to know that they were traveling with two of three Fates. So, I pretended to die. Cleo thought it was very amusing."

"Well, Xena didn't find it amusing. She was hunting Cleo down for the rest of the night."

Laci laughed. "She is just too much fun!"

Sappho pushed Laci on the arm, "Why didn't you tell me about Samthus?"

Laci frowned and pointed her finger at the poet's nose, "You know I can't reveal future events to you. If I did, all of our hard work would have to be unraveled and woven all over again."

"But you drank the poison?"

"Well, I can cheat a little. As long as Atropos doesn't find out."

Sappho sighed and looked out to the ocean.

"I wonder what Xena and Gabrielle are doing right now?"

"Oh, I know exactly what they're doing at the moment," Laci answered with a snicker.

The statement really caught Sappho's attention.

"Oh, you do? Well how about cheating a little for me right now and telling me?"

Laci narrowed her eyes, "I shouldn't."

"Oh, pretty lease," Sappho pleaded, flashing Laci her biggest and sweetest smile, "you'll be my favorite Fate!"

The young Fate sighed, "I never could resist you."

The maiden Fate waved her hand out over the ocean. What once was a black, colorless sea was now a vivid picture of a mountain lake, surrounded by trees and shimmering moonlight. Sappho stared into the vision hard, finally able to make out the dark, but nonetheless beautiful image of two women floating in the water and locked in an intimate embrace.

The poet's smile outshone the stars and the moon, "Aahh! Finally."

Sappho sighed as she watched Xena lift Gabrielle into her arms to carry her out of the water and head slowly for the shore.

Laci waved her hand and the vision disappeared, "That's enough I think."

"Thank you, Laci. I appreciate that," Sappho smiled proudly. "I like to think I had some small hand in this."

"Well, I wouldn't think too much of yourself, Tenth Muse. Their threads were woven together long before they ever met you."

"Really?" Sappho was a little disappointed, "Oh well, the Great Sappho can't be responsible for every grand love story, can she?"

"No," Laci answered, "but she can sure help them along with her poetry."

Sappho bowed at the compliment.

"So what do the Fates have in store for me?"

Laci chuckled, "You never give up. You know I can't tell you that." The maiden leaned forward to whisper, "But I can tell you this ... your thread goes on long after its golden luster has faded."

Sappho laughed and hugged Laci hard again.

"I am really going to miss you."

"Oh, you're not rid of us yet." The same bright shimmering light that brought The Maiden Fate onto the deck, whisked her away. Sappho was, once again, standing alone in the night.

The poet stared across the black ocean and closed her eyes, imaging M'Lila was standing there with her, a voice in perfect harmony with her own.

As Sappho began to sing, she prayed silently that the Muses would carry her voice across the sea to a quiet mountain lake so that a warrior and her bard might hear.

 A Bard Day's Night - written a long time ago, when fanfic was young, kissing in water was not a cliche, Gabrielle was innocent and Xena was a hero in everyone's eyes - even Gabrielle's.

Notes: Just in case you are curious, I've used actual Sappho quotes throughout this story. However, some of the poems and songs used belong to the following artists:

Marie-Madeleine
Rene Vivien
Shakespeare
Enya
Lorenna McKennitt

The Mole & The Owl - written by Chuck Duffie

This author wishes to apologize to all of the above artists for any changes made to their works. The bard, Gabrielle of Poteidaia, does have a habit of changing a story to suite her needs, after all.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!

The Sappho Project: http://www.lesbian.org/sappho-project/  

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