ars amandi

by

spqr

Disclaimer: Xena:Warrior Princessª is copyright © Renaissance Picture, Universal Pictures, and Network USA. This piece of fan fiction is not intended to infringe, encroach, or violate above copyright. This work contains explicit sexual situations between two adult women. If this is illegal where you live, or if you are under 18 years, then I suggest you move along to...let's see...Pokemon.ª Sokrates and his compatriots belong to the ages. Any comments, suggestions, critiques, may be sent to lameyers@adnc.com . I love feedback!!! Please send feedback!!!

part three

The Klepsydra Springhouse

The third day of the festival was dedicated to the fertility rites. Heaps of the finest of grains and first fruits were brought to the foot of the Akropolis for priests to anoint. The priests, robed in white, signaled for the acolytes to carry the bounty to the top of the hill. The Council and the city elders, somewhat annoyed at having to wait in the hot sun, were waiting at the Akropolis to begin the sacred rites. Many citizens surrounded the base of the hill , some of them spilling into Dionysos' theater. Not far from the amphitheater, and sitting as the tallest monument, the Parthenon rested at the northern side of the Akropolis. A steep path, covered with small stones, crisscrossed a path down the north slope. Near the the bottom the caves of Pan and Apollo were decorated with garlands for the festival; and at the very bottom of the slope stood the Klepsydra springhouse; a quiet place for people to gather to get away from the riotous spectacle in the city.

The springhouse served as a meeting place for those wishing to make use of the spring that gently rippled from an outcropping of subterranean rocks. At one time this served as a bathhouse for the elite, now it served the needs of all. Its marble was stained green in many places and the smooth rocks that served as a floor were cracking, creating a jagged surface for the still intact porch. Free standing Ionic columns, topped with small statues of the Muse' wrapped around the outside porch. The ones closer to the springhouse entrance were permanently stained green by the steam coming from the mouth of the inner chambers.

A certain bard, minus her warrior, was lounging under the shade of cypress and oak trees not far from the springhouse. Several young men and women stood nearby watching the interplay before them.

Apollodoros smiled as he tried to best the bard. "I've meet Sokrates. Have you, bard?"

Gabrielle eyes narrowed. "That's not a fair question, Apollodoros. I was young when he died, stilling living at home. Besides we're talking about the concept of love, not philosophers."

"You forget I was there that night. You can ask Glaukon to verify my presence there."

ÔThis is not about the famous symposium, this is about here and now."

"Yeah, forget about it. You' re boring our friends here at our public debate," Agathon said.

Gabrielle cleared her throat. "I think there is a fine line between suffering and love."

Phaedros nearly spit out his wine. "Are you, Gabrielle, implying that suffering and love come from the same source."

Just as the bard was about to speak Agathon interrupted her. "She didn't mean it that way."

A young man spoke up from the audience. "'From Chaos rose broad-bosomed Earth, the sure

and everlasting seat of all that, and after, Love...'"

Apollodoros frowned at the outburst. "Yes, we do know Hesiod's views on love. Please, no comments from the gallery."

The woman who was with the man eyed the philospher. "'And Love she framed the first of all the gods.'"

Phaedros turned to Apollodoros. "There you see, colleague, we all agree on the antiquity of love!"

Gabrielle laughed. "I don't think our audience will be merciful with us today."

"Why should they be, we're at a festival for Gaia's sake! " Agathon laughed as he drained the last drop of wine from his cup.

Apollodoros stood up and addressed their audience. "So what do we think love is?"

"Love creates valor!"

"Love lives in the heart."

"...unites the one who loves and the beloved."

"Love is pure pleasure!"

"It is the power behind honorable men and women."

"Aphrodite lives!"

"Love is a gift from the gods!"

Gabrielle gestured for her colleague to sit down. "We seem to have a little problem here, gentle friends. Is love a feeling or a physical pleasure?"

Phaedros poured more wine. "Ah...very good, young bard. My question then is: do you necessarily need to have love to make love?" The small crowd cheered at his cleverness.

I would say--yes" The young bard tried not to blush.

Apollodoros gave her a wicked grin. "Would that be by personal experience, Gabrielle?" Both Phaedros and Agathon erupted in laughter while the crowd snickered.

The hairs on the back of Gabrielle's neck began to tingle and she knew the warrior was near enough to be watching her. ÔNow its time for you, my warrior.' "Making loving happens between the beloved and the one who is with the beloved. If love does not live then we would be like the animals, rutting only when the season permitted."

Another young person from the crowd called out to her. "All of Greece knows you travel with the great warrior princess. So tell us something about you and Xena!"

Gabrielle's three companions turned to her for an answer. She knew she was going too far with Xena close by but she proceeded anyway. "What's your name, boy."

"First of all, I'm seventeen and no boy, and my name is Aristogiton."

"Well, young Aristogiton, Xena is a most passionate lover. She knows how to please a woman. She can do more for a woman with her tongue than a man could do with his penis." She thought she heard rocks falling from the cave of Pan.

"Where does her passion come from, Gabrielle? Agathon said, "From Aphrodite Uranaia or from Aphrodite Pandemos?"

An older woman spoke form the audience. "What's the difference, philosopher?"

Apollodoros addressed the woman. "Aphrodite the Elder, they say, was not born of a woman but of the heavens--making her realm the spiritual domain. Aphrodite the Younger was born of a woman, Dione. She takes care of, how shall I say it, earthly pleasures."

A low groan reached the bard's ears. Now Gabrielle was sure the warrior was above her, and not in the trees; but in one of the caves above the patio.

Before any one else could speak, a man, draped with many garlands, ran up to them from the path. "The nights festivities will begin when the sun goes down. You must prepare for the sacrifice!" Most of the crowd, to Gabrielle's dismay, went with the man. Her own companions bade her farwell and moved into the springhouse.

Rolling on her side, the bard placed her drink on the table before her and eyed her surroundings. Xena's presence was still surrounding her, like a spark of static electricity. As she was about to get up and search for her woman a body covered her back. Gabrielle signed. ÔHer weight alone and how it fits into my body tells me, everytime, that's it her."' The woman on her back began to slide her hands towards the bard's breasts.

"Oh, Xena..."

"Yes, my beloved."

"I felt you when I was with those philosophers, almost as if you were laying with me on the lounge . " She sighed in pleasure.

"Do you realize all of Athens will know you are my lover. I'd even bet the rumor has started spreading all ready." She slid her sleek form back and forth against Gabrielle's backside. "Now how shall I punish you for your error, my love." Xena's movements pressed her pubic bone into the cleft of Gabrielle's arse, causing the burning in her loins to spread.

"You know what I like, Xena." The bard purred into Xena's ear.

Xena groaned and moved off the bard. "Come."

ÔShe's taking command and there is nothing I want to do about it.' Gabrielle allowed Xena to guide her along the narrow path which ended at the Cave of Pan. Once at the entrance, Xena took charge and lightly pushed the bard on her hands and knees.

Gabrielle shuddered as Xena lifted her skirt, revealing all of the younger woman's attributes. "You know how to do me, don't you warrior princess?

She heard Xena divest herself from her armor and clothing. She smiled to herself at her cunning ability to get to Xena like this.

"Yes," she moaned when she felt Xena's thighs slide over her skin. She moaned even louder when Xena put her arms around her waist and pulled her in closer. "Oh, you know. What do you expect from me? Submission? Who know I'll never give it all to you, Xena."

"You will, Gabrielle." Xena was panting; her body alive with the need to rut. "Shall I ravish you as I did two nights ago?"

Gabrille smiled to herself. "What, oh that? Hardly impressive, oh mightly warrior princess..." Her voice trailed off when she felt the warrior's hands move from her waist to cup her bosom. Then it happened. Xena's hands moved to her hips and she began thrusting hard against Gabrielle. The young woman gasped at the feeling of something warm and rigid enter her. "You've done this before, Xena. What are you doing to me?"

"Something you like, Gabrielle." Xena moaned. "You've always loved this."

She was wet; her vaginal walls stretching to accomodate the strange intrusion. "Is this love, Xena...ah...are we... making love?"

"I need you...unngh...oh, Gabrielle." The warrior increased her rythym. The sound of thighs slapping againt each other vibrated throuhout the entire cave.

Gabrielle lowered her head and tried to ignore Xena's ellusive answer. Her body was responding to the thrusting and she was deriving intense pleasure from it. "Tell me, warrior!" She demanded. She cried out when Xena plunged deeper into her.

"What force drives you into me , Xena? Is it love or lust?" Two bodies moved together in perfect rhythm.

"This is...ah..a fertility festival...Gab--..."

"oh, gods, please tell me..."

Xena was sweating. "Trust me...you feel so good..."

Gabrielle dropped to her elbows. "Love...or sex....tell me..."

"Don't test me, bard." Xena's hands moved to support herself on Gabrielle's shoulders.

Gabrielle used their momentum to push Xena away from her. She turned around and stood tall before the fallen warrior. Tell me."

After a moment ofstunned silence Xena grabbed the young woman and brought her down on the blankets with her. The warrior grabbed the bard's wrists and pinned her down on her back; she easily mounted her and began urgently humping her. "I love you...oh gods, Garbrielle...I love you!" Xena only lasted a couple moments before crying out in orgasm