The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
The smell of horse sweat permeated the air and mixed with the scent of hay and manure. It wafted to Gabrielle's nose on the crests and falls of the warm wind. She squinted into the dark barn. She could hear Xena's low voice responding to a masculine voice. She couldn't understand what Xena was saying, but the man's voice carried and it held the sound of an incipient hysteria.
"I tell you Xena, they are up to something. Why do you think I rode *all the way* over here as soon as I heard you were around?" The sound of towel rustling to the ground was replaced with a kind of scratchy noise. Gabrielle leaned closer.
"mumble mumble Toris, mumble." Damn, Gabrielle thought, she hated it when Xena spoke this low. Made eavesdropping nigh unto impossible. Not that Xena wouldn't tell her what they were talking about, but the warrior was constantly telling her to improve her listening skills. Gabrielle just knew her companion was doing this on purpose. Xena probably knew she was right outside of the barn too.
"You don't understand. They had a *matchmaker* with them! They were even talking ceremony designs." There was a sound of something hitting the floor. His voice raised in pitch. "Oh my Gods! You know what that means. They're plotting to marry me off. I can just feel it." Gabrielle raised her eyebrows. "You have got to do something! I can't get married. . I mean I have other. . I 've made . . .I mean Gabrielle's nice and all, but I hardly know her sister and you know that's who they. . ."
Gabrielle leaned on her staff and tried to move a little closer to the doorway without actually going in. "Toris mumble mumble we mumble mumble. No problem mumble mumble."
There was a bit more rustling and a couple of whinnies from the four legged occupants. Then Gabrielle heard footsteps. She took a few quick ones herself, turned around and made it look like she was just now arriving. She gave a friendly wave, "Hi Toris, been awhile."
Toris gave her a surly nod. He got an elbowing by his sister and his expression changed instantly to one of friendly reception. "Hi Gabrielle. Anything interesting going on?"
The bard stopped and leaned against her pole. Her face took on an aspect of thoughtfulness. "Interesting. Interesting." She shook her head, "Nope." Then she grinned, "But that should change. We're going to Amphipolis pretty soon." Toris stopped midstep and had to set his foot down. Xena grinned and gave the bard a wink. Gabrielle felt a glow of warm pride swell from her heart to her belly.
Xena strode forward, her dark hair drifted in the summer wind. She smiled at the bard and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel about leaving tomorrow."
The bard grinned back and shrugged, "I've got nothing better to do."
Xena raised her eyebrows and bent her head down. "I'm sorry." she whispered warmly into the bard's ear. Xena's face pressed softly against the strawberry blonde's face. "Maybe we can come back later. I'll make it worth your while." The warrior's breath tickled and Gabrielle felt a small jolt quake down her spine.
Okay, so maybe there were some good uses for a low voice. Gabrielle whispered back, "Okay," and let it go at that.
Xena paid for Toris' lodgings.
In his rush to find her, he'd not given any thought to where *he* would be staying. Xena claimed modesty and refused to share a room. She made sure he had a nice one though. He guessed it was a girl thing, though he'd never really thought of Xena as a girl. He'd always thought of her as Xena, his sister. It's not like they hadn't shared rooms before.
But she deftly maneuvered him into accepting her offer. At least the bed was soft.
Toris prepared for a good night's sleep.
Gabrielle locked the door and turned around. She leaned against it with a sigh. Her voice was soft, "That was close."
Xena gave an noncommittal, "mmm." The bed settled under her weight as she leaned back, using her arms as support. Most of her armor was already off. Her eyes smoldered and her lips quirked.
Gabrielle blinked and then laughed, "Okay, maybe it wasn't close."
Xena grinned. Then she crooked her fingers in a summons.
Gabrielle did that little unselfconscious lip licking thing that says, "I am about to get LUCKY." She unpropped herself from the door and headed for Xena's open arms.
Toris had more trouble sleeping than he'd anticipated. Erotic noises had filled a good portion of the night and left him restless. He had no idea who it was, but he didn't know a woman's could keen like that. It had actually aroused him. So of course, he had to do something about it.
Afterwards, though he was more relaxed, he fretted about the whole marriage thing for a few hours. He did have confidence in Xena. But Xena got her stubbornness from somewhere, and he knew from whom it came. His mother was not someone to trifle with. OH Gods! He was going to get married! He gave out a mighty groan, dragged his hands to his face and slammed his head back into the pillow.
He finally drifted off at the point when the night was darkest.
ŠJune 1997