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.
Xex Alert: Oh Boy Is There. .This is a Prurient Piece with a Bit of Kink (If you hear the crack of the whip then you'll be in the neighborhood) Proceed at your own risk. :)
She found the note while cleaning Xena's leathers. Gabrielle had not intended to read it, but the scroll opened of its own accord and as soon as her eyes had fallen upon the letters, the red head had been captured. The seer's words, while stylized, were a mix of caution and prediction and comfort. There was also a very specific message to Xena, the Warlord. It left Gabrielle shaken.
Gabrielle read the missive three times, not fearing Xena's return anytime soon. The warlords were planning how to integrate the next influx of farmers turned warriors, as well as dealing with the new information Xena's spies had sent their way. Xena, sans leathers, but dressed in trousers and tunic, had given her Queen the day off.
The time off was a good thing. She'd convinced Xena that cleaning her leathers would be a "restful" activity, but that was the only chore her lover would allow. So, Gabrielle had intended to use the time to catch up on some of those blank scrolls (and had in fact written two poems) and to putter around the tent, perhaps even go out for a stroll later. At the moment though, her legs didn't seem capable of carrying her to the bench, let alone on a walk around the surrounding area.
She carefully folded the note, following Xena's creases exactly. Then she finished cleaning the leathers, bringing them almost to a silky shine. She put the folded scroll back where she thought it came from. The Warlord would need it.
She went for that walk and thought very hard.
Colchak hadn't been sure at all how things would go. He'd expected. . he wasn't sure what he'd expected. . .She wasn't friendly, ( Not like Gabrielle) but she didn't attack him either. She greeted his son with a smile and let the young man sit in on the planning. Colchak had never felt more proud than when she finished reading what he'd prepared so far. She'd looked him straight in the eye and, while not smiling, had given him praise. "Good Job, Colchak. This will do." Then they began to tear the plan apart. Which is what he expected. The plans needed to be as fool proof as possible.
The original idea was an acknowledgement that Gavin's earlier opponent would not be the only warlord determined to take up arms for Hercules. They wouldn't be able to strong arm every single army, though they could try. So strategies had to be developed, which would use their forces wisely, yet also give leeway for not using them at all.
Gavin's method of convincing had worked sort of, stalling the opposing warlord for a bit, but was only guaranteed for the short term. Either Payne would eventually fall in of his own will or he would cause trouble later. He certainly hadn't made his presence felt yet, so was obviously still deciding whether he wanted to face Xena's wrath or Hercules'. Gavin had given the brutal man three days.
Gabrielle's letters would help, of course. They could always send more, personal persuasion (blackmail was always an option). But they had to plan for terrain and timing and for Hercules' own maneuvers. He'd already taken another big city. Xena's spy (an obviously ungainly fellow, but so impotent as to defy suspicion) said that Hercules had taken to burning down the temples now, leaving only Hera's and Ares' alone. This was Not a good sign. Things were so bad that the spy pleaded not to go back. Xena assigned him to the supply master to help with establishing the supply line. She promised he would be as far away from Hercules as possible.
Xena worried. The news about Iolaus had not been good. But she had no way of judging what was going on between the two men. To all intents and purposes it sounded similar to what she and Gabrielle were experiencing, except rougher. Very rough. Xena dreaded the possible reality. She could only hope, for Iolaus' sake that there was some gentling in there. She sighed inwardly and set the matter aside. It had been Iolaus' decision and she hadn't been able to talk him out of it. There was nothing she could do about it now.
The warlords returned to their plans, with Xena making some surprising adjustments. There was a little bit of argument, which was settled by Xena simply deciding it was going to be done HER way By DAMN. Gavin had grinned, Philomon had pouted and Colchak had simply shook his head and had Darvin adjust the notes. He and Darvin were of the same mind, they wished Gabrielle were there.
Evening's glow had begun its purpling by the time the warlords were finished. A fairly solid interim plan had been established, as well as some rank and file ordering. Some folks would be receiving a change in status. The sounds of the camp settling in for the night, from crackling fires to the banging of metal being repaired (their smiths were working overtime to prepare) sang through the air as the warlords finally departed from the tent. Colchak invited Xena and Gabrielle to his tent for dinner, but was gently refused. This time she smiled, a genuine toothy affair that set Colchak's loins astir. (Jalani would have an amorous companion that night). He'd forgotten how winning the comely woman could be. Xena wanted some time with her bard, so they arranged another opportunity for socializing later.
Gabrielle wasn't in their tent when the warrior arrived. Solari hadn't seen the bard since that afternoon. She did say that Gabrielle had taken her staff and had said that she would return before nightfall. Xena found her leathers, freshly clean and folded neatly, by her robe. She also found a small note that told her the bard headed west and was planning on circling around. She would be following the river.
The Mediterranean woman had a moment of hysteria, which flickered in her eyes and passed so quickly it might as well not have happened. Gabrielle had been by herself before. The Amazon left a note so Xena Wouldn't worry. The red head was capable of taking care of herself. . . . .mostly. The warrior knew Gabrielle well enough to guess what would happen if she thought Xena was overreacting. So. . Xena *wouldn't* overreact and she *wouldn't* worry, but that didn't mean she couldn't make a choice to go find her gentle woman for other reasons.
It was light still and Argo was needing a good run anyway. Xena gathered a few items she thought might be useful and told Solari she might not be back until morning. Then she set out to find her bard.
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