Warlord Daze

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. :)

The goddess, legs crossed elegantly, palms pressed against the surface of what appeared to be a floating bench, grinned saucily at them once they finally stepped out from the tent. Their love making had lasted well past morning and up to, almost, around the time Xena originally left the warcamp the night before. There was still light, but it would be fading soon and Xena was determined, if regretful, to get back to the camp in some sort of timely manner. Considering she'd planned on being back and working early in the morning, they were way over time. If the camp was still in place though, she'd consider this diversion well worth the moments spent. She grinned wickedly, or even if the camp wasn't. She reveled in delicious satiation.

Gabrielle stretched and yawned as she stepped out. Her nubile body arched towards the sunlight and she smiled innocently (well, not too innocently) at the world. To her, something very important had been accomplished and she felt more connected to Xena at that moment than she felt when she committed to Perdicas. The knowledge that Xena had agreed to mark her trebled that feeling and she could only guess how the actual tattoo would make her feel.

The bard's thoughts stopped there, not because there weren't more mental tracks to follow, but because Aphrodite pulled one of her goddess tricks. Xena immediately knew something was up. She'd been surreptitiously watching Gabrielle stretch and the woman hadn't moved or breathed in a few heartbeats. The brunette whipped around to talk the Goddess, "Aphrodite!" she warned.

Aphrodite stepped down to the ground and the bench disappeared, "Chill. No one's being hurt. I just wanted to talk to you privately." She strolled up to Xena and grinned, "You two are really something you know that. I bet, if it weren't for all that worry going round in your head, you'd still be in there doing the wild thing wouldn't you." Xena narrowed her eyelids dangerously.

The warrior was peeved, "You put a spell on us. What did you expect?"

Aphrodite laughed, "Xena! That spell dissolved early last night. After the First time." The goddess waved at the tent, "All this other?" She poked the warrior in the chest, "That was you and that babe of yours. Entirely" Aphrodite elongated the word, giving it emphasis. Then the Goddess shivered. Xena looked startled and blushed. She cast a look at her bard. It was all real? It was them? The passion was theirs? Xena trembled at the thought.

The Goddess continued, seeming oblivious to the effect of her words (though she wasn't) "I get tingles just from the residue." Then she grinned, "No wonder Ares doesn't stand a chance with you." She shrugged, "He'll never get it till he sees it for himself of course."

Xena growled and her view narrowed. That smarmy excuse for a God? She hotly started to interrupt, "Ares is Nev. . ."

Aphrodite went on as if Xena hadn't said anything, "Not that he couldn't spend a moment looking at the two of you and figure it out eventually. He simply doesn't *want* to see it. Anyway," She guided Xena to a standing position in front of Gabrielle. She smiled beatifically and Gabrielle finished her stretch and blinked.

"Oh, Hi, Aphrodite." The bard smiled lazily, sensually. Every angle of her body said that she had been well and thoroughly loved. She stood serenely, absorbing the beauty of the day, of Aphrodite and of Xena. Xena goggled a bit, wondering where the bard's modesty had gone.

"Hi, sweets." The blonde returned the bard's lazy smile, her gaze sparkling, "I have a few questions to ask."

"Okay, shoot," the bard said, adopting Aphrodite's mannerisms for the moment. The bard's hazel eyes were soft and her body relaxed. The goddess was her friend after all. How many people could say that? Besides, at this point, Gabrielle had nothing to hide.

The goddess got right to the point. She was on a schedule of a sorts. "Gabrielle do you love Xena?"

Now her love was led by more than her desire, but it was her desire that spoke first. The bard's smile, if possible, became even more lazy and seductive. Her response was husky, but from the heart, "Yes." Xena's knees went weak and her mouth dry.

The Goddess grinned at the response, "Enough to deal with her forever, no matter what? Good times and bad and all that?"

Gabrielle didn't even pause to think about it, "Yes." This time, her voice was firm, her expression determined. She meant it when she said she would follow Xena to Hades and back. If it were not so, she would not be here.

Aphrodite, her diaphanous gown twirling with the motion of her body, turned to Xena, "How about you? Same deal."

Xena blinked not quite catching on to what was occurring, "Yes, of course, I. . " Her brows were knit, trying to comprehend why the Goddess was asking something so obvious. The warrior was sure the Goddess was aware of her love for Gabrielle. Why was she making her say it?

The goddess grabbed their hands, pulled them together in a clasp and spoke solemnly (for her), "What I have joined no one or thing may break, so it is." Then she abruptly let go, then there was a sprinkle of light, "Great, then here's your wedding present. Use it, and it will make everything official. Don't wait too long. In fact, I'd start tonight, instead of waiting till tomorrow, but as long as you do it within the week you should be fine." She handed the warrior a dull metal box. "Sorry your honeymoon couldn't be longer, but I'll try to arrange something a little later. Don't worry about time, I gave you a few free hours to spend. Go on back to camp and when it's right, kick some burly butt. Just," Aphrodite's expression turned very serious and quite sad, "remember he's my brother, huh? I love him loads. He's really a good guy. It's not his fault that Ares. . ." She couldn't continue.

Xena spoke up, recovering from the shock, "He's our friend too. We'll try to be. . ." She tried to sound reassuring, but the statuesque warrior also knew she would do whatever it took, even if it meant killing the man. The only thing she could promise was that, if it came to that, she wouldn't be cruel about it.

Aphrodite sighed and nodded, "I know. I know. I know you'll do right by him. I wish," she shook her head, "well, it doesn't matter." She gave them a watery smile and kissed them both, very modestly on the cheek. She pointed to the box, "Get it done." She smiled serenely, pleased with herself, "I'll be sure and tell my priests, someone will send a scroll. Later." The Goddess vanished in a sparkle of light.

Gabrielle, her expression finally losing that seductive haze and now somewhat perplexed and stunned, "Did what I think happened just happen?" The warrior looked at her lover and then at the box in her hand.