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. :)

Well it's not so much sex, although things do get a little steamy.

The more Colchak spoke the wider Xena's grin became. The blonde man's hands would have been waving frantically to match the animation in his face, that is if his bones were totally healed. But it didn't matter. Everyone caught the enthusiasm.

It was a wickedly sneaky idea, and as Xena favored, it attacked on two fronts (at least).

They would let the prisoners go. They would be free to join Hercules' camp or whatever they wanted. Those prisoners, however, would include the seeds of dissent and disobedience. In other words, some of their own people would be thrown in with the bunch (after being appropriately roughed up.) These seeds would find the those individuals who were in Hercules' army against their will and a core group would form. They wouldn't act until the actual big battle. Then they would rise from the middle or wherever they were and turn on their comrades.

The only problem was that there was no guarantee that would happen. In order to effectively win, they would have to plan as if those seeds didn't exist, for they might not make it past the big man.

Gabrielle listened carefully, her head nodding, her fingers threaded through Xena's. She looked thoughtful, then her eyes brightened. She had an idea of her own. "You need someone to be in charge, don't you?" Colchak blinked and nodded carefully. He'd already had someone in mind. Gabrielle smiled, "Iolaus."

Xena did a double take, "Iolaus? Hercules'. . ."

Gabrielle turned regarded Xena with a hazel gaze, "He's the one who asked for help, remember? He made the choice to stay. If we can get these people in, he can surely organize them." She bit her lip lightly, then spoke sincerely, "There's a certain. . .power, in being a . .trusted . .slave. If Iolaus is alive, it's because he's arrived at that point." Her gaze begged understanding. Begged and received. Xena touched her cheek gently, intimately. The warlord's expression was thoughtful.

She phrased her response carefully, "If Iolaus is in such a position, yes, it would be right to have him lead. If his mind is changed, however. . ."

"If his mind is changed?" Gabrielle sat up abruptly and the water sloshed in the tub.

Xena frowned, "Gabrielle, sometimes when a person has been hurt long enough, often enough they come to feel. . .they come to like. ." She was reaching for the words to explain. She knew the problem, had faced it herself, but how to explain it. The mind changed. That was all. You came to see the captor's point of view, then after awhile you started defending, then after that you started loving. She had been there before, on both sides.

Gabrielle blurted out in consternation, "But I like. . ." Was she saying that Gabrielle shouldn't?

Wet fingers pressed against Gabrielle's lips before she could continue and Xena spoke very gently, "It's not the same. You are free to enjoy," Xena smirked knowingly and kept her answer vague. There was a child present after all, "what you like." How she knew that, Xena wasn't sure, but she was positive of the truth of the statement. The mark told Xena as much, but she would have known it looking in Gabrielle's eyes. When the warlord looked at Gabrielle and the trust in the woman's eyes she knew that her lover was free, free to be what she was, however she was.

Xena could have been like Hercules was now, and that wonderful regard would have been mixed with fear (which was an aphrodisiac of its own, but there were other ways to get that look) but it was obvious that she'd been tempering her actions and her will of late. She recognized the signs. The question was, what was her motivation? It made Xena wonder. She continued, "Iolaus is not. He will adapt. His mind will, anyway. Things may not be the same, but that doesn't mean he won't be reliable. One can still love and yet want freedom," Yes, she had been there before. It had been one of the hardest kills she'd ever made. "It's chancy. We'll have to send in two teams. One to let him know and if they fail, because of his betrayal, then we send in the others later with a different set."

Colchak was nodding. "Yes. Yes," he spoke, "two teams. We should select our seeds tonight. So they can be properly prepared." Xena considered Colchak's words as her hand lazily caressed Gabrielle's shoulder.

She nodded, "You be in charge of that Colchak." She smirked, "I've had a long day, and I'm," Her look at Gabrielle said more than her words, "taking the night off. Give me a list before dawn, so I may be prepared."

Jalani took Evania in her arms and Colchak stood up gracefully. That was one benefit of having his collarbones broken. His lower back was much more flexible. He nodded to his son, who had been listening with interest, "Darvin, put your shirt on and come with me, I'll need your help." They exited the tent not too long after.

Aedal spoke into the quiet that seemed to descend and started rising from the tub. "If it's all the same to you, I . . ." Esther handed him a towel and a smile. She looked meaningfully at her new lover over Aedal's shoulder and there was a bare nod and a smile from her.

Xena spoke quickly, "You're excused. Have a good time." He was out of the tub and helping Viv out in almost no time. The three of them made a quick and almost graceful exit. Xena leaned forward and asked Gabrielle, "What was with that?" The water was finally starting to cool and the warlord's fingers were wrinkling.

Gabrielle grinned and raised her eyebrows, "Well," she began. "Viv's been wanting a baby for some time now. Esther and Vivian got together while we've been camped here and they found out that Aedal was my cousin. They figured it would be like having royal blood." The strawberry blonde moved lightly and the liquid splashed, "Plus, they like him." She smiled. "And he likes them. It works."

Xena grinned and shook her head at Amazon practicality, "that it does." Nothing like a little planning ahead.

Jalani smiled and stood up herself. Evania's eyes were half closed and she rested her head against the woman's shoulder, "Well, my friends," She spoke lightly, "I must put this one to bed and let you get to yours." She smiled gently, "Be well."

"Thanks Jalani, You too." Gabrielle spoke and Xena smiled in recognition. The sweet woman made her way quickly, pausing only to cover a dish. Soon they were alone, in the tub. Xena sat back, reluctant to move too much. The Queen scootched forward and stood up.

The warlord narrowed her eyes, "And where do you think you are going?" A long arm snaked forward and was evaded by smooth legs.

Gabrielle smirked, "Well, I don't know about you, I'm taking Jalani's advice and going to bed."

Xena grinned, stood up briskly and hopped out of the bath. She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's hips, and lifted the smaller woman out of the water. Gods, Gabrielle loved it when Xena showed her strength. She squealed and her body slid wetly down Xena's. The warrior looked down at her with blue blue eyes, smiling, "What *am* I going to do with you?"

Gabrielle grinned impishly. She tapped the warrior's chin with her finger and tisked, "The question, My love, is *not* what are you going to do with me." She leaned seductively and placed loving lips against the dip of Xena's throat. Her voice became a silky purr, "The question is," She kissed Xena's collarbone. "what am *I,*" She kissed the other collarbone, "going to *do* to *you.*" Then she slid out of Xena's startled grip and raced to the partition.