by
Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger
Copyright © June 23, 2001 Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger
All Rights Reserved
eyes refused to focus on anything before her. Her mind was trying to find the place it needed to be to face
the task before her.
Ever since coming up with this plan a few days ago, Xena had become increasingly distant. All of her
thoughts focused inward more with each passing moment. She drew within herself searching for that state
of consciousness required for what she was about to do?face an army of 20,000 warriors, and face it
alone. This was a challenge that made fighting gods seem like child?s play.
A glinting of sunlight off of gold brought her vision back to the present moment and her current
surroundings. The flashing light reflected off of Gabrielle?s hair as she moved before Xena. The bard was
dressed in a medium blue kimono. Her face was drawn as she looked at the warrior.
?Oh please, Gabrielle,? Xena silently begged, ?don?t do this now.? Her expression remained hard.
Gabrielle either did not hear or chose not to heed the thoughts of her friend. With tears welling up in her
eyes, she surged forward, enveloping the warrior in a desperate embrace. ?I won?t lose you,? her words
hissed out in a fervent whisper. ?Please don?t do this.?
Xena?s arms automatically wrapped around the bard?s body as her mind beat her emotions back into
submission. She could not afford the luxury of emotions right now. Pulling the small body away from her
own, she spoke through the icy wall of her warrior façade, ?Gabrielle, you know I have to do this.?
?No! No, I don?t know that!? Wide jade eyes looked up with a slight wildness in them mirroring the
quickened breathing of the bard.
Xena shook her head slightly, trying to convince the other woman, ?This is the good?the right thing to
do.? Sable brows contracted with meaning, ?Please understand?.?
Gabrielle gripped at Xena?s shoulders, using the warmth of her touch and words to batter at the icy walls
keeping the woman locked away from her, behind the warrior, ?Xena, I can?t lose you again.? Her
fingers touched the dark strands of hair, ?I love you.? She took a breath to steady herself. Trembling
fingers caressed the tanned face as she whispered, ?I?m in love with you.?
Blue eyes closed as Xena tilted her head up. Oh gods, what kind of cruel joke is this to play on us?
Why, after so many years together, do you only give us the courage to say this now? She looked
back down at the face filled with apprehension. She wiped a tear from the bard?s cheek with her thumb.
?I?m in love with you, too, Gabrielle.?
The gloved fingers cupped around the small jaw as she leaned forward. Xena?s lips met Gabrielle?s
gently. It was the first time either of them had kissed without hiding their feelings for each other behind the
decorum of friendship. They both put their hopes and dreams for their life together into that single kiss.
The warrior?s mind grieved, ?I?m sorry I never did this sooner. Forgive me, my bard, for what I
have to do now.?
As Xena broke off the kiss, she once again raised the walls between herself and her love. Her voice was
resigned, ?I have to go.?
?No!? Gabrielle moved to grab Xena again, but she was held back in a strong grip. Tears sprang to her
eyes and poured down her face. ?Don?t do this to us! Please, Xena. Once, just once let me be more
important to you than?than making up for your past!?
?Gabrielle!? Xena?s jaw dropped in shock at the pleading words.
?I?ve never asked this of you before, but I am now.?
Xena held out a hand, palm up, ?This is about more than making up for my past, Gabrielle. These people
need my help! This is about the greater good.?
Her explanations fell on deaf ears as Gabrielle countered angrily, ?I don?t give a damn about the greater
good!?
The two women stared at each other silently, a titanic battle of wills taking place. The air crackled with
the intense energy passing between them.
When the bard finally spoke, her voice was deceptively calm, like the eye of a storm, ?Xena, you once
said that for everyone, there is something that goes beyond the greater good.? She closed the distance
between them both. ?You said I?m that for you. Well, that?s what you are for me.?
