"Let the Night Fall"
By Nika
Disclaimers:
the characters of Xena and Gabrielle belong to Ren.Pic, Robert Tapert and other media type organizations. In any case, they don't belong to me, I'm just playing with them without permission. I'll put them back when I'm done, they'll be sanitized for your protection. Please don't sue me, I'm sure I'm not going to make a profit from this.
Subtext: this piece of fan fiction contains scenes that depict a relationship of a sexual nature between two women in love. If you're under age or this is illegal where you live turn back now or jump in a time machine while you move to another country. Rating: nc-17
Spoiler:This story takes place post-FIN. There are spoilers to the Xena series finale.
Comments, feedback, and constructive criticism may be sent to latinnika@yahoo.es. Thank you.
The blonde warrior bard stood in the middle of the campsite hugging herself and looking up towards the orange streaked sky. Dusk would fall soon and she felt a smile forming on her lips. There was a time when she would have preferred the light of day, the sunshine and yellow fields swaying in the wind. The warmth of Apollo’s rays on her skin, but now the heat and beauty that she needed could only be found under the stars of the night.
The waiting was always the toughest part, the same questions were ever present, would she come? Would this be the night of no passage? Even if she did come, would this be the very last time? That last thought cut like a sword being driven through the heart.
The warrior-bard fought back the tears and the anger rising to choke the breath out of her body. She reminded herself that if she could see her lover even for an instant, one more time, it would be enough, those tiny minutes or hours would last a life time in her memory.
She would come tonight, she felt it within every pore, a flowing in her essence, an extra pulse in her heart beat. It was in the air just like in life it was now in death, she could feel her lover approaching like the coming of a storm.
Gazing now upon the darkened horizon, the lone woman closed her eyes and waited.
It started slowly, warm and cool air swirling at the same time around her, a circle of light enveloping her body. Then…a pair of strong arms, her warrior's arms holding her from behind. The blonde leaned into the body behind her, smiling and relishing the much-missed touch upon her flesh.
They remained that way for what seemed a long period of time, maybe even times, ageless and endless in that warm embrace.
"Xena, you came." Gabrielle said softly
"Of course, love, I wouldn’t miss a date with you."
Gabrielle turned still in Xena’s arms and looked upon the blue eyes that had always held her heart captive.
"But it’s not entirely up to you…how long until they decide you can’t come back?"
"I don’t know…but I do know that time is not now…not tonight. They all owe me many favors still and I’ll be able to come around at least until I finish training you." Xena replied while caressing Gabrielle’s face lovingly.
"Then don’t ever finish. "The blonde said while fighting back tears. She didn’t want to waste this precious time crying or being sad.
"Gabrielle…you know that’s not possible…this is only temporary, the only reason they let me do it at all is because I convinced them it was in their best interest. You know they’re watching your progress. Besides as difficult as it is…we-we have to learn to let go, the both of us." Xena said softly trying not to let her voice crack. She could stand anything in the world and the afterlife except Gabrielle’s pain.
The bard sniffled a little and answered half-heartedly "I know…I know, we’ve been through this before…I just keep hoping there’s some way, like other times."
"I know, love, let’s just make this extra bit of time that we have count." Xena said, leaning down to kiss Gabrielle softly on the lips.
The blonde increased her hold on Xena and pressed her body close deepening the kiss, opening her mouth letting her tongue snake out to seek Xena’s warmth. The dark warrior was reticent to end the moment, her body was already responding to the bards movements, but she knew she had to. She had given her word, there were other matters that she needed to take care of first.
The warrior disengaged herself from Gabrielle’s tight hold and smiled at the blonde's pouty expression and at the slight groan of disapproval she emitted when their lips parted.
"Gabrielle, we have something we need to do." Xena said softly, but firmly.
"Make mad passionate love until we both <pardon the pun> die from exhaustion?" The bard asked with a half hopeful, half-humorous grin.
Xena rolled her eyes with mock exasperation and shook her head smiling brightly.
"Come on bard of mine…quit stalling…besides the sooner we get business out of the way…the sooner we get to play." The warrior waggled her brows a couple of times just for good measure and adding emphasis to her point.
"Okay, warrior princess…you’ve got a point. I just hope I can survive this with all my body parts intact, I’m really fond of both my arms and legs."
Xena chuckled lightly "Yes, so am I, don’t worry you’re getting the hang of it."
"Mmmphh…right if almost cutting off my fingers last night is getting the hang of it…then sure…I’m a pro." Gabrielle said while wriggling her fingers in front of her face.
"Just concentrate, love…remember it’s all in the wrist movement. Now just take it and aim for that tree over there."
"Okay, here it goes…." The bard said while throwing the chakram at the tree Xena had pointed out. The disc hit it’s mark, but at higher point than the bark, it made and odd angle jump and hit a branch, a bunch of feathers were seen flying in the air just before something hit the ground with a loud thump.
"Uh-oh" Both women said simultaneously. The blonde made her way over to the tree and picked up the very dead, very headless owl, she scrunched her nose and made a face while walking back to where Xena stood with an amused expression on her face.
"Yup a real pro..." Gabrielle said dumping the bird on the ground.
"Look at it this way, you won’t have to catch dinner tonight. This is a positive thing." Xena said with a tiny smile on her lips.
"It wasn’t positive for the bird." The bard countered.
"Touché, darling …I think you’re stalling again…let’s go...this time try to keep your hand at chest level, while moving it forward."
"Alright…here it goes again…" The blonde threw the disc, this time it hit it’s mark but instead of embedding it self in the trunk it ricocheted and flew straight for the two women.
Gabrielle ducked and the disc hit Xena’s fortunately ghostly arm. The warrior shivered when the chakram hit and passed through, it was a strange sensation, she still couldn’t get quite used to. It didn’t hurt really; it was more like it left a tingly-ticklish feeling on her skin or rather non-skin.
"Xena, you okay?" It was a question asked more out of reflex than anything else.
"Yeah …no worries. Not having a solid constitution comes in very handy when giving chakram lessons to a certain bard I see." The warrior said while prying the disc off another mauled tree.
"Sorry…you’re the one with many skills…" Gabrielle said shrugging her shoulders.
"Yes, I am or rather was…now it’s your turn and as I recall you’ve got many skills of your own, love." Xena said smiling and handing the disc back to Gabrielle.
The blonde frowned as she took it and held on to Xena’s hand "Don’t say that…"
"Don’t say what? That you’ve got many skills too? But you do…"
"No, not that…the was part…don’t say was…it-it makes it sound so final." The bard said sadly, caressing the warrior's fingers.
"Oh, love…we have to face it…I…Gods what have I done? I shouldn’t have come back, this is just making it harder for you…"
"Xena, stop that. If you hadn’t come back, I would have gone mad. We never would have had a chance to say so many things that would have gone unsaid…things I needed to hear, things I needed to tell you and we never would have…oh Gods Xena…I’m grateful for every moment I have with you. I’m sorry if I get so emotional, don’t ever be sorry for coming back to me. I’ll be okay, I promise…I just have to get used to the idea…of…of...It was just so unfair and horrible, what they did to you…and… " The bard was on the verge of tears and she couldn’t keep her voice from cracking.
The dark warrior took the bard into a loving embrace and held on tight. In part to comfort her, in part to comfort herself.
"Love…let’s not worry about the morning, we’ve got tonight and if there’s no tomorrow it won’t matter because no one can take away what we are and what we do right here and now. And remember we’ve been down this path before, we’ll be together always, our lives are weaved together in the fate’s tapestry. We share one soul, if I leave tonight, it won’t be forever. I need you to listen, don’t interrupt okay? I want you to be happy, when I leave, don’t deny yourself love, if you find someone who can make you happy…no, listen…you have a life before you, live it wisely, I’ll be waiting for you as long as it takes. We’ll be together again, in the beginning, in the end, we’ll be together."
Gabrielle looked up into eyes of the woman that she loved even beyond death and felt the weight of the world slipping away from her shoulders. The warrior was right nothing and no one could ever take away what they were to each other and the time they spent together.
"Xena…love me."
"Forever and beyond."
They closed the scant distance that separated their bodies and kissed. First they sought a soft connection, it soon evolved into a long and deep duel of lips, tongues and teeth. The sweet dance increased in pace and intensity, they wanted to devour each other, drink from the other until there was nothing left. Their hands roamed over every piece of flesh, they traveled through the plains and the curves…the highlands and the mountains.
They undressed each other with urgency, with the dire need to feel and taste bare skin.
When they crashed upon each other in the ground they were both breathing hard and fast, long gone were the words, now was the time for soft moans and an almost animalistic groaning coming from both of the sweating needy bodies.
Xena left Gabrielle’s mouth only after the need to explore the rest of her body became unbearable. She began by whispering words of love and lust in her lovers ear, the bard shivered from arousal and anticipation, the warrior then kissed up and down the blondes throat and bit down lightly on the pulse point. Gabrielle groaned her approval and pushed down Xena's head, while clawing at her back. Jolts of pleasure shot down to both women’s centers. Xena continued her journey, kissing softly down the luscious body before her, stopping at the breasts to pay them due homage. She traced the tip of her tongue around the nipples, watching them with delight when they rose, tight and taut, she sucked on them first lightly, then hard, biting down on them. Gabrielle arched her back to meet her lovers body, Xena always knew how to touch her, she was crazy with need, her breasts and rest of her body felt like they were on fire. It was a liquid fire that flowed through her veins and in between her thighs. The dark haired woman, abandoned her prizes when she felt the strong scent of her love's arousal, it seemed her mouth was needed else elsewhere. She decided to tease her bard just a little longer, she kissed at the insides of the thighs and around the mound being careful not to put her lips where they were needed the most. The blonde squirmed and writhed, unable to control her body, she needed release soon, but this brand of torture felt oh so nice too. Finally the need to feel complete took over and she spoke the words she knew her lover wanted to hear.
"Oh, Gods Xena…please…"
"Please what, love?"
"Ohhhmmm, stop teasing…."
"Tell me what you want."
"I-I- need you…love me….fuck me…I need you inside…please" Gabrielle half said half panted.
Xena relented and descended on her lovers center, this was the one true heaven for her.
She would never get enough of this sweet tasting nectar, her tongue slipped in and out of the velvety tunnel as it produced more and more of the liquid ambrosia. Xena drank all of it with pleasure, she swirled her tongue around the small hard nodule of nerves and felt it throbbing under her ministrations, she took it in her mouth and sucked while inserting two fingers into the blondes wet and more than ready tunnel. Gabrielle gasped and arched her back at the welcome invasion and began thrusting her hips at the same tempo set by her lovers talented digits.
"MMHHM OH YESSSSSS….XENA…SOOO.GOOD, DON’T STOP"
The bard's pleas, inflamed the warrior further and she sped up her pace, moving her hand franticly trying to bring her lover to highest pinnacle of pleasure. Gabrielle’s rocking movements made it difficult for the warrior to keep her place over the clit with her mouth, she had to still her a some by pressing down on the thigh with her free hand. Just a little longer she thought, she knew the bard was close, her body had begun to tense, soon she would spasm and come down with her inside, taking all there was to be given.
"Gods….Xeeeeeeenaaaaa!!!!!!!" The bard screamed her release into the night and crashed into the ground waiting for her lover's arms to secure the rest of her journey. She didn’t have to wait long.
The warrior climbed up her love's body and held her close stroking her hair and whispering words of love until she came down from the shattering climax.
Gabrielle sunk her head in between Xena’s breasts and lost herself within the strong arms that held her.
"You’re the best lover alive…erm I mean…"
Xena chuckled and smirked "I know what you mean…don’t worry…it’s just that I…" The blonde interrupted putting a hand over the warriors mouth.
"Honey, please don’t say it…it gets kind of old after a while."
"Mhhphh. Well I am offended." Xena replied raising one of her brows.
"Tell me where and I’ll kiss it to make better." Gabrielle countered raising both her brows and smiling wickedly.
Xena spent several hours pointing out to Gabrielle exactly where she was offended. In fact they took turns, when Gabrielle decided to be offended in several places too.
Long after, they lay there in the campsite looking up at the starry filled sky, content to be in each other's company. Feeling alive within the strength of their love.
Gabrielle pressed herself impossibly close to Xena’s body while playing with a lock of the raven tresses between her fingers.
"Xena how does it work?" The blonde asked suddenly curious.
"Mhhhm, how does what work love?"
"How come the chakram didn’t hurt you…I mean your arm got sort of transparent as it passed through, but here with me you’re completely solid."
"I don’t really know, I think it has to do with how I focus my energy."
"I’ve been meaning to ask…where do you go when you leave here?"
"We have so many friends in different places, I just travel from one paradise to another, but mostly I’m in Elysia with Solan and Mother."
"My warrior, always the wanderer…even in the afterlife you won’t settle down." The blonde shook her head in wonder.
"That’s right…but you know I would for you." Xena said flashing her love a smile.
" The sun will rise soon…" Gabrielle observed sadly.
"Yes." Xena replied simply, with a twinge of regret coloring her voice.
"You’ll be gone again."
"Not really, I’ve said it before…even in death Gabrielle I will never leave you." Xena said this gazing into her lover's sea green eyes.
As blue met green their world blended into one, they kissed softly and deeply without rushing the moment. They tried to make this instant eternal, but the sands of time stop for no one, while they kissed rays of red and gold began to color the horizon.
Gabrielle caressed her beloved's face as it faded with the dawning of the light.
She left her hand there touching the air for what seemed to be ages. Then when she again became aware of her surroundings she retracted the outstretched hand and let it drop heavily on the bedroll, a single tear fell next to it. At least she had hope that they would have at least one more chance to be together at dusk, before Xena was taken from her.
At the moment all she could do was live through the day and pray. As she looked at the sun high in the horizon only one thought occupied her mind. <Let the night fall down on me.>
The End ?