Campside Confessions
by Destined Bard
GENERAL DISCLAIMER: Xena: WP characters are the sole property of MCA/Universal, Renaissance Pictures and any others who own its rights. No copyright infringement was intended.
AUTHOR'S DICLAIMER: This story is rated PG. It portrays a lesbian relationship between two consenting adults. If you cannot handle this topic, please exit this page (and this site). Otherwise, please read on. :)
This story is dedicated to 8ball, the love of my life. I love you, Baby. I'll come to bed now! lol!
Gabrielle sat attentively on the hillside enjoying the remnant of the sunset. As the sky reflected a rainbow of red, blue, and violet hues, she reflected on her life, her decision to travel with Xena. She was truly happy, and the smile on her face made it clear.
The warrior stood behind Gabrielle, pretending to observe nature at work. Truly, her attention was on the bard, the woman that had, in so many ways, changed her life.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Gabrielle asked, eyes still focused intently on the ever-changing sky.
"Yes, it is," said Xena with a smile.
Once darkness had overcome the sky, they returned to their camp. Gabrielle, still in a reflective mood, decided to scribble a few thoughts of her life on an empty piece of parchment. Xena watched her softly, crystal blue eyes caressing the bard's small frame, though she pretended to clean her sword.
Sensing that she was being watched, Gabrielle looked up. Xena lowered her head quickly, hoping that she had not been caught.
"Xena, do you want something?" Gabrielle could not help but smile.
"No...no." She hestitated. "I...I, hmm," she said clearing her throat. Observing the bard's smile, she quickly thought up a comeback. "I was just wondering what's making you so happy. You haven't smiled so much in a long time."
The bard looked around as she thought of the right words to express herself. "I was just thinking about my life, how well everything has turned out."
"So, I take it that you're happy with your life, then."
"I am. You know, this is the happiest I've been in a long time, Xena, and I really owe it all to you."
The warrior smiled humbly. "Me?"
"Xena, ever since I've been with you, I've had the chance to learn so much, to do so much." She gently laid a hand on the warrior's shoulder. "Xena, you helped to bring out a side of me that no one else wanted to see, a side that I needed to see. You believed in me when no one else would, and I owe you so much for that." A smile. "I couldn't imagine being happier with anyone else."
Xena was on the verge of tears but managed to maintain her composure. She returned the bard's gesture. "Neither could I." She paused a moment to enjoy the chance to stare into the green eyes that had penetrated her heart. "I never thought that I'd be the one to teach you anything. I know at times, I've been a bad example to you."
Gabrielle agreed. "Maybe, but I have no hard feelings, Xena. You know that don't you?"
"Yes, I know, but it's always nice to have you to reinforce it." Silence found its way into their conversation again. An overjoyed Xena replayed Gabrielle's words in her mind. 'I couldn't imagine being happier with anyone else.' Gabrielle watched Xena curiously, wondering what thoughts had captured her attention.
"Why so quiet, Xena? What are you thinking about?" Internally, she knew that Xena was thinking about the words that had just passed between them.
A blush settled upon the warrior's tanned face. Feeling particularly bold, Xena lifted a hand to touch the smaller woman's cheek. Gabrielle closed her eyes and savored the touch of the woman she had long desired to call her own. Xena took care to caress every detail with slow strokes.
The fire from their camp flickered in the gentle breeze in the autumn air. The warrior watched as strands of the bard's golden locks blew softly across her face. Despite the breeze, Xena felt a warm rush pass through her body. She knew in her heart that it was time for the bard to know the truth.
"Gabrielle, I know this is a deviation from the norm, but I'd like to tell you a story if it's okay with you." The amazon woman nodded her head and Xena began. "A long time ago, there was a village that was famous for its diamond caves. Villagers there had scavenged up tons of moderately-sized diamonds, but one man manganed to find one that was much larger than normal. Aphrodite had been watching what was happening in the village. You know how she is about jewelry - diamonds are a girl's best friend. She had to have this huge jewel, but the villager refused to give it to her. Aphrodite was so upset that she cast a spell over the entire village that made everyone act like lovesick puppies. Everyone in the village was so busy chasing each other that Aphrodite easily made off with the diamond. She didn't remove the spell, though, and that left the village at my army's disposal. We ransacked that town without any hassle. From that day on, there was a running joke with me and my men about how weak love could cause people to become."
"That's horrible, Xena. What happened to the villagers?"
"Well, she eventually did take the spell off, but the damage had been done."
"I can't imagine you and your men joking like that, Xena. I thought that even back then you loved Borias."
"I don't know if I would call that love, Gabrielle. It took me a little while to understand that love was not a joke. When I met Marcus, I experienced a different kind of "love". It was then that I knew love was a necessary part of my life."
"I just can't imagine you doubting the power of love, Xena, especially because it means so much to you now." Gabrielle ended her sentence, hoping that she had not said too much.
"Looking back on that part of my life now, I know that I could joke about love because I honestly didn't know what it was. I remember that I used to imagine what it would be like to fall in love with someone from the bottom of my heart, but I had no idea it would be like this."
Gabrielle studied her anxiously, lingering on every word that passed from her lips. "You're in love, Xena? That's beautiful."
"I don't know how to describe this feeling. It's the purest feeling that I've ever had. I never imagined that I would be capable of loving someone so much, but now I know I can. It's happening right before my eyes."
Xena's eyes locked onto the bard. Gabrielle sat quietly feeling her heart do acrobatics in her chest. The warrior lifted a hand to the bard's cheek and caressed it softly.
"When I met you, Gabrielle, you were a young peasant girl whom I was fortunate enough to rescue from Draco's clutches. I've watched you blossom into a mature, beautiful woman, and I'm so proud of you. You're a part of me now - I can't imagine my life without you." Xena took a deep breath. She returned her gaze into the eyes of the woman of her dreams. "I'm in love with you, Gabrielle," she said, her hand slightly trembling against Gabrielle's cheek. Her voice became soft. "I love you more than anyone in this world."
Xena waited what seemed to be an eternity to hear Gabrielle's response. Her greatest fear was that the smaller woman would not return her love. The thought was far too painful to bare.
The bard stared at Xena in awe. She reached out to touch the warrior, to make sure that her ears had not deceived her. For so long, in her mind's eye, she had imagined those very words coming from Xena's lips, but in a million winters, she would have never imagined that Xena truly loved her romantically. Now the reality lay over her like a sheet of fog. She had not the words to describe what she felt. Tears poured helplessly from her eyes.
Xena studied Gabrielle closely and wiped away her tears. Underneath the emotion in the bard's eyes, Xena could see happiness; she could see Gabrielle's passion burning alive within her soul. Xena smiled and internally sighed a sigh of relief. She took the bard into her arms and held her lovingly. Gabrielle held on to her tightly, feeling a degree of safety that she had never experienced before.
Xena lifted the bard's chin to meet her eyes again. "I've waited so long to see that look in your eyes, my love. I love you so much, Gabrielle." The warrior allowed her hands to once again roam free along the bard's face. Slowly, anxiously, their faces drew near to one another. Xena's lips covered Gabrielle's own in a moment which seemed to last for an eternity. Their first kiss was sweeter and more passionate than either of the pair had dreamed.
Xena fell back a little and looked the bard in the eyes for approval. Gabrielle sat still, eyes closed, slowly absorbing what was happening between them. She opened her glossy eyes and saw before her the same woman who she had dreamed of many a night. This was no dream, she finally convinced herself. Gabrielle leaned forward, and kissed her warrior. They kissed each other hungrily, passionately.
"Oh Xena, I love you too," came the response from the teary-eyed bard. "I love you so much."
"I love you, Gabrielle."
The two kissed for hours, passing away the night hours. Once they were both too tired to go on, Xena put out the fire lighting their camp. Taking her love into her arms, she kissed her once again. "I love you," she whispered. The bard looked at Xena with sleepy eyes and smiled. It was not long before she had slipped into her dreams. Xena lay next to Gabrielle, arms wrapped around the bard's waist. She examined the smaller woman asleep in her arms as she replayed the events of the night in her mind. She was truly happy, now, and that happiness radiated from her face. Kissing Gabrielle's cheek, she laid down quietly and joined Gabrielle in her dreams. A life of happiness together awaited them both.
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