Author's Note: Welcome to the ninth chapter of the "true" story of Xena and Gabrielle. You will find this section extremely subtext-friendly. If two women showing their love for one another is not your cup of tea, please find another story you'd like to read. This story will be submitted in several parts and is based off the series, yet the "history" has been changed somewhat to suit the purposes of this story. Not all sections will contain erotic sex scenes as there is a plot. This chapter is one of those that does not have sex scenes. Stay tuned to future chapters, there will be plenty of sex cumming up.
Also, I'd like to note that I do not own Xena: Warrior Princess, the series, or the characters and I will not be receiving any payment whatsoever for writing this story. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.
I wish to thank my readers for all your comments and encouragement! I appreciate it greatly, and I am considering your suggestions for future chapters. :)
Chapter Nine ::: Gabrielle's Hope
Gabrielle's hunger was insatiable. She was very pleased and Xena relieved when they came upon a village which had a small inn. The scent of cooking food floated thru the air to meet Gabrielle's nostrils. "Ohhh Xena, I am so starved. Can't we stop for a bite to eat?" asked Gabrielle in excitement.
Xena smiled, glad to see Gabrielle at least had her healthy appetite back. "Sure, why not?" she answered with a little laugh. "I could use a hearty meal myself and Argo needs a rest. I will take her to the stable, then meet ya in the inn in less than a half hour."
Xena took her beloved mare to the stables and saw to her brushing herself. She then gave her fresh oats and water, leaving the rest of her care to a nearby stable boy. "Take good care of her, young man," Xena said, handing the boy a couple of dinars. The boy smiled and promised to take great care of Xena's horse. Xena then left the stables, walking over to the inn. That's when she saw Joxer going in.
"Gabrielle!" Joxer exclaimed, going over to Gabrielle who sat at a table with several wooden plates of food before her. "What a surprise to see you here! Hey, you sure have a lot to eat there... did you save any for me?"
"Joxer!" spoke Gabrielle with a big smile, hardly looking up from her plate to speak to her old friend. "How are you? And did you have a nice time with the Amazons?"
"I'm great," replied Joxer. "Nice time? Hell, yeah, you could call it that. I was there a month... and in about six or seven months time, there are going to be a whole lot of babies born.... looking just like Joxer the Mighty!"
Gabrielle grinned in between bites of some unidentifiable piece of meat. Everything tasted great on her plate. Just like Elyssia! "And what about Meg? Did she have a good time, too?" asked the bard.
"Well, not at first. She called you and Xena every bad name you could possibly think of.... but after awhile, she was okay. She had her mouth full most of the time, if ya know what I mean," Joxer chuckled as he took a seat next to the starving bard. He watched in amazement as Gabrielle devoured a whole plate of food, then started in on another. She ate like a stark-raving mad animal.
Joxer called the innkeeper over, putting in his order. He wanted the special, a roast beef dinner with lots of gravy. The innkeeper nodded, just about to go off and fulfill Joxer's order, but Gabrielle spoke up, requesting more food. "I want some more of that raw fish... and how about some pickled pig's feet, and maybe some chicken brains? I am incredibly starved," she spoke as she began to lick her fingers clean.
Joxer wrinkled his nose and Xena could only return his stare of disgust as she came over to the table. "Hey, Joxer," she said, giving him a smile.
"Hello, Warrior Princess. I see you have been taking great care of Gabrielle; she's looking a little plump," said Joxer in a quiet voice so only Xena could hear.
"Yeah, I noticed that," said Xena, looking a little bit worried as she couldn't help but notice the bard's increasingly bloated state. Although Gabrielle appeared physically healed on the outside, Xena worried that she may have been damaged somehow internally, and she knew that infection could cause swelling. Either Gabrielle was puffing up from a bad case of internal infection or she was eating for two. That thought scared Xena so much she tried with all her might not to even think of it.
Gabrielle grinned as Xena came over to the table. "Sit down, Xena. I'll share my food with you," the little blond offered.
"Uhhh, no thanks, I'll pass. I think I just lost my appetite," Xena spoke as the innkeeper brought a tray of food to the bard. There was fresh chicken brains, pickled pig's feet, and raw fish on the plate. Gabrielle started to devour the food as though she had not eaten in days.
"Ohhh this is soooo good," Gabrielle said to Xena, eating away with her fingers.
Joxer looked down at his own meal, trying not to vomit. He may as well be eating worms now. He couldn't stomach his food, after seeing Gabrielle eat. "I've lost my appetite, too," he said, pushing his plate away.
"You two are crazy," spoke the bard, nibbling on a pig's foot. "This is absolutely delicious."
"We'll take your word for it," quipped Xena. "Joxer, could I have a word with you outside?"
"Sure," Joxer agreed, following the warrior princess outside.
"What did you want to talk about?" Joxer asked once they stood outside the inn.
"Nothing. I just couldn't stand to see Gabrielle eat another bite."
"I know whatcha mean. What's with her and all that food?" Joxer asked. "She's acting like she's preg----."
"Don't say that!" Xena gasped, covering Joxer's mouth. She took her hand away, but the look she gave Joxer warned him not to speak of that ever again.
"Is Gabby REALLY okay?" Joxer asked with genuine concern.
"She's been thru a lot... but I am taking care of her," Xena said.
"Good," said Joxer with a heavy sigh. "I'm still in love with her, ya know."
"Yeah, I know," said Xena, putting her arm around Joxer in an affectionate hug. "Let's go for a walk. I need to buy some supplies."
~*~
Gabrielle licked her fingers clean after inhaling her last plate of food. She paid and thanked the innkeeper, then walked outside to look for Joxer and Xena. They were no where to be found, so Gabrielle decided to do a little shopping. She needed something roomier to wear; her usual clothing was becoming a bit tight. Xena had been so worried about her not keeping food down and now lately it seemed Gabrielle would stuff herself to the point of putting on too much weight. She noticed a lot of villagers staring at her as she walked over to the crowd of merchants who were selling their wares. They looked at her strangely, whispering about her behind her back.
Gabrielle thought it was all odd, but she didn't pay them any mind. She found just the garment she was looking for, a light brown tunic made of soft material. It was full and well-crafted. It would be just perfect for her to wear. She purchased the tunic along with some sewing material she could use to make some new undergarments. The ones she was wearing barely fit. It was so embarrassing, to be outgrowing everything just because she couldn't stop eating. "If I get too fat, I wonder if Xena will still want me," she thought to herself after paying for her items, then finding somewhere private to try the tunic on.
She came out of the public outhouse, wearing the flowing tunic and carrying her old garments wrapped up in the bolt of fabric she would use to sew the undergarments. She looked beautiful, absolutely radiant as she stood in the sunlight, her hair the color of spun gold. "Xena, where did you go?" she whispered, as she looked around the crowd for her lover. By now a small group of villagers were buzzing around her, angry scowls on their faces as they were talking of an innocent, golden one who would bring about an unspeakable evil which they had to stop.
"What the---?!" Gabrielle gasped, seeing men with pitchforks coming forward to join the others of the crowd.
"Gabrielle!" a voice called out. It was Xena. She practically jumped thru the air, grabbing Gabrielle, and placing her atop Argo all in one great-big stride. "We gotta get the hell out of here!!! Now!"
Xena then jumped onto Argo as well, and the two rode away, putting as much distance between themselves and the angry villagers as possible. They travelled deep into the forest before Xena finally halted Argo, jumping down and pulling Gabrielle down into her arms. She looked Gabrielle over, noticing the full tunic upon her love.
"Gabrielle, are you okay?" she asked, running a soft caress thru her young lover's hair.
"I'm fine, Xena. What happened back there? What did those villagers want with me?"
Xena shrugged. "I heard them talking. Crazy talk. All about something evil... and the innocent, golden-one who would bring it forth. It doesn't mean anything. It CAN'T mean anything...."
Gabrielle started to pace, clutching her middle as she tried to make some sense of what those villagers had been saying. "Xena, they think I'm preg----!" she suddenly exclaimed, looking at Xena in horror.
"Don't even say that, Gabrielle," said Xena, cutting off her beloved's words. "They were crazy, that's all. Don't listen to the foolish words of crazy men."
Gabrielle shuddered, her hand still on the swelling at her middle. She couldn't deny this, not forever. Tears came to her eyes and she slid into Xena's arms. "Say it will be okay, Xena. Say it will be okay," she said in a little sob.
"You're safe now, Love. Nothing can hurt you. I promise, I will take care of everything."
Xena held Gabrielle close in the thick forest, tenderly caressing her long golden hair. Eventually Gabrielle was soothed, held in the tender embrace of the one she loved. After awhile, Xena pulled from the embrace, looking at Gabrielle. She was disturbed to find that Gabrielle appeared to be more bloated by the minute. The swelling at her belly was growing much to Xena's horror.
