Author's Note: Welcome to the eleventh 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 and having kinky sex 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.
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 would like to thank my dear readers for the feedback and suggestions. If you are enjoying this story and would like to read more, please let me know so I can decide to continue with further chapters. I have lots of ideas remaining for Xena and Gabrielle's sexual adventures...
Chapter Eleven ::: Secrets and Lies
It all happened in an instant. In the space of a single heartbeat, Xena's sword struck down, the razor-sharp blade just missing Hope's chubby thigh as Gabrielle whisked the child out of the way, grabbing her small form into her arms. "Xena, no! NO!!!" screamed Gabrielle, rushing to her feet and making her way to the door. Hope's tiny hands clung to the bodice of her mother's green blouse as Gabrielle clutched the child tight while exiting the cabin.
"Gabrielle, come back!" Xena called out, swiftly reaching out for the bard. Her fingers just grazed Gabrielle's arm, but the bard had adrenaline rushing through her blood. She was trying to save her child. At any other time the warrior princess could have outrun the bard, but knowing her child was in danger made Gabrielle act with incredible speed. Xena watched in amazement, seeing Gabrielle running toward the cliffs just south of the cabin. Where was she going? Didn't she know Xena would stop at nothing until Dahak's spawn was destroyed? Xena knew she had a fight on her hands. Gabrielle wouldn't give the child over willingly. Xena hated what she must do.
"Gabrielle, you won't win," Xena said with a heavy sigh, going to the stables to get Argo. With Gabrielle on foot, it would be relatively easy to locate her and the child.
Blood pounded in Gabrielle's ears as she ran and ran, feeling sharp rocks cut into her bare feet. There hadn't been time to grab her boots. Blood was sticky between her toes, but she kept her relentless pace, holding Hope protectively against her chest. "I'm so sorry, Hope," she crooned to her daughter as she ran. "Xena doesn't really know you. If she knew you, she would love you, too. I won't let her hurt you. I promise. I would die before I let anything happen to you. You're going to be okay, baby. Mama will keep you safe."
Gabrielle nearly lost her footing as the terrain became steeper. She stayed at the edge of the cliff, knowing exactly where she was going. She had a plan in action. She had known that one day Xena may feel the need to dispose of Dahak's child, so she had developed a plan incase of such a threat. She had hoped she would never have to it carry out, but now she had no choice. Tears stung her eyes, knowing that the end was so near.
There was no time to lose as Gabrielle came to the cave. Once inside, she reached for the basket she had left there some days passed. It was waterproof and large enough to carry Hope. Only a small blanket padded it, and Gabrielle checked quickly, making sure that a particular object was tucked underneath the padding. "Hope ~ honey, I am so, so sorry," Gabrielle said with a heavy sob as she carefully approached the cliff near the cave, climbing down the embankment until she reached a rocky ledge overlooking the rushing water of the river there below. There wasn't time to look up to see if Xena had followed. There wasn't time for anything, just goodbye.
For a moment she sat on the sand, clutching her daughter close. Tears rushed from her eyes, landing on Hope's little face. "I love you, Hope. Never forget that," she said, with one last look at that tiny face so dear.
For the first time ever, Hope gave out a whimpering little cry, her tiny face screwing up into a grimace of despair. That look rent Gabrielle's already broken heart. Tucking Hope into the basket, Gabrielle sent it into the water, giving it a shove. The basket floated away swiftly, headed down river. The waves washed it down stream as Gabrielle's tears streaked her dirt-caked face. "Hope," came a mournful sob.
There was no time for tears. Not now. Although her body was screaming in protest, she scaled the rocky ledge, feeling the flesh of her limbs tear unmercifully as she climbed back up the side of the cliff. It seemed hours had passed when she got to the top, blood streaking her flesh in rivulets were the rocks had torn her delicate skin. Her nails were ripped and jagged, her knees scraped beyond recognition. She feel upon them, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hope... Hope...." she cried out, the blood throbbing in her ears with the wild beating of her heart.
That's how Xena found her. Sliding off Argo's back, Xena ran to her love. There was so much blood, Xena wasn't sure what had happened. "What is it? What happened?" Xena demanded, pulling Gabrielle into her embrace to look over her wounds. They were just superficial, just dozens of scrapes and cuts and thankfully none of them were serious.
"It was Hope. She... She turned on me...." Gabrielle lied as she was crying. "She tried to strangle me. So I fell and I... I dropped her. She tumbled.... down there..." Gabrielle pointed down to the jagged rocks far below the cliff. Xena's gaze went down, seeing the rocks and the crashing waves of the river below. There was no way that Hope could have survived that fall. No possible way.
"Ohhh Gabrielle, I'm sorry," Xena spoke as she clutched Gabrielle in a comforting hug. "It's okay, little one... it's okay." Tenderly Xena ran her hands over Gabrielle's long golden hair, soothingly caressing the bard's tresses.
"My baby... my baby..." came Gabrielle's heartrending sobs.
"I know, Love. Shhhhh...." Xena murmured, continuing to hold the bard and caress her lovingly. Although she regretted the pain and sorrow Gabrielle was going thru, Xena was actually relieved. Now she would not have to slay the demon's spawn. Thankfully, that grim task had been taken from her hands and it would not drive a wedge between herself and her love.
Suddenly a sound caught Xena's attention. What was that? It sounded like a cry. A distant cry. Could that be Hope? No... No, Hope never cried. Xena tensed, her arms falling away from Gabrielle. Suddenly she stood, pushing the bard away.
"Xena, what is it? What?!" Gabrielle demanded, steadily rising to her own feet and seeing Xena's stance, as though she were about to charge something unknown.
"I heard something.... I heard...."
"No, Xena! No!"
But before Gabrielle could stop her, Xena went running. Gabrielle went after her, but Xena was too fast. She had entered the cave. In the near darkness, the warrior princess glanced around, seeking the source of the sound.
"Xena, what are you----?! Ohhhh!" Gabrielle gasped, seeing Xena overturning some rocks, as though looking for something.
"There!" Xena called out triumphantly as she revealed something beneath some rocks. A small animal scurried out, most likely a squirrel. Xena looked dazed. She hadn't expected that.
"Xena, you didn't believe me. You did not trust me," Gabrielle spoke sadly, her face pale with grief.
"I'm sorry, Gabrielle, truly I am," the warrior princess crooned, enfolding Gabrielle once again into her embrace. "I do believe you... and I trust you with everything I am. You would never lie to me. There are no secrets between us. Not a single one."
