Another Place, Another Time (Page 3)
by Andreya
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Xena lifted the corner of the blanket and tried to look at her side. Gabrielle removed the dressing so that the warrior could see the flap of skin and the oozing flesh below her left breast. It was not good and needed suturing.
Xena winced. "You'll have to stitch it." She said flatly.
"Oh! you'll have to tell me how."
Xena woke sometime during late afternoon, with an urgent desire to go somewhere. She squirmed uneasily, a pained expression on her face.
Gabrielle came over and squatted beside her.
" How are you feeling?" She placed a hand on the blanket.
"Uh, I...uh, I need to go..." She jerked her head a couple of times towards the entrance, "...you know." She looked away in embarrassment.
Gabrielle smiled. This was another good sign. The warrior's bodily functions were returning to normal.
"Come on, I'll help you."
With her weight on Gabrielle's shoulder and the younger woman's arm around her waist, Xena took her first steps since the day of the battle. She was, however, mortified to know how she had managed whilst she was out. Gabrielle was wickedly delighted with the great warrior's angst.
"Let's just say it was good to have a stream nearby," she laughed.
When the warrior had finished, Gabrielle helped her back to bed where she lay down and sighed in relief.
Over the next few days Xena moved very little, except to answer the calls of nature. Gabrielle continued to tend her charge, collecting firewood, boiling water, cooking and returning to the village twice to replenish their dwindling supplies. She had again refused to take Argo and on her return had informed Xena that the village was still deserted. Xena had figured this village was Appolonia and took it to mean that the joint armies of Krykus and Mezenteus or her own men had carried out their plans successfully. She wondered vaguely what was happening now but was surprised to feel that at that moment she didn't really care.
Gabrielle had then gone off to fetch yet another load of firewood. She returned and dumped the bundle near the fire, stopping to run the back of her hand over her forehead. She looked grimy and tired. Xena was much better. The wound was healing but she was feeling restless. She sat up, and watched Gabrielle carry out the chores.
"Stop and sit down." Xena suggested. "You look all in."
Gabrielle shrugged. "These jobs won't do themselves," she replied but stop she did and went over to sit next to the Warrior Princess.
There was silence for a while, then Xena spoke.
"Why did you do this - help me I mean. You could have just left me there."
Gabrielle was shaking her head. "No, I couldn't leave you, but why - I don't know."
"Well, I want to thank you anyway. You didn't have to."
"What are you going to do with me when you're well?" Gabrielle asked.
Xena looked sideways at the girl and grinned crookedly.
"Well, I'm not going to eat you if that's what you're worried about. At least, not yet."
Gabrielle grinned back and punched the blanket, then scolded herself for taking liberties with a fierce warrior. The fierce warrior merely laughed.
Xena had dressed for the first time that day and had spent the best part of it just pottering around, helping Gabrielle with the easiest chores. She had brushed Argo and taken her down to the stream to drink; a task she knew Gabrielle had not relished. She had been amused to think that anyone could be afraid of gentle old Argo, her friend and companion for so long. What is it that scares you so much? she had asked. That's easy, was the reply, she's too big. When she realised that Gabrielle's fear was real she had stopped the teasing her. Xena had also managed to set traps and had caught two fat conies, which Gabrielle had fallen upon with delight. They had eaten well that day. Xena had been particularly appreciative since cooking was not one of her skills.
They talked long into the night. Released from the suffocating influence of Ares, Xena had had time to think over what had happened and had been startled to realise she was no longer consumed with an all powerful desire to gratify the God of War.
"You know, this could be just the chance for me - to change I mean."
"For the better?"
"What do you think? No, I'm serious Gabrielle. Lying there I've had time to think about how wrong I've been. All these years I've been seeking revenge for what happened to my village. It has to stop. You've shown me that."
"Maybe, but some of it had to come from you, Xena. It had to be there in the first place."
"No! You've had the same thing happen to you but I don't' see a fledgling warlord sitting next to me. I see someone who's good, and caring and...and...someone I don't deserve to be sitting with let alone talking to."
She looked down at her hands.
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The above work is the property of Andreya and may not be used, copied or distributed without her permission.
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