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"I am going to tell you something, that I have never told anyone. Not even my brother, Lyceus" Xena hoped that her voice conveyed suitable gravitas, without sounding overly grave.

There was a look of curiosity, almost puzzlement in the green eyes that shone back. The bard appeared to be about to speak, Xena put a finger, very gently to her lips. "Please listen, this won't be easy"

The warrior took a deep breath, silently wished she had her friend's ability with words, then began.

"I was fifteen when I had my first kiss. My first proper kiss."

She faltered, the memory suddenly becoming very vivid in her own mind.

Gabrielle sensed her friend's unease, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I didn't have close friends, a best friend. Lyceus was really that to me"

The bard knew how close Xena had been to her younger brother, so to be told something that even he had never been privy too, made her feel uniquely honoured and privileged. She again squeezed Xena's hand, interlaced her fingers with her friend's.

"Take your time, Xena" her words were soothing, loving.

"I know I was fifteen because my mother had thrown a party at the inn, a few months previously. Lita, the girl who had somehow attached herself to me, was younger, still just fourteen, I think" she paused to sip on her wine.

"I hadn't really known her before, but suddenly it seemed, we became firm friends, I cannot explain how. At first I thought she held a torch for my brother, she would join us on horseback rides, picnics and the like, but eventually it became just two of us. Lita and me"

The warrior again hesitated, she became unsure whether this confession was indeed a wise thing to do. In the pretence of needing to wipe her brow, she disengaged her hand from Gabrielle's.

"We were together in the woods one day, picking mushrooms I think, when Lita suddenly asked me to kiss her. I was quite shocked, but curious.

She told me that she was going on a date, a boy had asked her to the solstice festival, but she was embarrassed because she had never kissed someone before" Xena paused to study her friend's face.

Gabrielle was almost expressionless.

"Well anyway, we kissed" the warrior resumed. "In truth, she kissed me. It quickly became obvious to me that Lita was by no means inexperienced. She started doing things with her tongue that I didn't know about. I was the more innocent, but I learned quickly, and joined in. I enjoyed it, Gabrielle"

It was the younger woman's turn to drain her goblet and move to the table.

"So, you kissed with another girl." There was a quality in her tones that suggested jealousy, though possibly just shock. Xena did not know which. "Just the one time?"

Xena took a deep breath, she had ventured this far, it seemed pointless not to finish her admission.

"It became a bit of a habit, 'the kissing game' we called it. Every time we did it, we just giggled and laughed it off. Then about a week or two later, something else happened"

There was a tension in the room that had not previously existed, both women were aware of it.

"Lita turned up at the inn one evening, she had told my mother some story that she was alone in her house, and asked if she could stay overnight. I was happy, I really had no idea that she might have engineered the whole situation. She even managed to persuade mother that we could be allowed to clear up the tables, and have a mug of ale as a reward" Xena was now looking firmly to the floor, she could not bring herself to look into Gabrielle's face.

"We joked and giggled as we cleaned up, drinking the ale made me slightly light-headed, though in truth I had drank before, so I am not at all saying I was drunk. I went to my bedroom first, Lita was using the outhouse, I quickly changed into my night-shirt, and went to bed." Another pause, another gulp of wine.

"When Lita came in, I heard her take off her clothes, blow out the candle, then she climbed in bed with me. 'Your bed is over there silly!' I told her, but she just giggled. 'I want to play the kissing game' she told me"

The warrior stopped, finally looked her friend in the face. Unsure of what reaction to expect, Xena noticed a slight flush on the bard's cheeks, her breathing was a little quicker than normal. Fascination seemed to be the primary expression. As she turned away, the warrior could not help but glimpse again the bard's incredible curves. Her nipples were erect.

"It seemed to happen so slowly, as if time somehow was stretched. We were no longer just kissing, but touching too, caressing each other. Though a little younger, and a lot smaller than me, Lita took control. She lead, I followed, but I followed willingly. I cannot properly describe the sensations I felt, frightened yet thrilled, panicked at first, but my body was screaming for more." The tall woman looked around the room, as if wary of eavesdroppers.

"We made love. She touched me, kissed me in every place imaginable. I became so loud in my moanings, that she had to cover my mouth. It was shockingly wonderful. I thought for a moment I was dying, out of my mind.

That was my first orgasm. I even remember being annoyed because Lita laughed, but she just told me that it was funny to her. 'Don't you play with yourself?' she asked me in amazement"

Xena was not used to telling stories, certainly not such intimate confessions. She wished that Gabrielle would interject, ask something, say anything. But the bard remained silent, her face a picture of concentration. The warrior felt compelled to go on.

"That was the beginning of a long and adventurous night. Lita never seemed to tire of touching me, kissing me. She asked if I had a hairbrush, and then demonstrated what could be done with the handle… She excited my body with her tongue, and taught me how to do the same for her. And all the time she whispered endearments, spoke of love and joy."

Finally, Gabrielle interrupted. "So what became of her?" she asked simply.

"Well, as I mentioned before, Lita was experienced at this sort of thing.

Though I didn't know it at the time, I was not the only girl or indeed woman she had bedded. She left Amphipolis soon after, at the same time as

Yolanda, an unmarried woman in her thirties….."

Gabrielle suddenly stood up. "I need more wine" there was a nervousness in her voice, Xena became concerned.

"I told you this for a reason, Gabrielle. Please. Let me explain"

The bard remained at the table. When Xena stood up, Gabrielle took a step back. The warrior's heart sank. She spoke very quickly, as if to hesitate would render herself mute.

"I like women Gabrielle, that is what I am trying to explain. Yes, Lita seduced me, but I was an eager partner. Even back then, I somehow just knew, that I was attracted to other women" she stopped, merely to raise a hand.

"Yes I know I have been with men, but life is not always straightforward, circumstances take control. Men to me were sex, power. Women are pleasure, ecstasy, love. I love y…"

"I need time to think" and with those words, Gabrielle bolted from the room, leaving Xena's declaration unfinished.

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The warrior sat on the bed, in abject desolation. She cursed her own stupidity, her clumsiness. Conveying emotions, inner thoughts and feelings had never been her strong point. She had been foolish to try. There was one stark consolation in all this, nothing could hurt her again.

No hand, no arrow, no sword could ever cause pain such as she felt right now. Gabrielle leaving her was the ultimate blow. Xena now knew what death was. Actual death, physical death, would be a blessing. The death of her soul was too agonising to bare.

Tears welled in her eyes, but did not flow, she drank goblet upon goblet of wine, it had no taste. She had no memory of the day just spent, only an image of the sweetest face filled her mind, it was like torture, yet she could not shut it out.

Xena did not hear the door opening, but sensed a presence in the room.

She looked up slowly, disbelieving almost as a sudden chill was lifted from her heart. Gabrielle still wore the same white dress, yet looked different.

The bard calmly walked to the table and poured out two goblets, carried them with a beatific smile to the bed where Xena sat.

"I took a bath, do I smell nice?" she said in neutral tones, though her eyes were sparkling.

"You smell wonderful, you look wonderful" Xena could not keep the love from her voice. "Why did you leave?" it had to be asked.

"All that new information, I really did need time to think, to absorb what you said to me" the bard replied.

"And?" was all Xena could say.

"I'm angry with you" said the blonde-haired woman, without a trace of anger in her voice.

Xena's brow furrowed.

Gabrielle stood up, spun around, looked up and down the length of her own body. "I am a woman, in case you hadn't noticed" she said.

The warrior was momentarily mute, as the bard sat down, very close to the warrior. Green eyes met blue.

"I have desires too, needs. My body aches to be touched, to be loved. I crave affection, pleasure." Gabrielle never let go of the locked gaze.

"But Gabrielle, I didn't know. I mean I didn't know you would want such things from a woman" Xena tried to explain herself, touching the bard's cheek, gently.

"Let me say something to you. I don't know about sex as power. I don't worry if I'm supposed to be attracted to men or to women. All I do know, is that I love you. I love you, Xena. I think I always have done. And yes, I am attracted to you. Your body, your mind, your soul."

"Gabrielle?" The warrior could scarcely dare to hear this. It was too good to be true. Life was simply not like that.

The bard picked up one of Xena's hands, placed it inside the bodice of her white dress. "Feel me being excited by your touch?" the bard breathed as she guided Xena's hand in a circular motion over her own breast.

"That Lita asked if you played with yourself. I do that almost every night, Xena. I masturbate, with images of you in my head. Right now, my thighs are awash with my own juices. Hades! Warrior Princess! I cannot believe that all this time, we have travelled together, and you have not once made a pass at me. Not once tried to touch me. Not once given in to your desires"

Xena was almost speechless. "I was frightened Gabrielle. Losing your friendship would be Tartarus, ten times over. I just didn't dare"

Gabrielle sighed, by now the warrior was caressing her breast without guidance, her other hand was stroking up and down her back, lingering occasionally on her behind.

"We have a lot of lost time to catch up on" Gabrielle grinned and leaned in, open-mouthed to kiss with brutal passion, her best friend, soon to be lover.

The embrace lasted until each were breathless, Gabrielle taking the opportunity to do some exploring of her own.

Having quickly rummaged over Xena's breasts, one hand was now firmly positioned deep between the warrior's legs, three fingers working inside the wetness, her thumb making circular passes over the excited clitoris.

"The Gods!" Xena gasped when their mouths finally parted, "I am going to pleasure you every available minute, of every available day"

"You better had!" the bard warned, arching her back slightly to accept Xena's mouth on to her nipples. For a while, no more words were spoken, each woman content to merely gasp, and sigh and moan their approval of the other's actions.

"I want to tongue you, taste you" Gabrielle finally managed to speak.

Xena was now breathing heavily, the bard's fingers having transported her to the brink of the precipice

"Don't ask, never ask! Just do it!" it was a frantic entreaty.

The younger woman was lost in her own pleasure, her face could not smile, as she lowered her self down, pushed up the bottom of the purple dress, and then unleashed her tongue and lips on the very centre of Xena's universe.

It took but minutes for the warrior to begin bucking and writhing in uncontrolled bliss, yet Gabrielle persisted with her actions, digging her nails into Xena's buttocks, she even increased the pace and ferocity of her relentless lapping. Her mouth, nose and lips were smothered in Xena's essence when she finally raised herself, the warrior was lying with her head thrashing from side to side, an almost inhuman screech of delight emanating from her mouth.

The bard had returned to nestle beside her soulmate, her countenance glowing with love. They exchanged long, languorous kisses.

"My heart is yours Xena. My body is yours. My soul is yours"

This time, a single tear did escape, it rolled slowly down the warrior's cheek.

"I will do anything for you, Gabrielle. If that priest is still around I will get him to marry us" it was the most loving thing Xena could think of to say.

It was the most loving thing Gabrielle had ever heard.

"I don't think he's allowed to" she smiled and kissed her reply.

"But about doing anything…." Gabrielle sat up, raised the hem of her dress and pulled down the sodden lace underpants.

Xena smiled.

THE END