Regrets Chapter 8
The sun rose as they continued their lovemaking, and it took a great deal of willpower on Xena's part to pull away from Jamen. They were lying on their sides, their arms around each other, basking in the aftermath. Once again, Xena had let Jamen lead in the age-old dance, and once again, she found her body craving more, even as her mind was at peace.
"You are very good at that," she told Jamen, before giving him a final kiss. She untangled herself from him, and was on her feet in an instant.
Jamen laid back, his hands tucked comfortably under his head. "Is it time to go already?" he asked.
"Just about," came Xena's reply. "I'm going to take a quick bath first."
The scent of their passion lingered in the air. "I'll do the same," Jamen responded, standing up reluctantly. His eyes raked up and down Xena's body, still glistening from their lovemaking. "Are you sure we have to go?" he asked.
Xena gave him an ironic smile before she dove in to the river. "Well, I'm sure I have to go," she answered, after she had resurfaced. "I could never let Gabrielle down like that." She disappeared under the water again, and when she reemerged, Jamen was watching her.
"I understand," he nodded. "I wouldn't want to disappoint her either." He dove into the cold river beside her.
They dressed in silence, comfortable just to be in each other's presence. Xena had given up trying to figure out who Jamen reminded her of. She was beginning to suspect that maybe he reminded her of her fantasy man, the man she had dreamed up as a teenager in Amphipolis. She could clearly remember when she had first discovered the amazing way her body had responded to her own fingers, and would often lie in the privacy of her room, pleasuring herself as she dreamed what her man would do. She couldn't remember what his face looked like, but now was beginning to think it might have looked like Jamen. He was certainly one of the most handsome men she had ever seen, and he carried himself with dignity and grace, far beyond his years. She had yet to see him in a fight, but with the athleticism he exhibited in bed, she suspected he would be a formidable opponent.
When they were dressed and had everything packed and ready to go, Xena whistled for Argo. The cream colored mare appeared in seconds, with Mercury at her side.
"You know, it's probably a little late to ask this…" Xena drawled, looking thoughtfully at the pair of horses who seemed to have become the best of friends.
"Don't worry," Jamen answered, as if reading her thoughts. "I had Mercury taken care of a long time ago." Suddenly, their gazes caught each other for a moment, both of them sharing similar thoughts.
"Don't worry," Xena told him with a small smile. "I took care of myself."
Jamen nodded somberly, understanding her meaning. The thought of Xena being pregnant with his child wasn't all that unpleasant to him, but he realized Xena might not agree with that. Her lifestyle left little room for a baby.
Xena patted Argo's neck, wishing her a good morning before swinging up into the saddle. "Are you ready to go?" she asked Jamen.
Jamen mounted his own horse. "Yep," he said with a nod.
If possible, Acrimonius was even more crowded that day than it had been on the previous one, but this time, Gabrielle was already waiting for them. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her eyes were shining with excitement. She smiled a good morning at Jamen, then took Xena's arm, to walk with her.
"Nervous?" Xena asked, smiling down at her young companion.
"Very," Gabrielle replied. "I haven't performed like this in a long time."
Xena nodded. "You're a natural at this sort of thing though. It's what you do. Once you get up there, you'll forget all about your nerves. You always do."
Gabrielle listened soberly, then nodded. "I knew you'd make me feel better," she replied. "That's what you always do."
Xena gave her a friendly shoulder nudge with an "aw shucks," grin. Gabrielle broke into a full smile then, her happiness never far from the surface.
Xena glanced back at Jamen, who was following a pace behind them. He had been staring at a particularly luscious part of her anatomy, and grinned saucily at her when he was caught. Xena grinned back, her head shaking at him, but turned back to Gabrielle.
"When do you go on?" she asked.
Gabrielle shrugged. "The contest starts at noon, but they haven't given us the order we perform in."
"That means we'll more than likely get a whole afternoon of storytelling," Xena translated to Jamen. She was speaking with mock enthusiasm.
Jamen nodded back at her, not looking disturbed at all. He had never attended a contest like this, and was rather looking forward to it. He could vaguely remember Mama Cenna telling him stories when he was young, but he couldn't remember any of them very well.
"Do you two want to get some breakfast?" Gabrielle asked them. She grinned at Xena…"You probably won't believe this, but I'm too nervous to eat."
"I'm not hungry," Xena replied. She glanced back at Jamen again. "How about you?"
He thought about what she was asking, and couldn't help but let a slow smile slide over his features. "I already ate," he said, the mischief evident in his voice.
His double entendre slipped past Gabrielle. Grateful for that at least, Xena gave him a stern look, even though her eyes were twinkling.
"Uh huh," she responded, enigmatically.
Gabrielle's stride was picking up steam now. "The seats are filling up fast," she said as they approached the area where the stage had been set up.
"We've got good ears," Jamen replied, and Xena agreed with a smile.
Gabrielle clapped her hands together. "Well, I've got to go backstage," she told Xena and Jamen. "I'll see you two after the competition."
"Good luck," Jamen told her, and Xena echoed the sentiment.
"Just do what you'll always do," she told Gabrielle, "tell 'em like you see 'em." She gave the nervous bard a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks," Gabrielle said, before she dashed off from them.
Xena turned to Jamen. "I'm in no hurry to get pressed into the crowd of people," she told him.
"Okay," he replied with a nod, seeming to understand. "What do you want to do?"
"Since the seats are filling up, maybe the taverns are emptying out," Xena answered. "I know you said you weren't hungry, but I am."
Jamen grinned at her. "I'm starving," he admitted. "I seemed to have worked up a big appetite."
The inn they found was still full, but they manage to find seats and shared a quick meal before going back to the performing area. The arrangement had people surrounding the stage from all sides. The stage itself was about ten feet off the ground, and a short stairway was cut into it near the outside perimeter. There was plenty of room for the contestants to wait under the stage, but there was also a narrow walkway marked off for the participants to come and go as needed. Xena and Jamen stood at the outer edge of the crowd, facing center stage.
They didn't wait long before the contest began. The first few told typical bardic tales, the heroics of Hercules, the origins
of various gods, the war between the Olympians and the Titans. Xena found that she was quickly losing interest. She had
heard all these stories so many times, she could recite them herself. She found it a good deal more interesting to watch Jamen's reactions.
His eyes were bright, his expression avid, as he drank in every word of each story. During a pause between speakers, Xena turned to him, curious.
"Haven't you heard any of these before?" she asked him.
He shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. "If I did, I can't remember any of them. I thin Mama Cenna used to tell me some. My father told the only stories I can remember, and they were all about him. It wasn't until I started traveling with his army that I began to learn more about the world, and then it was only about people alive in the world today."
Xena nodded, and as the next speaker began, she let Jamen go back to his listening. She was still amazed at his naiveté, which only poked through occasionally, but was so starkly obvious she couldn't see how she had missed it.
The storyteller this time was Euripides, one of Gabrielle's friends. He was an extremely verbose young man, and his loquaciousness soon become even too much for Jamen, whose attentions began to shift.
"What story will Gabrielle tell?" he asked, when he saw that Xena wasn't paying attention either.
Xena shrugged. "It depends on how she feels when she looks at the audience. She probably won't decide until it's time for her to begin."
"Really?" Jamen asked, amazed. "Doesn't she need time to prepare what she's going to say?"
Xena chuckled. "She gets plenty of preparation," she answered. "She tries them out on me, when we're walking, eating, sleeping…"
Jamen laughed at her exaggerated explanation. "You think she'll tell me some of her stories?" he asked then.
Xena patted his shoulder. "Don't worry," she replied, sounding relieved. "She'll be more than happy to tell you all the tales you care to hear."
Jamen had heard of the young bard, who had quickly become legendary in her exploits with Xena. "Most of her stories are about you, aren't they?" he asked.
Xena rolled her eyes. "I'm afraid so," she answered. "Gabrielle knows all kinds of stories and fables, but she seems to like to talk about me."
"Good," Jamen grinned. "That's the ones I really want to hear,"
"Believe me," Xena replied, a serious look on her face. "After a while, you get tired of hearing about me."
"Not a chance," Jamen's reply was quick. "You were a favorite topic among the men in my father's army. No one got tired of hearing about you and no one ever got tired of telling about you either."
Any retort from Xena was drowned out by the applause that signaled Euripides was finished. The next speaker was introduced and Jamen was immediately caught up in his tale of Medusa.
The afternoon continued, with Jamen enraptured, and Xena growing increasingly antsy. She held on for Jamen's sake, but couldn't help let out an audible sigh when Gabrielle finally took the stage.
The announcer, a jovial, heavyset man named Victorum waited for the applause from the previous speaker to die out, then spoke, " Our next bard has already made a name for herself, not just for tales of bravery and excitement, but also by the fact that she has lived many of the adventures herself. I present to you, the bard of Potodeia, Gabrielle."
The crowd gave the blonde a hardy round of applause, even as a murmur arose about the reputation of Gabrielle. Xena ignored the few people around her who turned to look at her, their guesses confirmed. Xena was far too imposing a figure not to garner attention.
Gabrielle slowly surveyed the crowd, gauging its appearance and mood. Even from this far distance, Xena saw Gabrielle's eyes light up briefly when she saw her. The young woman's eyes didn't tarry though, and she began to speak.
"I sing of Xena, the Warrior Princess, her bravery unequalled, her strength unmatched, and her determination unstoppable. There was a time when Xena used those attributes for evil; but now, they are only used for good."
Xena was rather surprised by Gabrielle's choice of tales. She spoke of Xena's days as a ruthless warlord, bent on conquering
first Greece, then the world. It was only the friendship of Hercules, and his belief in her that had allowed her to turn her life
around. Gabrielle's tale ended with Xena and Hercules' defeat of Darphus, despite Ares' best efforts. Xena was pleased
when she noted that Gabrielle neglected to mention the feelings that had developed between her and the demi-god.
The morning before the fight with Darphus, they had made passionate love on the forest floor for hours. At the time, it had
been the only way Xena knew how to thank Hercules. She was used to using her body and its considerable skills as a reward or a thank you. What she wasn't used to were the real feeling that had built between them. She didn't know if it was love, but she still carried a strong affection for Hercules.
Gabrielle finished her story to tumultuous applause. She bowed gracefully, her face beaming as she caught Xena's eye again. Xena grinned at her, realizing now why Gabrielle had chosen that particular tale, and approving.
Jamen clapped enthusiastically for Gabrielle. "That was great!" he said to Xena, during the pause between speakers. "What a story! It's all true, isn't it?"
Xena nodded. "Yes, she knows I wouldn't want her to make up anything about me that wasn't true. The stories already floating around out there are crazy enough."
Jamen nodded, his eyes still glowing. "You are the most remarkable woman I have even known," he said.
Xena's eyes instinctively narrowed as he spoke, but seeing the sincerity of his expression, she bent toward him and gave him a quick kiss.
"I'm not sure if that's true," she said, "but thank you."
Jamen took her hand in his as the next speaker began.
There were only three speakers after Gabrielle, and then the judges chose the three finalists to weave a second tale for the final decision. Orion, a black haired youth named Danzentius, and Gabrielle were the three finalists.
Orion, known as the Blind Poet, for he told his tales with his eyes closed, spoke first. He spoke of Atlas, a subject that he specialized in, and even Xena found herself caught up in the epic struggles of the mighty Titan.
Danzentius spoke next, and his tale was another oft told yarn of Icarus' deadly run in with the sun. His style of speaking was straightforward, and he didn't use a lot of flowery words, and the applause for him matched the applause for Orion.
Gabrielle then took the stage, took a deep breath, and began to speak. "I sing of Xena, the Warrior Princess, of her inventiveness, her courage, and her willingness to risk her life to save others."
Xena thought back to all the stories Gabrielle had told of her, and couldn't remember one that began like that.
She soon found out why. Gabrielle had never told her this one. It was the tale of how Xena had been able to decipher the ancient riddle of Poseidon and save Cecrops from at eternal fate of being stranded on his ship of pirates. It had occurred not that long ago, and although Xena knew Gabrielle had recorded the events, she didn't know it was a tale that Gabrielle would tell.
"And so, by showing Cecrops the power of unselfish love, the mighty Warrior Princess ended his curse and gave Cecrops a second chance at life." Gabrielle finished the tale to roaring applause. It was a story that none in the crowd had ever heard before, and they sounded their enthusiasm wildly.
"I think Gabrielle just won this competition," Xena told Jamen over the noise.
"I think so," Jamen agreed. He continued to clap, but Xena noticed his face was oddly somber.
"Something wrong?" she asked, as the din gradually died out.
"No," he replied, his face thoughtful. "I just realized something about both of Gabrielle's stories."
"What's that?" Xena asked.
"They both have the same ending."
Xena considered it, then shook her head. "Huh?" she asked. The only similarity she could see was both tales ended with her parting ways with a legendary hero.
Jamen turned to her, a look of amazement on his face that made his eyes appear more blue than gray. "Both stories end with a 'second chance at life.'"
When Xena realized what he was saying was true, she turned to look up at Gabrielle on the stage. She stood dwarfed by the other two finalists. Her eyes were trained on Xena and Jamen, and when she saw the look of bemusement on Xena's expression, she knew her performance had been a success on every level. She and Orion had stayed up the previous night, perfecting the Cecrops story so she would be ready to tell it.
"Ladies and gentleman," Victorum called out over the talkative crowd, breaking Xena's train of thought. The judges have made their decision." The audience dutifully quietened as he opened the scroll with the results.
"The third place finisher is…Orion, the Blind Poet." Gabrielle gave her friend a hug, sensing his disappointment in third place, but he smiled, and grasped the forearm of Victorum before accepting his prize. "You did a fine job, young man," Victorum told him, then presented Orion to the audience for applause and whistles.
"Now for the winner, and the prize of 100 dinars," Victorum consulted his scroll again, and the grin on his face seemed to make the rest of his head disappear. "The Bard of Potodeia, Gabrielle!"
The crowd was uproarious as Gabrielle graciously stepped forward to offer a kiss on Victorum's cheek, then bowed to the audience. Xena and Jamen cheered as loud as they could for the blushing bard.
"Is she crying?" Jamen asked Xena, after giving her a victory hug.
Xena gave him her crooked grin. "You'll find she doesn't have to be sad to cry."
"Thank you for coming," Victorum was saying then. "We'll see you tomorrow for the second age division competition."
"Let's get out of the rush to leave," Xena said to Jamen. "It will be a while before Gabrielle comes out."
Jamen nodded and let her lead him down the street a bit. After twenty minutes or so, the crowd around the stage had thinned sufficiently, and Xena and Jamen decided it was time to find their prize-winning bard.
They found her near the stage; surrounded by the four men they had shared supper with on the previous evening. Gabrielle saw their approach though, and pulled free from the group.
Xena beamed at Gabrielle, then gave her a warm embrace. "That was a great performance," she whispered in her young friend's ear. "The best you've ever given."
"Thank you," Gabrielle answered back. The hug ended, and Gabrielle smiled up into Xena's eyes. "I was truly inspired last night."
The mysterious statement caused Xena to narrow her eyes as she tried to decipher it. "You did stay in town last night,
didn't you?" she asked, finally. Surely, Gabrielle would have respected her privacy with Jamen.
Gabrielle was the one looking puzzled now. "Yes," she said, then her eyes lit up, "I mean yesterday evening…over supper."
"Oh," Xena said, with a relieved smile, her eyes a mask of innocence.
Jamen's head suddenly appeared over Xena's shoulder. "Don't I get the chance to congratulate her too?" He asked.
"Of course!" Gabrielle replied, as Xena stepped aside. Jamen held his arms out and gave Gabrielle a brief hug.
"Congratulations," he said warmly. "I enjoyed almost all of the stories, but yours were by far the best."
"Thank you, Jamen", Gabrielle replied, her eyes glistening. "I'm really glad you thought so."
"We've got to have a victory celebration!" Stallonus said then. He took Gabrielle's hand before she could get away. "Xena? Jamen? Why don't you join us?"
Xena exchanged a glance with Jamen that plaintively said her answer. "We'll wait for you in the same clearing we ate last night," Xena told Gabrielle, explanation enough.
Gabrielle nodded. "I won't be more than an hour," she said.
"Take your time," Xena told her. "It's not every day that you win a hundred dinars."
"Speaking of which," Gabrielle said, delicately reaching into her cleavage. She pulled out a small cloth bag. "Would you keep my prize money safe?'
"Sure," Xena replied, taking the bag from Gabrielle's hand, and slipping it into her own cleavage. Five pairs of astonished male eyes watched the exchange.
"Well, gentlemen," Xena said, turning to Gabrielle's friends, "I guess Jamen and I will be saying goodbye for now. Hopefully, we'll cross paths again soon."
There were many kind words exchanged as Xena and Jamen grasped the forearms of the likeable group. With a "see you later" to Gabrielle, they headed back out of town.
Chapter 9
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