It took a while to tell Dinah exactly what was going on. The woman asked many questions about many subjects, some of which astounded Xena and Gabrielle.
After a while, however, Xena put her hand up. “Hang on…” she said, “What does the color breeches I wear have to do with dreaming?”
Dinah glanced up from the small piece of paper she was jotting notes down on. “Very possibly nothing,” she admitted.
Xena nodded triumphantly, giving Gabrielle an “I thought as much” type expression.
“Then again,” Dinah added, “You might be surprised. I once treated a husband who couldn’t…perform…the marital act for a long time . It was obvious he really loved his wife, but when it come down to their actions in bed, he couldn’t achieve an erection.”
“So what happened?” Gabrielle asked, looking all caught up in the story.
“Ah…” Dinah replied, holding up a finger. “I worked on their problem for a very long time,” she continued. “He was in good health, she was a beautiful woman, they had two children, so everything had worked before. Finally, I found that he had recently starting wearing red under-drawers. They were made with a dye that he turned out to have a reaction to. It interfered with certain bodily processes.”
“Wow…that’s really wild,” Gabrielle laughed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“I hadn’t either,” Dinah replied. “But if there’s one thing the experience taught me, it’s to expect the unexpected. That’s why I ask some of the odd questions.”
“Dark brown,” Xena announced after a beat. Gabrielle grinned at her, knowing what was going on.
“What’s that?” Dinah asked.
“Dark brown” she repeated. “The color of my breeches.”
“Oh.” Dinah laughed, and wrote it on her parchment. “Thanks.”
Twenty minutes later, Dinah told Xena and Gabrielle to wait in the front room. She went through the same door she had originally come from, and was back a couple of minutes later. In her hand, she held a small medicinal flask.
“From what I can gather,” she said. “I don’t think there’s any outside influences causing your dreams, Xena. I mean there doesn’t seem to be any health reasons, as near as I can tell.”
“So what does that mean?” Xena asked.
"Well, it could mean a couple of things,” Dinah replied. “Either it’s your own mind, plying tricks or someone else has managed to affect your dreams somehow.”
“Is that possible?” Gabrielle asked.
Dinah gave her the same wry smile she had used earlier. “I’ve never heard of it being done,” she replied. “But as I told you earlier, I’ve found nothing is impossible…still…I do think it’s highly unlikely.”
“So you think most likely it’s my own mind playing tricks on me?” Xena asked. Not surprisingly, she looked rather skeptical about that, but somehow, not as much as Gabrielle would have expected.
Dinah nodded. “I think that’s a good possibility,” she replied.
“Why?” Gabrielle asked. “What would be the cause of it?”
“It’s difficult to say…I t could be brought on by some hidden factor, something you would never suspect. I know Xena has been through a lot in her lifetime…and it’s possible whatever it is has been part of her subconscious for a long time. Something might have triggered it recently.”
“Something like what?” Gabrielle asked.
“Xena could have seen someone from her past…or ever seen someone who reminded her of her past. Or an event could have done the same thing. It may not even seem like a big deal, something tonally inconspicuous, but it could be the trigger.”
Xena wasn’t terribly surprised to feel Gabrielle’s eyes looking curiously at her. She knew the bard was trying to figure out exactly what it might be that could have affected Xena in that way.
“So how do we get the dreams to go away?” Xena asked after a while.
“That’s an excellent question,” Dinah replied. Xena couldn’t resist giving a tiny smirk in response.
The healer held up the flask she had been carrying. “This is a sleeping herb that is used when people are healing from serious injuries. It contains an extract of the Dono root mixed in with the Tash flower.”
Xena nodded, identifying the potion. It was a very powerful drug, only used in cases where it was imperative the patient remain extremely motionless.
“I’m glad you’re familiar with its effects,” Dinah was saying. “I’m sure you’ll recognize that it not only has a numbing effect on the body, but the mind as well. The patient goes into a deep stage of slumber, where no dreams occur.”
Xena nodded her agreement. “It’ll also put me in a vulnerable position,” she told Gabrielle. “It’ll knock me out for the better part of twenty-four hours, leaving me defenseless.”
Gabrielle nodded. “I’ll look after you,” she said. “You’ll be perfectly safe.”
Xena smiled and nodded back. “I have no doubt about that,” she replied. “But besides allowing me to get a good night’s sleep, how will the elixir help my problem?”
Dinah scratched her chin thoughtfully. “It’s an educated guess,” she answered. “Judging from what you and Gabrielle described to me, you said yourself that you’ve had dreams of an…erotic nature before.” Xena nodded. “I think that it was coincidental that you had them two nights in a row. But with the way you reacted, you sort of planted the suggestion in your own head that you would have more dreams in an increasingly intense manner.”
Xena found that suggestion rather disconcerting, but she was realistic enough to comprehend the human mind was capable of paying some elaborate gags, especially when it was under extreme stress such as a severe deprivation of sleep.
“Even if it isn't the heart of your problem,” Dinah was saying, "You desperately need the sleep." Xena hadn’t totally come clean with the fact that she had maybe six total hours of sleep in the past five days. Dinah had seen though the ruse however. “If you do continue to have the dreams, you’ll be better equipped to handle them.”
“I agree,” Xena nodded. “The last couple of days, I’ve noticed that my judgment has been severely off-kilter.”
Gabrielle stared at her tall lover, amazed that Xena would admit that. Xena noticed, and put a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. She gave her a little squeeze. “It’s nothing serious,” she said. “I just feel…off…”
“Like this morning with those men?” Gabrielle answered. It was a statement rather than a question.
Dinah watched the interaction between the pair. It was heart-warming to see the tremendous love and affection the two women had for each other, despite their numerous and extreme differences. The pair could give lessons to a lot of married couples Dinah knew.
“All right,” she said, finally breaking the moment. “The next question is where you’re going to sleep, Xena. I’d like for you to be close by so Gabrielle can reach me, just in case there’s any problems.”
“We’ve already got a room in an inn,” Xena said. “It’s not far from here at all.”
“What’s the name of it?” Dinah asked.
Xena realized she had absolutely no idea, and knew it was due to her exhaustion addled brain. Normally, she noticed every detail about everything.
“The Green Rose,” Gabrielle answered. “It’s easy to remember because it’s so unusually named.”
“Yes, I know the place”, Dinah replied. “It’s generally a pretty quiet place, and I doubt if anyone tries to disturb you there.”
“What exactly should I be expecting?” Gabrielle asked.
Dinah handed the flask to Xena who shook her head, indicating she wanted the healer to fill Gabrielle in.
“As I said before, it’s a very powerful mixture and often has unexpected results depending on the person involved, the extent of their injuries, how much of the potion they drink, and so on. Plus, a lot of it depends on the constitution of the person.”
“Xena’s constitution is unbelievably strong,” Gabrielle said, and Xena had to give another smirk.
“I figured that,” Dinah commented, “But she has been weakened considerably.” She gauged Gabrielle’s response, then put a hand up. “Don’t be too concerned,” she said lightly. “If her condition affects her at all, it’ll be the length of time she’s asleep.”
“How long?” Gabrielle asked, glancing between her and Xena.
Xena shrugged. “At least a full day and night. I’ve seen some wake up the next day feeling all refreshed. Others haven’t awakened for three or four days and have found their energy zapped for days.”
Dinah nodded her agreement with that assessment. “You’ll need to keep an eye on her after she wakes up,” she said. “Just to make sure she’s not groggy.”
“I can do that,” Gabrielle replied.
Dinah smiled and nodded. “There’s one good dose in there,” she continued, indicating the vial. “I don’t have to tell you not to take it until you are ready to sleep.”
“Right.” Xena tucked the medicine in her cleavage and patted it securely. She turned to leave with Gabrielle right at her heels.
“Gabrielle…”
The blonde turned as Dinah approached. “Xena’s life signs will slow way down so she’s breathing very shallowly and her heartbeat will be very slow and weak. That’s normal. More than likely, she won’t move once she’s asleep either, so if she’s out more than twenty-four hours, it would be a good idea to change her position to help her circulation.” Gabrielle nodded.
“If you have any problem or have any questions, the innkeeper’s son can deliver your message to me. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Okay?”
“Okay.” Gabrielle and Xena gave Dinah a smile, and then left the shop, hand in hand.
Xena told Gabrielle more about the medicine as they made the walk back to the hotel. Once she took it, she would be totally helpless, not aware of anything, incapable of movement until the potion had worn off. And to make matters even more difficult, there was no known antidote for it.
Xena didn’t eat dinner that evening. The herbs would slow down her bodily functions, but Xena had seen a few messes from soldiers who had indulged too much close to taking the medicine.
Gabrielle worried that not eating would weaken Xena even more, but the taller woman reassured her. One missed meal wasn’t going to make any difference, and a protesting stomach might help her wake up a little bit quicker.
The sun had been down for an hour or so, and Xena and Gabrielle cuddled in a chair on the balcony outside their room, watching the activity on the street below them.
They talked quietly about this and that, enjoying the time when they could just relax and enjoy their time alone. Gabrielle had started out squeezing in next to Xena on the broad chair, but had eventually moved so she was sitting across Xena’s lap. Xena wrapped her arms around the bard’s shoulders and they settled in comfortably together.
The passerby’s on the street were becoming fewer and further between, and the town became much more quiet. Despite her best efforts to the contrary, Gabrielle found her eyelids becoming heavier. Xena slowly stroking through the back of her hair didn’t help any.
Finally, Xena sighed, knowing she might as well get it over with. She gave Gabrielle a slight nod.
“Time for bed,” she said wistfully.
“Mmm…okay…” Gabrielle stood reluctantly, and then turned to take Xena’s hand.
Xena allowed herself to be pulled into their room, and into Gabrielle’s arms for yet another hug. “I’ll be fine…” she whispered into the golden hair. “I need this.”
“I know,” Gabrielle whispered back. “But you know I’m going to be worried about you the whole time.”
“There’s no need,” Xena replied. “The elixir isn’t dangerous, and I know you will take good care of me while I’m under.” She leered at Gabrielle. “I’m the one who should be worried.”
Gabrielle sniffed as she pulled back to look at Xena. “What should you be worried about?” she asked.
Xena’s face had been all seriousness, but now she was grinning and raising her eyebrows in a teasing manner. “I won’t be able to defend myself if you try to take advantage of me.”
It took Gabrielle a second to realize what was being said, and then she broke into a giggle. “And the beauty of that is…if I’m careful to cover my tracks, you’ll never even know that I had my way with you.”
Xena burst out with a laugh. “You’d better be careful and not get me pregnant!” she quipped.
Gabrielle laughed with her, and then, they were embracing again. Finally, Xena pulled free. “No more stalling,” she stated.
Xena moved to sit on the side of the bed. She already had her weapons and armor off, and now, she pulled off her boots, and then her leathers. Clad in her shift and breeches, she climbed underneath the covers.
Gabrielle handed her the flask, and Xena pulled the stopper out. “Well…here goes…” she said and she tilted the bottle, emptying its contents. Gabrielle smiled slightly when Xena made a horrible face before chasing down the elixir with a swig of water.
“Gods, that was horrible.” She shivered from the aftertaste.
The potion would only take a minute or two to work, so Xena went ahead and skootched down further on the bed. She held out her arms, and Gabrielle snuggled against her. She rested her head against Xena’s breast for a moment, taking comfort in the sound and vibration of her strong heartbeat.
Xena, who had been fighting sleep the last few days, suddenly found the idea of closing her eyes very appealing. “Thischschtuff is fffast,” she said surprised at how drunken her tone sounded to her own ears.
Gabrielle was taken aback too, and turned her head to look at Xena. Her eyes were already nearly shut.
“I’ll watch over you, Xena,” Gabrielle vowed. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Gabri…” Xena didn’t even get the name out and she was unconscious.
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