CONQUERING THE CONQUEROR

pt.62

It was an early afternoon at the keep as Xena sat behind her desk trying to get a bit of work done but found herself unable to focus on the task in front of her.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) What's wrong with you? You're a grown woman, quit acting like you're some kind of young teen girl who's nervous about talking to her crush.

With far more effort than what it should have taken, Xena wrote down a couple more words on the scroll in front of her and let out a sigh as she gave up on her attempts at getting any work done and casually tossed the quill on the desk in front of her as she reclined back in her seat.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) Is this what the almighty, fearsome Conqueror has been reduced to? A lovesick fool who can barely get through a task without having her mind wander off to something involving her.

Xena smiled slightly as she chuckled a little at herself.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) Though to be honest at this point I don't think I'd have it any other way.

Xena looked at her desk and sighed as the conversation she had with Cyrene a few days ago came into her mind

XENA
(Thinking to herself) Gabrielle's where she wants to be. She chose to be here. Be with me. Is this really something I should do?

Xena sat there with her thoughts as her mind went back to how she felt before telling Gabrielle how she felt about her. The conflicting inner turmoil she went through as the fear of Gabrielle's rejection plagued her. Then a smile crossed the Conqueror's face as the thought of what eventually happened as a result of her revealing her love for Gabrielle. It wasn't immediate, but after some time, Gabrielle had actually fallen for her too. A feeling that Xena had no doubt was genuine.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) And look where we are now. Who would have thought that such an amazingly kind, caring, truly good-hearted person like Gabrielle could ever feel anything even close to love for someone like me.

Xena chuckled again.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) I suppose that truth really can be stranger than fiction.

Letting out another sigh and a smirk, Xena stood from her chair and began making her way across her study to the door.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) Well if that saying really is true, then I guess I'll have to take my chances and see where this all ends up.

__________________________________

It had been a few days since Gabrielle fully recovered from ingesting the poison that Isidora had put into the cider she drank that nearly killed her. But fortunately due to Xena's quick reaction during the situation, Gabrielle was feeling completely fine and hadn't suffered any additional adverse effects from the attempt on her life. And with Isidora dealt with and on her way to serve out the rest of her life, everything in Gabrielle's life seemed to retain to the new normal that she had come to know.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) It sure is a peaceful day around here.

Gabrielle walked idly through the halls as she made her way back to the archives after eating a small lunch in the dining room. She was just turning the last corner to get to the hallway where the entrance to the archives was when she felt herself being grabbed from behind and pulled back as she let out a small, surprised yell as she fell back against something.