Eternal Spirit

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Eternal Spirit

Part 7

Over the past few weeks the bard had, for the most part, comfortably settled back into her daily routine. Most of her wounds had healed nicely and the few bruises that still stained her skin were faint in color. She bore only one scar from her brutal attack. It stretched approximately six inches in length across her upper back. Nightmares still often plagued her but had diminished slowly as the days rolled by. Each time she found herself defenseless to another stream of flashbacks she reached for the safety in the embrace of her warrior. Although she seemed to return to the Gabrielle everyone knew and loved, something was very much missing from the young bard, something that even her warrior couldn't bring back to her.

"No way Gabrielle!"

"Xena, please I..."

"No! I repeat I will not spar with you. You have done nothing but spar and practice since you have healed enough to move around on your own. You need to stop and let your body rest. You need time to heal." Her gentle blue eyes drifted in the direction of the angry green eyes of her lover.

"And I repeat that I feel fine, my body feels fine, and I don't need to rest! I am not a child nor do I appreciate being treated as one!" her voice sank to a low heated tone.

Xena filled the gap between them with a swift stride and lifted her bard's chin with her index finger. She gazed into her lover's eyes searching for the familiar spirit that once glistened in her emerald eyes but was greeted only with a hollow emptiness. "Gabrielle, you haven't taken a break in weeks. I am worried about you. I know you are not a child. I'm not trying to treat you like one. I love you, more than I can ever show you, but you are pushing yourself too hard."

Gabrielle slightly turned her head to the left away from Xena. The warrior with her finger still beneath the bard's chin attempted to turn her head back to face her but the bard hastily pulled away taking a few steps backwards. Her tone carried slight irritation, "I am not in pain Xena. There is no reason for you to worry about me. I believe if I can run a Nation as Queen I can certainly take care of myself!" Unnecessary sarcasm dripped off each word. The hurt on Xena's face did not go unnoticed by the bard.

"She is just lashing out she doesn't mean what she says. I'm not going to let her push me away. I can't..." the warrior assured herself. Xena approached her lover who was still shaking with fury and gripped her tightly by the shoulders.

The bard tried to struggle from her grasp but to no avail. "Let go of me Xena! Leave me alone!" she shouted increasing her struggle against her warrior.

Xena, in one motion wrapped her arms tightly around the bard and pulled her into a close embrace. "Shh, it's alright." After a few moments the bard collapsed against the warrior succumbing to the embrace and began to sob softly. "I'm so sorry Xena. I didn't mean what I said. I don't know what got into me. I'm so sorry." Her words were muffled by louder sobs.

"It's alright, I know." She rubbed the bard's back in a soothing motion. Once the sobbing subsided Xena peeled the bard away from her slightly and lifted her chin up gently until their eyes met.

"Gabrielle you cannot run from this." She saw the bard about to interrupt her. She traced her finger along her lips. "No please, let me finish." She paused for a moment and then continued. "You have been brutally assaulted. What you went through not many would live to tell about. I am so proud of you. You are stronger than you will ever give yourself credit for. I know how hard this has been. I also know what you have been doing."

Not able to stay quiet any longer the bard interrupted her. "And what is it exactly that I am doing Xena?" she questioned defensively.

"Gabrielle you are exhausting yourself. Do you believe if you keep your mind on something else that the pain and exhaustion will replace what really hurts?" she arched a brow at her lover. "Do you?"

The bard's eyes began to water once more but her expression grew softer. "I feel so much rage Xena, more than I have ever thought possible. I don't know what to do with all this anger. I feel it consume me and I just want to get rid of it, release it." She blinked away a tear. "Practicing and sparring has helped me release it. I know you're right. I should give myself more time to heal but I am not overdoing myself Xe. I just needed to find a way to help release this anger and I want to sharpen my fighting skills. I.." Her sentence was cut off unexpectedly.

"I understand Gabrielle, I understand," her expression grew very serious. "There is no harm in releasing your feelings in a sparring ring Gabrielle, but in moderate portions. That doesn't mean all day and night. You cannot continue to exhaust yourself like this, promise me."

The bard smiled, "I promise."

"No more running Gabrielle. We will get through this, together." The warrior reached down and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips letting the warmth between them linger for a moment before pulling away. "How about each morning you and I will set aside some time together and practice?" she offered with a grin.

"I would really like that Xe." The brief sparkle in the bard's eyes brought a sweet smile to the warriors face.

"I miss that spirit in your eyes." She turned towards the bard and smiled warmly. "Good then it's settled," she stated confidently. "As for you my bard, I believe you have a celebration to get ready for," her face breaking into a sly smirk.

"And so do you my warrior. In fact I have just the outfit for you to wear." With a smug expression settling on her face she turned towards the bathroom, the sound of her first real laugh in weeks trailing behind her.

Continued In Part 8