“c1″> 

One
night she felt the younger woman slowly creeping away from her
about a candlemark before dawn when the night is at its coldest and
darkest. She began to move her right hand soothingly over
Gabrielle’s back and whispered. "Don’t go.
I’d love to wake up with you in my
arms."

“c1″> 

The
young woman didn’t stay and Xena also wasn’t able to
stay in bed any longer. She got up and took her golden maned war
horse Argo for a long run before heading to the training grounds
only slightly behind schedule. And once again, things repeated
themselves

“c1″> 

Ten
days later Xena couldn’t stand it any longer and followed
Gabrielle to the library. They had to talk about it. The Conqueror
knew what she felt for the younger woman was far beyond friendship
and equally far away from sisterly devotion. She had captured her
heart but now her body also longed for the presence of the blonde.
Part of her dreaded the inevitable conversation; she didn’t
look forward to hearing that there only was some sort of convenient
companionship coming from Gabrielle but in all her life she never
had run away from possibly hurtful situations.

“c1″> 

When
Xena entered the library through the main doors Gabrielle looked
up, a sad smile on her face. "I knew one day you would follow
me but I don’t want to talk about it. I will leave the palace
as soon as possible."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Why?" Xena had been prepared for a lot of
things but not for this kind of quiet determination. "I
don’t want you to leave. What did I do to scare you away?
Tell me what it is and I’ll stop doing it. Without the fire
in your emerald eyes my world once again will be nothing but
darkness."

“c1″> 

As
before when speaking to Gabrielle Xena found herself saying things
she otherwise never would have even thought but nevertheless she
knew them to be true.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"You can’t change who you are,
Xena."

“c1″> 

"I
see. I should have known that your pure heart couldn’t stand
the nearness of a cold-blooded murderer like me for long. Palemon
will see to it that you have enough money and provisions to take
you far away from here."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Xena, wait."

“c1″> 

She
heard the sound of a chair crashing on the stone tiles and
footsteps following her. She stood but didn’t turn around.
Gabrielle’s body was barely an arm’s length behind her;
they didn’t touch.