“c1″> 

“c1″>"Twenty-nine."

“c1″> 

At the
thirty-third stroke, the lawyer called another time-out. To the
untrained eye, Xena’s back already was a bloody mess but she
yet had to utter a single scream or moan. There were tears silently
running down her cheeks, and Theano had to force the tip of a water
skin between her clenched teeth.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Drink, Xena. Only seventeen more to go. I know you
can do it, little one."

“c1″> 

She
made sure that Xena’s long black hair didn’t
accidentally touch her back, gave her a kiss on the forehead and
signalled to Eponin to continue. She stayed in front of the younger
warrior, holding Xena’s pain-filled blue eyes with her
own.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Forty-nine."

“c1″> 

The
bound woman screamed, an earth-shattering scream, part pain, and
part anger but when the last stroke hit its target, she abruptly
fell silent. When her wrists were simultaneously uncuffed by the
Queen and the weapons’ master she collapsed against
Theano’s chest who helped her to her feet as gently as
possible. Xena took a couple of deep breaths trying to tone out the
pain radiating from her back and through her body to the very end
of her hair. She slowly steadied herself and made small steps to
the altar where she bent her knee and whispered 'Thank you,
Artemis.'

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

Xena
descended the stairs in slow motion and went directly to Gabrielle.
The young woman was very pale and she visibly had trouble to keep
her tears in check. Once again, she went down on her right knee,
painfully leaned forward, and kissed her.

“c1″> 

"I
love you, Gabrielle. All the time, I could feel your eyes on me,
and the power of your love gave me strength. You are the light in
my darkness; you hold my soul. Being with me makes your life
dangerous; being with me may even threaten your soul. I don’t
know what the future will bring but I know that I can’t
imagine living my life without you. It would be more appropriate to
wait but I simply have to ask now. Will you become my wife, will
you join your life with mine ‘til death will part us as soon
as I am a free woman once again?"

“c1″> 

The
blond woman was speechless, never before Xena had given voice to
her feelings in public, and now this!! She kissed her back, looked
deep in her lover’s eyes, and answered. "Yes, Xe, I
will. – But now we should go back to the village where Anara
can see to your back."

“c1″> 

Xena
smiled and took the first two steps towards the edge of the
clearing when a dizzy spell hit her. Immediately Theano was at her
side. "You have nothing to prove,
Xena."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Thank you for looking out for me, my second
mother."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Any time, little one."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Eponin, my friend, I could use another helping
hand to get back to the village."

“c1″> 

The
weapons’ master smiled a relieved smile, draped Xena’s
arm around her shoulders, and the threesome slowly navigated
through the easily parting crowd with Gabrielle, Ephiny, Melosa and
the rest of the jury following close behind.

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

The
End

“c10″> 

“c10″> 

“c1″> 

Stay
tuned for the sequel: Conqueror And Amazon:
Echoes Of Darkness

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c12″>