Chapter 13

The small group of friends continued to listen to the music of the drums, relaxing and chatting while enjoying the cool breeze. After about a candlemark, Solan, Xenan , and the other hunters returned to the village. Xenan joined his mom immediately, and soon fell asleep, resting his head on her lap. Solan meanwhile, went over to the centaurs at the cooking pit, keeping his back to his mom and her friends while he prepared whatever surprise dish he had caught. All Xena could see was that the boy carried something in a burlap bag, and that he didn't want any help from the others while he prepared his special treat. After finishing up his chore, the youngster made his way to join his uncle and the women, carrying with him a mug of fruited water that he liked to sip on hot days. Taking a seat next to Xenan, he took a satisfying pull on his drink, and smiled over at his mother and her newly joined partner.

"So, Solan..I see you've been successful in your hunt," Xena hinted for a clue as to what the boy was cooking for them.

"Yup." His blue eyes danced in the bright sun.

"What did the others bring back?"

"Don't know...I only wanted Xenan to help me with my catch."

Ephiny glanced at the boy. "Xenan helped you catch the game? But I haven't even started to teach him any hunting skills."

Solan nodded his head towards his small centaur friend at his side. "He was a big help."

"Xenan?" the dark haired woman questioned.

"Yup."

"You're not going to tell us how?"

"Nope."

Gabrielle nudged her lover. "Kinda talkative like his mother, don't you think?"

Xena bent in for a quick kiss. "Don't worry. You make up for whatever verbal skills we lack."

The bard lightly slapped her bound hand against Xena's thigh, leaving a small smudge in the process. "I'll take that as a compliment. And flattery will get you everywhere," she whispered so the others couldn't hear.

"I'll remember that," the warrior replied, bending in to steal another kiss.

Gabrielle closed her eyes as she felt her lover's full lips press against her own, her heart skipping a beat when Xena continued the slow exploration with her tongue. The bard acknowledged her complete submission to the woman she loved, not caring who was watching, as she strained closer to the warrior, needing to feel Xena's surrender in return. The two lost track of time momentarily as they escaped into the sensation of giving each other pleasure, and receiving it in turn. At last Xena pulled away, but not before capturing Gabrielle's bottom lip with her teeth, grazing the sensitive skin while the bard squirmed in pleasure.

"Oh, gods...Xena," Gabrielle practically moaned as she leaned her forehead on Xena's neck, loving the feel of the scented hair. "If you keep this up..."

"Yes, my love?"

"I'll never be able to make it."

"Oh, I think you will, my love."

A sharp intake of breath was the only response the bard was capable of at the moment. As she slowly regained her senses, she realized that the drumming had stopped and now Tenio was playing an emotional melody on his flute. Glancing up, Gabrielle noticed a centaur she had never met before standing in front of her and the warrior.

"Hello, Queen Gabrielle and Warrior Princess. I'm Siver, and I want to welcome you to our Nation."

Xena rose and helped the bard to her feet, and then grasped the centaur's arm in a warrior's greeting. "Thank you Siver. It's an honor to be asked to join such a great Nation." A streak of the drying paint was left on the centaur warrior as he then offered his arm in greeting to the bard.

Gabrielle shook Siver's arm and nodded her greeting. As the centaur moved away from them, a different centaur took his place.

"Gabrielle, my name is Moryl. My wife, Cady, was an Amazon. She would have been proud to see this day arrive, the day that our Nations combine in peace." The handshake he gave Gabrielle was heartfelt, and unable to help himself, he leaned down and hugged the shorter woman. Straightening up, he placed his hand on Xena's shoulder, getting his palm dark with the paint in the process. He looked the dark haired woman in the eye, and stated simply, "Welcome, Xena." Although a bit more formal than the greeting he gave the blonde, Xena knew from the squeeze he gave her shoulder that it was just as genuine as the one he shared with her partner.

Another centaur followed Moryl. Danaus and his boy McGowan stepped forward to greet the new members of their tribe. While Danaus pledged his support and strength in battle to the women, McGowan simply reached up and hugged first Gabrielle and then Xena. When Xena wrapped her arm around her boy's friend, he took the chance to whisper in the formidable warrior's ear, "I'd never thought I'd get to meet Solan's mom."

Xena released the boy from the embrace. "And I'm glad that my son has such a good friend. Thank you, McGowan."

The boy ducked his head shyly and stepped away, but not without first noticing the streak of brown left on this arm where Xena had hugged him. He felt that he too was accepted into the small group, and was happy that Solan now had someone else besides Kaliepus to look after him, to care for him.

Soon, all the centaurs lined up to meet the women. Xena tried to keep up with all the names and faces, but was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of centaurs and all the good wishes they pledged. Finally, the music stopped, and Tenio approached the pair.

"Xena and Gabrielle, thank you for giving me the pleasure of playing for you at your Blending Ceremony. I wish you peace and happiness in your new life together."

Gabrielle grasped the centaur's arm. "Tenio, it should be us that are thanking you. Your melodies are beautiful. I'll never forget this day, and the way you made it special for both of us. You are a true artist, blessed by the gods with your talent."

Tenio simply smiled and next approached Xena. "Welcome, Warrior Princess. My Nation is honored to be able to count you among our members. But now I have a solemn promise to ask of you. I have heard that Gabrielle is blessed by the muses, that when she tells her wonderful stories, she shares her soul with those listening. I must ask that you protect this gift of the gods, that she may always be able to share her spirit with others."

Touched by his words, Xena kissed the musician, and then leaned back so he could see into her eyes when she spoke. "I promise."

The drum player nodded, and then moved back to his instruments. Picking up the drum again, he played a slower tune. A few of the centaurs started passing out platters of food, while others were pouring larger mugs of port and ale. Without a word, it seemed that everyone understood that the time to eat the afternoon feast and celebrate the Binding with toasts and cheers had arrived.

Solan walked up to his mom and Gabrielle, and led them to a table filled with different meats, cheeses, and fruits of every kind. In front of two empty chairs was a platter covered with a cloth, hiding the special meal that Solan had prepared for them. He had even made sure that a glass of ale and another of port were waiting for the two women. After sitting down his special guests, the boy removed the cloth from the dish to reveal two young birds resting on a bed of grape leaves, surrounded by mushrooms and a few edible roots.

Xena broke off a piece of the meat, and fed it to her lover.

"Mmm... very good, Solan. What is it?" the bard asked, as she reached for a morsel with her free hand, and placed it in Xena's mouth.

"Stuffed quail. Uncle showed me how to make it long ago."

Xena liked the flavor of the herbs her boy had used. "Stuffed quail? It's delicious. What else is in it?"

"Look and see."

Gabrielle folded back the belly of one of the birds, which had been split open before it had been cooked. Inside where two small eggs, cradled by a handful of wild rice. She deftly cracked open an egg, and removed the shell before placing the delicacy on Xena's tongue.

"I don't think I've ever tasted anything like it," Xena remarked as she took her turn at breaking the hard skin off an egg and feeding it to her lover. "It's so different."

"Well, Xenan helped me collect the eggs. He made sure he was very careful not to drop or crack them. But Uncle told me he had made the dish for someone else who was welcomed into the Nation, and the dish had been his favorite. He made it for...for my dad, Borias." Solan glanced away from his mom quickly, trying to control his emotions when he thought of his dad, whom he would never get to meet.

"Honey, come here," Xena whispered as she held out her free hand to her son. He rounded the table and fell into her embrace as Xena hugged him back. "Your father would have loved you just as much as I do if he had lived long enough to see your birth. It means so much to me that you did this...not only cook this special meal that your dad liked, but that you've accepted Gabrielle and me. I love you Solan."

"I love you too mom," the boy whispered, and then stepped away from her to hug Gabrielle.

"Big guy, you're special to me too," the bard told him as she squeezed him to her. "I'm very lucky to have you both in my life."

Solan gave a quick grin, and then left them alone so they could enjoy their meal together.

The two women helped each other to the quail, the rice, the wild mushrooms, and everything else that Solan had prepared for them. After every few bites, they stopped for a kiss, and could taste on the other the last thing they had each ate. Gabrielle tasted port on Xena's lips, as the warrior savored the combination of rice and quail and deepened the kiss. Their bound hands were a hindrance at times, as Xena felt she couldn't get Gabrielle in a tight enough embrace, but gave into the sensation of such an intimate dinner. Closing her eyes, she wished that the evening's celebrations were almost over, so she could share with her lover a more intimate exchange. As if on cue, several more musicians joined Tenio and started playing a livelier tune.

Ephiny approached the table the women were sitting at, and holding a rather large mug in the air, announced, "A toast, for our friends!"

Cheers greeted Ephiny's shout, and once they died down, she continued. "To my Queen Gabrielle, one of my dearest friends. A bard by day, she uses her tongue for all to enjoy. At night,...that pleasure is reserved for one!"

A loud chorus of cheers and laughter greeted the amazon's toast.

Gabrielle's face reddened with the sudden attention everyone was paying her, and she looked down in embarrassment. Feeling Xena squeeze her hand, she lifted her eyes to her lover and found herself being thoroughly kissed for all to see. Another raucous round of cheers went up from the centaurs.

"And to my other friend, Xena, Warrior Princess," Ephiny began again.

'Uh oh, here it comes,' the woman thought and prepared herself for the amazon's worst.

"She's dangerous with weapons of without. I've often heard her boast that she has many skills. Well, tonight, Gabrielle will find out just how many!"

The laughter was loud and boisterous. Even Xena had to chuckle at her friend's remarks. She caught Ephiny's eye and pointed at her, indicating that she thought the joke was a good one.