It was true that Gabrielle and Xena's journey to the Amazon village had been a long one, but it was not the travelling that had exhausted the bard, it was the fact that just before they had entered Amazon territory she and Xena had stopped and made passionate love for three days straight, and now the lack of sleep and the intense physical exertion were taking their toll. But, tired as she was, Gabrielle was not in the mood to catch up on sleep right now, she was too hyped up for that. No, she was in the mood for one of her 'little games' and she knew Xena was too. As Ephiny gathered up her papers and made to leave she was halted by the queen's voice calling her back. "Do you know where Xena is?" she asked.
"I think she went out with the patrol" she was informed.
"Send someone to fetch her, would you? I need to talk to her."
"Yes, My Qeen."
"Oh and Ephiny, when she gets here we don't want to be disturbed."
The regent's lips curved knowingly as she acknowledged "yes, My Queen."

* * * * * *

8.30 p.m.
When Xena knocked at the door of the queen's hut and was commanded to enter, she found her lover standing in the middle of the room tapping a cane gently against her calf in mock irritation. She had been about to ask what Gabrielle wanted to see her about, but when she saw what her lover had in mind a thrill of arousal flashed though her and she was unable to speak. Gabrielle had made her eyes cold, indicative of controlled rage, though she couldn't entirely stop the warmth of her love shining through. She had that look on her face....the look that told Xena it was her turn to be the slave. She lowered her eyes submissively to the floor and kept quiet. "Close the door, Xena" the queen ordered clamly, "and come here."

The bard cirlced her lover slowly, trailing the end of the cane over Xena's calves and thighs. "You know, you've put me in a very awkward position, Xena" came the steely voice from behind her, but she knew better than to turn or to ask why. "I have a lot of work to do with the regent, problems to solve, orders to issue, treaties of sign....but I was so tired I couldn't concentrate and we had to finish our meeting early. I haven't got half of it done..." she came to rest in front of the contrite warrior before accusing "and it's all your fault." The queen sighed deeply and continued, "your inability to control yourself over the last few days has left me exhausted and now I can't fulfill my duties as queen!" She waited a few seconds, boring her icy stare into the warrior's eye and asked "well?...what have you got to say for yourself?"
"I.....I'm sorry, Mistress," stumbled the warrior, "I was inflamed by your beauty and I....I.."
"So that's supposed to excuse your behaviour, is it?" asked the queen and the warrior shook her head in shame. "Well, what do you think I should do about it then?"
"I suppose you...you should punish me, Mistress" Xena suggested demurly, her heart beating quicker at the mere thought of it.
"Oh, don't worry, I intend to," the bard assured her, "but I think you also need a lesson in self-control, don't you?"
"Yes, Mistress."
"Good......well? What're you waiting for? Strip!"

When the warrior was naked and shivering with anticipation, Gabrielle looked her over haughtily and commanded "lean over the table, Xena." Of course Xena obeyed, gripping the opposite edge of the large work table and presenting her beautifully firm behind to the young queen. "A dozen of the best, I think," the Amazon decided, "count, Xena.....and don't lose track or I'll have to start all over again." The first stroke of the cane landed with a thwack, and Xena grunted "one" sharply, holding herself ready for the next, which came fast upon its heels. When three reddening stripes adorned the gasping warrior's flesh, Gabrielle backed off and waited silently. She never liked to set up too regular a rhythm with her beatings, preferring to leave Xena dangling, never knowing when the next stinging blow would come. "Four!" rasped Xena as the cane descended again, another pause and then two in quick succession, so quick that she alomost didn't have time to give the tally. "S...se..ven, haaagh! Eight!" she groaned before her next respite, and this time the queen waited so long to deliver number nine that Xena had almost forgotten where she was up to when it landed. The next strike landed, again without warning, and she screamed it's number, her head flinging back as she lurched forward across the table, gasping for breath. The pain of number eleven was even worse, steeling her breath completely so that she really had to concentrate to force the word from her lips. Gabrielle paced slowly, wandering menacingly around the table and grasping a hank of dark hair to pull Xena's head up from where her cheek rested on the cool table. Tears sat upon the warrior's cheeks and when Gabrielle eventually returned to her post and delivered the last blow, they fell silently and dripped onto the table.

The queen flung her cane into the corner of the room and ordered cooly "stand up, Xena. The warrior's face did not attempt to hide her suffering and yet the evidence of her arousal could be clearly seen, glistening in her dark pubic hair. "Are you turned on already?" asked the bard, shaking her head in disapproval, but all the shuddering warrior could do was nod in shame. "You see what I mean? You have no self-control, Xena. You're just a little slut, aren't you?"
"Yes, Mistress" agreed the warrior, wincing at the vicious stinging that wrapped itself in a thick band around her buttocks.

Gabrielle selected a chair with arms and pulled it to the middle of the room. "Sit your beatiful, red butt down here, Xena" she demanded softly, tapping the seat for emphasis. The warrior swallowed hard at the idea of sitting but stumbled to the chair, lowering herself gingerly onto its seat, gasping as its cool surface welcomed her raw flesh and soon she found herself imobilised, her wrists tied behind the broad chairback and her ankles strapped to its sturdy legs.

The breath hissed through Xena's clenched teeth as the clamps bit into her nipples. Gabrielle took the delicate chain that connected the two clamps deliberately between her fingers and pulled gently, smiling as Xena moaned and let her head drop back onto the solid wood. The queen teased and tormented the warrior's nipples for several long moments, her own breaths growing laboured as she became wet at the sounds of Xena's gasps and whimpers. She continued to torture her lover's nipples slowly until she noticed the warrior's muscled thighs spasm and dropped the chain abruptly. "Xena," she ordered, "look at me" and a shudder of arousal went through her as the warrior did just that, her dark, smouldering eyes gripping the queen's attention so that she almost forgot what she was going to say. Licking her dry lips the bard asked "are you ready for your lesson, my love?"
One corner of the warrior's mouth curled up in anticipation and she panted "y..yes, My Queen."

* * * * * *

9.10 p.m.
Gabrielle brought out a large hourglass on a stand and set it in the middle of the room, within the warrior's line of sight. She turned the heavy glass with some effort, smiling as she noticed how torturously slowly the sand dripped through to the lower section. Perfect! Turning to her captive she explained softly "I'm going to make love to you now, Xena," adding with an arched eyebrow "amongst other things." Carefully she straddled the warrior's thighs and lowered herself onto them, confirming Xena's suspicion that she had previously removed her underwear. "I intend to come and come and come, all over you, my darling," she announced softly as she lowered her lips to the warrior's ear and whispered, "you, on the other hand, will not come until every last grain of sand in that glass has run through, is that clear?" Xena trembled, her eyes almost fluttering shut as the queen began nibbling at her neck. Her gaze darted to the glass and, taking in the size of the thing, she swallowed hard and asked querrulously, "Mistress, how long?"
The Queen smiled at the question and sat up, caressing Xena's face gently, "I think it lasts about three hours" she said simply before running her thumbs along Xena's lips. "Is that clear, Xena?" she asked again, hardening her tone a little.
The warrior took a deep breath and answered "Yes, Mistress."

The brave warrior tried to keep the trepidation from her face but failed miserably. Gabrielle was an inventive lover and sometimes her 'little games' could turn very quickly from a playful tease to a serious test; this was clearly one of those times. Gabrielle gazed down at her, silently challenging her lover. This would be a battle of wills between the bard's relentless seduction techniques and the warrior's self-control and, unlike most battles Xena got herself involved in, this one she wasn't at all sure she could win. She knew Gabrielle had stopped playing and would push her harder and further than she had ever been pushed before, trying every trick in the book to break her warrior's control before the sand ran out. She knew if she failed the test her punishment would be severe and real and she felt her stommach flutter nervously. "What if..." she began, wetting her suddenly dry lips, "what if I can't hold out?"
"You know what, Xena" the bard assured her, "you'll be severely punished. I don't know exactly how yet but I'm sure I'll come up with something suitably painful." She leaned forward and kissed the tip of Xena's nose before looking deep into her eyes and adding huskily, "you know I always do." Pulling Xena's chin up slightly she began teasing her lips with her teeth and tongue, grazing her own lips slowly against them, smiling between her tiny kisses at the warrior's moan of despair. "Are you sure, Xena?" she asked softly and the warrior knew she was being given her last chance to back out and that Gabrielle would not think any the worse of her for it. She could change this back into a game if she wanted but she swallowed deeply and said "yes, I'm sure."

* * * * * *

10 p.m.
The warrior's body quaked and she purposefully deepened her breaths, trying to slow her racing heartbeat. Gabrielle had put leather straps around Xena's thighs, just above her knees, and pulled them wide apart, strapping them to the upright of the armrests so that her sex was exposed. Next, she had placed four clamps, two each side, on the warrior's labia and tied the chains attatched to them around her thighs, leaving her slick opening and her throbbing clitoris open to the air. She had tried to scoot back in her chair and arch over herself, but the secure bindings prevented it and so she had thought it best to try and relax and clear her mind. That was easier said than done though, as the hot, greedy mouth descended to her sex.

"Oh, Gods, please!" she begged as the bard licked and nipped at every part of her sex, slipping her arms around to lift the warrior slightly and pull her forward for easier access. Xena's head twisted helplessly against the back of the chair as she tried to control the shuddering in her body, and she felt herself sinking down and forward into the bard's mouth. "G..Gabrielle! Pleeeease!" she cried as an arrow of pleasure shot straight to her core, but the bard was not in a merciful mood. Tentatively Xena stole a look at the hourglass and moaned when she saw it was still more than two thirds full. It seemed like they had been at this for hours and she had only held on by blocking out what was going on and focussing her thoughts. She had forced herself to think about her mother's cooking, about Argo's new shoes, about how soon she would be able to find someone to mend her boots, about anything so long as it didn't involve Gabrielle or sex or the fire that was burning in her loins. But the exposure of her over-sensitized clit had focussed her mind quickly on the spot where she least wanted it to be focussed and any other coherent thought had evaporated entirely. The bard reached up, without pausing in her greedy devouring of the warrior's twitching sex and grabbed her heaving breasts, tugging harshly at the chain that still hung between her nipples. The warrior screamed helplessly at the heat that suddenly radiated out from each of her sore nipples to engluf her whole chest. Abruptly, the queen stopped her ministrations and stood back to regard her warrior almost disdainfully. She was clearly highly aroused herself, her breathing heavy and stilted and her limbs slightly shaky. Without a word she moved to the bed and reached under it, binging out a well-used cat-o-nine-tails. Xena's eyes widened in fear as the queen stood over her and gazed down at her dripping wet sex. She looked back into the warrior's eyes and raised an eyebrow suggestively, silently communicating her intentions. "No!" whispered Xena breathily, "please, no." Her tone was so desperate that pity began to stir in the bard's chest, but she ignored it, raised the cat and brought it down sharply on the warrior's quivering sex.

* * * * * *

10.30 p.m.
Fifty lashes later, the warrior was shaking violently with the effort to control her consuming desire and tears were dripping down her face. Her pleas for release had fallen on deaf ears as the bard continued to lash her raging sex, but Gabrielle's own desire was becoming a burning issue and eventually she threw the whip to one side and, releasing the warrior's knees (though not her sex) from their bindings she shoved them back together and mounted her sobbing warrior, immediately beginning to rub herself energetically against the warrior's thighs as her hands gripped the armrests. The feel of the bard's juices liberally coating her thighs, the overpowering aroma of sex and the sight of the queen's ravenous passion, almost caused Xena to loose her grip on herself but, by a supreme effort of will she managed to endure Gabrielle's shuddering climax without succumbing to her own. The effort almost stopped her heart.

The queen collapsed against her warrior and twitched through the aftershocks of her massive orgasm. "Wow!" she exclaimed, when she had calmed herself, "I am so good!" Pushing herself off against the back of the chair she sat up and looked down into Xena's face. The warrior's eyes were closed and her face, turned to one side, was glistening with sweat, as was her entire body. Xena had taken the opportunity of Gabrielle's recovery time to bring herself firmly back under control, but she had no idea how long she could maintain it, and her beautiful face showed every bit of effort it took. "My poor, suffering hero," crooned the queen, her voice still a little ragged, as she ran her fingers lightly down Xena's cheek, "maybe I'll give you a very little respite." Very slowly, she removed the tight clamps from Xena's rigid nipples, causing a hiss and a whimper as the blood flowed back into the tortured buds. "Ssshh, my love," she crooned, "it's alright." Looking down she took in the reddness of the warrior's chest she sighed "Oh your poor nipples," as her fingers skirted the edges of them with a feather-light touch, "they must be so sore. Let me kiss them better" and she bent down and gently licked and kissed the aching, stinging nipples.

* * * * * *

10.50 p.m.
After long minutes of this soothing but maddening treatment, Xena was squirming in her seat once more, all her attention now unwillingly focussed on the abused buds. Gabrielle reluctantly pulled herself away and stepped back to watch the warrior writhe for a while before she knelt down and prized the woman's legs further apart once more. She could see the warrior's opening twitching with the need for release and she bent her head down and forcefully rammed her tongue into the spasming hole. "Aaaggh!" yelled the warrior as her whole body jerked off her seat and she fought valiantly to keep a hold on her reaction. Looking down, she saw the sparkling green eyes peering mischieviously back up at her and after a couple more thrusts of her tongue the bard moved up to suck the engorged clit into her mouth and then flick at it rapidly with the tip of her tongue. Xena squeezed her eyes shut and held on for dear life as her loins ignited and her body tensed painfully. "P...please," she begged once more, her voice raspy and breaking with sobs, "I...I c..can't."
"Sssh, darling," Gabrielle encouraged as she got up and wiped the trembling woman's tears away, "it's not long now, see?" and she pointed to the slowly emptying hourglass, which was still over a third full, "I'd say about an hour and a quarter. You're doing so well, Xena. You can make it, can't you?"
Xena was shaking so hard that it was an effort to speak but she gasped out "I...don't know. I...I d..don't think s..so."
"Well," soothed the bard, "maybe a change of position will help" and with that she released the warrior's bonds and indicated for her to get up and move over to the bed.

Shuddering with strain Xena placed her hands flat against the cool surface of the armrests and pushed herself up. She felt so weak she could hardly stand and she swayed slightly while she tried to orientate herself. The clips were still attatched to her labbia and their chains still tied around her thighs and when she took a step towards the bed they tugged painfully, sending a sharp searing into her core. She stumbled into Gabrielle's waiting arms and held tightly on to her. "Darling, you are in a state, aren't you!?" the bard acknowledged softly, though she did nothing to stop the warrior's suffering, in fact it was clear she had plans to do exactly the opposite. "Come and lie down," she commanded patiently, "let me help you."

With the bard's support, Xena reached the bed and sat down carefully, grateful when the queen gently pushed her back into its softness. "Now, spread your legs for me and I'll take those things off" she said and when the warrior obeyed she scooted down to carry out her task, carefully removing the clamps one by one and untying the chains from around Xena's thighs. It was an uncomfortable process for the warrior, but she gripped the quilt beneath her and breathed through it, in fact she bacame so relaxed now that she was lying down that she was shocked when she felt the bard's cool breath blowing over her swollen labbia. She could handle that, but when the queen began to lick and suck at the flesh, Xena's fingers clutched desperately at the bed and she arched off it, shuddering and crying out as Gabrielle's tongue darted onto her clit once more.

* * * * * *

11 p.m.
For the next half an hour, Gabrielle brought herself off again and again against every accessible part of Xena's sweating body. Forced to watch but not allowed to touch, Xena was in agony and she reached up to grasp the bedhead in an effort to stop herself grabbing the bard as she shuddered through her fifth climax in quick succession.

Gabrielle stretched herself out on top of her warrior and began to kiss her deeply, planting kisses all over her face before slowly moving down her body. She played with the shivering woman's breasts for a while, sucking and licking, kissing and biting and pinching until the warrior was once more begging for mercy. "Hold on, Xena," she encouraged breathlessly as she devoured her helpless victim once more and then she moved up to straddle the warrior's face and commanded "eat me!"

Xena dived in with abandon, gripping on to the bard's slim hips with spasming hands, but Gabrielle slapped her hands away as she ordered huskily "No! You can only touch me with your mouth." As Xena breathed in the heady scent of the woman she loved she was almost overcome but she kept up her pace until she had brought Gabrielle to the brink and then expertly dived inside her, moaning as the velvet walls gripped her tongue and spasmed violently, tearing a cry from the bard's throat.

Gabrielle collapsed at Xena's side taking deep breaths to calm herself before turning to look at the hourglass. She calculated that there was only half an hour left and if she was going to really challenge Xena to the furthest limits of her self-control, she would have to rouse herself and act now. She propped herself up on her elbow and, trailing one finger slowly down Xena's heaving chest she announced. "I'm going to fuck you now, Xena. Dildo or fist? You choose."
The warrior turned her fear-filled gaze on her bard and begged "no, please."
"You don't want me to?" asked Gabrielle, sounding genuinely surprised, though she really knew the reason for Xena's reluctance.
"Yes, I do, but I....I won't be able to...to hold back."
"Oh Xena," the bard rebuffed gently, "you have a choice about that too, you know? You can either hold back until it's time, or you can give in and accept your punishment like a brave little soldier." Xena groaned her desperation as the bard leant down to kiss her again and then announce, "I know, how about dildo first and then fist? I think we have time." The warrior took a deep breath and prepared herself for the final battle.

* * * * * *

11.40 p.m.
The enormous dildo wobbled gently between the bard's thighs as she approached the bed and positioned herself between Xena's legs. Reaching down, she raised the warrior's knees and pulled her slightly down the bed towards the waiting instrument, dipping her hand gently into the wet folds. "Well, I don't think we'll need any extra lubrication tonight" she teased as she pressed the tip of her dildo lightly against Xena's opening, pulling a gasp from her lips. Slowly, inch by inch, she worked the long phallus into the writhing woman, meeting no resistance despite Xena's efforts, and when it was inserted up to the hilt she bagan to thrust. There was an extra little device attatched to this particular dildo, which sat snugly against the wearer's clit and caused intense stimulation with every thrust. The bard moaned, loosing herself in the sensations as her motions became more insistant.

Xena struggled against the sensations that were filling her belly, trying to curb her body's instinct to grind itself deeper and deeper into the invading force that filled it. Her fingers spasmed into the sheet beneath her, bunching the material in their iron grip. Xena cast a desperate glance over at the hourglass, knowing she wouldn't be able to hold on until it was empty but determined to fight as long as she could. Gabrielle grabbed her warrior's hands and yanked them over her head, leaning all her weight on them as she threw back her head in ecstacy. Her whole body grew still for a second and then convulsed, a throaty scream tearing from her as she came and flopped down onto the shivering warrior.

Xena was on fire and the heat that radiated from Gabrielle's sated body only made it worse. Usually she loved the feel of the bard's boneless weight anchoring her to the bed, but right at the moment it was exacerbating her predicament and she could hardly breathe. She tried to raise her arms, but the queen's fingers were still entwined with hers and Gabrielle pushed them further into the soft bed as she raised her head and ordered "hold on to the bedposts, Xena. You're going to need to."

* * * * * *

11.55 p.m.
"AAAGH! GOOOODS!" the warrior screemed again as her back arched off the bed. She felt as if the fisting had been going on for hours but when she looked at the hourglass there was at least a ten minutes to go. Gabrielle thrust again and the warrior jerked, tensing in on herself as her muscles cramped for the hundredth time. She held tightly to the strong bedposts, trying to take comfort in their solidity, but her head raised as her muscles tensed and she looked down desperately at her tormentor, silently begging for a reprieve.

Gabrielle left off her cruel teasing of the warrior's breasts and scooted up. She stared down into the woman's burning eyes and leant down to kiss her tenderly. She had stopped her thrusting, relaxing her hand inside Xena, though not removing it from her captive's quivering, tightening vagina. "Oh, Xena," she breathed softly as she caressed the warrior's face, "you're so close" and she smiled lovingly down at the dark woman before leaning in for another kiss. For a moment the warrior thought her request for clemency had been granted and she allowed herself to sink into the bard's comforting caress, kissing her lovingly and letting go of the bedposts to bring her hands around Gabrielle's neck and pull her closer. The bard smiled, letting her lover believe it was over, letting her believe as her eyes darted to the glass that, with only five minutes to go, she might just make it after all.

But then, just as the warrior had begun to relax, the queen's fingers unfurled inside her and started to flutter against her g-spot, while her other hand snaked downwards to do the same to her swollen clit. Xena wailed pitifully as the shuddering took her once more and she knew there was no defence against this. Her trembling breaths became so shallow and rapid as the tension inside her built to unbearable heights, that she thought she might pass out for lack of air. Even now she fought not to give in, her muscles cramping with tension beneath her skin as her body quaked and shook, but when a hot mouth descended on her aching nipple and began to tease again, she felt the moment of truth approaching and knew all was lost. When the explosion racked her it was like no other climax she had experienced before. The waves of spasming pleasure went on and on, unrelentingly, pummelling her senses until they threatened to shut down. The whole bed shook and creaked from the force of her uncontrolable thrashing and she shrieked and wailed with every exhale, gasping for breath. Gabrielle had to lie on top of her and hold her down to stop her hurting herself and when she was finally calm, after a long minutes of the torturous pleasure, she turned her head to look at the hourglass and watched with horror as the last few grains of sand dripped through. "Oh, Princess," admonished the bard gently as she caressed the warrior's exhausted but sated features, "and you were doing so well."
Xena opened her heavy eyelids and looked at the woman as anxiously as her exhausted state would allow. "What're you going to do to me?" she asked in a ragged whisper.
"I don't know yet," came the reply, "it's late, I think I'll sleep on it. But don't worry, I'll come up with something, my brave warrior."

* * * * * *

Next Morning
When the queen and regent had finished their business and Ephiny was leaving, Gabrielle called her back. "Ephiny, wait," she ordered, "I need a favour from you, if you would."
"Of course, what is it?"
Gabrielle got up and moved over to a large table in the corner, retrieving a scroll that sat upon it. "Last night," she began as she regained her seat, "I gave Xena a challenge, a test, if you will."
A knowing smile settled on the regent's lips as she asked "Ah, I see. Is that what all the screaming was about?"
Gabrielle laughed lightly and murmurred "I must do something about the thinness of these walls." She raised her head and grinned at her friend before continuing, "the point is, she failed the test and now she has to be punnished." In truth the queen was slightly apprehensive about sharing this with her friend, but her face didn't show it, remaining impassive as she requested "I'd like you to do it."
Ephiny's startled eyes darted up to rest on her queen's face and she asked "me!"
"Yes," came the confirmation, "I want her flogged."
The regent laughed nervously and blushed as she enquired "Gabrielle! I'm...flattered....I guess. But isn't that your privilage, I mean...."
"I think you misunderstand me, Ephiny," the queen smiled, sitting forward on her throne, "I'm not talking about a kinky little slap-and-tickle type flogging here. I mean I want her flogged for real, with a real bullwhip, by a real expert." She opened the scroll and, pointing out a particular part, handed it to Ephiny with the words, "paragraph 10: thirty lashes for questioning the queen's commands and paragraph 31: fifty lashes for failing to carry out the queen's express orders. I want to see eighty real, bleeding stipes on her back, Eph."
The regent was speechless, her mouth working but her throat producing no coherent sound. When she eventually rediscovered her voice she asked agitatedly "are you crazy, Gabrielle?! Nobody's used these punishments for decades, they're archaic and barbaric!"
"I agree," said the queen, with a nod, "but they've never actually been recinded, have they? I would never think of using them for any one else but....technically, I'm within my rights."
"Yes but...." The regent was exasperated and it showed in her tone. "Gab," she continued when she had calmed herself, "everybody knows that you and Xena's sex life is a little.....unusual, but don't you think this is going too far? I mean, being flogged at all is brutal but eighty lashes....that's a really seious matter." "I know that, Ephiny. That's why I don't want to do it myself. I've never delivered a real, punitive flogging and I don't want to do her any permanent damage. But you know what your doing."
"Well, I haven't had much practise lately. It's very rarely used nowadays, at least by us."
"But still, you have the training and the experience and I trust you. If it makes you too uncomfortable I guess I could find someone else, but this is going to be tough enough for Xena, I'd rather it was somebody she knows and trusts."

Ephiny shook her head slowly, perhaps somehow it would help her make sense of this crazy request. "You're serious, aren't you?" she asked, as if she was just now realising it.
"Yes" nodded the queen and then, with a sigh, began to explain. "Ephiny, I know this must sound completely crazy to you but....once in a while our games turn serious. Xena knew the consequences when she took my challenge, she knew the price of failure would be extreme and she accepted that."
"I just can't believe she's actually going to let this happen. I mean, this is Xena we're talking about here."
"Oh, it's not just her, Eph. It just so happened that this was my game, but it could have been the other way around. She's punished me before too. I admit we don't get this serious very often, but it's not the first time and I doubt it'll be the last."
"And if the shoe was on the other foot, if it was you that had failed her challenge, you'd let her punish you like this?"
"Yes, if that was her chosen method. She's done equally serious things to me a couple of times. Not as often, I admit, and not as harsh, but I haven't got as high a pain threshold as she has. She did brand me once though. I'd show you but it's in a rather private place."
Ephiny's eyes flared and she squeezed them shut against the image. "I don't understand you two," she admitted "but I guess I can't argue with that. It's just that...well, I suppose I can see how and ex-warlord might be inclined to be sadistic occassionally but...you!? I mean it's so cruel and you're not a cruel person, Gabrielle, completely the opposite."
"I know, but in fact my punishments are usually crueller than Xena's."
Ephiny shook her head in resignation tinged with confusion. "Well, since you're obviously going to go through with this whether I agree or not, I guess I'd rather it were me doing it than some sadistic bastard from an Athens slave market or something. So, okay, I'll do it."
"Thank you, Eph. You're a real friend."
"I'm not sure Xena will think so after this."
"Don't worry, she won't hold it against you, I promise."
"I hope not. I really don't like the idea of having the Warrior Princess pissed off with me. I'm only doing it if she agrees, okay?"
"Fair enough" acknowledged the queen.

* * * * * *

The regent found Xena helping to rebuild a watch tower that had been blown over in a recent gale. "Xena, can I have a word?" she called out and smiled as the warrior approached her. She led the way towards her hut and motioned Xena inside, offering her a seat and a mug of wine before gathering her strength for the upcomming conversation. "I've just been with Gabrielle," she began, "and she's made a rather unusal request of me."
"Oh yes?" asked the warrior, seemingly unconcerned although she had a horrible feeling she knew what was coming.
"Yes," Ephiny confirmed, finding she was unable to meet the warrior's eyes, "she told me that you had failed a challenge she set you and asked me to...to punish you..." She forced herself to look up into Xena's face as she added "....by flogging."
The warrior showed no visible signs of fear or trepidation, merely saying "I see," in a matter-of-fact voice, "how many?"
Ephiny didn't want to answer but made herself announce Xena's sentence, "eighty lashes with a bullwhip. Thirty for questioning a command and fifty for failing to carry out her order. They're properly proscribed penalties from some ancient Amazon law scroll she dug up from somewhere, though I'm sure that was just for my benefit, to give me motivation or some damn bard thing."
Xena nodded, her face still impassive as she asked "and did you agree?"
"Eventually, at least in priciple, but I won't do it against your wishes."
The warrior laughed gently and put a hand out to stop the regent's pacing, "you're a good woman, Ephiny, and a good friend, but in accepting Gabrielle's challenge I agreed to suffer any punishment she might come up with if I failed. I won't go back on that now, that's not how it works."
"So you're really going to go through with it?"
"Yes. But if you'd rather someone else....."
"No!" interrupted the regent with a raised hand, "I've been through this with Gabrielle. I'm not having some half-trainned idiot torturing you. If you're really sure about this then I'll do it myself. At least I know how to keep the damage to a minimum."
"But promise you won't hold back on me, it has to be for real."
Ephiny sighed and agreed wearily "fine, I promise it'll be real enough even for you, but I'm not going to kill you or permanently injure you either."
Xena smiled trustingly and said "thanks, Eph, I know you won't. So, when is it to be?"
"She didn't say, but I'll come for you when it's time."
Xena nodded and stood to leave but before exiting she turned and added "one more thing, Ephiny, when you come to get me, please don't be nice. You being kind to me will just make it worse, harder to bear. I don't know why but it seems to work that way. It probably sounds crazy but if you treat me rough it'll be easier."
Ephiny shook her head and sighed again, now totally resigned to the idea that she would never understand so it wasn't worth trying. "It doesn't sound any crazier than anything else about this business," she admitted, "alright, I won't try to comfort you."

* * * * * *

That Afternoon
Xena was sitting in a tree watching the valley below when Ephiny's voice came to her. "Xena" called the regent, "Xena, where are you?" She dropped lightly to the ground in front of the regent and asked
"It's time?"
"Yes," the other woman informed her, purposefully making her gaze cold and compassionless, "come on, don't keep the queen waiting."

She led the warrior to the back entrance of the large throne hut where the queen held her meetings and audiences and shoved her through the door into a small ante room. "Leave your clothes in here," she ordered, her voice hard, almost contemptuous, "I'll take them to the queen's hut afterwards." Quickly, the warrior stripped off her armour, her battledress, her shift and her underclothes and placed them in a neat pile. The regent had never seen Xena naked up close and the gorgeous body momentarily took her breath away but as soon as she realised she was staring she blushed, cleared her throat and resumed her role. "Get in here!" she commanded harshly as she grabbed Xena's bicep and yanked her through the door into the main chamber.

"Ah, Xena" greeted the queen as the warrior stumbled through the door, "there you are." She indicated the frame which had been set up in the middle of the room and ordered Ephiny to tie her victim up. When the warrior's wrists were secured wide apart to the bar above her, the queen stepped up and looked her in the eye. "Xena" she announced softly, "for failing my test, and for the crimes you comitted in the process, you have been sentenced to eighty lashes. Do you have anything to say?"
Xena shook her head but Gabrielle asked "what?" and the warrior was forced to verbalise, answering respectfully "no, my queen."
"Okay" nodded the bard, "then here are the rules." Flicking her eyes over to the waiting regent she said "Ephiny, you're the expert here so you'll be in control. If you think she needs a rest or anything, you give it to her. But you won't stop permanently until the sentence is complete, or until I say otherwise, however hard Xena may beg you. Understood?"
The regent nodded and acknowledged "yes, my queen, but I have a question, if I may."
"Of course. What is it?"
Ephiny's eyes darted over to the prone warrior as she asked "what do I do if she passes out?"
Gabrielle stood back as if thinking about it before answering "well, I don't think she will. She's strong, healthy, very fit and she can take a hell of a lot, but if she does you'll stop and wait. When she comes round you can continue, if necessary on another part of her body." She noticed the horror flash momentarilly in the regent's eyes and added "Ephiny, you do realise that this is not a game, it is real, a proper punishment for her crimes against me. She will recieve the full eighty lashes, no matter how long it takes. Do I make myself clear?"
Swallowing hard at the green fire in the queen's eyes, the regent agreed "yes, my queen....but...are you sure she can take it."
Gabrielle smiled as she stared into Xena's eyes and answered "she'll take it, for me. Won't you, Xena?"
"Yes," the bound woman confirmed, "only for you, my love" gratefully returning the deep kiss that the queen gave her.

Stepping back Gabrielle nodded briskly, as if remembering herself. "My hero," she whispered, "I know how brave you are, I know you're used to surpressing pain, but I don't want you to do that now. I want you to feel every bite of that whip, I want to see the suffering in your face and I want to hear it, to hear what you're really feeling. If you need to beg for it to stop, do so. It probably won't make any difference but don't hold it back. Certainly neither of us are going to think any the worse of you. Do you understand, Xena?"
"Yes, I understand" she replied, knowing Gabrielle's love would give her the strength.
Gabrielle looked deeply into her warrior's eyes and asked "are you scared, Xena?"
Without hesitation, her voice almost a whisper, Xena answered with the simple truth, the truth that only her deep trust and love for the bard would induce her to admit. "Yes."
"Good" nodded the queen, "then let's begin." She turned and seated herself in her throne from where she could easily see Xena and would be able to oberserve all her reactions to her ordeal. Without taking her eyes off the dark ones that gazed back, she ordered "Ephiny, do it."

* * * * * *

Xena had slumped in her chains, her legs no longer able to support her, but as the whipping resumed and the lash bit into her flesh once more, her whole body jerked to attention and she let out a rasping wail. Ephiny had let her rest a while, giving her a little water and checking her general state, satisfying herself that despite the warrior's terrible suffering, she was not in danger and was fit to continue. The regent was not anxious to disobey her queen by stopping short of the full tally, but she had decided that she would if she thought Xena had had all she could take. One of them had to be sensible and at the moment she didn't trust either one of her friends to know when enough was enough.

Xena rested her forehead against her bicep and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Her instinct was to bite her arm to stop herself screaming, but she knew Gabrielle didn't want her to fight the pain so she allowed herself to feel it. Every jolt, every agonizing shock her back received flared through her, burning into her soul, but she refused to let her instinct to escape take over, refused either to bar her senses against the pain or to let herself fall into unconsciousness. She would not deny Gabrielle's orders and she would not deny herself the journey that the pain would allow her to take.

The warrior shuddered violently and shrieked as the fire flashed deeper. The regent was doing her best not to let her blows land in the same place twice, but after sixty lashes Xena's glistening back was so covered with stripes that it was hard to find an untouched piece of skin. Xena lurched forward and lost her footing again, the shuddering sobs tearing from her chest. "Please," she wailed, beyond being disgusted with her weakness, "please stop!" Ephiny paused and flicked her eyes hopefully to Gabrielle, but the queen shook her head and the punishment continued.

Gabrielle watched, mesmerized by the beauty of the warrior's strong form now shining with sweat. Her eyes swept over the slick muscled plains, trembling and quivering with pain and exhaustion. She stared into the mirror which had been positioned to give her a view of the warrior's lacerated back and her heart contracted with sympathy and love. Every cry and plea of Xena's went straight to her soul, piercing it through, but she knew that this suffering was a gift that Xena gave her willingly and she would not throw it back in her face by stopping short. Her vagina spasmed as Xena cried out again and she wondered for the Nth time why it was that seeing this beautiful warrior in pain turned her on so much, just as her own pain did for Xena. She had no doubt others would think it perverted, clearly Ephiny did, but no one else could possibly comprehend the deep love and understanding, the profound soul connection she and Xena felt at these moments, and she knew, because she had been through it herself, how cathartic and clensing this experience was for Xena and how much she needed it. It was a gift they gave to eachother.

Xena was floating long before the final blow cut deep into her and her exhausted body twitched vigorously. The pain and the chemicals whose production it had stimulated had taken her to another place, into a state of grace and forgiveness, into a place where she could be at peace with herself, the only place she was ever truly so. She could feel the warmth and peace spreading over her even as she groaned at her suddenly heavy body slumping into Ephiny's arms, and distantly she felt herself being dragged to the queen's feet and laid down on the soothingly cool floor, welcoming its coldness against her breasts. The roaring fire in her back now felt more like a weight than a pain, a weight that squeezed and crushed her, restricting her breathing and making her light-headed. She registered a warm, tender caress against her burning cheek and Gabrielle's soft tones reassuring her, telling her to let herself go into the healing blackness that awaited her and, gratefully, she obeyed.

* * * * * *

That night
She awoke with a start, jerking up onto her elbows, but Gabrielle was there to comfort her. "Sshhh, my love," she soothed, stroking the warrior's hair gently, "it's all over now, darling, just try and rest." She sank back into the soft bed and sighed contentedly. Her naked back throbbed and stung but it was a strangely comforting sensation. The wounds had been treated immediately, while she was still unaware, and now she lay on her stommach in the queen's great bed, her lover's strong, comforting presence at her side.

She gazed up into the dazzling green eyes and said, a little huskily "thank you, Gabrielle. I really needed that."
"I know," the queen acknowledged, "I'm just sorry it had to be so terrible for you."
"No," she reassured, reaching up to return the bard's caress, "dont feel guilty about that. You were right, it had to be."
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes, I did."
"I'm glad."

Gabrielle settled herself down on her side and took Xena's hand, holding it against her chest. "God's, you were so beautiful, Xena," she breathed, "it was such a turn on, why is that?"
"I don't know, but I have the same reaction when it's you," she admitted, smiling wearily, "I guess we're just a couple of perverts!" They laughed lightly, basking in eachother's love.

Xena shifted slightly and hissed as the sheet slipped against her battered skin and the burning began to grow. "Oh, baby," crooned Gabrielle, compassion threading through her tone, "hold on" and she slipped from the bed and collected a cup from the table. "Here," she said, putting her hand under Xena's arm to help her up, "drink this."
"No, I'm alright" the warrior claimed, but the queen was adamant, insisting
"No, Xena, come on. You've endured enough, I won't let you suffer any more than necessary." The warrior relented and took a few sips of the herby liquid. She sighed as she hung her head and waited for the terrible stinging to be carried away by the drug, her hands gripping the sheet beneath her. Gabrielle urged her to lie back down and stroked her hair, offering her hand for the warrior to grip, and when the medicine began to do its work and Xena's trembling hand relaxed, she leant over and whispered "rest now, my warrior. Sleep. I'll be right here."

* * * * * *

Next Morning
"You two need help" said Ephiny as she inspected Xena's back and gently rubbed the healing ointment into the worst cuts.
"Why?" asked Xena, trying not to flinch, "because we have a different way of expressing our love?"
"No," huffed Ephiny, "not because it's different, because it's dangerous. One of these days you'll go too far and end up killing eachother!"
"No, we won't" the warrior reassured her, "we know what we're doing and we're always careful."
"Huh, right!"
Carefully Xena shifted onto her side as the regent finished her treatment and enquired "if you're so worried, why did you agree to participate?"
"Because I knew you'd go through with it anyway and I didn't trust anyone else to do it right."
"And you did a great job," replied the warrior sincerely, "I wanted to thank you. I know you had doubts and I know you think we're crazy, but you trusted us enough to help out anyway. Thanks Ephiny."
The regent sighed deeply and flopped back down on the bed. "I want to understand, Xena" she averred with a frustrated shrug.
Nodding acceptingly, the warrior admitted "I'm not sure I can really explain but I'll try if you want."
"Please" requested the other woman as she made herself more comfortable.

"There's something I need every now and again, Ephiny," began the warrior, "and this is the only way I can get it."
"What?"
"I suppose you'd call it absolution."
The Amazon's eyes widened in horror, though she kept herself calm as she asked "absolution! That's what this is all about? Assuaging your guilt?"
"No....no," the warrior denied, shaking her head against the pillow, "my guilt is a natural reaction to the way I was, what I became, but the things I've done in my life, the way I was, it was a symptom....a symptom of the darkness inside me. That darkness is still a part of me, you see. Just because I try not to give in to it any more doesn't mean it's not there, it'll always be there. Sometimes I can feel it, it's like.....it's like it's coming to get me. I feel restless and....hopeless and....and..." she sighed in frustration before carrying on, "I can't explain it but I know when it's happening and I need to go into a place where I can let it go.....let it be washed out of me." She rubbed her eyes and then let her hand flop wearily down by her side. "It's not about the pain, Eph, that's just a means to an end, just a vehicle to take me into that state where I can find peace and allow my will to be strengthened. Gabrielle knows that, she knows what I need and when I need it and she always does exactly the right thing. Sometimes I think she knows me better than I know myself."
Ephiny nodded as some portion of understanding settled on her. "There must be another way to get to that place" she suggested but Xena shook her head again.
"No, not for me, not any more. There was once, in Chin. Lao Ma showed me a way but I've lost it somehow." The regret showed in the warrior's face as she admitted "it's gone and, much as I've tried, I can't get it back. So, you see, I need this."

The regent sighed and nodded her comprehension. "Yes" she said sadly, compassion for the warrior flooding her heart, "I see. But what about Gabrielle? It must be tough for her to cause you pain, do you ever think about what it's doing to her?"
"Of course I do," admitted the warrior, "and you're right, it is hard for her. That's why she makes herself like that for the duration....harsh, cold and distant. It's the only way she can handle it. But she knows, you see? It took her a long time to accept it but she knows now that this is the only way."
Ephiny shifted and asked cautiously "but why would she want to go through it? She said you've done things to her too."
Xena closed her eyes and sighed "she told you about that, huh?" Biting her lip she opened her eyes and looked directly at the regent as she admitted "yes, I've done it to her a couple of times. Not like this, not this severe, but enough to show her. One day she said she wouldn't do it to me any more unless she experienced it for herself, unless I showed her what I meant about the purity it can bring, so I sent her to that place." She closed her eyes again and swallowed deeply, clearly uncomfortable with the admission she was making. "Gabrielle has a pure soul, I'm sure you've realised that. It doesn't take very much to send her into that state of grace, she certainly doesn't need to be pushed as much as I do to get there. She doesn't need it as much as I do because she doesn't have that same kind of darkness inside her but she finds it cleansing and uplifting nonetheless and, even though I hate hurting her, I can't deny her that experience. I just hope she can find that other way some day, that way that I've lost." Her eyes fell and she seemed to deflate into the bed.
"How long do you think you can keep putting yourself through this, Xena?" the regent asked, laying a soft hand on the warrior's shoulder.
"I don't know, long enough I hope."
"Why didn't you tell me all this in the first place?"
"Couldn't. I was in the grip of this....darkness, whatever it is. And Gabrielle...she has to maintain that role until it's over, otherwise she couldn't go through with it."
Gently, the regent gave Xena's shoulder a reassuring squeeze and smiled kindly "thank you, Xena, for explaining. I can't really claim to understand fully but I think I know now why you do it. I hope you can both find that other way, but until you do I'll be here for you, if ever and whenever you need me, okay?"
"Thank you, Eph" came the whispered reply.
"Now get some rest. I'll look in on you later."

* * * * * *

The queen was watching her warriors spar when Ephiny came up behind her and rested her hand lightly on her shoulder, asking "are you okay, Gabrielle?"
"Yes," came the immediate reply, "how's Xena?"
"She's a remarkably fast healer, which I suppose is just as well. She's still weak but she'll be fine, she's resting now. I had a talk with her and she explained the real reason why you two put yourselves through this. She called it a 'state of grace'."
"So you understand?" asked Gabrielle, turning to look up into her friend's kind, blue eyes.
"I don't know if I can say that exactly, but I understand more and I accept it. I admire you both very much, Gabrielle, and if I can ever help.....in any way...even if it's just as someone to talk to."
"Thank you, Ephiny, for everything."

As the queen walked back towards her hut she contemplated the fact that they had just shared their greatest secret. She had not planned to do so and had not discussed it with Xena, but it seemed her decision had been right. When the warrior was in one of her 'black moods', as she called them, there was no talking to her, it was better if the bard made her decisions for her until it could be purged, and much as she hated the way that they had developed to carry out that purging, she had to admit that it worked. As she entered her hut, her eyes fell on the sleeping form on the bed and she leaned against her doorjamb to gaze at her lover. Such a complex and tormented soul, capable of such love and goodness but tortured by a darkness she could not permanently excorsise and a guilt she could only interminently keep at bay. She knew that the mental and spiritual pain that Xena suffered was far worse than any physical torment she could divise and, after a long struggle with her own conscience, she had come to be glad that there was a way she could help her lover to deal with it.

The warrior began whimpering and twitching in her sleep and Gabrielle went to her and laid down beside her, stroking her hair and whispering comfort in her ear until she was still and quiet once more. Xena often had nightmares, every night when she was in a 'black mood', and always when her body had endured some trauma her nights would be restless, but the bard was able to chase them away with a few whispered words or a touch. She knew the dark monster had been driven out for a while and that when Xena had recovered she would be able to rest soundly once more. She settled down, putting her arm carefully around the warrior and snuggling into her chest. She smiled as she felt Xena's arm wrap around her and pull her close, enfolding her once more in warmth and love. Tomorrow they would move on.

The End

SW
11/12/02