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Xena's whetstone glided along her blade, her gaze constantly drawn to the sullen figure sitting nearby, to the green eyes staring unseeingly into the dancing flames of their campfire. Her heart ached for her soulmate, wanting to heal the emotional wounds she knew the bard was suffering.
Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her upraised knees, hugging them tightly to herself in a futile attempt to keep the tears at bay. Images raced through her mind of what they'd seen that day, of all those they couldn't save, of the brutality wrought on them. Her fingernails dug into her fair skin, leaving crescent moon shapes embedded in her legs. Nothing could stop the unwanted scenes from replaying, no matter how hard she tried, nothing could-
A soft sound broke through her rampant thoughts, a beautifully haunting melody bringing light to the encroaching darkness.
Gabrielle shifted her gaze, slowly turning her head to her partner. Her gaze fixated on Xena's features, the way her mouth moved to form the words passing over her lips, to the way her eyes briefly closed in concentration before focusing on Gabrielle, ice blue meeting sea green.
Gabrielle took a deep breath, immersing herself in her friend's dulcet tones, letting Xena's voice crash over her in gentle waves, soothing her frazzled nerves and easing her worries. She expelled the air from her lungs, releasing the tension and negativity from her body, her muscles visibly relaxing, shoulders dropping from their arched position.
Xena watched in wrapt fascination at the effect her singing had on the bard, glad she could do something to help her. The warrior was a person of action; emotions weren't usually her strong suit. Gabrielle was the wordsmith, not her. But this, this she could do.
Gabrielle's eyes slid shut, losing herself in the song's lyrics and soothing lull. She opened them again as the melody drifted off and the music came to an end, seeing Xena's loving gaze directed at her.
A smile graced Gabrielle's face. "Thank you," she breathed.
"Anytime, my bard," Xena responded with a smile of her own.
Gabrielle moved to sit next to her, Xena's arm automatically wrapping around her as the blonde leaned against Xena's shoulder. "You always seem to know what I need, even if I don't know it myself."
Xena's thumb rubbed across the smooth skin of Gabrielle's arm. "Because I know you, better than I know myself."
Gabrielle reached up a hand to trace Xena's face. "You don't sing often."
Xena kissed Gabrielle's forehead. "For you, I'd use my last breath to sing."
Gabrielle softly scolded, "just don't let it come to that, okay?" But those poetic words from her normally stoic partner touched her deeply.
Xena smiled down at her, "okay."
Gabrielle snuggled up into Xena's side, letting the warmth blanket her, shielding her from the horrors of the day. She felt Xena's hold tighten against her. "Together, forever," she whispered sleepily.
"Forever," Xena agreed wholeheartedly.