New Xena Fic: "Wordless"

[rowan_d]

Author's Notes: I'm not sure how this story happened. :D I'm deeply involved in writing another Xena fic right now that's a completely different style and tone (more true to my usual style), but this fic just appeared and insisted upon happening. And in first person. I never write in first person for an entire fic. Oh, well. :D I blame my (

Comments

[so_out_of_ideas]

O.O I don't know what to say. This is brilliant. I always try really hard to leave meaningful feedback on a good fic, but at the moment, I'm too busy sitting here with my jaw on the keyboard.

Firstly, I have chronic headaches, which I have dealt with since I was thirteen. So, I think I like your muse for this little surprise. This is exactly what would happen and how Xena would cope with these things. I love the progression you show in how she gradually allows Gabrielle to see her vulnerability, and that you point out the different levels of danger, both physical and emotional, that Xena percieves from the headaches. I love that Gabrielle understands that.

Also, I appreciate the part about Xena depending on Satrina for her survival during her pregnancy with Solan. It really lends to the realism of the fic because of the way so many of the medicines that Xena would probably be dousing herself with could be harmful to him. It says something about your level of thought and care for the characters that you would include something like that.

I rarely see a well-written Xena fic that also has such good characterization, and I congratulate you for being able to pull off Gabrielle's voice so well in first person.

[rowan_d]

First of all, I'm so sorry I didn't reply to this sooner. My only excuse is that RL is nuts at the moment. But I read this right away and you absolutely made my day.:)

Your feedback means so much more to me as this is the first Xena fic I've had the nerve to post, and I was very nervous jumping into a new fandom. Especially with this piece.

I'm particularly flattered that you found Gabrielle's voice to be true, as I'm primarily a Xena-centric fan, so I felt rather unqualified to speak for Gabrielle. LOL

I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with headaches for so long. I get migraines myself (and I've also had CFS since I was 13), so I understand.

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such lovely words.:)

[so_out_of_ideas]

Oh, it's quite all right. I completely understand.

Xena was one of my first "official" fandoms, and probably the first that I tried to write fanfiction in. I'm sort of in the process of re-discovering it at the moment, and when I did write Xena fiction, it was mainly from the point of view of Xena or Ares. I'm not sure that I could ever handle a first person narrative from Gabrielle's point of view, so my hat is off to you.

It's always particularly nice to get feedback on a "first-in-fandom" fic isn't it? :D

As to headaches and such, well...*sigh* There are worse things, as much as I hate the migraines. But thanks. :D