Gladiator,
Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6
Ms.
Hunter Ash
frost29@post.com
Disclaimer:
I don't own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc. etc. etc. This story is
for entertainment purposes and it helps keep me sane (sort of).
Don't bother suing me, I don't have anything of value (some would
even argue I don't have my sanity).
Sex/Subtext/Alt
Fiction: This story is a continuing story of two women in love and
they have sex together but not in this one. Violence: the mention of
rape concerning one of the major characters, several deaths, one
graphic sword strike, ax blow and no bad language. This one puts X&G
through some rough stuff. Seriously - character trauma and injuries.
Storyline:
I hope this story could stand on it's own. It is also part of a
series I've ended up writing. I started out with one story in mind
and who knows where this thing will end up at this point. You might
want to read the other stories to get the entire picture.
A
Visit Home, An Awakening
Discovery,
An Awakening
Amazon
Bonding
Healing
Trial
of a Roman
Gladiator,
Bard, Warrior, Mother
================================================================
Iolaus
slowly drew his sword and moved his horse forward slightly. "Look,
I already told you, we are free citizens. We're not German, we're
Greek. Leave us alone," he growled at the scruffy Roman soldiers
blocking their way on the road. "When I move, ride like Hades
and get out of here," he whispered to Gabrielle.
"I'm
not leaving you!" she hissed.
"Get
Xena and Hercules, the Roman camp can't be far from here, you can
help rescue me. I don't think you and I can take all of them,"
he hissed back.
Gabrielle
frowned but moved her horse a couple of steps away from his, ready to
turn and bolt.
Iolaus
cursed every mother of the bandit soldiers in front of them. He knew
that they couldn't count on Xena or Hercules rescuing them either,
they were still at camp further down the river. Iolaus and Gabrielle
had been on their way to a nearby village for fresh supplies before
the four of them crossed into Germania, determined to get a pregnant
Xena out of reach of both Ares and Caesar.
Now
this. Life definitely wasn't boring with his friends, Iolaus
thought. Definitely not boring and definitely dangerous.
The
Roman leader grinned at the two smaller Greeks. "I don't care
who you are. Me and my men need some gambling money and your wife
there will bring a very nice price with the slavers. You might even
be worth a couple of gold pieces, little man."
Iolaus
let out a yell of anger and charged forward with his horse and
Gabrielle, with a frustrated growl, turned her horse. "Go,
Gabrielle!" he yelled.
He
heard her horse begin pounding away.
Iolaus
ducked under a sword slash and buried his sword quickly into the ribs
of the attacker and threw up his left arm to block another sword,
wincing as the sword cut through his leather bracer, skin and muscle.
He slashed out and caught another Roman at the throat and the
soldier dropped his shield and sword to grab at his throat before
falling off the horse. The Greek's horse pushed forward, looking for
a way through the pack of Romans but Iolaus and his horse were both
frustrated; the Romans kept in close, crowding the horse and the
sword of the smaller man.
The
bard shook her head, trying to clear the sudden fuzziness and
realized that her horse had been arrow shot out from under her. She
was trapped beneath the horse and couldn't even reach her fallen
staff. The bard began pulling at her legs and pushing at the dead
weight of the horse and looked over to her friend.
Iolaus
cried out in pain and slashed heavily to the left and looked down to
see his side bleeding heavily. His left hand came up to try and hold
the wound closed and stay in the saddle but dodging another sword
strike caused the Greek to lose his balance and fall from the horse,
landing heavily. Iolaus yelped and quickly rolled to his hands and
knees and dodged out of the way of several horse hooves aiming for
his body.
"Iolaus!"
Gabrielle whispered, not wanting to distract the man. She noticed
three soldiers beginning to make their way towards her and cursed the
dead weight holding her down.
The
Romans dismounted and approached the Greek man slowly, most of them
grinning. Five of them, terrific, he thought. He wondered if he
should make a break for the river and risk freezing to death or
drowning rather than the swords, then he glanced over and saw
Gabrielle's horse fallen in the middle of the road and the little
bard struggling to get her trapped legs out from under the dead
animal.
"Gabrielle,
no!"
With
a shout he charged the soldiers beginning to crowd him. He quickly
cut down two of the soldiers caught off guard by his charge but a
third caught his left shoulder and Iolaus dropped his sword to grasp
the wounded joint.
The
three Romans reached the woman and grinned down on their captive.
Realizing
his mistake too late, the Greek couldn't bend to retrieve his sword
before the others were on him. He kept close to them to keep them
from using their swords and he utilized his many fighting skills and
took another one down with a broken neck, even if he was fighting
almost one armed. A sword strike to his back took the man to his
knees and kicks, fists and hammering from sword hilts sent him
smashing to the ground, bleeding badly and unconscious.
Gabrielle
looked over to see Iolaus lying face down on the ground, blood
flowing from his mouth and various wounds on his body. The Roman
leader kicked the small man in the ribs and received no response.
"Throw
him over into the river," he ordered.
"No!"
Gabrielle screamed and lost sight of her friend as the three Romans
bent down to claim her.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Iolaus'
eyes sprang open as he broke the surface of the water, sputtering and
gasping for air. The cold shock of the water hit him like a hammer
and the young man couldn't catch his breath nor fight the current.
He
struggled to keep his head above the water and almost swallowed
enough to drown when he was jerked suddenly to a stop. He realized
slowly that his belt was caught on a half submerged tree stump.
Remembering Gabrielle trapped under the horse at the mercy of the
Romans, Iolaus summoned his strength and pulled himself along the
tree, freeing his belt and let himself drift onto the small beach.
Somehow the Greek pulled himself along until he was under the end of
the beach at the tree line. He managed to pull himself up and over
the embankment by some tree roots and then collapsed under the tree.
He
closed his eyes, holding his side tightly.
Something
pounded at his awareness and wouldn't go away. Iolaus opened his
eyes and peered around the tree and blinked several times as his
exhausted and blood starved mind tried to take in the scene in front
of him.
The
Romans had Gabrielle in the small clearing. One was examining
Iolaus' sword while another two were dragging the bodies of their
comrades off the road. The other three, including their leader, were
holding Gabrielle and looking her over.
Iolaus
felt a whimper escape his throat.
The
bard was struggling but two of the Romans held her tightly by her
arms. The leader grinned and ripped her tunic open from collar to
hem, exposing her very lovely breasts and torso. Gabrielle screamed
and struggled and the men laughed.
Iolaus,
tears streaming down his face, fell back against the tree. After a
moment, he leaned against the tree and used it to slide up to his
feet. He grabbed the tree for stability as he turned and nearly
screamed at the sight of his little friend's abuse. He bent down to
grab a fallen tree limb for a weapon and fell forward onto the
ground. Tears of rage and helplessness overcame the young man as he
listened to his friend scream and he couldn't move.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Iolaus!"
a voice insisted he pay attention. He decided to ignore it, easier
to slip back into the darkness.
"Iolaus!
Gabrielle!" another voice, higher pitched brought a frown to
his face as he lay pressed into the ground. Gabrielle? Something
important.
Iolaus
raised his head but couldn't see who was calling and nothing came out
when he tried to yell. His head sank back down to the ground and he
closed his eyes.
"Gabrielle!
Iolaus!" Iolaus grabbed the fallen limb and somehow began
banging it against the tree that had once been his friend a couple of
times and then darkness claimed him again.
"Hercules!
Quick!" a voice shouted above him and Iolaus felt himself being
turned over gently. He opened his blue eyes and found similar blue
eyes. He attempted a smile.
He
heard his best friend come pounding up and slide down to the ground
next to Iolaus.
"Iolaus!
What happened?" his friend demanded. Iolaus could feel someone
tugging at his clothes and the sound of cloth tearing and then pain
at his side.
"Hercules,
keep the pressure on that wound," a voice commanded.
"Gabrielle,"
Iolaus whispered.
"Where
is she, Iolaus?"
"Xena?"
he whispered.
"Yes,
Hercules is here too. Where's Gabrielle?" she asked, pressing
another bandage on his shoulder wound.
"Took
her, hurt her," he whispered closing his eyes.
"Iolaus!
Who took her? Where!?" Xena yelled.
"Romans,
sell to slavers."
"He's
unconscious," Hercules choked out and the warrior nodded.
"I'll
make a litter to drag him behind one of the horses. You keep
pressure on those bandages. I'm going back to camp and get our stuff
and blankets, he's soaking wet," Xena said quickly.
"We've
got to get him to the village," Hercules insisted.
"Where
do you think those Roman soldiers came from? If they see him they'll
kill all of us before we can talk. We'll take him to the small tribe
across the river, they deal with sword wounds all the time. Then I'm
going to find Gabrielle," the warrior said grimly.
"Hurry,
Xena, he's in bad shape."
"I
know, lay next to him, cover yourselves with your cloak and try and
warm his body up. The cold probably saved his life by slowing his
bleeding but it will probably kill him in the long run. I don't know
how he's alive now," Xena said as she stood up. Hercules
nodded, acknowledging the impossibility of his friend still being
alive.
"Gabrielle,"
Iolaus whispered.
"Easy,
my friend. We'll find her," Hercules promised and Xena turned
at a run towards the horses. "We have to find her."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It
was after dark when the warrior woman stepped out of the small cabin
and started towards the horse line. She had her chakram up and at
the throat of a shadow appearing in front of her. She slowly lowered
it slightly when she realized it was Hercules.
"You
can't go with me," he stated.
"Do
you know what they've probably done to her?!" she hissed, not
wanting to bring everyone else from the camp out.
Hercules
jaw clenched and he lowered his eyes. "Yes, I know what they do
to women, especially beautiful women. Getting yourself captured by
Caesar isn't going to help her."
"I
can't just wait here!"
"Yes,
you can. Both of you can," he argued, placing his hand on the
belly that was beginning to show signs of the growing life inside.
With
a growl of anger Xena released the chakram, sending it flying through
the trees and bouncing off cabins and past Hercules' ear into her
hand again.
"You
asked me to be your Kumbada, your best man and godfather, at your
wedding. Let me do this."
"All
right," she muttered, replacing the chakram as her side.
As
she heard Hercules ride off Xena sank to her knees in the snow and
looked to the sky with tears falling down her cheeks, her breath
ragged in the cold chill.
"Please,
I don't pray, you know that. I'm asking you, any of you, to bring her
back to me. Please, I can't live without her," she whispered.
Receiving
no answer the warrior began to weep.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena
moved quietly into the cabin of the head family of the local tribe
and shook the snow off her cloak, hanging it by the door and stamping
her feet free of snow. With a pang she remembered that Gabrielle
always wanted to see the north in the winter. The warrior bit back
the memories and moved quickly to the cot near the fire.
As
she looked down at the warrior on the cot Xena thought how horrible
he looked. Iolaus was extremely pale from the blood loss and cold.
He hadn't regained consciousness since they found him and Xena's
experienced mind told her that he probably wouldn't. It seemed that
only the stubbornness of the Greek was keeping him alive.
She
knelt down next to the healer as he heated another blanket in front
of the fire and exchanged it with one on the wounded man. He noted
the question in Xena's eyes and shook his head.
"I
don't know, Greek. His spirit hasn't crossed over yet so there is
always a chance."
Xena
gently took Iolaus' hand in hers and brushed a curly lock of blond
hair from his forehead.
"Hang
in there, Iolaus, we need you," she whispered in Greek.
When
Hercules returned hours later he found her still sitting with his
best friend, not having moved from the spot. She was on her feet and
in front of him in an instant.
He
looked around and noticed that the headman of the clan had raised up
out of his bed at the noise, sword in hand but, seeing it was his
guests, laid back down.
It
was a typical cabin for a northern tribe, Hercules knew. One room
where everyone slept, cooked and lived, especially in the winter
months. He wasn't sure he could get used to that.
Xena
helped him remove his cloak and led him to the fire. Demi-god or
not, he still could get cold.
"Well!?"
she demanded as he sat down, checking on Iolaus.
"Any
change in him?" he countered.
Xena's
eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Hercules. No, no change."
"The
Romans won't be kidnapping anyone else," he said softly and
pulled out a bloody sword and reached for a cloth next to the bed.
"They sold her yesterday while we were looking for her and
Iolaus."
Xena
closed her eyes and fought back tears and rage.
"Where?"
"Slavers
heading south, they were already on the move. I'm going to follow
them tomorrow morning at first light. You'll have to take Iolaus and
move further up north while I'm gone."
"I'm
not leaving the area until we find her!" she protested.
"Listen,
damnit! I just killed an entire barracks of Roman soldiers!" he
growled, turning his eyes away. Xena carefully touched her friend's
arm and wasn't surprised to see tears falling. "I lost it,
Xena. I just lost it and went mad again."
"What
happened?"
"I
pounded them enough to tell me what happened with Gabrielle and where
they had sold her. Then I saw this on the table." he pulled out
a gold and silver bracelet from his belt and handed it to the
warrior, her tears began to match his.
"Gabrielle's
bonding bracelet." she whispered.
"Yes,
then one of them told me what his fellow soldiers did to her and I
lost it. I.... I killed all of them, Xena."
"You
can't blame yourself for that!"
"I
know they deserved it but now this family is in danger and so are we.
The Romans will tear this countryside apart looking for us and its
still winter deep! How can I tell Axel that I've just brought the
Romans down on his house?"
A
voice caught their attention, neither of them having heard the
headman getting up out of his bed, wrapping a cloak around himself
and joining them at the fire.
"This
isn't the first time the Romans will try and take their anger out on
us. We have family north we can travel to. Winter travel hard, ja,
but I do not blame you for vengeance, my Greek friend," Axel
said simply in broken Latin. "We will protect your friends."
"I
can't ask you to do that," Xena protested.
"Hercules
stayed with me once and saved my life. It's a small thing," he
smiled. "He is family and he says you are his family - that
makes you family."
"Thank
you, Axel," Hercules smiled wearily.
"Clean
up, mein freund, you have blood on your hands and face."
Hercules
flinched and looked at his hands and back at Xena, who merely nodded.
"Do
not trouble yourself so," Axel urged. "They earned this
from you when they hurt your friend and took the little one."
"Yes,"
Xena agreed, her eyes narrowing. "I'm still coming with you,
Hercules."
"No,
all of the territory is looking for a warrior woman, they're not
looking for me," he protested. "You have to keep Iolaus
and Axel's family safe. I'll find her."
"Gods,
Gabrielle," she whispered, closing her eyes.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
groaned and tried to raise her arm to block the slaps but whimpered
with a flash of pain from her arm. The slapping stopped and she
cautiously opened her eyes.
"Good,
you're awake," a female bent over the bard. "Listen very
quickly if you want to live another day. Do not, no matter how much
they hit you, tell them your real name. You are known to Rome and
your capture could mean the death of you. Do you understand? Do not
say your name!" the female hissed, grabbing the bard's face for
emphasis.
Gabrielle
nodded.
The
female moved back and seemed to be waiting. In a moment several men
appeared in the dusty courtyard where Gabrielle realized she had been
thrown. She recognized a couple of the men from the night before and
couldn't stop the whimper from escaping her throat as she tried to
draw back into herself against the wall, feeling very small and
helpless. The chains at her wrists rattled and the collar at her
throat clinked against the wall.
Gabrielle
looked around and found several other slaves/prisoners lining the
wall beside her. All of them were beaten, both physically and
mentally.
"Greetings,
slaves," A man stood before the others and faced the chained men
and women. "I am Lycrassis, owner of this school and villa.
When you address me or answer me you will address me as 'my Lord,'
understand?"
Each
prisoner/slave nodded. Lycrassis quickly yanked one slave to his
feet and slammed him into the wall. Gabrielle and the others heard
the man's head crack as it connected with the stone wall. Lycrassis
released the body and let it slide down to the ground.
"I
asked if you all understood," Lycrassis growled.
"Yes,
my Lord," all of them responded quickly.
"Good,
now let's see what the slavers and the law makers have brought me,"
Lycrassis began the long task of judging each prisoner/slave's
potential and, in turn, their future.
Gabrielle
waited at the end of the line. The female who had warned her earlier
kept a close eye on the bard, Gabrielle noticed.
One
went to the stables because of bad teeth. A small Egyptian was sent
as a sparring dummy, Gabrielle had the feeling that this was a short
lived job. Others were chosen for training and another for the
kitchen. Lycrassis stopped in front of Gabrielle, who kept her head
down.
The
Roman lifted her chin to look in her eyes, noticing the beginning
black eye and the dried blood around her nose. He grinned and she
closed her eyes.
"A
little small for training. Send her to the kitchen," he
ordered.
"My
Lord, may I speak?" the female who had whispered to Gabrielle
before spoke up.
"Yes,
Nikki, you may," Gabrielle opened her eyes as the Roman turned
to look at the tall and muscular woman leaning on a crutch.
"I
wish to train this one," she said simply.
"Why?"
the Roman frowned and so did the three men standing with him.
"Her
arm is broken, one of your men got a little rough last night and
she'll be useless in the kitchen," Nikki answered. Gabrielle
grabbed the chance to take in the female. She was tall, as tall as
the bard's warrior, Xena, but with blond hair and gray eyes. She was
built like a blacksmith, Gabrielle thought to herself, with muscles
revealing a very strong body. The woman's face was stern but the
bard thought she could sense laughter in the gray eyes that years in
the Arena didn't seem to have touched. Gabrielle also noticed the
crutch the woman leaned on, favoring her left leg.
Lycrassis
looked at his men and one of them shuffled on his feet. "She
bit me," he mumbled. Lycrassis turned and looked at the small
bard again.
"Did
she? Maybe she has some spirit after all. She's still too small."
"I
don't think so, my Lord. She'll be fast in the arena and her body is
very fit and I see signs of physical training already," Nikki
said simply.
"Why
are you interested?" Lycrassis turned to his trainer. Gabrielle
kept the curiosity out of her face as well.
"I
say she can be a good fighter," Nikki shrugged.
"Want
to bet on it?" Lycrassis grinned.
"You
have all my money, my Lord," Nikki grinned back.
Gabrielle
felt her head reeling at the unreal feeling of the situation. Here
were two vicious people wanting to bet on her future, which seemed
rather bleak and probably short to the bard right then.
"How
much would you bet on the little one? And why else do you want to
train her?" Lycrassis demanded.
"I
fancy her," Nikki admitted with a shrug.
Oh
gods, Gabrielle thought.
"I
thought so. Not many have ever interested you before. She is
beautiful under all that grime and a tiger in bed when she's not
willing. I wonder what she's like when she's willing. Nevermind, I
wager this then, she's either an adequate fighter in three months,
adequate enough to hold her own in an afternoon fight, or you lose."
Nikki
frowned. Gabrielle knew that it took months, even years for a
gladiator to be trained enough to live. Most of them didn't make it
five years. Three months was impossible. The little bard also knew
that gladiator fights lasted all day, the novice fighters in the
morning and the experienced fighters in the afternoon for the crowd's
desire for blood. Three months was impossible.
"The
wager?" Nikki asked.
"I've
set the odds rather high," Lycrassis conceded. "Let's set
the goal high, shall we. I'm bored this week. If she's good enough
to go into the ring in three months and survives three years, she can
win both your freedom."
Freedom?
Gabrielle suddenly had a ray of hope and then felt it dashed. Three
years in the Arena? Very few of the best gladiators ever last three
years.
"She's
mine to train and develop totally, no one else lays a hand on her,
day or night," Nikki bargained.
Lycrassis
laughed at his trainer. "What is this, love at first sight?"
The Roman looked back at the little bard and noticed the shining
eyes. He approached the bard slowly. "What would you do,
slave, if you had a clear shot at me and my men with a dagger?"
he asked.
"I'd
slide it in between your fifth and fourth rib, my Lord," she
growled.
The
Roman laughed heartily. He was also tall but not as tall as Xena and
Nikki with black hair and dark eyes. Unlike Nikki, the laughter
never seemed to reach these dark eyes. He reminded her of Ares,
complete with short hair and beard.
"All
right, I agree. She's yours totally, you can even bed her if you
wish. I still think there's a tiger under there and I'm not sure I
want her in my bed when she's up to strength. None of my men will
touch her. She even knows where to place a blade. Are you as
Sapphic as my trainer, slave?"
Gabrielle
felt herself blushing and was confused. How to answer? Wouldn't
kitchen duty be better than the Arena? But the female had warned the
bard of potential danger. Xena's rule of life came to the little
bard: trust no one, but Gabrielle felt honesty, up to a point,
usually fared her well.
"Yes,
my Lord," she admitted.
"Good,
maybe you can tame each other. What are you called?" Lycrassis
asked.
"Brie."
"She
was taken prisoner from the North," one of the men stated.
"Germanic?
You speak Latin well."
"I
was a free servant to a noble in the north," Gabrielle answered
easily.
"Good,
then you know how to take orders," Lycrassis again laughed at
the flash he saw in her eyes before she dropped her head. "Even
when you don't like it. Take her, Nikki. You have three months."
Gabrielle's face blushed beet red as
the tall woman grabbed her and threw the bard over her shoulder,
walking out of the courtyard and the laughter of the men and
Lycrassis followed them.
# # #
Nikki
threw open the door of a small room in a corridor of what appeared to
be small rooms and gently placed the bard on her feet and shut the
door. Gabrielle was livid at such treatment but held her temper,
with an effort.
Nothing
shocked the bard more than when the tall warrior went to one knee and
bowed her head.
"My
Queen," she whispered.
"What?"
Gabrielle whispered.
Nikki
rose slowly and covered Gabrielle's mouth with her hand, seeming to
listen closely. With a snarl she sprang to the door and ripped it
open and a small man fell into the room. Nikki grabbed him up by his
collar and slammed him into the door frame.
"Listen,
you little weasel, you keep away from my door or I'll take what's
left of your equipment and decorate my shield with it! Understand
me!" the trainer threatened and the small Arab nodded and she
promptly threw him out the door and closed it again.
Nikki
waited a moment, listening at the door and then turned to the bard.
"I'm
Nikkita. My parents were traders from the North and when they were
killed, I was an infant and taken in by the Northern Amazons. I was
taken slave two years ago just after we received word of your
ascension to the rank of Queen," Nikki grinned. "I'm sorry
about the treatment out there, it was necessary to save your life and
mine."
Gabrielle
went and sat down in one of two chairs at a plain table. She held
her arm closely.
"Let
me get a splint and bandages, I'll be right back. Do not say a word
if anyone comes in. You're still in danger."
"When
aren't I?"
When
the trainer returned Gabrielle began to ask one of a hundred
questions she had.
"Where
am I?"
"You
are in Aqualeia, on the coast in the villa and training school of
Lycrassis," Nikki answered easily, slowly and carefully
bandaging Gabrielle's arm.
"I
was taken on the border of Germania, beaten, drugged and...."
Gabrielle turned her face and fought back the tears.
Nikki
continued to work on the arm, giving the bard time. The trainer had
seen the fading bruises, scratches and even bite marks on the small
woman and knew what they meant from slavers. "I think my friend
was killed and now Xena doesn't know where I am!"
Gabrielle
was surprised when Nikki's hand covered her mouth again.
"Listen
closely, my Queen. Never say that name here, no matter what! Caesar
has a price on your friend and if he learns that you know her, he'll
have you in Rome by the end of the week. Would she risk her life for
you?"
"Yes,
many times," Gabrielle nodded.
"What
would she do if Caesar sent word that he would trade you for her?"
Nikki asked simply.
Gabrielle
closed her eyes and felt a tear escape. "She'd sacrifice
herself for me," she whispered.
"Now
you know you can't say your name or hers, ever again."
"Yes."
Gabrielle nodded, fighting back the tears. "They don't know
you're an Amazon, do they?"
"No,
they think I'm a well trained fighter. I had a chance at winning my
freedom after five years but a sword stroke took most of the life out
of my leg. Lycrassis was either kind enough or smart enough to make
me a trainer. He gets to keep me as slave, gets a good trainer and
still tries to get me in his bed," Nikki grinned.
"Any
success?" Gabrielle grinned back, knowing the probable answer to
that one.
Nikki
laughed. "Not much, he's afraid he'll wake up less a man than
when he went to sleep."
"Why
did you fight so hard to get me out of the kitchen, wouldn't I live
longer in there?" Gabrielle asked as the trainer fitted a sling
around the bard's neck.
"Probably,
a long life as a slave. In the Arena you always have the slimmest
chance of winning your freedom. As a slave in the kitchen any of the
trainers can take you to bed every night and when the trainees have
done well, they are rewarded with taking the kitchen and stable
slaves to bed. How many men do think that would mean in a lifetime,
Brie?"
Gabrielle
went pale and Nikki nodded.
"I
would kill you myself and then slit my own throat before I let that
happen again, my Queen."
Gabrielle
reached out and tenderly touched the Amazon's cheek. "Don't you
think you'd better stop calling me Queen before someone hears you?"
Nikki
blushed and nodded.
"Tell
me about yourself and how you got to Germania," Nikki suggested,
taking the seat on the other side of the table.
Gabrielle
began her tale of marrying Xena, her attempted murder by the Romans
by poison, the awful results of that poison, of Xena's desire to get
away from Ares and Caesar's influence in their lives. Especially with
the fact that Xena was carrying Ares' child.
She
told of the long, endless weeks on the road with Xena, Hercules and
Iolaus and ended with her being taken and Iolaus probably killed.
She left out what happened next but Nikki was a slave and she knew
what happened to female slaves.
Nikki
and Brie faced their first task that night. Blushing and dropping
her head Nikki began to stammer.
"What
is it, trainer?" Gabrielle asked.
"They'll
expect me to bed you tonight, by force if necessary. You'll have to
share my bed and sleep without clothes," the warrior trainer
whispered.
Gabrielle
smiled a reassuring smile. "I have a soulmate to get back to
and soon a child, I will do anything to survive as long as there's a
shred of hope," and the bard began to disrobe.
Nikkita's
breath caught in her throat at the sight of the bruises and cuts on
her Queen's body but especially because of the Queen's beauty.
"Your
mate is most fortunate," she whispered.
Gabrielle
blushed and quickly climbed into the cot, pulling the blankets over
her.
Nikki
grinned at the bard's embarrassment and snuffed the candle out before
disrobing herself. Somehow they managed to barely touch each other
during the night even though the cot wasn't that wide.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
trip north was difficult and slow. The January snows were thick and
the tracks non-existent in winter, especially for wagons. Xena rode
in one of the wagons, holding Iolaus, keeping him warm and his body
as steady as possible.
The
warrior had been impressed with the speed with which the large
clan-like family had moved that morning when Axel announced they must
travel north and quickly. Everything was packed and moving before
noon, leaving an empty cabin and Hercules riding in the opposite
direction.
Xena
was still uncomfortable with Hercules leaving and her staying to take
care of Iolaus but knew the demi-god was being sensible. Not that
she was sensible when it came to Gabrielle, she thought. She was
also uncomfortable depending on strangers for her existence and she
admitted to herself that she needed these Germans. She couldn't care
for herself, the life growing in her and Iolaus in the winter snow of
the north alone.
She
held close to the small Greek. "Come on, Iolaus, hang in there.
I need someone else to speak Greek to."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
was surprised to see the other prisoners who had been chosen to train
as gladiators outside in the courtyard, their chains having been
removed like hers. Nikki, her face hard, pushed Gabrielle into line
with the others, her eyes flashing warning.
Lycrassis
came out of the villa area and faced his new recruits.
"I
am the Lanista, director of this school. Congratulations for being
chosen for the dubious honor of being gladiators. If you survive
long enough you might become famous, even being taken to Rome to the
Arena for the games. You'll be treated as the slaves you are and
worshipped as idols. If you're smart as well as strong you can wager
on the outcome of matches and might even make some money."
All
the recruits noticed the wooden sword he carried in his hand.
"Why
do you want to survive? For the future of living in a small room
with a single cot? No, plan it right, fight well and you'll have
money, women and fame. You might even earn your freedom. Any
gladiator that survives five years under this school earns their
freedom and the privilege of teaching at this school."
Lycrassis
raised the wooden sword for all to see it.
"There
is another way to gain your freedom. Win this in the Arena from the
Proconsul, the governor of the territory or from Caesar and you'll
have your freedom."
He
handed the sword to Nikki and turned to the recruits again.
"Don't
misunderstand. I doubt any of you will get past year one. It is
very rare for a gladiator to reach the end of a five year term and
even more rare to win the wooden sword. Your chances are slim to
none. Why try? It's that or face crucifixion. Have I been clear?"
"Yes,
my Lord," they all answered.
"Good,
now a formality. All of you will repeat the following oath and the
first one to disobey any order given to them, the first one to break
the discipline of this school, the first one that tries to escape
faces a death worse than crucifixion. Repeat: I swear to endure the
whip, the branding iron, and death by the sword for the game."
Gabrielle
found herself repeating the oath along with the others, Lycrassis
sharp eye looking for any hesitation on the part of the line of
recruits. Gabrielle noticed with a shudder a brazier of coals at the
far end of the courtyard with a slave tending it.
Nikki
suddenly wouldn't meet her eyes.
"I
run a very well disciplined and tight school here. Any minor
infraction of the rules brings swift punishment, usually by flogging.
Severe troublemakers face castration, mutilation, hamstringing, and
death. This is Nikki, one of my doctors, trainers. You will meet
the others later when you begin your training. If necessary, you'll
find yourself chained every night with your wrists chained to your
ankles, unable to stand or lay down straight. This is not a pleasant
way to spend the night. First, unpleasant things and then breakfast.
March in a single file to that slave with the branding iron. Your
first test of your oath begins."
Gabrielle
was relieved that she wasn't the only one who screamed when the red
hot branding iron touched her flesh at the shoulder.
After
a breakfast of bread, wine, olives, cheese and fish (a rich meal for
slaves, Gabrielle thought), she and Nikki faced their second test.
Gabrielle
lifted the wooden dagger Nikki handed her and sighed, looking at it
like it was a real blade.
"What
is it?" Nikki whispered.
"I
can't kill," Gabrielle whispered back.
"What!?
You have got to be kidding me!" Nikki hissed, pretending to show
Gabrielle the proper way to hold the dagger in a defensive move.
"No,
I can't kill."
"How
far along was your mate when you last saw her?" Nikki whispered,
changing the bard's stance.
"About
20 weeks," Gabrielle answered, easily flowing into the moves of
the trainer.
"Was
she beginning to show?" Nikki asked.
"Yes,"
Gabrielle answered again. Wincing at pulling the raw and burned skin
of her shoulder.
"What
would you do to be there for her and the child?" Nikki asked and
wasn't surprised that the bard stopped dead in her movement.
Gabrielle turned and faced Nikki with what Nikki would come to know
as the bard's stubborn jaw set.
"Anything,"
Gabrielle whispered.
"Then
you must kill, little one."
Gabrielle
felt her heart skip a beat. Xena called her 'little one.' The bard
fought back a tear, missing her mate. She looked down at the wooden
knife and took up the defensive stance again, with that same stubborn
jaw.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On
the second day of the trip Iolaus finally woke up and tried to grin
at Xena. The healer and Xena were both pleased he hadn't taken fever
with the wounds or the cold soaking he had in the river. They both
began to hope that he might actually live.
The
trip north took over two weeks and the land became more harsh as they
went. Xena was beginning to seriously hope the Germans knew where
they were going and that the large group of people would be welcome
in a land that obviously couldn't support life in the snow.
But
every day the hunters surprised her by bringing in fresh game and the
women managed to find winter herbs, plants and fish to supplement the
food.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A
long month of a routine began that the bard found extremely hard at
first but then settled into. Stretching exercises, breakfast,
strength training, lunch, siesta time, weapons training, endurance
training, dinner, clean up, bed.
Nikki's
trained eyes had been correct in judging the small woman. Gabrielle
was quick on her feet, had considerable staff training already, was
quick to learn, and quickly rebuilt her muscles from the recent
illness.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
warrior found herself staying up late with the family most every
night. It was easier than facing sleeping without Gabrielle. The
Germans were friendly, outgoing and hearty people and Xena was
beginning to like them a lot. Xena was quickly picking up more
Germanic and they were clearly pleased with her quick knowledge of
their language. Axel clearly loved his wife, Sasha and the feelings
were returned. The Greek warrior noted that, for a large family that
lived in confined quarters, the German family of Axel got along well
and worked as a well coordinated team. They also didn't seem to mind
that she was a warrior and mother to be.
Sasha
had smiled at the warrior's confusion over the casual way everyone
treated Xena's warrior ways.
"It
is uncommon for women to take up the sword or spear but it is not
unheard of. Our friend Hercules said you became a fighter after your
father and your brother died, one of our greatest heroes went into
her father's burrow mound to face his ghost and the ghosts of those
of the grave to claim his sword. She's always been one of my
favorite stories," Sasha grinned.
Xena
tried to fight back sudden tears. "You'd like Gabrielle's
stories. I'm sorry you haven't gotten to know her yet."
"You
were only with us one night with the little one, but she is special.
She has the light of the gods surrounding her," Sasha said
easily, resting a hand on top of Xena's, comforting.
"Some
say I have the darkness of them about me," Xena
muttered.
"Nein.
Darkness
cannot give light and you will soon do that."
Xena
smiled, touching her womb. "I never looked at it that way."
"Life
is a gift from the gods and from our fetches, the family spirits that
watch over our lives."
Xena
grinned to herself. This life certainly was a "gift" from
the gods. One god in particular, she thought, Ares. She felt torn
between being happy about the pregnancy to frustration that it was
Ares' child and it was driving her out of Greece and away from the
only family she had.
Xena
brushed a tear away and Sasha smiled. "You are welcome with my
family. The runes say you are one of us."
"Runes?"
"Sacred
symbols given to us by the sacrifice of the AllFather, Othinn. He
hung on the World Tree for nine nights without food or water, stabbed
by his own spear until he gained the knowledge of the runes. They
are sometimes used as writing too."
"World
Tree, the Amazons believe in the World Tree. That there is a tree in
the center of the world that has more branches than the gods
themselves can count and it holds together all the worlds," Xena
smiled and Sasha grinned, nodding.
"Yes,
we believe the same! Our tree is named Yggdrasil."
"Some
language you've got," Xena smiled. "His sacrifice is very
much like some of the Amazon rituals I've seen of shamanic death and
rebirth," Xena commented. She smiled as Axel joined them by the
fire.
"Yes,
every act of gain must have an act of sacrifice. Life is hard in the
North, Xena, and life can be short. You learn to live with what the
Norns have carved for you."
"Norns?"
she asked and Axel frowned, looking for the word the Greek would
know.
"One
is that what was known, she who is that which is known and she that
which will be," he tried.
"We
call them the Fates," she nodded. "How do the runes work?"
Xena asked, accepting the drinking horn and was pleased that Sasha
was drinking cider. Ever since discovering her pregnancy Xena hadn't
wanted to drink too much, it seemed to really play havoc with her
stomach now and the Germans were very fond of their ale and mead.
"The
vitki, the rune worker, must know how to find the right wood,
sacrifice for it, carve the wood, inscribe the runes on it and then
stain them for effect. Also knowing the right galdr aids in the
magic," Axel explained.
"Galdr?"
"Rune
magic of sound," Sasha smiled and took her husband's hand.
"And
staining them?" Xena was finding this fascinating, after
studying with Alti with the northern Amazons, Xena had found she had
a knack for shamanistic working and was curious how much the northern
peoples had in common with the Amazons. She wished Gabrielle was
there once again.
Noticing
her expression, Sasha reached out and touched the warrior's hand
again. Xena attempted a smile.
"The
runes say she's alive," Sasha whispered.
"What
do they say?" Xena tried not to snap the question out.
"Only
that she lives, my friend and nothing more. They say the future of
your child is unwritten as well," Sasha lost her smile.
Xena
frowned, withdrawing into herself. Aching for her little bard so bad
that it was a physical ache.
Axel nodded to his wife and they left
the warrior by the fire to work with her frustration.
# # # #
The
next evening she found several of the men and women relaxing by the
fire and listened to them talk, trying to pick up more of the
language.
Sasha
smiled and joined her. "How is the little man?"
"He's
finally moving around better. I think he won't be able to use that
arm for much."
"A
one armed man is still useful," Sasha shrugged.
"What
do you mean?" Xena asked.
"We
look at things simply. A one armed man may still hoe a field or hold
a sword. A legless man can sit a horse and fight, a dead man is
useful to none."
Xena
nodded, understanding.
"Do
both you and Axel work the runes? There isn't a priest or priestess?"
"There
are priestess and priests in the north in larger towns, villages and
cities. For small holdings, like ours, the head person of the family
acts as the priest for the sacred holidays and rituals. Anyone can
work the runes and work the magic if they have the skill. As
headwoman and headman we both can serve our people with the holiday
rituals."
"Do
you follow one particular god or goddess or all of them?"
"All
of them are honored in the celebrations, some more than others
depending on the holiday. There are some who are dedicated to one
particular god or goddess, many of the Princes, Kings and Chieftains
are called to AllFather, while many common man find Thor is their
destiny in Asgard," Axel answered as he came up.
"Asgard?
That's kind of like Olympus, right?"
"Somewhat.
It is the realm of the Aesir and Vanir, the gods and goddess but it
is also where we go when we die. Depending on how we have lived our
lives and who our chosen god or goddess is. We could end up in
Freya's Hall if she calls you or, if you haven't done so well, you
could end up in Hella's Halls."
"Hella,
a place like Tartarus?" Xena was glad that they had spent time
among the Romans and Greeks and at least knew what she was talking
about on her end.
"No,
it is a place of rest until part of the spirit is reborn. The
outstanding among us go to Asgard to one of the halls. Some of
Hella's Halls is spoken of as cold and lonely and the river that
surrounds it is of swords and knives and cannot be crossed, filled
with venom," Axel said, lifting his horn as several others did
the same.
"It
probably means that it's cold and filled with ice," Sasha
grinned.
"What?"
"It's
a way of talking in the North, especially among the skalds, the
poets, the bards, you call them. Sunna's light can mean gold,"
Sasha explained.
"Tyr's
bane!" another called out.
"That
means a wolf!" a man laughed.
"Freya's
tears," a woman grinned, twirling a string of amber around her
fingers. "Amber."
"Wound
bees!"
Xena
frowned.
"Arrows,"
Axel grinned.
"Game
of iron - a battle."
"Arrow
dew."
Xena
grinned, "blood." everyone laughed, pleased that she was
getting it.
"Mead
of Othinn - poetry."
"Flying
thorn."
"Spear,"
Xena grinned.
"Wolf
feeder, a warrior."
"The
Norse are infamous for their riddles," Axel warned with a grin.
"Terrific,
just what I'm not good a,." Xena complained and everyone
laughed.
"We
especially love good stories and forgive almost any bragging if you
can back it up," another warrior grinned.
"You
said part of the soul is born again, not all of the soul? What do you
mean?"
"Hmmm,
the body is of several parts that come together to make a person, so
is the soul. The mind and the soul are several parts. The major
parts stay in whatever fate you have earned for yourself after death
but a part of you comes back, usually in your family line or someone
close to your family line. That is why we look for our ancestors in
the little ones," Axel tried to explain.
"When
you say that a child is acting just like his grandfather you think
part of his grandfather has come back in him?"
"Yes.
How do you believe in the south?" Sasha asked.
"That
the soul is complete but that sometimes the gods decide that a soul
should come back and be born into a new life. I've heard tales of
some souls reconnecting over and over again in many lives and other
tales say that after you die you end up in the Eleusian fields or
Tartarus and stay there for eternity."
"What
are your Fields like?" one warrior asked.
"It's
a perfect day in your life, most don't realize that they've died.
They go through their day perfectly happy, waiting for their loved
ones to come home who haven't died yet. Some know they've died and
wait for their loved ones to cross over, kinda watching and seeing
what happens in their lives."
"Hmmmm,
I think I prefer Valhalla - fighting all day and drinking all night!"
"What
about Freya's Hall, the Goddess of Love?" another warrior called
out.
"A
different kind of fighting at night!" another laughed, kissing
his mate.
"Do
you have specific gods for things, like a god of war?" Xena
asked.
Axel
frowned, contemplating. "I know of your Greek and Roman gods.
A god of war, one of love, one of justice. It is more complicated
with ours, I think."
"The
AllFather is the God of War but he is a poet and magic worker. He
sacrificed his eye for a taste of the mead of inspiration,"
another man said with a grin.
"Thor
is followed by most soldiers but he never pays attention to our
battles," another said gruffly.
"AllFather
is followed by most Chieftains but isn't trusted by any,"
another said and some grumbled in their seats.
"Why
not?" Xena asked, wanting as much information as quickly about
where she might be raising her child, especially if the gods were
going to get involved at any time.
"He
turns on his chosen, bringing them an early death," one mumbled.
"He
causes their deaths so they may join his army in Valhalla at their
peak!" another argued.
"Valhalla,
AllFather's Hall?" Xena ventured and several nodded.
"Freya
is the goddess of love but claims half of the slain warriors for her
Hall and commands half the Valkyries," a woman offered.
"Valkyries,
warrior female spirits?" Xena asked.
"Yes,
they choose heroes for Othinn and Freya and follow their wishes,
helping or hindering in battle."
"I
prefer when the gods stay out of my way in battle," Xena grinned
and several of the men cheered, raising their horns in salute.
"I
agree, let the gods battle among themselves and leave us be,"
one called out.
"At
least ours don't seem as bothersome as the Greeks and Romans seem to
think theirs are," Sasha grinned.
Xena
wondered what the woman would think if she knew Xena was carrying the
child of a god? She was beginning to have the feeling that not many
people in the North had ever seen their gods in person. Xena wasn't
sure how she felt about that one, most of the time she preferred not
seeing any of hers, thanks.
Xena
suddenly felt tired and made her goodnights and crawled in next to
Iolaus, quickly shedding most of her clothing under the warm furs and
he mumbled something in his sleep and extended his arm. Blushing,
Xena laid down inside his arm and let him hold her and was grateful
he pretended to be asleep as she began crying tears she couldn't hold
back any longer. Gabrielle felt so far away but she could feel her
mate's loneliness washing over her.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nikki
concentrated Gabrielle's training on the net, small sword and
daggers. Knowing the small woman would be useless in heavy armor,
the doctor focused on Gabrielle's speed, smallness and natural
ability. Gabrielle fell easily into a friendship with the tall
warrior, in many ways Nikki reminded her of Xena and she found
herself learning as quickly as she had under Xena's watchful eye.
Lycrassis
also watched with interest as the small blond woman showed promise.
Even though she was small, Lycrassis also knew that small and quick
gladiators could sometimes overcome heavily armed men in the Arena.
The
sling came off the bard's arm and she began working on rebuilding
those muscles as well. Sword work consisted of taking on a wooden
post in the training yard, practicing sword strokes over and over
again until it became part of the muscle's training.
Nikki
began to add spear and shield work to the bard's workout. Lycrassis
began to wonder if he was going to lose the three month part of the
bet. He grinned, hoping so. He preferred having a money winning
gladiator to a corpse any day. He also admired the way the small
woman moved, the muscles rippling under that smooth skin.
At
night it wasn't uncommon for Nikki to wake up with Gabrielle crying
or screaming in her sleep. She would gather the smaller woman in her
arms and comfort her Queen until the little one went to sleep again,
calling for Xena.
Nikki
felt her heart beginning to thaw and cursed the gods for it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By
the second month Xena and Iolaus had found a niche in the homestead
of their adopted Northern family. Xena would help the hunters and
fishermen and Iolaus helped care for the children and stock while his
body still healed. He was surprised and pleased to find that he had
a knack for carding wool and sewing and was very pleased when none of
the men teased him about it. Xena was grateful for the kindness they
were showing both of the Greeks.
Sasha
and Axel had been right about being accepted into the family without
question. Hercules was thought of as a brother and he said that
Iolaus and Xena were family and were in trouble, the Northerners
opened their home readily. Willing to take them on for the entire
winter and the rest of their lives if the Greeks wished to stay.
The
two long houses were a little cramped with the addition of Axel's
small band but everyone just grinned and made room. Xena shook her
head at the ready acceptance and additional hardship that the chief
family was taking on with grins and hugs. It reminded her of
something her mother might do.
The
chieftain of the main family, Eddval the Skull-Splitter, didn't live
up to his name when they first arrived, Xena was thankful. He had
come out of his long house shouting and laughing and grabbed Axel in
a bear hug that Xena would have found bone breaking. The two men had
laughed, punched each other and drank from the drinking horn that
Eddval's wife, Alfhild, had brought out, toasting each other,
toasting each other's family, toasting the Gods, and toasting the sky
at the end of the horn. Eddval had motioned everyone inside and had
greeted each like a family member, even Xena and Iolaus, though he
was careful not to bear hug the small and injured Greek man.
Xena
had been amused when they started calling Iolaus, Ivar One Hand,
finding his Greek name a pain to the tongue. Xena they called Yrsa
the Vakr or Vigilant. She was grateful for the nickname, she had
heard some of the others around the hearth fire.
"Absent
Minded, Belly Shaker, Flat Nose, Gossip, Whelp, and the worst for one
of the neighboring Princes - Snake in the Eye."
Iolaus/Ivar
they treated as the wounded warrior he was and respected him, even if
they teased him about being so small. Xena was pleased when he began
to smile at the teasing even though he continued to wake her up every
night with the same nightmare, losing Gabrielle.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Into
month two and the recruits began practicing with other recruits,
those more advanced in training. Having actual bodies to whack
against added a new dimension to the training. Mostly the new
recruits were the ones getting whacked. It made them learn very
quickly.
One
day in the practice yard Lycrassis approached Nikki and Gabrielle.
They both stopped and stood still.
"How
is our dancer today?" he grinned.
"She's
doing well, my Lord," Nikki smiled.
"Good,
believe it or not I hope you win your bout in a month. I think you
could make us all a lot of money eventually. Brie, hmmm, not a
gladiator name. I like 'dancer', it suits your style. Nikki, you
are doing well with her."
"Thank
you, my Lord," Nikki resisted smiling at Gabrielle, Dancer.
"I
would like an early demonstration," Lycrassis said, bringing his
hand to his mouth in contemplation. Nikki lost her smile.
"Yes,
my Lord?" she asked.
"That
little Arab slave of mine, you know he tells me you two aren't really
lovers, that you never touch each other. I would find that strange
and wonder about motivations and plots and plans. Slaves should
never be allowed to plot and plan, don't you agree?"
Gabrielle
kept all emotion out of her face with a struggle and knew that Nikki
was doing the same.
"I
don't know what to say, my Lord. We aren't plotting against you,"
Nikki protested.
"Hmmm,
let's put that to a test, shall we?" Lycrassis grinned.
"How,
my Lord?" Nikki whispered.
"The
Arab against your Dancer. Trial by combat, so to speak. He's not
gladiator trained but he's fast as a cat and deadly with a knife.
They should be almost evenly matched."
"You
would risk our bet over your slave?" Nikki argued.
"Yes,
I am the master of the house and I can call the bet finished when I
see fit. I am the master, am I not?" Lycrassis voice was still
sweet, but deadly as a poisonous snake.
Gabrielle
tried not to show her fear.
"Yes,
my Lord." Nikki bowed her head.
"Good,
after lunch. Arrange it," Lycrassis walked away whistling.
Gabrielle
almost went to her knees and Nikki grabbed her by the arms. "Steady,
my Queen, steady."
Over
lunch the trainer instructed her student.
"He
is as fast as a cat. I've seen him castrate a recruit in one move
before the man knew what was happening. He's also vicious as Hades
and has had the protection of Lycrassis until now. He'll probably
count on that and be arrogant. I don't think he's been watching you
train so he might not be aware of how fast you've developed."
"I
have to kill him?" Gabrielle asked between bites, determined to
keep her strength at peak.
"Maybe.
He is Lycrassis' pet, he might not let you kill him but beat the tar
out of him or scar him. I don't know what he's thinking," Nikki
complained in a whisper.
"He
wants me in his bed and he's unsure of our relationship,"
Gabrielle answered.
"What?"
"I've
seen him watching me. He's not only looking at me as a prize winner,
he's watching my body with a hunger that I've seen before."
The
tall Amazon cursed under her breath.
Gabrielle
grinned. "We'll handle that after I defeat that little weasel.
Anything about his fighting style?"
"Yes,
he leads with his right foot and right hand. He can't fight left
handed."
"That
might help."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Visiting
Romans, ladies of my villa and honored wife," Lycrassis began,
walking around the small arena, taking in all of his guests.
Gabrielle and Nikki both wondered how long he had this planned, there
were over fifty household members and guests watching the arena.
"This
is serious, little one. You'll have to kill him," Nikki said
simply.
"I
thought we didn't kill in the school unless it was the major games,"
Gabrielle protested. It was warm for May and she wiped the back of
her hand across her forehead. Nikki quickly grabbed a cloth and tied
it around the bard's forehead.
"Something
is going on and I don't know what."
"Whatever
it is, I'm going to live!" the recruit hissed.
"Good,
that's the only thing important and that's the only rule out there.
There is no playing fair. Don't let him up if he falls, don't be
honorable, and don't give him a second chance," Nikki instructed
as she tied the leather sleeve over the bard's sword arm and
positioned the leather with the metal plates over the bard's wrist
and hand. Next she strapped on a sword belt and a dagger in the
bard's belt. Nikki then quickly knelt and hid a dagger in the bard's
boot.
"Never
let them know all of your weapons," she instructed as she leaned
on her crutch.
Gabrielle
nodded grimly and took up a small round shield in her left hand.
Across
the way she saw a trainee handing the small Arab a similar shield.
"He's
not accustomed to fighting with a sword or shield, use this and tire
him out. If it comes down to a knife fight, he might win," Nikki
instructed.
"I
present to you two novice gladiators who have a personal grudge and
I've decided to let them settle it in the Arena as good training.
May their fight give you enjoyment. I present Achmed the Arab and
Dancer of the Northern Barbarians."
Gabrielle
felt Nikki lightly push her into the arena and walked to the center
of the space to stand next to Lycrassis, she refused to look at
Achmed. She faced the household box where Lycrassis, his wife and
honored guests would watch the match and was stunned to recognize one
of the honored guests, Brutus.
The
bard felt her heart stop beating for a moment as he nearly came out
of his chair in recognition as well. He recovered himself and sat
back down, looking very pale.
Lycrassis
stepped back and the Arab went into a defensive position and
Gabrielle quickly did the same as Lycrassis trotted out of the Arena
area and the wooden door slammed shut.
Gabrielle
shifted her focus only onto her opponent, fighting down her fear and
all the sounds around her. The bard shifted into the gladiator
called Dancer, pulling her sword and readjusting her shield.
Dancer's
travels with Xena and training with the Amazons, in addition to
Nikki's training, paid off in the first few moments when the Arab
screamed and rushed the small woman, bashing at her with his shield
and raising his sword to smash downwards.
Dancer
rolled over with the blow and came to her feet in an instant and let
his charge carry him off balance into her, bringing her own shield up
to smash him in the face, sending him backwards. The Arab barely got
his shield up in time to deflect her sword blow. He kicked out with
his legs and took Dancer's legs out from under her. They both
regained their feet at the same time, neither with an advantage.
Dancer was grateful at Nikki's insight with the headband, she watched
the Arab wipe sweat out of his eyes and curse under his breath and
she was glad that the cloth caught the potential distraction of her
own sweat. Dancer attempted to keep her breathing in a normal rhythm
and not let the dust cloud her eyes or throat.
The
fighters began circling each other, a little more cautious. Achmed
screamed again and rushed the bard once more, this time she took the
blow and spun with it, letting the energy of Achmed's movement pull
him past her and she sliced as he passed and left a long and deep
wound in his left shoulder. He quickly moved out of sword reach, his
shield arm hanging. He dropped the shield with a snarl.
Through
Nikki's training, Dancer knew that the little Arab could be even more
dangerous now, he was desperate. Then again, she thought, so was
she.
With
a war cry of her own she anticipated his next rush and rolled forward
into it, dropping her own shield and grabbing the dagger from her
belt. Her forward roll brought her up under his sword as she blocked
it with her own. Dancer sank her dagger into his ribs.
Everything
seemed to stop in time for both of the fighters. The swords hung
suspended in the air, one blocking the other, as the Arab looked down
at the knife in his ribs and the small Greek looked up, stunned she
had actually done it.
Achmed,
with an angry yell, backhanded the bard, sending her falling
backwards, slightly stunned. She quickly turned to regain her feet
but the Arab threw himself across her back, grabbing her hair
painfully, forcing her head back to meet his sword blade before he
would fall to her dagger.
Dancer,
having dropped her own sword, reached into her boot and grabbed the
second dagger, with a quick movement she snapped her wrist back and
cut away a good chunk of her hair, leaving the Arab with only a
handful of hair and not his opponent. She threw him off her back,
rolled over on top of him and straddled his chest, one foot on his
sword hand. She held the dagger in both hands over his throat.
The
woman looked to the household box and to Lycrassis.
"What
do you say, my honored guests and house members? A quick death for
him or the slow death of a stabbed lung?" Lycrassis asked,
looking to Brutus.
Gabrielle
also looked at Brutus as he struggled to keep emotions from his face.
Without a word the Roman raised his hand and then gave the pollice
verso, the thumbs down and everyone followed.
Lycrassis
grinned and gave the pollice verso.
"Forgive
me, little man," Dancer whispered as the blade plunged downward.
Gabrielle wasn't aware of much after
that, not even the gentle hands helping her to her feet and out of
the arena and to the bathing area. Gabrielle finally became aware of
those same hands cleaning the blood and dust from her body and then
Nikki gently holding her as she cried.
# # #
An
hour later Nikki had found a pair of scissors and finished what
Gabrielle had started in the Arena with her hair. The bard found
short hair a very strange feeling but one she might grow to like, she
thought.
They
were both startled when the door opened and Lycrassis walked in. He
lifted the bard's chin and took in her bruised nose and short hair
with an appraising glance. He nodded approvingly. They both noticed
the pair of shackles in his hand.
"Not
bad. You did well out there today for a first time and a first kill.
Most can't do the pollice verso judgment on their first kill. You
did well," he commented.
"I'll
never get used to it," Gabrielle whispered and was surprised
when Lycrassis grinned.
"No
need to, as long as you continue to do it," He reached out and
grabbed the trainee's wrist and quickly chained the bard and pulled
her to her feet. "My honored guest, Brutus, would like to meet
you," he grinned and Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat, the smile
never reached his cruel eyes.
Nikki
was on her feet in an instant. "You said no one would touch
her!" she hissed.
"I
said none of my men would touch her. When making bargains with
Romans you should listen carefully to the wording," Lycrassis
grinned. "I didn't say anything about myself or my guests."
Nikki's
face turned very red and she grabbed her crutch up. Gabrielle held
up her hands towards the trainer.
"I'll
be fine, it's okay," she reassured her pretend lover.
Lycrassis
yanked her out of the room and slammed and locked the door, leaving
Nikki cursing under her breath.
"Not
only are you quick, you're also smart. You just saved your lover a
lashing."
Gabrielle
refused to talk and Lycrassis shrugged and led her through the villa
to the guest room and opened the door without knocking.
Brutus
rose from the sofa, his face without emotion.
"Well,
Brutus, hope you enjoy your evening," Lycrassis grinned and
closed the door.
Brutus
started to speak and Gabrielle moved quickly to him and placed a
finger on his lips.
"I'm
from the northern tribes, my Latin name is Brie here," she said
quickly and he nodded.
"How
did you get here?" he demanded.
"I
was taken on the border of Germania by slavers. My family doesn't
know where I am or if I'm alive," Gabrielle stressed the word
family and again Brutus nodded. "Are you going to take me to
Caesar?" she asked softly and Brutus looked confused.
"Caesar,
no. I'm on my way to Britannia. Please, sit."
Gabrielle
sat on the sofa and the Roman joined her.
"Brutus,
my family told me how you helped them and me when I was ill, can you
help me now?"
"I've
tried, Lycrassis won't sell you just yet."
Gabrielle
frowned. "Why not? I'm not trained enough yet to bring him in
money and my chances of surviving the Arena are small."
"I
don't know but he won't. He says you're a mystery and he sees talent
in you, he wants to find out what that mystery is and to use your
talent," Brutus complained.
"Mystery?"
"He
doesn't believe that you're sleeping with your trainer and you
haven't approached any of the men, it puzzles him. You've got to
find a way to dismiss that mystery. Caesar has heard of your
disappearance and he wants you very badly. Every Roman looking for
favor is looking for you. He thinks X..... your family will come to
him if he has you."
"I
know, I figured that might happen," Gabrielle muttered.
"I
managed to get Lycrassis to wager with me," Brutus said
hopefully, "if you survive the time I'm gone to Britannia, then
he'll sell you to me when I return and he won't sell you to anyone
else before I return."
"How
long?"
"A
year."
"A
year is better than the three year bet he made with Nikki, my
trainer. A year, though. Brutus, that's forever in the Arena!"
Gabrielle felt tears threatening to spill over and angrily brushed
them away.
"I
know but my hands are tied. Caesar is in Egypt and I don't trust
anyone to get you to your family if I force the issue."
"Brutus,
I have to ask, why would you help me and go against Caesar, again?"
she whispered.
The
Roman smiled. "Your mate once asked why I liked you and I
couldn't find the words. She seemed to understand though and said
that you were the light in the darkness that we walk as warriors.
She was and is right. I care for you very much, G.... Brie."
"Brutus,
you know I'm bonded to another, by choice and by the gods,"
Gabrielle gently touched his cheek.
"Yes,
that doesn't mean I can't be your friend."
"Thank
you," she said simply.
"Why
do you trust me?" Brutus asked with a frown.
"I
have no choice. You offer a glimmer of hope of getting back to my
mate," Gabrielle answered simply.
"What
else can I do?" the Roman asked, taking the bard's hands in his.
"Force
me into your bed," Gabrielle whispered.
"What?!"
Brutus leaped to his feet and Gabrielle pulled him back down.
"What
do you think Lycrassis is expecting? Why else would you send for me?
Why do you think my wrists are chained and not my legs?"
"I
can't do that!" Brutus protested.
"You
said yourself I have to convince Lycrassis there's no mystery to
solve, that I'm just another scared barbarian fighting for her life
that happens to be Sapphic and not interested in sleeping with him."
"Oh
gods, G... Brie. I am not a rapist, I don't even touch my own
slaves."
"Who
says there's no light in your life, Brutus?" Gabrielle smiled,
touching his cheek again. "We have to make it look like you
forced me."
"All
right, I can do that, I think," Brutus nodded.
"Then
hit me."
Brutus
rose to his feet again and began pacing in front of the sofa. "I
can't!" he hissed.
Gabrielle
stood up and in his way. "Do you think Lycrassis would believe
I just fell into your bed?"
Brutus
closed his eyes and nodded. When he opened his eyes Gabrielle closed
hers and waited.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
next morning Nikki opened the guest room to find Gabrielle arms above
her head, her chain tied to one of the bed posts and the woman was
nude. Nikki whined in her throat when she took in the bruises on the
bard's face and arms and then she went to her knees beside the bed
when she saw blood between Gabrielle's legs.
Nikki
quickly wiped tears away when Lycrassis walked into the room.
"Well,
get her cleaned up and at practice," Lycrassis took in the
sight as well and grinned. "Well, seems our Roman General was a
little rough with your pet, eh?"
Gabrielle
opened her eyes and then turned her head, realizing her appearance.
"Tears,
Nikki? Maybe you are lovers after all. You better pray I don't
suspect you two of plotting to kill me or run away," Lycrassis
warned as he walked out.
Gabrielle
turned to look at Nikki. "It's all right, untie me."
Nikki
quickly moved to cut the rope with her dagger and then helped the
bard sit up on the bed. She quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it
around the small woman.
"He
didn't hurt me," Gabrielle tried reassuring her friend.
"But
the bruises and blood?" Nikki whispered, helping Gabrielle to
her feet.
"I
asked him to hit me to convince Lycrassis. Brutus cut his own hand to
provide the blood to make it look like rape," Gabrielle smiled a
tired smile.
"I
don't understand," Nikki complained as they walked to the door.
"Brutus
is a friend and he just might get us out of here before three years."
"Now
I'm definitely confused," Nikki complained.
"We
have a lot to talk about and maybe some hope is in sight. If I can
stay alive in the Arena."
"I
have some ideas about that," Nikki smiled.
"Good,
I want to get dressed and eat."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
next hurdle to staying alive came that night when the two women
undressed for bed. Gabrielle hesitated and sat down on the bed,
pulling a blanket around her. Nikki sat down next to her, pulling on
a robe.
"What
is it, Brie?" Nikki asked.
"We
have to convince Lycrassis that we are lovers and take away his
curiosity about me," Gabrielle whispered.
"Brie,
a gentle bard who's now willing to kill; a woman who's willing to
live with rape; a bonded lover who's willing to sleep with me just to
stay alive. You love her enough to live with all of that?"
Nikki asked gently and then pulled her Queen into her arms as
Gabrielle broke down crying.
"I
love her that much. I love her enough to use people who love me to
get back to her. Brutus loves me and I'm willing to use him, to put
him in danger with Caesar. I'm willing to use your friendship and
body to keep me alive to get back to her," Gabrielle whispered.
"Brie,
you don't love me, I know that. You would sleep with me on the chance
it might keep Lycrassis distracted?"
Gabrielle
broke into fresh tears. "Yes," she whispered.
"A
love like yours is rare, my Queen," Nikki whispered back.
Gabrielle
held out her left hand and showed the fellow Amazon the angry red
scar across the palm. "We are blood bound by the gods
themselves."
"The
gods?"
"Yes,
they showed up at our bonding ritual and said that our destiny was to
be together and our love was beyond this lifetime and death and they
called for a blood bonding," Gabrielle explained.
"Then,
my Queen, I will do everything in my power to get you back to your
mate. Even loving you," Nikki said with a grin, bringing
Gabrielle out of her arms as the young woman lightly punched her
friend in the arm.
"As
if that was a task? You don't want my body?" Gabrielle teased.
"My
Queen, I have been dying to touch your body since the day I first saw
you," Nikki admitted. "Then I saw your mate and thought
better of that idea," she grinned.
"Most
people do when they meet her," Gabrielle giggled.
Nikki
leaned down and lightly kissed the bard and whimpered as the bard
began kissing her back. "I'm sorry," Gabrielle whispered
as she slowly began kissing Nikki's neck and the Amazon warrior
wasn't sure if Gabrielle was apologizing for using Nikki or
apologizing to Xena. Neither woman was surprised when they heard
footsteps outside their window. It had been expected.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
They
were in their third month after the attack by the Romans when Ketli,
one of the young boys of the house came running into the second long
house and spotted Iolaus/Ivar attempting to sew some deer hide. The
boy ran up with a grin.
"Ivar,
our Southern brother comes!" He said excitedly, pulling on
Iolaus' sleeve.
"Great!"
Iolaus set the deer hide aside and grabbed up his cloak and went
outside with the boy, bending down so Ketli could pin his cloak
closed.
Iolaus
grinned as Hercules jumped off his horse and grabbed his friend in a
bear hug. The smaller Greek man punched his friend on the arm as
Hercules put him down. He looked into his friend's face and
contemplated the full beard the demi-god had grown during the winter
and approved and he knew Hercules was probably doing the same with
his blond beard.
"Good
to see you up and moving, my friend," Hercules said.
"Good
to be among the living. Gabrielle?"
Hercules'
lost his smile and shook his head. Before he could answer most of
the women from the two long houses had come out to greet him and
Eddval's wife, Thora, offered him a drinking horn in a traditional
gesture of welcome. He toasted the well being of everyone in the
steadying and drank deeply, appreciating the good ale of the north.
Ketli
moved to take his horse to the stable and the women parted to let the
men walk towards the long house. Hercules answered his friend.
"I
lost track of her. The slavers the Romans sold her to sold her again
to another set of traders heading into Italia. The Romans told the
slavers that she was Germanic and, somehow, Gabrielle has kept quiet
and the slavers sold her as Germanic. All I could find from the
second slavers was that a lot of females were sold to villas in
Italia. I couldn't even find out what province she's in."
"Damn!
Xena says she's alive, that she can feel Gabrielle is alive."
"I
believe it. They have that kind of connection."
"You'd
better tell Xena this one. The baby is fine but Xena isn't. She
spends a lot of time alone and she hasn't slept an entire night
through since." Iolaus frowned.
Hercules
stopped his friend and raised Iolaus chin to look in his friend's
eyes. "Neither have you." the demi-god commented and
lifted the cloak aside to get a look at his friend and frowned at the
sling holding Iolaus' arm.
Iolaus
shrugged and continued into the long house. "I have some
strength in the hand but not much. The arm is useless."
"You're
alive, I didn't think you'd make it from those wounds," Hercules
said softly.
"Neither
did anyone else," Iolaus grinned a sad smile. "What
happens now?"
"I
tell Xena the miserable news and I leave at the end of the week back
for Italia. I'm not giving up."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hercules
met Xena at the barn as she rode in on Argo. Her eyes were hopeful
until she met his and he shook his head. The warrior clenched her
jaw and climbed down slowly off her beloved horse.
The
tall Greek repeated what he had told Iolaus as she unsaddled the
horse and began brushing the mare.
"I'm
going with you this time!" she snapped.
"No,
you're not. You're due in two moons with a child and shouldn't be
traveling, let along traveling into Italia. It's just what Caesar is
expecting. He's got all of the Roman Empire looking for you and
Gabrielle. He's learned that Gabrielle is missing in Italia and has
everyone looking for her. He won't say why but we both know he wants
to use her as bait to get to you. The only thing saving her life
right now is that they probably think she's a German slave and not
your bard," he argued.
Xena
growled, clenching her fists tightly.
"Xena,
I'm not going to stop until we have her back," he promised.
"I
can feel her, I can almost see her and I can't reach her!" she
hissed, throwing the brush across the stall. Argo danced a couple of
steps away from her friend, picking up on the dangerous energy
growing in the warrior.
"She's
still alive," he tried to comfort her but Xena shook his hand
off.
"She's
had to kill, Hercules. I saw it, a dagger in her hands and then
blood. I wasn't there to protect her or comfort her! Damnit!"
Xena
spun around, eyes flashing angrily and darting around. The demi-god
held up a hand, palm forward.
"Come
on, Xena. You can't hurt me, you know," he urged.
"I
wouldn't chance that right now!" she warned. "Do you know
what they did to her? What Iolaus saw?!"
Hercules
gritted his own teeth and shoved the warrior, hard. The demi-god got
the reaction he expected and found himself sitting on his tailbone
from a well placed punch along the jawline. He quickly jumped up and
held out his hands as sparring targets as Xena screamed in rage and
let loose.
"Ivar,
what's happening?" Ketli asked, running up to the barn door.
Iolaus held up his good hand, holding the boy back.
"Hercules
is helping her work out some frustration."
When
the red finally cleared from Xena's eyes she was breathing heavy and
Hercules was picking himself up from a hay pile, nursing a bloody
nose. He grinned at his friend, feeling his jaw.
"Feel
better?" he asked.
"Some,"
she admitted as she examined her skinned and bruised knuckles.
"I'm
just glad you didn't go for your weapons, my friend. I take it back,
you can hurt me," he grinned and then held his arms open as the
rest of her pent up emotions broke and she began to cry.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
third and fourth month of Gabrielle's training saw a new focus.
Nikki made a rough wooden figure and used it to demonstrate moves
that she wanted the little fighter to try.
"Lycrassis
was right, you are a natural dancer and we should use that to our
advantage. A typical match is between two fighters who are matched
but in different areas. Naked Retiarii fight with nets and a trident
against heavily armored fighters. Neither side has an overwhelming
advantage. The naked fighter is quick and hard to hit, the heavily
amour one is hard to get decent hits on. Both having different
skills but an even fight. Your opponents will probably be heavily
armed, because of your smallness, I don't see Lycrassis weighing you
down with armor. I want to train you to be able to get past that
armor and hit deadly points quickly. A dance under the sword and
amour of your opponent, a deadly dance."
Gabrielle
caught Lycrassis watching them discussing movements and his grin as
he saw Nikki's bruised neck. The tall blond Viking Amazon blushed
and went back to her descriptions with the little Greek.
"How do you get under the sword
and shield without getting killed?" Gabrielle questioned, taking
up a typical amour fighter stance. Nikki began plotting out steps,
one by one for the little bard.
# # #
In
the fourth month Gabrielle found herself at one of the local games of
the month. Scheduled for a fight in the morning with another new
recruit, this one a big, strong and heavily armed fighter.
Nikki
rubbed the smaller woman's shoulders as they waited in the dark and
stuffy cells before the match. Gabrielle's hands couldn't keep
still.
"Relax,
it'll be over before you know it's begun. The hardest part is the
waiting for your match," Nikki urged.
"How
did you handle it?" Gabrielle asked as Nikki began helping her
strap on the leather arm protector.
"Who
says I ever did? I typically lost my breakfast just before going out
there," Nikki grinned and Gabrielle turned pale.
"Thanks
for the encouragement," the bard whispered and Nikki laughed.
"You're
welcome, little one."
A
guard opened the cell door and motioned the bard out. Nikki leaned
heavily on the bars as he closed the door.
"Be
safe."
Gabrielle
attempted a grin but wasn't very successful.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
bard was grateful that the sun wasn't on her side of the Arena when
she walked out. Fighters were trained to ignore the sun but they
always found themselves blinking in the bright sunlight after
spending all morning in the dark cells. Gabrielle shifted her sword
belt slightly and followed the guard to the center of the Arena. She
quickly bounced on her toes a few times and shifted the shield on her
left arm.
She
barely glanced at the heavily armed Myrmillo type fighter. Heavy
plate and chain mail armor covered his chest and arms and half metal
cylinders, called ocreae, covered his upper thighs and he was armed
with a heavy sword, dagger and a large shield.
Gabrielle
wasn't amused with her chances. She closed her eyes and began a
breathing exercise she had learned from Xena and let the tension
drain from her body and let the bard slip away from her and let the
Dancer take her place.
When
Dancer opened her eyes, they were without emotion and alert. She
spotted Lycrassis in one of the royal boxes and he grinned at her.
She bowed slightly and then turned towards her opponent.
One
thing in the back of Dancer's mind, the bard part still thinking, the
school normally didn't fight to the death. Lycrassis preferred to
develop his fighters rather than just provide blood sport and lose
fighters before they had developed enough skills to survive
professional encounters.
Dancer
dismissed any thoughts and concentrated as the flag signaling the
beginning of the match dropped from Lycrassis' hand.
Anticipating
the Myrmillo's rush, Dancer simply spun on one heel and let her
shield scrape against his, carrying his momentum around. She ducked
his defensive round slash of his sword and slashed his calf, below
the ocreae. Dancer quickly dived out of reach of his sword as he
attempted to slam his shield down on the crouched fighter and bring
his sword back around and down. She came up behind him and slashed
across his lower back with her sword, just where the armor didn't
protect.
He
roared and went to his knees, dropping his shield. Dancer parried a
sword swing with her shield and danced out the way of a second thrust
as he regained his feet. Her opponent didn't dare reach for his
shield so he pulled out his dagger to compliment his sword.
Dancer
kept out of his reach, barely turning his sword strikes aside with
her shield while dancing out of reach of the dagger. The Myrmillo
was breathing heavily and sweating while Dancer kept her breathing as
normal as possible. The Myrmillo type fighter let his anger give him
a flash of energy and charged the smaller woman and she stood her
ground until the last moment and dived forward into him, rolling his
legs out from under him. As he fell on his face and lost his breath
the small woman scrambled out from under his legs and jumped on his
back, sword poised over his neck.
The
fighter dropped the sword and held out his arms to his sides.
"Surrender!"
he cried out and Dancer looked to her owner's box.
Lycrassis
seemed to consider for a moment and then gave a thumbs up, signifying
life. Dancer breathed a sigh of relief and slowly rose off the man.
She bowed to Lycrassis and began to walk back towards her end of the
Arena when she felt the pounding of running feet and let instinct
take over, dropping into a crouch and swinging her leg out as the
Myrmillo type fighter charged her from behind. She swept his leg out
from under him and he hit the ground hard again. The small woman was
on top of him before he could even blink and her dagger was sticking
out of his throat.
Shaking,
Dancer rose to her feet and looked to her master, wondering what his
reaction would be. The Roman rose to his feet and began applauding,
everyone else in the spectator seats rising to applaud.
Dancer
bowed slightly and retrieved her dagger and walked back towards the
cells, shaking all over and wondering if she could make it out of
sight before she threw up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Summer
had finally reached the northern lands and so did some of the German
tribes friendly with the Romans. Small battles broke out among the
different families, clans, tribes and provinces. Sometimes it was
over disputed land, sometimes over stolen cattle or raids, other
times it was because one tribe wouldn’t sign a treaty with the
Romans and the Romans were adding pressure.
Caesar,
personally, had come to the north and had driven back an incursion of
Goths into the northern provinces and was attempting to drive a wedge
between other tribes and take the Roman Empire further north.
Xena
was worried about Hercules scouring Italia for a “Germanic slave”
with everyone’s emotions running high towards war and she was
worried for Gabrielle, mostly.
It
didn’t help that she was feeling herself getting close to welcoming
a baby into her life. Her body was screaming in frustration, she was
uncomfortable all the time and irritable. Sasha and the other women
just smiled, remembering their own due times and reassured her that
it was normal.
Having
been irritable most of the time before Solan was born the warrior
hadn’t noticed the changes in her mood swings. Now she did and
wanted nothing more than to have Gabrielle there at her side.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Yrsa!
Quick, raiders are coming!” Ketli yelled as he dashed into the long
house. Sasha quickly grabbed up a pack and began throwing containers
of herbs, bandages and other things in it.
“Ivar,
grab several blankets and get them to the stable. Ketli, hitch up the
wagon and throw the blankets in the back and bring the wagon to the
back! Hurry!” Sasha ordered.
Xena/Yrsa,
struggled to sit up. “What are you doing, Sasha, hand me my
sword,” she ordered.
“No,
warrior friend, I’ve been timing your pains and you are very close.
I am not going to deliver your child in the middle of a battle! Get
out and into that wagon. We’ll go to the hunting cabin a couple of
miles from here. Move!”
“I
can fight!”
“In
an hour or so you’ll be doing nothing but screaming, now move!”
Within
minutes the warrior found herself being bounced almost out of the
speeding wagon as it dashed across the countryside and up an old
trail to the hunting cabin that the men used along a trap line in the
winter. Xena wasn’t sure if she was going to deliver her baby
right then and there with all the bouncing and hung on for dear life
as Ketli yelped and Iolaus held tight to the seat next to Sasha.
The
raiders had hit quick but Ketli had gotten word to the men working
the field and the battle had been going well for Xena’s adopted
family when they left and she had tried to convince Sasha to stay and
wait it out but the stubborn Northerner had refused.
Sasha
had been right though about the timing, the pains were getting closer
and more intense. Xena bit her lip and then cried out as a wave hit
her. Ketli looked concerned and touched the warrior’s tanned arm.
She tried to smile but gritted her teeth as they hit another bump.
The
small boy had taken to the Greeks and had kinda adopted them. The
dark haired boy’s mother had died in childbirth and his father had
been killed on a raid when he was 5 summers old. He stayed close to
Iolaus, helping the Greek with the little things, like getting
dressed and things that the Greek had problems with now that his arm
was barely useful and he liked the strong warrior woman as well and
the Northerners has accepted his adoption of their new friends with a
smile and shrug. Xena knew the seven year old would soon begin
training for his life as a man but in this in-between stage he seemed
to be their shadow.
Inside
the cabin the warrior couldn’t help but cry out now, with the pains
coming closer and closer.
Iolaus
sat next to her, wiping her forehead with a wet cloth, smiling his
encouragement.
“Gabrielle,”
Xena whispered and closed her eyes and he gently brushed away the
tears escaping her closed eyes.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Everyone
in the cabin jumped when someone began pounding on the door. Iolaus
quickly drew his sword and went to the door and listened.
“Go
away,” he shouted.
“Please,
a small band of raiders are headed this way and I seek shelter!” a
voice called.
“No,”
he said frowning.
“I
invoke the right of hospitality, damnit!” the voice demanded and
Sasha walked to the door.
“Do
you swear no harm to anyone in this room?” she yelled.
“I
will swear a blood oath to it before all the gods,” the voice
answered and Sasha opened the door.
Xena,
sitting up on the bed with her sword in hand, took in the visitor. A
tall Viking woman, dressed in male clothing and carrying a bow and
arrow in her hand with a sword and ax on either hip. She quickly
entered the cabin and closed the door behind her. She lowered the
bow and drew out a dagger from behind her belt. She made a small
slice across her palm and let the blood drip onto the floor.
“I
swear by my blood and that of my kin that I mean no harm to anyone in
this room and will fight to protect them to the death,” she
invoked. Sasha nodded welcome and returned to Xena’s side as
another contraction hit and Xena moaned, gritting her teeth.
“The
Norns picked a strange place and time for your little one to be born,
friend,” the newcomer smiled and went to the boarded up window and
opened the narrow slit.
Iolaus
went to the other window and could see movement in the trees.
“Warriors
approaching, I see maybe six, probably more in the shadows and behind
us,” he said.
“There
were at least fifteen when I made it here,” the stranger answered.
“Fifteen,
that’s not a small band. They’re looking for us,” Sasha
frowned and Xena screamed with another contraction.
“Well,
there’s no leaving here now,” the stranger grinned.
“I
am Sasha, wife of Axel. This is Ivar the one handed, Yrsa the
Vigilant and Ketli the Mouse.”
“I
am Grimhild Thornfinndottir. Traveling messenger to the King of the
Russ to the East.”
“Welcome
Grimhild to possibly your last day,” Sasha said with a smile.
Grimhild
grinned back. “It’s a small thing. A good day for it, I think.”
She
turned back and let an arrow fly, hitting a raider in the eye. She
notched another arrow and let it fly, dropping another raider.
“How
many of those have you got?” Iolaus asked with admiration.
“Not
enough and they’ll be on the roof and at the door before I can drop
all of them.”
Xena
screamed again, gripping the bed sheets tightly as Ketli wiped her
forehead.
Sasha,
helping the warrior, looked over Xena’s legs with a grin.
“Well,
timing may not be great but you are about to have your child, my
friend.”
Xena
cursed in Greek at the timing and at Ares for getting her in the mess
in the first place. Sasha grinned, not understanding the language
but the sentiment. She had assisted at births before. The mothers
always got really pissed, usually at the men who didn’t have to go
through all of this.
“Ivar,
some of them have torches,” Grimhild said with a growl.
Sasha
looked up with something Xena had never seen on the woman’s face,
fear.
“They
want to burn us?” she asked no one in particular.
“Looks
that way. Ivar, you and me outside the door, Ketli - keep an eye out
back for any men with torches and yell if they try and fire the
back,” Grimhild ordered.
Iolaus
nodded and readied his sword as the Viking woman grabbed the door and
quickly opened it and dived outside with a Viking war cry. Iolaus
followed, sword flashing in the sunlight.
Xena
cursed every god she could think of for the timing of this mess,
especially Ares and screamed with another contraction. Ketli quickly
shut the door behind the warriors and went to the window.
The
sounds of the battle faded for the warrior as her body demanded all
of her attention and the only sounds she could hear were her own
screams of pain and Sasha’s reassuring voice. Ketli yelled several
times and grabbed up an ax from beside the door.
In
between one of the contractions Xena saw the small boy bury the
hatchet in a raider’s skull as he tried to climb in a window.
Ketli yelled an imitation of Grimhild yell and tried to yank the ax
out of the man’s skull. Sasha jumped up and ran over to help him
and handed him the ax.
“Leave
the body, it’ll block the others,” she said simply as she looked
in his bright eyes.
“Oh
gods, he’s so young,” Xena whispered as Sasha rejoined her.
“Yes,”
Sasha agreed and then Xena screamed again.
The
world disappeared for the warrior as her screams mingled with those
outside and inside the cabin.
Then
the pain passed like a wave as tears streamed down the warrior’s
face. Sasha was grinning at her and wrapping a small bundle in a
clean cloth.
“You
have a daughter, my friend.”
Sasha
and Xena both jumped as the door crashed inward and Iolaus fell into
the room, a gash on his head, bleeding down the side of his face. He
shook his head growling and flipped up to his feet and charged the
doorway as two raiders attempted to enter.
Sasha
quickly handed the crying infant to Xena and grabbed the warrior’s
sword and joined Iolaus at the door.
Xena
watched with horror, unable to move, as she cradled her new daughter
and her friends fought the raiders. Iolaus fell under another blow
to the head and Sasha was forced back into the room. She grabbed
Ketli by the collar and threw him behind her when he attempted to
rush in front of her and protect her.
“Ketli,
throw me the ax!” she yelled and the boy quickly ran over to her
and handed over the ax.
“Sasha,
duck!” she called and let the small hatchet fly when the woman
ducked at her command. The raider about to cleave the Northerner’s
skull found his open with an ax in the face. Sasha grinned and ran
her friend’s sword through the chest of another raider but the
sword stuck in the ribs.
Xena
screamed as a battle ax met Sasha’s neck and collarbone. Xena
pulled out her dagger and placed her daughter next to the wall.
Ketli
dived forward and grabbed a fallen sword and impaled it through the
foot of another warrior and as that warrior dropped his battle ax the
little boy grabbed the ax and, dodging the raider’s angry attempts
to grab him, scurried back to the warrior and handed her the ax.
The
raider pulled the sword out of his foot with a scream and started to
limp towards the warrior woman and children when Iolaus’ wrist
snapped out and he slashed the back of the raider’s knees. When
the man hit the floor Iolaus sat up and decapitated him with one
stroke.
Then
everything went strangely silent except for the cries of a newborn
infant.
Xena
looked up with tears in her eyes as Grimhild stood in the doorway,
taking in the carnage. She nodded with satisfaction as Xena grabbed
up her daughter, cradling and holding her new one.
“I
think your friend would be honored if you named her Sasha,”
Grimhild smiled.
“I
think so too,” Xena agreed, looking up with tears in her eyes. She
took in the sight of the blood covered warrior, the massive wounds in
the shoulder, stomach and legs and frowned.
“Don’t
worry, warrior. You’ll see me again,” Grimhild promised and
disappeared out the door.
“What
in Tartarus was that about?” Iolaus asked as he dragged himself to
his feet, meeting his new godchild.
“I
don’t know but I have a feeling that wasn’t totally a normal
occurrence, even for here.”
“Valkyrie,”
Ketli whispered, his eyes wide.
“Valkyrie?”
Xena asked.
“She’s
your Valkyrie, wow!” then he looked at Sasha’s body and ran into
Iolaus’ arms, weeping.
“So
much blood, Iolaus,” Xena whispered and he simply nodded, sitting
on the bed, taking up one of the cloths and holding it against his
head.
“I
wish Herc and Gabby were here,” he complained and Xena merely
nodded as her daughter, Sasha, began feeding.
“Gabrielle,
come back to us,” Xena whispered.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Time
seemed to blend to Nikki and Gabrielle. Hours into days and days
into weeks as June came and went. Most nights were spent too tired
to do anything but hold each other. Most every night found itself
broken by the bard’s screams or cries for her mate and would end
with Nikki holding and comforting the small woman.
One
night in June in particular found the bard waking, screaming her
mate’s name. Nikki grabbed her friend and quickly covered the
bard’s mouth and tried waking Gabrielle. The smaller woman was
bathed in sweat and was trembling.
The
bard finally nodded that she was awake and Nikki removed her hand.
“It’s
Xena, something’s happened!” she whispered in fear. “I saw her
screaming.”
“It
was a dream, little one,” Nikki whispered.
“No,
this wasn’t like other dreams. Oh gods, the baby. It’s time for
the baby!”
Nikki
let the bard fall into her arms and wept with her friend. She knew
that Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to be with her mate at that
moment and she could offer little comfort and very little hope.
Gabrielle
was amazing in the Arena but the odds were just too great for the
woman to escape with her life or without a crippling injury. Nikki
didn’t know that Gabrielle’s Regent, Ephiny had once commented to
Xena that Gabrielle could be a natural fighter and deadly in a knife
or sword fight but the Viking Amazon would have agreed with the
Regent, especially after training the small woman. She also knew
that having to kill other fighters was tearing the Amazon Queen’s
soul apart.
“Shhhh,
little one. They’ll be fine and you’ll see them again,” Nikki
whispered until Gabrielle fell asleep in her arms.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Axel had been pleased to learn of
Xena’s choice for naming her child and publicly welcomed Sasha into
the Northern family. Everyone celebrated the victory over the
raiders and mourned their dead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After
that night the bard seemed to lose her sense of hope of getting out.
She continued her practicing with diligence that pleased Lycrassis
but worried Nikki. Gabrielle wasn’t talking much, that in itself
was amazing and a warning sign, Nikki knew. The small blonde’s
training was without the fire that a warrior needed in the Arena.
Nikki had seen this type of reaction
before in fighters. The ones that had given up all hope of survival
and merely were going through the motions until someone killed them.
The Viking Amazon was frantic with worry and didn’t know how to
reach Gabrielle and bring back the little bard’s fire.
# # #
The
match that month was with another Myrmillo type fighter and this time
the match was scheduled in the afternoon, signifying that Gabrielle’s
talents had taken her into the serious matches. It also brought more
experienced opponents.
The
Amazon Queen didn’t say much as the morning wore on and Nikki paced
the cell with her crutch.
“Brie,
I know what’s going on inside that head of yours. You can’t give
up!”
“Brutus
has only been gone three months. I can’t take another nine months
or more of this. X.... my mate now has her child, she has something
to live for,” Gabrielle said flatly.
“You
can’t give up, a blood bond is stronger than this! She wouldn’t
want this!”
“I’m
sorry, Nikki, I truly am. I care very deeply for you but every day
I’m alive puts you and X... my mate in danger. We’ve heard from
the slaves of other traders and school owners that Caesar is scouring
the entire realm for me so he can trap my mate. I’m a danger to
you, to Brutus, to my mate and to her child. I can’t live with all
this blood and that responsibility any more.”
Gabrielle
stood when the guard came. Nikki grabbed her arm, tears falling down
her cheeks.
“Please,
little one, don’t do this,” she begged.
Gabrielle
gently touched the taller woman’s cheek and then walked out of the
cell.
Nikki
knew the look, usually on older fighters facing impossible odds, it
was a look of resignation. An acceptance of death by the sword.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dancer
cursed under her breath. The one day she wanted to be beaten and she
drew an opponent that couldn’t swat a fly! Dancer realized that
the only way this idiot was going to beat her was if she put her
sword down and stood absolutely still for his sword strike and even
then he might miss.
The
frustrated fighter moved in quickly and slashed his sword out of his
hand and then cut one of his hamstrings, ending the fight. Before
the guards could come and carry the screaming fighter away, Dancer
reversed her sword and braced it the dirt and positioned it at her
heart.
“No!”
she heard Lycrassis scream.
“Xena,
I love you,” she whispered as she held the sword and let her weight
fall forward, closing her eyes.
Gabrielle
frowned and opened her eyes and found everything had stopped. She
wasn’t moving forward onto the sword and she seemed to be hovering.
The bard pulled back and stood up, looking around.
The
bard was amazed, it was as if time had stopped, like a dream.
Everyone and everything was frozen, just the same as the moment
before. Lycrassis starting to his feet, the scream still on his
lips; the guard in midstride, running towards her and the fallen
fighter; the fighter holding the back of his knee, his face in agony;
the crowd in various stages of standing or sitting, cheering or
screaming.
Then
Gabrielle saw him standing about ten feet from her, waiting.
“Apollo?”
she asked.
“Yes,
child.”
“Why
did you stop me?” she asked in a tired voice.
“Because
that is not your fate. You are still fated to be with Xena,” he
said simply.
“I
can’t last that long!” Gabrielle protested. “Unless you want
to zap me there?” she asked hopefully.
“Sorry,
daughter. Comes under the ‘too much interference’ thing.”
“Then
leave me alone. I’m forced to kill, something I never wanted to
do. I’ve become a fighter, deadly with a blade, something I never
wanted to do. I use a friend to keep my identity secret, I use her
love and body as a shield. Brutus could be killed just for not
telling Caesar where I am, Nikki could be killed just for knowing me
and Xena would probably walk into a fire trap if she knew where I
was. What do you want from me?” she suddenly screamed. “I can’t
take it! All of these people could be dead because of me!”
“Yes,
and they are willing to be in that position of their own free wills.
The other fighters will either kill or be killed, as is their fate.
Yours is here,” with a gesture Gabrielle could suddenly see her
warrior.
“Xena?”
Gabrielle moved closer to her father.
Gabrielle
could see Xena sitting by a fire in a small cabin, holding a tiny
infant in her arms. The bard began to cry as the baby opened it’s
eyes to reveal eyes as blue as it’s warrior’s mother.
“Let
me tell you another one about Gabrielle,” the bard heard Xena’s
voice as the woman held her child, rocking it. “We were walking
through the Bacchae forest and noticed that we couldn’t hear
Orpheus’ playing.....”
Xena
looked up with a grin and Iolaus walked into sight of the vision
carrying a bundle of fresh picked vegetables.
“Iolaus,
he lived!” Gabrielle whispered joyfully.
“Yes,
the thought of rescuing you and finding Xena kept him alive,”
Apollo answered.
“Another
story of Gabrielle?” Iolaus asked with a sad smile.
Xena
nodded, looking back down at her child. “It gives me hope,” she
said simply, tears beginning to fall as she held the child close. “I
miss her so much,” the warrior whispered.
The
vision faded and Gabrielle went to her knees weeping.
“If
you die then she will follow you, child or not. She can no longer
live without you or the hope of you. If you die she’ll know it,
just as you would know of her death. Without you or Xena, Ares will
claim the child and her daughter will take over Xena’s destiny,
this time with the northern tribes. Their destiny just may be to
wipe out Rome eventually, but with your daughter as their leader,
they would wipe out the world and plunge it into darkness.”
“Damn
you! All of you! Can’t you find someone else to meddle with for
awhile?!” she shouted. “First me and Xena, now her child?” she
shouted.
Apollo
shook his head. “I know, Gabrielle. None of us want this but the
threads are all lined up, it’s up to you once again to determine
which one of those threads gets cut or used.”
“I
can’t do it anymore!” she cried, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m tired, Apollo. I’m so tired.” Her head dropped forward,
as if from the weight of her tears.
Apollo
walked over and gently touched her head. “I know, daughter, I
know. The Fates have not been kind to you and your warrior these past
years. I wish I could help more but I can’t. Honor the wishes of
your friends and let them make their own choices.”
“How
can I face Xena after all of this?” she cried.
“You
forgave her worst, do you think she won’t forgive you?”
“We
weren’t bonded then. I sleep with Nikki when I’m married to
Xena,” Gabrielle whispered.
Apollo
gently raised the bard to her feet and took her in his arms.
“You
are doing what you need to survive, no one will fault you for that,”
he said gently and began walking her back to the fallen fighter.
“Will
I see her again?” Gabrielle whimpered.
“I
don’t know but the odds are good. You have a natural talent you
inherited from your father. You also inherited your mother’s
stubbornness. Don’t give up again and you might see your mate on
this side.”
Gabrielle
sighed and lifted the sword up, looking at it while Apollo, her
father waited.
“If
I die now?” she asked.
“The
Fields for you, and possible darkness for your warrior and the
world.”
“Gods,
I hate this saving the world stuff,” she muttered and reversed the
sword in her hand. She nodded to Apollo and everything began to move
forward again, this time with her holding the sword over the fallen
fighter and then walking away towards the cells, leaving Lycrassis
wondering why he had been leaping to his feet.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
season seemed to go by quickly for the Greeks and their Germanic
family.
Summer
hunting and raiding turned into fall harvest and everyone was very
pleased to discover that Iolaus had a knack for brewing ale and mead,
even though he had never done anything like it before. Axel kept
teasing the little man that he couldn’t wait to try the mead his
little brother had made and now sat fermenting.
Fall
harvest began turning to winter chill as the steady got ready for the
snow to fly. Animals were slaughtered, the last of the grain
harvested, apples taken in and the last of the brew made. Xena and
Iolaus found themselves restless but knowing they faced months of
winter snow again and the improbability of finding Gabrielle before
Spring.
Even
with Sasha to care for the warrior seemed to be losing her spark and
Iolaus began to worry. He watched as his friend began looking
haggard and not sleeping, even with all the women in the steading
helping raise Sasha.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January
found both Greeks having increased nightmares and depression. The
year of Gabrielle being gone was hitting both of them hard and the
family around them couldn’t seem to pull them out of it. It seemed
like they took turns holding each other at night as they cried.
Iolaus
knew it was only Sasha that was now keeping the warrior going. The
infant and the fact that Xena knew Gabrielle still lived.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January
found Gabrielle a fully trained gladiator and holding her own in
major fights. It also marked a year’s turning point of when she
was taken from Xena’s side and sent the bard into a fury of anger
that she took out regularly on the practice pells and sparring
partners.
Nikki,
realizing the reason for the mood, stayed out of the little fighter’s
way as much as possible until Gabrielle had worked it out of her
system. Unfortunately, the three fighters she met in the Arena that
month weren’t able to stay out of her way and made the mistake of
pushing Dancer too far in the ring. One ended up a cripple and the
other two ended up dead when they displeased the crowd and Dancer won
the match.
Then
the bard spent a week refusing to get out of bed, tossing and turning
with nightmares and despair. Nikki was able to convince Lycrassis,
with the help of the healer, that Gabrielle had an illness. It was
days before the Viking was able to get the small warrior to eat again
and then to start training again. Then Gabrielle’s jaw took on the
stubborn set Nikki had come to know and the bard began training
seriously again.
================================================================
Hercules
returned twice each season during the Spring and Summer with the same
news. Every Roman in the Empire was looking for Gabrielle and no one
had found her or recognized her, Hercules included. He had gone to
Gabrielle and Xena’s families and told them of Gabrielle’s
disappearance and had checked in with the Amazons to find that every
tribe in the known world was also looking for the Queen of the Greek
Amazons and no one seemed to be able to find her.
After
his first visit during the Spring he had carried news of Xena’s
child to the families and news from the families to Xena.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nikki
and Gabrielle were beginning to actually have some hope in surviving
either the year or more Brutus had promised or the three years
Lycrassis had wagered with them. They were all making money on
Gabrielle’s matches and Lycrassis had left the two women alone in
Gabrielle’s training and sex life, which pleased both women. Nikki
and Gabrielle kept up the appearance of being lovers and occasionally
did find themselves in each other’s arms time and again, mostly for
the sexual release and the comfort they could give each other.
Gabrielle
kept waking up in the night calling for Xena.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
year Brutus had bargained for came and went and neither Nikki nor
Gabrielle brought the subject up, both finding it too painful to even
discuss. Losing what little hope the gladiator and trainer had was
almost beyond their strength.
The
training and matches continued and Lycrassis kept counting the money
and the women kept counting the time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
bit into the blanket as her body trembled and shook out of control.
Tears began to flow from her closed eyes as always and she bit the
blanket harder to keep from screaming her mate’s name as waves
swept over her.
In
a moment Nikki was holding her, gently crying herself for Gabrielle’s
pain. As expected the footsteps left their window and Gabrielle
punched the wall in anger.
“Shhhh,
it’s okay, he’s gone.” Nikki whispered.
“I
can’t do this anymore,” Gabrielle hissed back. “Either I die
or he dies, I can’t keep doing this! It’s not fair!” Gabrielle
jumped past her gladiator trainer/lover and began pacing with a
blanket thrown over her shoulders. “It’s not fair to you! You
touch me and my body responds but it’s X.... it’s HER that I
want, I only think of her. I can’t do that to you anymore! When I
touch you I want it to be her.”
Gabrielle
sank to her knees crying.
“How
touching!” a male voice sent the bard flying across the room,
coming up in a defensive stance to face the intruder. Nikki grabbed
her crutch, facing the tall dark haired and bearded man.
“Ares?!
What the.... what are you doing here?!” Gabrielle hissed.
“Looking
for you, what do you think? Interesting way you’ve been spending
your time since you left Greece, Gabrielle,” he smirked.
“Go
away, just leave me alone,” she hissed.
“What
in the name of Hades has been going on? I turn my back for a minute
and you’re killing people, sleeping with someone else and wearing a
slave collar. Where’s Xena?”
“None
of your business.”
“Brie?”
Nikki asked cautiously.
“Ares,
God of War, meet Nikki, gladiator trainer.”
“And
your more recent bedmate,” he grinned. “Does Xena know what
you’re up to?”
“None
of your business!” Gabrielle snapped.
“Look,
it’s rather obvious that you two really don’t want to be here.
Let me know where you want to go and I’ll take you there. As soon
as you get dressed, of course,” he grinned.
“And
the price? As if I didn’t know,” Gabrielle demanded.
“Where
is Xena and why did she leave Greece and leave you here?” he
demanded.
“Go
figure it out for yourself.”
“You’re
willing to die in the Arena?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“No,
but I’m not willing to deal with you either,” Gabrielle said
simply.
“How
about you, tall and blond one, willing to let her die in the Arena?”
he smirked. Nikki frowned.
“Nikki,
do not say a word, on my command!” Gabrielle ordered. “He is the
last god to ever be trusted.”
“I’m
hurt, Gabrielle!” Ares
playfully touched his heart in mock pain. “You know I only want
what’s best for Xena, to return her to her rightful destiny.”
“Our
destiny is with each other, not the Warlord,” Gabrielle argued.
“Doesn’t
look like you’re having too much together time here. If I had
known you could be so ruthless with a blade I might have offered to
train you myself seasons ago.”
“Don’t
count on it.”
“Tell
me, where is Xena and you’re both out of here,” Ares offered
again.
“No,
go away.”
“What
do you think Xena will do when she finds out about your friend there?
And exactly how you’ve been spending your nights? That was quite a
show there earlier,” he grinned.
“Gods,
can’t you men just leave me the Hades alone!?”
“Not
likely. By the way, I like the hair. Makes you look more dangerous,
something I think I might have to take notice of in the future.”
With
a flash of light he was gone.
“Oh
gods, Xena. I hope you’re far enough away,” Gabrielle whispered.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Dancer!”
Gabrielle turned as she ducked the sword strike of a sparring
partner.
Without
a glance, she kicked out with her leg and sent the man flying
backwards into the mud. The slave calling her grinned. “Lycrassis
would like you and Nikki in the Villa.”
She
waved an acknowledgment and then turned to help her sparring partner
to his feet. With a grin she playfully brushed at the mud on his
clothes and then pretended to wipe mud off his face, getting his face
totally plastered with mud. He grinned and retrieved his wooden
practice sword.
She
placed her iron sais into their holders on the outsides of her boots.
Nikki had found them from a traveling merchant and had decided they
were perfect for her little Dancer gladiator and Lycrassis had been
pleased with the choice. Gabrielle had proved deadly with the
strange weapons and watching her truly became a spectacle of a dance.
She could use one end to bash at her opponents and the other end to
kill or block sword, spear and other weapons. In her hands the sais
danced a dance of death or defense, whichever the blond woman needed.
She had become quite fond of them herself and Lycrassis permitted
her to use them in practice and wear them as long as she didn’t use
them to kill another trainee. It was also understood that if anyone
else died by her hand she would face torture and then the cross.
“How
do you do it, Dancer?” he asked as they walked towards the
courtyard.
“Do
what, Thorsvetter?” she asked the tall Slavic warrior.
“Keep
a sense of humor in this place?” he asked in broken Latin.
She
shrugged. “Either that or cry,” she said simply and they
separated, she to follow the slave and he to the bathing room.
Gabrielle
almost lost her breath when she walked into the main room of the
villa and saw Brutus standing with Lycrassis.
Her
Roman owner grinned at her attempt to keep the surprise from her
face.
“Well,
it seems our friend here has come back to finish our wager. It’s
been more than a year but it seems fate has taken you out of my
hands, Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle
felt her heart stop for a moment. Brutus’ face remained without
emotion.
“What,
my Lord?” she whispered.
“Seems
that Caesar has been looking for you this entire time and I’ve had
you all along. To think I had a talented bard under my roof all this
time. You could have entertained us!”
Lycrassis
walked over with the grace of a stalking tiger. Gabrielle froze
where she was and he quickly pulled her sais from their sheaths and
twirled them in his hands. “She’s gotten to be quite the
fighter, Brutus, just as I thought she would. Just as I wagered.”
“Caesar
wants her and the trainer and has instructed me to pay double the
price we wagered for both of them if you keep quiet about this for
awhile,” Brutus said simply.
“Why
would he want the trainer?” Lycrassis frowned.
“Your
trainer is an Amazon and part of Gabrielle’s tribe,” Brutus
answered.
“That’s
why she was so protective of you in the beginning!” Lycrassis
grinned and Gabrielle felt her face blushing with anger. “Of
course, I agree. I’m not one to argue with Caesar. I’ll prepare
horses and what few possessions they have.”
“No
horses, I want them shackled hand and foot and a chain between that.”
Brutus instructed and Gabrielle’s head dropped.
“Caesar
must want this one very badly,” Lycrassis continued frowning.
“She’s
going to lead one of Caesar’s greatest enemies into a trap, Xena.”
Brutus said easily.
“Ah,
another one in love with you, Dancer?” Lycrassis laughed and
Gabrielle blushed. “Xena, Warrior Princess. Which do you prefer
in bed, Dancer? The Viking or the Greek?”
Gabrielle
gritted her teeth and refused to meet his eyes. He laughed viciously
and grabbed the bard into a rough kiss and resisted her struggles for
a long moment. He laughed when he let her go.
“I
should have tried to bed you again, Dancer. You must like to play
rough.”
The
Roman began to move away and Brutus held out a hand.
“I’d
like to have those. Caesar may put her in the Arena and would be
most pleased to see her fight with these.”
“Of
course, Brutus. I’ll get everything prepared.”
Lycrassis left the bard and Roman
alone. Gabrielle looked up but saw no change in Brutus’ expression
and her head dropped again.
# # #
“Yrsa!
Yrsa!” Ketli came running into the yard in front of the long
houses, skidding to a stop in the dust as she picked up Sasha. Xena
grinned at the young boy, he had grown four inches and was beginning
to take on a lean look. He was going to tower over his adopted
father, Iolaus/Ivar, Xena thought.
“What
is it, Ketli Ax Hand?” she asked, using his nickname from the
battle at the hunting cabin, always causing him to stand taller with
pride. It was a warrior’s nickname and one that he carried well,
she thought.
“Rider
approaching, I think it’s Herkavar.”
“Hercules!
Iolaus, get out here!” she yelled, shading her eyes against the
sun and grinned as she caught sight of the familiar figure coming up
the road at a trot.
Iolaus
walked out of the long house and grinned at the sight of his friend.
“Gods,
I’ve missed him so much!” he complained.
“Me
too,” she agreed, but probably not as much as you, she thought with
a smile.
Hercules
jumped off the horse with a grin that Xena couldn’t help but feel
her heart soar with hope.
“I’ve
got word!” he said breathlessly as Ketli went to his horse.
“Brutus sent word to the Amazons and your families that he has word
about Gabrielle and would meet with you on the border as soon as he
sends word.”
Xena
felt her knees go weak and Hercules caught her by the arms and handed
Sasha to one of the women gathering around them with a grin.
“Gabrielle?”
she whispered.
“He
wouldn’t say what it was except that she was alive and well and now
safe. He said that he could only tell you what has happened to her,”
Hercules grinned.
“Could
it be a trap, he is Caesar’s aid?” Iolaus asked.
“Yes,
very possible except that he sent this,” he pulled a parchment out
of his shirt and handed it to Xena. She quickly unwrapped it and
scanned - many of the words were in Amazon symbols and the rest was
Gabrielle’s writing.
“Family,
I am well and safe but cannot say where I am, it is still unsafe for
me and my family. If the gods are kind I will be safe soon. Your
daughter and friend, G.”
“Oh
gods, Gabrielle!” Xena
began to cry as Iolaus grinned.
“When
do we leave?” he asked.
“As
soon as I saddle Argo,” Xena answered and Bestla, one of the older
women, began yelling for food bags to be packed and horses saddled.
As the men began pouring in from the fields Hercules repeated his
findings and everyone began celebrating the news that Yrsa the
Vigilant’s little mate was alive and might be returning to them.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Within
a candlemark the two women were bundled into the bottom of an open
wagon with barely a cloak and a few possessions of clothes. Each had
a chain between their legs, wrists and another chain between those,
effectively keeping them from moving very easily or far and unable to
even reach their own faces. Nikki had been very pissed off when she
had been searched and her former master had found the hidden dagger
in her boot and the spike hidden in the wrappings of her crutch.
A
small female slave drove the wagon while Brutus and two Roman escort
soldiers rode beside it and another behind it. Gabrielle and Nikki
could see no way to escape.
The
first night camped on the road found the two women with another chain
attached to theirs and it ended with a lock through the wagon wheel.
Neither woman could possibly escape.
Brutus
finally approached them, while they ate, the third morning a meal of
bread and olives.
“Gabrielle,
trust me. Caesar doesn’t know where you are. He didn’t send me.
I had to use his name and your real story to get Lycrassis to honor
his bargain and sell you to me,” he whispered, keeping an eye on
the soldiers and slave.
“What?
You’re not going to turn us over to Caesar?” she whispered back,
careful not to look at him.
“No,
you’re not going to end up on that damned cross,” he growled.
“What
about them, they know who I am?” Gabrielle asked, indicating the
soldiers and slave.
“Never
mind,” he said simply.
“You
can’t kill them!” she protested.
“Your
life or theirs, Gabrielle. They live and I turn you over to Caesar
and Xena possibly dies as well. Decide now,” he said brutally.
“Brutus,”
she pleaded.
“Don’t
ask me again,” he walked away.
The
fourth morning found the soldiers and the slave dead and Brutus
driving the wagon with his new slaves.
Neither
Gabrielle nor Nikki said a word as he led the horses carrying the
bodies into the woods and came back with only the horses. Without a
word he had climbed onto the wagon seat and started back on their
journey to Rome.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
next morning found the warriors leaving at sunlight. Two of them
with aching heads from too much mead and ale and a warrior mother
trying not to laugh at them. She leaned down and whispered in
Sasha’s ear, checking the straps that held the little one close to
her. Hercules frowned and Iolaus groaned at her sense of humor that
early in the morning. They didn’t complain too much, it had been
too long since they had heard the warrior laugh.
Everyone
was praying it was good news. Neither Iolaus nor Hercules wanted to
be around if it wasn’t. They both knew Xena couldn’t take any
more bad news about her mate.
They
had set up camp near the border in a secluded clearing off the main
road to the North and Hercules had gone to the nearest barracks only
to find that Brutus hadn’t arrived yet.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Just
before entering the City, Brutus placed blindfolds on the women and
pulled up their cloaks.
“A
lot of slaves aren’t permitted to learn the city as a precaution
against escape and plotting. Don’t say a word when we get to the
gate,” he instructed.
Within
minutes they had entered through one of the gates, having the guards
examine Brutus’ ownership papers of the two slaves and his Imperial
ring. Then the women’s senses were assaulted with massive noises,
smells, and movement over cobblestone roads. They could both sense
massive movement alongside of them and both trained scouts were
having difficulty separating noises and smells as they traveled
along.
“Liberius,
these are two new slaves for my apartments. I will see to their
training personally. Take their things to my guest room and then
take them up there. Have a blacksmith come and strike those chains
off of them as well. Leave the collars in place.” Brutus
instructed. “Women, stay in the wagon or face the lash,” he
ordered.
“Yes,
my Lord,” they both answered meekly.
A
candlemark later and the women were finally alone in the small
apartment Brutus called home when in Rome. He motioned for them to
sit on one of the sofas as he unbuckled his armor.
“I’m
sorry about all of this. It took longer to get out Britannia than I
had planned and then Lycrassis wouldn’t sell you, either of you. I
had to force his hand. You’re going to have to stay here until I
can get an assignment somewhere near the north and get you out of
Rome,” he said as he stripped out of his armor down to a simple
tunic.
“All
of the Roman Empire is looking for me and you bring us to Rome?”
Gabrielle asked.
“Where
else? They are looking for an innocent young Greek bard with long
reddish blond hair and gentle soul. Do you think that they will see
that in you?” he asked simply.
Gabrielle
frowned. Her hair was short and had turned totally blond from being
in the sun all the time and her skin was lightly tanned and scarred
from numerous encounters in the Arena and practice field. Her body
was no longer just fit, it was superb and the dangerous abilities she
now had showed when she walked. The only thing practically the same
was her green eyes and there were probably plenty of women with green
eyes in the city.
She
shook her head.
“Besides,
you are the personal slave to one Marcus Brutus, honored citizen of
Rome only behind Caesar, Octavian and Marc Anthony. Caesar hasn’t
seen you so he can’t recognize you. They won’t be looking for
you in my apartment,” Brutus grinned.
“Brie,
when you make friends, you make it count, don’t you?” Nikki
grinned and Gabrielle blushed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Impatiently,
the three warriors and infant waited a week and moved further into
the forest.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It
was only a week later when Gabrielle found herself being pulled out
of the bed she shared with Nikki by rough hands. Instinctively she
kicked out and punched, sending whoever flat to the floor.
“Gabrielle,
damnit! It’s me!” Brutus hissed.
“Then
say something, damnit!” she cursed back at him, grabbing a tunic
from the end of the bed as Nikki grabbed the other one, and threw it
over her sleeping shift. Brutus hadn’t said a word when he
realized that Nikki ended up in Gabrielle’s bed every night. He
had heard the bard screaming and crying in the night and knew the
other woman was the only comfort he could give Gabrielle.
“Caesar!”
was all he said as he regained his feet.
Gabrielle
went pale and grabbed for her boots. “What about him?”
“He’s
heard that I have two fighters as slaves and wants to meet you. He’s
interested in a match in the Arena!”
“Oh
by the gods! This is a nightmare!” Nikki complained.
“No
kidding!” Brutus snapped.
“What
are we doing?” Gabrielle asked, lacing up her boots as Nikki
quickly followed suit.
“I’m
going to try and get you both out of here before he sends his escort
to take all of us to his house. If we don’t get out of here then
you’ll be in the Arena by tomorrow afternoon!” Brutus whined.
“Does
he know who I am?” the bard asked, grabbing her cloak and helping
Nikki to her feet, handing her trainer the woman’s crutch.
“No,
or you’d be in his dungeon, not the Arena. Lycrassis was careful
not to risk your life too much, Caesar won’t be as considerate.
Come on!”
They
had almost reached the door when a pounding stopped them.
“Do
we fight?” Gabrielle asked, pulling her sais out.
Brutus
sighed and took the weapons from her, sticking them in his belt.
“No, we’d never get out of the city before they cut us down or
took us prisoner. I’ve seen their tortures, Caesar would know who
you are by noon.”
Brutus
answered the door to find a small squad of Roman Praetorian guards.
“Julius
Gaias Caesar requests that you and your two female fighting gladiator
slaves accompany us to his villa immediately,” the squad leader
said simply.
“We
were expecting you, as you can see. Lead the way,” Brutus said
simply, motioning the women to follow behind him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After
an hour with Caesar, Gabrielle’s head was spinning and she was
impressed. ‘Gods, I thought Ares could be charming and dangerous
at the same time!’ she thought to herself.
They
had all managed to keep up the story of Gabrielle’s past as a
Germanic barbarian, trained in Latin and Greek on the border. The
telling of her capture had been easily enough as was tales of her
training and fighting. Not as easy was keeping his piercing eyes
from seeing through everything else, she thought.
Gabrielle
was tired, stressed, terrified and getting fuzzy. He was handsome,
brilliant, charming and powerful. The bard could begin to see why
the Warlord Xena had once been had been drawn to him. She could also
understand Xena’s hatred of the powerful Roman. He had used her,
tossed her aside and crucified her, even to the point of breaking the
woman’s legs. All because she was no longer useful to him.
Gabrielle
knew that any who were no longer useful to Caesar probably wind up
that way or wished they had. The bard wondered how Brutus had kept
one step ahead of Caesar.
“Well,
I am impressed. I see a well trained body, a sharp mind, quick
reflexes and quick instincts, even though you are all still half
asleep. I want to see you in action, Brie. What do you say to a
match with one of my fighters?” Caesar asked.
Gabrielle
hesitated, catching Brutus eyes as he nodded. The bard already knew
that she didn’t dare refuse.
“If
my master agrees, great Caesar,” she said humbly.
“Good,
then it’s settled. Two days from now I’m executing a Senator for
murdering his wife. You’ll be the fight before that.” Caesar
turned to Brutus. “What weapons and armor would you prefer for
your fighter? Talk to my Lanista and arrange it.”
“Light
leather and she is astounding with these, Caesar.” Brutus pulled
out the sais and handed them over to Caesar who handled them easily,
twirling them, spinning them and then throwing them perfectly into a
wooden house beam.
“Very
nice, indeed. This should be enjoyable,” he said with a grin.
“Until then, you are all my guests. The young women will be taken
to the slave quarters and you can stay in my guest room, Brutus.”
“As
you wish, Caesar. May I escort my fighters down?”
“Yes,
and you may spend the next two days with them practicing, if you
wish. A soldier always needs practice as well as gladiators, don’t
you agree?” Caesar asked with a smile.
“Of
course, Caesar. You should know, being the greatest general Rome has
seen,” Brutus said easily.
“Do
they share a room and the same bed?” Caesar suddenly turned and
asked.
“Yes,
Caesar.”
“Fine,
have the head of my slaves arrange it.”
As
they walked down the stairs towards the slave quarters, Gabrielle
fell in beside Brutus while Nikki kept the slave leading them
talking.
“He
knows!” she hissed.
“I
don’t think so. He wouldn’t schedule anything this soon, Xena
would haven’t time to get here,” he shook his head.
“What
was that crack about you needing practice? He’s about to kill you!”
Gabrielle protested.
“No,
I can’t believe that,” he hissed back.
“Gods,
there’s no way out of this, is there?”
“I
can’t see one just yet. Listen, let me do some thinking and
planning. You’ll probably have to face the fight but in the
confusion after the fight and execution, we might be able to get
away.”
“You’d
turn from Rome?” Gabrielle asked.
“I’d
turn from Caesar,” he said grimly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A
day in the Arena turned into a month, and then another two months,
each week another fight for the small woman.
Gabrielle
was about to face another fight when Brutus entered the small cell of
his fighter. He began helping her adjust her light leather armor.
“I’ve
got a way out. After the fight Caesar is throwing a victory party,
he has bet heavily on you and plans on honoring you at the party.
You’ll be put on display, fed and given drink and I’ll probably
have many offers to buy you or at least rent you out for the night.
I’m going to take one of the Senators up on that offer.”
“What!?”
Gabrielle shrieked and Brutus grinned.
“Don’t
worry, he’s a good friend. Nikki and I will meet the two of you a
couple of streets over with horses. He’ll tell Caesar that you
overpowered him when he sought to grab you a little too soon and you
got away. I’ve already received permission to leave Rome on a
mission to the border of Germania with Nikki. Caesar was more than
pleased to separate you from her, by the way.”
“Gods,
is everyone after my body?” the bard complained and Brutus laughed.
“Just
concentrate on the fight for now. Caesar doesn’t honor dead heroes
very often, especially if he loses money on them.”
“Thanks!”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
months dragged on for the three Greeks and infant. Fortunately the
weather was still good and warm for fall. Many days found the
warrior woman practicing her fighting skills and hacking away at
trees, logs and whatever might be in her way. The tension was
driving all of them crazy. They felt they were close to something
but stuck.
Xena
hated waiting.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
took several deep breaths and let Dancer take over and drew out her
sais into her hand. The other three opponents approached from the
other side of the Arena.
Three?
Gabrielle felt a wave of fear try to overcome her and faced it down.
She and Xena had taken on worse before. A small voice reminded her
that those were usually bandits, not trained killers in the Arena.
She shook the voice aside and the fighters approached the royal box
where Caesar and his guests watched under the shade of an awning.
Raising
their weapons high the fighters gave the traditional salute.
“We
who are about to die, salute you!” they shouted and then turned to
face each other, watching Caesar out of the corner of their eyes for
the signal.
Dancer
was dressed in light armor, almost like the kind her mate, Xena wore,
but with an additional piece of leather running down the length of
her right arm for extra protection and a wide leather belt around her
waist to help protect her back muscles from giving out. A remnant of
the poisoning she had been through.
Two
of the other fighters were dressed in heavy armor and carried swords
and medium sized shields. The other fighter was dressed in a tunic,
light leather armor, small shield and a spear. Dancer was most
worried about him.
“Citizens
of Rome!” Caesar rose to his feet. “I am pleased to present for
your entertainment the gladiator from the barbarian North, the female
warrior Brie. More popularly known by her fighting name of Dancer.
Facing her are three of Rome’s best, fighting for the honor of Rome
against the barbarian hordes.”
Gabrielle
wondered who he was betting on.
“Tibor,
Helliavius, and Bigarious,” the crowd cheered and waved
handkerchiefs. “Let the fight begin!” Caesar announced and
dropped his own handkerchief.
Dancer
leaped into the air and came down with one foot in the face of Tibor,
a heavily armed gladiator. She spun in mid-air and caught Bigarious,
the other heavily armed fighter, across the ear. She landed on her
feet and hands and dived forward as Helliavius stabbed with his spear
where she had landed. She came up in a defensive stance with the
sais at ready.
With
a war cry she quickly leaped forward, somersaulting in the air and
landed behind Helliavius and before either of them could turn, the
small woman stabbed backwards with her sais, impaling the small
fighting man through both lungs.
Dancer
pulled out the sais and quickly moved away from the two heavily armed
gladiators as they gained their feet. The crowd roared, whether from
approval or disappointment, Dancer didn’t know and didn’t care.
Nothing existed except her weapons, the conditions in the Arena and
the fighters in front of her.
Both
separated and began a flanking action. Dancer knew that Xena would
merely flip into the air with that infamous war cry of hers, let the
two run into each other, come down and smash their heads together and
be done with it. Unfortunately Dancer wasn’t that talented and
wasn’t the daughter of the God of War, she thought ruefully.
She
also backed up slowly, keeping both warriors in her sights but knew
she was going to run out of room soon and the crowd was getting
restless. Dancer definitely didn’t want one of the guards prodding
her into action with a red hot poker, thank you.
Dancer
threw up her arms and hands with her sais, catching both swords as
the two fighters attempted overhead strikes. Rather than fight
against their combined strength, Dancer allowed the swords to
continue downward at a slower rate and dived over them, pulling one
sword out of the gladiator’s hand. She hissed with sudden pain and
quickly moved outside of sword ranging, picking up the fallen sword
as she scurried a few feet away. She placed one of her sais in its
sheath and raised the sword in her right hand.
She
glanced down at the back of her thigh and found it bleeding at a
fairly good rate.
The
gladiator whose sword she now had pulled the spear out of the sand
and they began circling again.
Dancer
moved back and ripped a piece of her tunic off and kept circling and
managed to bandage her thigh. She needed to end the fight and
quickly. They could keep feinting and tire her out until she made a
mistake and became trapped between them.
With
a war cry the small woman raised her sword and charged at the
gladiator with the spear, twisting at the last moment as he attempted
to impale her. She gritted her teeth against the pain as the
spearhead pierced the leather and slid along her ribs. With her
elbow she smashed the fighter in the face and then spun around as the
other fighter closed the distance between him and her. Dancer
grabbed the stunned spearman and spun him around by his collar as his
comrade swung a downward stroke with his large sword. Dancer saw the
horror in his eyes as he realized he couldn’t stop the momentum and
his sword cleaved his friend’s head open, splashing the small woman
with blood and other stuff.
She
quickly let go of the body and flipped over backwards, drawing her
other sai, having dropped her sword when she had grabbed the stunned
fighter.
The
last fighter yelled in rage and charged. Dancer quickly found that
they were fairly evenly matched skill wise and he was in a rage,
giving in an additional edge in strength and speed. Dancer attempted
to hang on until that edge waned and his anger caused him to make a
mistake.
Gabrielle
winced in pain and cried out as a sword stroke found its mark and
sliced her left arm, causing her to drop her sai. She quickly dived
forward out of reach of another sword strike and came up holding her
arm with her good hand and sai.
She
could see victory in the other fighter’s eyes and felt it herself.
Nikki, watching from the barred gate, could see the stubborn set of
the Amazon Queen’s jaw line and knew that look from experience,
Gabrielle was not amused and not about to quit.
Nikki
knew this was probably their last chance at freedom, Caesar kept
sending better and better opponents against the small woman and now
he was sending in more than one at a time. She caught the Queen’s
glance and signaled to her trainee with an Amazon hand signal.
She
saw Dancer’s head roll back slightly, considering her opponent as
they circled each other, neither giving an inch of ground yet.
Seeing
the other fighter tensing for a charge the Queen rocked forward on
her toes and waited until he was moving. With a scream she flipped
the sai into the air, momentarily stopping his charge as he glanced
up in surprise. Dancer flipped over backwards and came up in a leap,
catching the sai in mid-air with her foot, changing the direction of
the weapon, straight into the gladiator’s throat. He fell grasping
at the weapon, the last of his breath gurgling around the blood.
Dancer
walked over and retrieved her sais and faced the crowd and Caesar.
Gabrielle,
coming back into focus behind Dancer’s eyes, realized the crowd was
cheering and chanting “the sword,” to Caesar. Gabrielle, covered
in blood, raised her hand and sai in salute to Caesar and bowed.
Caesar,
an amused look on his face stood and held out his hands to calm the
crowd who continued to roar for another few moments before quieting
down.
“Citizens,
I agree that this was a magnificent display of fighting talent and
should be rewarded!” He held out his hand and a slave quickly
placed something in his hand that caused Gabrielle’s hear to skip a
beat. A wooden sword.
The
crowd went hysterical with delight. Most of them had never seen a
gladiator win the sword before and they were even more pleased that
it was the small woman in front of them.
Caesar
held up the sword, displaying it for the crowd. Gabrielle went to
one knee as she faced Caesar.
“You
have earned your freedom, slave, by your skills with the sword. May
your freedom serve you well!” he shouted and tossed the sword down,
impaling it in front of the warrior woman.
Gabrielle bowed her head and then took
the sword in her hand and stood up. With a triumphant grin she held
the sword high to the crowd. The crowd began showering the arena
floor with flowers and handkerchiefs with coins tied inside.
Gabrielle began a painful trot around the rim of the arena with the
wooden sword high, letting the crowd see it. Then she bowed to
Caesar and the crowd again before disappearing through the iron gate
and into Nikki’s congratulating arms.
# # #
Brutus
caught up with Gabrielle and Nikki in the bath house of the Arena.
He ignored the beautiful and naked body in front of him as she
crawled out of the tub of water and moved onto a table where Nikki
began stitching up her thigh.
“Congratulations!”
he grinned. “You are the hero of Rome!”
“I
can’t believe it!” she grinned back. “Me, lowly bard from
Greece, the darling of Rome. Caesar wanting nothing more than to
stake me out as bait like a goat to a tiger and he grants me my
freedom. Strange fates.”
“I
agree, if you’re willing to chance it, the plan is still in place,”
Brutus said.
“What
do you mean chance it?” she asked.
“We
still have to get you out of the city before someone realizes who you
are. Just because you’ve been granted your freedom doesn’t
lessen the danger. Caesar expects you at the party. Accept his
offer to become one of his paid gladiator fighters and then accept
the invitation of the Senator for the evening. Caesar won’t think
anything about it when you leave,” Brutus said quickly.
“He
knows I won’t leave with a man,” Gabrielle protested.
“It’s
not the Senator that the date is for, it’s for his wife,” Brutus
grinned.
“Oh
crying out loud!” Gabrielle muttered. “Now even Senator’s
wives?”
“As
one of the top gladiators in Rome, little Dancer, you could have any
man or woman you wanted for your pleasure.”
“We’re
still leaving, right?” she demanded.
“Yes,
in five days you’ll be on the border of Germania,” he said with a
grin.
“Xena,”
she whispered.
“I’m
sending a messenger up north to try and find your family and that I’m
coming with word of your fate,” Brutus grinned.
Gabrielle
closed her eyes as a tear of hope escaped.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
paced the inside of the small rooms assigned to Brutus at the outpost
like a caged animal. Nikki, having gotten extremely quiet the
further north they got, finally snapped and told the small gladiator
to sit down.
“What’s
wrong, Nikki?” Gabrielle asked, walking up behind the tall warrior
and beginning to massage her shoulders. Nikki shook her off angrily
and stood up, moving to the window with her crutch. “What is it?”
Gabrielle repeated.
“The
closer we get to the border to closer I get to losing you. I’m
trying to adjust, all right?”
“I’m
sorry, Nikki. I’ve used you badly.” A tear escaped Gabrielle’s
eyes and she brushed them away angrily.
Nikki
turned and her face softened.
“We
used each other, Brie. Don’t blame yourself for that. It’s just
that you have someone waiting for you and I feel you slipping away
more and more every day. Within the week you won’t be Dancer the
Gladiator anymore, you’ll go back to being Gabrielle, bard and
Amazon.”
“I
don’t know if I can go back. Dancer saved my life and I don’t
know if I can just turn that off and go back to being the innocent
bard I was.”
“No,”
Nikki agreed. “You can’t go back to being innocent. You’ve
killed in the arena. It was self defense but it was also for someone
else’s sport. You’ve used your friends and your body to survive
but you don’t have to be Dancer any more. You’ll find the middle
ground. You’ll have your mate to help you.”
“Will
I? Will she even want Dancer? She always treasured that innocence
about me and now it’s gone.”
“It’s
not gone, just bruised a little or else you wouldn’t throw up every
time you kill in the Arena,” Nikki teased.
“She
won’t even know me anymore. I don’t know me anymore,”
Gabrielle complained and brushed a tear away again.
“If
she loves you just a fraction of the way you love her then you have
no worries.”
“Nikki,
I’m sorry about us,” Gabrielle started again but Nikki held up a
hand to stop her.
“Enough,
my friend. You gave back my life and I helped keep you alive. I’m
not asking for anything, Brie.”
“You’ve
got my friendship,” Gabrielle smiled weakly.
“I’ll
take it,” Nikki grinned.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Finally,
Brutus came in that night and said that Hercules had been to the
outpost to see if Brutus had arrived yet. The Greek demi-god would
return the next day to meet with Brutus.
Again
Gabrielle cried herself to sleep that night and Nikki wasn’t sure
if it was out of happiness or fear.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Early
the next morning Hercules left to meet with the Roman and Xena paced
the forest on the edge of a clearing by the road, waiting
impatiently. Iolaus waited further back in the trees, Sasha strapped
to his back and the Greek sitting in the saddle, ready to ride if it
was a trap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hercules
dismounted and approached the gate carefully, very aware of the Roman
sentries and their caution in dealing with anyone coming from the
north of the small outpost. He approached the sentry table and
looked down on at the common soldier and the Watch Sergeant.
“What
do you want here, barbarian?” the sergeant demanded, speaking in
rough Germanic.
Hercules
considered how he was dressed for a moment, in rough leather trousers
tucked inside fur lined boots, crisscrossed with leather thongs,
homespun cotton tunic covered with a fur lined vest tunic, a thick
leather and cloth cloak with wolf fur on the shoulders. A Viking
sword hung at his belt. His typical leather bracers on his wrists
accented his muscular forearms and a full beard finished his
appearance. Hercules agreed he probably looked very Germanic but
this didn’t excuse rudeness, thank you.
“I
am here to see Brutus, aid to Caesar. I’ve brought someone to see
him at his request.” Hercules replied in perfect Latin.
“Brutus
doesn’t see every barbarian walking through the gate, even if they
can speak in a civilized tongue!”
The
sneering sergeant found himself hovering over the table, held aloft
by the tall figure in front of him by his collar. The foot soldier
froze.
“My
people were civilized while your Romulus and Remus were sucking on
the tits of a wolf,” Hercules growled. “Tell him Hercules wishes
to see him.”
The
foot soldier quickly scurried away while Hercules kept the sergeant
held above the table easily. The Roman sentries were unsure of what
to do while their sergeant sputtered.
Hercules
dropped the sergeant when he caught site of the Roman officer, Brutus
approaching quickly.
“Hercules,
join me,” Brutus stopped and looked down at the fallen sergeant.
“Twenty hours of extra duty this week for being rude to my invited
guest.”
Once
inside Brutus’ temporary quarters he offered the demi-god a seat
and wine. Hercules accepted both.
“I
apologize for that idiot out there,” Brutus began, sitting across
from the son of Zeus.
“Attitudes
like that towards the Germans and you’ll have fights on your hands.
They don’t take well to being insulted,” Hercules warned and
Brutus frowned.
“I
know, trying to get good men on the border is difficult.”
“Nevermind
him. Xena is a couple of miles from here waiting for me. You sent
word that you had news of Gabrielle?”
“Yes,
I understand that she disappeared almost two years ago and I’ve
heard that your friend Iolaus, all of Xena’s friends, the Amazons
and half of Greece have been searching for her.”
“Yes,
March will be two years and we’ve searched with no success. Xena
knows that Gabrielle is still alive, that she would know if the bard
were dead. What do you know? Is this a trick of Caesar’s to get
to Xena?” Hercules demanded.
“Caesar?
No. He’d be very unhappy with me if he knew the real reason I
asked for this treaty mission with the Northern tribes. Gabrielle is
alive and well.”
Hercules’
head dropped forward with a prayer of thanks.
“Before
you I tell you more, I have a question.”
Hercules
frowned but nodded.
“It’s
been over a year, does Xena still love her?”
“Brutus,
you don’t have any idea how much Xena has suffered with Gabrielle
missing. She’s nearly gone mad. Tell me what you know,”
Hercules demanded.
“I
can only tell Xena of Gabrielle’s fate. I will ride with you,
escorted by two of my slaves only. When we get near to Xena you may
take my weapons as a sign of truce. Is that agreeable?”
“Yes.”
“Good.
My slaves and I will meet you outside the gate in a few minutes.”
Brutus rose and grasped Hercules’ forearm in a warrior handshake.
“You
better pray the news is good, Brutus. I’m not sure how Xena would
treat the bearer of bad news at this point.”
“I
understand, I promised Gabrielle to make this trip myself.”
“Why?”
“Like
your Xena, I’m in love with Gabrielle. Is that so hard to
understand?”
“No,
but I’m not sure I’d tell Xena that right now,” Hercules
grinned a grim smile.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A
few minutes later Hercules was surprised to be joined outside the
gate by Brutus and his two slaves on horseback. What surprised him
was that they were heavily cloaked with their faces hidden and their
wrists were chained.
Brutus
noticed the demi-god’s look and shrugged. “Slaves have a
tendency to try and escape when they’re this close to the border.
Policy,” he explained.
“Why
bring them with us?” Hercules asked as they began riding towards
the north.
“They
are witnesses to Gabrielle’s fate this last year.”
After
a few minutes Brutus broke the silence.
“Why
did Xena leave Greece?”
“She
wanted to get away from Ares and Caesar,” Hercules said simply.
Brutus
nodded and let Hercules lead them. When they approached a clearing
off the path Hercules stopped and reached out a hand. Brutus easily
drew his sword and handed it over to the demi-god and then his
dagger. Hercules then moved his horse forward again into the
clearing.
Stopping
in the center of the clearing the large son of Zeus stopped and
raised his hands in an Amazon hand signal and then turned and
motioned Brutus forward.
Xena
stepped out of the tree line slowly, sword drawn. She was dressed
the same as Hercules and looked like a dark haired Valkyrie, Brutus
thought.
Brutus
dismounted and motioned for the slaves to do the same. He turned and
slowly approached the warrior with his hands up and palms showing.
Xena’s jaw was clenched and her knuckles were white on the handle
of her sword.
Brutus
resisted grinning.
“Xena,
it’s good to see you well,” he said simply with a smile.
“Even
though Caesar has a price on my head?” she answered with a smile as
well.
Her
eyes narrowed at the sight of the slaves, their cloaks and especially
their chains. The slaves kept their heads bowed. One was a woman,
possibly both, Xena’s trained eyes told her.
“You
know I don’t always do what Caesar wants or Gabrielle would be dead
by now.”
“You
know where she is?” Xena demanded, the smile leaving her face.
“Yes.
Word went out from Caesar to find her, so, along with all of your
friends, Amazons and half of Greece looking for her, every Roman
wanting to get on Caesar’s good side was looking for her. He had
learned of her traveling with you from the bard stories we heard and
he figured he might be able to use her against you once she
disappeared. He was extremely determined to find her before you
did.”
“We
thought that might happen,” Xena muttered. “Does he have her?”
the warrior whispered.
“No,
he didn’t know when he found her. I did,” Brutus held up a hand
to cut off her questions. “Let me tell you a short story. Short
because I’m not the storyteller that Gabrielle is.”
Xena
frowned but nodded, motioning to the tree line and the three warriors
moved into the shade of the trees while the slaves knelt on both
knees, heads still bowed, beside the horses. Xena was considering
whether to let Brutus leave with the slaves and knew Hercules was
probably thinking the same thing.
“Make
it quick, Brutus.” Xena growled.
“Somehow
Gabrielle was captured during a border skirmish and because of her
light hair and eyes they thought her Northern and took her prisoner.
She was sold to slavers.” Xena growled deep in her throat. “She
was sold to a gladiatorial school, thankfully.”
“Thankfully?
To die in the Arena?” Xena questioned.
“Better
a chance at life than on a cross, don’t you think? That’s where
most of your Northern friends end up when captured. The Arena or on
a cross.”
“Go
on,” Xena said between clenched teeth.
“She
became a fighter and a good one. I found out where she was by
accident.”
“Gabrielle
a fighter, in the Arena?” Xena whispered. The thought of her
little bard in the Arena with blood on her hands from a recent kill
caused Xena’s head to spin.
“Yes.”
Brutus said simply. “She ended up in the Circus Arena, Xena.”
“Arena?”
Xena thought her heart would stop right then. Her little bard
fighting in the Arena? Impossible.
“Yes,
fortunately Caesar had never met Gabrielle or he would have known
her.”
“Where
is she?” Xena demanded.
“Do
you want her back, Xena?”
Brutus
wasn’t surprised to find a chakram at his throat, just pressing
into his neck.
“Xena,
listen to me first!” Brutus asked and the warrior eased the chakram
back a couple of inches. “Gabrielle has become a fighter and has
killed. She kills instinctively and without thought, a true
gladiator. She still grieves for each death afterwards but while
fighting she is deadly and dangerous, she’s not your little naive
bard any longer. Gabrielle has been raped repeatedly, especially in
the beginning and she has used her body to stay alive and her
identity hidden, all so that she could get back to you. She even
offered me her body if I could get her back to you. She’s carrying
a lot of guilt, Xena.”
“She
has nothing to be guilty of!” Xena protested. “I know what
happens to Roman slave women and women gladiators; I can’t believe
she’s alive after this!” the warrior brushed away a tear angrily.
“I can’t live without her, this isn’t living Brutus, I’m
just existing. No matter what has happened to her, I want her back!”
Xena hissed.
“Xena!”
a familiar voice stunned the warrior and she slowly turned to look at
the slaves, lowering the chakram.
Gabrielle
slowly raised her chained hands and pulled her hood back, green eyes
looking deep into blue ones.
“Gabrielle?”
In
one fluid motion Xena dropped the chakram and had crossed the space
between her and Gabrielle and pulled the bard to her feet and into
the warrior’s arms. The warrior began to cry as she held her mate
closely and felt Gabrielle’s tears flowing as well.
“Little
one,” Xena whispered. “Oh gods, I’ve missed you!”
Hercules,
with a grin, walked over and gently pulled the two women apart for a
moment and snapped the chain holding Gabrielle’s arms from holding
her warrior. With a grin, the bard wrapped her arms around Xena as
the warrior’s lips claimed her own after so long and Xena laughed,
lifting her little mate into her arms, holding onto a very tight ass.
Nikki
stood up and held out her hands as Brutus unlocked her chains with a
grin.
The
two reunited lovers finally broke apart and faced everyone else.
“Brutus,
what happened?” Xena asked, holding Gabrielle close.
“I
bought her and her trainer Nikki. Caesar learned I had purchased a
fighter and her trainer and demanded to see her. Then he decided he
wanted to see her in action and sent her into the Arena. It took
months to figure a way out of Rome and away from Caesar.”
Xena
leaned her head on top of Gabrielle’s, continuing to cry tears of
happiness and disbelief.
She
opened her eyes and looked at Brutus. “Thank you, I owe you.”
“No,
warrior. I would do anything for Gabrielle and she wanted you,”
Brutus shrugged and Xena nodded, beginning to understand the depth of
the Roman’s feelings for her little bard. She felt the same.
Finally
Gabrielle pulled back slightly, taking in the sight of her warrior.
“Gods,
I missed you! You were the only thing that kept me alive in that
Arena, my love,” the bard whispered.
Brutus
grinned and walked back to his horse and pulled off two sets of
saddlebags and tossed them at Gabrielle’s feet and then threw the
warrior the key to Gabrielle’s chains. The warrior smiled and
unlocked the chains slowly, silently cursing that her love ever had
to wear them. Then her eyes narrowed and she frowned at the slave
collar around Gabrielle’s neck. The bard, realizing what her
warrior was looking at, blushed and lowered her head slightly.
Xena
raised her chin to force the bard to look her in the eyes. “Nothing
you’ve done or had to do could cause me to love you any less,”
she promised and Gabrielle fell into her arms again.
“Actually,
the collar was a ruse for our traveling. It’s easier to explain a
slave than a free woman traveling with you,” Brutus reached behind
his saddle and began unwrapping something. “She had already won
her freedom. From Caesar himself,” Brutus grinned at the warrior
woman’s stunned face.
“What?
How?”
Brutus
handed Xena the wooden sword with the Latin words burned along the
wooden blade “Freedom earned through skill, blood, courage and
might. - Julius Caesar.”
Xena
was stunned. “By the gods, little one,” she whispered.
“In
the bags are official papers freeing both of them and granting them
citizenship of Rome, just in case you ever come back to Roman
territory and someone recognizes either of them. Also clothes and
their usual weapons,” Brutus explained.
“Weapons?
You brought my weapons?” Gabrielle asked.
“Yes,
I thought you might like them. You’re so damned good with them,”
Brutus grinned.
Xena
shook her head. The thought of her bard being good with any weapon
other than a staff still confused her.
“Xena?”
Gabrielle’s voice brought her attention back to her bard.
Xena
grinned and whistled a long note. A moment later and Iolaus stepped
out of the trees, carrying a bundle in his arms. Gabrielle began
crying with joy when the child turned its face towards them and
grinned at the sight of her Xena mom, the bluest eyes the bard had
ever seen.
“Our
daughter, Sasha,” Xena whispered softly as Iolaus, grinning from
ear to ear, handed the little infant to Gabrielle.
“Hi,
Sasha. I’m Gabrielle,” the bard whispered.
Xena
smiled at Brutus’s stunned face.
“She
was the only reason I lived without Gabrielle. My daughter and the
fact I knew that Gabrielle was still alive, that’s what gave me
hope. Thank you, Brutus.”
“My
pleasure. Take good care of all of them, warrior,” Brutus turned
to leave but Gabrielle’s voice stopped him.
“Brutus!”
she handed Sasha over to her mom and trotted over to Brutus. She
gently touched his cheek and then hugged him. “Thank you, my
friend. I couldn’t be happier,” she whispered.
“I
know. I just hope we don’t meet again, Gabrielle. I have a feeling
that it wouldn’t be as pleasant. I can’t keep getting around
Caesar all the time.”
“I
know. I just hope it doesn’t come down to you and Xena,”
Gabrielle said sadly.
“I
agree, I wouldn’t stand a chance because I couldn’t kill her
now,” Brutus said quietly. Then he moved past the small woman and
mounted his horse.
“Brutus,
you know Caesar will learn from Lycrassis eventually that you had me
and let me go. Stay with us,” Gabrielle pleaded as Xena nodded in
agreement.
“I’m
a Roman, Gabrielle. I know you can’t understand that but it’s in
the blood. My first duty is to Her. Caesar has gone too far lately
with his ambition and something is stirring in the Senate. I’m
hoping he has his hands too full to worry about the two of you. I
want to get my business settled here and get back, a shaman in
Britannia insisted that I be back in Rome before the Ides of March.
My fate is with Rome. Besides, he may not want it to get out that he
had you in his grasp and in the Arena itself and granted your freedom
by his own hand. Quite a joke on our wanna-be Emperor. Stay well.
Vale.”
The
Roman rode away, leaving the horses Gabrielle and Nikkita had rode
on.
“Come
on, Gabrielle. Get acquainted with your daughter and you can
introduce us to your trainer,” Xena called and the warrior was
delighted at the sleek way the bard moved now, no sign of the pain
Gabrielle had been in the last time she had held her little mate.
Now there was a dangerous ability behind those movements.
Xena
shook her head, there was a lot of catching up to do. She wanted to
ask about that short hair too.
She
leaned down and nuzzled her mate’s neck as they walked to the
horses. “I’ve got a new body to rediscover,” she whispered and
grinned at the bard’s shiver and moan of anticipation.
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