XWP - Awakenings 6: Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - part 2

Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6

Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

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).

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 blows 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

 

# # # 

 

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.