Dark are the Shadows - 11/25/2020

Dark are the Shadow

Hunter Ash

Pairings: Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Giles/Angelique, Buffy/Quentin

Rating: PG13

# # # #

 

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“What happened tonight, Barnabas?” Julia asked as Thomas pulled the bookcase/secret door away from the hidden room in the Old House. “And did you get ahold of Willow?”

“No, it went to voicemail,” Barnabas responded. “Tonight, I...was before those powers that gave me a choice when I was bricked up.”

“You haven't said much about that,” Julia said. “We've some time before sunrise.”

Barnabas sighed and told her and Thomas about his first encounter with the Powers That Be. He wasn't surprised when they were quiet for over a minute after he finished.

“You knew our relationship would be in trouble if you chose to stay there?” Julia asked.

“Our relationship was already in trouble,” Barnabas pointed out. “That's why I was there and you two were here.”

“You and Rupert should compare notes,” Thomas muttered.

“What do you mean?” Julia asked.

“I heard him taking with Joyce,” Thomas said. “He was telling her actual details about his past, how he screwed up as a kid and how he's been paying for it ever since. You're both trying to make up for stuff that was paid a long time ago, in my opinion.”

“I'd agree with that,” Julia added. “What happened tonight?”

Barnabas told them about his second encounter with the Powers and what they had said and what they had hinted at offering.

“If they don't intend on bringing either of them back, why put you through choosing?” Thomas grumbled.

“That would be my question,” Barnabas said. “Rupert says they can be...enigmatic, aloof, and arrogant and they play word games.”

“We can do without mind games,” Thomas muttered. “Let's get you settled in, Barnabas. Is Angelique staying up at the big house today?”

“Yes, she wants to be close to Giles for a bit.”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Are you nervous, baby?” Tara asked as Willow settled into Tara's arms as the sky began showing a faint hint of purple.

“Yeah, I am but it'll work!” Willow said firmly. “We're going to get her back!”

Tara kissed her lover and smiled. “Just rest, you haven't been sleeping since...we lost Buffy.”

“I will,” Willow said softly.

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Willow looked out over a peaceful pond surrounded by trees. She absently straightened a corner of the blanket she was sitting on and then reached for a small bowl and poured the contents out onto the ground.

“Adonai, Helomi, Pine,” she said softly. “Adonai, Helomi, Pine. The gods do command thee from thy majesty.”

She replaced the lid on the small pot.

“O Mappa Laman, Adonai, Helomi. Come forward, blessed one. Know your calling,” she intoned and looked around.

A young fawn stepped out of the woods and approached her calmly.

“Come forward, blessed one,” Willow said gently and began petting the creature when it reached her, dropping it's head slightly. Willow placed an arm over the deer's back as her other hand felt for a large knife next to the pot.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Angelique smiled as Giles and David were engrossed in conversation next to the fire. Joyce walked up next to her and also smiled.

“He's doing better, I think,” Joyce said softly.

“I agree,” Angelique responded. “He and David are discussing things that happened when David was a child.”

“And he's been helping out during the day cutting wood for the fireplaces,” Joyce commented. “The family buys enough but he says its good exercise and it works out a lot of frustrations.”

“And helps out around the place with Thomas' leg in a cast,” Angelique added. “How are you doing?”

“About as well as I could hope after losing my daughter,” Joyce said softly. “Knowing the odds were that I'd lose her before she turned 25 isn't the same as it actually happening.”

“I am sorry, she was a remarkable young woman,” Angelique said. “Dawn has gotten older almost over night. And Barnabas....”

“He is still hopeless?”

“Yes,” Angelique said with a sigh. “Maggie and Julia have been trying to draw him out with some success but he hasn't healed as much as he should have. He can be a fatalist fairly quickly but he's usually stubborn and smart enough to counter that.”

“How can we help?”

“Get him to visit up here and keep him talking,” Angelique suggested.

“Rupert has muttered about brooding vampires,” Joyce said. “usually followed by a swear word or two.”

Angelique laughed softly. “Carolyn says you're helping out with the cooking, I know Rupert is a fan.”

Joyce smiled and nodded. “I need to do something to keep busy and help out. I'm not sure when we'll return to California. Sarah, my assistant, is quite capable in running the gallery and Rupert talks to Anya daily.”

“I think Carolyn and Amy are glad for the company,” Angelique said.

# # # #

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Angel looked up from the file he was reading just before the door opened and Gunn and Cordelia looked up. The vampire frowned and stood up.

“Hello, Quentin, we weren't expecting you. What's up?”

Quentin frowned as he entered the office. “But...Willow said that you had information on a major demon that was about to hit Sunnydale and that included sigils that she didn't trust over the internet.”

“Cordelia, did Willow ask you and Wes to research something?” Angel asked.

“No, not at all,” Cordelia said. “And I'm not even getting a psychic twinge about anything going down.”

“What the hell is going on?” Quentin asked.

“One question is why they wanted you out of Sunnydale,” Gunn suggested.

“Cordelia, hit the phone and email, messenger or whatever you do,” Angel said and pulled out his cellphone as Quentin did the same.

All three of them frowned as they ended the calls.

“Xander's voice mail,” Quentin said.

“Willow's voice mail,” Angel added.

“I got the same,” Cordelia said. “She's not on messenger either.”

“There's been no hint of anything major that they don't want to expose you to? A danger to immortals or werewolves?” Gunn asked.

“No, nothing,” Quentin said.

“We need to get to Sunnydale,” Angel said. “Gunn, load up weapons and get them in the trunk. Cordy, leave a note for Wes and tell him what's happening but also tell him not to tell any of the group that we're rushing to Sunnydale. Something is going on and they don't want Quentin there. That probably means they don't want us there either.”

“Got it,” Cordelia said.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas leaned back in his chair as he and Thomas talked. He heard Julia grab her phone as it began chirping.

“Hello? Quentin.... Quentin, slow down!” Julia urged and Thomas and Barnabas turned towards her with frowns. “What is happening? Wait, let me put you on speaker. Go ahead.”

“Is Barnabas there?”

“Yes, Quentin, I'm here,” Barnabas said as he stood up and Thomas led him closer to Julia. “What's wrong?”

“Willow tricked me into going to Los Angeles by saying Angel had a book and papers she needed,” Quentin explained. “No one at their office knew I was coming and no one is answering their phone. Barnabas, can you break through to Tara or Willow?”

“I don't know, give me a few minutes. Tommy, take me over by the window,” Barnabas asked.

“Quentin, have you talked to Rupert?” Julia asked.

“Cordelia said that she talked with him and he's in the dark as well,” Quentin answered. “Why would they want me out of town? There's no hint that I'm targeted by anyone and if they're in danger, why send me away?”

“I can't think of any reason to send you away,” Julia commented.

“Tara! Tara, hear me!” Barnabas said softly but urgently. // Tara! Hear me!//

// Barnabas? Can't talk!//

“Tara? What's happening? Tara?” Barnabas' voice grew louder. “Damnit! Willow! Hear me!” // Willow! Willow? Can you hear me? //

“Are Angel and the others following you?” Julia asked Quentin.

“Yes, they're right behind me,” Quentin responded.

“Quentin, I reached Tara but she shut down the connection and I can't reach Willow,” Barnabas said as he and Thomas walked back to Julia. “I got the impression there's danger.”

“All right,” Quentin said. “We're rushing there now. I'll call when I know something.”

“Be careful,” Julia urged. “There's been too many losses lately.”

“Absolutely,” Quentin muttered and the call ended.

“What on earth is going on?” Julia exclaimed.

“I don't know,” Barnabas said with a frown. “Let's go up to Collinwood.”

“Why?” Thomas asked.

“Rupert doesn't know what's going on either,” Julia commented.

“Because they're going to be anxious and stressed as we are,” Barnabas said. “We can take turns pacing.”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Xander ducked as a demon on a motorcycle tried to hit him with a metal pipe and smacked at the demon passing him with a baseball bat that another had dropped moments before. “Anya! Tara! Get Willow out of here!”

“The ritual!” Willow protested as she stumbled to her feet.

“It's over!” Xander yelled back. “Move! Get to the warehouse or something! They've cut off the way to the Box!”

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Giles tapped his fingers on his leg as he stared at his phone.

“Damnit! We're not accustomed to being clear across the country from the danger,” Carolyn grumbled. “And I can't even get one image! I hate being psychic at times! I can't just...access what I need to see.”

“I still don't see why they'd want Quentin out of town,” Angelique commented. “He's strong, he knows about the occult and demons and he's dedicated.”

“If they were facing something....earth shattering wouldn't they have called with research questions?” Joyce asked Giles.

“You'd think,” Giles said with a nod. “There's no hint. Just Willow rushing me off the phone last night.”

“What could they be up to?” Amy asked and Barnabas tilted his head slightly.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, whenever David and I were up to something no one would approve of we'd go quiet and try to distract everyone,” Amy said and David nodded.

“What could they be planning that we wouldn't approve of, though?” Joyce asked.

Giles frowned. “Something magical, but what?”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin Collins pulled over at the edge of the center of town and opened his car door and looked at an untold number of... demons on motorcycles roaring through the streets while cars slowly burned down to their rims, people screamed, windowpanes left jagged and broken and people littered the street.

Angel pulled up next to Quentin's car and Cordelia lowered the window.

“Turn off your car lights,” she urged Quentin.

He nodded and reached into his rental car. “What the hell are those things.”

“Hellions,” Angel said. “They don't usually attack good sized cities. They're big, not too brilliant and damned hard to kill.”

“Where will the kids be?” Quentin asked. “Duck!”

He dived back into his car and laid across the seat as demons roared towards them on bikes and went by.

Quentin frowned as he sat up.

“The Magic Box?” Cordelia suggested as she sat up slightly in the passenger seat and Gunn primed a shotgun in the backseat.

“It'll be damned hard to get there,” Angel said. “Start at the mansion?”

“Lead the way and try not to use your brake lights,” Quentin suggested.

Angel nodded and reversed the car and moved it down a side street.

Both cars stopped when they spotted five motorcycles blocking the road in front of them and the demons had seen them.

Angel started to back up and then stopped.

“What, get us out of here,” Cordelia protested.

“I saw Xander and Tara running behind them,” Angel said. “We can use the car to take a couple of them out.”

He floored the gas pedal and headed for the bikes as they headed for the cars in a game of chicken.

“When a bike takes on a car, guess who usually wins,” Angel muttered and turned the wheel at the last moment, hitting a motorcycle with the front panel instead of head on. He straightened out the car and hit another bike and drove over the machine.

He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Quentin's car hit a bike head-on. He saw the radiator begin steaming and Quentin jump out of the car with a tire iron as two more bikes headed for him and the demon from the crashed motorcycle got up.

“Damnit!” Angel growled and looked back over the back of the car.

“I'll get him,” Gunn said and opened the back door. “Get the kids safe.”

“Meet at the mansion,” Angel said.

“Since I don't know where the mansion is I'll get him to lead,” Gunn said and jumped out of the car and aimed a shotgun at a demon on a motorcycle approaching them. The demon hit the asphalt hard.

Gunn ran towards Quentin as he struggled to keep three Hellions at bay.

## # # #

Xander leaned against a wall as he panted. “Almost there,” he muttered. He glanced at the three women as Tara bit her lip and kept an eye out for more demons as Willow slid down the wall onto the sidewalk. “We left stuff in the warehouse when we split. We can grab bats or something and then head to the mansion.”

“They're coming,” Tara said and pulled Willow to her feet.

Xander wrapped an arm around Anya's waist. “Come on, baby.”

“Someone's coming, they aren't demons,” Tara said as Anya grabbed Willow and Xander turned with the bat in hand.

“Xander!”

“It's Quentin!” Anya exclaimed.

“And Gunn,” Tara added as the two ran up to the Scooby gang.

“Come on, we have to get out of sight,” Quentin urged. “There's a lot of demons heading this way.”

“Let's get to the mansion,” Tara urged.

“We won't make it,” Quentin said.

“The warehouse, come on,” Xander said.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Joyce glanced at the clock once again and sighed. “Carolyn, let me help with dinner. Sitting around isn't going to help.”

“You're on,” Carolyn agreed. “Too bad you're heading home tomorrow, David.”

“Yeah, I can't put it off any longer,” David said. “I'll be in constant contact.”

Angelique leaned her head on Giles' shoulder.

“Is everyone going to be okay?” Elizabeth asked Dawn, looking up from their checkers board.

“I hope so,” Dawn said. “Something's going on in California and we don't know what it is.”

“They have to be okay,” Elizabeth said softly but firmly.

“I agree,” Dawn said.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin touched a cut above his temple and frowned. “What the hell is going on?”

Xander looked up from where he and Tara were helping Willow sit up. “There was a major magic working and then these guys showed up.”

“What was the working?” Gunn asked.

“It didn't work, don't worry about it,” Xander snapped.

“I hear motorcycles stopping!” Tara said softly.

“Gunn, get them out that hole in the wall,” Quentin said. “I'll hold them for a few minutes and dive out.”

“This is my job, this is what I do, I rumble,” Gunn argued.

“Move!” Quentin insisted.

The immortal grabbed the bat from Xander and handed him the tire iron. “Go! Get the girls safe.”

“I can help,” Tara said. “I'm a vampire and a witch.”

“You need to protect Willow,” Quentin argued. “I'm a wolf, hopefully they won't kill me.”

Tara followed the others through a half-door sized hole in the corner of the warehouse.

Quentin moved against an abandoned piece of machinery.

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“God, this is taking forever,” Barnabas complained as the family ate mostly in silence. “We should have heard something by now.”

“I don't know if we should call,” Giles said. “If they're in a crisis or in danger they don't need a cellphone chirping away.”

“You're right,” Barnabas said with a sigh.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin gripped the baseball bat tightly when a group of demons kicked open the door to the warehouse.

“Okay, human, where's the women?” the largest demon demanded.

“Two things,” Quentin said. “One, they're gone. Two, I'm not human. They're adopted into my family, my pack.”

“A wolfie?” the largest one said and laughed. “Well, since it's not a full moon I don't think I'll be very impressed.”

“I don't need fangs to impress you,” Quentin said firmly. “The women are gone, move on.”

“You're going to tell us where they are or we'll see if you sprout fur if we skin you alive,” the largest said. “Take him.”

“Okay, Razor.”

Quentin stepped forward and rammed the end of the bat into a demon's stomach and brought it up under the creature's jaw, sending him falling back into two of his fellow demons. Then the immortal swung the bat along side the head of a distracted demon and then he was swarmed.

# # # #

Xander slammed the front door of the mansion open and stopped dead when he was greeted with the tip of a sword at his throat.

“Whoa!”

“Xander?” Angel pulled the sword back and stepped aside as the others entered. “Where's Quentin?”

“He was going to slow the demons down for a minute and follow us,” Gunn said. “He didn't follow us. we need more weapons.”

“Grab something and let's go,” Angel said firmly. “Someone stay here with Willow, she's obviously out of it. How are your magic levels, Tara?”

“Zapped.”

“Okay, good old fashioned weapons, it is,” Angel said. “Let's go.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Giles watched as Joyce and Dawn headed upstairs to try and sleep despite the tension of the evening. He sighed and glanced at the clock again.

# # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Quentin tried to bite at Razor's hand as the demon reached out and shoved Quentin, sending him swinging back and forth. The immortal growled and tried to work his hands free but hanging upside down with his hands tied behind his back was making everything difficult.

“Okay, Wolfie, where are the females hiding?” Razor demanded.

“Get bent,” Quentin muttered and Razor responded by hitting the werewolf in the face.

“Where are they, Wolfie?” Razor repeated.

“Razor!”

Quentin opened his eyes as Razor turned to see what had caught the attention of one of his men. The werewolf frowned.

Buffy Summers was standing in the doorway with a long pipe in hand. Her clothing and hands were dirt stained.

// Willow must have fixed the robot// Quentin absently thought and tried to get his hands free.

“Well, there's one,” Razor said. “Bring her over.”

Two demons rushed forward to grab Buffy but she stepped into the warehouse and spun the iron bar over her head and brought it down over one demon's head and jammed an end into the face of the other without her face changing expression.

She kept her eyes on Razor as two more demons tried to grab her and were lying on the floor groaning in a moment.

“You like to play rough, eh?” Razor said and pulled out a large knife.

Quentin frowned. The robot was usually more...chipper and talkative. Maybe that hadn't been reconnected....

Buffy stepped close to Razor and looked up at him with the same calm expression.

Razor hit her across the jaw with enough force to snap her head to the side.

Buffy brought her head back and looked up at him. The only sign that she had been hit was a trickle of blood from a split lip.

Quentin's eyes widened. The robot didn't bleed.

He started to yell but snapped his jaw shut, he shouldn't distract her. She was still outnumbered.

Buffy brought the pipe around as she spun and took on two of the demons trying to rush her.

Immediately, Buffy was fighting a group of demons with the pipe against chains, bats, pipes and knives.

Quentin saw Buffy take several hits but held out hope, she was holding her own for several moments. Then a demon managed to hit her in the lower back with a bat and she stumbled. She turned and sent the demon falling back with his face a bloody mess.

“Behind you!” Quentin yelled.

He saw Buffy wince and turn with a backhand blow to Razor's jaw as he held a bloody knife.

Quentin growled and felt his teeth elongating into fangs and the ropes fell away from his wrists.

The werewolf reached up and slashed the rope holding him up in the air.

# # # #

 

 

XWP - Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6 - 11/24/2020

 

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.

A Visit Home, An Awakening

Discovery, An Awakening

Amazon Bonding

Healing

Trial of a Roman

Gladiator, Bard, Warrior, Mother

# # # #

ore 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.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

XWP - Gladiator, Bard - Awakenings 6 - 11/15/2020

 

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.

A Visit Home, An Awakening

Discovery, An Awakening

Amazon Bonding

Healing

Trial of a Roman

Gladiator, Bard, Warrior, Mother

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.

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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."

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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.

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