Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6
Ms. Hunter Ash
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.
## # #
Time seemed to blend to Nikki and Gabrielle. Hours into days and days into weeks as June came and went. Most nights were spent too tired to do anything but hold each other. Most every night found itself broken by the bard’s screams or cries for her mate and would end with Nikki holding and comforting the small woman.
One night in June in particular found the bard waking, screaming her mate’s name. Nikki grabbed her friend and quickly covered the bard’s mouth and tried waking Gabrielle. The smaller woman was bathed in sweat and was trembling.
The bard finally nodded that she was awake and Nikki removed her hand.
“It’s Xena, something’s happened!” she whispered in fear. “I saw her screaming.”
“It was a dream, little one,” Nikki whispered.
“No, this wasn’t like other dreams. Oh gods, the baby. It’s time for the baby!”
Nikki let the bard fall into her arms and wept with her friend. She knew that Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to be with her mate at that moment and she could offer little comfort and very little hope.
Gabrielle was amazing in the Arena but the odds were just too great for the woman to escape with her life or without a crippling injury. Nikki didn’t know that Gabrielle’s Regent, Ephiny had once commented to Xena that Gabrielle could be a natural fighter and deadly in a knife or sword fight but the Viking Amazon would have agreed with the Regent, especially after training the small woman. She also knew that having to kill other fighters was tearing the Amazon Queen’s soul apart.
“Shhhh, little one. They’ll be fine and you’ll see them again,” Nikki whispered until Gabrielle fell asleep in her arms.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Axel had been pleased to learn of Xena’s choice for naming her child and publicly welcomed Sasha into the Northern family. Everyone celebrated the victory over the raiders and mourned their dead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After that night the bard seemed to lose her sense of hope of getting out. She continued her practicing with diligence that pleased Lycrassis but worried Nikki. Gabrielle wasn’t talking much, that in itself was amazing and a warning sign, Nikki knew. The small blonde’s training was without the fire that a warrior needed in the Arena.
Nikki had seen this type of reaction before in fighters. The ones that had given up all hope of survival and merely were going through the motions until someone killed them. The Viking Amazon was frantic with worry and didn’t know how to reach Gabrielle and bring back the little bard’s fire.
# # #
The match that month was with another Myrmillo type fighter and this time the match was scheduled in the afternoon, signifying that Gabrielle’s talents had taken her into the serious matches. It also brought more experienced opponents.
The Amazon Queen didn’t say much as the morning wore on and Nikki paced the cell with her crutch.
“Brie, I know what’s going on inside that head of yours. You can’t give up!”
“Brutus has only been gone three months. I can’t take another nine months or more of this. X.... my mate now has her child, she has something to live for,” Gabrielle said flatly.
“You can’t give up, a blood bond is stronger than this! She wouldn’t want this!”
“I’m sorry, Nikki, I truly am. I care very deeply for you but every day I’m alive puts you and X... my mate in danger. We’ve heard from the slaves of other traders and school owners that Caesar is scouring the entire realm for me so he can trap my mate. I’m a danger to you, to Brutus, to my mate and to her child. I can’t live with all this blood and that responsibility any more.”
Gabrielle stood when the guard came. Nikki grabbed her arm, tears falling down her cheeks.
“Please, little one, don’t do this,” she begged.
Gabrielle gently touched the taller woman’s cheek and then walked out of the cell.
Nikki knew the look, usually on older fighters facing impossible odds, it was a look of resignation. An acceptance of death by the sword.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dancer cursed under her breath. The one day she wanted to be beaten and she drew an opponent that couldn’t swat a fly! Dancer realized that the only way this idiot was going to beat her was if she put her sword down and stood absolutely still for his sword strike and even then he might miss.
The frustrated fighter moved in quickly and slashed his sword out of his hand and then cut one of his hamstrings, ending the fight. Before the guards could come and carry the screaming fighter away, Dancer reversed her sword and braced it the dirt and positioned it at her heart.
“No!” she heard Lycrassis scream.
“Xena, I love you,” she whispered as she held the sword and let her weight fall forward, closing her eyes.
Gabrielle frowned and opened her eyes and found everything had stopped. She wasn’t moving forward onto the sword and she seemed to be hovering. The bard pulled back and stood up, looking around.
The bard was amazed, it was as if time had stopped, like a dream. Everyone and everything was frozen, just the same as the moment before. Lycrassis starting to his feet, the scream still on his lips; the guard in midstride, running towards her and the fallen fighter; the fighter holding the back of his knee, his face in agony; the crowd in various stages of standing or sitting, cheering or screaming.
Then Gabrielle saw him standing about ten feet from her, waiting.
“Apollo?” she asked.
“Yes, child.”
“Why did you stop me?” she asked in a tired voice.
“Because that is not your fate. You are still fated to be with Xena,” he said simply.
“I can’t last that long!” Gabrielle protested. “Unless you want to zap me there?” she asked hopefully.
“Sorry, daughter. Comes under the ‘too much interference’ thing.”
“Then leave me alone. I’m forced to kill, something I never wanted to do. I’ve become a fighter, deadly with a blade, something I never wanted to do. I use a friend to keep my identity secret, I use her love and body as a shield. Brutus could be killed just for not telling Caesar where I am, Nikki could be killed just for knowing me and Xena would probably walk into a fire trap if she knew where I was. What do you want from me?” she suddenly screamed. “I can’t take it! All of these people could be dead because of me!”
“Yes, and they are willing to be in that position of their own free wills. The other fighters will either kill or be killed, as is their fate. Yours is here,” with a gesture Gabrielle could suddenly see her warrior.
“Xena?” Gabrielle moved closer to her father.
Gabrielle could see Xena sitting by a fire in a small cabin, holding a tiny infant in her arms. The bard began to cry as the baby opened it’s eyes to reveal eyes as blue as it’s warrior’s mother.
“Let me tell you another one about Gabrielle,” the bard heard Xena’s voice as the woman held her child, rocking it. “We were walking through the Bacchae forest and noticed that we couldn’t hear Orpheus’ playing.....”
Xena looked up with a grin and Iolaus walked into sight of the vision carrying a bundle of fresh picked vegetables.
“Iolaus, he lived!” Gabrielle whispered joyfully.
“Yes, the thought of rescuing you and finding Xena kept him alive,” Apollo answered.
“Another story of Gabrielle?” Iolaus asked with a sad smile.
Xena nodded, looking back down at her child. “It gives me hope,” she said simply, tears beginning to fall as she held the child close. “I miss her so much,” the warrior whispered.
The vision faded and Gabrielle went to her knees weeping.
“If you die then she will follow you, child or not. She can no longer live without you or the hope of you. If you die she’ll know it, just as you would know of her death. Without you or Xena, Ares will claim the child and her daughter will take over Xena’s destiny, this time with the northern tribes. Their destiny just may be to wipe out Rome eventually, but with your daughter as their leader, they would wipe out the world and plunge it into darkness.”
“Damn you! All of you! Can’t you find someone else to meddle with for awhile?!” she shouted. “First me and Xena, now her child?” she shouted.
Apollo shook his head. “I know, Gabrielle. None of us want this but the threads are all lined up, it’s up to you once again to determine which one of those threads gets cut or used.”
“I can’t do it anymore!” she cried, tears streaming down her face. “I’m tired, Apollo. I’m so tired.” Her head dropped forward, as if from the weight of her tears.
Apollo walked over and gently touched her head. “I know, daughter, I know. The Fates have not been kind to you and your warrior these past years. I wish I could help more but I can’t. Honor the wishes of your friends and let them make their own choices.”
“How can I face Xena after all of this?” she cried.
“You forgave her worst, do you think she won’t forgive you?”
“We weren’t bonded then. I sleep with Nikki when I’m married to Xena,” Gabrielle whispered.
Apollo gently raised the bard to her feet and took her in his arms.
“You are doing what you need to survive, no one will fault you for that,” he said gently and began walking her back to the fallen fighter.
“Will I see her again?” Gabrielle whimpered.
“I don’t know but the odds are good. You have a natural talent you inherited from your father. You also inherited your mother’s stubbornness. Don’t give up again and you might see your mate on this side.”
Gabrielle sighed and lifted the sword up, looking at it while Apollo, her father waited.
“If I die now?” she asked.
“The Fields for you, and possible darkness for your warrior and the world.”
“Gods, I hate this saving the world stuff,” she muttered and reversed the sword in her hand. She nodded to Apollo and everything began to move forward again, this time with her holding the sword over the fallen fighter and then walking away towards the cells, leaving Lycrassis wondering why he had been leaping to his feet.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The season seemed to go by quickly for the Greeks and their Germanic family.
Summer hunting and raiding turned into fall harvest and everyone was very pleased to discover that Iolaus had a knack for brewing ale and mead, even though he had never done anything like it before. Axel kept teasing the little man that he couldn’t wait to try the mead his little brother had made and now sat fermenting.
Fall harvest began turning to winter chill as the steady got ready for the snow to fly. Animals were slaughtered, the last of the grain harvested, apples taken in and the last of the brew made. Xena and Iolaus found themselves restless but knowing they faced months of winter snow again and the improbability of finding Gabrielle before Spring.
Even with Sasha to care for the warrior seemed to be losing her spark and Iolaus began to worry. He watched as his friend began looking haggard and not sleeping, even with all the women in the steading helping raise Sasha.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January found both Greeks having increased nightmares and depression. The year of Gabrielle being gone was hitting both of them hard and the family around them couldn’t seem to pull them out of it. It seemed like they took turns holding each other at night as they cried.
Iolaus knew it was only Sasha that was now keeping the warrior going. The infant and the fact that Xena knew Gabrielle still lived.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January found Gabrielle a fully trained gladiator and holding her own in major fights. It also marked a year’s turning point of when she was taken from Xena’s side and sent the bard into a fury of anger that she took out regularly on the practice pells and sparring partners.
Nikki, realizing the reason for the mood, stayed out of the little fighter’s way as much as possible until Gabrielle had worked it out of her system. Unfortunately, the three fighters she met in the Arena that month weren’t able to stay out of her way and made the mistake of pushing Dancer too far in the ring. One ended up a cripple and the other two ended up dead when they displeased the crowd and Dancer won the match.
Then the bard spent a week refusing to get out of bed, tossing and turning with nightmares and despair. Nikki was able to convince Lycrassis, with the help of the healer, that Gabrielle had an illness. It was days before the Viking was able to get the small warrior to eat again and then to start training again. Then Gabrielle’s jaw took on the stubborn set Nikki had come to know and the bard began training seriously again.
================================================================
Hercules returned twice each season during the Spring and Summer with the same news. Every Roman in the Empire was looking for Gabrielle and no one had found her or recognized her, Hercules included. He had gone to Gabrielle and Xena’s families and told them of Gabrielle’s disappearance and had checked in with the Amazons to find that every tribe in the known world was also looking for the Queen of the Greek Amazons and no one seemed to be able to find her.
After his first visit during the Spring he had carried news of Xena’s child to the families and news from the families to Xena.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nikki and Gabrielle were beginning to actually have some hope in surviving either the year or more Brutus had promised or the three years Lycrassis had wagered with them. They were all making money on Gabrielle’s matches and Lycrassis had left the two women alone in Gabrielle’s training and sex life, which pleased both women. Nikki and Gabrielle kept up the appearance of being lovers and occasionally did find themselves in each other’s arms time and again, mostly for the sexual release and the comfort they could give each other.
Gabrielle kept waking up in the night calling for Xena.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The year Brutus had bargained for came and went and neither Nikki nor Gabrielle brought the subject up, both finding it too painful to even discuss. Losing what little hope the gladiator and trainer had was almost beyond their strength.
The training and matches continued and Lycrassis kept counting the money and the women kept counting the time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle bit into the blanket as her body trembled and shook out of control. Tears began to flow from her closed eyes as always and she bit the blanket harder to keep from screaming her mate’s name as waves swept over her.
In a moment Nikki was holding her, gently crying herself for Gabrielle’s pain. As expected the footsteps left their window and Gabrielle punched the wall in anger.
“Shhhh, it’s okay, he’s gone.” Nikki whispered.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Gabrielle hissed back. “Either I die or he dies, I can’t keep doing this! It’s not fair!” Gabrielle jumped past her gladiator trainer/lover and began pacing with a blanket thrown over her shoulders. “It’s not fair to you! You touch me and my body responds but it’s X.... it’s HER that I want, I only think of her. I can’t do that to you anymore! When I touch you I want it to be her.”
Gabrielle sank to her knees crying.
“How touching!” a male voice sent the bard flying across the room, coming up in a defensive stance to face the intruder. Nikki grabbed her crutch, facing the tall dark haired and bearded man.
“Ares?! What the.... what are you doing here?!” Gabrielle hissed.
“Looking for you, what do you think? Interesting way you’ve been spending your time since you left Greece, Gabrielle,” he smirked.
“Go away, just leave me alone,” she hissed.
“What in the name of Hades has been going on? I turn my back for a minute and you’re killing people, sleeping with someone else and wearing a slave collar. Where’s Xena?”
“None of your business.”
“Brie?” Nikki asked cautiously.
“Ares, God of War, meet Nikki, gladiator trainer.”
“And your more recent bedmate,” he grinned. “Does Xena know what you’re up to?”
“None of your business!” Gabrielle snapped.
“Look, it’s rather obvious that you two really don’t want to be here. Let me know where you want to go and I’ll take you there. As soon as you get dressed, of course,” he grinned.
“And the price? As if I didn’t know,” Gabrielle demanded.
“Where is Xena and why did she leave Greece and leave you here?” he demanded.
“Go figure it out for yourself.”
“You’re willing to die in the Arena?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“No, but I’m not willing to deal with you either,” Gabrielle said simply.
“How about you, tall and blond one, willing to let her die in the Arena?” he smirked. Nikki frowned.
“Nikki, do not say a word, on my command!” Gabrielle ordered. “He is the last god to ever be trusted.”
“I’m hurt, Gabrielle!” Ares playfully touched his heart in mock pain. “You know I only want what’s best for Xena, to return her to her rightful destiny.”
“Our destiny is with each other, not the Warlord,” Gabrielle argued.
“Doesn’t look like you’re having too much together time here. If I had known you could be so ruthless with a blade I might have offered to train you myself seasons ago.”
“Don’t count on it.”
“Tell me, where is Xena and you’re both out of here,” Ares offered again.
“No, go away.”
“What do you think Xena will do when she finds out about your friend there? And exactly how you’ve been spending your nights? That was quite a show there earlier,” he grinned.
“Gods, can’t you men just leave me the Hades alone!?”
“Not likely. By the way, I like the hair. Makes you look more dangerous, something I think I might have to take notice of in the future.”
With a flash of light he was gone.
“Oh gods, Xena. I hope you’re far enough away,” Gabrielle whispered.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Dancer!” Gabrielle turned as she ducked the sword strike of a sparring partner.
Without a glance, she kicked out with her leg and sent the man flying backwards into the mud. The slave calling her grinned. “Lycrassis would like you and Nikki in the Villa.”
She waved an acknowledgment and then turned to help her sparring partner to his feet. With a grin she playfully brushed at the mud on his clothes and then pretended to wipe mud off his face, getting his face totally plastered with mud. He grinned and retrieved his wooden practice sword.
She placed her iron sais into their holders on the outsides of her boots. Nikki had found them from a traveling merchant and had decided they were perfect for her little Dancer gladiator and Lycrassis had been pleased with the choice. Gabrielle had proved deadly with the strange weapons and watching her truly became a spectacle of a dance. She could use one end to bash at her opponents and the other end to kill or block sword, spear and other weapons. In her hands the sais danced a dance of death or defense, whichever the blond woman needed. She had become quite fond of them herself and Lycrassis permitted her to use them in practice and wear them as long as she didn’t use them to kill another trainee. It was also understood that if anyone else died by her hand she would face torture and then the cross.
“How do you do it, Dancer?” he asked as they walked towards the courtyard.
“Do what, Thorsvetter?” she asked the tall Slavic warrior.
“Keep a sense of humor in this place?” he asked in broken Latin.
She shrugged. “Either that or cry,” she said simply and they separated, she to follow the slave and he to the bathing room.
Gabrielle almost lost her breath when she walked into the main room of the villa and saw Brutus standing with Lycrassis.
Her Roman owner grinned at her attempt to keep the surprise from her face.
“Well, it seems our friend here has come back to finish our wager. It’s been more than a year but it seems fate has taken you out of my hands, Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle felt her heart stop for a moment. Brutus’ face remained without emotion.
“What, my Lord?” she whispered.
“Seems that Caesar has been looking for you this entire time and I’ve had you all along. To think I had a talented bard under my roof all this time. You could have entertained us!”
Lycrassis walked over with the grace of a stalking tiger. Gabrielle froze where she was and he quickly pulled her sais from their sheaths and twirled them in his hands. “She’s gotten to be quite the fighter, Brutus, just as I thought she would. Just as I wagered.”
“Caesar wants her and the trainer and has instructed me to pay double the price we wagered for both of them if you keep quiet about this for awhile,” Brutus said simply.
“Why would he want the trainer?” Lycrassis frowned.
“Your trainer is an Amazon and part of Gabrielle’s tribe,” Brutus answered.
“That’s why she was so protective of you in the beginning!” Lycrassis grinned and Gabrielle felt her face blushing with anger. “Of course, I agree. I’m not one to argue with Caesar. I’ll prepare horses and what few possessions they have.”
“No horses, I want them shackled hand and foot and a chain between that.” Brutus instructed and Gabrielle’s head dropped.
“Caesar must want this one very badly,” Lycrassis continued frowning.
“She’s going to lead one of Caesar’s greatest enemies into a trap, Xena.” Brutus said easily.
“Ah, another one in love with you, Dancer?” Lycrassis laughed and Gabrielle blushed. “Xena, Warrior Princess. Which do you prefer in bed, Dancer? The Viking or the Greek?”
Gabrielle gritted her teeth and refused to meet his eyes. He laughed viciously and grabbed the bard into a rough kiss and resisted her struggles for a long moment. He laughed when he let her go.
“I should have tried to bed you again, Dancer. You must like to play rough.”
The Roman began to move away and Brutus held out a hand.
“I’d like to have those. Caesar may put her in the Arena and would be most pleased to see her fight with these.”
“Of course, Brutus. I’ll get everything prepared.”
Lycrassis left the bard and Roman alone. Gabrielle looked up but saw no change in Brutus’ expression and her head dropped again.
# # #
No comments:
Post a Comment