Champion of Rome
Part 2
Awakenings, 33
Ms. Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
*Disclaimers
Ownership: Repeat after me: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc. I’m borrowing them for entertainment purposes
Violence: No more than a regular TV episode
Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship between people of the same gender and of the opposite sex.
Feedback: always welcome and responded to!
Storyline: Rome and the past once again catches up with Xena and Gabrielle and their families.
Rating: R
# # #
Previously:
“Have Gabrielle meet me in a square enclosure at dawn,” Lycur smiled, knowing the Greeks would agree to it. At least Gabrielle would, from what he knew of the bard, she was willing to sacrifice herself for others. He intended on using that.
# # #
Gabrielle wasn’t surprised when Xena was against the bargain and Xena wasn’t surprised that Gabrielle wanted to agree to it. The arguing went on well into the night when they finally had a cold dinner and Xena drew her arms around her wife, leaning against a tree.
“It’s the best course and you know it,” Gabrielle said softly, her arms over Xena’s.
“Yes,” Xena agreed but still hating the situation.
“You’ll let me go?”
“No,” Xena shook her head.
“You pinch and tie me up again and I’ll divorce you!” Gabrielle threatened, lightly smacking Xena’s arm to show she was half joking.
“I won’t stop you,” Xena promised.
“Alright,” Gabrielle said softly. “Hold me tonight? Love me?”
“Forever,” the warrior promised.
“I’ll always love you, Xena,” Gabrielle said softly.
“I’ll always find you, this world or the next,” Xena promised as she untied Gabrielle tunic, enjoying the growl of arousal it brought from her wife. She was surprised when Gabrielle suddenly pushed her away lightly and sat up.
Xena leaned up on her elbows. “Gabrielle?”
“Give me a minute,” the bard muttered and Xena recognized a huskiness to her wife’s voice and sat up beside Gabrielle. She turned Gabrielle’s face towards her and sighed at the yellow eyes.
“Gabrielle, how many seasons have we dealt with this?” Xena asked gently. “I love you and I don’t care about this side of you!”
“I wanted to make love to you without this!” Gabrielle snapped.
“It doesn’t matter to me! How many times will we argue about this?” Xena asked softly. “Besides, I like your fangs, I love the bacchae sex and it’ll connect me to you even more tomorrow. Let it go and accept this, love.”
Xena extended her wrist in front of Gabrielle’s lips, her breathing quickening as her wife kissed the inside wrist and lightly ran her fangs over the nerve endings. “Oh Gods, little one, yes!” the warrior whispered, pulling Gabrielle down on top of her.
# # #
Dawn found the two Greeks standing on one side of the clearing and Lycur on the other as Roman soldiers drove stakes into the grass and tied ropes around them, marking off a square area for the contest.
“Don’t trust him,” Xena advised as Lycur stripped down from his Roman armor into a simple tunic and trousers, cross-laced over the lower legs, Germanic style.
“Everything is fair in the arena,” Gabrielle nodded, pulling off her over tunic, revealing a top that barely covered her breasts and showed off her athletic body to perfection. The women ignored the looks of appreciation and surprise from the nearby soldiers.
Gabrielle had fought hard during the night to maintain a level of calmness she knew she’d need when entering a fight zone. Usually just the sight of a Roman legionnaire was enough to give her the shakes. Today, she ignored them.
Xena sharp eyes tried to watch everything that was happening around them, especially looking for hidden archers or any sign that the Romans were ready to rush in and seize the Greek women.
Lycur walked around the area and approached the women slowly, keeping his hands in sight.
“You have your sais, I have a sword,” he said calmly. “What other weapons would you like? Shield, spear, trident, net?”
“Spear and sword,” Gabrielle responded.
Lycur motioned to the soldiers nearby and they approached with an armful of spears and swords.
“You choose yours,” Lycur shrugged as his assistant planted two spears on the other side of the enclosure and laid a sword next to them.
Xena quickly moved forward to examine the weapons, looking for minute cracks and weakened spots on the spearheads and the shafts. Xena placed her own sword next to the spears she had chosen.
Gabrielle stretched quickly and moved into the enclosed space, her eyes darting around, looking for movement from any of the soldiers that spoke of a trap.
“Relax,” Xena said softly. “You worry about him, I’ll worry about everything else.”
Gabrielle nodded and picked up a spear as Lycur did the same. The former gladiator felt her mind and body shift as everything narrowed down to the man in front of her. Dancer came forward and the gentle bard retreated.
Xena frowned as Gabrielle’s body moved along the side of the enclosure. The warrior had seen Dancer in action very few times but knew she was looking at the deadly gladiator that had won the coveted wooden sword.
She watched Lycur’s eyes narrow as he, in turn, watched Gabrielle. Both fighters began moving and gauging each other’s talents, moves, and battle attitude. Xena and the fighters ignored the shouting encouragement from the Romans as their beloved leader struck first, feinting with the spear.
Dancer avoided the spear, letting it slide almost along her ribcage, turning with it and bringing her own spear into play, using the blunt end to whack Lycur’s hand, causing him to drop one hand off the spear. He quickly retaliated with a backhand blow to Dancer’s jaw.
Instead of dropping her weapon like an inexperienced Arena fighter, the bard tightened her grip and brought it down, pinning his spear below hers as she headbutted him, causing him to drop his other hand off the spear.
Dancer brought the spear end up under Lycur’s chin, knocking him off his feet. Xena shifted her hand to her chakram as a rumbling spread through the Roman soldiers but they held back.
The female gladiator moved to follow through with the spear but Lycur countered by pulling his sword and slashing at the woman’s legs. The female gladiator somersaulted back, avoiding the blow. Both fighters were now on their feet.
Dancer tossed the spear aside, pulling her Sais out to counter Lycur’s sword.
Lycur rushed the warrior bard with a vicious overhead strike that surprised Dancer, forcing her to block the sword with both sais. The Roman’s weight and strength causing her to bend backwards, close to losing her balance.
Xena winced and felt her body wanting to respond but held back. One wrong move and she knew the Romans would pounce on the opportunity to attack her and Gabrielle. The Greek warrior shut her eyes to regain control, opening them again to watch her wife’s battle.
Gabrielle twisted, pulling the sword down alongside her body, turning until she was almost side-by-side with Lycur. The Roman snarled, his sword trapped. He freed one hand and pulled his dagger.
Dancer growled and brought an elbow up into Lycur’s nose, the movement breaking them apart. Lycur slashed with the dagger as he stumbled back and Dancer winced slightly as the blade slid across her left side.
Lycur slashed out with the sword and Dancer snarled, catching the blade with her Sais again, twisting until the weapon was pulled out of his hands. The Roman hit Dancer across the jaw and rushed towards the spare weapons.
Dancer followed, tackling the soldier to the ground and was surprised at how fast he moved, turning over and hitting her across the bridge of her nose. Gabrielle hit Lycur with the blunt end of a Sais but was hit in the back of the head with his Roman boot.
Xena frowned, Gabrielle was taking too long to recover. She had seen her mate fighting for decades and knew Gabrielle wasn’t one to hesitate unless it was senseless killing.
Lycur got to his feet first and kicked the female in the ribs, sending her to the grass again. Dancer kicked out with her feet, keeping him from kicking her again as she flipped up to her feet.
Xena saw Dancer shake her head with a frown and glance down at the lightly bleeding wound along her ribs.
Dancer snarled and dodged a sword slash aimed at her shoulder but Lycur had anticipated the move and Dancer winced and cried out as the dagger sank into her left shoulder. She kicked the Roman away from her and moved back several feet.
Lycur followed her, slashing relentlessly with the sword and dagger. Dancer fell back, parrying the blows but barely.
Xena growled as she watched Gabrielle stumble and begin sweating badly. “Goddamn you,” she muttered, recognizing a common poison used in the Arena by nobles to ensure that they would win.
Gabrielle dropped one Sai and dived under a sword strike to grab up Xena’s sword, rolling over to block Lycur’s sword with it and the dagger with her remaining Sai.
Xena whimpered softly when Gabrielle glanced at her and the warrior recognized a flash of desperation in her mate’s eyes. They both knew that Lycur was an exceptional gladiator and now he had more of an edge to counter Gabrielle’s quickness and skill.
“Come on, Amazon!” Xena said loudly. The Warrior Princess could see equal skill in both gladiators and knew Gabrielle needed to react differently than a trained Arena fighter. Dancer’s shoulder was also beginning to drop from the knife wound.
Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed and she circled Lycur, watching the grinning Roman’s eyes.
Her Sai and guard dropped as the blood flowed freely from her left shoulder and Lycur practically leaped forward to take advantage of the slip. Xena held back with a cry of terror as Gabrielle parried Lycur’s dagger with her sword but couldn’t get her Sai up to parry his sword and she fell back onto the grass, the sword slicing into her shoulder.
Gabrielle dropped Xena’s sword as Lycur followed her down to stab her with a killing blow with his dagger. She used an Amazon fighting move with her legs, wrapping them around the Roman’s neck and spinning him over and down, stunning him as he hit the grass. Dancer lashed out, hitting him in the back of the neck with her elbow and pulled his sword out of her shoulder and moved to bring it around to decapitate him.
Xena was stunned when the sword stopped at just barely slicing his skin open. Gabrielle looked confused.
“Gabrielle! Do it! He’ll keep coming if you don’t!” Xena urged.
“Do you surrender?” Gabrielle demanded, hissing in the Roman’s ear.
“Kill me, bitch,” Lycur growled, his hands clutching at the grass in anger.
“I have answers about your mother and father, Lycur. Want to die before hearing the truth?” Gabrielle whispered.
Lycur hesitated and then spread his arms in surrender.
“Say it loudly,” Gabrielle demanded.
“I surrender, she wins!” Lycur called out and Gabrielle pulled the sword back, collapsing onto the ground.
The bard blinked when she was suddenly being lifted and looked into Xena’s eyes. “Let’s get you patched up, my love,” Xena whispered. “You! Release the Vikings and surrender your weapons to them until we sort this out. I swear you won’t be harmed.”
Gabrielle let the darkness claim her, feeling safe in Xena’s arms.
# # #
Xena breathed a sigh of relief when Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly. “Hey,” she said softly as the bard tried to focus.
“Hey,” Gabrielle whispered. “I survived the poison?”
“And the two stab wounds,” Xena nodded with a smile. “It was a mild dose to slow your reactions down but not enough to be obvious enough for charges.”
“Lycur?” Gabrielle asked quickly trying to sit up and biting her lip when a wave of pain hit her and she grabbed at her shoulder.
“Waiting with his troops to leave,” Xena shrugged. “He swears that he won’t return once you explain some things to him. What’s going on, Gabrielle?”
“You can’t let him leave, Xena,” Gabrielle said firmly, her eyes bright.
Xena reached out and felt Gabrielle’s forehead. “You’re going to have a round of fever, little one.”
“Don’t let him go! He’s Kiryk,” Gabrielle said anxiously. “Behind his right ear, the tattoo Reija placed on him just after his birth, her Amazon tribe sigil.”
Xena sat down on the edge of the bed, clearly stunned. “Kiryk?”
“Send for Hercules and Asher, we have to decide this as a family,” Gabrielle urged closing her eyes. “He’s your grandson, my love.”
“And he killed our foster son and family and nearly killed you,” Xena muttered. “He’s my grandson?” The Greek stood up quickly, yelling for one of the youths to ride with a message to the Amazons and Hercules.
Xena glanced back at her sleeping mate, her face troubled. “We do anything to him and we’re kin-killers. Can we take him in though? He’s a Roman, not Greek,” she muttered.
# # #
The Romans grumbled but settled into camping on the steading once they realized the Vikings weren’t going to harm them and treated them like guests, much to the surprise of the Romans. Xena had laughed and had tried to explain to Lycur Kiryk that it was Viking nature. Anyone was welcome and honored once hostilities had ceased. If the Romans misbehaved though, Xena pointed out, they’d be slaughtered without a thought. In turn, the Romans set about cut wood and hunting to replenish the stocks they had used.
Lycur had been unhappy when Xena demanded he stay until Gabrielle was on her feet but she had insisted, pointing out that Gabrielle was a Roman citizen and champion, that the Roman owed her that respect due to Gabrielle’s victory over him. The Roman was forced to agree, reluctantly.
It was three days before Hercules drove a wagon into the yard, his face expressionless as he and Asher took in the Romans milling around and Lycur sitting in front of his tent, watching them closely. Hercules could feel Asher’s anger building.
“Easy, Ash,” Hercules suggested. “We promised no action until we talked with your moms.”
“Alright, then I kill him,” Asher growled, getting down out of the wagon slowly and heading towards the house.
Lycur and his lieutenants frowned and waited nervously as shouts of anger and disbelief drifted out of the house. It was a candlemark before Xena appeared at the front door and approached the Roman leader slowly.
Lycur was vaguely comforted by the fact the Warrior Princess wasn’t in her typical warrior garb of short skirt, leather and weapons. She was dressed much like a male from the North, woolen trousers with boots and leather lacings criss-crossing the lower trouser legs. Her tunic was a simple green but decorated around the collar and hem with fine embroidery of gold thread. The leather jerkin vest was well worn but cared for.
Lycur recognized the leather bracers from his previous encounter with the warrior and everyone knew about her strange Indian weapon, the chakram at her side.
The Roman stood up as she approached his tent.
“Can we leave yet?” he demanded bluntly.
“Gabrielle and I would like to talk to you, by the fire?” Xena responded, suggesting the main fire rather than in the house where the Roman might suspect a trap.
“Yes,” Lycur agreed and motioned his lieutenants to stay back.
Gabrielle and Hercules walked towards the fire from the house while Asher stood in the doorway, glaring at the Romans, his wrists still bandaged.
“What is so important that you’d spare my life?” Lycur demanded as the Greeks and Roman came together.
“I’m not in favor of killing my mate’s grandson,” Gabrielle sighed. The bard had a headache from arguing with Xena and Asher and debating with Hercules as to what to do with the information they now had.
“Make sense, woman,” Lycur growled. “I know my father.”
“No, he claimed you but Lycrassius was not your father,” Xena shook her head. “Did anyone ever ask you about the small tattoo behind your ear?”
Lycur’s hand moved to his ear with a frown. “Yes, my father said it was some tribal thing from my mother and not to concern myself. That I am a Roman, not a barbarian.”
“Actually, you come from a line that was civilized while Remus and Romulus were scratching in the dust,” Hercules grumbled.
The next candlemark was spent telling the Roman the highlights of Xena and Gabrielle’s lives, especially surrounding Callisto and Solan. They ended with the current day, discovering the tribal tattoo on the Roman.
“You’re saying I’m your grandson?” Lycur asked with disbelief. “Because of a pissed off chaos goddess?”
“Yes,” Xena nodded. “Just think of it, the perfect revenge on us. Giving you to Gabrielle’s former master to raise as our enemy.”
Lycur frowned as he absently scratched at the tattoo. “I’m the son of an Amazon? The enemies of Rome? Grandson to Xena, enemy of Rome?”
“You were raised Roman but you were born Greek and Amazon,” Gabrielle said softly. “Your grandfather, Borias, was a great warrior from the steppes and you know Xena’s reputation.”
“My father?” Kiryk asked with a deep frown, looking at the ring on his finger. The family symbol of Lycrassius, a symbol of Roman power and influence.
“A brave and gentle young man,” Hercules smiled. “A talented hunter and loving father.”
“Where is my mother?”
“With the Amazons, we’ve sent word that we found you,” Gabrielle smiled. “You’re at a crossroads, Lycur Kiryk, you can either continue on as you’ve lived, as a Roman of power or you can discover your family.”
The Roman frowned. “And your son? I killed his foster brother and best friend and family.”
“Well, we can’t kill you,” Hercules smirked. “The Gods frown on kin-slayers. Asher probably will get over it in about twenty seasons.”
“You almost killed my sister and family, Kiryk,” Gabrielle pointed out. “It will take time for everyone.”
“No,” Lycur snapped, standing up and pacing. “I’m Roman! I am a Roman officer and have the Emperor’s trust! I am not like you!”
Xena and Gabrielle sighed as the Roman stormed away from the fire.
# # #
It took another three days before Lycur Kiryk returned to the cabin. Xena had watched the young man riding the countryside at breakneck speed on his horse, slashing at trees with his sword and brooding at night in his tent. He had barely said a word to anyone, including his own men and aide.
The Greek-Roman was unshaven and obviously hadn’t slept much in those three days.
He was frowning when he sat down near Gabrielle’s bed as Xena sat beside her wife and Hercules and Asher stood against a wall.
“Alright, I’m your grandson,” he said finally. “What do you want from me? I can’t go back to Rome. The Emperor will expect a war with the north. Either I’ll be sent back here with troops or banished and disgraced.”
“What are we going to do, Xena?” Gabrielle asked wearily. “Rome will just keep coming after us now.”
“Some of the steading families are moving east to one of the trade routes, the Russ clan,” Hercules said slowly. “Perhaps the wilds of the steppes will discourage Rome from wandering any further. There’s no gold or abundant source of slaves. They aren’t trappers for the fur, they’ll leave that to the tribes and trade rather than work.”
Kiryk nodded. “There are no plans to expand in that direction. Rome will always have its eye on the desert and the north.”
Xena looked over at her mate as Gabrielle looked around their home, both thinking of the years spent in the cabin building a new life together. “Won’t be the first time we’ve moved on,” she said softly, taking her mate’s hand.
“And won’t be the last given our years,” Gabrielle nodded. “We should leave before the season changes. What about Kiryk, Asher won’t tolerate him with us for awhile.”
“I’ll take him traveling,” Hercules suggested. “I want to show him where he comes from, Greece, the old Amazon lands, see his mother, visit the Northern Amazons and see the Empire from the other side.”
“No, I don’t want charity or sympathy!” Lycur Kiryk snapped. “I won’t return to Rome. I’ll find my own way!”
The former Roman officer stormed out of the cabin again as Gabrielle sighed.
“Now what?” she asked softly, reaching for Xena’s hand.
“I’ll follow him,” Hercules suggested. “I remember his grandmother being about that stubborn at a cross-roads in her life,” he smiled. “She eventually listened to me.”
“And still had to leave and find my own way,” Xena added.
“We’ll see what happens,” Hercules smiled. “There’s a nice symmetry to it. A lost warrior with a past to be redeemed from.”
“He’s certainly related to you,” Gabrielle smiled, lightly teasing her mate.
Xena smiled and nodded. “Take care of him? Bring him round when he’s ready?”
“Of course,” Hercules smiled and stood to follow the Roman.
Asher frowned and continued looking at his boots.
“Ash?” Gabrielle asked softly.
“I’m not going East,” he said suddenly. “I’m going raiding next season. I’ve seen Rome, now I want to spend time with my Vikings for awhile. Maybe settle in Caledonia or something.”
“Britainia?” Xena asked, surprised.
Asher shrugged. “New culture, new land, damned few Romans. I’ll find you in a couple of summers.”
“Ash…” Gabrielle began softly but Asher shook his head.
“No, Mum, not yet. You can accept him, eventually,” Asher frowned. “I still hear Virgil’s screams as they pounded the nails into his wrists and ankles.”
The Viking walked out slowly.
“He’ll come around as well,” Xena said firmly.
Xena wrapped an arm around Gabrielle as the bard leaned into Xena’s arms.
“We found Kiryk, Xena,” she said softly.
“And I wish I could visit Tartarus and pound Callisto a few more times for this one,” Xena growled. “She takes a small little boy and we get a vengeful Roman in return.”
“Now we have a confused young man whose life is upside down,” Gabrielle countered. “We’ll have him back, Xena. Hercules works miracles.”
“Now to build our lives again with the Russ,” Xena sighed. “Or would you rather go to the Northern Amazons?”
“No, they accept me but the bacchae thing is still there,” Gabrielle frowned.
“Onto the steppes then,” Xena smiled. “Hunting, trapping, farming.”
“Raiding, sailing, fighting,” Gabrielle added with a smile. “I know you and the Northmen.”
“Come on, lover,” Xena said softly, pulling Gabrielle into her arms and carrying her mate out onto the porch to watch the setting sun and the Romans packing to leave their territory.
# # #
Author’s Note: I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has followed this series from the beginning. It’s been a wild ride at times. Some high and some lows but I’m pleased with the stories and where it’s come.
This is the last story of the series. There will probably be more throughout the centuries facing Xena and Gabrielle but not on a continuing time-frame.
I hope you re-read the series from time to time – there’s certainly enough there to keep anyone busy for awhile. LOL – Also, please check out my other series and original work and let me know what you think. I value you readers and your opinions.
Thanks again for a wonderful ride!
Skaal
Hunter
