Gladiator, Bard, Warrior - Awakening 6
Ms. Hunter Ash
frost29@post.com
Disclaimer: I don't own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc. etc. etc. This story is for entertainment purposes and it helps keep me sane (sort of).
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.
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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.
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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."
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"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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