DISCOVERIES PART 7
By D.virtue
“ What?! And you still whipped me? Why?!!” Diana asked shocked that Xena would
just whip her just to do it.
“ Because I had to punish you for killing those people, and now that I have I
want to get to know you again. But I will still not put up with disobedience
and impudence kitten.” Xena said with a purr in her voice that sent a fierce
blush over Diana’s body that made Xena give her a hunger type gaze.
“ Xena...? You know....it’s been such a long...long...long time since we’ve
been together.”
“ And your point?”
“ Well, I just don’t know if I can handle you as well as I use to, at least
not initially. “
“ So are you telling me you won’t be able to please me?”
“ No, I’m just saying I don’t know if I can last as long without a few
breaks?”
Xena smirked and then she reached over into the drawer of the table that was
next to her bed and pulled out the cream that Diana knew so well.
“ Really?” Diana asked even before Xena made the offer.
“ Hm...yes, I think you deserve it.” So she opened it and taking just a little
out she spread it over Diana’s back and backside. Then while Xena was cleaning
her hands of the cream, Diana tested her backside by easily and cautiously
rolling onto her back, when she didn’t feel any pain she then satup on the bed
and looked over at Xena who now was watching and admiring her with her gaze.
“ That’s better, I’m able to move a lot more easily.” Diana said as she
continued to stretch her muscles.
“ Good, now I want to take my pleasure of you.” Xena then motioned with her
fingers for Diana to lay back down on her back.
Diana did as she was told and Xena rolled down and proceeded to claim what use
to be her’s legally but now was hers because she chose it to be her’s. The
kiss started off tenderly, but soon became more and more wanting , needing and
desiring. Soon the two women were feasting hungerily on each others sweet
mouth. Both moaning into the others.
After long passionate moments Xena finally broke the kiss and both were
breathing hard. Xena had a studied expression on her face. Diana’s lids were
heavy, but she saw Xena’s gaze and a shiver ran through her. Xena smiled a
devilish smile and then she claimed Diana’s mouth again, but this time she
dominated the encounter.
Xena’s tongue went deep into Diana’s throat as her hands came into play. She
caressed up and down Diana’s body and then brought one of them up to Diana’s
breast where she kneaded the flesh and Diana had her arms wrapped around
Xena’s neck. Xena let her hand glide over one of Diana’s nipple and she
lingered long enough to feel it grow under her hands.
She again broke the kiss and proceeded to kiss and nipped down Diana’s neck.
Diana obliged her by stretching her neck allowing Xena more access to it. Xena
moaned at the gesture and took advantage of it.
Diana was now holding some of Xena’s hairs as Xena moved Down her neck and to
the hollow of her neck at which time Xena’s hand had made it’s way down to
Diana’s soft hairs and now Diana was breathing harder and more ragged, and
Xena’s own breathing was rapid and slightly labored.
Her fingers slid through the soft hairs to Diana’s peak and Diana nearly
jumped off of the bed at the firm touch. Xena lifted her mouth up off of the
soft neck she was sucking on to lean up and whisper in Diana’s ear.
“ Your so.....responsive to my touch, it’s wonderful, I’ll never get enough of
you if this is your normal reaction to me.” She then slid her fingers down and
then with one smooth thrush she entered Diana’s flower.
Diana gasped as a result and her hands flew to Xena’s back and was gripping.
Xena gasped herself as a result of Diana’s nails digging into her skin, but
instead of removing them she fed off of the sensation and she pushed her
fingers forward deeper into Diana’s flower, but then she touched upon Diana’s
Maidenhead.
Diana stiffened from the touch, and Xena’s breath caught and she lifted her
head from Diana’s neck to look her in the eyes.
“ How is this possible?” She asked with a raised questioning brow.
“ You reformed it before.....well you know?” Diana said unable to bring up the
subject.
“ How?”
“ By saying or thinking it back.”
“ And that would be?”
“ Reform My Little Shield.” Diana said through her breathless state.
A look of pure desire came to Xena’s eyes and she immediately planted a
passionate kiss on Diana’s lips and then breaking it with a smack of her lips
she kissed back down Diana’s neck to the hollow area and she begun to push
slowly into and against the Maidenhead.
Diana was subconsciously trying to move away from the pain as she opened her
mouth and the only sounds that come out were those of pain.
“ Ow....... X.e.n.aaaa...? Gods, it hurts!” Diana stated through her teeth as
she tried not to scream.
Xena lifted her mouth once again and whispered, “ I know, but as you know this
is one of my weakenesses, I absolutely hunger for such things. And now that I
have you, and I can have this as often as I like, GODS!!! What a gift.” Xena
stated huskily, as she continued to push, and Diana continued to grit her
teeth.
Finally when Xena felt the shield about to give way to her she bit down into
Diana’s neck and Diana’s eyes changed instantly and she yelped, and then
screamed as Xena broke through, Xena was so enraptured by Diana’s
responsiveness and the sounds she made that she begun thrusting into her
flower with total abandon.
Diana pushed against Xena’s powerful fingers, but she could not lift her head
due to Xena still having hold of her neck and was sucking hard on it. Diana
let her own hands find what she wanted them to find and they slid down between
her and Xena’s body and immediately begun caressing Xena’s throbbing peak.
Xena allowed Diana to caress her, although she had gotten use to achieving her
pleasure at the taking of other women, as well as Shatara, but now she was
rubbing herself against Diana’s hand and when Diana slipped inside her jewel
and instantly fell into the same deep fulfilling thrust as Xena was inflicting
within her body, both women begun moaning and gyrating they’re hips as they
both pushed against the others hand and talented fingers.
Soon Diana felt her ecstasy coming and Xena felt it within Diana’s own body as
well, and all she said was, “ Ask first!!”
Diana understood and immediately did just that, but Xena was feeling devilish
and she let go of Diana’s neck and moved her body up enough to look Diana in
the eyes.
“ No.” Xena simply said, and Diana’s breath caught in her throat.
“ AhhH!! WHY?!” Diana managed.
“ I want you with me when I release.” Xena said through her own breathless
state.
Diana closed her eyes tightly for a moment and then went back to thrusting
into Xena, after a few deep rhytmic thrust Xena threw back her head and
shouted, “ NOW!!”
Then she brought her mouth to Diana’s nipple and bit hard into it. Diana’s
back flew off of the bed and her breast begun producing a port for Xena’s
consumation, while Xena at the same time pounded deep into Diana with complete
focus as she pulled the ecstasy from Diana’s core and Diana connected to
Xena’s core and Xena’s ecstasy was even more cataclysmic as a result.
Both women remained in their ecstasy for a long period of time. Diana’s was
the first to subside and when it did she collasped back to the bed while her
hand continued milking Xena’s ecstasy from her, Finally after a few more
minutes Xena’s finally ended and she too collaspe onto Diana. Both women were
breathing hard and rapid and perspiration covered both of them. Although
Diana’s had ended first, it was Xena who had regained control over her
breathing and heartbeat first.
She then looked down at Diana who was still breathing somewhat hard and then
with an appreciative yet lustful gleam in her eyes she said in a husky voice.
“ Ready or not, here we go.”
“ Xena...? I haven’t even caught my breath yet....and your.....AHHH!! GODS!!”
Was all Diana could manage before Xena seized her nipples and begun feasting
on them. Xena took Diana over and over again throughout the night and then
when she woke the next day she woke Diana and proceeded to take her the whole
morning. By the time Xena was done with her, Diana was spawled out at the foot
of the bed with her head hanging over the foot and she looking up at the
ceiling breathing hard.
Xena was at the head of the bed sitting watching the young woman try to find
the strength to right herself. Xena decided to take advantage of the young
woman’s helplessness.
“ So you need some help?”
“ yes...” Came a weak response.
“ Ok, see if this helps.” Xena then took hold of one of Diana’s feet and she
begun to tickle it.
“ Xena?! Please? Hahahahaha.” Diana said weakly as she had to laugh.
Diana struggle to get free but it was a pathetic attempt seeing that her legs
felt like mush, and now the torment being put upon her foot.
For Gaia sake!..hahahahha.... Xena please...hahahahah..I
can’t...hahahahha...... hardly breath....hahahaha.....as it is......
hahahhahhhahaha.” Diana was laughing and crying all at the sametime due to
Xena’s sick sense of humor.
“ If you turn yourself around and Pleasure me, Then I will stop.”
“ hahahahahaha....Ok, Ok,please stop..hahahahahha?”
Xena stopped and bringing one of her knees up she rested one of her hands on
it, while the other leg remained straight out in front of her. Diana finally
quieted from her laughter and then with effort she turned herself around and
crawled upwards so that she was now between Xena’s strong thighs.
Diana peeked up over Xena’s jewel and looked at her with questioning eyes.
“ What made you say pleasure you?”
“ Isn’t that what I use to call it when I wanted to feel you?”
Diana blushed at the silkiness of Xena’s voice as it caressed along her spine.
“ yes.” Diana said somewhat demurely.
Xena raised a brow at the tone and with a few flicks of her finger pointing
down to her jewel. She gestured for Diana to begin. Diana gave her a look of
I’ll begin when I’m ready, albeit playfully. Xena gave a narrow gaze back and
then she said in a warning tone, “ Begin now, or I start over with you,
despite your already weaken state?”
“ You wouldn’t? Diana asked amazed that Xena would think to take her again
after having sapped her strength from her legs as it was.
Xena didn’t answer she just raised a brow and Diana inhaled sharply and then
lowered her head and went to work pleasuring Xena, but at the same time
thoroughly enjoying herself.
Xena was moaning her enjoyment as Diana ravished her jewel. Xena had multipe
orgasms. Diana was enjoying herself so much from the taste of Xena again, and
the sounds Xena was making that she forgot herself and when her ecstasy was
near, she let it wash through her.
Despite Xena’s utter enjoyment of what Diana was doing and the numerous
releases Xena had. When Diana released without Xena’s permission Xena grabbed
Diana’s hair and pulled her up her body.
“ OW!! Xena?!”
“ What did you just do?” Xena growled at Diana.
Diana looked at her and actually flinched at the look Xena was casting on her.
“ What?”
“ Did you just release?”
Diana looked at her somewhat confused, but then she thought about it for a
moment and then said,
“ Oh, yes.” And then thinking further about her answer she gasped. “ Oh! I
mean, I....I’m sorry I.. I just didn’t think about it.”
“ It’s ok kitten.” Xena said calmly.
“ Really? Your not mad at me?”
“ Really.” Xena said as she let go of Diana’s hair and then just as Diana was
about to return to where she was, Xena brought her leg over Diana’s head and
crossed her legs.
“ What are you doing?” Diana asked somewhat surprised.
“ You seem to enjoy pleasuring me?”
“ I do, but no more than you enjoy the taste of me, well maybe I like it a
little more than you, but I can’t help it, you taste so sweet and wonderful,
plus I love the sounds you make.”
“ That’s what I thought, so, because you released without my say so, you will
not taste of me in that way until I feel you can remember who is in control of
who.”
Diana’s mouth fell open and all she could do was stare at Xena. Then after a
few minutes she asked, “ Your not serious are you?”
“ Very, now get in the bed, you are not to leave this chamber, nor this
bed.Clear?”
“ But Xena? I said I was sorry.”
“ I know you are, but next time you’ll pay attention.”
“ So your just going to withhold certain pleasures from me?”
“ Yes.” Xena said simply as she then swung her legs over the edge and stood up
and headed for the bath to clean up.
“ FINE! Be like that.” Diana said as she swung herself around and sat on her
behind and pouted.
Xena went and handled some of her Royal duties and then went and inspected
her soldiers. She then went to her Harum and catching Shatara’s eyes she
snapped her fingers and Shatara was over at her side within moments.
“ Come.” Xena said and then turned and headed out of the chamber and back to
her chamber, where she told Shatara to wait in the sitting area.
Shatara did as she was told and Xena strided into the bedchamber where Diana
sat reading a scroll.
“ What are you reading? And where did all of the scrolls come from?”
“ Just about the Realm. I just wanted something to do since you ordered me to
stay here in the bed. I asked one of the servants to bring me some of the
historical scrolls as to what’s been happening since I’ve been gone. It’s
rather interesting, you’ve inacted a lot of changes.”
“ Like what?”
“ Like the fact that you have allowed the Roman’s to once again hold arena
events. Although these don’t tell what those events are, I assume that they
are with people? Gladiators?”
Xena looked at Diana and then she said , “ some are, others are used to punish
the guilty.” Anyway get up and get dressed.”
“ Dressed in what?”
“ I believe there are some of your leathers in that closet.”
“ Why would there be?”
“ Because the quality of the craftmanship of them were to good to just throw
out, now I’m glad I didn’t. Anyway get up and cleanup and put a pair on and
then come into the sitting area.”
Diana nodded her head and then went and did as she was told. After she had
dressed she went into the other room to find Shatara there. She walked in and
looking around the room she tried to locate Xena.
“ Where’s My Lord?”
“ Yours? I believe she’s ours?” Shatara corrected.
“ Not for long. I believe she has plans for you.” Diana assumed.
“ What sort of plans?”
“ Well now that she knows the truth, I believe she brought you here to tell
you?”
“ Your half right.” Xena’s voice said from the doorway.
Both women who had been circling one another as they kept the other in sight,
now stopped and looked at the doorway where Xena stood now watching them.
“ Half right? What does that mean?” Diana asked somewhat curious.
“ Just what I said. I did bring Shatara here to tell her my plans for her part
in my assassination.”
“ Good.” Diana said somewhat relieved, While Shatara now showed fear.
“ Shatara you will receive twenty lashes by the disciplinarian.”
“ Twenty?!” For what she did? You gave me over fifty for what you thought I
did?!” Diana said outraged at the sentence.
“ And if you remember I took that pain from your backside?”
“ Yes but that’s only because I showed you the truth. She Lied to you!
Conspired against you and then had you killed!” Diana said with anger in her
tone.
“ NO! I did not do that!” Shatara interjected. “ I would never have done such
a thing.”
“ You are such a liar I don’t know how you can even stand to look at yourself
in the morning. Your going to stand there and tell us you had nothing to do
with Xena’s Death, I mean Our Lord’s death?! ” Diana stated as she glared at
her.
“ Listen little beauty! I’ll admit I did have some involvement in the two of
you breaking up, but I did not have anything to do with the death of our Lord.
The only thing I expected was that Ares God Of War would cause a war to come
about using one of your Ex-Chosen, but I did not know he had plans on having
you killed My Lord. “ Shatara said as she turned her attention to Xena. “ When
he first mentioned such a thing I told him No, I didn’t want you to be hurt,
and he said he didn’t either, but in war things accidently happen, but he
didn’t think you would be the one hurt. I then told him I didn’t care what
happen to the little beauty, and he said fine. My Lord when you were wounded
and then died as a result of it, I was devastated.”
“ HAH!! Right!” Diana snarled.
“ Silence! Not another word from you. Shatara finish!” Xena ordered as she cut
her eyes to Diana and then back to Shatara.
“ Ares then came to me and told me not to worry, he could bring you back, and
I asked him how? And he told me because you had been killed by a mortal using
one of Rah’s swords, and having your wound treated by the cream that the
little beauty had specificially for such an injury, he would have no problem.
so after a few days when he was sure the little beauty had returned to her
time, where he and I thought you would have stayed, he then brought you back
My Lord. But he removed any memory of the little beauty from you as well as
most of your memory of me. But he made sure to keep your memory of your Rule
as Conqueror. He also enhanced your Darker qualities.”
“ Obviously!” Diana interjected. Then chewed her lip when Xena shot a look at
her at her.
Xena then turned her attention back to Shatara who then continued. “ My Lord,
I do deserve to be punished, I admit that, and I won’t plead for mercy from
it, But I hope you believe I did not know or want anything to happen to you
like what had?”
Xena pinched her lips while she stood studying the young woman before her,
then she cut her eyes back towards Diana and saw Diana glaring at Shatara. She
then looked back at Shatara and said, “ I believe you.”
“ WHAT??!!” You have got to be kidding!! How can you possibily believe
anything that comes out of her mouth?! Diana shouted aghasted at Xena’s
belief in the woman.
“ You heard me! Shatara because you have admitted crimes against me and My
Realm you will be punished. “
“ I accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate.”
“ Death! Now that’s appropriate if you ask me.” Diana interjected, but this
time it was one two often.
“ ENOUGH!! I warned you!! “ Xena shouted as she then laid down her plans for
both women. “Shatara you will receive twenty lashes for your involvement, and
then after you heal you will return to your duties as my seer and one of my
Consorts.”
“ XENA?!!” Diana gasped.”
Xena then whirled around to face the stunned young woman who could not hold
her tongue. Diana stepped back at the turned due to the anger flaring in
Xena’s eyes.
“ As for you, since you seem to not be able to hold your tongue and since you
seem to hate my other Consort so much, the only way I can think of to bring
you to together is to have YOU attend to her wounds after her punishment.”
Xena said with a devious smirk on her face.
Diana and Shatara both opened their mouths to speak but then closed them.
Finally Diana did speak.
“ You have GOT to be joking?! There is no way I am going to take care of that
Bitch. After all she did, All the lives she destroyed, if I do anything for
her I’ll be to rip her deceitful heart right out of her chest and CRUSH it
before her Dying eyes, Before I go anywhere near her to offer any help. She
not only is getting away with Murder....literally. You tell me you want me to
take care of her afterwards. I’d rather die!” Diana stated derisively.
Xena’s eyes were slits by the time Diana finished, and Diana looked up at them
and her heart seemed to stop for a moment and then restarted and was beating
wildly as Xena stepped closer to her. Then taking Diana’s chin in her hand she
lifted Diana up until she was barely touching the ground with her toes.
“ You want to disobey me little girl, well let me show you what that means.
You will not only do what I told you to do, you will also not be allowed the
pleasure of my company until I feel you can obey me, Shatara will warm my bed
until I decide differently, you will also stay in the Harum with the rest of
the women. You will not be my advisor until the time I see you can obey me,
you will do as you are told by My Consort and if I hear anything different I
myself will punish you. By the time all of this is said and done, especially
with all I now know about you, and your....well let’s just say NEEDS you’ll be
begging me to allow you to prove your obedience to me. Plus I think this will
help with that impudent , and defiant attitude of yours.” Xena stated
pointedly as she watched the woman’s tears begin to form. “ Don’t let them
fall. “ Xena said smoothly as she then lowered Diana back to her feet.
Diana stood trembling by all that Xena had just told her. When Xena turned
away from Diana, she felt her world was once again being taken away, so
instead of waiting for everything to happen as Xena had stated it would Diana
swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak.
“ My Lord?” Diana called to gain Xena’s attention once again.
“ What is it SLAVE?” Xena replied emphasizing the word.
Diana bit on her lip to stop it from trembling when she heard the term, and
the tone in which it was said. Diana’s emotions were everywhere all at the
same time, and although she was ready to concede to Xena. She realized she
would be conceding to Shatara. Diana’s gaze went to Shatara and with all the
animosity she felt for the woman, she returned her focus back to Xena.
“ SLAVE?!! FINE!! If that’s what you want, Then fine!! It’s now Obvious to me
that regardless of what I have told you and showed you to be the truth you
still choose
to be with her, then so be it, I will Die from my needs. But I will do what
you have ordered, and I want say anything else about it. After this! Shatara
you have done what NO other person alive could do to me, I have never lost
anyone to any other person, but it’s obvious Lord Xena has no interest in my
feelings, she has made her choice and I will live with it. I would leave, but
I can’t, so I am stuck to suffer alone, once again. I can only take comfort in
knowing that it took death and the interference of a God to steal and destroy
the other half of my soul. But Shatara, you have now created with the help of
Ares a black hole in my heart that I thought was not possible, I’ve lived in
darkness before, but never have I felt anything like this, Congradulations.”
Diana’s tears rolled black jewels as her eyes went from chestnut to black. “
My Lord may I leave to go and get settled in my new chambers?” Diana asked
without emotion.
“ Yes.” Xena said simply.
Diana stepped around her and went past Shatara and without looking back she
opened the door and walked out and headed in the direction of the Harum as
both Shatara and Xena followed her with their eyes. Xena noticed that Diana’s
head was held high despite everything, and her stride was that of someone on a
mission. Xena wondered about it, but said nothing, she just watched. Diana
turned one of the corners and Shatara turned her gaze back to Xena and was
about to say something.
“ Not a word.” Xena said as she leveled an angry gaze on Shatara.
Xena then turned and went into her bedchamber with Shatara following behind
her.
“ Report to the punisher.” Xena stated as she turned to sit down.
“ Yes My Lord.”
“ Have the slave sent to attend you when the punisher finishes with you. You
will be brought to the chamber next door, and that will be where you will
sleep when you are not attending to my needs, is that clear?”
“ Yes My Lord.”
“ Also if the slave gives you any lip, I expect to be told about it, clear?”
“ Yes my Lord.”
“ Good, now go.” Xena said dismissing the woman.
Shatara bowed and then turned and left to receive her punishment. Meanwhile
Diana had made it to the Harum and finding an area in the far corner of the
chamber. She made a bedding there despite the fact of beds being available for
all of the women in the Harum, Diana didn’t want to be around any of the
women.
One of the women saw her come in and saw the look on her face and despite all
of that she cautiously walked over to Diana.
“ You know there are beds for all of us?” The young woman stated.
Diana didn’t say anything she just looked over her brow at the woman and the
young girl backed away from her. Diana didn’t say anything to anyone while she
was there and when the guards came to escort her to where Shatara had been
taken after her whipping, Diana went in and without saying anything to the
semi-conscious woman she begin to attend to her wounds, afterwards she went
and satdown at the table that was in the room. Diana did not look at the woman
she only attended to her back wounds without eating or sleeping and without
speaking. after over a week, Shatara was once again on her feet, albeit
somewhat slow in her movements she was moving.
Diana then turned to leave and return to the Harum chamber now that she had
finished what she had been ordered to do. Shatara tried to speak to Diana, but
only received eyes of death from Diana, so she said nothing further to stop
Diana from leaving, Diana returned to the chamber where the other women were,
and went straight to her bedroll she had made. She sat there with empty eyes
as she held her pain in, and kept all of the women who tried to befriend her
at a distances.
Diana sat and watched two women at a time leave and then come back being
carried by the guards after being with Xena and Diana just let the pain build
within her, but she said nothing. Her need was not great at the moment and she
tried to keep it that way by not thinking about Xena, except when she saw the
women coming and going.
Meanwhile, Xena called Shatara to her and they got into a conversation about
Diana.
“ So, have you had any problems with her?”
“ No My Lord, in fact she has not caused any problems.”
“ Really? Hmm....I wonder what’s going on with her?”
“ Excuse me My Lord?”
“ I said I wonder what’s going on with her?”
“ I know someone who could probably answer that My Lord.” Came one of the
servants voice.
“ Who?”
“ Her sister.”
“ Her sister?” Xena repeated and then looked at the servant and asked, “ How
do you know she has a sister?”
“ I use to be her personal servant My Lord.”
“ You?”
“ Yes My Lord, you allowed me to be her servant when she was nearly killed by
Regent Sahi, after she had drugged her with some....some type of portion made
by the Gods that they used to stir one’s passion.”
“ Hm....I remember seeing that. Well I’ll think about talking with this sister
later. Right now I want you to go and fill a bath.”
“ Yes My Lord.” Ludmilla said as she bowed and then turned and went to do as
she was told.
Xena then turned her attention back to Shatara and said, “ What have you two
talked about?”
“ Nothing my Lord, she doesn’t speak anymore.”
“ What do you mean she doesn’t speak anymore?”
“ I thought you knew My Lord?”
“ No, I didn’t know that. What else is going on with her that I don’t know
about?” Xena asked glaring at Shatara.
“ I’m sorry My Lord.”
“ Have the guard bring her to me.”
“ Yes My Lord.” Shatara said as she bowed and went and had the guard go and
get Diana and bring her to Lord Xena.
“ You, slave! Our Lord wants to see you now.” The guard called as he pointed
at Diana.
Diana looked up at him over her brows and without saying anything she stood
and walked past him as if he weren’t even there. Diana had decided that she
was not going to let the petty behaviors of the people around her get to her,
otherwise a lot of people would be dead, so she ignored their behavior and
went on about what she was bid to do.
Diana arrived at the chamber and the guard opened the door and announced her.
Diana did not move towards the bed chamber but instead stood where the guard
had told her to wait.
Xena came out of the chamber followed by Shatara, both in their robes. Xena
looked up and down Diana casually and her eyes begun to narrow.
” What have you had to eat today?” Xena asked noticing right off Diana’s
slimmer body.
Diana didn’t answer she just shook her head, as she casually looked around the
room, not that it was any different from the last time she was there, but she
didn’t seem to have any concerns about her lack of eating.
“ Have you been eating?”
Again Diana simply shook her head and continued to look around, every now and
again she would spare a glance at Xena or Shatara.
“ Have you eaten at all since you been there?”
Again a shake of her head.
“ Guards!!” Xena yelled towards the closed Door.
The guards came in rapidly and Xena’s temper was apparent.
“ Have the attendant of My Harum sent to me.” Xena said through clenched
teeth.
“ Yes My Lord, Right away.”
The guards went and brought the attendant to Xena’s chamber. Xena had now
taken a seat and was glaring at both Diana and Shatara. But when the attendant
was brought in Xena’s gaze fell on her.
“ Come here.”
The attendant walked over to where Xena sat and once there Xena told her to
sit down.
“ Do you realize that I know of at least one of my slaves who have not been
eating over the past three weeks?”
“ No My Lord, I had no idea that such a thing was happening, is the slave with
the healers?”
“ No, she’s standing right there.” Xena pointed to Diana. Diana simply took a
nonchalant, indifferent breath and then looked back at the guards who were
still standing in the room waiting for orders from Xena.
“ But how can that be My Lord, someone who has not eaten would be weak and
near death?”
“ She’s different in that way, but still I can tell she has not been eating, I
didn’t realize it had been three weeks. Now why is it that all of my slaves
aren’t better watched?”
“ Forgive me My Lord, it won’t happen again, I swear.”
“ I know it won’t. Guards take her and have her receive ten lashes, then after
she has been attended to, she is to be return to the Harum.”
The guards took the woman away as she pleaded with Xena. Diana didn’t react,
but Shatara was stunned that Diana would let someone else take a punishment
for something she purposely chose to do herself.
“ How can you let her be punished? You chose to do this!” Shatara snapped at
Diana.
Diana looked up over her brow as a brow rose slightly, and with a sarcastic
sneer, Diana leveled the gaze. Shatara stood glaring at the young woman and
Xena could see the anger in both their eyes, but Diana’s was more of a deadly
look.
“ Slave!” Xena called to refocus Diana’s attention.
Diana casually turned her head to look at Xena. Xena motioned for her to come
over and sit down. Diana walked over and sat down in front of Xena, but she
did not look at her.
“ What’s going on with you?”
Diana simply shook her head and glanced at Xena. Xena sat back in her chair
and crossed her arms over her chest, as her long legs exposed themselves to
Diana’s unexpectant gaze. Diana immediately turned her head to look away at
anything else. Xena however casually glanced down at what Diana had seen and
then she raised her eyes up to study the woman.
“ Do you miss me?” Xena asked knowingly.
Diana didn’t answer. Xena smirked at Diana’s behavior, and then she decided to
try another tactic.
“ I expect for you to eat from now on. Let me hear that you’ve skipped one
meal and I will deal with you myself. Now go back to the Harum.” Xena ordered.
Diana stood and gave a slight bow and then turned and strided out of the room
without looking back, she made it back to the Harum Chamber and went to sit on
her bedroll, once there she held her abdomen and bent over and tried to focus
on meditating, she was tight after being around Xena for such a short time,
and she knew it would only get worst. She eventually laid down and closed her
eyes and tried to sleep.
Meanwhile Xena took a trip to her homeland, and with her escorts and servants
with her, including Shatara she went to her mother’s Inn. Where she was
greeted by her.
“ Xena? Hi , What brings you here?”
“ I came to see someone, a young girl who came to work with you a while back?”
“ Oh, Gabrielle, she’s a joy, although I see pain in her eyes, she tells me
stories on slow days, and then tells stories to the clients when it’s busy,
those are our best days, at first her stories were more of poems, but soon
after she heard about the death of you and then her sister, she stopped
telling stories for a long time. When she heard you had been brought back she
seemed to come out of herself again, but then when she heard about her
sister’s death soon after your return she went further into herself, she was
so angry.”
“ Angry? Why?”
“ Because she had heard that her sister took her own life to be with you, and
now you were back and she was still gone, and alone in the afterworld.”
“ I see. Where is she?”
“She’s in the barn tending to the horses.”
Xena gave her mother a nod and then she told her servants to assist her mother
with whatever she wanted them to do.
“ Shatara come with me.” Xena then turned and headed to the barn to go and
speak with Gabrielle.
She arrived there and saw the blondish redhead brushing one of the mares. Xena
stood watching the young girl for a few minutes and then she cleared her
throat. Gabrielle turned and saw Xena standing inside the barn and her heart
seemed to stop.
“ Are you Gabrielle?” Xena asked knowing she was, but wanting to hear the girl
verify.
“ Ye...yes? “ Gabrielle managed and then knitted her brow at the question.
“ I know what your thinking, why don’t I know who you are, well it’s a long
story, surfice to say, I just recently rediscovered a lot of things.”
“ Oh.” Was all Gabrielle could say to the information.
“ Anyway, I understand you knew Diana?”
“ Yes, she was my sister.” Gabrielle said as she continued to look at Xena as
if she had two heads growing out of her neck.
“ Stop staring at me, and come over here.” Xena ordered and Gabrielle snapped
out of her trance and headed over to where Xena had now taken a seat.
“ So what have you heard about me lately Gabrielle?” Xena asked getting
straight to the point.
“I’ve heard stories that you have been destroying other lands, that have
refused to ally with you under your rule.”
“ And what do you think about that?”
“ I don’t know, I assume you have your reasons?”
“I do. But what I want to know is what have you heard about me personally?”
“ I’ve heard your cruel at times, and your impatient at others. And many other
things, but I think you understand where it leads?”
“ Yes I do, and the stories you have heard are true. “
“ So what brought you here?” Gabrielle asked, now nervous by Xena’s sudden
visit, to a home she had not been to visit in years.
“ To get you.” Xena stated simply as she leveled her gaze on the young girl.
“ M...me?” Gabrielle said now filled with fear.
“ Yes. I want you to talk to someone, I understand you are a bard?”
“ I......yes.” Gabrielle said as she noticed Xena’s brow raising.
“ Good. Come.”
“ But what about help for your mother?”
“ I’ll leave one of my servants in your place.” Xena said as she turned and
headed out of the barn and back to the Inn.
“ Mother, I will be taken the girl with me, I will leave one of my servants
with you, to help around here. If you need any more help just send a
messager.”
“ Alright Xena. Gabrielle I will miss you, I hope you can once again find the
joy within yourself as you have provided for me and the people here in
Amphipilous?”
“ I’ll miss you also.” Gabrielle said as she went into Xena’s mother’s arm and
was held in a warm embrace.
Xena stood watching the scene and was touched by it, but she said nothing.
Finally the two broke their embrace and Gabrielle turned and headed out of the
Inn and got into the carriage that was waiting for Xena. Xena said her
goodbyes and turned and strided out of the Inn and got into the carriage.
Shatara climbed in behind Xena and it was the first time Gabrielle recognized
who she was.
“ Your Shatara, are you?”
“ Yes.”
“ What are you doing here?”
“ I’m....”
“ She’s my Consort.” Xena interjected.
“ Your Consort?!’ Gabrielle exclaimed and then she looked between Shatara and
then Xena and then back at Shatara, she then crossed her arms and looked out
the side of the carriage as tears rolled down her face once again at Diana’s
lost.
They arrived back at the Palace and Xena and her entourage went inside and
Xena sent the the soldiers to attend to their other duties and she sent most
of her servants to go and attend to their other duties. She then headed for
the Harum with Gabrielle and Shatara, and two of her servants all in tow.
They arrived at the chamber and went inside. Xena quickly scanned the chamber
and found who she was looking for, she saw Diana sitting in the back in the
corner of the chamber rocking ever so slightly as if she were hearing music.
But her gaze was downcast and there was no joy in her eyes or movements.
Xena tapped Gabrielle on the shoulder and pointed towards the back of the
chamber at the woman sitting by herself. Gabrielle tried to see who the woman
was, or at least what she looked like, but her eyes were no where near Xena’s
quality, so she just turned to Xena and asked what she was suppose to talk to
the woman about.
“ Whatever comes to your mind.” Xena said without revealing anything.
Gabrielle looked at Xena and then Xena motioned for her to go. Gabrielle
turned and looking at the woman she headed for her. Diana had her head down
slightly, therefore her hair was in her face, but she made no move to remove
the hair from her face.
As Gabrielle got closer she tried to see the woman’s face, but she was not
able to due to her hair. Xena meanwhile remained standing at the door with
Shatara standing next to her, both watching and waiting, of course for
different reasons.
Gabrielle came to stand in front of the woman not sure what she was suppose to
do, the woman not wanting any company raised her head to give the girl a look
to indicate to her to get away from her, but when her eyes came to the face
that now had a look of shock on it.
Before Diana could say anything to Gabrielle, she saw Gabrielle’s eyes roll
and Diana was on her feet before the signal to Gabrielle’s brain sent the
message back to Gabrielle’s legs to tell them to give out on her. Xena saw
the same thing Diana had and she was on the move a split second before Diana
was. Diana of course being right next to the girl was the one to catch her.
Diana lowered Gabrielle to her bedroll and covered her, she then turned to
Xena who was now standing over her and Gabrielle and Diana came to her feet
once again.
“ WHY??!!”
“ Why? I thought you would appreciate the visit by your sister?”
“ Visit?”
“ Yes, she’s not one of my slaves, she’s free to leave when she chooses.”
Diana searched Xena’s eyes for the sincerity she thought she heard. Finding it
she lowered her gaze and then turned and went to sit on the floor in Indian
fashion facing Gabrielle. She moved stray hair out of Gabrielle’s face, and
caressed her face as she tried to let her heart feel the love she once had.
end of part 7
continue to part 8
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