DISCLAIMER: Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, etc.
are ©copyright MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. I don't own them, I
just play with them for a while and, like the good girl I am, I put them back
when I'm done…okay, they get a little worn, but hey…I play hard! Absolutely
no Copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. It's
intended as flattery toward the creators, writers, and actors of the characters.
All other characters that appear are ©copyright Devlin@xenafan.com. This story
cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private
use only and I'd appreciate if you included all copyright notices and this
disclaimer.
VIOLENCE WARNING: There is violence (come on
it's the Conqueror). The nature of the story is not nearly as dark as some
Conqueror fiction, but it's essence is still the slave / master relationship
that exists between Xena & Gabrielle.
TIMELINE: My own making. Xena is the
Lord, Conqueror of Greece, but she is almost forty-five years old when she
meets the slave, Gabrielle. Many of Xena's evil ways have been sedated, but
not all. I call this Xena the "thinking woman's" Conqueror. She
is a woman who wants to try to do the right thing, but doesn't always know
how.
SEX: Yes, I'll have some, thank
you. Ooops! I mean, yes there is. It
is our favorite two Soulmates, after all. It's not gratuitous, but it is quite
explicit when it gets going. This story shows consensual as well as non-consenting
love (master/slave), sex and yes, even some light bdsm between two adult females.
HIGH ANGST WARNING: I was threatened within an
inch of my life if I didn't start putting this disclaimer on some (all?) of
my work. I will henceforth rate the angst content with sad faces, one being
the lowest and four being the highest. This story earns: L L (2 sad
faces for those without TT Fonts)
UNDERAGE WARNING: Hey, the Supreme Court said
in Reno v. American Civil Liberties
Union (1997) that laws against making available, online, certain "indecent"
materials for those under 18 was unconstitutional…look it up! Besides, this
is perfectly "decent." J
I
only know how others feel about my stories from feedback. Let me know what
you think...homophobes need not apply, however. I'm at: Devlin@xenafan.com
**Special thanks to Jim Kuntz for his permission in using any Lion of Amphipolis references.
The Conqueror
Series
Tale One: Journey's
End
By LJ Maas
I
heard her soft steps before I felt my long hair pulled to one side and her
lips tickle the back of my neck. Quicker than she anticipated, I reached around
and grabbed her waist, pulling the small figure into my lap.
"No
fair!" Gabrielle cried out between her laughter.
"Oh,
and it was fair, you stealing a kiss?" I asked with mock sternness.
"It
didn't feel like I had to steal it," Gabrielle replied, "seems to
me you gave it up awfully fast, Conqueror." She said, reaching in to
place a quick kiss on my cheek.
Yesterday's
pain and hurts all but disappeared between us, replaced by an almost giddy
feeling of first love. Gabrielle even looked like a changed woman; she most
certainly acted differently, and not from when I first met her, but since
yesterday. She appeared self assured and strong and I could feel myself falling
in love with her all over again. She teased me with the title, Conqueror,
and I felt the bond between us was solidified, for both of us to accept such
a thing.
"You
realize you'll have to pay for stealing that kiss." I said, standing
and lifting her easily into my arms. I walked into the outer room, our bedchamber
on my mind.
"Oh,"
Gabrielle purred seductively, "and what will my punishment be?"
I
stopped in the middle of the outer room, the sound of Gabrielle's voice arousing
my smoldering libido into a full-fledged blaze. I arched an eyebrow and gave
her a wicked smile.
"You'll
have to give it back," I whispered.
Our
lips met in a kiss unlike any other we ever shared. The only way, in which
to describe it, with mere words, is to say that it was powerful. That one
kiss soon led to another and another, until my knees began to literally shake
from something that had little to do with the weight of the slight figure
I held in my arms. Unfortunately, that was exactly when the door opened. I
don't know who was more surprised, Sylla, or the two of us. I'd completely
forgotten that my maid…correction, our maid, came in to the rooms like this
every morning to wake me. She'd taken to not walking into our bedroom at all,
but I suppose she thought the outer rooms were still safe.
"I…uh…forgive
me, Lord Conqueror." Sylla stammered.
"It's
all right, Sylla" I chuckled, still holding Gabrielle in my arms.
Suddenly
my lover must have felt slightly foolish, which I was surprised about, but
I attributed it to Gabrielle's new sense of herself. She was a free woman
and I was going to have to start remembering that fact.
"Xena,
put me down," Gabrielle ordered and I immediately complied, much to Sylla's
amazement.
The
young maid straightened the room and brought the trays in with our early morning
meal. I noticed both young women, their heads close together, speaking in
low tones. Sylla looked at me with a distrustful eye a few times as I walked
in and out of my study. That, I marked up to the quickly fading bruise left
on Gabrielle's cheek. Finally, I watched as Sylla hugged Gabrielle tight and
I was sure my young lover told her friend her important news.
"Xena…are
you going to sit and eat something?" Gabrielle asked.
I
walked over and popped a small piece of sweetbread into my mouth. "I
need to bathe and get ready, the verdict and the sentencing are to be today.
Besides," I placed a small kiss on top of the golden hair, "you
need to get ready too."
"Me?"
Gabrielle asked in surprise.
"Yes,
don't you want to be present at such an event?"
"Yes,
but I--"
"It
will be your first time in the Great Hall as a free woman and I intend to
have you by my side." I responded before waiting for her answer.
Gabrielle
smiled and as I entered the bathing chamber, I could hear the two women begin
a lively discussion as to what the Conqueror's future bride should be seen
wearing to a day in court.
*********************
I'm
not sure how to describe how I felt walking into the Hall. I usually just
strode in as Antillius, the youngest advisor on my staff, announced me. I
liked Antillius. He was an honest young man, like his father before him, who
served me well as an advisor for many seasons. I search back over the summers
that have passed in this palace and realize, through all my debaucheries,
I always seemed to have a soft side. It simply didn't rear its head often.
Antillius' father was an advisor on my staff until one winter a fever took
more out of him than he could recover from. I could look around the palace
now and see that nearly half my staff was comprised of people I rewarded for
some reason or another. Either that, or I felt I owed their parents something,
although that's how I ended up in this mess with Kassandros, isn't it?
It
was customary for all those in the Hall to stand until I seated myself. On
this day I led Gabrielle into the room, my hand placed strategically under
her elbow. I wanted to make it clear; in the way that Gabrielle walked by
my side and not behind me, her status within the palace, as well as my life,
had changed. I'd made arrangements with Antillius earlier to scribe the necessary
documents regarding Gabrielle's freedom, and also to make plans for a chair
to be situated next to mine. I stopped and motioned for Gabrielle to sit before
me, another indication of her status change. It sent a very clear message
to those within the Hall. It told them that I placed Gabrielle's welfare above
my own; thereby signifying that only one here had as much power as I within
the Empire.
"Her
Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire," Antillius called
out in a clear voice, "and the Lady Gabrielle," he added per my
request.
Antillius
grinned slightly as we passed and I winked at the young man. As Gabrielle
and I took our seats, I heard the murmurs coming from those in the audience.
Part of it was due to confusion over hearing the title affixed to Gabrielle's
name, the other, anger because she was there in the first place. I plucked
a few scrolls off the table beside my chair, I went about the pretence of
scanning the information in the parchments, while one of the men appointed
to argue this case before me, stood up, clearing his throat.
"You
have a question, Terillus?" I asked, without looking up.
"Uh,
Lord Conqueror…"
I
looked up as he was nervously glancing over at Gabrielle. I knew he didn't
want to be the one to say it. Terillus was a decent enough man, but I was
breaking the law, having a slave seated in the Hall.
"Oh,
yes." I said as if it just occurred to me. I was rather enjoying this.
"Antillius, don't you have some sort of proclamation to read?"
"Yes,
Lord Conqueror," he stepped up and cleared his throat, unrolling the
scroll as he did so.
By
order of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire,"
I rolled my eyes in embarrassment at Gabrielle as Antillius read off my title
and she used her hand to cover her smile.
"This
morning, her Royal Highness declares that the slave known only as Gabrielle,
receive her freedom from servitude. According to law, the Lady Gabrielle will
present herself to this court seven days hence, for the official decree. Until
that moment, the Lady Gabrielle is presented temporary status as a Greek citizen
with all the rights that privilege contains."
Gabrielle
looked at me and the smile on her face warmed my heart. I saw only love, mixed
with a tiny bit of surprise. I leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"You
asked if I would tell people…is this what you had in mind?" I questioned
innocently.
"Not
exactly," she whispered back. "I envisioned something a tad more
intimate, but thank you, Xena."
Those
green eyes sparkled in my direction and I knew in my heart, this wouldn't
be the first time I would attempt to move a mountain for my lover.
I
looked out into the sea of faces looking back at us. Some smiled and nodding
their approval, other looked a bit taken back, and some, of course, appeared
angry, frightened that the way of life they knew was about to change. Against
the far wall, I caught the eyes of a familiar face and the large smile that
graced the older woman's features. Delia's eyes shone with unshed tears and
I bowed my head in her direction, in deference to the woman who showed me
the most about being a friend, with the possible exception of the young woman
seated beside me.
Terillus
bowed and backed away. "Lord Conqueror…Lady Gabrielle." He said
respectfully.
"Has
the council considered a verdict, Terillus?" I asked, getting back to
the matter at hand.
"They
have, Lord Conqueror." He answered.
"Have
the prisoners brought before me to hear their judgment," I commanded
to no one in particular.
The
six of them were led in, bound in chains. They filed in, at least four guards
surrounding them, Kassandros brought up the rear. Finally, they all looked
up and a surprised gasp escaped from Gabrielle's throat. Looking quickly over
to her, the small blonde's hand reached out and she clutched at my forearm,
digging her nails into my skin.
"Gabrielle?"
I leaned toward her.
Her
face was contorted in pain, her breathing increased by the telltale rapid
rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes took on a glazed over cast as she stared
down at the men, more particularly, Kassandros.
All
I could do was reach out and call her name, which she seemed suddenly oblivious
to. Gabrielle stood up, all the while staring daggers at the man. Suddenly,
her balance seemed compromised and she clutched at my arm again. I jumped
from my seat just in time to keep her from hitting the floor. I scooped her
into my arms as Atrius opened the door into a side chamber. I moved through
the open doorway, already calling out for my healer.
*********************
"How
beautiful." Gabrielle dreamily commented as she moved toward consciousness.
I
was worried now; the girl wasn't making any sense as she looked up, past me,
and into thin air. I was standing over the low couch I'd laid Gabrielle's
limp body on, upon first entering the room. Kuros, my healer kneeled at her
side, proclaiming that she simply passed out and he couldn't find anything
physically wrong with her beyond that.
"Gabrielle,
are you all right?" I asked nervously.
"I
see stars," Gabrielle tried to focus, pointing toward me.
"I
told you she wasn't all right, Kuros," I chided my healer. Gods, it's
amazing that the man still puts up with me, I turn into such a child around
him.
He
turned to look up at me and opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly he broke out
into a smile and pointed above me. "Lord Conqueror…she does see stars."
I
looked over my head, since Gabrielle and Kuros were both pointing toward the
ceiling. I had to smile, sweet Aphrodite, the girl would be the death of me
someday, I just know it. I stood looking at a painting of the night sky over
Amphipolis, one that I commissioned an artisan to paint on the ceiling when
I was in one of my more melancholy moods a few seasons back.
Atrius
walked into the room and closed the door. He stopped when he saw all three
of us looking up at the ceiling. His head inclined, then he took stock of
the three of us once more.
"Lord
Conqueror?" he asked uneasily.
"Oh,
It's nothing," I said quickly, realizing we must look like a pack of
fools. "Gabrielle?"
I
kneeled beside her when Kuros relinquished the spot, brushing the hair that
fell into her eyes. I kissed her lips, watching as the color came creeping
back into her cheeks. Her face quickly lost the dreamy quality of sleep and
she tried to jump up into a sitting position.
"Oh,
Xena!" she exclaimed.
Gabrielle
clung to me and I could feel her body trembling. It didn't feel like fear,
it felt as if anger were coursing through her.
"Easy,
easy," I said, helping her to sit up on the edge of the couch. "Please,
Gabrielle, tell me what's wrong." I asked.
"I…Xena,
that man!" Gabrielle cried out. I looked up rather helplessly and Atrius
shrugged his shoulders, not understanding any better than I to whom Gabrielle
referred.
"Gabrielle,
I don't understand. What man? Has someone hurt you?" I asked slowly.
"The
man…the one that stood before me in chains…he was the one." Gabrielle
stammered.
"Kassandros?
The burly man on the end?"
"Yes!
It was him, Xena, I'll never forget his face." Tears formed in her eyes
and I felt myself growing angry over whatever Kassandros had done to Gabrielle
to terrify her so.
"What
did he do?" I asked in a low voice, my teeth clenched together, trying
to control myself.
"He
was the one," Gabrielle seemed as if she were trying to explain, but
couldn't put the thoughts together in an understandable way. "Xena, he
was the one who kidnapped the girls from my village outside of Potidaea. He
took us and sold us in Amphipolis the next day."
Gabrielle's
tears overflowed and streamed down her lightly freckled cheeks. I looked up
and every man in the room simply stood there with an open mouth. I'd never
asked Gabrielle how she came to be a slave. I'd asked her how long she served
and where she was from, and a hundred other questions, but I never thought
to ask her that one. There were only three legal ways to become a slave in
my realm. You could be destined for a life of servitude if you were captured
as part of the spoils of war, if you had debts you couldn't pay, or if you
sold yourself into the position. On the very borderline of the law were the
people who would sell their own children as slaves, in my opinion, the worst
kind of humanity. I'd outlawed illegal slave traders, but old habits were
hard to break for some. My prisons were full of men arrested for the same
crimes Kassandros and his bunch committed. All these thoughts went through
my head, but I found myself unable to speak.
"Then,
you're not a slave?" Antillius commented on the obvious.
"She's
never been a slave," I said, as if to convince myself as well. I stared
straight into those sad green eyes. "Gabrielle, why didn't you ever tell
anyone?"
"I
tried, at first," her tears spilled harder as she related the memory.
"I was beaten for trying to tell people, I was so young and the men had
ways of making you…" she visibly shuddered and I pulled her against my
chest, stroking her hair as she spoke. "…They made it so you didn't tell
anymore."
I
admit to feeling so many emotions at once, I couldn't rest on just one alone.
It came upon me in a swirling rush, the notion that this was my past come
to haunt me. All the old nightmares, the sleepless nights, the people who
came in and out of my life, for a good many seasons, I tortured myself for
my past. When I wanted to try to begin to atone for the slightest bit of my
past crimes, I found it hard to know where to start. I had no focus or goal,
but that was different now.
Gabrielle
sat before me as a living memory of my past. I'd not caused all the ills of
the world, but I certainly didn't do much as ruler of Greece to combat the
evil and cruelty that existed here. I had the power to do so much good and
I thoughtlessly squandered it all. Now I had a goal and even though it may
appear small to some, I knew it was a start. I would work the rest of my life
to repair the destruction of Gabrielle's young life. There would be no amount
of love too great to give, no time too much to spend with her. I only prayed
to Athena that it would be enough. In my heart, I knew it wouldn't come close,
but I would try all the same.
"Gabrielle…why
didn't you ever try to tell me?" I asked.
The
small blonde looked up at me. Wiping her eyes, she then looked at the open
mouthed men standing around her. "Because I was a slave," she said.
My
lover used those very words once before and they made just as big of an impact
on me as they did now. In a world where one person could own another, where
one human being's life was thought to be worth so much less simply because
of the direction the fates spun their life thread, Gabrielle's words completed
the picture. Injustice and inhumanity allowed to flourish, for one simple
reason; slavery. It brought about an even greater commitment to the event
I would make happen on this day.
"Then
we won't need the proclamation…Gabrielle is a free woman, right?" Antillius
said enthusiastically.
Atrius
and I looked at one another, knowing it was never that easy.
"Gabrielle,"
Atrius acknowledged her for the first time. "Where did this happen?"
"My
father had a farm quite a distance from Potidaea. I was very young, but I
remember that it used to take a full day to get to the harbor in Potidaea."
Gabrielle answered.
"This
farm…would your parents still be living?" Atrius asked again.
I
saw where he was headed, but Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders. "I've
never been able to get back to the Macedon area to find out." She replied
tearfully. "I was bought in Abdera by Persian traders and it was another
three seasons before I was sold to a Greek Master."
It
suddenly became clear why Gabrielle was so well educated for a slave. Being
sent to Persia as a slave had its advantages and its horrors. The unfortunate
aspect for a ten-year-old girl was that of the Persians propensity for children
as sex slaves. The odd part was that they neither beat nor berated the slaves,
but taught through kindness and gifts, an odd form of abuse. They also believed
in educating slave children right alongside the nobleman's children. Boys
and girls all learned to read, write, and play an instrument, usually the
lyre. It was good fortune for Gabrielle, that once a girl reaches the age
of twelve, she must be Persian born to share a citizen's bed. Gabrielle was
probably sold to a Greek buyer, bringing her back to her homeland, for that
very reason.
"Gabrielle,
it's only that…well not that any of us don't believe you, of course we do,
love," I said, kissing her forehead, "but the court would have to
have proof that you were born a free woman, your parents word, or a midwife
present at your birth."
"I
understand. I'm sorry I interrupted the proceedings, My Lord," Gabrielle
answered and I grinned at her ever so slightly. All that she suffered through
and she was still trying to present the proper amount of decorum in front
of the other men present in the room.
"This
isn't over yet," I stood up and ran my hands through my hair.
Something
was nagging at me about all of this. Gabrielle's story rang true for more
reasons than because she was my lover, and I wanted it to be true. My mind
sped through the many conversations Gabrielle and I had over the last few
moons. Ten…the number ten stuck in my brain.
"Gabrielle,
you were kidnapped when you were ten summers old?" I asked.
"Yes,"
she responded slowly. "That was ten, almost eleven, seasons ago."
I
turned to Atrius and Antillius. "When I spoke with my chief builder,
Sagoris, that day I told him to tear down the hired servants housing and rebuild,
he said something interesting. He explained that Demetri was in charge of
building the shacks we're left with now. At the time, I simply assumed Demetri
purchased inferior supplies and pocketed the money. Now I know where that
money went. Sagoris said that all this happened about ten seasons ago."
"So,
you think Demetri provided the funds for Kassandros' illegal slave trade."
Atrius caught on.
"It
makes more than perfect sense when you look at it." I began my customary
pacing as I spoke. "Ten seasons ago Demetri stole enough money from the
palace coffers to fund such an operation. Ten seasons ago Kassandros was made
a Governor of Macedon. Ten seasons ago Gabrielle was abducted in the same
manner as the girls we so recently rescued from Callius' clutches."
"It
does seem more than enough to be presented as a case for dismissal,"
Antillius offered.
"But,
where is your proof?" I hadn't even noticed Terillus come into the room.
The older man folded his arms across his chest.
"Terillus
is right. It's all conjecture unless we have testimony, someone who knew or
saw something." I agreed sadly.
"He
would know." Gabrielle's voice came from the couch she still sat upon.
We'd
all but forgotten the young woman was still there and all of us turned at
once.
"You
mean Kassandros?" I asked her and she nodded her head.
"Gabrielle,
he a man condemned to die, he would spit in our faces rather than give information
that would help your cause." Atrius responded.
"Not
necessarily." I added. "I might be able to make him a deal. Atrius,
can you have a couple of guards bring him in here?"
"Aye,
Lord Conqueror." He replied and left the room.
I
pulled Gabrielle to one side and spoke softly. "Gabrielle, you may not
want to be in the same room with him."
"Please,
Xena, don't do what I think you might do…not just for me." Gabrielle
responded. "I can tell by that look in your eye. These men deserve to
die for their crimes. Think of all the woman like me, the girls like the ones
you saved on the ship that day. Don't allow this man leniency simply for me.
I wouldn't want that."
I
pressed my fingers to her lips to quiet and reassure her. "There is no
fear that I will not see that these men are punished accordingly, Gabrielle.
They will wish for death before their punishment is through. Trust me?"
I whispered at last.
She
looked up at me, nodding and mustering a tiny smile for my benefit, the expression
on her face, the look in her eye, spoke of an all-embracing and utter trust.
I knew what it would come across resembling, but I simply didn't care. I reached
down and kissed her lips lightly.
"I
won't let you down." I whispered.
*********************
"Kassandros,"
I stood in front of the chained man, "I need information from you."
I said simply.
"I'll
suffer in Tartarus first!" he growled.
"I
can arrange that." I hissed. "Do you remember Antipater? Remember
how your father died?"
I
moved closer to him until I was practically whispering in his ear. I could
see that he blanched a little at the memory. I'd had the General and all his
officers disemboweled while they still breathed. Sometimes I still heard those
screams in my nightmares.
"What
do I get in return?" he asked, knowing that I would offer a reward of
sorts.
"Your
life." I answered.
I
had to admit, I was proud of Gabrielle. When I asked her to trust me, I was
asking for a great deal. I could see her in the corner of the room, her hands
formed into small fists.
"You'll
be put into a prison for the rest of your life. Your alternative is death,
and I won't make it a pleasant way to die, trust me." I raised an eyebrow
for effect.
"What
do you want to know?" he asked gruffly.
"When
you started the kidnappings, where did you begin?"
"Hades,
it was seasons ago!"
"Where
did you get the money to hire men, then?" I asked.
"Demetri
sent silver. He started the whole thing off."
"Think
hard, Kassandros, your life depends on it…literally. Where did you begin?"
"Ah,
it's no big a mystery. We started in Macedon, the Chalcidicē region.
In those days, I'd hire some men and do the job myself. We started there;
the little farm villages usually had plenty of girls to grab. We raided the
outskirts where we could get whole villages sometimes. Adult males sold good
for heavy labor, women, and brats for domestic stuff. The really pretty girls
all went for pleasure."
"Do
you remember where exactly?" I asked between clenched teeth. It was only
my promise to Gabrielle that kept me from splitting his skull.
"Course.
Potidaea, Amphipolis, but then it got so's you couldn't sell them there…once
you and your laws came around," he added snidely. "We started sending
them to Abdera, that way they could be shipped straight to Persia."
I
listened to his tale and realized that I'd done precious little over the seasons
to combat the illegal trade in slaves. Amphipolis, Potidaea, and Abdera, were
all well-known ports of trade for slaves. Abdera got away with the most, I
guessed, simply because they had a daily auction block for slaves, legally
taken as war captives in neighboring Thracian tribal wars. Their proximity
to Persia meant that a good deal of the slaves went there.
"Where
else did you send them to be sold?"
"Hades,
all over! Most went to the big slave markets in Ephesus and Chios, then on
to Corinth and Athens. Some went to Delos, but not usually ours." He
finally finished, as calmly as if he were telling us there would be rain tomorrow.
Delos
would be the hardest port to shut down. Only recently, it became the notorious
center of the Greek slave trade, legal and otherwise. I remembered the beautiful
island well from the last time I was there. Funny thinking this now, but I
got a notion in my head, that Gabrielle would probably enjoy the spectacular
lake, inhabited by thousands of eye-catching swans. I would love to see the
look on her face when she saw the breathtaking Lion's Terrace, built
in my honor. The carved marble lions were indeed a remarkable sight.
I finally shook my head to bring me out of my thoughts and into the situation before me.
"Well,
gentleman?" I looked at Antillius and Terillus, who nodded their heads.
"I
will speak to the other advisors on the Lady Gabrielle's behalf, Lord Conqueror."
Terillus spoke up.
I
motioned with my hand and the guards stepped forward to bring Kassandros back
out to the Great Hall.
"Don't
forget what you promised, Conqueror!" The prisoner shouted back at me.
I
stood there watching Gabrielle's eyes follow the man from the room; a haunted
look of pain and a life lost burning in those emerald orbs.
"Oh,
I won't forget," I muttered under my breath.
*********************
I
left the room to speak with Antillius and Terillus, along with my four other
advisors. I wanted to handle things in the right order to prevent any chaos
that might come of the situation. First things first and I had a verdict to
pronounce.
Once
again, the men were brought before me, Gabrielle too, seated by my side.
"Lord
Terillus, will you announce your verdict to the court?" I directed the
older man.
"Yes,
Lord Conqueror." Terillus opened a scroll and read the short, but predictable
message. "In the court of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the
Greek Empire, we six advisors to the palace have conferred and found each
of the accused guilty of the crime of illegal slave activity."
Terillus
then turned to me and bowed slightly before returning to his seat.
"So
be it," I said, sealing the fate of the silent men before me. "You
will be brought before the court this afternoon for your sentencing. I recommend
you say a few words to Hades." I smirked, as they were lead away.
Once
they were gone from the Hall, I nodded to Antillius. The young man cleared
his throat and opened the first scroll. I held my breath without realizing
it, anxious to see the look on Gabrielle's face. I don't know why, but the
usual preamble always caused me to want to roll my eyes.
"By
order of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire, the proclamation
to free the slave known as Gabrielle is immediately rescinded."
If
Gabrielle's eyes had been brands of fire, I would have been seared through.
She looked at me with a combination of anger and incomprehension.
"Antillius!"
I called out sharply, interrupting the young man. I crooked a finger when
he looked up and he walked close to my chair, so close that I grabbed him
by the neck and pulled him down to ear level.
"Antillius,
do you see the look on Gabrielle's face?" I asked. I didn't have to glance
again; I knew what she looked like.
The
young man nodded nervously once he saw the death wish written in my lover's
eyes.
"Do
you know what happens if Gabrielle gets mad at me?"
Antillius
gave a red-faced grin. "May I hazard a guess and say I would get beat
up or something like that?"
"You're
such a bright boy, Antillius." I grinned right back at him. "Why
don't we read those proclamations in a different order? Hhmm?"
"Of
course, Lord Conqueror." He answered.
"Um…by
proclamation of the--"
"Antillius,
just get on with it!" my patience was sadly at an end.
"Yes,
Lord Conqueror. After conference among the Conqueror's palace advisors and
satisfying testimony, the advisors have reached an understanding; the slave
known only as Gabrielle will no longer be known as a former slave. Due to
kidnapping and illegal slave trade, the lady Gabrielle is not now, nor has
she ever been a slave. She is a free woman born and raised until the kidnapping
ten seasons ago. According to law, the Lady Gabrielle will present herself
to this court seven days hence, for the official decree."
I
looked over to find Gabrielle smiling proudly. We left the Great Hall for
a break until the afternoon session, where I would be expected to pronounce
sentence. I needed to be somewhere quiet for a bit. I wanted Gabrielle with
me, so I asked one of the kitchen maids to prepare a light lunch for us to
take into the gardens. I took Gabrielle's hand as we left the Great Hall,
she with tears in her eyes that, for the first time in a long time, meant
pure joy and happiness, and I with a smile that was so uncharacteristic, I
saw a few old women laugh at my lovesick expression.
*********************
The
girl amazed me as I watched her eat the last half dozen figs, followed by
one more, thick slice of manoúri, a sweet cheese.
"You
sure you're not eating for two already?" I teased.
"Not
yet, but look out when I do." She smiled over at me and we both enjoyed
the relaxed laughter that followed.
"It
feels so different being with you now, Xena," she commented.
"I'm
sure I'm much changed, love, but I think it is mostly because of the changes
in you."
"Me?"
she answered, the tone sounding as if she believed that to be highly unlikely.
"Yes,
you," I reached over and touched my index finger to the tip of her nose.
"I've watched you, Gabrielle, occasionally when you think I'm not,"
I smiled. "I remember the girl who stood before me with a dirty face
and bare feet, not even able to look me in the eye. She was so terrified of
the thought of spending one night in the Conqueror's bed, that she tried to
hide herself from my eyes."
"I
looked so pathetic then…I hadn't had a bath in days and days," Gabrielle
said self-consciously.
"I
think I started to fall in love with you on that very day, at that very minute,"
I answered her, and she blushed deeply, bowing her head.
"I've
never heard you talk like this," she responded, unable or unwilling to
raise her head and meet my eyes.
"I'm
sorry I didn't know how to tell you sooner," I said, taking her hand
in my own, looking down at it and feeling the smoothness against my own much
rougher hand. "I'm sorry that I ever led you to doubt how very much I
love you, Gabrielle. I'm not always proud of who I am, much less who I've
been, but having you in my life makes me believe that I can be a much better
person; having you in my heart, makes me know that I am."
I
was mightily rewarded with the sweetest kiss in the world for that little
speech. Gods, who would have known? If I'd have recognized that the simple
truth of revealing my feelings could do this, I might have tried it long ago.
"Xena,
you're an incredible woman," Gabrielle said, surprising me. "You're
different from every person I've ever known in my life, and I love you because
of it. I knew there was something different about you after the first evening
we were together, but I never knew it could cause me to feel this way; never
realized it would instill this feeling of absolute love and trust for you,
and I do you know."
I
didn't want to cry, not again, and not in front of Gabrielle, but I was fighting
a losing battle. All I could do was bring the hand in my own up to my lips
and kiss it.
"I
never thought, Xena…never dared to hope that something this beautiful would
ever happen to me. That someone like you would ever want a girl like me,"
Gabrielle added.
I
looked up, and through my tears, I smiled.
"Did
I say something amusing?" Gabrielle asked.
"No,
something mystical," I replied. "You just read my mind. Those were
the very thoughts running through my mind. Gabrielle, are you sure, I mean,
sure that I'm the one?"
"Would
you rather I not be?" she asked in concern.
"No!"
I answered quickly, "no, love it's not that. I only think about the fact
that…well, Gabrielle, I'm quite a bit older than you, I've earned my share
of enemies over the seasons. I worry that you'll be committing to a lifetime
of loneliness or have your heart broken should Celesta come looking for me
one day soon."
I
searched her eyes, the green irises turning darker, misting over with tears.
Just as suddenly they brightened, then she smiled and shook her head.
"No,
Athena would never have fulfilled our destinies this way to set us up for
pain. It's not like her to dangle a golden carrot before someone without at
least giving them the chance to jump at it. I will make special offerings
to her in hopes that she can persuade her uncle not to call your name for
a very long time," the young woman answered optimistically.
"Gabrielle,
do you know what an enigma is?" I asked. My tears forgotten, a smile
now graced my features.
"Something
that is difficult to understand?" she answered, uncertainly.
"In
a way, yes, but it's more. It's something or someone that is puzzling, that's
simply inexplicable. You are that for me." I responded. "You are
the most loving, generous woman I have ever known, yet living the life you
have, that you are that way, completely baffles me. You can be shy and timid,
but in the time it takes an eagle to strike down its prey, you can be forceful
and commanding. I can't explain it. You are a riddle, my love, that I want
to spend the rest of my time in this mortal realm solving."
I
reached over to kiss the look of shock from her face. "We need to get
back, but I want to ask you something."
I
pulled the small signet ring from my little finger. I kept a large, heavy
ring in a box on my desk, which would someday go to my heir. I only wore it
at official functions and kept it locked at my desk to use as a seal. For
Greek royalty, the ring that bears our crest carries no greater sign of commitment.
To give the ring to my heir or the next in line for the throne, displayed
an open and willing commitment to the bearer of the ring. It showed great
faith, trust, and belief in the recipient of the gift. No ruler ever gave
their signet up lightly.
I
took hold of Gabrielle's hand once more and pulled it toward me, easily slipping
the trinket on her ring finger. Once in place, I kissed the tops of her fingers,
then turned her hand and gently kissed her palm.
"This
is my promise, Gabrielle. All that I have I share with you, except my heart,
and that I give to you completely," I said softly.
"I
don't think I deserve to be a Queen, Xena," she replied in a tearful
voice.
"You
do, my love, and I plan on spending the rest of my life showing you just how
much I believe that." I smiled. "Are you ready?" I rose and
held out a hand to her.
When
I felt her hand slip into my mine, I thought of the eve before I took Athens,
the night I pledged my allegiance to Athena. Suddenly I was there, in that
old tent I set up as a shrine for her, remembering the Goddess' words to me.
"With
Ares power, Xena, you would have become the mightiest warrior in the Known
World. With mine, you'll become the greatest ruler Greece has ever known."
She
slipped her hand into mine and I felt a tingling sensation travel up my arm
and into my chest, followed by a feeling of confidence, that what she was
saying would indeed come to pass.
"And
what will I owe you?" I questioned in a low dulcet tone. My naturally
suspicious nature knew the Gods didn't give anything away for free.
"Your
heart," Athena answered.
"I
thought you were the Pallas," I drawled, the use of the old title, indicating
the Goddess' renowned virginity. I also stared hungrily, greedy for a chance
at being the first. It seems conquering was in my blood.
Athena
smiled seductively. "I've seen the way you go at it, Xena. I think if
I were to take a lover, I'd want it a little less rough."
"Don't
knock it till ya tried it," I grinned, turning on the charm.
This
time she laughed. "Xena, you have a long journey ahead of you, and I
fear what Ares has molded you into, may make it difficult, if not impossible,
for you to recover."
I
didn't understand one damn word she was babbling on about, but the ample breasts,
threatening to spill out from their armored hideaway, weren't helping me keep
track of her words any.
I
looked into her face and she was shaking her head in amused disapproval. "Xena,
I'm going to keep your heart for you until you need it."
"Trust
me, that I won't need," I responded, still ogling her chest.
Quickly
she reached out and grabbed my chin, holding it firmly within her fingers.
I saw a previously hidden fire in her eyes and I realized her patience had
come to an end.
"You
will need it someday. Trust me, there will come a time when you will want
it back," she said strongly.
"Yea,
when?" I sneered.
Her
gaze softened again. "When you want to give it away," she replied.
"Were you even listening to me before?"
"Yea,
yea…I'm going on a journey," I answered, rubbing my sore chin.
"Of
a sort, yes." She smiled again, only this time the smile seemed sad.
She turned to leave and I couldn't help asking.
"Athena…."
I called out and she turned back. "When will I want to give my heart
away?" I asked quietly.
"I
thought that would have been apparent," again, the bittersweet smile,
"at your journey's end, of course."
She
was gone in a multicolored flash, but I looked down at the hand that still
tingled with warmth.
"Xena…Xena,
are you all right?" Gabrielle asked.
I
had to literally shake my head and look around to realize where I was. I remembered
the incident with amazing clarity, but up to a few heartbeats ago, it had
been lost to my memories. It was as if it never happened, but I knew that
it had.
Athena
and I both kept our promises after all. She made me the greatest ruler in
all of Greece and I gave her my heart. Thank the Gods there was at least one
benevolent deity on Olympus. Athena safeguarded my heart all these seasons,
her words coming back to me as I felt the warmth of Gabrielle's hand in mine.
"Until
I want to give it away," I whispered in amazement.
"What?"
Gabrielle asked with a worried frown.
I
smiled brightly and squeezed her hand. "Nothing, love, just remembering
something that happened a long time ago."
We
walked through the garden, and I swore the olive wood statue of Athena Polias,
which we passed before entering the palace, winked at me.
*********************
"Are
you sure you want to be in there?" I asked Gabrielle before we entered
the Great Hall. Gabrielle nodded her head silently and I watched as she twisted
my ring on her finger. "Gabrielle?" I asked.
"Xena,
I just don't want you to back off of punishing that man because he gave us
the information we needed." Gabrielle responded, indicating Kassandros'
testimony.
"I'd
never interfere with your decisions, it's only…he needs…" tears formed
in her eyes and I took her in my arms and held her.
"To
suffer?" I finished for her.
Again,
the silent nod.
"And,
you think I might let him off the hook, for the testimony that freed you?"
I asked.
"I
don't ever want to be the cause for so many feeling that justice wasn't served
in your court." She responded.
"I
understand, love, but sometimes the law and justice are leagues apart from
one another. I promise you one thing, though, justice will be served today."
I answered.
Moreover,
Kassandros will suffer, I thought to myself, as Gabrielle and I entered
the Hall.
*********************
I stood and paced before the men brought for sentencing. I was speaking of the inhumanity of the slavers, their ways, detailing in graphic examples, exactly what the kidnapped children could expect as slaves. Ever since I could first remember, I had a knack for speaking in front of people. The rush that I received from my battle speeches was something akin to being pleasured, and I used to ride that wave of pleasure, squeezing every last drop of emotion from it. I did the same right now and I could see it in their faces. Some realizing, for the first time, what the life of a slave must be like, so I continued to speak.
I
was setting them up for my victory, and the majority of them never even knew
it.
"You
have all been condemned and convicted of the crime of illegal slave trade,"
I directed my comments to the prisoners. "By Greek law I have the right
to condemn each of you to death."
"Wait
a minute," I heard Kassandros growl under his breath.
I
held up my hand for silence. "But, is death really appropriate for this
crime? I turned to the people once more. "Would their deaths bring those
children back? Can it bring the stolen lives back?" I asked, pausing
to look up at Gabrielle. "Do the victims even care if these men die?
Of course, not, they can only think of one thing…vengeance. Many of the victims
will never be known, but for them, this court exacts that vengeance for them."
I
moved back to my chair, touching Gabrielle's shoulder lightly as I walked
past her. That small connection was enough for me to feel energized, committed
to my goal.
"In
this case, death is actually too good for you." I said seriously. "Because
of that, I sentence you to life imprisonment."
Murmurs
and grumbles arose from the audience before I was even finished. "In
the mines at Pella," I added.
The
grumbling stopped immediately and only murmured whispers could be heard.
"You
bitch."
Pella
was in upper Macedon, Kassandros' homeland, so he knew what I had in mind.
The
city of Corinth produced silver coins, my face stamped on some, the symbol
of a lion on others. Silver was used because it was plentiful in mines all
over the Empire. Gold coins were something a bit more rare. They were minted
in few cities, but the most profitable was in Pella, due to the supplies of
gold ore. The deposits were deep underground, the labor nearly death defying
to mine the precious metal, which was why prisoners were used in the mines.
In the mines at Pella, even slaves were considered too valuable to send in.
"You
said the rest of my life…I'd be sent to a prison for the rest of my life,"
Kassandros yelled as they pulled him away.
"I
figure that should be in about one season," I returned calmly.
Once
the astonished onlookers were calmed a bit, I motioned to Antillius. The young
man opened a scroll and cleared his throat.
"By
order of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire, the following
proclamation is issued as law. To begin on this day at this very moment, the
Lord Conqueror has commanded that slavery be banished from within the boundaries
of the Greek Empire. The throne will be willing to provide a modest compensation
to slave owners, as recompense, or to be used as wages, if the slaves of a
household or within an industry choose to stay in their position, as hired
servants. The army of the throne will see to it that said law is met with
compliance, however the Lord Conqueror and her advisors shall be available
on a daily basis, to see to it that the law is made a reality. Effective immediately,
slavery is at an end in the realm."
Antillius
looked over at me for approval and I smiled at the young man. "So be
it." I said, thereby putting the law into effect.
He
then brought the scroll to me and handed me a quill, wet with ink. I signed
my name to the document, and another, exactly like the first. Terillus insisted
we have a duplicate copy. A remarkable thing happened after I signed my name.
Almost the entire Hall cheered. I certainly wasn't expecting that, which made
Gabrielle brighten and lean towards me to whisper in my ear.
"And
now…you are an enigma to me," my future Queen smiled
*********************
Not
a soul bothered us again for the rest of the night. We ate a leisurely dinner
that Delia outdid herself creating, followed by an even more relaxing bath,
with more touching and caressing going on than actual bathing. We ended up
in front of the game table, each of us enjoying a goblet of wine. I think
Gabrielle humored me in drinking hers, I know she didn't care for the taste
very much.
The
game of King's Men went about like all our games; I got my butt kicked.
"How
do you do that?" I raised my voice slightly, staring down at the marble
playing field.
"Because
you do the same thing over and over," Gabrielle countered.
"I'll
have you know that I won every campaign I ever waged, from Sparta to Troy,
with the exception of one." I shot back.
"Hhmm,"
Gabrielle said, rising and turning her back on me, "Funny, but you haven't
won any in Corinth."
I
stared at her retreating back, open-mouthed. Now it was a well-known fact
that I hadn't won the first Campaign I waged to take Corinth, well, actually,
I didn't lose, but I called a retreat. Long story. What amazed me is that
Gabrielle managed to cut me down to size in a rather amusing jibe equating
that battle and my ability at King's men.
So
quickly, I bet she never heard it; I jumped from my chair. I had her in my
arms and up in the air, tossed over one shoulder before she knew what was
happening. The combination of Gabrielle's screams and her laughter as I tickled
her, brought a much too enthusiastic Aristes, charging in through our door.
We
all just stopped and stared at one another. I repositioned Gabrielle in my
arms and the guard was wondering, I'm sure, which it would be, Tartarus or
Elysium.
"I…forgive
me…I…I heard…well, then I thought maybe…I thought the lady…um, that she could
be…in trouble…" the guard desperately tried to stammer out.
Gabrielle
and I never said a word.
"I'll
just…um…" Aristes pointed toward the door and he left the way he came,
only a lot quieter.
Once
the door closed, Gabrielle and I took one look at one another and burst into
laughter.
"That
poor boy," Gabrielle said.
"Poor
boy, my ass," I said while crossing the room and pushing the bolt on
the door, while holding on to Gabrielle with one arm. "He's lucky I'm
in a good mood."
"Are
you going to put me down now?" she asked.
"So,
what are you going to do with me?" she asked with a gleam of expectation
in her eye.
"What
do you think?" I asked, crossing the threshold of our bedroom.
*********************
"Why
are you laughing? I think I could," I said, sure if I pouted a little
Gabrielle would give in and agree.
"Oh,
Xena, I'm sorry, love but you…as a body slave? I just can't picture it."
She continued to chuckle.
"Well,
I didn't say I'd be great at it, just that I could, if I had to." I replied.
"Uh
huh." Gabrielle arched her eyebrow.
"I
could! Quit looking at me that way."
"What
way, love?" she asked.
"That
way. That condescending way that says, you don't think I can do it."
"Xena,
dear…we're talking about forgoing your own pleasure to see to your master's,
not thinking of taking one bit of satisfaction for yourself. Do you remember
the first evening we met, when you eventually passed out?" Gabrielle
asked.
"I
fell asleep, I did not pass out. Besides, I fought in a battle that morning."
I whined rather pathetically.
"All
right," Gabrielle rose from the couch we'd been reclining on. She let
her robe slide from her shoulders, her beautiful, naked body standing there
before me. She turned on her heel and walked to the bed. Pulling back the
comforter and sheets, she sat down and leaned back, reclining on one elbow.
"Well?"
she looked at me.
"Now?
Right now?"
"It's
now or never, Conqueror." Gabrielle answered firmly.
She
held an amused look in her eyes that told me she thought I was far from capable
of pulling off such a feat. I wondered why I was even trying, when I knew
damn well that making love to Gabrielle, denying my own release, would damn
near kill me.
I
can do this, I kept whispering in my head. I stood up and walked to the bed.
"Take
off your robe." She commanded and I felt myself getting wet.
Just
like that I was aroused. Hades, this wasn't going to be much of a seduction
if the slave came before her master. Why am I even considering this? Gabrielle
doesn't expect me to prove anything. I let the robe fall from my body, becoming
increasingly aroused at the hungry stare Gabrielle used to look me over. She
abruptly rolled into the middle of the bed, on her stomach.
"A
backrub, Xena. That's what I need," she mumbled, practically into her
pillow.
Oh
Gods, I knew what she was recreating, now. It was the first night we spent
together. I realized I might be in a tad over my head here, but never being
one to back away from a challenge, I blindly pressed on. I stood there wondering
how a submissive person acts, how do they think? I watched as she spread those
legs apart and I knew it was up to me to take the silent command to kneel
there. I found myself frozen in place, literally unable to move. Something
like fear kept me grounded in place, unable to obey the unspoken order. I
was suddenly afraid that I wouldn't be able to please my lover, couldn't be
what she needed. Was I too old, too weary, did I have enough in me to be in
love? Children…she wanted children, Gods!
My
thoughts raced through my brain like a speeding chariot. I pulled my mind
to an abrupt halt and realization crept up on me. This is what a slave feels
like; insecure, unworthy, always wondering if you are good enough, pleasing
enough. For all my bluster about being unable to know what a slave truly feels,
I actually did know. Deep down, the only thing different between Gabrielle
and I had always been her fear. Now, that she was ridding herself of that
cumbersome emotion, she stood on an equal footing with me. That fact terrified
me. It also elated me. I had a chance to give Gabrielle something that no
man or woman ever gave her; the chance to be in command. To feel with abandon,
understanding that any pleasure you desired was within your reach. I was smiling
at that prospect when Gabrielle spoke.
"Not
up to the challenge, Conqueror?" she smirked into her pillow.
I
decided to take the challenge. I kneeled between her open legs, my own pressing
up against her. I touched her, kneading the muscles in the small of her back.
I slowly began to feel her muscles become warm and pliant under my touch.
Her skin felt smooth, but I could feel the strength the porcelain skin disguised.
"Where
did you learn how to do this?" Gabrielle asked in a breathy voice. I
just knew she was holding back a groan of pleasure.
I
decided to play along with her little recreation. "One of my masters
had a healer who was from the land of Chin. He was very happy to teach me
the ways of his art, Mistress." I tried to remember the few words Gabrielle
spoke to me that evening.
I
leaned into her slight body and rubbed small circles into her lower back with
the heel of one hand. Strong thighs parted slightly and I pressed against
the insides of those gorgeous legs, leaning my weight in, to place more pressure
on my hand. She moaned softly as the curls covering my mound pressed into
her shapely backside, and my own wetness betrayed me, just as it had when
our positions were reversed. Gods! How does she do it? I was about ready to hold her down and ravish her right then. I paused
momentarily upon reaching her hips, acting as if I didn't know in which direction
to continue. Thank the Gods this whole thing seemed to be exciting her as
much as me.
"Lower,"
she ordered.
I
watched as the muscles in her arms tensed in anticipation. She held the pillow
in her arms tighter as I kneaded the flesh of her backside, wondering if she
had any idea how insane she was making me with the small whimpers that I'm
sure she wasn't even aware she was making. I ran my hands along the silky
skin there, first strongly massaging, then softly teasing with only my fingertips.
I held my hands close together, letting the thumbs run along the division,
moving lower until they just grazed her wetness. I took a deep breath, struggling
to stay focused. In time, I moved down each thigh and along the backs of her
legs, allowing my hands to caress her calves, working the arch of her foot,
before letting my hands make the return journey.
By
the time I slowly worked my way up to her backside again; the sounds coming
from her throat were torturing me. She could no more hide her desire, than
I could stop. It was easy to see her excitement, the folds of her sex, open
and exposed to my eyes, glistened with her own brand of ambrosia. I was beginning
to wonder if Gabrielle would want me in the exact way I wanted her, but I
continued on. I was the slave and she the master. It was up to her to tell
me what she desired. I don't know what it was about the open way she
lay before me, the submissive position that belied who was in control, and
who was merely being pleased, but I watched, mesmerized, as she pulled one
knee up, spreading herself open, issuing the one command I held my breath
for.
"Touch
me," she said hoarsely.
I
knew exactly what she wanted now and I clenched my abdominal muscles, to contain
the surge of pleasure and keep it from taking over my belly. I left one hand
to continue rubbing the flesh of that gorgeous backside, allowing my fingers
to slip into the wet flesh between her legs. Gods, oh Gods, I kept thinking
to myself, as Gabrielle arched her back, leaning up on her elbows a bit more
to open herself fully to me.
I
was whimpering, but I believe the soft sounds were drowned out by Gabrielle's
moans and pleas for me not to stop. She ground her hips into the mattress
to try to force my hand harder against her clit. I remembered the frustrating
feeling when that contact wasn't enough, and she growled in frustration, just
as I had.
"Inside…Gods,
get your hand inside me!" she commanded, crying out in ecstasy when I
slipped my fingers inside of her.
She
pushed back hard, impaling herself further, nearly on her hands and knees
by now. I couldn't believe how excited I was by it all. It felt just as incredible
as when Gabrielle took me in the same manner.
I
kept in perfect sync with her thrusting back against me, matching the exact
speed her hips dictated. My free hand was splayed, the fingers across her
backside, moving my thumb along the crack toward her center. I continued that
way, back and forth, spreading Gabrielle's own juices up until she could feel
where I was headed. I paused and began to gently rub the puckered flesh, pressing
lightly, but not penetrating. Gabrielle's hips began a swirling motion, pushing
back, silently pleading for more.
I
kept up the thrusting of my fingers inside her, feeling the trembling of her
limbs indicating her approaching release. I continued to run my thumb back
down to pick up more lubrication, returning and pressing a little harder each
time.
"Mistress?"
I asked, requesting permission exactly as she had.
Gabrielle
groaned. I knew that feeling. You wanted to say no, but it was as if someone
else was controlling your body.
"Gods,
yes!" she cried out.
Finally,
I paused and pushed against the reluctant opening, my thumb covered in Gabrielle's
silky wetness and in one smooth motion, I penetrated that tight opening with
my thumb. I could feel my digit slide in, easily penetrating that wet warmth.
I proceeded to do what Gabrielle did to me, fucked me until I thought I couldn't
possibly hold back my own release any longer. She began pushing back hard
against both of my hands moving inside her, and when her own screams ripped
through her, she fell into the pillows, breathing hard.
I
slowly eased my thumb out, my hand stilled inside her and before the last
tremors of her powerful orgasm eased, I was moving my fingers inside her again.
I twisted them up high and deep, rubbing the velvety spot inside and she was
groaning aloud again. I brought her to another quick release after that, until
her body fell forward onto the bed, her lungs needy for air.
"Mercy,"
she sighed in defeat and I smiled inside, not allowing the emotion to be displayed
on my face.
I
rose from the bed, cleaned myself, and gulped down half a dozen swallows of
ouzo. I was hoping the spirits would send me into Morpheus' realm quickly,
because now I had to go back to bed and prove that I could be a good slave;
that I could abstain from my own pleasure. Gods, this was not funny. I had
an ache between my legs that I just knew wasn't going to allow me to simply
roll over and fall asleep.
I
moved to the bed and wrapped myself around Gabrielle. "Everything okay?"
I asked.
"Mmm
hmm," she murmured.
She
pressed the length of her body back against me and my skin burned where it
made contact with hers. "Gods," I whispered as low as I could.
"Feel
good?" she teased.
"Ssh,
go to sleep, love," I said hoarsely, trying to remember all the points
of battlefield strategy I learned when younger. I was willing to try anything
to get my mind off the pain between my legs.
Gabrielle
pushed back into me, grinding her backside into my mound, which left a damp
trail along her skin.
"Xena…you're
so wet," she purred.
I
broke out into a cold sweat. That kind of talk was doing nothing to douse
my flaming libido. She swirled her hips, backing them into me a little harder
this time. I could hear the growl rumbling in my chest before it even voiced
itself.
"Gabrielle,"
I leaned closer, practically lying over her, enjoying the contact of practically
lying on top of her back, "are you doing that on purpose?"
"Yes,"
she whispered back to me.
Then
I did growl. "Gabrielle…"
"Yes,
love?" Again the grind.
"I'm
sorry, I admit it…I suck at being a slave." I relinquished at last.
"Why
do you say that?" she asked as I pressed against her further.
"Because
all I want to do right now is feel you moving under me. Gods, woman, I want
you to make me come."
I
spread my legs, lying nearly completely on top of her, reaching my hand down
between our bodies. I was incredibly wet, and couldn't resist swirling my
fingers against my need. I spread myself open and pressed down hard against
the firm ass under me, Gabrielle tilting her hips up to increase the pressure.
She grabbed my hand and brought it to her lips, and I could only watch and
groan as she licked my juices from each finger.
"Gods,
woman!" I cried out.
I
pressed down hard again while sliding myself along her backside. Sparks of
pure fire were igniting against my clit as I continued to rub against the
soft skin, while Gabrielle continued to press up against me at the same time.
"Ohhh,"
I moaned, "I'm…Gods I'm sorry, baby…this is…going to be…so fast…Oh Gods!"
I screamed.
The
convulsions wracked my body and I couldn't control the way I pressed against
Gabrielle's body, in pain, but unwilling to end the powerful orgasm. When
at last the tremors eased, I fell against her, sated and amazed. It was true,
I thought to myself, just before sleep claimed me after we whispered our words
of love, I was a slave, but to only one thing…my passion for Gabrielle.
"Xena…are
you all right love?"
Gabrielle
found me in the outer room, peering out the window, down into the garden.
"Yes,
love," I answered distractedly.
She
slipped her arm around my waist and I realized my head was elsewhere. "I'm
sorry, my brain is fixed on something else this morning."
"I
can see that by the frown," Gabrielle answered, reaching up on her toes
to place a kiss on my cheek.
I
admit, that did make me feel better and my smile told her so.
"Why
are you frowning and why so early?"
"It
has nothing to do with us, my love." I kissed her forehead and pulled
her against me tighter. "We have a visitor." I pulled back the tapestry
to reveal a young man pacing in the garden below.
He
walked back and forth, sat on a bench for a few heartbeats, then bounced up
again as if too much energy could not be contained by sitting. He was tall,
with a slim waist, and broad shoulders. His long dark hair fell down into
his eyes and when he tossed his head back, he revealed sparkling blue eyes.
Most would guess him to be nineteen or twenty, but I knew that he was twenty-three
summers, in fact, I remembered the day he was born with startling clarity.
Gabrielle
looked at the man, then back at me, and I knew she was wondering.
"Xena…do
you know that young man?" she finally asked.
I
smiled down at her, letting the tapestry fall to cover the window once again.
"Yes,"
I answered. "He's my son."
to
be continued in Tale Two: "The Petal of the Rose"