Chapter Fifteen
A Sweet, and Baffling, Aftermath
Keeping her arms over her head, Xena watched them in the balcony - she was close enough to see tears of relief in Gabrielle's eyes. They looked at each other for a moment, then Gabrielle turned to Domina in response to something said to her.
Batiatus was on his feet, laughing and slapping others on the back and hugging the women, even the slave women who belonged to Cicerius. Twice he grabbed Lucretia and hugged and kissed her. He obvious won a lot of money.
Cicerius stayed in his seat, his expression mostly unreadable. But the one who intrigued Xena was the well-dressed man seated next to Cicerius. He had a distinctly sour look on his face, and Xena suspected he was the one who brought Gaulus to this arena, and he wasn't happy with the outcome.
Then as the balcony began to clear, Xena turned to look around to take a really good look at the arena itself. And as she did, the crowd, getting over the shock of seeing such a behemoth taken down by a woman one quarter his size, began to cheer and to chant her name. Xena continued to play to the crowd, turning to face each wall with the seating over it. She was examining everything, looking for possible escape routes. She knew with her decisive win, she would soon become the property of Cicerius and she intended to fulfill her promise to Gabrielle to escape and come for her.
This arena, unlike the one at Capua, was barred, keeping the gladiators out of it until the gate was unlocked to allow them in to practice. Her best bet would be at night, but unless she had some way of getting into the arena, her prospects of escaping here were iffy at best.
The crowd began to leave as four men began dragging Gaulus by his feet out of the arena. Xena started to take his head and throw it over to them, but instead, kicked the sword over so the head was face down in the sand. She then walked to the gate leading from the arena. And as she got inside, everyone began applauding and cheering and calling her name, even Cicerius' men. Now that the competition was over, there were no hard feelings they all were slaves and brother gladiators.
And to honor her for her decisive win Xena was the first to bathe in the tub three times larger than the one at Batiatus' ludus, and filled with warm water. She dropped her loincloth and lowered herself into the warm water, and sitting on the bottom it was deep enough to so her breasts were covered. She was able to lie completely stretched out on the bottom, and stayed there for a seventy count a little something to show everyone again she was extraordinary. They all waited around the tub for her. And as she got out, there was a scuffle to see who would be next all wanting to be immersed in the water filled with blood, and the sweat of the slayer of Gaulus the Destroyer. Again, Xena could only marvel at the superstitiousness of them.
She donned a tunic, and they all feasted on roasted legs of cattle and swine. Desert was sliced melons, and each were allowed one cup of wine. After the meal, they broke up into small groups to talk of the day's events. While Xena was watching them, a young man in his late teens walked up to her and said, "You are Xena."
This caught her attention, not because he knew who she was, but because he spoke to her in Greek.
"I am," she replied. "You are from Greece?"
He nodded and said, "Yes. I am from Amphipolis, as you are."
"How do you know where I'm from?"
He smiled. "At the inn once owned by your dead mother there is a likeness of you, and Gabrielle, mounted on the wall behind the bar. Everyone knows you. But I never expected to actually meet you, and assuredly not in this place."
"You're rather young to be here, aren't you?"
"My two brothers and I left Greece, seeking adventure on a trading ship. But a Roman warship captured us and accused us of being pirates. We were arrested and sold into slavery. I haven't seen them for six years. I doubt that I ever will again."
While they were talking, Xena noticed that one of Cicerius' guards called out to Skyrn. He talked to him for a moment, then Skyrn went to Xena and had her follow him. They went down a dark passageway to the small cells the best of the gladiators slept in. He stopped in front of the last one and indicated she was to go in.
"You are to wait here," he said, then left. Looking around Xena noted that it wasnt much different from the one she slept in, a little larger, with thicker straw mattress on a raised bed, and a heavier woolen blanket. She could have walked out at any time, but she stayed; there was a reason she was brought here. She lay down on the mattress waiting, for something.
She had just closed her eyes she was still tired, when she heard, "Xena!"
It was Gabrielle. She leapt from the bed and in an instant they were in each other's arms, holding the other so tight neither could breathe. When they finally separated enough they could draw a breath, Gabrielle's hands went to the sides of Xena's face. "Oh, Xena, I was so scared. That monster was so big. Where did they find him? I knew this would happen. I knew they were trying to kill you...."
Knowing Gabrielle as she did, and that her rambling was the fear coming out of her, Xena shut her up the only way she knew - she put her mouth on Gabrielle's in a passionate and erotic kiss. Together they fell onto the bed, pulling at each other's tunic until they were both naked; hands caressing and exploring all the sensual places they each knew so well.
The only time there was a slowing of passion was when Gabrielle tenderly kissed Xena's newly acquired scars on her belly, then she continued on to the dark triangle she so enjoyed licking and stimulating. Time and again they exchanged places allowing the other to kiss and caress and excite those wonderful areas of desire.
And when they had finally, and temporarily, satisfied their needs, Gabrielle nestled in Xena's arms, ready to doze in complete serenity. But Xena had other plans. She forced Gabrielle to let her up, and taking her by the hand Xena said, "Come on. I have a surprise for you."
But when Gabrielle reached for her tunic, Xena told her to leave it. And all but dragging her from the room, Xena led her to the bath tub, drained, cleaned and refilled just before everyone had gone to bed. They moved quietly but quickly, the autumn night air chilling them without their tunics. Xena stepped in, held Gabrielle's hand to help her, and together they sat on the bottom, savoring the warm water, with Gabrielle inside Xena's arms where she had wanted to be.
After some moments, Xena said in a low voice in her ear, not wanting to wake anyone, "Gabrielle, when you came to see me after my first contest, I said some terrible things to you, things I knew I shouldn't have."
Gabrielle turned and put her fingers over Xena's lips, trying to shush her, but Xena kissed her finger tips then moved them from her mouth. "Just hear me out, please. I know the kinds of things that happen to female slaves, and I had no right to accuse you of anything. Whatever happened, whatever you had to do, I want you to know that you can tell me, and I won't judge you or think any less of you."
Xena hesitated, then continued. "I know sometimes it makes things better to talk about them right away. But sometimes it is easier after a while, when the pain has lessened. So whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen."
"Okay, and thank you," Gabrielle replied. The pain in her voice was evident. Then she turned back to nestle again in her arms. And Xena lay her head back against the side of the tub, vowing never to tell her about Barsis and Philox.
After a long while, just when Xena thought she had dozed off, Gabrielle turned to look at her, and said, "Xena, you know I think it was unnecessary for you to cut off that monster's head. What with all the swords and shields and other weapons, I had forgotten about the Pinch. Couldn't that have been enough - letting that kill him?"
"Do I really have to answer that question?"
Gabrielle sighed. "No. I guess you had to do what was expected of you. I just have a problem with all the excess violence. And I always will."
Gabrielle settled back into Xena's arms, leaning against her chest, pulling them tightly around her. Xena didn't say anything for a while, trying to find the right words. But nothing that sounded right in her head would come, so she decided just to say what she would and let the words come as they may.
"Gabrielle, do you honestly think I enjoyed killing those men? Do you really think that all the years we've spent together has had no effect on me? That I haven't tried to to live up to the expectations you put on me?"
Gabrielle wasn't sure what kind of answer Xena expected, but she never got the chance to reply.
"You don't know how much I wish I could think like you do. Even when you were following the philosophy of nonviolence of Eli. But as long as I have to do what I think is the right thing to protect you, I'll do whatever I have to. I don't know, maybe you forgot Dominus's promise to lash to either of us if we don't do what's expected. But I didn't. And as long as I love you more than my very own life...."
At this point, Xena ran out of words. Gabrielle turned back around and put her arms around Xena's neck and kissed her lovingly and tenderly.
"You don't have to explain anything," Gabrielle whispered. "Once we're away from here and back to Greece, we can just pretend none of this ever happened."
Xena held Gabrielle closer to her and whispered into her ear, "And once we're back home, I'll try harder to listen to you, and maybe I can be even less violent, when I can."
They kissed one more time, then Gabrielle turned once again and snuggled within Xena's arms, feeling her breasts against her back.
They both slept until the water cooled enough to wake them and they got out and ran back to the room through the cold air, used the tunics to dry off with, then huddled together under the blanket, arms and legs wrapped around each other, and fell asleep almost at once the first peaceful and restful sleep for either since their capture.
When they woke up it was already way past dawn. No one had come to get them. They donned their tunics and went into the dining area. The others had already eaten and were practicing in the arena, but food had been left for them bowls of thick meaty stew and fresh bread. They both ate their fill.
Afterward, while watching the men going through their paces, Xena said, "I know you think this is a terrible life being a gladiator. But it's really not as bad as you imagine. Yes, I know, there is always the risk of being maimed or killed, but look at the men, they are well fed. They sleep on straw mattresses with good blankets. The best of them can have women brought to them. The life isn't the horror many think it is."
"Xena, surely you're not thinking about staying here, and never trying to escape."
"No, of course not. But if it turns out escape isn't an option right away, there are worse places to be."
Gabrielle didn't like the turn of the conversation, but rather than argue with Xena in the short time they had together, she changed the subject.
They were able to spend the entire day together, and when the gladiators were done for the day, Gabrielle entertained them with stories of Xena's and her adventures, acting out the more dramatic or humorous parts. They both were surprised when the time came for sleep that no one came to fetch Gabrielle. And they were able to spend another night of passion and peaceful sleep. But with the dawn came the guards. Batiatus' men were manacled for the walk from the gladiator quarters to the carts to take them back to Capua. And not only the men, but both Xena and Gabrielle had shackles on their wrists.
"Why are you being chained if you're staying here?" Gabrielle asked.
"I don't know. Maybe Dominus wants to tell me in person of my sale to Cicerius. Or maybe Cicerius wants to look me over, and to tell me what he expects of me."
As they walked through the villa to the entrance where the carts were waiting, Xena was studying the layout - more information for her escape. But the confusion increased when they all were led outside. At the last moment a guard grabbed Gabrielle's arm and steered her to the cart with the house slaves and removed her shackles. Xena was told to get into the other with the gladiators.
Xena and Gabrielle locked eyes. Neither could understand why Xena was returning to the House of Batiatus.