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
We both sat
on my bed, Gabrielle behind me, combing the snarls out of my hair. A strange
thing for her to enjoy, but she apparently did. She took her time and I endured
the tender attentions, careful not to let my natural impatience come through.
"Gabrielle?"
"Yes,
My Lord?"
"These
stories you want to write down on parchment, do you also tell them aloud?
I mean…are you a bard, Gabrielle?" I asked the young woman. Her hands
stopped moving and I felt as if I offended her or caused her to stop and think.
"I have
never been trained in the ways of the bard, My Lord." She answered, resuming
her previous activity.
"But…do
you tell stories?" I prodded.
"Yes,
My Lord, I do."
I smiled. "Good."
I answered, folding my legs up and leaning my elbows on my knees. "Tell,
me a story, Gabrielle." There was a moment's silence. "Please?"
I added softly.
I couldn't
see it, but if Gabrielle was acting true to form, she was now looking at me
with a confused smile. When she began to speak, it was as if the voice belonged
to someone else. There was a power and a charisma in that voice, and I've
spent most of my life inciting soldiers on the battlefield with rousing speeches,
so I know good oratory skills when I hear them. I closed my eyes and I could
have been in a tavern, listening to a traveling bard, or even at a banquet
listening to Sappho or Euripides.
There once
lived a great and strong Lion who ruled a certain forest, protecting his forest
from all that would do it harm. One day, the mighty beast was hunting for
his dinner and a small brown rabbit jumped up and raced across the Lion's
path. Once the tiny creature saw the massive beast, he could go no further.
His fear froze him in place. Even the small bunny had heard of the Great Lion.
He was known as the king of the beasts and he ruled over everything in this
forest.
The Lion
wondered why the small creature did not continue running. It was the first
time the Lion ever thought of himself as being frightening to others. You
see; the Lion wore a fierce scowl on his face most of the time, due to the
constant pain he was in. The pain was from a large thorn embedded very deeply
into his hind paw. It rested there for many seasons, but no matter what he
tried, the beast could not remove the thorn. Therefore, he settled for a life,
filled with a constant reminder of a foolish act committed when he was a much
younger Lion.
So, the beast approached the rabbit, who was still shaking and shivering, unwilling to run. The Lion shook his great mane back and forth, pawed at the ground, and even released a roar that was heard throughout the woods. Undaunted, the rabbit remained.
"You
will be my dinner if you don't run." The Lion said, limping over to sit
in front of the rabbit.
"But,
you would catch me anyway, your Highness, so what will it benefit me to run?"
the rabbit answered.
"So,
you prefer to be eaten, without even defending yourself?"
"I
could offer you a trade, your Highness." The rabbit quickly answered.
The rabbit
was not a stupid animal, but he was indeed one of the smallest creatures in
the forest. His size and his position, in the animal world, put him at a constant
disadvantage. He learned, however, to use his wit to survive.
"What
could you offer me, little rabbit, that I could not merely take from you?"
the Lion questioned.
"Friendship,"
the small creature answered at once. "If you would but promise never
to eat me, then I would offer you my friendship in return."
"And
what good can this friendship of yours be to me?" the Lion asked, a warm
puff of breath blowing across the small creature.
"If
I was your friend, I could end your pain by removing the thorn in your paw.
You see; my teeth are made for tasks such as that, while yours are not."
The Lion thought about that for a moment. He was rather hungry, but this tiny thing wasn't going to make much of a meal for him. He lived with the bothersome thorn for so long, however, that he nearly forgot what it would be like, to walk around without the constant pain. So, the great King nodded his large head and rolled to his side, allowing the small creature to crawl up next to him. The great Lion watched as the small rabbit did as he promised and removed the imbedded thorn, grasping it in his strong teeth and pulling with all his might. The large beast sat rather silent afterward, amazed at the trust that the smaller creature displayed.
I sat very
still, my eyes still closed, lost in the story that my slave told. I knew
that Gabrielle wasn't old enough to be acquainted with the period in my life
when I was known as the Lion of Amphipolis, yet I felt the story was an analogy
of the lives that she and I led together. Perhaps I was giving my small slave
too much credit. Gabrielle knew how to read and it was always possible she
came upon the reference in a scroll at one time or another. I suddenly realized
that Gabrielle was no longer brushing my hair, but I felt the story wasn't
over yet. Maybe she thought I fell asleep.
"Then
what happened? The Lion ate him, didn't he?" I asked, always the cynic.
"Oh no,
My Lord," Gabrielle answered quickly.
The Lion
kept to the agreement and released the small rabbit, never really understanding
how the small creature wove its way past the Lion's hard exterior. Many seasons
later, when the Lion was old and frail, near starvation because he hadn't
the strength to hunt anymore, he again met the rabbit.
The rabbit
was larger and fatter, but still much smaller than the large Lion. The large
beast caught up with the slow, small animal and knew that this meal would
keep him alive until he could find a proper meal. Just as the Lion was about
to devour the smaller creature, the rabbit looked up and pleaded.
"But,
you promised you would never eat me," the rabbit begged.
The Lion
searched his memory, which had always been very good, and he remembered the
tiny creature that offered up friendship that summer day so long ago. The
Lion kept his word and placed the rabbit back on the ground, not out of obligation,
but out of friendship.
"You
are right, old friend. I must say goodbye, however, for without a meal, I
will surely perish on this night."
The rabbit
looked at the Lion, lying down on his side. The large beast's ribs were visible
under his skin and the rabbit felt a sharp stab of empathy for his old friend.
"I
have changed my mind. I think that you should eat me." The rabbit stated
emphatically.
"Why
have you changed your mind?" The Lion questioned weakly.
"Because
without food, you will die, and I have lived a long and happy life thanks
to the day you released me." The rabbit answered.
"Ahhh,
but so have I. Once the thorn was removed from my paw, I felt ten seasons
younger. I feel as if I have lived two lifetimes." The Lion responded.
The rabbit
saw that they were at an impasse and hopped away as quickly as it's old bones
could manage. The once fearsome Lion laid his head down and sighed. He surprised
himself, for it hadn't been difficult to release the rabbit before it became
a meal. He truly began to think of the selfless little rabbit as a friend.
Moments
later the small creature returned, hopping around in excitement.
"I have found your meal, my friend. Just past that copse of trees is a small antelope. The poor thing is deformed so that he cannot walk and will surely suffer before he eventually dies. He has said that if you would but end his agony quickly, he would gladly give his all to nourish you."
The Lion
did indeed find the strength to make his way to the pitifully crippled creature,
and the antelope bravely gave up his life for the King. Later, as the rabbit
and the satiated Lion sat side by side, the Lion asked his small friend why
he was willing to give up his life, when it had been so many seasons since
either of them had any contact with the other. The rabbit looked up at his
large companion and answered most simply.
"Because
you are my friend." The rabbit said.
I heard the
last sentence, yet I didn't have the strength, me, Xena the Conqueror, to
respond verbally to the story. I was in a pathetic state, my eyes filling
with tears. I couldn't remember the last time I cried, when anything moved
me to such a degree. At first, I wasn't sure if Gabrielle was relating an
analogy to parallel my life, or not. Now, I feel in what is left of my dark
heart, that she told me this story for exactly those reasons.
I lowered my
head and felt the tears that were on the edge of my eyes, spill out, and slide
down across my cheeks. It's been such a long time. Why haven't I cried like
this until now? What is it about this small slave that reaches in and makes
a mockery of all the barriers that I have so carefully constructed around
my heart?
I couldn't
bear to display this ultimate weakness to Gabrielle. Instead of turning to
look at her, I moved toward the hand she had resting on the bed. I lifted
it upward and placed a gentle kiss in the palm, continuing to then hold it
within my own, in my lap. A long, yet not completely uncomfortable silence
hung in the air, and suddenly, I felt her hand against my back, rubbing gently
as if to soothe me. So much existed unsaid between the two of us. I unable,
and Gabrielle not allowed. I wondered if it would always be this way and knew
that if I wanted it to be different, it would be I who had to work the hardest.
It was I alone who held the freedom to either give my heart away to this girl,
or to simply keep her as my slave. I feared both prospects and felt that perhaps
I was up to the challenge of neither. I brushed the tears from my face and
turned to my young slave.
"I'm hungry,
Gabrielle. Are you hungry?"
Gabrielle's
face flooded with relief and it dawned on me that she might have thought my
silence indicated my anger. She quickly nodded her head.
"Yes,
My Lord. Shall I visit the cook and bring you something?" Gabrielle started
to rise.
"No,"
I chuckled, looking at her attired only in one of my white silk shirts. I
rose and tossed off my robe, putting on a fresh pair of trousers and a shirt.
"I will go downstairs, you go to your room and get a robe. If I have
to look across the dining table at you wearing only that, I'll never finish
my dinner. Don't daydream in the halls, I don't want my soldiers seeing you
in only that." I nodded, indicating her garment.
As I pulled
on my boots, she looked down at the shirt she wore and I could see a pink
color rise to her cheeks that caused her to look absolutely enchanting.
"Yes,
My Lord." I heard her answer with a small smile just as I left the room.
*********************
"Good
evening, Lord Conqueror."
"Delia,
what in Hades are you doing in the kitchens now?" I answered the older
woman. She was stirring a pot that was emitting a heavenly smell.
"What
else have I to do with my time?" she answered matter of factly.
I leaned over
her shoulder and dipped a finger into the pot she was mixing. It tasted like
a venison stew with thick wine based gravy. When I went back for more the
reached out with a hand, and before I knew it, rapped the top of a spoon across
my knuckles.
"Ow!"
I cried out, rubbing the top of my hand.
She shushed
me and pushed me back out of her way, until I was sitting on a high stool.
She continued to glare at me and now that her head was above mine, I felt
like a child being sent to the corner.
"I do
own all this you know." I added weakly, feeling I had the beginnings
of a pout going.
She folded
her arms and arched an eyebrow at me, my own move I might add. "When
I try to stick my fingers in your pot…then you can slap me back."
She finally
grinned and I couldn't keep from smiling myself. "You're worse than me."
I sat there, shaking my head at the double entendre of her words.
"Dinner
for you and your Gabrielle, then?" she asked, knowing why I was there.
"Yes,
if you would be so kind." I teased.
Her phrase,
my Gabrielle, sounded pleasant to my ears. I wondered how many others
already knew how I felt about my young slave.
As Delia set
about placing our dinner on a tray, I milled about the kitchen. This small
alcove was Delia's domain. The other cooks knew better than to disturb anything
in this private area of hers. I noticed she had a small desk and writing utensils
tucked in one corner of the room. Suddenly I had a plan.
"Delia…I
need your help."
"Yes,
Lord Conqueror?" She turned to me, a quizzical expression pulling her
brows together.
"I'll
need you to arrange something, if you can, this evening. I want a desk like
this one placed in Gabrielle's rooms, plus parchment and writing supplies.
You know," I said in answer to her puzzled look, "ink and quills
and such."
She stared
at me for a long moment, and then she turned back to the tray she was filling.
I saw her eyes before she turned her back to me, however, and I could see
I finally made a move that even Delia hadn't anticipated. Suddenly, I had
the need to explain.
"She can
read and write and is quite a good storyteller. I think she would enjoy writing
them down."
"You take
very good care of this young woman, Xena." Delia stated.
It sounded
so odd, hearing my name. No one ever used it, yet every once in a while, Delia's
voice softened, and she looked at me as a mother might, using the familiarity
with kindness.
"She deserves
someone to care." I answered, thanking the older woman, and extracting
a promise that she would see that some men installed the necessary furniture
tonight. When I walked out the kitchen's main door, I could have swore that
I heard the old woman chuckling to herself.
*********************
Sometimes it
only takes a heartbeat in time to undo so much good. I silently walked up
the last set of stone steps to my chambers and when I rounded the corner,
I saw them on the landing above. Gabrielle changed into a robe of her own,
but holding her in a firm grasp was a young lieutenant from my army. He was
pawing at her and had his hand squeezing her backside. This was certainly
enough to cause my blood to begin a slow simmer. What set it boiling was the
fact that Gabrielle stood there and let him. She squirmed a little as his
iron grip, but she wasn't even fighting him off.
Their backs
were facing the stairs by the time I reached the landing and I quietly laid
the tray on the top step. The terror in his eyes when I grabbed him by the
throat wasn't near enough to assuage me. I cocked my fist back and broke his
nose with the first strike. The table he backed into tilted, and it and the
vase atop it crashed down the stairs noisily. The sound brought, not only
guards running, but Atrius as well. I would wonder later what he was doing
on this floor, but would only discover the truth much later.
By the time
I saw Atrius at the bottom of the stairs, I was pulling back for a final blow.
When my fist came forward and made contact with the young man's jaw, I released
the neck of his tunic. I felt his jaw break under the impact and I heard his
scream heart beats later. I tossed him down the stairs as Atrius and two of
the palace guard caught him. His face was a bloody mess, my hand cut, and
bleeding as well.
"Get him
out of my site before I have his legs broken!" I hissed from the top
of the stairs.
I was breathing
rapidly, the rush of adrenaline still surging through me. I turned and stood
in front of Gabrielle, all my anger now focused on her. My muscles fairly
quivered from the restraint, as I held myself back from striking out at her,
but couldn't stop the words that might as well have been dealt as blows.
"Don't
you know how to fight back!?" I shouted angrily. I turned, without waiting
for an answer, and walked into my rooms, slamming the door shut behind me.
Just before the door closed, my uncanny hearing picked up Gabrielle's small
reply.
"No."
she said softly.
*********************
Tears coursed
down the young slave's eyes as she leaned against the wall, sliding down it
to sit on the top stair. She hugged her legs to her chest, looking like a
small, frightened child.
Atrius knew
the Conqueror, knew her tempers and tantrums, when to stay out of her way,
and when to intercede. He left the foolish lieutenant with the guards to bring
the boy to the infirmary, and then slowly climbed the stairs to bend down
and speak to the girl. He wondered at this one. Mostly he wondered what there
was about her that had so bewitched the Conqueror. For over twenty seasons
he watched the worst behavior, that one human could lower herself to. Now,
lately, he thought he was seeing the best. The Conqueror began to change,
but recently, since the girl came to be with her, she was damn near benevolent.
"She loses her temper, but she's always sorry afterwards." Atrius said to the small slave.
The girl wiped her face of her tears, but didn't look up at the Captain.
"You
have to develop a thicker skin to be with her, girl. Besides, she's probably
in there right now, trying to figure how to get you back in there without
looking like a fool. I'll bet you anything she already feels worse about shouting
at you, than you feel."
Gabrielle
smiled at that. From what she'd come to know so far about her new master,
she knew that hurting Gabrielle never seemed to be her intention.
"Here…take
the tray of food in and I guarantee you, she will be the first to speak."
Atrius lifted
the tray as the girl rose and placed it in her arms. He walked over and held
the door open that the Conqueror so recently slammed shut. When Gabrielle
walked into the room, the tall Captain gently closed the door behind her.
He shook his head in wonder and returned to his own quarters.
*********************
I heard the
door in the outer room open and saw out of the corner of my eye as Gabrielle
set the tray down on the table. I sat in my chair, a high backed wooden chair
that was made for my fit and was the one piece of furniture I cherished. It
faced the open window that was now covered by a heavy tapestry for the evening.
The chair was situated so that I could watch the sunrise, which I developed
a fondness for of late. Gabrielle continued to stand there silently.
I didn't know
how to express why I was so upset with the girl back there. Was I just supposed
to tell her that she had permission to fight off attackers, no matter who
they were? Was I supposed to apologize…could I even apologize? How does one
go about it?
I flexed my
hand painfully and for the first time saw the bleeding and bruised knuckles.
Gods, my body was taking a beating today. I heard Gabrielle moving around,
and suddenly she was standing before me, with a bowl of water and a rag in
her hands. She kneeled to the floor, and without saying a word, wet the cloth
and took my injured hand in hers. She wiped at the cuts and cleaned them thoroughly,
neither of us saying a word. I noticed, for the first time in a long time,
the tiny white lines that crisscrossed my knuckles on that hand. They were
small, thin scars, from years of holding a sword in that hand, that, and punching
men like I had tonight.
"You don't
have to do that, Gabrielle." I finally addressed her.
"I wanted
to apologize, My Lord. I'm sorry for angering you." She said, never raising
her eyes to me.
"I'm not
angry with you, Gabrielle." I reached out with my free hand and stroked
her cheek, running my fingers through the golden hair. I rose to my feet.
"Stand up, Gabrielle."
I crossed the
room to the window and drew the tapestry back. "Gabrielle, look out there,
do you see that?" I commanded and questioned at the same time. Night
had fallen, but something of dusk remained, you could see across the palace
walls, and the villages, situated far out onto the rolling hills.
"Gabrielle,
all that, as far as your eye can see, for leagues and leagues, beyond even
that, belongs to me." I motioned with my hand.
I then dropped
the curtain and walked to the center of the room. "All around you, the
palace and its inhabitants…all of it belongs to me. And, because it belongs
to me, it means something to me. It has a place inside of me and I'll let
no one take what is mine. What of you, Gabrielle? Do you know what place you
have among all of this?" I gestured with both of my hands.
Gabrielle watched
me and with that last question, I could see the light of understanding flicker
hopefully in her eyes.
"I belong
to you?" she asked rather than answered.
"That's
right, Gabrielle," I smiled at last. I pulled her to me and kissed the
top of that blonde head. "You belong to me."
I saw the change
in her eyes immediately and I could tell that she understood my choice of
words. I didn't say that I owned her, which would have instantly relegated
our relationship to that of master and slave. I told her that she belonged
to me. I didn't mean as simply a prized possession, and I think she understood
that. I was telling her that her heart was mine, just as I felt mine had become
hers.
"But,
am I not still a slave, My Lord?"
Well, she had
me with that one. How could I ever tell Gabrielle that I desired for nothing
better than to free her. How could I explain the terror I felt, knowing that
the first thing she would do, would be to leave? Therefore, I kept my silence
about that, trying to build a relationship when even I knew I had an unfair
advantage. I couldn't release that last bit of control.
"Gabrielle,
you have a station and a rank in this palace, whether you are aware of it
or not. You are a slave, yes, but being my personal slave, you rank above
all others in this palace. For when it comes to trust, I place more in you,
than I would in all my advisors combined."
Her eyes showed
their surprise as I continued. "Because of this, Gabrielle, you have
the right to protect yourself from any who would try to touch what is mine.
You need to know that no man will ever punish you for obeying me, little one.
The next time someone…anyone makes advances…touches you in any way, I want
you to scream, kick, fight, anything you need to do to get my attention. Then
I'll deal with the situation. Do you understand, Gabrielle?"
Her head was
lowered and I tilted her chin to look into her face. Her green eyes did that
usual trick of looking anywhere but within my own.
"Do you
understand, little one?" I asked again, more gently this time.
"I--I
believe so, My Lord, but I--" Gabrielle stammered.
"But what,
Gabrielle?"
"I--I
don't know how, My Lord." She answered in a voice so low, it was barely
a whisper.
I saw her eyes
filling with tears and as usual, they tore at my heart. I could feel each
one that fell from her eyes as a dagger piercing into my chest. I pulled her
into an embrace and brushed the tears away, holding her in my arms for a few
heartbeats before speaking again.
"Gabrielle,
I know there are things that are difficult for you because of the life that
you've been forced to lead, but there are things that you must learn if you
are to be my--if you are to be with me."
I quickly changed
direction with that last bit. I didn't want to say slave, yet I couldn't really
say consort now, could I? I held her against me for a few moments more and
released her.
"Would
you like me to teach you what I expect from you, should an episode like tonight's
happen again?"
She nodded
her head quickly. "Yes, My Lord."
"Let's
begin, then." I said with a smile, our dinner forgotten.
*********************
"Okay,
are you ready to test all this out for real?" I asked Gabrielle.
Three candlemarks
sped by as I taught my young slave what aggression was. I came to realize
that it wasn't simply the fact that Gabrielle lived as a submissive slave
for so long, that caused her to be so unwilling to shove back when pushed.
I found that passivity seemed to be in the girl's very nature. She always
wanted to see the good side of the people who would do her wrong. I finally
had to tell her, to let Hades do his job and evaluate people's lives at the
end of their mortal journey, her job was to think about herself.
We walked outside
and I purposely went out by the practice field where rows of tents had already
been erected for the soldiers to live in, while their barracks were commandeered
for the villagers. I explained to Gabrielle that I would be in the shadows
and that if I felt it was going badly, I would intervene. She smiled bravely,
but I could see her lower lip quivering slightly.
"You can
do this, Gabrielle."
She gave me
a weak smile and walked onto the path. It wasn't long before a soldier walked
by and whistled at her as he passed. When she showed no interest and bowed
her head, he thought he had an easy mark. Why must all men be so full of themselves?
I asked myself. He turned and came back to her and the next thing I knew Gabrielle
was in his hold, but it seemed she just forgot everything I taught her. It
took two heartbeats for me to get to her side and have my fist connect with
the soldier's temple. He laid on the ground unmoving and I checked to make
sure he was still breathing…I hadn't meant to hit him that hard, but seeing
him lay a hand on Gabrielle, Gods, I lost my composure completely.
"Gabrielle."
It was all I could say, but when I looked up at the girl, she looked terrified.
I was just beginning to think I should simply scrap all of this and let the
girl be whatever way she felt most comfortable. I felt no better than the
soldier, lying on the grass, for making her do this. That's when she spoke.
"I--I'm
so afraid, My Lord."
"Gabrielle,"
I said again, pulling her into my arms. She was trembling and I squeezed her
tightly against me, stroking her hair until she calmed somewhat.
"Little
one, don't you know that everyone feels fear?" I questioned.
"Not you,
My Lord." She replied and I couldn't keep from smiling slightly.
"Everyone,
Gabrielle, even me. Only fools and children feel no fear. They have the Gods
to watch out for them, but us ordinary mortals need fear, it protects us from
ourselves. It tells you when not to enter an impossible situation. There are
times, however, when you have to push yourself beyond that fear, when you
need to test its limits to see what really is possible." I explained.
"And you, My Lord?" Gabrielle asked.
"Do you
think that when I rush into battle, I feel no fear? Like I said before, everyone
feels it, especially me. Perhaps that's what makes me a better warrior than
most, because I feel it enough for ten men. It's that fear that causes me
to try harder, to be stronger, and smarter. It's my fear of losing what I
have that spurs me on to do the things I do."
"But you
never look afraid." Gabrielle commented, pondering what I was telling
her.
"That
is the key, the very secret of my life, Gabrielle, and I share it with you
alone." I replied, watching as a small smile fell upon her lips. She
understood what it meant to learn of an adversary's vulnerability, she also
knew the amount of trust required to reveal such vulnerabilities willingly.
"Fear
is a good thing, always remember that, little one, yet the secret behind it,
is to embrace the fear, and to never let your opponent see that it exists
within you. If you can do that, you've already won. I can guarantee that if
you give a look as cold as ice to a man, then use the little move I taught
you, while screaming your pretty head off…he'll likely drop in his tracks.
Or at least be stunned until I can reach you." I smiled.
"Now,
want to try this again?" I asked.
"Yes,
My Lord," Gabrielle nodded her head and I saw her teeth clench together
as she steeled herself against the fear. Gods, the girl was going to be something
someday.
Once again,
we walked along the path that led to the stables, me in the shadows and Gabrielle
in the light from the waning moon, waiting for what seemed like eternity,
and once more, a young soldier met up with the beautiful young slave. Only
problem was this one was polite. Gods, what's wrong with the man? I asked
myself as he politely left Gabrielle with an admonishment not to be out without
an escort.
I stepped from
the darkness and surprised the young man and Gabrielle both. I grabbed him
by the neck and drug him back in front of Gabrielle.
"Kiss
her." I ordered.
The soldier
looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and then he thought about who I was. I
was sure he was remembering some soldier's story about my odd public displays
of sex, so he decided to be brave and gently reached over to kiss my young
slave.
I batted him
away and grabbed him by the neck again. "Not like that man, who do you
think she is, my sister? She's a wench, so get over there and take it from
her like you've got a pair!" I bellowed.
That seemed
to get him going. I prepared myself to yank him away from Gabrielle, but to
my pleasure and great surprise, the small blonde took every lesson I taught
her to heart. Once the man laid a hand on her arm, Gabrielle shouted at the
top of her lungs.
"NO! She
cried out.
The soldier
wasn't prepared for that and loosened his hold enough for Gabrielle to bring
her knee up hard between the man's legs. I groaned in sympathy for the poor
boy, as Gabrielle pushed him away and he sunk easily to the ground, clutching
what was left of his manhood.
I was already
on my way into the fray as the soldier fell to the ground. I pulled Gabrielle
away and held her against me, feeling the rapid beat of her heart and watching
as her chest rose and fell, as she took deep breaths of air. When she looked
up at me, I kissed her.
"Brilliant!"
I smiled. That's when I saw it.
Her eyes were
lit with a fire that had never been there before, at least not in my presence.
They looked like two glowing emeralds and I felt a rush of arousal at the
thought that this young woman might someday bring that look into our bed.
I kissed her again and bent down to attend to the young man who was just beginning
to feel the ground underneath him again. I helped him to his feet and slapped
him on the back.
"Good
man, dismissed. Can you walk okay?" I asked.
"Yes,
Lord Conqueror." He groaned in reply, limping away, but not before I
saw the look on his face that told me, he indeed thought the Conqueror had
finally lost her mind.
*********************
"You had
best eat something." I said, looking down at the now cold stew. "Here,
at least have a little of the bread and cheese."
"I think…I
feel more tired, than hungry, My Lord." Gabrielle answered softly.
"Me too,"
I grinned. "We've had an exciting day." I add, opening my arms to
allow the young woman to step into my embrace. "But I think right now
I would like nothing more than a good night's sleep."
"Do you
wish me to leave you for the night, My Lord?" Gabrielle murmured against
my chest. I was encouraged because it didn't sound like she relished the idea
any more than I did.
"No, little
one. We talked of this already, do you remember? Your rooms are your own for
your personal time and possessions, but I wish for you to spend your nights
here. Why, do you find it hard to sleep in my bed?" I added quickly,
a touch of my own insecurity showing through.
"No, My
Lord. I sleep very well in your bed. I--I'm only fearful that…I sleep so sound
when you are near to me. I fear that I will not--I will not awaken easily
when you have a need for me.
I smiled slightly
at Gabrielle's unfounded fear. "Have no fear, Gabrielle. If I have need
of you in the middle of the night, trust me, I won't let you sleep through
it." I let a crooked smile indicate that I was teasing and that her fear
was unnecessary.
"I think
it is security." I said after a few moments, when I really wanted to
say that it was about trust. I felt just as safe and slept soundly only after
I knew Gabrielle was lying by my side at night.
We settled
ourselves for sleep and I encouraged my young slave to lie by me so I might
wrap my arms around her. Another habit I was developing. Whether it was a
bad habit or not, I knew only time would tell. I could tell Gabrielle was
tired, her breathing growing deep and steady in a matter of moments, her face
tucked snugly under my chin, her soft cheek resting against my chest.
"Gabrielle?"
I questioned softly.
"Yes,
My Lord?" A tired voice answered back.
"Do you
feel…safe when you are here with me?" I asked.
"Yes,
My Lord, very much so."
I reached down
slightly to place a light kiss on the top of the soft blonde hair. "I
hope that will always be so, little one." I answered, unsure if Gabrielle
heard me, or if she already succumbed to Morpheus' call.
*********************
I rose before
the sun, as was my custom, and I left Gabrielle sleeping soundly in our bed.
When I extricated myself from her arms, I moved a pillow into the warm spot
my body vacated. The young woman wrapped her arms around the softness and
I thought I heard a contented sigh escape her lips.
I crossed the
hall to Gabrielle's rooms, to see if Delia was able to complete the requested
task. I should have known the older woman would not have failed me. The small
sitting couch was gone, but in it's place, next to the window, was a small
ornate desk, the kind that one might find in a lady's sitting room. Beside
the desk was a large shelf filled with scrolls and atop the shelf were some
wooden, hinged boxes. Taking a peek, I found out they held quills and ink.
I left the
room with a smile on my face, wondering how my slave would feel about her
dream becoming a reality.
"Good
morning, Gabrielle," Sylla called to the small blonde.
I could see
through the partially open door of my bathing area, that Gabrielle's eyes
immediately searched for me. She rose from the bed, slipping into her robe,
and bid my maid a good morning. I cleared my throat and walked from my bath
to the small room that contained my clothing. Finally taking in my presence,
the young slave assisted Sylla in setting up breakfast on the table.
We ate our
meal in relative quiet and I related my plans for the morning to Gabrielle.
"I have
to meet with my advisors this morning, Gabrielle." I said, rising from
the table to begin dressing. "I will be in my study most of the morning,
but if you need me, you are to wait here, you are not to interrupt me. Do
you understand?"
"Yes,
My Lord."
"Perhaps
you should go get dressed yourself, eh?" I touched her cheek as she rose
from her chair; she smiled at me, and slipped away quietly.
I smiled to
myself at the surprise that awaited Gabrielle. Suddenly I was worried. What
if she didn't like it? I was almost finished dressing, when I heard the gentle
tapping at the entrance that Gabrielle used to my room. I tried to wipe the
grin off my face and look innocent.
"Enter."
Gabrielle rushed
into the room and stopped. I had my back to her as I tucked my shirt into
my trousers and when I turned, I was greeted by the largest smile Gabrielle
ever displayed.
"Gabrielle,
you're not even dressed yet." I chided as more of a tease than anything
else.
"My Lord,
I--I mean, It's--I've never--"
"Gabrielle,
if you want to be a bard, you're going to have to be able to finish a complete
sentence, you do know that, don't you?"
My young slave
rushed over to me and dropped to her knees at my feet, taking my hand and
pressing her lips to my fingers. I don't even know if I can describe how I
felt at that action
"Gabrielle,
don't do that." I admonished the young woman quietly, pulling her prostrate
form up to her feet.
Gabrielle looked
up at me and for the first time, she looked up into my eyes, directly into
my eyes. It was a powerful moment, this small woman gazing up at me, so forceful
in fact, that I backed up half a step at the intensity and the fire that flew
at me from her stare. When she stepped forward and reached up on her toes
to close the distance between us, that's when I should have known what was
coming. The blonde moved closer, then she kissed me.
At first, my
eyes closed at the pleasurable sensation, then I felt the pressure of her
mouth against mine change, and my eyes flew open at the lightning bolt of
desire that struck, deep in my groin. Still, Gabrielle did not release my
lips, and now her tongue was demanding, and receiving, entrance to my mouth.
There was no war for dominance, Gabrielle had all the power, and she was certainly
using it. Realizing what the pressure on my upper arms was, I was immediately
caught up in a sweeping wave of arousal. Gabrielle had my arms pinned to my
sides. Pressing the full length of her body against me, I was pushed backwards,
until by backside rested against the edge of the table.
A hundred different
emotions attacked my brain and my body at once. The passion and the desire
were evident from my moans, as Gabrielle swallowed them up with her own mouth.
I was beyond excited at her control over me, yet terrified at the same prospect.
She was taking me!
I finally freed
my arms enough to pull away for a much needed breath. That didn't stop Gabrielle
as her lips and tongue found my neck, pulling at the laces of my silk shirt.
"Gabrielle…Oh,
Gods…Gabrielle," I got her attention, holding her at arms length.
I took some
deep breaths and was almost undone when I looked into her face. "You
don't have to do this." I said. "That's not why I gave--"
The explanation
was frozen in my throat as Gabrielle began to softly suck on the skin at my
throat, her hand sliding up my body and capturing a very erect nipple within
her finger's grasp.
"Oh, Gods…"
I groaned.
My knees instantly
turned to liquid at that touch and I had to either sink down, and sit on the
table, or slide to the floor. Now that I was sitting, my legs parted and Gabrielle
stood between them, her head level with my own. She moved both her hands into
my hair and pulled me into another breath stealing kiss.
"Gabrielle,"
I gasped, breaking away for air. "I don't expect you to repay me for
the gift, not this way."
Gabrielle slowed
the intensity of her assault, but continued to flick her tongue across my
lips, trailing kisses along my neck, and teasing my nipples thru the smooth
fabric of my shirt. When she spoke, I could scarcely believe this was the
woman that I'd been living with for the last cycle of the moon. Were the Gods
using some sort of trickery against me?
"But,
My Lord…don't you enjoy my kiss?" she reached up and captured my lower
lip, sucking the flesh gently, placing a small nip to the skin as she pulled
away.
"Oh…"
I moaned.
"The way
my body feels, pressed against you?" Gabrielle ground herself into my
mound, and I could feel how wet I was getting, merely from the sound of her
voice.
"My…"
I groaned a second time.
"My touch?"
her final maneuver in this game of seduction was to bring her fingers up to
run the fingertips across the smooth silk of my shirt, brushing back and forth
across very sensitive nipples.
"Gods!"
I finally let this last word out with a long release of breath that told me
I had been holding it in too long.
"Gabrielle…oh,
yes…I--I...oh yea, right there…I have men in my study, Gabrielle,
waiting…ungh…for me." I slipped and stammered, but Gabrielle was
relentless and I guess I could have pretended that this wasn't exactly what
I wanted, that Gabrielle's aggressive behavior wasn't exactly what I dreamed
of, but I would have been lying and my physical body was betraying the truth
of the situation.
"You've
given me my dream, My Lord…I want to give you yours." Gabrielle whispered,
seriously.
With the last
measure of self-control I was capable of, I pushed the small woman away slightly,
confusion apparent in my gaze. I felt myself moan out of need when I saw those
emerald eyes staring back up at me, full of heat and unwavering. A wave of
acute arousal broke over me and I could feel the heat, along with the incredible
wetness, trapped between my legs.
"Dream?"
I asked in confusion."
"That
day, My Lord, you asked my what my dream was." Gabrielle tenderly pulled
my shirt open and kissed my collarbone. "Then, you told me your dream.
You made my dream come true, My Lord, today…in my heart I feel I can make
your dream come true."
I continued
to look at her in confusion, replaying that afternoon, when we both barely
knew one another.
"You told
me your greatest wish was that someday, I would touch you because I wanted
to, and not because you commanded me to do so."
Gabrielle answered
and then stood there, her hands unconsciously stroking my hips, my back, and
my shoulders, apparently willing to wait forever for my reaction.
"And,
do you?" I asked, hesitantly, holding my own out-of-control breath, while
waiting for the answer.
"Yes,
My Lord…oh yes." Gabrielle answered quickly and I was struck nearly dumb
by the passionate glaze covering her eyes.
She pressed
her mouth against my chest and began to tease and tongue a dark nipple through
the smoothness of the shirt. She wrapped her lips around the hardened nub,
sucked, and pulled, at last tugging the sensitive flesh with her teeth.
"Gods,
woman!"
I arched my
back, unable to hold back any longer, not really sure why I wanted to in the
first place. I wove my fingers into the thick golden hair, pulling her firmly
against my chest. I rocked my hips in keeping with the rhythm she was using,
suckling at my breast. When she at last pulled back to see the effects of
her handiwork, the wet shirt clung to my breast, causing me to shiver, the
nipple extending even further in its excitement.
I watched as
the smaller woman licked her lips, all the while staring at my chest.
"Off,
please." Gabrielle pleaded in a husky voice, tugging my shirt from my
pants.
I saw this
as my opportunity and decided that fighting this was a very stupid thing and
I did not consider myself an idiotic woman. I briefly wondered at what the
men in my study were doing or thinking, when it was quite clear that there
was some very serious pleasuring going on in the next room.
I lifted my
arms and Gabrielle helped me pull the lightweight shirt over my head. "Come
here." I commanded and pulled her into a fierce kiss, one that she equaled
in intensity. I pushed her robe from her shoulders, letting it fall to the
ground, and ran my hands down the smooth back, grabbing her backside and pulling
her into me.
I felt her
small hands at the laces to my trousers and when they were halfway untied,
she slipped her hand inside, and those incredible fingers slid through drenched
folds.
"Gods,
you're so…so wet." Gabrielle rasped, not waiting for a response, but
leaning in to envelope a nipple within very warm, soft lips.
I'm not sure
if it was the physical pleasure, the words, or the fact that the very arousing
words were coming from Gabrielle. I only know that I was trying to peel my
trousers down my legs so I could spread them wider, all the while, she teased
me until I was on the verge of an orgasm, only to slow her movements. Once
I caught my breath, she resumed the mercilessly, exquisite torture.
Gabrielle slid
down my body, pulling my trousers further down my legs. I could feel her breasts,
pressing against my overheated skin, feel the tightness of her own excitement
as the tips elongated and hardened at the contact. For the third time, Gabrielle
backed off and I could sense my climax building within me, even though I was
being repeatedly denied my release. Wet didn't begin to describe the state
my sex was in; drenched…sopping, those were the only terms I could equate
with my condition at this moment. I have never in my life begged for sex,
not even in a romantic fashion, but Gods, my senses were telling me that if
I didn't come soon, I would simply die. The next thing they were telling me
is that Gabrielle was the only one who could bring about that release. It
didn't matter if the thought were true or not, it's what I believed.
"Gabrielle."
I panted.
The blonde
was now kneeling between my legs, the flat of her tongue licking along the
inside of my thighs, capturing the wetness that flowed from me. She placed
a gently kiss on the dark patch of hair, allowing only the tip of her tongue
to graze the outer lips of my sex, no matter how strongly I thrust my hips
toward her.
"Gabrielle…please,
Gods, please." I moaned, finally begging, as I thought I would. I knew
what that tongue would feel like, I knew what skill she possessed in using
it, and all I could do was half-stand, half-sit there and whimper and plead.
"Tell
me. Tell me what you would like. Anything at all and I'll do it, Xena."
Gabrielle murmured against my skin.
I felt my eyes
go wide and my stomach muscles clenched down hard as an orgasm ripped through
me, caused by mere words. It was the sound of Gabrielle's voice, seductively
asking my pleasure, then finally the catalyst that sent me careening over
passion's precipice. The sound of my own name. It both shocked and pleasured
me, seeing those green eyes, dark with passion, looking up at me and whispering
my name. For a brief moment, I saw fear in Gabrielle's eyes, but as I still
trembled from the effects of my climax, I grinned down at her and her forward
behavior. Barely having my breathing yet under control, I felt my need rising
insistently once more.
"Gods,
woman…don't stop." I struggled to say.
Relief flooded
her face. There was no tender seduction, Gabrielle knew what I needed and
went about giving it to me. Oh and she did give it to me. Even in my wildest
days, I don't ever remember a tongue lashing the likes of the one I now received.
It didn't take long and once again, I threw back my head and howled out my
release.
I needed to
feel her and so I pulled Gabrielle to her feet and kissed her, tasting myself
on her lips and in her mouth. The kisses were passionate, but no longer tender.
It was rough and raw, and what excited me the most was that Gabrielle was
the instigator in it all.
"Sweet
Athena!" I cried out, feeling Gabrielle's hand press into me. I let go
of the blonde and grabbed onto the edge of the table as the young slave eased
her fingers, then eventually her whole hand inside me, repeatedly pulling
back to lubricate the small hand with my own juices, then easing in some more.
I crossed that invisible line between pleasure and pain, now feeling only
the gratification of the physical act. I tilted my hips and Gabrielle pressed
her hand in the rest of the way. She stayed like that for a moment until I
became accustomed to the incredible fullness inside of me. She leaned into
my body, pressing my back flat against the table, my legs still dangling over
the edges. Her hand shifted within me and I released a groan of delight. Then,
leaning over my prone figure, she feasted on my breasts and my brain was close
to its shutdown point. Her lips, teeth, tongue caused a renewed wetness that
coated the small hand inside me, and my hips began to rock against it.
"Xena…"
the small slave whispered.
Gabrielle moved
away from my chest and I could hear distinct whimpers coming from my throat.
I wasn't sure if it was because of the loss of her mouth, sucking me, or the
way she whispered my name.
"Please…please,
Gabrielle," I implored her hand to pick up the pace, pressing my hips
up repeatedly.
"Xena…"
she tormented me again by flicking my clit with her tongue. Without any notice,
she began sucking on the engorged nub, swirling her tongue out to run along
its length.
"Oh Gods,
yes…that's it…unghh." I encouraged.
Finally, the
hand moved and I cried out as the tongue disappeared, but I was soon delirious,
lost to the ecstasy of Gabrielle's hand pumping in and out of me.
"Yes…Gods,
oh, yes, fuck me harder…deeper…" I cried out.
I was in a
place where there was no thought, only feeling. I didn't have to be the Conqueror,
didn't have to be in control, all I had to do was exist in this pleasure.
The sensory delight was making its way to me and all I had to do was
lie here and let this beautiful woman make a gift of it to me. My hips worked
in a furious fashion and when I opened my eyes, I could see the sweat that
plastered Gabrielle's hair to her face. When our eyes met, Gabrielle leaned
down and put her lips close to my ear.
"Come
for me, Xena." Then she bit down on my earlobe as she sucked the tender
flesh in, I felt it all the way to the hand pounding into me.
I did as she
bid me. I came for her…over and over again.
*********************
I tied off
the leather laces on the flaps along my trousers. Gabrielle sat watching me,
suspiciously quiet, and now I cursed myself for giving in. I should have remained
stronger, because now the girl felt used.
"Gabrielle--"
My Lord--"
We both said
in unison, then we both smiled hesitantly.
"Gabrielle,
are you all right?" I asked.
"Forgive
me My Lord, I don't know what…I've never…"
I realized
the problem and a welcome relief spread through me. Gods, at least it wasn't
me.
"Gabrielle,"
I said gently, pulling her up from the chair she sat upon. "It was wonderful."
I said, murmuring the words into the soft blonde hair. I shivered slightly
as her body came into contact with mine. Perhaps it was remembering the exceptionally
gratifying experience of a few moments ago. "I've never felt anything
quite as wonderful in my entire life."
"But,
I--"
"You acted
with a passion that was very welcome and that I hope to see more of. Only
not too soon." My smile turned into a grimace as I took a step away.
I had a feeling I was going to walk funny for a couple of days after this
morning's pleasure.
"I've
never felt this way before, My Lord." Gabrielle responded, as if pondering
her own thoughts.
"It's
probably my own fault anyway," I pulled my young slave back into my arms,
loath to give up this feeling just yet. "Probably all that adrenaline
still in you after last night."
A dark cloud
of what I interpreted as fear suddenly crossed Gabrielle's features. I knew
instantly, what she feared, and I reassured her, as I expected to do many
times, until she was comfortable with the fact.
"Gabrielle,
you have no reason to fear reprisal for these actions. I will never punish
you for bringing this ardor to our bed, or for doing what you must to physically
protect yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yes,
My Lord." This time, she answered with a smile.
*********************
I walked into
my study and every man that I counseled with, was seated there. Gods, does
it actually get any more embarrassing than this? Ten men sat before me and
as I walked, somewhat delicately, I might add, to the large desk that was
my own, I could see the amusement in their eyes. One or two of them even had
the beginnings of a smile.
I couldn't
very well hide it, now could I? All ten of them just finished listening to
my verbal cries of lustful delight, as my small slave brought me to Elysium
and back. They heard, quite well, I am sure; me begging like my life was on
the line. There was nothing to do, but to suck it up, glare like Hades, and
intimidate the Tartarus out of them.
I opened the
scrolls and pieces of parchment I would need for this meeting. Never raising
my eyes from the papers before me, I slipped my ever-present dagger from my
belt and laid it on the desk, in full view of everyone.
"The first
man to laugh leaves here, one member short of a threesome." I commented
in a menacing, low voice.
Every man in
the room suddenly lost his need to smile, yet had an incredible urge to cross
his legs. I smiled in triumph; I cleared my throat and started the meeting.
Chapter 11: Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?