an-This is a little different. Gabrielle is 13 and princess of Greece. Herodotus is the 4th Pharaoh of Greece, his forefathers taking on the leadership hierarchy of the Egyptians. Xena is 12 and only recently become a slave. You'll find many familiar faces along the way who attempt to keep Xena and Gabrielle apart. hope you enjoy. any feedback is much appreciated! thanks for reading
"Sold!" The gangly raven-haired teenager blinked when she heard the words. Fresh tears were in her eyes. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this. She had been living peacefully in the inn with her mother. Her brothers had both gone off to war; she had stayed home, though she had felt the pull to fight as well. But her mother had insisted she remain. And at the tender of age of twelve, she had little choice on the way her life was led. That included a fateful trip to Thessaly about a moon ago.
She had even been betrothed to a dullard of a man. While she would have hated the life, she would have been the dutiful wife as she would have been the dutiful daughter. It was as if she was a slave to the life she had been born into. She would have been forced to live a life she wouldn't choose for herself. Still, it had to be better than what now awaited her. Her long dark locks shook as she was shoved to her knees.
Standing before her was a sight she had never seen before. A girl, about her age, stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Emerald eyes were what caught the kneeling girl's attention. Never before had she seen anyone with eyes such as those. She quickly realized she could get lost in those eyes. The hand in her hair, pulling her head back, made her realize she had gotten lost in them. The strange powerful green-eyed girl must have spoken to her.
"I asked you what your name is, slave." Gabrielle looked upon her new acquisition. The petite young girl had just turned thirteen. This new young thing was her new play thing. Her father was the emperor. Her mother had since long passed away. The influence of females in her life was few and far between. The only thing she knew was the few females in her life held little interest to be around as she was a great warrior and most female's places were in the home. There was an exception or two. She shuddered at the thought of one in particular.
The few pleasures the emperor's daughter had was her slaves. Her station in life resulted in no friends. She was a slave in her own right as her station demanded she act a certain way. Gabrielle waited for the stunned young woman to answer her. Herodotus had taught her patience. It was not truly her virtue but once again her station in life demanding it of her. Her emerald eyes bore into sky blue ones. Those eyes were why she had purchased this slave.
"Forgive me, Mistress." The raven-haired woman wasn't sure how to refer to her new owner. The fact that she had an owner was nearly impossible to fathom. It was why she had not been able to respond to the young woman's demands. "I'm not myself. I will adjust quickly, I assure you." Finally, she managed the courage to look into those emerald eyes. She swallowed, wishing she had not. "My name is Xena of Amphipolis."
The laugh that escaped the young blonde caused Xena to jump. She looked up from her kneeling position, wondering what it was she had said that was so amusing. "You will address me as Princess or Your Majesty." Gabrielle stepped closer. The height of her slave was appealing to her as much as the azure eyes, the raven hair and the tanned skin. "You may keep the name Xena for it intrigues me. But for the future, you are Xena, Slave of Gabrielle."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xena felt the bitterness roll off her tongue. The hit from behind surprised her. Though she never thought of becoming a warrior in real life, the time she had trained with her brothers had taught her something. She was a natural when it came to fighting. All aspects of being a warrior seemed to be ingrained in her like she had lived many lifetimes as a truly gifted fighter. The inability of anyone to sneak up on her was something she prided herself on.
And yet, the guard had gotten the hit in without her even sensing the movement. She could blame the sudden turn of events on her lack of reaction. She could blame the stunning young woman standing before her. Or she could face facts and realize that the tiny dream or pull she had to be a fighter was just that. It was a dream like so many she had had. In fact, she had begun to tell stories in her mother's inn simply to make the dreams seem real.
The sound of the slap startled Xena once again. She dared not move her bowed head in fear that she would once again anger her new owner and find herself on the receiving end of a blow. "You insolent fool." The vibrations of the voice echoed through her mind. The slave was beginning to realize it wasn't just those emerald eyes that could capture her so. It was the entire package. And that was something very dangerous for a slave to be thinking.
The guard who had struck Xena was now on the ground. Blood was seeping from his nose and his lip. For a petite young girl, Gabrielle was strong. Her blow had nearly caused the man to lose consciousness. "This slave is my personal slave. Unless she threatens to physically harm me, no one is to touch her." The emerald eyes were sparking with the embers of a fire so dangerous; they could burn entire cities to the ground. "Pass the word so I don't lose more royal guards."
The message was clear. Though Xena had never been to the city of the Pharaoh, even she knew what those words meant. Part of her wanted to speak on the behalf of the guard. Though he had struck her, it was to teach her to respect her new owner. In her mind, being put to death for something like attempting to teach another proper respect was ludicrous. But she was a slave. She had no say in how her life or anyone else's was lived.
Gabrielle stood watching as the guard was helped to his feet. Emerald eyes closed as she attempted to calm her anger. It was one of her many weaknesses her father was always telling her she needed to change. If she didn't calm herself now, a loyal man would be put to death. As two of her royal escorts were leading him away, she called out. "Wait!" The trio stopped instantly. She made her way to stand before the guard. "Your name?"
"My name is of no concern but since you ask it is Joxer." The name sounded familiar to the princess. It was obvious they were only a handful of years apart. She wondered if he had been the son of a palace guard and had been allowed from time to time to roam the hallways. Though Herodotus was a harsh man, he had a soft spot for children. He especially had a soft spot for males as he had no male heirs of his own. A fact she was reminded of daily.
"Joxer. I'm afraid my anger has once again gotten the best of me." The man bowed, but said nothing in defense of himself. "You were only attempting to protect my honor. For this, I am grateful. However, you should have asked before you acted on my behalf. The punishment is twenty lashes." Xena could not help but raise her head. She had been listening to the exchange, attempting to learn exactly how she was to act in the presence of the princess.
If this Joxer was going to be whipped simply for attempting to protect her, how was Xena to be punished for something? After all, she was Gabrielle's personal slave. What that exactly meant, she had no idea. What she could assume it meant was that she would be by the princess' side and her behavior would reflect upon her mistress. If her actions reflected poorly in public, what would her owner do to her? Would she survive?
No words were said as Joxer was led away. Xena had returned her gaze to the ground. She shivered as she heard the metal clanking of the armor of the guards as they walked. It was like a chiming of the sentence that had been passed on the poor young man. A gentle touch on her shoulder caused her to jump once again. "Look at me, Slave." Already she had dispensed with her name. It must be to keep her in her place.
A proud head was held high. It wasn't because Xena was proud. It was because she wanted to show she could have an air of royalty or at least what she perceived as royalty. Emerald eyes seemed amused for a moment before they returned to the nearly empty state they were almost always in. Gabrielle hoped this new slave of hers was exactly what she wanted and needed. Only time would tell. "You have many lessons to learn. Some will be harsh."
Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment. Many of the lessons she had been taught were harsh. Many of the lessons she continued to learn were painful. Would she teach the same way she was taught? Again, only time would tell. "Let's not think of that. For now, let us to your new home." She eyed the gangly teenager. "You're definitely going to want a change of clothing and to wash. After all, you have to pass inspection before…"
The princess was not going to reveal her burden to her personal slave. Maybe someday once they knew one another better. Then it hit her. Did one get to know their slaves on a personal level? Gabrielle eyed her latest acquisition for a moment. Already she was showing patience. Though the stones of the walkway had to be biting into her knees, Xena still knelt before her. "That is for me to worry about. For now, rise. We have a long ride back to the palace."
Two of the royal guard flanked the princess. The rest surrounded Xena as she managed to keep up the pace. It wasn't that she was tired. It wasn't that she was physically sore. It was all the thoughts running through her mind. No encounters with the meager travelers who resided in her mother's inn for the night could have prepared her for what was happening to her now. The stories of the Pharaoh and his treatment of slaves caused her to shudder.
Was his daughter like him? Already she had seen a side of her that nearly caused the death of a guard. And yet, Gabrielle had shown him leniency. If getting whipped twenty times could be considered lenient. The first signs of how lenient her new master was came into view as they walked to the outskirts of Thessaly. The long shallow painful breaths could be heard from at least two victims from the crosses. More than she could count were silent, she hoped in death.
This fate could have been the guard's. Worse, this fate could be what she suffered if she were to do something to displease her mistress. At twelve, she was well aware of the things adults did for pleasure. Her mother didn't condone the activities, but still when a soldier came through town and one of her waitresses wanted to supplement their meager earnings…For the millionth time the young woman shuddered.
Taking the shaking as a sign of being cold, Gabrielle hesitated before entering the litter. She rummaged in the compartment used to store her extra clothing. The cloak she gathered was made of the finest silk Chin had to offer. It was royal blue and as she draped it around her slave, she realized how it brought out the eyes of the raven-haired woman. A smile graced her features for a moment before quickly fading away. It had been the sight of the gangly teen in a cloak way too short for her that amused her so.
Though it could be considered rude or even a deadly sin to refuse the cloak, Xena slowly slid it off. She knew her movements were being watched carefully by the guards and by the princess herself. "I am but a humble servant to Her Majesty. I thank you for the generousness of the cloak. If it pleases the Princess I would rather wait until I have clothes that are suitable for someone of my station." The blue eyes never left the ground as she offered the cloak to her mistress once again.
There was something about this young girl. Young being a relative term as Gabrielle was certain they were practically the same seasons old. "The air is chilled. I have many other clothing to choose from. You do not." She kept her voice even. It wasn't kind and it wasn't harsh. It was almost as if she were speaking to a child who had lost their way. "We will not reach the palace until morning. You need something to remain warm."
The stray thought of snuggling up to the princess flooded Xena's young inexperienced mind. Again she knew of such things, yet she had never experienced thoughts such as these. Never before had she wanted to touch someone simply to find comfort or warmth from them. She held her tongue and placed the cloak once again around her shoulders. Her princess nodded approval before she entered the litter. It took a moment to realize she was expected to join her mistress.
For all she knew, slaves were expected to walk. As she glanced out the windows, she saw that fact was true. The only ones afforded transportation seemed to be those of higher ranking such as the cooks or those caring for the armament. Those lucky few were in rough wagons being drawn by horses. The sudden closing of the curtains, followed by the movement of the litter, caused Xena to reach out and steady herself.
Watching the slave amused Gabrielle to no end. It was clear she was naïve as to how the world was. The amusement quickly faded as she sometimes wished she was naïve to how the world truly was. Her father beat into her every day exactly what the world was and how she was to treat it. Yet deep down there was a part of her that hated the abuse of the slaves. She hated the abuse of the lower class. She hated the senseless wars in Ares' name.
It was true they needed to maintain, if not expand their borders. The way her father went about it, none of the people who came under the Pharaoh's rule were happy to be part of the realm. It was something she hoped to change one day. Of course her father would have to be with the other rulers of Greece who had come before him. That would only be a handful as it was her great, great, great grandfather who had conquered Greece and patterned its rule after the Egyptians.
It was several hours later. Xena had nearly fallen asleep, the jostling of the litter actually calming her enough to let her guard down somewhat. The abrupt halting of the movement caused her senses to become fully alert. Her gaze, only for a moment, met with a very amused princess. In a way she was glad her natural behavior pleased Gabrielle. In another, she wanted to know why it was she amused her new master so.
"I'm afraid we've come to the end of the first part of our journey home." Gabrielle waited for the curtains to be drawn once again. It wasn't a surprise to her when it was revealed they were in the middle of nowhere. "There will be dinner and there will be stories. If you'll please accompany me, we can make it known to everyone exactly who you are and what your duties are to be. We'll have to inform everyone at the palace as well."
Xena eagerly followed her new master. If anyone saw them, they would assume the tall muscular raven-haired woman was the princess, if they looked past her meager clothing. Outside of what amounted to a potato sack, she wore nothing. Not even sandals did the slave own. The cloak billowing in the slight breeze almost made her look comical. Right now her stomach, as well as her need to know what her life was to be like, was what pulled her.
Having not eaten breakfast since her former master only fed them once a day, Xena knew she could out eat almost anyone in her owner's caravan. Of course she would moderate herself and follow the lead of her mistress. The smells were already beginning as the cooks made quick work of making the evening meal. Gabrielle led her to a spot that already had a tent and fire being prepared. It wasn't long before pillows were placed on the ground and the petite blonde was sprawled on top of them.
The raven-haired girl swallowed at the sight. She was frozen in her spot, unsure of what her place was. Once again, Gabrielle made sure she knew by patting the pillows next to her. Xena looked at her clothing before shrugging. The girl was the princess and that meant she had the right to dine with whomever she wanted, no matter the way they dressed or their station in life. It took a moment, but finally she settled into a comfortable position.
The gong startled the slave. Gabrielle chuckled. "You've got to learn to relax. I know that's easier said than done seeing as you are now my captive. But I promises no harm will come to you. Unless of course you try to harm me." Xena nodded in understanding. Or at least she hoped she understood her princess was telling her there would be forgiveness. But just how much? "Once we've eaten, I'll make the announcement of my…your station beside me."
The gong once again echoed throughout the early evening air. Xena watched in fascination as first grilled meats, fruits and cheeses were served. Some of the things set on the table before her she had never seen. Watching as Gabrielle took small portions of everything; the slave mimicked nearly every move. Another gong caused her to jump, but this time not so much. The music began and there were dancers, all scantily clad.
As she watched the dancers, she thought she understood what Gabrielle had meant before. Xena had assumed there would be a storyteller. Not someone like her. Her stories were amateurish. Not many, outside her mother, had cared for them. They had been a way of escaping. It seemed this way of telling a story was just as captivating as some of the bards who had graced her mother's inn. Blue eyes could not be torn from the sight of the dancers.
Gabrielle watched her new slave with a great deal of interest. The dancers attempting to catch her eye were just distractions. Some of the young women had been with her father for many seasons. Some had even shared his bed attempting to gain the Pharaoh's favor. Though her father had made it clear that he had no desire to take on another wife, they still tried. And some were now attempting to gain the favor of the young princess.
While Gabrielle was not opposed to having a body slave like her father, she wanted more. As hardened as her father attempted to make her, she wanted to find love. Perhaps it was foolish as all she was truly expected to do was to marry a man who could rule in her place. No man would share her bed. Not even to produce an heir. The princess would one day name an heir. It was as simple as that. So her attention was now on her new slave.
Xena hadn't realized how her body began to sway with the music. Her eyes watched with a great deal of delight the movements of the scantily clad women. Gabrielle was still attempting to decipher the young woman's reactions. Was it that she had never seen such revelry? Or was it she was attracted to the magnificent bodies telling a sweet story of love. While the princess was still so lonely all she wished for was a friend, perhaps one day she could find more.
The princess flashed back to the moment when she had seen the auctioneer force her new slave to her knees. Xena had been attempting to fight the inevitable. That alone had been worthy of Gabrielle's attention. It was when the strong head had risen the petite blonde had gotten a glimpse into those eyes. Eyes that were softer than the blue sky of a spring day. Yet they could rage like a storm bringing the first snowfall of winter.
It had been an odd combination. There was a softness to the girl seated next to her, swaying softly to the music. And yet there was a fighter as well. It was something her father would wish to see in her, she was certain. And maybe one day Gabrielle would learn to love the wars waged on behalf of her father as much as she loved the moments like this. Alone with a beautiful girl, music playing and the fantasies of what one day might be.
Gabrielle suddenly was depressed. The fact the unlikeliness of becoming more than mistress and slave was torturous to her soul. The only outlet she had was to write about her feelings and hide it away. Making sure no one could see her; she pulled out a small parchment. It had been rolled and hidden in her small cleavage. A cleavage that was growing every day it seemed. She made quick work of writing a poem that expressed her desires.
"What is that?" Xena saw the look on her mistress' face. She knew she should have ignored whatever was in the princess' hand. It was none of her concern. The only thing she needed to know was her station in life. And that had yet to be announced. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn and asking about something that is none of my concern." The slave held out both of her hands, palm down, ready for the punishment that would soon follow.
A small smile tugged at Gabrielle's face. While there was a spirit inside her new slave, she was also willing to hide it so that she would not be punished. The thought made her mood sour greatly once again. They were in the open and she would not expose her slave, causing her undo humiliation. Later, when they were alone, she was determined to look at every inch of the tanned skin. She cursed as she realized she should have done this before she purchased the young girl.
"I'm not going to punish you, especially when you apologize for overstepping." Gabrielle knew that she needed to make things clear to Xena and everyone so that her slave could stop second guessing herself. Soon the dancers would be finished telling their story. It would then be time to retire for the evening. Before everyone turned to their night duties, she would make the announcement now long overdue. "The dancers will tire soon so I suggest you enjoy them while you can."
A blush graced the tanned skin and it made the princess smile. She wondered if the blush was because she'd been caught watching the dancers or if she had enjoyed watching them a little too much. Gabrielle needed to know the answer. As the next in line to rule Greece, she could demand it of her slave. If she wished for more than friendship, she would have to begin now by learning to respect Xena as a person and not simply property.
"I do enjoy them. I've never seen stories told in such a manner. The bards who came to my mother's inn were not very expressive. They told the same stories. It seems no one has any imagination anymore." Xena once again blushed. She had felt at ease speaking her mind in front of the princess. To her, she felt more like a friend than a mistress. Those kinds of feelings were dangerous for her health. She sported enough scars on her back and stomach to know that for a fact.
The laughter startled the slave. Xena had once again bowed her head in fear she had said something wrong. "I couldn't agree with you more." Gabrielle rolled up her parchment and placed it back where she always kept it. Blue eyes watched her every move and it caused the princess to shudder. The music stopped at that moment. "Come. It's time we retire for the evening." When her young slave began to look around in search of the slave quarters, she quickly said, "You will sleep with me tonight."
Xena swallowed, but didn't say a word. Instead she took the hand that was outstretched. She allowed the surprisingly strong petite form to pull her to her feet. "Before we do retire, it's time for that announcement." They both stood in the middle of the camp, guards surrounding them. With a nod of the head, the lead guard blew a trumpet to gather everyone's attention. It wasn't long before all eyes were on the two young women standing in the middle of the clearing.
Gabrielle could feel the shaking beginning in her young friend. She was certain part of that was because of the chill of the late evening air. The other was the fact Xena was not used to being the center of attention. Having been born royalty, the princess was more than used to it, sadly. "I decree now and will once we have returned to the palace that Xena, formerly of Amphipolis, is to be my personal slave. What does this mean?"
There was a low murmur that ran through the crowd. Gabrielle had never taken a shine to any of her slaves, male or female. And to those closest to the princess, she had never had a confidant. So what exactly were her plans for this Xena? "It means she outranks all other slaves. An order from her is like an order from me. Her duties are to do anything I command and to make sure my happiness is assured, in any way that she can."
The slave's entire body turned a nice shade of red at the words spoken by her mistress. Part of her wanted to shy away from the words and their double meaning. Again, working for her mother had exposed her enough to know what they could possibly mean. There was a challenge in Gabrielle's eyes that was unmistakable. Xena took a deep breath before she answered knowing the words could seal her fate. "And I, as your personal slave, will do anything I can to grant her majesty happiness and pleasure."
Another burst of laughter startled the slave. Gabrielle was shaking her head. She had hoped Xena would understand the challenge she had put forth. However, she was uncertain of just how naïve her slave was. Naïve not to have seen dancers such as entertained the palace every night. Naïve enough not to know how to act around royalty. And yet she seemed to know the subtleness of when she was being teased in a sexual manner.
Before Gabrielle could respond, her advisor was pushing her way to the small circle that had been formed around the princess and the slave. Two guards stopped the woman before she could come twenty paces from their charge. She was grateful as Alti had made it clear she wanted more from the princess. She wanted a claim to the throne. Keeping her distance would be a good thing. The raspy voice grated on her nerves. "A word, My Lady?"
Gabrielle wanted to refuse. As princess, she had every right. And yet it would look foolish to some if she didn't heed the counsel of her head advisor. Once again, she felt a slave to the obligation her station in life thrust upon her. Some saw ruling the world as the ultimate pleasure. To the petite blonde, it was more torture than anything else. "If we must. But only a short time. I need to get Xena settled. It's been a long day and I'm tired."
In reality, she was anything but tired. The statement by Xena had given her a sudden burst of energy. It had given her a tingling sensation between her legs. While nothing could come of it, perhaps seasons to come, it was something she would hold on to, always. The trio was led back to the litter. It had been prepared for her to sleep in. It would be better than sleeping in a tent, even with many pillows beneath her.
"Xena, please wait outside for me. This won't take long and we can get you into something warmer to sleep in. In fact…" Gabrielle met the eyes of the woman in charge of her clothing. Nothing need be said as the older woman set off in camp in search of suitable garments for the tall slave to wear. Once they were settled inside, the princess remained standing. She hoped this would express her want to be left alone and not have a long discussion.
The advisor began by bending at the waist. Gabrielle simply rolled her eyes. There was no respect on Alti's part. It was entirely for show. If the dark woman could have gained favor with her father, she would have no use for the princess. "I know your father and his wishes well. Do you really think it wise for you to take on a pleasure slave at such a young age?" The question was bold, even for someone who was supposed to be Gabrielle's right hand.
The slap was resounding yet Alti somehow remained standing. It was rare when Gabrielle doled out physical punishment to anyone, slave or not. And yet she had done so twice in the past few hours. "What I or father do with our slaves is none of your concern." A sneer was upon the petite blonde's face. "In fact, father might just be proud that I take a woman or man to bed. After all, aren't I supposed to show my virility in any way I can?"
The head advisor took a step back. This was not the little girl she had seen visions of. This was not the little girl she had thought would be easy to control. This was a young woman who was coming into her own, both as a ruler and in her sexuality. This was someone to contend with. And this was someone she needed to control. There was only one way to do that. She needed to get that Gods be damned slave out of her life.
The head of the advisor bowed as if she had made the gravest of mistakes. Really, she hadn't. Herodotus had asked her to make sure his daughter took all the rights as princess she was entitled to. One of those was becoming comfortable with the fact she could and should use her sexuality as a weapon. While he wanted a virtuous daughter, he wanted a ruthless leader more. Her previous question of whether to take a sex slave had been merely to test the waters. "Of course. I only wished you make a wise decision on your first conquest."
The fact that she knew or assumed she was a virgin caused another surge of anger to rush through Gabrielle's body. Closing her eyes for a moment, she attempted to count so that her mind could think clearly. It wasn't until she allowed the images of her new slave to enter her mind that her body finally began to relax slightly. The more she pictured the raven-haired woman, the calmer she felt. "Whether she or anyone is my first conquest is my business. And my choice. Now get out of my sight."
Alti thought about saying more, but knew by the tone she had pressed her luck too far. She bowed at the waist once again before leaving. The advisor stopped in front of the slave. The blue eyes, tanned skin and raven hair were a deadly combination. Hating to admit it, the princess did have excellent taste. Still, it would not do if this slave were to dig her claws too far into Gabrielle. "Wait until her father knows of you. You'll be in the lowest regions of the palace, never to see the light of day."
Xena straightened her shoulders. She knew her place well enough to know that she could be punished for speaking to someone of the advisor's station. The words of the princess echoed in her head. An order from her held the same weight as Gabrielle, at least in theory. If this woman standing before her went to the Pharaoh and made her to look in a bad light, it would cost her the place she was firmly entrenched in.
And though she would never wish to be a slave, quickly she was realizing being bought by the princess was the best thing that could have happened to her. Being captured by the warlord Draco had been her worst nightmare. Having Gabrielle want her as her personal slave was the beginning of many possibilities. Some she had never thought existed. So while she would prefer freedom, giving this woman reason to use her power to make her suffer was something she was not going to do. Yet.
So Xena simply bowed her head and remained looking at her feet until she heard the sweet voice. It wasn't Gabrielle's. It was the woman the princess had made eye contact with earlier. "Come child. Let's get you dressed for the evening. The princess is already being well tended by her other slaves." The raven-haired girl felt a twinge of something. She wasn't sure what it was but didn't like the thought of anyone being near her new mistress, at least not that close.
Gabrielle was already dressed in her finery. Even for sleep, she was dressed in the finest material. It wasn't silk, but it was expensive. What was more, it hung to her still developing body. Her head was down as if she was in prayer as Xena made her way through the covering of the litter. There was little room to stand as now the entire floor was covered with pillows to make one large mattress. The slave swallowed wondering if she were to become a sex slave.
The princess finished her silent prayer. If her father knew she was praying to Aphrodite instead of Ares there would be Hades to pay. What she wanted was what the Goddess of Love could provide her more than what the God of War could. When she turned around, she wasn't prepared for what she saw. Her slave was dressed in a pale blue cotton shift. While it covered her entire long frame, it so perfectly brought out her already hypnotic eyes.
It took a moment for Gabrielle to recover. "Won't you please be seated." The princess sat herself down. At first her slave hesitated before she curled up next to her mistress. Emerald eyes closed for a moment, enjoying the contact with the long body. As much as her body was beginning to awaken to sexual desires, especially to this young woman, she would not give in. As bold as her talk was to Alti, she was going to save herself for her true love.
Who that was remained to be seen. While Xena sparked something in her on a physical level, she needed more than that. She needed someone who could love her mind and her body and vice versa. The raven head pulled back. The intensity of the stare was nearly too much for the princess. When the head began to lower, her breath caught for a moment. It took all her willpower to pull away from the young woman she desired.
"You certainly don't have to do that." Gabrielle made sure there was a slight gap between them. She was afraid if they were touching, she wouldn't be able to resist her new slave. The dejected and confused look upon Xena's face caused her heart to ache. It wasn't true pain, but it was still discomfort and she was the reason behind it. "I should have explained better what I want from you." There were a million questions flashing in azure eyes, darkened by the low light in the litter.
"I'm the princess of Greece." Xena looked at her as if she was crazy. Perhaps she was for refusing to be with someone so…alluring. The problem was, her slave was young, naïve and only doing everything because she was a slave. Gabrielle wanted so much more. She wanted love and devotion because that was what she wanted, not forced into. "While that seems exciting…it's actually quite lonely. I have plenty of people waiting on me, advising me and teaching me. But no one…"
"To share your heart's desires and your dreams." Gabrielle stared into depths of blue. The words had eluded her. But they were exactly what she would have used to describe what she wanted. It went beyond wanted. There was this need inside of her that could not be expressed. If it were, her father would harden her in ways a slave would think were harsh punishments. "I'm sorry if I've overstepped again." Xena bowed her head.
"Xena…" The raven head quickly rose. Not once had she heard the princess call her by name. At least not in the soft, caring tone she had just used. "Please stop apologizing. I understand you haven't been a slave long…" She trailed off when the tears began to form in the blue eyes. She remembered wanting to know if there were scars beneath the cloth covering the tanned form. As vulnerable as her slave seemed, now was not the time for that discovery, even though she had the right.
"I've only been a slave for a moon." The tears were roughly wiped away from an angular face. "I was never told how to act. I was shown." The words were a code. Gabrielle could read between the lines. She had been poorly abused. One thing she hoped, with all her soul, was that Xena had not been violated as no slave should be. That was something else to discover down the road. "So I'm learning with every word, every step and every action."
It was time to put her desires to bed. At least her physical desires needed to be shelved. This young girl might be merely a slave; she was still a human being. And every slave, no matter their station, deserved a measure of respect. Her father and she argued this point until she was forced to her chambers without supper and without the aid of her slaves. If only he knew she cared not whether she had her slaves or food when their people went without.
"And with me, you'll be taught. But not with a whip. And not with a slap." Gabrielle held her arms out. Xena stared at her as if her simple touch could burn her. And yet there was a yearning in those azure eyes. Slowly, the slave closed the distanced between them. The princess held the longer body against hers as they slid into a lying position. A raven head was upon a strong shoulder. A strong arm was draped against a toned stomach as two strong arms came to wrap around a tanned form.
It was like this that the two young girls were found the next morning. Alti found the two holding one another the next morning. A low growl escaped the advisor. This was not going to continue. She was going to make sure the princess' father kept the slave for himself. It was a fate worse than being beaten. Death would be welcomed by the time Herodotus was done with the conniving little slut. "Forgive the intrusion, but it's time to leave. Your father will be worried about you."
Gabrielle managed to extract herself from her slave's near death grip. She couldn't blame Xena. Only gone from her family for a month, going from one position of servitude to another and fearing constantly for death had to have taken its emotional toll. The princess knew the look well her advisor was sporting. Choosing better of saying anything, she nodded. "Please have the cooks send some food. We can eat and then dress as we are on our way."
"As you wish, Mistress." Alti bowed before taking her leave. She couldn't help but wonder what Gabrielle was up to. It had been much too easy to get her to go along with her wishes. Instead of dwelling, the advisor decided to push ahead. She would gain Herodotus' audience before his daughter even came within a half a day's ride of the palace. Quickly barking her orders, she took her horse, the fastest of the bunch and was off.
"Xena." Careful not to startle the sleeping slave, Gabrielle gently shook her shoulder. Her first instinct had been to kiss the raven-haired beauty awake. But the first kiss they shared would be beneath a full moon in the royal garden as flowers were all in full bloom. She could almost smell the sweet roses, lilacs and wildflowers. It made her lips burn with the ache to touch what appeared to be silky soft lips. "We have to eat, dress and prepare you to meet my father."
The last word caused the slave to quickly sit upright. Gabrielle laughed at the fear etched across the young girl's face. Though the fear was not misplaced, especially if her suspicions about Alti were correct. It would take everything she had in her arsenal to convince her father of the need of a personal slave and not a bed or sex slave. The fact she was his only child was the biggest weapon she had and hoped it would be enough.
It was a long ride to the palace. It took longer than Gabrielle anticipated. She wondered if Alti had not bribed someone to slow the royal caravan. No matter as it had given her extra time to prepare Xena on what was expected of her. There were to be two slaves. There was the one she was to be in front of her father and his key advisors, especially Alti, and then there was the one she was to be in private. That slave only required they be friends.
The summoning to the throne room was not a surprise. Gabrielle would have been surprised had her father wanted to privately welcome her home, especially when she saw Alti standing smugly to the right of the Pharaoh. This was not good. Suddenly a fear gripped the young princess. She would have to think quickly if she was going to out maneuver the advisor. Time was what she needed so she waited and listened to her father.
What he had to say nearly made her ill. "I've heard why you've bought this little tramp." Herodotus never stood from his throne. The chill in the air was thicker than normal whenever she was around her father. "In fact, I think I'll teach you what to do and the tramp exactly what it is to be a personal slave." A snap of his fingers brought forth the slave Gabrielle had had whipped. Joxer looked from the Pharaoh to the princess when he was handed the whip. "Do it!"
