Gabrielle stood naked still with her back to her new master still waiting. Waiting for the whip that she knew was still in Xena's hand just waiting to be uncoiled. Time was standing still giving her time to think. Think of the worst thing that had ever happened to the young blond as far as pain was when she had fallen off the horse. Not even when her father had spanked her for not doing as she was told to do. According to her sister she had bruises on top of bruises on her back from that fall.
Well, she was about to have something worse than a bruise she supposed. Only once had she seen what a whip could do. A man had been using a whip to drive his sheep instead of the usually staff and dogs. Somehow it had uncoiled wrong and come back and got him just under his eye. That was a nasty red mark that he said had been made months before and nothing he had ever put on it had been able to take it away.
The fire seemed unusually hot against her skin as her stomach was once again ready to betray her though at this point there was nothing left in it. Even when she had gotten very sick she had never felt like this. Her stomach was empty as she had not eaten since breakfast. They had been going to stop for a picnic but that happy day had ended in this. It had ended in the fact that she was no longer the little girl from Potadeia that was betrothed to Perdicus and was going to have a normal life.
It was time to put that child to rest and just give into the fact she was going to have to grow up very quickly. Even if somehow she could find a way to escape the scars would be there. And what man would want her with all those scars? Her worth had gone down just by the simple fact that she was now a slave and no man would ever want to touch her. What kind of punishment would her father give her for allowing this to happen? Nothing worse than what was happening to her now.
Just like that time seemed to resume as she heard a crack once, twice but three times. Yet the blond never felt the sting of the whip. She had felt a little bit of air rush next to her ear and could swear she felt her hair move or at least thought that she had. That could have been her imagination as all her senses just seemed to be out of sorts. Today she had really truly had her very soul turned upside down. Almost like it wasn't her soul anymore and that there was something darker inside her yet her original light was there too.
Gabrielle could not help herself. She collapsed to the ground her emotions and her body just too weak to stand anymore. Protectively she curled herself into a tight ball not wanting to be touched and not wanting to be helped. Without her permission she began to cry so hard that her entire body convulsed. She just kept crying and moaning and let the worst day of her life just wash out of her in a wave of emotions so strong that it was wracking her body until everything went black.
Xena stood with her mouth literally hanging open. She knew she had not even come close to hitting her new slave. The warrior was far too skilled with any weapon imaginable to do something that she never intended to do. There had been a time when she had beaten her slaves. Slowly she had found that the slaves responded better to her when the threats were merely imagined than actually laying a hand on them. So not even Satrina had been touched by the hand of the warlord.
The hand that held the whip slunk down at her side her fingers just barely grasping it. Her mind could not respond to the scene that had just been displayed. The last two girls that had come to be her personal slaves had been afraid of the whip and other implied punishments but she had never had to go through with any of them. None of them had reacted this way. They were innocent but maybe not as innocent as this girl or was it something else.
It took several moments for the warlord to collect herself. First she put her weapon away. All of her weapons had a place and she was damned sure not going to let a little girl get her out of her routine and part of what had made her successful so far. Finally she made her way over the naked form still crumpled up in a ball. The young girl had clenched herself so tight that it took all of the older woman's strength just to get her to straighten out.
Xena looked at the very pleasant form that lay out before her. Even with her superior eyesight she had barely gotten a good look at her when she and her two lieutenants had walked in on the unsuspecting young blond. Part of her had been wondering why she had been naked but taking in the soft skin and the smell of roses and she knew that Gabrielle had been washing up. But why had she not gotten dressed before she had gone to the fire?
That was probably because of her upbringing. The warlord remembered what it was like in the little village of Amphipolis where she had grown up. Her mother, on cold winter nights, would bathe her and stand her by the fireplace to make sure that she was fully dried before she had dressed her for bed. It was a pleasant memory from her childhood one of the few that she had but it was quickly pushed away. No time and no inclination for pleasant memories flowing through her head. There had been many raiders that slowly ate away at the defenses of the village. But it wasn't until Cortese…
Xena shook her head still trying to figure out exactly how to handle this situation. Soon they would be bringing in her dinner and there was no way that she could have a naked slave just lying in the middle of her quarters if only because only the warlord was allowed the pleasure of looking at her in all her glory and it was a pleasure. She took a deep breath and decided to get the girl dressed and into bed. The warrior went down to one knee and with very little effort she was able to pick up the girl and cradled her in her arms. It was almost like she was carrying just a giant rag doll she weighed so little.
Slowly she made her way to the bed of pillows and laid her bundle on the bed. The warlord then made her way over to where the clean clothes had been. It was a simple white cotton outfit and the girl would look rather nice in it. Her head shook as she had never done this for anyone in her life. Even when her mother or her brothers had taken ill she had been the last one to care for them. Usually her dark side would surface and she would just let whoever fend for themselves.
Suddenly she felt just this little bit of a spark inside herself. It was like something way deep down inside her had literally lit up. It made her feel lighter and happier than she had in years. That was just her imagination as nothing had changed as she felt the strong dark presence she always felt. She was still the same ruthless warlord that would just as soon kill her enemy as to look at them. There was nothing different about her and she would prove that the next time one of her men tried to contradict her.
Just as Xena was finishing dressing the girl the green eyes slowly fluttered up. There was terror in the green eyes as she realized just how close the woman that had been threatening bodily harm really was. The warlord had to hold her down just to keep her from bolting to where she didn't know. "Relax, little one. Nothing happened other than me teasing you a little with the whip and you passing out on me. When was the last time that you ate? Is that the reason you went lights out on me?"
Green eyes were still wide and blinking furiously. It was now only partly because of the situation she found herself in. Partly it was because she was finally getting to really look deep into those ice cold blue eyes and to her shock there was more than just the coldness there. There was something else but the bard could not place it. If she hadn't known better she would have sworn that it was warmth or caring but that was silly considering who those eyes belonged to. "Not since around dawn."
"And let me guess you used all the water to wash with and haven't had anything to drink since then either." A small blond head shook back in forth indicating a no. "Son of a bacchae." For some reason, Xena reached out and touch the soft cheek of the girl looking up at her with a great deal of fear. At her touch the fear lessened but only a little. "Well little girl here's lessen one from an evil warlord. You can live, but not long, without food. Water is another thing. So next time even if you don't get to eat make sure that you drink."
Those haunting green eyes were still wide as they looked into blue ones but the head they were in managed a nod in the affirmative. There was a noise at the entrance to the tent and Xena got up and went to the door. Gabrielle stared after the warlord who had just shocked her in a way no one had ever done before. Her thoughts had been of a ruthless woman that would do anything to anyone that didn't do her bidding yet here she lay without a scratch on her body.
The blond watched as two grubby looking boys brought in two platters of food that instantly made her mouth water. The words that were spoken by the warlord to the boys of no more than ten each were orders no doubt about it. But still there was kindness in her voice as she spoke to the little fellows. Once again the world as Gabrielle knew was going askew. First with being taken as a slave and now seeing the woman that she thought was nothing but an evil warlord have a gentle side.
The trays of food had been left on the table and Xena made her way over and sat down. A huge hunk of meat was in her hand and she began to eat. After a few moments she felt the green eyes staring at her. Her blue eyes rolled as she realized that though her new slave was very hungry she was waiting for an invitation. "Get your ass over here and keep me company." The bard wavered slightly as she stood but made haste in joining the warlord. "Eat! Don't want you passing out on me. Well at least not from not eating." She winked at the girl who obviously had no clue as to what she was referring to.
Gabrielle looked at the food. It was nothing like what anyone in the village had. There was a huge hunk of meat with rice and vegetables. She peered into her cup to see something of a purplish liquid inside. Her mouth was dry and she picked up the cup first only to feel a strong force slamming it back down spilling just a bit of it on the tray. Instantly the blond pulled her hand back and put it in her lap with its mate.
That's far too strong to have on an empty stomach especially for someone that's never tasted it. Kinda like me. A wry grin was upon her face. "Relax. You still get to eat." Xena handed her a cup that had been on the table. Roughly she handed it to the girl and a little of the clear liquid splashed onto the white linen top that the bard was wearing. Instantly a little bit of the bard's breast could be seen through the wet fabric bringing a grin on the warlord's face. When she looked back to the bard's face it was bright red. That caused the grin to grow even larger. "Oh you do look nice in red. I'll have to remember that."
The blond brought the cup up to her mouth and sniffed it before she took several swallows of it. The liquid splashed down into a completely empty stomach and made it hurt for a few moments. She let it settle before she began picking at her vegetables. After they had settled all right she began to eat the rice and meat. Though it was a large portion of food she managed to eat it all and not feel ill afterwards. She finished off the rest of the water. Her gaze kept going to Xena who was eating without a word. "Thank you."
Xena paused in mid bite when she heard the small tentative voice. A shrug of the shoulders was her answer. The warlord drained her cup and set it down only to see the petite blond practically jump out of her chair and get a pitcher that was on the table and filled it then scampered back to her own chair and just sat there. The girl just seemed to stay locked up into herself. "I have to ask you a question. Is that what was expected of you at home?"
Gabrielle looked confused. Her reflexes after so long at home were to jump whenever her father's cup was empty or his plate for that matter. She had been raised to serve her father first, company second, her mother third, her sister and then of course herself. It was second nature for her to wait on others. It took several moments before she realized what she had done and why the question. It dawned on her just how slave like that was. "Yes."
It was starting to grate on the warlord the one or two word answers. While it was the bard's first night as a true slave and so young and in shock still couldn't she talk a little? That was part of why she wanted a personal slave around. The only time that her personal slave wasn't by her side was when she was on the battle field. The last thing the warlord needed was to be thinking of some innocent while trying to fight off twenty men. "For a storyteller you sure are tight lipped. I take it it's the company?"
The storyteller took a deep breath and looked into blue eyes. She remembered how fiery she had been just a few hours before but ever since she had passed out she almost felt emotionless. Part of her wondered if the situation was sinking in and part of her wondered if it was because she had not eaten all day long. Whatever the reason she really needed to get her but in gear as she was sure entertainment was part of the reason she was here. "I'm sorry. I think I am just drained. I'm feeling a little better now that I ate. Again thank you it was delicious."
Well at least she talked some. But the spirit that the blond had exhibited just a few hours before was still not there. It was disappointing as that spunk had been part of the reason that Xena had decided to make her her new personal slave. Telling her captors to take her and leave everyone else. That had been gutsy to say the least. "Stop thanking me! You are only getting this good of food cause you are mine do you hear me? All you need to do is entertain me. Or I'll show you how to entertain me." That got a lusty look upon the warrior's face.
Suddenly Gabrielle was reminded of the kiss that Xena had planted on her. She licked her lips and instead of tasting the meal that she had just consumed she tasted something else. The warrior had a distinctive taste. It was husky and leather and spicy. It made her head spin just a little thinking about it. Though she and Perdicus had only kissed once she really never remembered it having this kind of effect on her or leaving a taste that lingered. She swallowed several times as something was just starting to seep into her brain. "H-how would you like me to do that?"
Xena picked up a huge piece of meat and shoved it into her mouth. She sat there chewing for the longest moment. This is more work than any of the other slaves. She better damn well be worth it the little… Finally she crossed her arms over her breasts and sat there looking at the young woman. The warlord shook her head and smiled just a little. "Well if you wait for me to decide you might not like what I choose. Besides, you're a storyteller. So tell me a tale."
At first Gabrielle wanted to protest and remind the warrior that they had an agreement that she had the night to think of one but something told her that would not be the best idea. Her mind shuffled through her stories to see if there was one that she could tell or alter enough to please the women sitting directly to her right. She picked up the cup that had the purple liquid without thinking and took a sip. Instantly she was coughing and nearly spit out the contents.
The warlord snorted almost sending her own taste of wine out through her nose. The kid was green and in so many ways. A flash entered her mind of someone that she tried not to think of anymore. Someone that would be very disappointed in the path that her life had taken. Someone that had trusted and loved her like no one else. It took longer than usual to push the image of her little brother back down in its recesses. "Well that was entertaining but I don't want you killing yourself for me."
Quickly the bard set the cup down and pushed it to the edge of the tray not wanting anything more of that liquid in her. She stood and took hold of the water pitcher and filled her glass swallowing almost all of the contents. She filled it again and looked at Xena who shook her head. Slowly she sipped the water as she returned to her seat. "I think I may have a story for you. I'm just not sure you'll like the ending. Do you want me to try it?"
"I'll repeat myself which usually I don't." Her hand rose as if she was going to strike the bard who flinched noticeably. "Remember that I only give one warning. The next time my hand raises toward you it will fall." The blond swallowed hard. "So for the final time either entertain me or I'll choose the entertainment." Her eyes narrowed and a seductive look was upon the dark haired woman. "After all that bed is looking inviting and I'm not even tired yet."
An audible squeak escaped the bard as her earlier thoughts were starting to mesh together and into a picture she was not sure she liked. She was also not sure if she was intrigued by it either which was a very interesting sensation to her. With Perdicus she really had no feelings other than of obligation. But there was something stirring deep within the bard and she was not sure how to classify it. "Right. Um. I get it. Sorta. Anyways here goes…"
Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was plain and simple and no one really thought anything of her. Other than her parents no one noticed her except if they should want something done for them. It was a lonely life but one that she shared with her younger sister. The fact that her sister adored her and looked up to her and made her life almost bearable. Almost.
She was betrothed to a man that really didn't care about her. All he wanted was for someone to come and take care of him and do his bidding for him. It was not the life that the girl had dreamed about night after night after night. Those dreams were the only thing that kept the girl going for though her parents and soon her betrothed might own her body they would never own her soul.
Then one day when she was out and about with her sister something amazing happened to the young girl. She tried to stand up to an evil man as they were taking her sister away. The others were not her friends but still no one deserved the fate of being sold into bondage or worse. But it was all in vein as someone so strong and amazing came along.
The girl found herself taken prisoner and placed in bondage. At first she was frightened for her life and for the life of her sister. But something changed in an instant when she realized that though she might be beaten physically it was better than being beaten up mentally. For before at home each night she would cry herself to sleep knowing that she was worthless and had no value to anyone.
But while the strong person that had become her master threatened a harsh punishment it also came with the knowledge that they too were missing something in their lives. Maybe just maybe they could fill the voids that were in each other's hearts and maybe just maybe they could end up being good friends instead of slave and master.
Gabrielle's voice fell silent. It was not really how she felt. Part of it was as she reflected on her home life that was true. But the other part about one day being able to be friends with the woman that sat next to her was not even something she could imagine. I really must be a bard if I can tell a tale like that. Wonder what Xena will think of my silly imagination. The bard sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap not even bothering to look into her master's eyes.
If the bard had looked up she would have for just a moment seen quiet soft blue eyes. She would have seen one solitary tear make its way down her cheek. With stealth it was wiped it away so that the bard could not see just how much she had touched her. Of course it was just a tale and a damn good one. Though Xena was not stupid and she wondered just how much of it was true and how much of it was fantasy. She swallowed a couple times before she found her voice. It was husky as the strain of holding back more tears was great. "That's some imagination you have there lil one."
Finally Gabrielle found the courage to look up. All she saw was a blank face. It figured to her that the story she had told would not have an effect on the cold hearted woman. She had hoped that it would affect her just a little but to no avail. Still it was the first story that she had told to anyone besides her sister and it had felt good. While most of it was a little closer to the truth then she would like it gave her hope that she could come up with more stories. Hopefully stories that her master would like.
Xena shoved her tray away and went to the door. She barked some orders out and turned back around to stare at the petite blond just staring at her hands folded in her lap. An unexpected pang of sympathy went through her body and it made her furious. Those kinds of feelings had no place in someone that wanted to someday be queen of Greece. A growl escaped the dark haired warrior and she moved so quickly that the bard had no chance to react. She swooped in and picked up the blond and threw her on the bed. "Time for my kind of entertainment." She stripped the younger woman of her clothes and smiled a feral smile.
