Xena awoke with a start, a few candle marks later to Kateria's screams. Sitting up quickly thinking the girl was being attacked, she soon realized that Kateria was having a nightmare. As Xena began to relax again, suddenly Kateria sat bolt upright eyes wide open a silent scream stuck in her throat. Grabbing Kateria and pulling her into a tight embrace Xena slapped her back causing the girl to take a deep breath and release long held back tears. Xena held her soothing each nightmare and offering comforting words, fighting her invisible foes until the girl calmed before the next one hit, this continued until dawn when they subsided and the girl slept peacefully in Xena's protective embrace. Xena laid staring at the ceiling, it wasn't to late to abandon her plans, the girls nightmares had made her feel uneasy. She wasn't sure why. Was it guilt? She herself was a warlord and surely those she had not killed she had had this kind of effect on. Xena silently chided herself, it wasn't good for a woman in her position to start thinking like this and feeling guilty. Was this damn girl conquering her? Making her weak? impossible! Xena smiled at her thoughts, she had put up far to many defenses to ever fall in love and no slave girl could change that, even Borias, the father of her only child couldn't get into her heart. She was the Destroyer of Nations, not some sappy 17 year old girl. Deciding that she probably needed something to eat she gently moved the girl into a comfortable position that wasn't trapping her, and Xena wandered off in search of breakfast. It was while she was rummaging in the kitchens that Xena hit on an idea. The girl was never going to initiate anything, Xena knew this because despite that fire and rage she sensed inside the girl she was still too used to being a slave. Too used to keeping her anger in check in order to survive. What Xena needed to do was apprentice the girl. To tap into the fire, and give her confidence. That was her next step, she would make Kateria think she held the power... Smirking to herself, Xena grabbed the tray of pork and bread along with some mead and headed back to her chambers.
When she entered the room, Xena was surprised to see that Kateria wasn't in the bed where she'd left her. In fact she wasn't in the room. Placing the food on the table she looked around with narrowed eyes, searching for any signs of a struggle that would mean Draco or his men had taken her girl. On second thought Kateria was in the room. Xena's heightened senses tingled, she could feel the girls presence. She could even feel Kateria's eyes on her, but where was she, there wasn't anything to hide behind. Apart from the curtains to the balcony. Quietly she stalked across the room, whipping the curtains aside her face fell as she confronted an empty balcony. Slight confusion crossed her face momentarily, sighing she turned around with a shrug and almost walked into the girl. ''By the god's what in Tarterus are you playing at Kateria!'' Xena shouted angrily to conceal her surprise.
Kateria's triumphant face fell ''I..I.. Y.. You said I needed to get better at concealing myself..'' she stuttered out backing away from a clearly very angry Warrior Princess her heart pounding. Kateria had thought Xena would be pleased, she'd listened to her and done as was asked. But now she wasn't so sure, maybe she shouldn't have tried to impress the warrior woman.
Xena stopped and looked at the slave girl.. 'surprising' she thought to herself... this was going to be easier than she'd thought.. Wagging her finger at Kateria in a thoughtful way she said slowly ''I did say that..'' she narrowed her eyes and examined the girl ''You learn fast Kateria'' 'Maybe too fast' her subconscious added, ''where were you?''
Afraid she may rouse Xena's anger once more Kateria said quietly ''I..I was behind the door... and.. and then, when you were distracted by the curtain, I moved around the walls and.. I just kinda stood.. behind you..'' her voice trembled as she feared what Xena was going to do. Would she tell her to leave, or worse, become like she had towards Draco yesterday, or even add her to the rows of crucified bodies.
''Hmmm.. There's something very interesting about you Kateria.. You learn fast and you have skills inside you that would take most warlords years to develop..'' Xena appeared to be thinking as she walked across the room towards the food she had procured from the kitchens, pouring two mugs of mead she divided the food onto two plates and indicated for Kateria to join her. Slowly, as if afraid the warrior was going to have her for breakfast, the girl sat down opposite the impressive woman warlord, for what felt like the millionth time in two days her head was spinning. ''How would you like to train with me Kateria, I think you could possibly be a very skilled warrior'' Kateria looked up at the Warrior Princess, to make sure she'd heard right, startled by Xena's suggestion she stammered out ''B..But I've never killed anyone..I..I.. Don't think I could''
Xena smiled at the girl reassuringly ''You wont have to.. I'll teach you how to defend yourself.. If you want to learn offensive techniques after that I'll teach you but if not we'll just leave it at you being able to whip anyone's butt who tries it on with you. How's that sound?'' Xena looked at her levelly, ''Truth is, I'd like it if you were able to come on campaigns with me, but either way you need to be able to protect yourself if I am not able to. Teaching you to look after yourself would ease my mind a little'' she watched the girl's facial expressions intently as she said this, knowing that after the way she'd been treated Kateria would most likely jump at the chance to make sure it wouldn't happen again, but she also knew that the girl would be looking for the catch.
''You'd do that? for me?'' Kateria asked, hardly able to believe what this woman was saying to her, if she could fight, defend herself, then she wouldn't have to worry about being taken as a slave again, she wouldn't have to put up with the disgusting men who forced themselves on her, she'd truly be free.
''Only if you want to'' Xena shrugged ''I can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn''
Kateria chewed thoughtfully on a piece of pork before replying ''When can we start?'' with a big grin on her face.
''Today if you like. I have some free time after my meetings this afternoon'' on seeing Kateria nod eagerly she added ''Well then. It's a date. I've got to go now but I'll come and collect you after the midday meal'' smiling she left Kateria to muse on what their first lesson might be.