The tension builds...;)
Move Slow
Xena stood outside of the palace overseeing her warriors train with each other. She had her eye particularly on Eia and the other girls. They did well for their size and age, but they needed more work. She was reluctant to continue to train the girls as her life grew busier by the day.
Rubbing her chin she eyed Eia throw Nefeli to the ground with a swift throw. The tall Spartan girl smiled and kicked sand into the redhead's face, causing the other girls around to laugh and cheer her on. Xena narrowed her eyes and then turned to see Lelex walking towards her.
"How is the Amazon Queen?" she asked with a slight grin.
He folded his arms and looked at her profile. "She's in her room. She refuses food and water."
Xena raised an eyebrow and slowly turned her head to her second in command. "Really? How fascinating."
"I am not understanding this plan of yours, Xena. What does kidnapping an Amazon Queen accomplish?"
"You are not seeing the big picture, Lelex. The child emperor will figure out what is going on and he will have to come to Arcadia to sort this little debacle out. Queen Gabrielle will serve as my pawn. I will overthrow the emperor and take over his empire."
Lelex rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. "Somehow I don't think Alexander will give two shits about the Amazon Queen, Xena. This plan will be all for nothing if he doesn't bat an eye to his missing ally."
"Then we will just have to do something more drastic now won't we?" she gave him a sly smile and that worried him.
He did as commanded just like he did with his king and queen before Xena took over Sparta, but sometimes her plans were difficult to execute. But if he did not do as she commanded, he would face her wrath and he didn't want to end up dead on the fields of Arcadia for the world to see his body on display.
"Get me the reports on King Darius," she ordered and walked off to go back into the palace. She grew bored of watching the warriors training.
Xena walked through the large palace and many of the helots greeted her as she sauntered passed them. She did not even bother to acknowledge them and kept walking. Reaching the room that she held her queen guest in, she opened the door and saw Gabrielle sitting on the floor with her legs crisscrossed. A tray of food and water were set by her on the floor but none had been touched.
Gabrielle opened her eyes and stared into the bright sunlight beaming into the room. Inhaling softly she smiled, feeling the presence of the Spartan behind her. "What took you so long?"
"You plan to starve yourself to death, Gabrielle?"
"It's Queen Gabrielle," the Amazon turned head and glared at the tall woman. "And no. I was praying for guidance." She stood and turned to see the shocked expression upon Xena's face. This only made her smile.
"Praying to your gods won't save you," Xena chided. "Maybe you should pray that I will not destroy your precious Amazon Nation."
Gabrielle's smile disappeared and she walked closer to the Spartan. "Corinth will never belong to you. You may be able to manipulate people to get what you want, Xena, but I won't fall for it."
Xena scoffed, "is that right, mighty Amazon Queen?" she teased. "I have other ways of making people submit to me."
"Submission is cowardly," Gabrielle said and crossed her arms. "Soon people will revolt against you."
"Doubt it."
The blonde smiled and nodded. "You seem sure of yourself. Arrogance is not a good look on anyone especially someone who wants to take over Greece. You may be getting ahead of yourself, Xena."
"Bold words, Gabrielle." Xena said knowing that calling her by her pedestrian name would indefinitely get under her skin. Those jade colored eyes turned a dark emerald. Her lip quivering. Her fists clenching. That hot breath escaping her lips. Livid, are you, Gabrielle?
The Amazon studied Xena's face and knew that the woman was getting satisfaction of her own annoyance. She remained calm and focused her energy to a much calmer place in her mind. She couldn't stay here forever. She needed to figure a way out of here and she sure wasn't going to give Xena the opportunity to seize Corinth. She also knew that Alexander wouldn't be able to save her, at least not now. It would be weeks or months before he knew of her hostage situation.
She decided to play the game.
"I don't know a lot about you, Xena. I've only heard stories about your conquests. Are you as ruthless as others claim you to be?" she asked and the Spartan stifled a laugh.
Xena walked around the short blonde like a snake would its prey. It was almost as if Gabrielle was begging to be wrapped in her grasp and squeeze the life out of her until her submission to Sparta. This woman would not be easy to crack, she thought. But I can play along.
"What would you like to know? Anything in particular? I'm an open book, Gabrielle," she hissed.
The hairs on the back of Gabrielle's neck stood up and she clenched her jaw. Her eyes focused on the wall in front of her. She felt Xena's fingers trace along her shoulder blades and her body tightened. Hearing the woman snicker behind her, frustrated her. She couldn't allow Xena to have any pleasure of her fear or uncertainty.
"Your name is known all throughout Greece," she began and her eyes briefly darted to the left and caught sight of long black tresses. Close. Too close. "And the East. How did you end up in Sparta? Surely there are other lands you could have conquered?" she said and Xena came around and looked down at her. Gabrielle mistakenly looked up. Those eyes. Wily. Hard. And even curious.
"Trying to get inside my head, Gabrielle?" Xena cocked her head and the Amazon licked her bottom lip. She gave a tight lipped smile. "Of course you are. You see, Greece is as much my homeland as it is yours. It belongs to me."
"It belongs to the people," Gabrielle interrupted.
Xena's eyes grew as did her smile. "A woman for the people. How selfless and yet so...hypocritical," she rubbed her fingers together. "You live in a small community of people. What do you care what happens to the rest of Greece? You Amazons are selfish and live in seclusion."
"We live peacefully among other rulers and continue to make alliances. I want Greece to thrive not perish at the hands of a tyrant."
"Are you suggesting that I am a tyrant, Gabrielle?" Xena leaned forward, glaring into the blonde's ample eyes.
"No, I didn't say that."
"But you implied it."
The two stared into each other's silently for the next few moments.
Xena chuckled lowly and turned around, facing her back to the Amazon Queen. "I'm much better at this game than you, Gabrielle, but I must give you credit for trying."
Gabrielle cursed herself for even thinking that she could try and toy with this woman. It was apparent that Xena knew exactly what she was trying to do. She tried to outsmart her. The Amazon Queen knew that this was not going to be easy to convince her to do anything. The fear of being trapped here was beginning to weigh on her and it was only day three. Three days. How much more could she take? She didn't know.
"Do you enjoy inflicting pain on others?" the queen asked.
Xena turned slowly on the heel of her sandal. "Pain? How sadistic, Gabrielle. First you accuse me of being a tyrant and now a sadist. Your princess accused me of being a cannibal. How wild is that?" she cackled and Gabrielle raised an eyebrow.
Confusing. This woman was very confusing. I have underestimated her greatly. "It can be hard to differentiate from what is the truth and what isn't."
"You believe I eat people?" Xena cast a crooked wiry smile.
"No, I don't." Gabrielle chose her words carefully. Though, she did not truly believe that anyone could eat human flesh. She wasn't certain what Xena was capable of but these were just tales that Amazons told over the years.
"That would be very barbaric, wouldn't it?" Xena said with a crafty smile.
The Amazon Queen was now beginning to see how this woman worked. She was playing a game the entire time. Her choice of words were interesting. Not directly answering questions or giving straight forward answers was a good distraction for enemies. Emperor Alexander wouldn't stand a chance against Xena in a game of politics.
"Yes...I guess it would be," answered Gabrielle.
"Let me tell you something, Gabrielle," Xena stepped closer and the blonde lifted her chin, listening intently. "People like to think of their enemies as untamed animals. Fables. Rumors. Lies –are spread throughout the world and suddenly everyone fears you. Do you know what that feels like? To be feared?"
Is she trying to make me feel bad for her? Gabrielle chose not to answer and instead kept staring into Xena's azure eyes.
"Of course you don't," Xena answered for her guest. "Because nobody fears the Amazons," her eyes darkened and an ugly grimace on her face distorted her striking features.
In an instant, Gabrielle felt her heart race. She felt anger rising and attempting to escape her. But she couldn't allow that to happen. That would feed Xena's ego.
"Fear is for the weak mind," she managed to say without expressing her fury inside.
Xena winked and walked towards the doors. "We'll see about that, Gabrielle." She paused and looked over her shoulder, "I mean...Queen Gabrielle," she mocked.
Lelex threw the scroll onto Xena's desk and she frowned. Slowly she reached for the scroll and took the ribbon off. She quickly read through the message and pursed her lips, dissatisfied with the news. Lifting her eyes she gawked at Lelex.
"What is this? I thought Darius was coming to Athens to attack?"
"He has changed course," he said and she arched an eyebrow. He further explained, "he plans to attack Corinth."
A smile grew on her lips and she crossed one leg over the other and tapped her fingers on the table. "Attacking Corinth. No doubt Alexander will ask for my help."
Lelex looked to the soldiers beside him and back at his leader. "And you will not provide aid, correct?"
"Of course not!" she slammed her fist on the desk and he flinched. "But he must ask for it and it's going to tear him apart." She nodded slowly, thinking of all the scenarios that went through her mind. She imagined the child emperor throwing a massive fit. He hated Sparta and she couldn't blame him. Arcadia had never been conquered.
Corinth is the key. It was the city trapped in between Xena and Alexander. But Xena did have a one-up on the emperor. She had Gabrielle –the woman in charge of Corinth after the king died of a mysterious illness. She couldn't allow the Amazons to be in control of the most wanted port in all of Greece. She tried to take Corinth long ago but she failed. Maybe this time she could win the city and once she had Corinth, she could dictate all the ports and the Gulf.
"Tell Trexis to give the okay to Darius to attack Corinth and that I won't be aiding Alexander," she ordered and Lelex gave a curt nod. "Oh and make sure Darius attacks on the blood moon of the third month."
He eyed her curiously. "Why?"
She turned with a scowl, "are you questioning me?"
"No, Xena." He stood up straight.
"Then do as I say," she shooed him away and then watched his back turned to her. "Oh and Lelex," she said and he halted. "Don't ever question my authority again," she warned and he gave her a slow bob of his head then exited her chambers.
She sighed heavily, now alone in her room. She traced her fingers along the dust on the table and cringed in disgust. Rubbing her fingers together she looked to the helots waiting on either side of the large doors.
"Aryana!" she yelled and one of the young helots ran over to her, keeping her gaze low. "Clean this desk. It's filthy." She said as her legs were propped up on the table. The helot nodded. Xena lifted her head and grabbed the girl's chin, lifting it slowly and looked into the girl's sweet brown eyes.
She grinned. "And prepare a bath," she said and Aryana nodded, her eyes continuously growing in fear. She pat the girl's cheek and pushed her along to the baths in the room adjacent to her desk. "Oh Aryana," she called and the helot turned. "Bring me the Amazon Queen."
The night of the third evening. Three days. It had only been three days, she kept reminding herself. Gabrielle thought that she could keep her mind clear and focused but it proved to be more difficult than she realized. Xena was good. Very good. She liked games and Gabrielle had often played these war games with the King of Corinth but he was not so cunning.
He also did not have a desire to rule the entire nation of Greece. That destiny was meant for Alexander and no one else. No one else but Xena, the queen thought. Xena made it very clear who was the boss here and rightfully so. Sparta was her domain but it was stolen land. Gabrielle couldn't shake the feeling of fear that smoldered inside her.
And now, a few helots were escorting her to Xena's chambers. The sky was dark. The moon bright and luminescent. The training fields were empty and quiet. The palace was eerily quiet as well. Nobody was around, Gabrielle observed.
Her eyes traveled around as they approached the doors at the end of the hall. The closer she became, the further it seemed. The doors loomed over her, towering at least ten or more feet. She used to feel so mighty in her tribe but here she felt small. Xena was to blame for that. The Amazon was determined not to let Xena distract her and keep her focused. This little pawn game wasn't going to work forever. The Emperor had to come to his sense and rescue the Amazon Queen, right? She could only hope.
She entered the chambers and turned, seeing the doors close behind her. Now it felt too real. She was alone in the chambers again. Just like the first day when she arrived. Except, this was different. Something was off. Her eyes keenly glanced around looking for an attack. Though, she did not believe the so-called Empress would attack her with cold blood.
Xena was not that ruthless. Or was she? Gabrielle stepped further into the chambers, expecting the Spartan to come out of any one of these halls but it was quiet. Her ears perked as she heard water gently drip. She listened carefully and followed the miniscule sound of water droplets.
You are close but far. Where are you? The Amazon made sure not to make too much noise in fear that Xena might surprise her, but she couldn't have been more wrong. Poking her head around a corner she saw the dark haired Spartan sitting in a bath of milky water. She appeared to be oblivious but Gabrielle knew that Xena was well aware she had eyes on her.
Xena lifted her head and Gabrielle looked straight into her eyes. Those eyes. Sharp as a falcon's yet resembling a serpent. A bird and a serpent. How ironic, Gabrielle mused. One eats the other in the food chain yet those eyes appeared as one –hunter and prey.
"Gabrielle," she greeted and the blonde stepped into the bath chamber. "I hope you aren't too rattled from our conversation earlier..."
Gabrielle kept herself in check and shook her head. This game. She will play along. "I was never rattled."
Xena smiled and nodded. She then poured some soapy water onto her arms and shoulder. "Right. Of course not. Amazons have thick skin. Silly me."
Cutting to the chase, Gabrielle asked, "why did you bring me here?"
"Ah yes." Xena waded in the water and leaned against the edge of the bath, spreading her long arms outward. "You are aware of King Darius and his mission to destroy Athens and all the rest of Greece?"
The blonde nodded.
"Well, I just received word that he is planning an attack," she said and saw the queen's eyes grow in panic. "Supposedly he planned to attack Athens and Marathon but he changed his mind." She said and waited for a response but she received none. "The Persian decided to wage his war on Corinth. Imagine that? The very place where your Amazon tribe lives!"
Gabrielle was about to retaliate then something caught on. She frowned and eyed the sly woman. "You're in contact with the enemy of Greece?"
"Assumptions, Gabrielle. You assume a lot of things about me. Tyrant, sadist and now a traitor." She clicked her tongue against her teeth and gave a pitiful smile. "Why would I be on Darius' side? He is my enemy too, you know."
"I don't know anything about you but what I do know is that you get what you want by coercing people and even resort to killing. It wouldn't surprise me if you allied with the greatest enemy of Greece."
Xena rose from the bath water and Gabrielle's eyes amplified. "I am the enemy of Greece!" her voice grew loud and firm. She stepped out of the water, one stair at a time. Coming closer and closer to the blonde Amazon.
Gabrielle looked down and a puddle of water surrounded the Spartan. Water streamed down her bare legs and dripped from her soaked tresses.
"Last chance, Gabrielle," the Spartan whispered. She reached her hand forward and grazed the Amazon's cheek. "Give me Corinth and I will save your people. Give it to me," she hissed.
Gabrielle closed her eyes for a brief moment and slapped Xena's hand away. "No! This is all a show. I am never going to give you Corinth!"
"Then prepare to watch your people perish in the hands of King Darius." Xena brushed by her and grabbed her robe.
Gabrielle ran her fingers through her short blonde hair and exhaled deeply. She spun around and saw Xena drying herself off. Quickly, she averted her eyes but continued to speak to her. "My sisters will fight against the Persians. We will protect our land from whoever decides to invade whether it be you or anyone else!"
Xena snickered under her breath. "Optimistic of you, Gabrielle." She then wrapped the robe's sash about her taut waist. "I'll make sure to give you a front row seat to witness your sisters being slaughtered by the Persian army."
Gabrielle followed her out of the bath chamber. "Why are you doing this? Is it to torture me?"
"Another assumption. You think I like to torture people for fun? Is that it?" Xena spun around with a dagger in hand and Gabrielle backed away slowly. "Or that I like to hurt people who are unarmed like...you," she grinned wickedly.
"You want Corinth so badly why didn't you come to me and offer an alliance?"
"I told you, Gabrielle. I don't do alliances. They aren't my thing." She stepped closer to the petite queen. "I once tried to take Corinth many years ago and did not succeed –"
"And now you're upset that you failed. You can't just take someone's land like that, Xena."
"Yes, I can!" she yelled and Gabrielle tensed. "All of Arcadia is mine and you know how I got it? I forced people into submission. You refuse time and time again to submit to me and I am becoming very impatient with you, Gabrielle."
The Amazon frowned and her eyes looked to a sword that sat upon a holster strapped to the wall. "This is not a fair fight. If you want Corinth so badly, then why don't you fight me for it? I will never submit to you."
Xena lowered her dagger and eyed the Amazon incredulously. "A fight? You want to fight me?"
"Why not? You seem to think you are the best when it comes to combat."
Xena laughed. "Oh please," she waved her hand and set down the dagger. "I'm not going to fight you."
"Afraid you'll lose?" Gabrielle chided.
"Don't be ridiculous. I am just using you to stir up chaos in Alexander's empire. You are just a pawn to me. I need you alive."
The queen nodded. "And you're so sure that Alexander will come here? Just for me?" she used her own logic she debated with herself hours ago. "You must have a lot of faith in him. If you really want to take over Greece why don't you just kill him?" she suggested.
Xena blinked and she smiled. "Very good, Gabrielle. Trying to play this game with me. Your reverse psychology won't work here. Not with me." She approached the Amazon steadily. "I am older than you. Wiser than you. Tougher than you. And...smarter than you. Nice try."
Gabrielle frowned and marched to the doors.
"Oh and," the Spartan called out and Gabrielle looked over her shoulder, halting in step. "I will kill Alexander."
Gabrielle rushed back to her room and slammed the door shut. There, she leaned her back against the door, exhaling deeply. Heart thumping loudly within her chest, her eyes darted from left to right. She wasn't sure if it was fear that intensified the situation. The adrenaline pumped through her body and she gripped her short locks, staring at the large curtained windows.
The night was so peaceful. So silent. Yet that conversation was far from peaceful. Xena was on another level, Gabrielle presumed. She wanted more than to take Greece and she didn't care if other people were going to be harmed in the process. Persia –King Darius –and her direct contact with the arrogant Persian King.
And that bath. What was that, she wondered? What was the purpose of that? Another one of Xena's games perhaps, Gabrielle could only assume. The way she presented herself in her bare flesh exuded confidence, arrogance, intimidation and most of all, power.
How could Alexander be so blind? Why didn't he take her out long ago? Gabrielle didn't understand any of this so began to pace. Only three days, she reminded herself. Three days which felt like three weeks. Three moons. Three suns. Tomorrow is the fourth day. She did somehow feel safe in this Spartan stronghold.
Xena had done nothing that made her feel unsafe as of yet. Her threats and mind games were another story altogether. She was good, very good. Gabrielle rubbed her chin, talking under her breath, recalling the conversation she had with the Spartan ruler. She was so calm, so collected and so sure of herself.
What were you like before you became the leader of Sparta? Who were you? Were all those stories that Amazons told lies? Is there any truth to any of it? At all? Gabrielle knew that she couldn't simply ask Xena about her life before Sparta. She would have to pry it out of her. As long as she was going to be trapped here, she was going to make sure she knew everything about her.
About her enemy.
About Xena.
"Are you really the woman everyone believes you to be? Why do you lie about being an Empress?" Gabrielle spoke to herself barely above a whisper. "Why are you doing this? Why me? Why not someone else?"
A knock.
She gasped and saw the door open slightly. It wasn't Xena but a young helot. She relaxed a bit, but was almost disappointed it wasn't Xena. She sort of hoped that she could engage in another conversation with her. But maybe not tonight. Not right now.
"Yes?" asked Gabrielle.
Aryana stretched out her arms and bowed her head. "For you," she said meekly. Gabrielle frowned and approached the bundle of cloth in the helot's arms. She grabbed it from her and it unraveled.
A gown. Another Grecian gown. She lifted her eyes to the young helot girl. "What am I supposed to do with this?" she presumed it was another game of Xena's.
"The Empress told me to give it to you. She wants you to have it for tomorrow."
Gabrielle arched a brow. "Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?"
Aryana shook her head, "you will find out, she said." She turned and left the room before Gabrielle could ask any more questions.
She lay the off white gown on the bed and stared at it. And stared at it. Cocking her head from side to side, she couldn't take her eyes off the gown. Before, she threatened Xena the first time she was given a dress to wear. She guessed that Xena was playing a game yet again, but this was different. She wasn't quite sure if this was about control or about something else.
Gabrielle realized she had never been around a person like Xena before. It was interesting that this woman was not truly cruel, at least from what she saw. She was also very gorgeous, which was not unusual for strong leaders, but she was still a killer. A murderer. Perhaps that was too cruel of a word. After all, the Amazon did not truly know this woman.
She picked up the gown and turned to glance at her reflection in the full length mirror. "What are you planning, Xena?" she asked herself aloud.
