AN: hope everyone is enjoying so far :) let me know your thoughts and enjoy!
Golden Mares
The wife of Julius Caesar, Calpurnia, came to the home of Pompey and her stepdaughter, Julia. She had traveled a long way from Rome. She walked through the home of her husband's General of the Republic and saw Julia awaiting her right by her husband's side.
"Calpurnia, so good of you to come. I was not expecting your arrival until tomorrow," Julia said with a tight lipped smile. She really did not care for her father's wife, his third wife in a row. After all, Calpurnia was only a few years older than her and that made things awkward sometimes.
The Roman wife grinned and kissed the cheeks of her stepdaughter. "Caesar wanted me to come early. He will arrive tomorrow. I hope it is not an inconvenience." She eyed Julia and Pompey simply grinned, delighted to see the Roman wife of his cohort.
"Not at all, Calpurnia. We are elated by your presence." He grabbed her hand and kissed the knuckles being charming as always. "I have quite a surprise for you tonight."
He lead her to the balcony that overlooked the training grounds of all his gladiators and gladiatrices. Julia, not amused by her stepmother, followed behind them with a scowl on her face, contorting her beautiful features.
Calpurnia looked over the balustrade and saw male gladiators sparring with one another and also females. She knew that her husband had commissioned such a thing but she didn't know if it were true until now. Right before her eyes she smiled, enthralled to see female gladiators –a feat that hadn't been done before.
Pompey pointed to the dark haired man below sparring with Adonis. "That is Ares. He is from Sparta and he is the reigning champion of the arena."
She smirked, "he takes the name of the God of War? He is rather presumptuous." She snorted.
"But he is one of our best," Pompey combated.
Julia butt into the conversation and pointed at the females. "Pompey has a new recruit. She is from Thrace. She is the woman who tried to overthrow my father," she lifted her chin proudly that her father was able to bring his foe to face her consequences.
Calpurnia's mouth turned sour upon seeing Xena. She had heard much of Xena and her Thracian tribe in the mountains. "Yes, I am aware of the woman. How does she fair here? Does she suffer under Sorso's instruction?"
"She is very disobedient, but she is learning." Pompey said and saw Xena push down one of the girls with ease and point her sword at the gladiatrix's throat. "It's a work in process."
Still bitter over the way her husband handled Xena she turned around and smiled at Julia and Pompey. "You mentioned something about a surprise?" she offered to change the subject.
Xena fell to her back harshly and she spat out some blood draining from her mouth. She lifted herself up and glared at her opponent. She was given the opportunity to fight someone of her own height. A woman from the Russian Steppes by the name of Cyane. A gorgeous blonde with brown doe-like eyes, but a body of a goddess and a punch that could kill.
She was finally able to fight someone at the same level as her. She rose to her feet and spotted Gabrielle sparring with a redhead and gave her a brief smile. Gabrielle, distracted was knocked down by her opponent and Xena cringed slightly.
"You are a good fighter," Cyane said and twirled her sword.
Xena rolled her shoulders back and focused on the blonde woman. "So are you. You fight like a warrior not like any of these female gladiators." She lowered her stance, ready for another attack.
Cyane grit her teeth and spun around, thrusting her wooden sword into Xena's exposed abdomen and the brunette gasped for air, wrapping her arm around herself. Cyane seized the opportunity and grabbed Xena by her long tresses and tossed her onto the sand.
Ares saw the Thracian woman being bested by the Russian woman and smirked. He waltzed over to Xena and leered over her. She looked up into his dark eyes and frowned. He lend her a hand and Cyane folded her arms, waiting on the sidelines.
"Looks like you've finally met your match," he said.
Xena wiped her hand on her cloth shorts and gazed into his eyes, not sure whether it was wise to talk to this man or not. She did not know him and he did not know her. "You're in my way," she snidely said.
"Well, excuse me, princess," he teased then backed off.
She scoffed and pushed him aside, ready to fight this blonde Russian. She held up her sword and smiled. "Your moves are impeccable."
Cyane smiled smugly and raised her weapon. "As are yours but I'm afraid that they aren't good enough. You will never best me, Xena."
"You're so sure of yourself. Why don't you put your sword where your mouth is," an eerie grin appeared on her lips.
Cyane turned sharply and swung her leg around, tempting to knock the Thracian off her feet. Xena jumped aside and then her wooden sword came crashing down and Cyane blocked the blow. The two grew closer as Xena applied all of her weight onto the sword, lowering Cyane to a knee.
Xena's mouth parted and Cyane grunted, her arms shaking, struggling to keep her weapon upright and Xena far from her. Their faces inched closer and closer.
"I smell defeat," Xena hissed.
Cyane growled and head butt Xena in the forehead sending her staggering backwards. In a fit of rage she charged right for her and sliced Xena's arm with the sharp edge of the wooden sword. Xena hissed in agony and gripped her bleeding arm. Cyane then grabbed Xena by her hair and kneed her in the nose, her already broken nose then reared her head backward, kicking her in the back of the knees into a kneeling position.
She pointed the blade to Xena's throat and breathed heavily with a wild smile. "Who's defeated now?" she said.
Ares laughed and clapped his hands slowly. Cyane released Xena and took a step backward, brushing her bloodied weapon on her cloth shorts. Xena rose to her feet and saw blood draining down her arm. Ares approached Xena and grasped her shoulder which caused her to stiffen.
"The blondes seem to have a thing for you," he whispered in her ear.
In the middle of Gabrielle's break she drank water from the well and eyed Ares cautiously. She saw that he was incredibly close to her, too close in fact. He had never shown such interest in any female before and the thought of him coming near anyone made her angry.
She threw the ladle into the well and folded her arms, watching the exchange between Xena and Ares. A dark cloud hovered over Gabrielle as she saw them together. Xena was miffed by Cyane as much as she was by Ares.
After the morning training exercise, the women ate their food beneath the roof of the villa, close to their barracks while the men ate outside on the training field. Gabrielle walked over to sit by a lonely Thracian and Xena lifted her eyes upon seeing her.
Gabrielle slowly descended to the ground, digging her fingers into the grain, eating quietly, watching all the women eat. Callisto was with Cyane having a heated conversation and she even threw her bowl of grain across the room and begged the Russian to fight her.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes and wagged her head. Xena smirked, finding the situation amusing. The blonde's eyes then went to Ares who kept glancing over at them, at Xena especially.
Lowering her gaze into her bowl of food she spoke in between chewing. "You know," she began and Xena turned her head. "You should be careful of Ares." She said and didn't look Xena in the eye as she kept eating.
"What's so special about him?" Xena turned her head and glanced over at the champion of Rome who was laughing and conversing with a few other gladiators.
Nothing, nothing is special about him. "He's been Rome's champion for five years. He's not known to take interest in any of the women." Gabrielle began and saw Xena's eyes lingering far too long on the champion. "But he took an interest in you."
She nudged Xena out of her daydreaming daze and saw the look in Xena's eyes. Frowning in disgust she turned back to her food. "Just be wary of him, that's all."
Xena scoffed and her gaze upon Gabrielle remained stoic yet curious. "Are you trying to be friendly with me, Gabrielle?"
"No..." she took awhile to answer that question.
"Right," Xena nodded and finished off her food and set her bowl aside. She walked through the tables filled with women and then Cyane tossed Callisto onto one of the tables and Xena stepped back. She leered down at the wiry blonde and chuckled then went on her about her way into the barracks.
Sorso stood in front of all the gladiators and gladiatrices, walking in between the separated group of sexes. He held his whip close to him and eyed all the women and turned and did the same to the men.
"There will be a party this evening," he said and saw the men's eyes lit up at that while the women seemed less enthused. "Pompey has selected a few of you to attend the festivities tonight."
He stopped at the end of the line. "Ares," he said and the champion stepped out of line and smiled grandly. He looked to the women. "Cyane."
She smiled and stepped forward, glad to be selected.
"Adonis," Sorso said and the blonde gladiator stepped forward.
"Gabrielle."
She stepped forward with a less eager thanks than everyone else did. She did not like Roman parties and could only imagine what was going to happen tonight.
"And Xena," he said the last name and her eyes widened as she lifted her head. All the women turned their heads, envious of her and the other two women that accompanied her.
"Three women?!" Humarous griped. "This is horseshit," he folded his arms.
Sorso cracked his whip, silencing Humarous and the other males gossiping beneath their breaths. "You will go to the baths and be prepared for tonight. You are all dismissed for the day."
In the baths within the female barracks, Xena, Cyane and Gabrielle all washed their bodies free of dirt, blood and sweat for tonight. Cyane soaked in the lukewarm water eyeing Xena as she watched the Thracian shave her legs cleanly and with such precision.
Gabrielle caught Cyane's eyes boring into Xena's backside. She couldn't blame her after what she did to Xena on the grounds today. Cyane was a very good fighter, an excellent warrior from the cold Siberian Steppes. She rivaled Xena and Gabrielle wanted to have another opportunity to fight Xena, but she needed to observe, she needed to study Xena. It was to be her new project.
"Why do you think Pompey selected us for tonight?" Gabrielle broke the ice. It was like cutting air with a knife, the tension so thick and awkward.
Cyane smirked and rose from the water and Xena ignored them both, wiping her legs down with a fresh cloth. "Who knows but I'm sure we'll have to be on our best behavior." She began drying off her muscular olive colored body and glanced at the Thracian.
"Right, Xena?" she said sharply.
Xena smiled and turned slowly with the shaving knife in her grasp. She slowly walked over to the arrogant Russian and Cyane eyed the knife and then Xena's eyes. She handed the knife over to her, still smiling.
"Of course," she said in a calm voice and Gabrielle's eyebrow arched.
Cyane took the knife from the Thracian's grip and Xena sauntered off to take a dip in the water with her freshly shaven body from head to toe. She dunked her head beneath the surface, wetting her long locks.
Xena lifted her head from the water and ran her hand across her hair. "Rumor has it that you tried to kill Caesar," Cyane said as she sat down on the stone bench and began shaving her legs, not taking her eyes off of the woman.
"That is no rumor," Xena said and her eyes cast a glance over at the worried Gabrielle beside her outside of the baths. She swam over to the edge of the bath and smiled. "Aren't you going to come in?" she teased.
There were no secrets in this ludi and there was no privacy either. While Gabrielle had dressed and undressed in front of all the women before she had yet to do so in front of just two women and one of those women being Xena. She was hesitant and she wasn't sure why she felt this way either. All the women had the same parts, but this was different.
"There is room for both of us," Xena enticed her and swam to the opposite side of the bath.
Cyane's eyes darted back and forth between the two women. "Do not let her intimidate you, Gabrielle."
"She doesn't intimidate me," Gabrielle said. She intrigues me.
Cyane wiped the shaving knife clean before she began shaving the next section of her long lean, muscular leg. "She is not the fiercest warrior that everyone claims her to be," she smirked and cast a glance over at Xena wading in the water, her eyes just above the surface.
"Who knows, maybe we will be given the chance to spar tonight at the party?" she glide the knife along her glistening tanned leg. "It should be fun to beat you again in front of a more...noble audience."
Xena lifted out of the water, glaring at the Russian gladiatrix. Cyane lifted her eyes and stared at the Thracian's naked body, her soft curves and slender waist, large thighs and broad shoulders.
Gabrielle's eyes looked up and down as she scanned Xena's body, not able to find any imperfections minus the bruises and cuts along her legs, arms and bruised ribcage. Her body was nearly perfect and water dripped down her bare flesh. Xena smirked at the blonde Russian and whipped her wet hair around as she stepped out of the bath, wrapping a towel around herself.
"How's that little gift I left on your arm, Xena?" Cyane teased the Thracian further.
Xena half smiled and turned to gaze at the arrogant warrior. "How rude of me," her eyes narrowed, "I did not get you gift. I'll have to do that sometime." She winked then grabbed her clothes to wear for tonight and walked off.
Inside the villa of Pompey the place was swarming with Roman nobles, ogling over the slaves dressed in next to nothing and feasting on wine, desserts and small horderves being passed around by the male waiters in masks, hiding their faces.
Julia had invited all of her friends from Ravenna and some were members of her husband's court. She was to be on her best behavior since her father was the prefect of Rome and soon the emperor, she hoped and wished one day. The women sauntered around, whispering among themselves as Julia showed them around her villa.
In the center of the villa on a dais in the middle of a large pool with two small fountains on each side, the male and female gladiators stood. They were all lined up according to height and males were on the far left, starting with Ares and ending with Gabrielle. They were dressed in black clothing. The men wearing far less than the three women, though not too much less.
Gabrielle had her hair slicked back with pomade and wore heavy kohl liner around her eyes. Xena had her hair pulled back in a tight bun as did Cyane. Xena grimaced as she saw a lot of Roman men gawking at her, Cyane and Gabrielle. The women fawned over Ares and Adonis of course. The two didn't seem to mind but Xena was less than enthused about being used as a human trophy to be gawked at.
She saw eyes lingering in places she wouldn't even allow her bed mates to look at without her permission. For the first time she felt so exposed and there was nothing she could do about it except give the Romans glares and sneers.
The women were shackled together by their wrists and were unable to move without one following the other. Gabrielle's eyes turned upward to stare at Xena and saw she was unhappy, angry perhaps. She too, had never been to a Roman party before and she didn't know what was going to happen here. So far, everything had been alright, minus the dirty looks she was given by Roman noblemen, whispering dirty nothings in each other's ears.
Cyane on the other hand was emotionless to it all. She completely blocked out everything around her and tried to ignore the whispers behind her and focused on what was important. The arena awaits ahead and that's all that mattered to her. She couldn't care less if a Roman gawked at her. They were deemed untouchable by Pompey so no hands were to come upon their flesh, only lustful and greedy eyes were allowed.
Julia met with Brutus, one of her father's dearest friends. He was much younger than Caesar, but still a fine adversary and a great military strategist in the making. The two walked together with a gaggle of Julia's friends following behind.
Brutus eyed the gladiators and gladiatrices standing in the center of the pool. He gave a crooked smile and Julia saw his eyes lingering on the females. She saw a great opportunity and grabbed his hand, leading him closer to the dais.
"You enjoy The Games, Brutus?" she asked with a bit of glee in her tone, almost childlike.
He nodded, "sometimes, yes." He cocked his head and stared at all three women of all three different heights and each so different from one another. "I was unaware that Pompey had female gladiators."
Julia's grin widened wickedly and she stepped closer to him, gripping his shoulder. "They are called gladiatrices." She pointed to Xena in between the blondes. "That's the Thracian that tried to kill my father and overthrow him."
Brutus' eyes grew and he folded his arms. "She is quite a looker," his eyes roamed around her body and Xena pursed her lips, trying to do her best to behave. Gabrielle's eyes darted from Xena to Brutus worriedly.
"She is a good fighter?" he asked.
"Oh yes, very good. She is a bit disobedient but I am sure Sorso can break her," she said and saw Xena's eyes flicker.
Brutus nodded and rubbed his young face that had yet to grow a beard or even stubble. He unsheathed his sword at his hip and pointed the blade at Xena's exposed midsection. Everyone in the room ceased conversation and looked over at him and the gladiators in the center of it all.
"Will she be willing to demonstrate her skills?" he turned to Julia's sweet face and saw her lips part. "It would be very entertaining for all the guests," he suggested with a sneaky smile.
Pompey made his way through the silent crowd and saw Brutus pointing his blade at Xena's abdomen. "Brutus, my friend," he chuckled nervously and slapped his hand on the young man's shoulder. "What is going on here?"
Julia turned to her husband, "our friend wishes to see a demonstration." She turned to the Thracian woman, "with Xena."
Pompey's eyebrow arched and Brutus was most persistent. It was hard to say no to him considering he was Caesar's right hand man as well. It would seem rude and Julia would surely tell her father about it. the blonde Roman General smiled grandly and waved his hand at the guards on the sides of the dais.
"Of course. A demonstration it is," he lifted his cup and grabbed his wife's hand leading her to the side. "I did not bring my gladiators here to this party to fight, Julia," he hissed.
"But Brutus is my father's trusted ally. We must do what he says. He is one of our most important guests, Pompey!" she whispered and watched as eyes lingered their way. "It won't be a death match." She persisted and rubbed his arm. "My father will be pleased and Calpurnia hates Xena anyway. I am sure she will be amused." She lifted her eyebrows.
It wasn't like Pompey had any say in the matter anymore. The Romans unshackled Xena's wrists and brought the others to the side off the dais. Xena was given a wooden sword to demonstrate her fighting skills.
Brutus couldn't take his eyes off the Thracian and he bit his bottom lip, instantly attracted to her physique. Smiling, he eyed the male and female gladiators waiting off on the sidelines. "She will need a partner. I will choose one for her," he walked over to the males and females.
He quirked his mouth and pointed to Ares. "You will do just fine." He smiled and the guards unshackled his wrists and pushed him forward to follow Brutus to the dais.
Ares was handed a wooden sword and both stood together, a couple of feet apart. Ares turned his head slightly and eyed Xena but she remained stoic and head facing forward. Refusing to give any acknowledgement he scoffed and rolled his shoulders back, grinning at Brutus and a shocked Pompey in the corner with his wife.
Pompey walked forward and whispered into Brutus' ear. "The women are not allowed to fight with the men, Brutus."
"Who says?" the young Roman almost scoffed.
"Julius Caesar," Pompey answered sharply. His tone firm and serious.
Brutus shrugged a shoulder, "I am sure he will not mind. We are close allies and dear friends. If this Thracian was able to take down Caesar's army, which is an army of men, I do not see what a small demonstration with a male gladiator could be any different."
Pompey and Julia both shared a nervous glance and then he put on a fake smile and pat Brutus on the shoulder. He turned around to his adoring guests.
"Brutus, friend of Gaius Julius Caesar, wishes to challenge our female and male gladiators in a small demonstration," he said and everyone smiled, clapping their hands. He turned and presented the two opponents. "Ares from Sparta, Rome's Champion," he began and everyone clapped more.
Ares smirked and Xena rolled her eyes and tapped her wooden sword against her thigh, ready to get this over with.
"And Xena from Thrace, Rome's enemy," Pompey said and all the guests murmured in each other's ears. He waved his hand, "begin." He bowed his head and stepped back with Brutus joining him by his side.
Xena turned and faced Ares. She saw that arrogant pearly white smile of his. She looked past his shoulder and saw Gabrielle and Cyane staring at her. Cyane with a smirk on her face while Gabrielle had a huge frown on hers.
Ares lowered his stance and saw her eyes focused elsewhere. "Are we going to get this over with, princess?" he teased.
Her eyes shot to his eager face and she gave a crooked smile. "I'm not your princess."
"Oh that's right, you belong to no one, right?" he winked and her smile disappeared in an instant and her lip quivered. She swung her sword around and he blocked it with his, their swords smashing against each other.
The two inches away from each other, eyes locked. They began circling around one another and heard the Romans around them, yelling, cheering for Ares mostly, while yelling obscenities at Xena. He had a nonchalant grin on his face and she couldn't wait to wipe that smile away.
She thrust her sword forward and he grabbed her wrist and flipped her over onto her back. She gasped and then somersaulted backward and quickly hopped to her feet before he could strike down upon her.
Xena grinned wildly and then swung her sword to the left, to the right and left again, each time Ares clashing his weapon against hers. She kept at it and he continued backing up, fighting against her blows with each swift swing of her sword. He teetered on the edge of the dais threatening to fall into the water.
She cocked her head and then kicked him in the chest and he flew a few feet, landing in the water below. Everyone around them gasped and Brutus chuckled softly, folding his arms.
"She is impressive," Brutus turned to Pompey.
"That...she is," the general raised an eyebrow and had never thought Xena was to send his champion to the ground and so quick.
Ares growled and leapt to his feet then came at her, grabbing her bun and unraveling her long hair as it tumbled down her backside. She elbowed him in the jaw and he hissed in slight pain and released her. She then kneed him in the face and before she could head butt him he grabbed her hair and flung her across the dais and she smashed into one of the large marble columns.
Gabrielle flinched and saw Xena slide down the column, blood dripping from her mouth. Cyane turned and saw the apprehension in the Greek's eyes.
She lifted a brow and averted gaze to the match. "I can see who you are rooting for then," she hinted and Gabrielle spun her head around and eyed Cyane with wide eyes though the Russian did not meet her eyes and kept her attention on Ares and Xena.
Xena recovered quickly and spat some blood onto the floor. Ares had a smug grin on his face and she sauntered slowly towards him, her body aching enough as it is and her head throbbing from the impact. She was determined and would not be defeated by a man, any man for that matter.
She threw her weapon and Ares tilted to the side, the weapon grazing his cheek slightly. He spun around with wide eyes and she cocked her head then ran right for him and tackled him to the ground. Both hit the ground hard and she straddled his legs, sitting atop of him, grasping her thighs, squeezing his taut waist just as Gabrielle did to her.
She wrapped her hands around his neck, her grip tightening. "Who's the princess now?!" she hissed and kept choking him. He gasped for air and he grabbed her waist, pressing his thumbs into her bruised ribs, though she did not care. She ignored the pain.
Pompey saw that Xena was not going to stop. She was going to kill him. "Xena!" he yelled, but she ignored him. "Stop her!"
Sorso stepped forward and cracked his whip against her back and she moaned in agony and fell to the ground. Ares let out a large exhale and rubbed his throat. His head lolled to the side and saw Xena glaring at him as she lay on the marble floor. A bit of mirth in her eyes, he noticed.
The Romans grabbed Xena by her arms and lifted her off the floor. Ares stood for himself and wiped his bleeding upper lip and could still feel her grip around his throat. She smiled deviously at him as she was being taken away to join Gabrielle and Cyane on the side. Ares frowned and breathed heavily and their eyes never lost contact as she was being shackled with the other women once more.
Brutus clapped his hands and turned to Pompey and Julia with a big smile. "What a show!" he cheered in delight. "I would love to see her in the arena against any male gladiator. She almost choked your champion to death, Pompey. Perhaps, he is not a true champion if a woman is able to best him," he chuckled and sauntered off to join other nobles waiting to speak with him.
Now Xena was in between Cyane and Gabrielle. Cyane eyed Xena and saw blood caked on her throat and lips. Her chest rising and falling heavily and her eyes still on Ares standing on the dais.
"Your fight was impressive to watch," Cyane said. "A moment longer and you would have killed the Spartan." She mused with a crooked smile. "Killing must be in your nature."
Gabrielle grimaced hearing Cyane say such words. "I told you to be careful of him," she whispered to Xena without making eye contact.
"What's there to be careful of? He is no match for me," Xena smirked and Ares walked right by her, eyeing her with vengeance in his dark eyes. "Champion of Rome," she said beneath her breath, mocking the Spartan.
Ares' eyes grew with fury as he heard Xena's snide sarcastic remark. He wriggled out of the Roman guard's hold and marched over to her. Their faces inches apart and his nostrils flared while she had a big grin on her bloodied, plump, bruised lips.
"Care to test your mouth on the sands, princess?" he hissed and the Roman grabbed his arm, forcefully trying to pull him away.
"I told you, I'm not your princess," she said calmly. "But I count on it." she winked and he growled lowly and was ushered away to be placed next to Adonis and shackled by his wrists.
Gabrielle's jaw clenched and she felt a fire within her. She wanted to be the one to fight Xena again, to test her skills and learn from her. She wanted to better herself but Ares was getting in the way. This night was turning into something that she did not expect. A male gladiator fighting against a gladiatrix was unheard of until now. She regretted everything she said about being friends with Xena. She needed to stick close by her side, she told herself. She didn't want anyone else to have Xena. She wanted her all to herself.
Pompey walked over to his gladiators and gladiatrices and stopped in front of Xena. Both stared into each other's eyes and he half smiled. "You gave quite a show out there, Xena. Quite a dangerous move at attempting to kill my champion."
"He was not the challenge that you thought he would be," Xena said and lifted an eyebrow at the General.
He let out a slow and heavy exhale. "See that it does not happen again." He pinched her cheeks in between his fingers and she stiffened. "Or I will make sure you are not able to fight again," he threatened and let go of her face and she breathed heavily, her nostrils flaring.
"Are we clear?" his voice loud and firm.
Xena hesitated for a moment and he leaned in closer. She bit her tongue and lowered gaze. "Yes," she said beneath her breath. Finally submitting to a Roman. She cursed herself for even allowing herself to agree, but she remembered what Gabrielle said. She was not free anymore.
He smiled, "good." He turned to his guards, "see the women and men back to their barracks. Caesar will be arriving tomorrow and I wish to have them well rested for training."
Below the villa filled with guests, Callisto came by Gabrielle's cell watching her scrub off the kohl from her eyes. "How was the party?" she asked with a teasing smile on her lips. She leaned on the cell rods and Gabrielle lifted her head for a brief moment.
"Interesting," she answered curtly.
Callisto gave an unimpressed look, slowly batting her eyes. "That's it? No details? Were there Romans there? Did they fawn all over Xena?" she licked her lips.
Gabrielle washed her face and frowned, wiping the makeup off her eyes and turned to the wiry blonde. "What is it with you and her?"
Callisto laughed and folded her arms. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone, Gabby?" she pried and Gabrielle did not answer and stood, wiping her face with a cloth. "Listen, Gabrielle," the name rolled off her tongue like a syrup, "you can have the Thracian on the sands. I'll have her in my bed. We can share her."
Gabrielle's eyes widened and she swiftly turned around at that, seeing the malicious intent in those brown eyes.
"Unless, you want to swap?" Callisto offered and waved her hand back and forth playfully. She waltzed off down the dark hallway. "Your choice!" she called out.
Gabrielle huffed and folded her arms. She didn't understand why Callisto wanted Xena so badly. Although, she began to realize everyone wanted Xena, even Ares cast his eyes upon her as if she was some kind of toy to be played with. A doll. She kept reminding herself that Xena belonged to no one and that relieved some of her worry and tension.
She walked down the hall and saw Xena sitting on the floor, running her fingers through her smooth locks. Xena lifted her eyes and half grinned.
"Back again," she said and Gabrielle said nothing and leaned against the cell iron rods, wrapping her fingers around a rod.
"I warned you about Ares."
Xena scoffed and extended her legs, crossing an ankle over the other. "You want him for yourself?" she teased.
Gabrielle's face contorted in disgust. "No! Gods, no!" she could vomit at the thought.
"I can take care of myself, Gabrielle. I know how to handle lustful men. I've dealt with them all my life," Xena said and hung her head, picking at the wound that Cyane gave her. She would have to thank the Russian for that later in their next sparring match.
The blonde felt her stomach tighten and she watched Xena pay close attention to the gash on her arm. "I know I said that you can't have friends in this place but you should at least have someone to look out for you."
Xena lifted her eyes and raised a brow. "Someone...like you?"
Gabrielle half smiled, "someone."
Xena grinned and bobbed her head. "Alright, someone," she teased. She pat the empty spot next to her. "Come here, someone, no point in you visiting each night if we don't get to know more about each other."
Gabrielle smiled and stepped into Xena's cell and sat beside her.