AN: Xena is slowly changing into what she will become in her near future. Meanwhile, Gabrielle wishes she would have never come across Xena and her army. Enjoy and feedback is appreciated for this odd conqueror story ;)

Chapter 6

Xena sat in her tent eating some bread as her army couldn't carry a lot of food with them otherwise they'd have to hunt for food, but usually she'd like to do that herself for dinner. It had been a few days since she sacked the small Gaul village and though she felt proud of herself, she wanted more. Xena kept Gabrielle in close proximity to her and even allowed her to stay in the tent with her.

Gabrielle remained in a corner of the tent sitting at a fair distance from Xena. She refused to eat any food that was offered to her. Even though a few days passed since Xena decimated that village, the thought of killing innocent people made her stomach turn. As she watched Xena eat the loaf of bread and drinking wine she couldn't comprehend why she gained so much happiness from killing innocents. Children were killed as well. She began to wonder if Xena would have killed her if she got that far that is. Gabrielle was no stranger when it came to Caesar. She knew exactly who that man was and if Xena was working for him and she betrayed him she figured that Xena would end up crucified or worse –dead.

"Why won't you eat anything? You'll starve," Xena stretched her arm out trying to hand her the half eaten bread. Gabrielle scooted away closer to the wall of the tent. The warrior woman shrugged. "Okay fine, be that way." She took a swig of her wine and Gabrielle shook her head. Xena narrowed her eyes staring at the young blonde.

"You were going to be married you said, is that right?" Xena asked curiously with a sly smile. The young blonde teen nodded her head slowly. "Me too," she chuckled. "Obviously that didn't work out well now did it?" she felt like she was talking to herself more than anything as Gabrielle remained silent.

Xena pushed the plate of bread aside and poured herself some more wine. She toasted, "men are pigs," she smiled, drinking the liquid. Gabrielle eyed her carefully. She thought that Xena was once normal, though when she met her at the bacchanalia she seemed really nice and genuine. Gabrielle couldn't have been more wrong. This woman was a killer and she was fond of it too. Xena wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "They just use you for sex and toss you aside. Imagine if women were capable of doing that? We'd rule the world! But no," she wagged her finger. "It's a man's world after all."

Gabrielle continued to sit in silence as this young woman was drinking the bottle of wine by herself. She curled her legs closer to her, wrapping her arms around her. Tears began swelling in her eyes as she began to miss her parents and her sister more than ever. She should have never left home, that thought lingered in her mind the longer she stayed in this tent. Then she thought she should have never come in Xena's territory at all then perhaps she could have gone her own way, but no she was stuck here as a hostage. Her eyes went to Xena and the brunette stared back at her with a mischievous grin.

"Why don't you tell me a story since you're here? I don't want to be bored for the rest of the night," Xena said, lounging on a few giant pillows. Gabrielle raised an eyebrow but did not move. Xena frowned at the girl's lack of response. "What did I just say? Come here, girl!" she demanded.

Gabrielle sighed and wiped her eyes crawling over towards the warrior. She sat a few feet away from her and then a loud clap of thunder erupted in the skies. She jumped and Xena chuckled a bit. Her hands a bit shaky she asked in a low voice, "what would you like to hear?"

Xena looked up at the tent's ceiling thinking of what this girl could tell her. She grinned, "do you know the story of Alexander the Great?" Gabrielle nodded in response. "So tell me about him and all of his conquers across the Mediterranean." She nodded eagerly waiting. The blonde exhaled deeply and began telling the tale of the great king as a child.

Morning had arrived and Dagnine entered Xena's tent to see his commander dead asleep holding an empty wine glass in her hand. He looked to the side and saw that blonde girl sleeping not far from Xena, curled up in a ball.

"Xena!" he yelled out and Xena woke up abruptly, feeling an immediate headache from the copious amounts of wine from last night.

"What?" she yelled back and Gabrielle stirred awake next to Xena. She gasped and scooted away as soon as she saw Dagnine. She covered herself as she was only wearing her undergarments. Xena smirked and stood up taking off her blouse, exposing herself in front of her general. He averted his eyes elsewhere but it was definitely hard not to look.

"The men are ready to leave. You said we were going East, but where exactly?" he chose his words wisely. Xena buckled her belt after clasping her plated breast plate in place with her shoulder guards.

She huffed, "to Corinth first, then we move to the Northern Lands of the East."

Dagnine's mouth gaped. "Northern Lands? Xena those lands are filled with Arabian barbarians. This army won't survive there..." he advised carefully.

Xena grabbed her dagger and threw it at Dagnine. It brushed his shoulder and landed on a tree outside. "I said we're going there and that's that!" she yelled and he nodded, slowly bowing his head, still shaking from his imminent death that almost happened.

"What about her?" he pointed to Gabrielle, who was still trying to cover her body with an animal skin. Xena looked over and ticked her tongue. "She's coming with us. Don't worry she's not going to get in the way, she's recording my history as the destroyer of nations. Aren't you Gabrielle?" her eyes grew with excitement. Gabrielle's eyes possessed fear and she bobbed her head as she felt that was her only appropriate response to the warrior woman.

Dagnine turned to leave and Xena stopped him, "tell the men that I expect full respect for the good of..." she tapped her chin, "of me. They no longer serve Rome, only me."

He couldn't believe the words she was saying. One village conquered and she was on a rampage to destroy many others. "Right, of course Xena."

Xena saw him leave her tent and she smirked. She peered down at the timid girl and frowned, grabbing her arm. "Get dressed. If you're that modest you're going to have a difficult time traveling with me." She smiled and grabbed her sword exiting the tent.

Gabrielle threw aside the animal skin and she began whimpering quietly to herself.

By the time Xena and her new army arrived in Corinth she was able to destroy a good amount of villages along the way. At each destroyed village she left a red flag with her initials in the dirt and continued onward to the next village. Xena was sure that this news would reach Caesar and his idiotic councilmen very soon especially since the army was absent from Rome at the moment. She only had half of the Roman army, although they weren't Roman anymore, they followed Xena and only Xena. Along the way Xena lost about one hundred men during the pillaging process.

Each soldier was allowed to take any woman they wished from the wreckage and meanwhile Xena was very sought after by many of her men and even the village men couldn't keep their eyes off her, she belonged to one person –Ares. She was still his bitch and did everything that was commanded of her. Every time she conquered a village he managed to appear in her tent in the evening to treat her to her victories. She was to be undisturbed and sent Gabrielle to sit outside with the other men while she was with Ares. Moans and yells were very audible coming from Xena's tent each night.

Gabrielle put her hands over her ears trying to block out that sound but it was inevitable. Soon she began realizing this was going to be a normal routine and learned to expect it. to be honest Gabrielle had no idea who slept with Xena during the night but she didn't really want to know as hearing it was quite enough for her innocent ears.

Xena smiled, flipping Ares over on his back as she sat on top of him. Her breasts covered in several jeweled necklaces. She smiled drinking some of the wine that she took from the local village in the outskirts of Corinth. She dipped her fingers in the wine and traced his lips with her soiled fingers. Grinning he pulled her close to him, kissing her lips generously.

"Together we can birth a new race of gods and you Xena, as my warrior queen," he grabbed a handful of her hair and kissed her once more.

Xena frowned and let up from his embrace, finishing the wine she stood up, entirely naked and poured some wine for him and herself again. "I don't want to have children," she scoffed at the idea.

Ares leaned on his elbows and she came to sit beside him handing him a glass of wine. He looked at her wild hair and the sweat glistening off her olive skin. He cleared his throat and touched her thigh gently. "why not? A new race of gods Xena! Just think about it," he grinned smugly.

Xena shook her head and kissed his hand softly. "I don't like children. Too much responsibility. Not to mention they'd get in my way of my future. I am not destined to birth babies like every other woman on this planet!" she frowned. Ares smiled at her determination and gladly took the wine, sipping some of it, knowing the effects would do nothing to him. "Ask me in ten years if I still want children, after I've conquered the world," Xena chuckled downing the wine.

Ares stood up and began putting on his pants, tying them quickly. "I'll remember that," he winked. Xena laid down leaning her head on the pillows.

"Leaving so soon?" she teased. Ares sighed, turning away from her alluring eyes.

"I have business to attend to in Athens. Sister issues," he rolled his eyes.

Gabrielle sat outside near the fire and finally heard silence come from Xena's tent. She peered behind her and saw Xena's shadow putting on some clothes. She sighed, wishing that she never came with her in the first place. She was technically no threat, she wouldn't tell anybody about her to the Romans, but Xena obviously thought differently.

A few moments later Gabrielle heard Xena call her name. she stood up slowly and exhaled deeply, not sure what she would want from her. Upon entering the tent she saw the warrior woman sitting down on some animal skins in black pants and a loose blouse, her hair wild and face sweaty. Xena smiled at the young blonde as she came in timidly.

"Come sit with me, Gabrielle!" she patted the empty spot next to her. Gabrielle shyly smiled and sat down next to her like she instructed. "You have been writing about my conquers, right?" she asked. Gabrielle nodded. "Well speak up girl, I know you can talk. Have you gone mute?" she laughed.

Gabrielle coughed nervously, "yes, I have," she answered quietly. A few silent moments passed and Gabrielle wanted to ask a question but feared that Xena would lash out. "Can I ask you something?"

Xena smiled, "she speaks! Yes of course," she sipped her wine.

The blonde breathed in graciously. "You said you were to be married...what happened?"

"Ah," Xena wagged her finger. "Simple answer, Gabrielle. Married life just wasn't for me. I am destined for great things. I knew this when I was sixteen," she smiled.

"So..." Gabrielle eyed the brunette and her blue eyes were quite enticing, she looked away quickly. "You left your family and your home to be...a conqueror?" she asked.

Xena nodded, "what's with all the personal questions? Are you trying to get in my head?" she pointed at the blonde and she shyly shook her head, afraid of her. The warrior chuckled at the frightened girl. "One day I'll return to my family and show them all I have accomplished!" she triumphantly stated. "then they will see what a great woman I've become." She winked and poured a glass of wine for her blonde hostage.

Gabrielle took the wine, unlikely she would drink it, she thought it'd be rude to refuse the woman. "Do you think they'll see you the same...I mean, as a conqueror...will they accept you?"

Xena frowned, "for a shy girl you sure have quite a mouth!" she firmly said and Gabrielle shrunk in size at Xena's words. "They don't miss me, they never thought I could be great at anything other than being a housewife," she scoffed. She sighed and leaned back on the pillows. "Enough about me and my personal life."

Gabrielle smiled weakly and watched Xena as she relaxed against the pillows. "You don't miss your family at all?" she felt the need to ask. The warrior woman glared at Gabrielle and threw the empty wine glass at the mirror shattering it.

"Stop mentioning my family! If you mention them one more time I'll..." she growled, "just do your job and write," she waved her hand dismissively ignoring her impending thoughts. Gabrielle set the glass down and grabbed a parchment from her bag and a quill. Xena then reached over and grabbed Gabrielle's wrist firmly, startling the poor girl. "I want you to read what you have so far," she grinned. The teenager nodded and grabbed some of the older scrolls and unrolled the first one.

"you want me to read all of them?" she asked in a quiet voice. Xena nodded, "yes all of them, Gabrielle so I can bask in my victories."

Gabrielle spent over two hours reading the events she wrote down to Xena. She hoped that she would be satisfied with what she had so far. After finishing the final scroll she sat in silence, waiting for Xena's response.

Xena quirked her mouth to the side, "interesting. You write me as if I am some sort of princess, not a conqueror," she smirked.

"A princess of war," Gabrielle corrected her.

Xena sneered, "I'd love to be a princess. What a dream, Gabrielle! Imagine, I could have everyone do everything for me. Do whatever I say..." her thoughts lingered on and she looked over to see a very miffed Gabrielle staring back at her. She smiled, "carry on."

Gabrielle bit her bottom lip and rolled up the last scroll tucking it in her bag. "That's all I have written so far..." she stated.

Xena frowned, a bit sad that there wasn't more and she sighed loudly. "Oh alright, it's good enough then. Thank you Gabrielle for reading those to me." She sat in silence and noticed Gabrielle still sitting there silently. "Gabrielle," she called out and the blonde turned to face her. "I know you left home to become a writer, or whatever, but are you happy about doing that? Leaving your family?" she spat the same questions that were directed at her earlier.

She chose her words carefully. Truthfully she wasn't happy at all and it showed. She wanted to go back home more than ever instead of being with this monster of a woman named Xena. "I do miss them, but I'm glad I left...I got to explore a lot," she nodded.

Xena clicked her tongue on her cheek. "Yeah, it's nice isn't it? not having to worry about your siblings or parents?" she smirked. "Not to mention no responsibilities of marriage or children!" she giggled.

Gabrielle smiled at Xena's words. She sounded so sure of herself, but in her eyes she saw that she was lying to herself. She missed her family indeed, she just didn't know how to express herself properly. "Someday in the future I will have children."

Xena shook her head, "not me. Children are monsters and I have no time for them for what I want to accomplish."

"No children..at all?" Gabrielle suddenly asked. The warrior's eyes grew in annoyance. "I saw what you did in those villages, Xena," she admitted. "You killed children..."

The warrior shrugged, "they should have got out of my way then!" she growled. "What is this? Twenty questions? Get out of my tent!" she shooed Gabrielle away. The blonde immediately got up carrying her bag on her shoulder. She looked back at the angry and distraught woman before. She only shook her head and left to go sit back outside by the fire again. She thought this would be a great time to write, but not about Xena's conquers, but Xena herself. It would be a personal scroll, just for her.

Xena rubbed her head with her hands and groaned loudly. She then stood up and picked up her sword, smashing everything in the tent. The men outside heard loud crashes and peered over at Xena's tent and saw the shadow of their commander smashing everything with her blade.

She breathed heavily and threw her sword to the side and sat down, letting her head hang in between her legs. Those questions that Gabrielle asked her brought up so many memories she had with her mother and brothers. Inside, she felt guilty for leaving them by themselves, but she wanted to achieve great things. All because of Ares, she chose this path and only recently had she proved herself to the War God. She had conquered villages in Corinth and Gaul. She wanted more but feared that she wouldn't be able to fully commit to the task if her family kept popping up in her head from time to time.

Shedding tears wasn't for Xena. She felt that if she cried for her family she would be seen as weak. A small tear fell from her cheek and onto her bare foot. She brought her knees close to her chest and stared at the wall of the tent, gently rocking herself to calm her down. In her past she would have dealt with these conflicted feelings with her mother. She would have talked to her and her mother was a great listener and always gave her great advice. But here she was, her mother was not here and she had to find a new way to cope with her emotions and feelings.

Quickly she grabbed her blade and stormed outside of the tent. She felt the need to hurt something to relieve herself from her frustration. Her eyes scanned the area and saw a group of slaves tied up by a tree. Smiling deviously she marched over to them and looked at all of them. They cowered away from her and shied their eyes.

She grabbed a young man no older than herself. She drug him to the middle of the campsite and all of her men gathered around to see what she was about to do. She grinned at the young man. His eyes filled with fear as he saw her blade coming close to his neck. She gripped onto his head and brought the blade close to his neck, her smile grew as the anticipation was killing her. Swiftly she sliced the man's throat, closing her eyes she no longer felt any pain reminiscing her family. His body felt limp to the ground and the soldiers blinked at her. Blood splattered on her face and wiped the blood off with her fingers.

"Tomorrow we leave for the Northern Lands!" she yelled out and went to seek a river nearby to clean herself up. The men stared at her as she left the camp alone.

Gabrielle saw from afar that she had killed a man in cold blood. Her eyes instantly swelled with tears. She glanced over at the other slaves and saw some crying quietly while others were simply shocked. Gabrielle shared the same feelings as they did. Distinctively she grabbed her belongings and decided to leave this camp. She couldn't travel with Xena, she was too dangerous.

Quietly stepping into the shadows she began running from the camp unnoticed by Xena's men. She ran hastily through the forest, looking back constantly and saw nobody was following her, she continued to run, almost tripping over a few tree branches along the way.

As she kept running she saw that the road had disappeared. She halted her running and saw she was on a cliff. Gabrielle breathed heavily as she almost just died if she took another step. Her eyes scanned the area and she went left, running into the forest trying her best to get away from Xena.