Gabrielle woke up to find herself alone in Xena's bed, her naked body entangled in the silken sheets. She sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes. She'd finished her training in the harem the day before, to her intense relief. She'd said her goodbyes to Acai and Cairie, with promises to visit, and then had happily removed herself from under the authority of Nasreen and Tannaz. She'd somehow managed to avoid being whipped again during her training – all in all, Gabrielle counted the whole thing as a success. Xena had promised that she'd be collared this morning when she'd taken her to bed last night. The slave girl wondered what that would be like.
With a yawn, Gabrielle sat up and swung her legs down to the floor. A clean, blue toga was folded neatly by the door. She splashed her face in the washbasin, combed her hair, and slipped into the garment. With her morning grooming complete, the slave girl went in search of her mistress.
She didn't have to search for long. The queen was sitting cross-legged on the floor beside her chair in her conference room, looking over a ream of papers that were spread on the ground around her. The papers were dominated by a large map – it seemed to have been drawn onto a cured hide with ink. Gabrielle peered at it curiously. She'd only ever seen one other map in her life, and that was one that a merchant had shown her when she'd been about ten. The map had only encompassed Thrace, and had shown a crude representation of the man's trade route. To the ten-year-old girl, it had seemed like a window into an exotic world. She'd spent the next month inventing stories in her head about the places she'd seen on it. Xena's map was much bigger – Gabrielle could see that. She crept closer, full of curiosity.
The pale blue eyes flicked upward as she approached. Xena's lips curved. "Hey," she said. "Want to take a look? C'mere." Gabrielle moved closer. The queen's hand grasped hers gently and drew her down to sit in her lap. The blond slave peered at the map as Xena pointed at it. "See this red line? That shows my territory," the Conqueror said. "This is Pella, here. That's the western border. Down here is Limnos, the southernmost island." Her long finger moved to indicate it. Gabrielle watched inquisitively. "And down here," Xena murmured, tracing her fingertip southward, "is Athens, the cornerstone of power in Greece." She smiled. "That's my next target."
Gabrielle's eyes widened in awe. "Really? You're going to take Athens?" she whispered, peering up at her owner. "But…isn't it a really big city with a huge army?"
"Mm-hmm, that it is, my clever little slave girl." Xena stroked Gabrielle's hair with a faint smirk. "That's why I want it. It's a big, wealthy city with a huge army. If I control it, I control all of Greece. Not to mention the fact that it's the gateway to some major ocean trade routes." The queen caressed the point on the map almost affectionately. "It'll be the biggest coup of my military career. So far, anyway." And Xena smiled again, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The slave studied the marks on the hide. "And that's Rome, right?" she asked, pointing at a vaguely boot-shaped area. She remembered someone saying that the Roman Empire looked like a boot. "That city up there?"
"It is, indeed," Xena purred softly. "But I'm not going to look that way until I have both Athens and Sparta."
Gabrielle's green eyes widened even farther as she realized what the queen was saying. "You want to be the Empress of Rome," she whispered. "Is that it? You want to take the Roman Empire?"
Xena laughed and, taking her hand from the map, began to stroke it gently over the length of Gabrielle's thigh. "No, my little slave. I want to be the ruler of the known world," she said. "The Holy City will just be a step in that journey. A big step, mind you…" The woman chuckled softly and let her palm come to rest just above Gabrielle's knee. "How'd you like to be the little love slave of the Empress of the world, goatherd?"
The woman's touch was sending tingles rippling over Gabrielle's skin. She was having trouble concentrating on Xena's words. "I guess it might not be so bad," she murmured. "But maybe then you won't have much time for me anymore."
The queen grinned. She trailed her fingers along Gabrielle's shoulder, drawing her red-blond locks back from her neck before placing a kiss on the sensitive skin of her throat. The girl gave a deep, sensual shiver. It still confused her how pleasurable Xena's touch was – she couldn't quite wrap her mind around the fact that the queen seemed to confine her sexual attentions exclusively to other females. She'd talked to her about it once, about a week ago. Xena had told her that she'd had experience with a number of men, as well, but had simply decided one day that she preferred women. It made Gabrielle wonder about herself. It never occurred to me that I even could like other girls that way, she thought. Would it have made a difference in my life if I'd known? Would I have decided I liked boys better, or girls? "Don't worry about that," Xena said. "The important things, I always make time for."
Gabrielle shivered again and looked down at her lap, blushing faintly. "That's good," she said. "I mean, I belong to you, and…what would happen to me if you got tired of me, Mistress?" Worried green eyes peered up at the queen again. "Would you lock me up in your harem?"
"Probably," Xena agreed. "But I doubt that'll ever happen." She nipped lightly at the side of Gabrielle's neck. "I believe I have a collar to give you this morning, Gabrielle. Come with me – I left it in my wardrobe last night. Let's get this done before General Bennu comes up to talk to me." And, with one last kiss on the corner of the slave's jaw, Xena lightly pushed her away. Gabrielle got up and followed her owner back into the bedroom, taking care not to disturb a single sheet of the papers that were strewn on the floor.
The collar, when Xena turned to her with it in her hands, drew Gabrielle's eye. It was made of a strip of thick leather about two inches wide. It was buckled and pierced like a belt. The inside of it had been lined with soft calfskin. The leather itself had been dyed a deep wine red, and an intricate double border of grapevines had been hammered into it and edged in silver. A single, silver ring had been fastened to it; the ring would rest beneath the point of her chin when the collar was worn. It looked beautiful and expensive. Gabrielle's feelings were mixed. On the one hand, the collar was a beautiful thing – but on the other, she knew it was a visible symbol of her slavery, and the fact that someone else now owned her, body and soul. She looked up into Xena's face. The queen stepped forward and lifted the collar, then paused. Gabrielle knew instinctively what she wanted. With a faint sigh, the slave girl closed her eyes and raised her chin to receive the object. She felt it encircle her neck a moment later. The lining felt soft and comfortable as the buckle was fastened.
"There. That should do it." Xena slipped a finger between leather and skin, testing its fit. "How does that feel, Gabrielle? Does it rub anywhere? Can you breathe all right?"
Gabrielle rolled her head around a little, trying to get used to the collar's constriction. "It feels okay," she murmured. "It's not too tight, and it's soft."
"Good." The queen smiled. She seemed well satisfied as she gave the silver ring a little tug. "It looks good on you. I had them make it that color to bring out your eyes. Works like a charm." Xena's eyes darkened just a touch, and her lips curved in appreciation. "I'll have to have my tailors make you a few clothes in this color," she said, half to herself. "Mm, you look good in it."
The body slave blushed furiously at the obvious arousal in her owner's tone. "I'm glad you're pleased, Your Majesty."
The words seemed to bring Xena out of whatever images were playing in her mind. She gave the collar another playful tug, and then let her hand drop. "There is one rule," she said. "That collar is a symbol that you belong to me. You're never to take it off without my permission. No excuses. If you do, it's grounds for at least an immediate whipping." Gabrielle lowered her head and nodded. "That being said," Xena said more gently, "it's a mark of privilege, not a punishment. If it ever starts to chafe your skin, or gets in any way uncomfortable, you tell me. I can have another one made." The slave girl nodded again. "It is a privilege, you know. Do you understand that?"
Slowly, Gabrielle looked up. "I think so," she said softly. "Most of the women in the harem would probably give anything to be wearing it."
Xena smirked. "Yes, they probably would. But that wasn't what I meant." She traced the pattern of grapevines with a fingertip. "This collar is also a symbol of authority," she said. "It puts you above every other slave in this palace. As my personal slave, you can give an order to any of the others, and they're obliged to obey you." Gabrielle stared at her in surprise. "Also," the queen said calmly, "I'll probably use you to send important messages to my generals, or whoever. That collar carries with it a bit of my authority, as well. Any message you have will automatically carry more weight."
The slave girl lifted a hand to touch the stiff leather. "So…if I were to go downstairs right now and tell one of the scullions to do something, they'd have to do it?" she asked, trying to come to terms with this sudden change in her fortunes.
"That's right. You now have all the trappings and privileges of being my pampered little love slave." Xena hooked her finger through the silver ring and gave Gabrielle a mischievous grin and a wink. "But you still have to obey the kitchen staff. Try not to abuse the authority, all right?" The slave nodded hurriedly. With a soft laugh, Xena released her. "Now, come on. Bennu's due here any minute, and I want you there for that. I'll go sit in my secondary throne and look all regal, and you can kneel at my feet and practice looking sultry and unavailable. We'll give him an eyeful."
"S-sultry?" Gabrielle squeaked, her face flushing a bright crimson as the queen tugged her in the direction of the conference room. Xena only laughed.
The queen took her seat on the throne, crossing her powerful legs regally at the knees. She was wearing her black leathers, but no armor. She looked good in black, Gabrielle thought. Its brass pieces contrasted with its darkness nicely, and brought out the olive tones in her tanned skin. The slave knelt down in her spot beside the throne, and felt Xena's hand gently pull her blond head down against her thigh. It was strangely soothing to sit here with her head in the queen's lap, being stroked as if she were some kind of an exotic pet. Gabrielle wondered what was wrong with her. Why would she enjoy the thought of being property? Wasn't that degrading?
There came a knock at the door. "Come," Xena said, her voice rich and imperious. It opened, and in stepped General Bennu. Gabrielle felt her guts twist in reaction. The last time she'd seen this man, he'd clapped her in irons and torn her away from her family – and he'd been the one Xena had left in charge to finish the dismantling and destruction of the village Gabrielle had once called home. The slave girl felt her muscles tense. Xena's fingers clawed gently at the back of her neck. "Welcome back, Bennu," the queen said amiably. "I trust you didn't have any trouble carrying out my orders."
"Not a one, Majesty," he said, striking his fist against his chest in salute. "Th' last minute ones were a bit hard, but we managed."
Xena's brows arched as she smiled. "You got the package, then?"
"Aye, the one, like I said in th' note I 'ad sent. Th' other two, no one knows where they gone. But we got the one." The grizzled soldier jerked his head. "Left it out in th' hall, like you said."
"Good." Xena's grin was broad and delighted, now. She looked down at her slave girl and patted her. "I decided to have Bennu here bring you a present, Gabrielle. You should thank him. It took some doing."
Gabrielle lifted her head from the woman's leg and looked up at her, bewildered. "A present?" she echoed. Her green eyes shifted uncertainly to the soldier. "Um, thank you…sir." Her brow wrinkled. "What kind of a present?"
Xena chuckled softly. "You'd better show her, Bennu," she said. "I wouldn't want my impatient little love slave chewing up the furniture. Bring it in." The general saluted briskly, turned, and stepped out into the hall. A moment later he returned, his hand clasped around the arm of a frightened-looking little girl.
A shriek burst from Gabrielle's lips. "Lila!" In the blink of an eye, forgetting both queen and general, she had rushed across the room and flung her arms around the astonished brunette. Gabrielle was crying now, her arms clasped tightly around her sister's body, breathing in the scent of her. She hugged her as if the girl might melt away the instant she loosed her grip. "Lila," she sobbed, barely able to speak. "Oh, Lila…"
"B-Bree?" Her younger sister returned the embrace, her body trembling. "Wh-what…how…?" Then there were no more words, and the two simply hugged each other and cried, unconscious for this blissful time of their surroundings.
After a few minutes, Gabrielle finally regained her senses. She kissed Lila. Then, turning, she threw her arms around the neck of the astonished Bennu and kissed him as well, his bristly cheek rough against her lips. "Thank you," she whispered fervently. "Thank you, thank you." He seemed too astounded to respond. It would have made Gabrielle laugh under any other circumstances, but her attention had already moved on. She turned toward the throne.
Xena was watching the scene quietly, still leaning back in her seat, her lips curved into a satisfied smirk. The slave could feel herself trembling. Slowly, Gabrielle approached the throne, knelt down, and bent to press her face into the queen's knees. "Thank you," she breathed softly. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I…I can never, ever pay you back for this, but I swear to you I'll spend the rest of my life trying."
The Conqueror's fingers threaded through her hair. "You like my new little kitchen worker, then?" Gabrielle shivered soundlessly, unable to speak. "You're welcome," Xena said quietly. "You've done well, goatherd, and I decided you'd at least earned this much. You can take Lila downstairs with you to the kitchens and give her to Mynor." The slave nodded and slowly got up. "Oh, and Gabrielle? You can keep your free hour after your work's done," Xena said. "I'll expect you in my quarters at ten."
"Yes, Mistress," Gabrielle murmured. "Thank you!" She turned back to her sister. Lila looked lost and confused. With a reassuring smile, the blond girl took Lila's hand in her own. "Come on, Lila. I'll show you where to go," she said softly. The brunette nodded and followed as she was led.
When they had descended the steps into the main hall, Lila seemed to recover herself a little. "Bree, what's happened? What's going on?" she asked. "Why would that horrible woman do this for us, and…" Lila's dark eyes settled on Gabrielle's throat. "Why are you wearing a collar?"
Gabrielle walked in silence for a second or two as she considered how to answer the question. She knew her morally upright sister would be sickened by the fact that she was the queen's bedmate, so she didn't really want to tell her. On the other hand, she knew Lila would soon find out, and the girl would be hurt if Gabrielle wasn't the one to break the news. The blond took a deep breath. "I'm wearing the queen's collar because I'm her slave," she said quietly. "I'm her, um…body slave."
Lila stopped walking. Her dark eyes grew wide and round in horrified shock. "You're…her what?" She had begun to tremble again, and Gabrielle suddenly wondered if her younger sister was going to have a breakdown right there in the hall.
"It's okay, Li," the blond girl said quickly, squeezing the brunette's fingers. She gave the girl a comforting smile. "It's all right."
"H-how can it be all right?" Lila wailed. "Bree, you're…she makes you…? Oh, what did we do to make the gods so angry?" Tears spilled down the younger girl's cheeks. "B-Bree, what's going to happen to us?"
"Nothing's going to happen. Lila, it's okay." Gabrielle gently hugged her. "You're just going to work in the kitchens. You'll have to work, but they'll give you food and a place to sleep. You're safe now. It's okay." The brunette huddled into her older sister's arms and clung to her. It sent a bittersweet pang of familiarity through Gabrielle. She wanted to hide away in a corner somewhere and comfort and question Lila thoroughly, and ask her about what had happened to their parents – but she knew they wouldn't have time for that yet. The queen had ordered them both to the kitchens. There would be consequences if they dawdled. "Come on, now," she said soothingly. "Let's go down there, and I'll introduce you to my friend Cress. She's a nice girl. I think you'll like her." Still sniffling, the younger girl nodded and allowed herself to be led down toward the kitchens.
