Disclaimers: The following story is classified as Fan Fiction. The characters of Xena, Gabrielle and others who have appeared in the series, Xena: Warrior Princess, are the property of MCA/Universal Television and Renaissance Pictures. I only borrowed them. The story itself is mine and cannot be redistributed in any form without my consent.
Timeline: In the series, consider this a standalone story near the end of season 2. It's my version of how and why Gabrielle lost her blood innocence. No Dahok, no Hope, etc.
History Cast in Amber
by LZClotho
(c) July 1997
CHAPTER TEN - WAITING, WATCHING AND LEARNING
Gabrielle had found some parchment left from Orpheus' last song-writing session and was describing Olympus, one eye on the mirror. Through the day, she'd discovered that whenever there was a battle anywhere in the known world, Ares' mirror would reveal it. The God of War, however, had not appeared at any time to watch the goings on.
Not for the first time, Gabrielle wondered why the fiercest of the gods was so unsettled around her.
She guessed that Ares had lain with Xena. At that time, he'd bestowed a magnificent gift upon Xena, believing that his possession of his warrior woman's body and soul would last forever. He never told Xena of his powerful gift and wiped their passion-filled night from her memory. Years later, when Xena turned her back on Ares' influence, the God of War began to know fear. If Xena learned of his gift to her and chose to misuse it, she could cause him to cease to exist.
This was not the first time Gabrielle had come face to face with one of Xena's former loves. The Warrior Princess had been free with her favors during her years as a warlord. Solan had been the product of such a union. One more special than others perhaps, but still a liaison, not a relationship any deeper than a one-night stand, though perhaps a bit longer lasting.
She'd seen Xena after a battle, high color in her face, a sheen of sweat on her skin, deep, heaving breaths as she fought to calm her passions. What man worthy to be called such could resist the siren call of those crystal blue eyes should her passions become sexual?
Borias and Marcus were among those whom Gabrielle knew had shared the warrior woman's bed. She suspected Draco had, too. Briefly, she wondered, had Fracchus also, at some time? No, she decided, shaking her head. Although Fracchus had once been her lieutenant, he just wasn't Xena's type as a lover. Besides, though she may have slept only one night with some, Xena never forgot anyone. And Xena barely distinguished Fracchus from any of a hundred other soldiers who'd served in her army.
Gabrielle looked at her image in the mirror. Obviously, the great deal of activity, the frenzy and excitement, had taken their toll. She definitely needed a bath. Her hair hadn't been washed since the day before she and Xena arrived in Amber.
The bard had an attack of vanity and went to the door of Ares' chamber. She looked up and down the corridor for the god. She pulled back into the room and called into the air. "Ares!" Pause. "Ares!"
The god appeared behind her. His voice made her jump. "What is it?"
"I need a bath."
"This is Olympus, bard, not an inn. And gods do not bring baths for mortals."
Gabrielle smiled sweetly. "Come on. I don't need you to bring it to me, can you just tell me where I could wash up?" Ares still looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "You do wash up, don't you? Even you can't possibly like being covered in dirt or blood after a battle."
Ares shook his head. "It's never my blood," he smirked.
"Doesn't have to be to make you feel dirty. Besides what about just plain old dirt?"
Ares sighed. "Okay, okay. Shut up. I'll take you to the baths."
Gabrielle smiled as the god of War none too gently took her arm and dragged her through the rest of Olympus. "We're not going to just 'pop' there?" she asked, her eyes absorbing everything she saw.
"You wanted to see Olympus. I'm giving you the dinar tour," replied Ares.
She reached into a pouch on her hip. "What could I get for five dinars? Or ten?" she teased, hoping to ease her communications with this god.
"Don't you ever shut up?" sighed Ares. He turned a corner and they stepped into a massive room, filled floor to high ceiling with flora of every kind. In the center was a carved and polished stone bath, the marbled surface was the palest of earthy pink, like the newborn skin of a babe.
Ares pointed out the towels on the ground near the bath and the nymphs lounging by the water. "They will see to everything. When you are finished, return to my rooms."
Gabrielle nodded. Ares left with a snap of his fingers. She stepped forward. One of the nymphs approached her. "May I help you, Gabrielle?"
"You know my name?" Gabrielle took in the translucent skin and golden hair of the young-looking woman. The repose in her face was unearthly. Gabrielle laughed at her own thought.
"We were told to expect you."
Gabrielle smiled. Under her breath, she said, "Maybe mind-reading is a good thing."
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. I won't be long. I just want to wash up. I've been doing a lot of traveling."
"Please come into the water," the nymph said, beckoning for Gabrielle to follow.
"I didn't catch your name," said Gabrielle as she followed the nymph.
"I am Cisera."
"Nice to meet you, Cisera." Gabrielle sat down at the edge of the water and began unlacing her boots, and setting them aside.
"Would you like these washed?" asked Cisera.
"I can do it."
"Nonsense. We are here to serve you."
"Listen, I'm not a goddess or anything. Ares is holding me for Xena."
"It does not matter. We are to serve anyone who enters the bathhouse."
Gabrielle started to argue again but then closed her mouth. "All right. But I'll need something else to wear while you wash my clothes."
"We will be done before you are through with your bath," Cisera replied.
Gabrielle unwrapped her skirt and laid it on the pile of her clothing Cisera was collecting in her arms. She dropped into the water and removed her shift, tossing it up to the nymph. "Thank you. I appreciate this."
Cisera nodded and walked over to the other nymphs. She gave the boots to a brunette, the undergarments to another, the skirt to another and kept the top for herself. The four nymphs stepped out of sight. Two other nymphs came up to the bath.
"Do you require assistance at your bath, Gabrielle?" The bard sank lower in the water and shook her head. "No. Thank you," she said, and they left.
Finally alone, Gabrielle threw her arms around her shoulders, hugged herself, and laughed with great delight. "Wow!" she thought. "Here I am, the little bard from Poteidaia, relaxing in the gods' bath!"
After two hours, Gabrielle started the walk back to Ares' rooms. She stopped to admire her surroundings and marvel at the great privilege of being a mortal in Olympus. How many mortals had the opportunity?
The bard combed her knowledge of the myths. Hercules came to mind, but he didn't really count. He may not be immortal, but he was Zeus' favored son. Theseus had once made the trip on Pegasus. What illustrious company she kept, Gabrielle thought. She doubted anyone but Xena would believe her when she said she'd been to the Gods' realm.
She was admiring a piece of sculpture on a pedestal in the corridor when she stumbled aside in a rush of wind. She almost laughed at the horror-stricken face that studied her to see if she was all right. "I'm fine. You must be Hermes."
"At your service!" said the youthful god, doffing his winged hat and sketching a bow. Gabrielle fought her inclination to laugh, but giggles escaped as she studied the messenger god.
Gabrielle stopped her giggling. If Hermes was dashing about... "You must have a message for someone. I shouldn't keep you."
"I don't go anywhere slowly. I'm not delivering anything at the moment. What is your name?"
Gabrielle introduced herself. The name didn't mean anything to the young god. "I'm a bard from Poteidaia." Hermes brightened, as Gabrielle suspected any god might when presented with a storyteller.
"Very nice to meet you, Gabrielle. Where do you tell your stories?"
Gabrielle shrugged. "All over. I travel with Xena."
Hermes' eyes brightened. "The Xena? The Warrior Princess?" Gabrielle nodded. "You are well met, Bard. There's one that keeps me busy."
Gabrielle shook her head. "How does Xena keep you busy?"
Hermes replaced his cap. "Excuse me, I've been summoned."
Gabrielle grabbed his arm, then recalled herself. "Please, what do you mean about Xena?"
Hermes replied off-handedly. "Ares has me keep track of her, you know. Her comings and goings, when she travels toward his areas, and stuff like that."
"I thought a god could do all that himself."
"Sometimes he just wants me to deliver messages. In disguise of course. Usually a draw to bring Xena to wherever Ares is."
"You mean he sets up situations just so he can bring her to him?"
"Often. He likes to watch her work." Hermes shook his head. "I'm sorry, I really have to go. Maybe we can talk later?"
Gabrielle smiled. "I'd like that. I'm staying with Ares at the moment."
After leaving Hermes, Gabrielle returned to the room. She looked over to the mirror, and went to stand in front of it. Xena and Draco were riding out, leading his troops to do battle with Fracchus. She felt the rush of air as Ares appeared in the room with her, standing at her right shoulder, to watch the events unfold.
Xena and Draco were in full battle dress. Draco's wildly cordoned hair shifted in the breeze created by his mount's sidestepping trot. Xena rode next to him, her hands relaxed on Argo's reins. Gabrielle knew from their adventure earlier that Argo didn't need commands from her mistress to do anything. Somehow horse and
rider communicated through every motion, including reins. It was intoxicating watching the two warriors lead the march toward Fracchus' camp.
The scene shifted abruptly as the mirror reflected Fracchus, in his camp, kneeling at a likeness of the war god and praying. Gabrielle watched in fascination a moment, then she realized that Ares was standing there, eyes closed, having a communication with Fracchus. She stepped back, unwilling to intrude on someone's
private moment, even a god's.
Gabrielle sat on the chair, her eyes roaming the room as the god conferred with his follower. It was a unique moment for the bard; Gabrielle herself had prayed but she never heard replies in her head as was obviously happening here. Ares was at least attentive to his followers, she'd grant him that.
Ares shook his head and broke off contact with Fracchus. Gabrielle could see that the warlord was not entirely happy with whatever Ares had told him. The warlord stood, pounded his fists together and only at the last moment controlled himself before he flung the idol across the tent. Fracchus left the tent and the mirror returned to focus on the approaching troops led by Draco and Xena.
Ares watched with an expression that Gabrielle pegged as pensive, even nervous, as the two armies met on the battlefield. "Aren't you supposed to be down there doing something?" Gabrielle asked. "Egging them on? Or something?"
Ares looked at the bard, and with none too much pleasure, snapped his fingers and vanished.
Gabrielle stayed still a moment longer, then stood up. She wanted to see what would happen in this battle, but her instincts told her to run away, far away, now that the god of War's attention was elsewhere.
"I wouldn't leave if I were you," a voice called from the doorway. "Uncle wouldn't like that very much. It would jeopardize his vow."
Gabrielle turned to find Strife, Ares' nephew, and a god himself, leaning casually against the door, arms crossed over his black leather-clad chest.
"Aren't you supposed to be down there, too?" Gabrielle asked, coming near this young god, who looked no older than herself, though she was sure he was eons older.
"Nah, I'm not around during grudge matches. I only step in when a town or village is being besieged or overrun."
Gabrielle nodded and said congenially, "Ah, right. Forgot about that. Strife, isn't it? Well, hey, nice to meet you...I guess." She indicated the mirror. "You wanna watch? Makes me ill. I'm going to find someone to talk to."
Strife settled in front of the mirror and Gabrielle ducked out the door.
On the ground, Xena was riding across the battlefield, sword swinging. With a push at the pommel, she leapt from Argo's saddle and flew at an on-rushing attacker. She landed with her feet planted firmly against his chest. She swung her sword tip at his nose and uttered one word, "Fracchus."
The soldier, struggling to breathe, pointed to the rear of the advancing force. Xena stepped off and marched in the direction the soldier had indicated, her sword swinging in small arcs in her hands. The soldier she had so abruptly interrogated began running for the edge of the battlefield, desertion the only thing on his mind after peering into piercing ice blue eyes.
Others weren't so bright. Xena kept her eyes focused on Fracchus as she crossed the distance separating them. With deadly precision, she met several soldiers' challenges with a well-placed kick here, or an uppercut there with her sword hilt.
Draco was cutting through troops himself and urging on his men with calls of "Free Corinth! To Hades with slavers!" The prevailing tide of battle was in Xena and Draco's favor.
Xena emerged to the back of the battlefield and saw Fracchus riding along, swinging his weapon at laggards in the back of his lines. "Move up," he ordered. "Close ranks. Let's kill these bastards!"
The Warrior Princess drew his attention with her chill battle cry as she leapt into the air, closing the distance between herself and her prey. The warlord raised his arms and his sword above his head, knowing he was going to tumble off his horse before he could do anything to prevent it. He maneuvered so he would stab
Xena on their way to the ground.
Xena saw the sword tip aimed at her stomach and shifted in mid-air hoping to deflect it. She managed... only partly. The sword sank deep into her left side. She rolled away, her fall taking Fracchus down as well because of her weight on the blade. The pair rolled off the back of Fracchus' horse. Xena went lightheaded, the edges of her vision clouded, as the sword ripped out of her side when she rolled over then under Fracchus.
She bit her lip to keep from screaming and stumbled to her feet. She focused on Fracchus to get her mind off the blood she felt sliding in thick streams down her thigh. She raised her sword to Fracchus as he stood. "Drop your weapons!" she demanded of the warlord. "Leave Corinth!"
Across the battlefield, Draco saw Xena confront Fracchus and ran to join her. Fracchus did not notice; his eyes and sword focused on the Warrior Princess. "I'm not running from you, Xena. Not this time. Ares may want to give you my army, but I won't give it up without a fight."
Xena sighed. "I don't want your army, Fracchus. Get out of Corinth."
"Do what she said, Fracchus," Draco came up behind the warlord. Now Fracchus had to split his attention between the two of them.
Fracchus charged Xena first, figuring he could take Draco after getting the Warrior Princess off balance. It didn't work. He and Xena became locked in their deadly dance, and Draco kept others from interfering. Finally, it was only the three of them on the battlefield.
Xena broke Fracchus' hold on her weapon and stepped back. "Aiyiyiyah!" she yelled in his face, delighting in the fear she saw there. With renewing strength, Xena brought her sword down and up between them, shattering the blade of Fracchus' weapon his hands. She broke contact with Fracchus again and turned.
She didn't see Fracchus close his eyes and pray, raising the dagger in his belt toward Xena's back. He lunged toward her.
Draco yelled, lunging for Fracchus himself. "Xena!" He alerted the Warrior Princess, who turned and struck out at Fracchus. She was too late. Fracchus' dagger sank into her back as Draco's sword pierced his stomach and Xena's sword sliced into Fracchus' leg.
Only by luck did Draco avoid getting caught by the end of Xena's blade himself.
Fracchus cried out for Ares, and suddenly, all three warriors lay on the ground panting in the shadow of the great God of War.
"Nice little battle you three have had here," Ares mused aloud, watching Fracchus' eyes glaze and Draco pick himself up. Xena kept her head down, concentrating on trying to move. Her side wound bled copiously into the soil, and she was breathing shallowly.
Fracchus struggled to his feet to approach the god. "I demand satisfaction, Ares! You cannot give her your army. She won't serve you! I will! I will see that you are declared the greatest god of the known and unknown worlds!"
Ares looked at the man. "You're already dead, Fracchus. You're just too stupid to know it." Fracchus staggered in the face of Ares' rage. He sank to his knees on the ground.
Draco made a move to see to Xena's wounds, but Ares stepped between him and the downed Warrior Princess, saying nothing. Scowling, Draco remained where he was, unable to bring himself to challenge the god.
No one moved for a very long time.