Episode 11
A few days later when Gabrielle's movements were no longer painful the two packed up their horses and moved on back towards Greece, Nicole apparently very happy to be leaving since she had never travelled farther than the next city. Gabrielle prepared her for the journey, warning her that they would sleep outdoors if there was no where to stay and that there may be days when they had very little food.
Nicole seemed up to the challenge and Gabrielle had already sensed a small change in the woman. She took to the road well and was always interested in whatever lessons Gabrielle imparted as they travelled along. More than just listening Nicole had many stories of her own and Gabrielle felt herself being inexplicably drawn closer to this beautiful young woman and enjoyed her company more with each day that passed.
It was a few weeks before Gabrielle was ready to start training her as a warrior. They had found a pleasant clearing surrounded by trees on the edge of a lake with a beautiful flowing waterfall at the far end. After spending a pleasant night there and having a great fish and bread breakfast Gabrielle said she was going for a quick walk and returned with two long wooden poles.
"Gabrielle what are these"
"Well they're not great but they'll do for now. These are staffs. And this one's yours" she said and threw one to Nicole who caught it with ease and examined it. Gabrielle had wrapped a small amount of string around each end and she noticed that she had carved this one a little more carefully than the one she was holding. Although the knots from the branches off it were still visible they had been scraped down so she wouldn't get splinters and as a distinctly Gabrielle after thought she had carved the letter N into each end.
"Wow, thank you"
"It's not as good as I'd like but they'll do to start training with."
"Training? I thought you'd you know, teach me how to use a sword or something, or those cool sais of yours. A staff is great 'n all but isn't a sword more useful."
Gabrielle merely smiled then dropped the smile instantly and began to expertly twirl and turn the staff and attack an invisible opponent in front of her. The mix of Aggression and power and skill left Nicole awestruck.
"The staff was the first weapon I got to grips with. One, you need control and balance to use it properly, and two, it can easily help you overpower an opponent without having to kill him. Remember, only go for the kill when you have no alternative."
"Right."
"ok. I am going to attack slowly, you defend, I want to see how much you can do."
Gabrielle slowly moved forward and brought the end of the staff down as if she were going for a head shot and Nicole moved her staff up horizontally so Gabrielle's blow struck between her hands. Gabrielle then went for a body blow and again Nicloe blocked it. "Good" said Gabrielle encouragingly and they continued on like this gradually getting faster. Nicole was a fast learner.
After a while of these basics Gabrielle taught her how to hold the staff correctly to best stop a blow making contact with your body once you can see where the attack is coming from. They then continued sparing slowly and then more quickly, getting faster until they were almost at fight speed. Gabrielle told Nicole to practise on a nearby tree while she got them something for lunch.
When they sat down to eat Nicole seemed very pleased and was asking a lot of questions about fighting with a staff.
"You know maybe it isn't so bad after all. Sure a sword is great and everything but with a staff, I don't know, if you can really use it you can keep someone with a sword from coming anywhere close enough to cut you."
"That is the general idea yeah. And once you combine that with a few kicks it's even better."
"Who taught you to use a staff, was it Xena?"
"Mostly. But the Amazons gave me my first staff. Xena……." Gabrielle's voice cracked a little with emotion, she cleared her throat took a deep breath, composing herself. "Xena taught me pretty much everything I know."
"Is she the one you lost that makes you so sad?"
"Yeah"
"you must have been pretty close"
Gabrielle pondered whether or not to divulge the true nature of her relationship with Xena and decided that if Nicole was going to be around for a while it was right she should know.
"Xena and I, we were as close as any two people can be."
"You mean you were best friends"
"Yes we were, but it was a little more than that. After we'd known each other a few years we got married."
"Married?"
"Yeah"
"you mean you?"
"Uh huh"
"With each other"
"that's generally what married people do yeah"
"Huh" Nicole wasn't quite sure what to make of this revelation. She knew that women could fall in love but had never met anyone that had.
"You ok" asked Gabrielle.
"Yeah, it's just, you never mentioned in your scrolls that you and Xena were married."
"Xena liked to keep it private. Our closest friends and family knew but we pretty much kept ourselves to ourselves. And besides if you took the scrolls literally you'd think I only got laid once in nearly 30 years! If you include the whole sleeping for 25 years thing."
"And you didn't"
"Come on, I'm a healthy, curious red blooded woman, you think I would've stayed with Xena so long if I wasn't getting any!"
"Fair point." Nicole just smiled at Gabrielle, waiting for the real slumber party talk to start.
"How bout you, you broken any hearts in your time?"
"Me? Nah, well there was one guy but it didn't work out."
"Why?"
"Well," Nicole wasn't sure if she should continue or not. Gabrielle had been honest with her, it would be beneficial to their partnership for her to do the same, "Since my dad was the local blacksmith and my family had a little money, lots of guys would come over and ask my dad if they could take me out to dinner or a show. He turned most of the away. He was a great guy, wanted me to make my own mind up, didn't want me sold off to the highest bidder like some girls if you know what I mean".
"Yeah I know what you mean"
"Well this guy Ska'ra, he was really sweet and everyone said he was the cutest guy in town"
"you didn't think so?"
"I thought he was alright for a guy, I couldn't really see it. Maybe he just wasn't my type."
"What is your type?" asked Gabrielle curiously.
"Well, not too tall, can handle themselves in a fight, caring, blonde, a good storyteller………" Gabrielle didn't dare believe she was talking about her so she just looked at her with a shocked expression on her face, unable to think of anything to say. Seeing the shock and confusion Nicole decided to leave her to her thoughts, "I think I'm gonna go take a bath, I'll be back in a little while."
Nicole walked away in a manner that Gabrielle could only describe as seductive, unfastening her top as she went. She walked to the edge of the lake and took off her remaining clothes knowing full well Gabrielle could see her. For her part the Bard was absolutely dumbfounded, not just at how forward Nicole was being but at the fact that she seemed to have an interest in her, a romantic interest. Gabrielle needed to clear her head so she picked up her sword and headed into the woods to think, she never noticed Nicole's disappointed expression as she walked away.
Once she had found a nice spot not too far from camp she closed her eyes and moved her arms and legs to loosen her muscles a little. When she opened them again she focused on a tree in front of her and then began to wield her sword at it as if it were an attacker. Once she hit her stride with this there was a flash behind her at which she swung her sword and it connected with another.
"Hello Gabrielle, long time no see." Just what she needed, a reminder of a one-night stand she was unable to forget.
"Ares" she said, not wanting to sound pleased to see him but equally not wanting to be rude.
"How've you been?
"Good, you?" The conversation was tense, inevitably leading to a talk she'd rather not have.
"Oh I've been around. I see you've made a new little friend there"
"Yeah, she's pretty cool."
"Does she have a name" Ares pressed.
"Nicole." Gabrielle returned her attention to her training. Ares wandered round to face her and began to slowly spar with her so she was connecting with his sword rather than the tree.
"If you want I could help with that, I've trained a fair few warriors in my time." Gabrielle stopped sparing.
"I think I have it covered"
"Oh so she's your new sparing buddy then" he said accenting his sarcasm telling her he was assuming they were doing far more than sparing with each other.
"She's not half bad, anyway what business is it of yours who I train with, or do anything else with for that matter."
"None of my business I guess. I just figured you were the kind of girl that might stay for breakfast after she sleeps with a guy"
"Ah so that's what this is about, upset you didn't get your cuddles? Sorry Ares but I was drunk and depressed and didn't know what I was doing and quite honestly I'd love nothing more than to forget about the whole thing"
"hey that's cool, I'm ok with the love 'em and leave 'em approach, I just didn't think you were. Guess you've changed."
"Well losing the woman you love will tend to do that to a person." Ares actually seemed to take this on board.
"So you're travelling again"
"Yeah, I was happy out on the road, figured it'd be best. And now I have Nicole things are actually starting to get better."
"They can be better still"
"What d'you mean?"
"You could travel with me. We'd be unstoppable."
"I've told you before, thanks but no thanks."
"Come on Gabrielle, don't let your pride get in the way. I told you before; you can do more by my side. What are you trying to prove anyway by dragging her along with you, that you're as good as Xena! You're gonna end up getting her killed."
"I'm not trying to prove anything, I'm just trying to live my life."
"Join with me. I swear I've changed. I mean look at me, here I am, checking in, showing concern for your well being, hell you can even be on top if you want!"
Gabrielle took a swing at Ares and pushed him against the tree, holding her sword to his neck.
"You make me sick you know that"
Ares held Gabrielle's wrist and sent a wave of passion and power through her just as he had after killing Eli making her close her eyes and her knees almost buckle. "I may make you sick Gabrielle but you saw something in me that night, saw what kind of man I can be."
Gabrielle looked into his eyes and leaned in to kiss him when she heard something in the distance.
"You hear that?"
"Hear what?" said Ares, leaning in again to kiss her. A nano-second before their lips met he jerked his head back, now hearing something that sounded a lot like heavy footsteps. "Yeah I hear it, this way" They broke apart swiftly, picked up their swords and ran further into the woods in the direction the noise was coming from.
It wasn't long before they found a small road through the wood and hiding behind some bushes saw about 30 well-armoured men bearing an eagle standard marching past. "Roman's" said Gabrielle with disgust, "What are they doing on the road to Greece?" She looked at Ares who had a very concerned frown on his face.
"Go find your friend and get out of here quickly. Get to Athens as fast as you can you hear me"
"Ares what's going on?"
"Those aren't just your average Roman soldiers. That mark on their armour, that was the mark of Mars, Roman god of war, only warriors he has hand chosen wear that symbol and if he's sent them into Greece nothing good can come of it, now go, if they see you they'll kill you where you stand. I'm gonna find out what they're up to."
Gabrielle turned and ran quickly from the roadside, through the wood and found the clearing by the lake where she had left Nicole. She ran into camp and saw Nicole had cooked some freshly caught fish for the both of them on a fire. She grabbed a skin full of water and put the fire out. "We gotta go, now!" She shouted and she grabbed her bedroll and threw it over her horse. Nicole got the message and did the same with hers and began to help Gabrielle throw things into saddlebags. They were galloping away within two minutes, holding their staffs under their arms.
A/N I'm quite happy with this chapter, the action should be hotting up from now on. IF you like it or have any ideas/thought/comments please please please review!
