The Heart of a Queen

by strange1

Conqueror story. Gabrielle was taken as a slave and ends up as Xena's personal one. Xena is the Conqueror of Nations but only controls about a fourth of Greece. Her goal is to some day rule all of Greece and more. But there's a catch. A certain blond seems to be able to get under her defenses. Will she let that happen or will she send Gabrielle away. **COMPLETE**

25. Chapter 25

Gabrielle and Solon made quick work of the short distance to the river. Once near the water the bard realized that the 'river' was more like a large stream but it still held salmon. She could see the fish glimmering in the midmorning sun. The petite blond found a medium sized boulder to sit upon, her staff leaning to one side, as she watched her young charge pick up various sized rocks and put them in his little pouch. Before long his pouch was quite full and he turned looking at his friend with earnest eyes.

It was a look that Xena had given her not that long ago. Of course their relationship had gone from slave and mistress to lovers in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Ever since she'd left home that fateful day everything in her life had happened so quickly. The day that she had spent here in the small village had been nice with the one exception, that her lover was nowhere to be seen and a certain soldier that was standing just behind her had taken a more than professional interest in her.

When she had first met the young soldier she had felt sorry for him at least partially. Somehow he had gotten in with Toris' men and had been chosen to take a message to Callisto. Lucky for Xena, the bard and Solon the man had stayed true to his general. But now he was overstepping his bounds and she was not sure how to handle it without involving her partner. That might just lead to bloodshed as the bard could sense that Xena had quite the jealous streak.

Sighing she turned her attention back to the young boy that was waiting to see what she wanted him to do. "You see that large tree over there?" Solon looked to where she was pointing. There was an old willow tree that had many branches intertwined. "You see the center? There are at least two big holes in it. Why don't you try and get a stone in there with your slingshot from as far away as you can." The bard watched as one of the soldiers came up alongside him staying just to his side.

Not surprisingly it didn't take long for the boy to start hitting his target from almost where Gabrielle was seated. That was almost fifty paces away. It was impressive and she could not help but think that maybe just maybe Xena had done something similar when she was a child roaming around these very woods. How many times had the warlord, as a young girl, swam or fished in this very stream. She could almost see it unfolding in her mind.

In fact a story started to form in her mind about how the tall dark woman came to be in this little village. It was the first time in a few days since a story had just popped into her head like that. How she wished she had some parchment or a scroll. The images in her mind were so vivid that it was like she was there watching it all unfold. Perhaps Xena was right. Perhaps her talent as a bard was there but had never had a chance to be developed.

"Did you see?" Solon's excited voice came up to his best friend. "I made ten in a row from just over there." The boy, though not having the easiest of life and not knowing his parents, was a happy young man. It seemed like he saw the good in things and took fun in whatever he could. He was the kind of person that Gabrielle had always wanted to be until her father nearly destroyed her spirit. But under Xena that spirit was blossoming once again.

"I did see." The bard held out her arms and she was nearly knocked off the boulder she was sitting on. That was one thing she was getting used to. The boy had a fierce physical strength but he also had a passionate heart. His compassion for people was unmatched. Gabrielle felt lucky to be included in the young man's life in whatever shape or form that it took. "You are getting really good at that. Of course the way that you hit Toris last night it doesn't surprise me any."

Once again Solon was beaming. Any kind of praise from his hero was beyond welcome. There was something very special about this friend and that's why he considered her his best friend. I used to be so lonely. The other slaves treated me like an outcast. But not Gabrielle. She has always treated me like an equal if not as a good friend. I hope that I never have to be away from her for too long. I wouldn't like that at all. "I was just trying to help."

Gabrielle took both his smaller hands into her slightly larger ones. She looked into blue eyes. It was almost exactly like when she looked into Xena's eyes in the way that she could almost see into this boy's soul. It made her shudder that she had this much of a connection to two people when she had never felt that with her own family. "I want you to promise me something." Those young innocent eyes twinkled at her. "I only want you to use that to help someone when they might get hurt."

"You mean you only want me to use this on bad guys?" Solon looked surprised. He would never use it to hurt anyone that wasn't trying to hurt someone else. "That would be bad to hurt someone that wasn't doing anything wrong." He began to rub his arm. "I mean I might by accident if my aim was bad but I would never do it on purpose. I promise that I will never use this against someone unless they are trying to hurt someone else."

The bard pulled the boy into a hug. "I figured that you knew that." She pulled back so that she could look at his young and innocent face. "But I just wanted to make sure. There are people out there that hurt others because they can. I know you've seen that because of what Callisto did to me. I know you wanted to help more than you did but all that mattered was for us to stay all right until Xena showed up. Do you know she'll always be there for us?"

Solon nodded his head earnestly. "I know. It's not the first time she saved me." He got this look on his face like he was remembering something. "There was this one time when I was only five or six and my little pony I was riding got spooked. She was all the way at the head of the army that was on the march and somehow she heard or knew I was in trouble. She came racing up and got me just before my dumb ole pony would have tried to jump a small gully. Bad pony."

Gabrielle couldn't help but smile at the way that her little friend had described what had happened. He was at that age, just before adulthood and yet not quite a child anymore. It was easy to see that the young man was going to be an amazing, loving and intelligent man when he grew up. The bard could not wait to see her friend as an adult. "Sounds like it. I never really have like ponies myself. Maybe you could teach me how to ride one someday?"

The young man nodded emphatically. Just as she was going to say something else the bard got this feeling. It was something she had never felt before but somehow she just knew that Xena needed her "Why don't we go back to the inn and get something to drink. It's not too hot out here but I could use some apple cider." For an answer, Solon slipped his hand in hers. "We're going back now." She made sure that the three soldiers could hear her.

The feeling was getting stronger and part of her just wanted to ditch their guards and run as fast as she could the short distance to the inn hopefully not knocking herself silly with the staff at her side. But she had a responsibility and really Xena was who Xena was. She could handle any warlord or murderer or army that came her way. The woman was strong and sure of herself. There was nothing that the woman couldn't handle. Yet the pull was causing her guts to churn and she decided to run the rest of the way there as fast as she could.

()()()()()()()()()()

For the first time in years Xena felt like she was a child. Here her mother was telling her, not asking her, that Solon was to stay with her. While a very large part of her understood where her mother was coming from there was the part of her that had vowed never to be that far from her son. She had broken that vow when she had sent both Gabrielle and Solon here but she was sure as Hades not going to be separated from either of them for long again especially not for an undetermined amount of time.

The queen sat a little straighter in her chair and glanced around the common area of the inn. While the number of patrons was still quite a few it had dwindled some. Perhaps they could see the tension in the air or it could be that they had wanted to see what the tall dark and deadly woman looked like after all these years and left having fulfilled that wish. For whatever reason the warlord was glad that most of the people had left. Her only desire now was to have Gabrielle by her side.

In fact, the queen sent out a little mental wish that her lover would come back to her and right away. She knew that it was silly. There was no way that the bard could know that she needed and wanted her there. But then she had somehow known that Gabrielle was in trouble. That was still something she had not really had time to think about. The entire ride here all she concentrated on was making sure no one was around and that she was heading in the right direction.

"You know something Mother?" Xena looked into eyes that she hadn't really had a chance to since before she was fifteen years old. A flash of memory when the last time she did was to tell her mother that she was off to get the bastard that had destroyed the village and taken her youngest son's life. It was before she had come back and taken over Amphipolis. That time her mother had stayed as far away from her as she could. "This is not up for debate." She barely whispered the next words. "He's my son. He stays with me."

Cyrene snorted. Unlike so many others she was not afraid of her daughter. Oh she knew the violence that her middle child was capable of and she knew that she had gotten to be queen by spilling a lot of blood. However she also knew that there were some lines that even her daughter would not cross. The line here was family. That, she thought, was the only reason that Toris was still alive though the blond woman might have something to do with that. "Selfish as always I see."

Xena burst out laughing. It had been a very long time since anyone had felt brave enough to actually talk to her like a normal human being. Even Gabrielle still spoke with reverence and a bit of worship that she knew deep down that she didn't deserve but would be forever grateful for especially for all that her Lil One was and did. "That's where you're wrong." There was a smug look on her mother's face. "You see for the very first time in my life l feel anything but selfish for wanting both Solon and Gabrielle as near to me as possible."

The innkeeper was a little surprised when she included the sweet young girl in with her grandson. From the way that Gabrielle had defended her daughter she knew that at least the slave was enamored with the dark haired woman having fallen under some kind of spell. However she never would have guessed that the cold hearted woman that Xena had become would allow her such warm feelings. "You prove my point. Is it not selfish to want them near you where blood and death are so rampant?"

"Did you not witness what happened in your own inn?" Xena was trying to maintain her calmness. She was trying to build herself into the image of a queen. While as queen she knew that she would still have to either commit or order violent acts but since meeting Gabrielle she wanted to be the kind of queen that was known as an intelligent ruler as much as one that could kill in the blink of an eye. The bard had changed her so quickly it made her head spin. "Your oldest son was behind the death of one of my men and was going after two innocents."

Cyrene nodded in concession of the fact that her son had done something totally stupid and totally irresponsible. But as with everything there was another side to the dinar. "I had warned Toris not to do anything stupid." Xena's eyes widened when she realized her mother knew about her brother being there. "But as with all my children they never listen to me. Let me ask you this. While Toris was stupid would he have any reason to go after them if they were not linked to you?"

Now Xena had a smug look on her face. "You've just proven my point, Mother." The queen noticed that every time that she said 'mother' that the older woman flinched visibly. Still don't like being reminded that the Destroyer of Nations is your daughter. Well, how do you think Solon will feel when he finds out I'm his mother? Not going to happen any time soon if I have anything to say about it. "It is well known by a couple of my enemies that Gabrielle and Solon are my weaknesses. Who better to protect them than me?"

"Who indeed?" Cyrene was leaning close to her daughter not wanting anyone to overhear the conversation that she was having. In some ways her heart was hurting because she still loved the little girl that her daughter had once been. In other ways it was hurting because this woman was nothing like the little baby she had given birth to so many years ago. "You certainly know your way with a sword. The smell in the village after you left took months to dissipate."

That caused Xena to cringe. While she had always put on a display in the villages that she took over she had made an extra violent one with her home village. They had turned their backs on her when she had wanted to defend the village and to then go after Cortese for killing so many of their own. But they were either cowards or were not fighters. Either way she had felt it necessary to leave behind a very strong message. "One of my many regrets on the way to power. I did things even animals wouldn't do."

Regrets? Did she just say she has regrets? The innkeeper looked deep into blue eyes that were as cold as ice. She can lie so easily why should I believe anything she has to say? Why should I even bother with this? Because your grandson is an innocent and deserves a better life than she can provide. "It's interesting to hear you say you have regrets." She cocked her head to one side thinking carefully about her choice of words. "Is he one of them?"

Now anger flashed on the face of the queen. Fire had melted the ice as every fiber in the queen's body was now in a ready state to lash out. Mentally her hand was on her sword hilt and her other hand had the chakrum in it. She took a deep breath to calm herself and to once again send out a message to the woman that she loved more than her own life. "While I may regret the circumstances of his birth I will never regret that I have him. I regret that I yet am unable to lay claim to him other than as a slave. I regret that there are those that will use him because of who I am. I regret that I've caused more pain to you and to him than I can even imagine."

The door to the inn opened and a slightly out of breath figure was standing there next to a boy that was looking up at his friend all wide eyed. They had started back at a brisk pace and then began to run as if there was something on fire. He had not understood what was going through his friend's mind but knew better than to question her just by the look on her face. He followed her gaze as she was staring at the innkeeper and their mistress. Even his young mind realized there was a lot of tension between the two grownups.

"Solon, why don't you go and get that apple cider from the bar. Gaston will take you." Gabrielle turned as the soldier came up next to her. He looked at where she was looking not quite understanding what was going on but decided to go and do as he was told. For a moment the bard's gaze never left Solon making sure that he was all right. Finally she had managed to catch her breath leaving her staff by the door she made her way behind the seated queen and in an instant her hands were on either shoulder.

Cyrene could tell that the simple touch of the young woman had visibly calmed her daughter. Tentatively she looked up into green eyes. They were not the gentle and smiling eyes that she had seen yesterday or even before she left with her grandson. This was not the same young woman that she had spent time in the kitchen with sharing an old family recipe. This was a woman that was strong, determined and extremely protective. Finally she returned to look at her daughter whose eyes had calmed just a little. "So you have regrets. We all do. It's what you do about them that makes the difference."

Xena felt the gentle brushing of lips against her hair and lost her train of thought for a few moments before she continued her argument with her mother. "I was in no place to do anything about any regrets." A gentle massage began on both her shoulders. "Now that I have conquered more than half of Greece and become queen I'm in exactly the right place and the right time to start doing something about those regrets." She turned and looked up over her shoulder into green eyes. "And I have someone that is smarter than I am luckily to help guide me."

That caused a little squeaking noise to come out of the bard's mouth. While she knew that she was extremely important to her lover on a personal level these new revelations that she was going to be key somehow in the running of an entire country were surprising to say the least. She wanted to say that she was not that smart nor was she good enough to be anything royal she figured it would upset Xena and she was already upset by her mother. The tension in her muscles was worse than after a battle.

The innkeeper shook her head. The words sounded good but to her actions had always spoke volumes. She sat back in the chair and studied the pair. Were these two just simply slave and mistress? No, not with the look that the petite blond was giving her daughter. Xena of course had an unreadable face that she had mastered when she was only six years old. "I still think that the safest place for your son and for your slave here is to be here with some of your men."

Gabrielle felt the tension come right back into the queen's shoulders after the remark calling her a 'slave'. Outside of Xena's two top men no one new that she was free and officially the heir to whatever it was that the queen left behind. Everyone else just assumed that she was just some piece of fluff from a backwater that made her naïve and stupid and willing to go along with whatever that the queen wanted from her.

The queen took her sword hand and brought it to her temple to rub. She was getting an extremely huge headache with all the tension she was feeling all because her mother would not simply let things go. Well perhaps it's time that you prove just how much you have changed. There are two ways to do that. Once again she turned and looked lovingly into her former slave's eyes and a smile was upon her face. "I guess I didn't get to properly introduce you to Gabrielle." Both the innkeeper and the bard looked at her in question. "Perhaps if I tell you that Gabrielle is not my slave but my partner in everything that might make a difference. Oh and did I mention that I love her very much."

Cyrene's jaw nearly hit the table. Behind her she could see that Gabrielle was a little unsteady on her feet as well. Apparently the little one had not expected that kind of admission from her daughter. It was as if Xena could sense just how unsteady she was and pulled her around so that she was sitting on her lap, her arms draped around her neck and her head resting on her chest. Just looking at the young girl it was obvious just how much the girl shared that love.

From across the room Solon saw what was happening. He began to bolt for the table and Gaston could not move fast enough to grab the young boy. He was by his mother's side looking at his friend with a great deal of concern. "Is she all right, mistress?" That got a snort out of Cyrene and a glare from the young boy. "Why would you snort when I'm asking if my best friend is all right? She was fine one moment and the next she looked like she was going to pass out."

Gabrielle took the arm closet to the boy and put it on his shoulder. The grip that Xena had on her tightened to make sure that she would not slide off from the lap she was sitting on. "I'm all right, sweetie. I just got a little tired from the heat. Could you please see if they have anymore apple cider? The cup you are holding smells wonderful." She watched as he dashed back across the room nearly bowling the confused Gaston over.

The bard turned her attention quickly to the innkeeper. "If you couldn't guess I'm very much in love with your daughter." That got both raised eyebrows from the older woman. "Yes I knew who you were when I came here. Yes I know who Solon is." That got a squirm out of the queen. "Everyone thinks I'm just this kid from the sticks that doesn't know any better. I've known Xena about a month or so now. In that time I've lived a lifetime with her. We started off rocky but things just happened that threw us together. It was almost like it was supposed to happen that way."

"You sound like a love struck fool." Cyrene finally managed to get her wits totally back about her. "Do you know how many people's blood is on her hands?" The innkeeper leaned forward a bit and looked deep into green eyes. "Did you know that she cut the heads off of the elders here and put their heads on pikes leaving them in the common area for all to see? Just because they would not agree to her terms of what she called surrender."

Xena was about to say something when her little bard decided to beat her to the punch. They both noticed that Solon was returning so the bard spoke quickly. "I don't know details of everything that Xena has done in the past. I know that she has killed in the thousands and some in battle and some not. I also know that there probably have been innocents that she had killed either on purpose or by mistake. That is her past. It is dark and it is evil and it is hard for me to comprehend sometimes as I was subjected to it as her personal slave. But she never hurt me and I know that she is changing. I think she is learning from me just who she wants to be so I'll support her no matter what."

Solon had padded back over to the trio of older women. He noticed that Xena had an odd look on her face. In fact he could swear that there was the start of tears forming in the corners of her eyes. But she blinked and they never fell. His best friend had such a determined look on her face. It reminded him of the one that she had on her face when she had told him that Xena would come for them no matter what when they were still being held by Callisto. Without saying anything he handed his best friend the cold apple cider.

Part of the boy wanted to know what was going on right then and there. But one look at the suddenly determined look on the queen's face and he decided that maybe he should go back to the bar and leave them alone to keep discussing whatever it was that they were discussing. "I'll leave you alone for now. But I hope that somebody tells me what's going on around here. I know that something is. So don't any of you deny it. If you need anything, mistress, I'll be over there."

A gentle hand on his shoulder caused him to turn around. He was stunned to see that it was Xena that had him by the shoulder and not his best friend. Gabrielle had wrapped both arms around the queen's neck just waiting to see what was going to happen next. Xena's voice vibrated in her ear as she had her head once against leaning against her chest. "Solon, you are not my slave. You and Gabrielle are both free. You can call me Xena or your majesty but you are never again to call me mistress."

Solon's eyes widened to that of an owl's. That was the last thing that he had expected. It was more than he ever had hoped for. All he had ever wanted was to be able to make his mistress happy. Now he was being sent free. Fear gripped the boy and tears began falling down his face. Both the bard and the queen reacted at the same time and Gabrielle slid into the chair next to her lover. One woman took one little hand and the other took the remaining hand. It was the queen that spoke. "What's the matter? Aren't you happy to be free?"

The young boy was sobbing so that he could hardly breathe let alone talk. It was several moments before he was able to catch his breath long enough to speak. He hiccupped every so often. The stress from the brief but emotional crying causing his body to react this way. "I don't want you to send me away. Is that why I'm here?" He turned to his best friend with a bit of anger in his eyes. "Did you come to leave me here? Or are you staying too?"

Xena pulled the young boy up onto her lap. This was the first time since he was only about two or three that she had held her son like this and he didn't know who she really was. At this point she was wondering who she truly was. "I'm not leaving you." At this she looked up and glared at her mother who remained silent. "I may have to sometimes leave you with my men either in the camp or wherever we are staying to keep you safe but I will never leave you anywhere this far from me again." She turned to Gabrielle who had tears rolling down her cheeks. "That goes double for you, my love."

Solon blinked a couple times. He looked from the queen to the bard and back to the queen. His former mistress certainly wasn't acting like the same person that he had known all his life. She was softer and warmer and just plain mushy. But if it made his two heroes happy to be like this then he was happy too. In fact he just wanted to go run and play something he rarely got to do while they were in camp. "Can we go fishing or camping or something? I'd like that very much."

Gabrielle looked into her lover's eyes. As much as she wanted to be alone with the queen she knew that for now her partner needed something else just as much if not more. So she decided to stay and talk to Cyrene a little more while Xena truly got to know her son. "Why don't you two go fishing then we can have salmon for lunch. I'll even cook it if you want. I think the queen likes my cooking." That got her a wink from Xena and her heart melted just a touch.

Xena stood not letting go of her son. He protested just a little but she just held him tight to her body. "Looks like we have orders." Solon giggled at the thought of the queen getting orders from anyone after all she was the queen. "We better deliver. We don't want to disappoint our friend here now do we." For some reason the boy could not find words instead shaking his head emphatically. "All right, mister. Let's get going."

The bard watched them go out the door noticing that two of the guards went with them. Of course she was stuck once again with Gaston and she sighed heavily at the thought. The bard turned her attention away from the soldier hoping that from the display he had gotten the hint. Of course she remembered what had happened with Satrina and knew that there was still that possibility of him trying something. Sighing heavily she said, "I understand why you doubt her. Though she is who she is there are still many that doubt her."

Cyrene began to play with the apron strings tied around the front of her. Usually she was a confident person knowing exactly what to say or do but after hearing the exchange that went on she wondered just how much she knew her daughter anymore. Never one to be nervous about anything she found herself nervous at the thought that she could now be wrong about her daughter. "For someone so young you seem to know your heart well. How is it that you know my daughter?"

Gabrielle smiled at the thought of how she had become Xena's. "Well, let me tell you the story of how a girl from Potadeia was sent on a stupid errand just to find herself captured by a warlord and became her personal slave." The innkeeper gasped at the thought. "I see you've heard that Xena has a reputation with her personal slaves. Well, fear not. She never hurt me physically. She did threaten me a couple times. But I found I have an influence over her. But you listen to my story and judge for yourself."

The bard never intended for her story to be heard by anyone other than Cyrene. As she started to spin the yarn that was her love story as she liked to think of it her voice rose a little and her hand gestures grew more expressive. Though she'd only written a few stories in her time with Xena and while growing up this felt natural to her. Every eye in the inn, including Gaston's, was upon her. They all waited on baited breath for her to finish the tale.

When she got to the part about the two lovers consummating their relationship she smiled. Instead of telling the personal details she decided to say, "And before she could be sent away for her own good the young girl that was now finally grown into a woman made sure that the bond between her former mistress was as solid as could be." A few faces were red when she looked around the room. She could feel her own cheeks reddening from what she had implied. "Though it was only a few days apart it felt like a lifetime. Finally the two were reunited hopefully never to be apart again by anything or anyone."

It took a few moments for Cyrene to let all of the words truly sink in and for her to truly comprehend what the bard had just told her. She let out a breath that she had not known that she was holding before she was able to speak. "You have quite a way with words. Xena neglected to say that you were a bard." This caused the bard in question to blush. "You told that from your heart. And I know you believe my daughter has changed but what proof do you have? She came after you? So what? You and Solon were her property. Nothing more as far as I can see."

"Exactly." A deep male voice caused the bard to turn and see that Gaston was perched behind her. His face was instantly as red as a beet not realizing that he had spoken aloud. He tried to keep his gaze from green eyes that had a fire in them. But he kept looking at the young woman that he was falling in love with and could not help but feel the way that he felt. "I'm loyal to a fault to the general but we all know that she will never be capable of true love."

Gabrielle forgot all about Cyrene sitting there and turned her anger on the young man standing behind her. She stood and closed the gap in less than it took to take a breath. Never touching the man except with a mental slap or two to the face she locked gazes with him daring him to look away. He never flinched. "I believe that you are jealous because the queen has me in every sense of the word has me. I will never be with anyone else so you might just want to forget you ever made a pass at me."

No one had noticed that the door behind them had opened and a dripping wet Xena and Solon were standing there. The queen had daggers in her eyes as she heard what her lover had just said. Everyone turned to look at the doorway when her husky voice rang out. "Solon, please go to the kitchen and have whoever is back there help you clean these." The boy knew the tone and took the three fish to the kitchen. He glanced at his best friend and knew something potentially not so good was about to happen.

The bard quickly blocked Xena's path as she had a menacing look on her face. Gabrielle put her hands on her lover's chest and forcing her to look down into green eyes. "I'm sorry I hadn't told you about this. Just seemed like everything else was happening." A grumble escaped the queen. "He only touched my leg." A full on roar now escaped the queen. "I was just making sure that he and everyone else here knew that I was taken."

Xena gently picked up the bard and put her behind her. Slowly and menacingly she made her way toward the frightened soldier. The queen drew her sword and put the point right in his chest. The man swallowed several times and then closed his eyes. If he had known for sure that Gabrielle was his general's and not just her private property he never would have overstepped that line. Now he knew that his fate had been sealed. He opened his eyes to look into icy cold ones. He held his head high and tried to stop shaking. The blade began slowly to penetrate his neck as gasps rang out throughout the room.