A SMALL CHARM OF THE HEART

Thaleia eased the door open to Gabrielle's room it was late morning, she'd leant that the blonde haired woman didn't get up very early on the whole so she didn't have to get up before dawn to go and tend to her needs. Unlike Ceto who had to get up early to give the Empress her new clothes and her breakfast. She guessed that Gabrielle's irregular sleeping pattern was due to her late nights sometimes she could be out very late and not come in until the sun started to rise. She knew her friend loved to just sit and watch the stars she pushed the door open a little bit more as she eased up the breakfast tray.

Gabrielle was a fussy eater though, she liked certain things a lot, she loved fish dishes as well as rabbit and lamb and goat stew. She liked chicken and quail but had this thing about only wanting it when she could rip it off the bone. She assumed that was a werewolf thing as she had a habit of cracking the bone with her teeth, clearly her canines even in human form were very sharp and very strong. She liked a lot of vegetables as well as quail eggs and fruits. Her other favourite foods were flatbread and dumplings and cheese on occasion. She had a sweet tooth for honey with thicken milk. Her friend didn't care one bit for alcohol, she never asked for it and she always turned it down preferring to drink fruit juices, goat's milk or water. She liked apples a lot but only the red ones apparently werewolves had a problem with tasting sweet things, normal green apples were bitter tasting to them while the red ones were very sweet. She eyed the breakfast tray she'd brought her porridge with honey and some flat bread along with a red apple.

She knew that Kalika had been ordered to bring her dinner but right now she was going to do it instead of her, she didn't trust her after what she'd done and as far as she was concerned it was her duty to take care Gabrielle no one else's. Also she wasn't on speaking terms with Kalika as she had exposed her for burning Gabrielle's list. She was now in a higher position than Kalika and the older woman had to do what she told her, if she asked her to cook up a dish she had to do it with out question. She knew the older woman didn't like it but she did it with out comment but she could see the loathing in her eyes regardless, frankly she couldn't understand what her problem was with Gabrielle but it was clear despite everything she still disliked her even now.

She knew the Empress would catch on soon that she hadn't been doing her duty, so she'd make sure it was done soon but she'd be in the room to watch the other woman because she didn't trust her. She gently placed the tray down on the table realizing for the first time that there was a wooden carved griffin on it. It was in a sitting position with one paw raised it had carved out eyes, ears, and tail as well as open wings. All off it was painted in yellows oranges and reds, apart from the eyes which were black and silver. It wasn't that big she could pick it up easily, it was like an ornament, clearly it was one of Gabrielle's carvings and it was very beautiful.

She looked up as the blonde haired woman entered the room fully clothed her medium length hair was still wet no doubt from her bath. She felt a smile form. "Good morning Gabrielle did you sleep well?" Gabrielle looked up eyeing her friend. "I slept okay." She moved over to the table the truth was that she was hungry and food was on her mind. She picked up the red apple biting in to hearing the hard crunch. "I hope you slept better." Thaleia smiled stepping back from the table. "You know you'd sleep better if you went to bed earlier." Gabrielle took another bite out of her apple. "Yes but then you'd have to get up much earlier to bring me breakfast."

Thaleia felt a smile form. "You have a point." She paused eyeing the griffin. "I like your carving, it's very beautiful." Gabrielle slowly picked the carving up looking at it. "You like this?" Thaleia nodded eyeing the griffin again. "Yes." Gabrielle slowly moved it towards her feeling slightly uncertain over her next words. "It's just I wanted you to have it…it's a gift." Thaleia blinked feeling the shock take over. "You made this for me?" Gabrielle nodded she fidgeted nervously it had been so long since she'd given anyone anything and the whole situation felt strange to her. "Yes." She watched as the other woman took it from her hand staring at it in awe. "I know it's not perfect…I just wanted to give you something."

She lowered her gaze, feeling slightly out of her depth as she spoke her next words. "As a thank you for making me that skirt and belt to wear at night it fits really well and it's very warm." Thaleia looked up slightly. "You're welcome Gabrielle." She moved closer putting her hand on her friends arm watching as she looked up seeing the uncertainty in her eyes. Her mother was right more right than she could ever know, under Gabrielle's rather unemotional and angry front, she did have a good heart. Although she'd never admit it openly to any one and she always seemed to claim that it wasn't there. She also seemed to struggle with expressing her emotions she also seemed to hold them back constantly.

She felt a wide smile form. "I should show this to my mother." Gabrielle looked up sharply. "Could you not do that just yet?" Thaleia raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Gabrielle eyed the griffin as she stepped back. "Its just I made two of these, the others not quite finished…it's for your mother…there meant to be a set, one for each of you." She breathed in deeply. "You said she wants me to go up to school and was going to go tonight but I wanted the other griffin ready for her when I do." Thaleia felt her eyes dart as understanding dawned up her she felt her smile widen. "I understand I'll keep this one secret until you give my mother hers."

She looked up slightly watching as Gabrielle seated herself at the table speaking calmly. "That would be good if you would." Thaleia eased out her parchment list. "Did you want anything?" Gabrielle picked up her spoon looking at her warm porridge. "No I'm fine." Thaleia moved to the door opening it slowly. "Then I'll let you finish your breakfast in peace." Gabrielle nodded watching as she left she took in a deep breath before taking in the first mouth full enjoying the flavour.

8

Xena eased open the door to the Phantasos healing quarters he'd gone out some time ago and maybe that was for the best she didn't want him around because of what she had to say. She opened the door slowly watching as Iona looked up, clearly she wasn't sleeping instead her eyes were fixed on the decorative ceiling. She stepped forward closing the door behind her watching as Iona looked up her smile instantly fading as she saw her, she lay back on the pillow a dark expression crossing her face. Xena breathed in as she moved closer. "Nice to see you're awake." Iona breathed in deeply. "You know I thought it was Phantasos, I was going to ask for a scroll to read its boring in here."

Xena folded her arms eyeing the night sky outside she had wanted to visit Gabrielle but this had been playing on her mind for a long time now. She needed it to be put to rest before she could do anything else she took in a deep breath before speaking. "How long have you been my loyal servant Iona?" Iona winced painfully as she tried to sit up. "I've been your loyal servant ever since you left Rome Empress, after your husband's betrayal."

Xena looked at her for a long moment. "That's a long time and in all that time you've been loyal to me you've never lied to me. You've also protected me from my enemies and done the dirty work which I've never liked but I know is necessary for running this kingdom." She turned meeting the other woman's dark gaze. "So why betray my trust now?" Iona breathed in deeply. "I thought I was doing what was right for the kingdom Empress." Xena shook her head sadly. "No Iona you did all this for yourself, you wanted power the kind Gabrielle has and you were willing to use my dislike of her to obtain it." She felt her teeth grind together. "You very nearly succeeded as well."

She shook her head. "I was so drunk that night when I was entertaining the royals and you knew that you could use my state of mind to manipulate me. Granted I should have sobered up and ignored you but that's my fault to contend with, my other fault was letting you talk me in to parading Gabrielle around like a trophy and letting you cut her open with her sword." She took in a deep breath. "The truth is I'm not mad at you anymore I am deeply disappointed in you though, I expected so much better from you. If we were in Rome you know full well that you'd be flogged for this in full view of your commander, but as it is we aren't in Rome and I've never liked flogging as a punishment I think it does nothing for mural."

She eyed the woman's bandaged arm. "I feel also that you've already received a just punishment despite that I didn't give it to you. As it you'll be in bed for a least two months assuming your cracked ribs don't heal quicker, as for when you'll take hold off a sword again that's to be seen when the time comes. Phantasos said that the break was a clean one so it may not affect your ability once you're back on your feet." She leaned forward. "Let me make one thing very clear this will be the only time I will ever pardon you and if you betray my trust again by lying or manipulating me or try to gain a personal power to accomplish your personal goals, I will see you locked away in the royal prison for a very long time, is that understood?"

Iona took in a deep breath she could tell the Empress wasn't bluffing she never bluffed she knew that all to well. She looked up slightly she was lucky that she'd even been pardoned if it had been anyone else she knew the story would have been very different. "Yes Empress." Xena stepped away from the bed she slowly raised her hand. "Also you're going to tell me right now about Gabrielle's pet the one you had killed." Iona swallowed seeing the anger in the woman's eyes. "It was a Wood Pigeon she brought it from the market the day I brought her back to the palace." Xena narrowed her gaze. "You mean the day you chained her up and had her beaten despite that she had an official note from Chara, am I correct?"

Iona nodded. "Yes Empress." Xena looked at her for a long moment. "You have no right to kill palace pets nor do you have the right to beat up or chain anyone with out my permission, you know this." She folded her arms. "Due to this and your cruel treatment of Gabrielle when you are well enough you'll be spending much more time with Demetrius, he's going to re-educate you in both loyalty and discipline as it seems your time away from the palace has allowed your warriors code of honour to slip somewhat ."

Iona grunted about to speak but stopped as she caught sight of the other woman's the ice cold gaze. She lowered her gaze. "Yes Empress." Xena looked up slightly. "If I'm honest Iona I've known you for a very long time and you've always been very loyal, that is the reason that is the reason that this is your only punishment, I hope that I never find myself in this position again were I have to question your loyalty." She moved towards the door opening it slowly. "I hope you recover from your injuries as well." Iona watched as she left closing the door behind her, she breathed out slowly gods she was lucky that, that had been her only punishment.

She knew full well if she'd been outside the royal palace it would have been a flogging. She hated flogging she'd only ever been flogged once and that was when she'd been a mercenary back in Rome before the Empress had killed her husband for betraying her. It was only five lashes for sleeping on duty but it had been enough for her to never want to go through that kind of pain again. She lay back closing her eyes slightly she had been fortunate that the Empress was kind or she probably have spent her time locked away. What a waste she'd spent most of her time perusing Gabrielle for power only to now find out the truth that she didn't even carry the curse anyway, even she could see how stupid that was now. She closed her eyes fully frankly she didn't want to think about it anymore she just wanted to get out of this room. She was bored of having nothing to do was getting on her nerves. All she wanted now was to focus her mind on getting better and getting the sword back in her hand so she could fight again and feel that she had some purpose in her life.

End of part 36

Silvermoonlight

Merry Christmas everyone I hope you receive all the gifts you've been wanting :)