Hi Guys!
How are you? I have had some days off and I've almost completed this fanfiction. Hope you'll like it. Thanks to all the new followers!
Diana
29-
As the party progressed, Gabrielle caught a glimpse of what a Roman party looked like. And she didn't like it one bit. They looked like animals of prey ready to kill anyone. She could feel the men's eyes on her body, pigs who visibly appreciated her and the other slaves.
And Gabrielle learnt that this was the life Xena had saved her from four years prior. Fortunately for her, she thought, Naevia proved to be a real friend, and she could see similarities between them: she reminded her of what she used to be, a young innocent girl unable to hurt no one.
Xena kept scanning the room the whole time. She had specifically been told not to look alive unless asked otherwise, and to behave like a statue would: she was forbidden to move, speak and maybe even blink. All those eyes on her annoyed her. And the make up on her face itched terribly. What kept her strong, was Gabrielle's eyes. Whenever possible, they checked on each other. They scanned the room, the guests and their owners. And when their eyes locked again, Ilithyia appeared right before Xena cutting the view of her lover.
"I think I've never seen such a strange thing. My dear friend is very lucky, she'll be a piece of gossip all over Capua. Her name will be on everyone's lips for a while" the woman started to circle Xena, briefly paying attention to Gabrielle's reaction "Lucretia told me that the blonde slave girl is your lover. How peculiar! I've never met two women in a relationship. Or at least a long-lasting one, you know? Quite interesting. And from what I heard, you must love her very much, it seems you're waiting punishment for having attacked your domina in order to protect her. How unfortunate!" Xena knew that what Ilithyia really wanted was to provoke her in order to make her do something which could embarrass their owners and, despite the fact that she didn't really care about their reputation or their status, she was trying to maintain her calmness, since she knew that whatever she did could have consequences. And she couldn't risk it again. She had to have Gabrielle near her.
"So what? Cat got your tongue?" Ilithyia started to run her finger through one of Xena's curls, all the while eyeing at Gabrielle, smiling. Xena stood still, trying to keep her breath steady while her ears were on fire, her cheeks were on fire, her hands itched terribly. You can't hit her.
"What would you like me to say, my lady?" Xena asked, fake respect in her voice, her eyes never looking at the woman.
"Oh, well, I'm just interested in knowing more about you. You see? I don't know why my dearest Lucretia can't stand your presence, despite all her acting. She thinks you might be dangerous for the House of Batiatus. I actually think you might be a real fruit tree. Don't you think?". Xena was ready to explode. "How old are you, Xena?" asked the woman with a tone of voice which sounded exactly like Callisto's. Crazy bitches all have something in common, then. Not a sound escaped Xena's mouth.
"Speak, slave! I asked you a question! Do you want me to tell Domina about your bad manners?" the roman brat was staring at her, obviously angered.
Oh woman what do you want from me? Leave me alone!
"Twenty-nine" Xena's eyes didn't break contact with her lover's.
"Oh! I thought you were younger! Anyway, don't you want to know why I ask?" the warrior's looked at her with the corner of her eye. "I think you're dying to know!" she said with an annoying chuckle "And I'll quench your thirst for knowledge: Lucretia's sterility worries me. So, I paid for a priestess who is an expert in the field so that she could examine her. And the woman said she is the problem. She's barren, good gods! She also tried to have another man impregnate her, unsuccessfully of course- oh…maybe I've said too much, haven't I? But, I know you'll take this to your grave, right?" Xena arched her eyebrow. Damn, this girl is a total bitch. "So, I told my dearest Lucretia to consider you like a gift from the gods, instead."
Xena bit the inside of her cheeks, then said "I still don't get what you want from me."
"You should definitely learn some manners." Ilithyia replied, taking a sip from her golden goblet "So, I'll tell you a secret" she chuckled again. Please, gods, kill me! Now! Strike a thunderbolt, let it fall on my head, it would be better that listening to more of her nerve-racking voice "The wife of a very important magistrate- forgive me if I won't tell you her name- had a baby at a very old age, but the pregnancy was a mystery: everyone knew that she was with child but no one saw her. The magistrate said that, due to her age, her midwife recommended absolute bed-rest. So she saw no one, met no one. Well…" she lowered her voice "the child is rumored to be a bastard her husband had from a slave and whom she took as her own. She sold his mother when breastfeeding was no more necessary. The poor woman had been waiting for 20 years. And, between you and me, the child doesn't look like his mother at all…he looks indeed like the disappeared slave"
"…so? Why should I care about this?" said Xena, shooting a menacing look. That chuckle again, oh gods, take me to the Elysian fields, right now.
"Oh, what a stupid woman you are! With a little exercise, you could act as Lucretia. And the baby would most certainly look like her" she said and, taking another sip of wine.
"I don't think she would agree" Xena concluded, with a marble face.
"Oh. I think she loves the idea instead" with this being said, she touched Xena's chin with the tip of her finger, then she graciously left.
What's wrong with these people? And I thought Najara was a nutcase!
"Well, Xena, aren't you lucky?" mockingly asked Crixus, who was standing next to her, "I couldn't help overhearing"
Xena's eyes widened "Whatever you heard, keep it to yourself. Don't tell Naevia, she'd immediately tell Gabrielle. And, don't worry. Nothing will happen."
He nodded in silence, looking at her still profile.
"I still don't understand how is it possible that you look so much like Domina. Are you a long-lost twin or something?"
"Now, this was an insult!" she smiled "But, I swear I know at least 2 other people who look a lot like me. I just have very common features"
He smiled, shaking his head. Then, there was silence.
During Numerius' visit that previous afternoon, it had been agreed that Spartacus and Crixus would face in a mock fight as an entertainment for the evening. But, suddenly, while the fight was being introduced, birthday boy asked to have Varro replace Crixus. A strange request, considering that although Crixus had lost his status as Champion, he was still very much loved by people and Varro had never achieved that level of notoriety. Xena thought something was completely wrong and her eyes immediately focused on Ilithyia's evil face: she had plotted something to have her revenge on Spartacus, Xena was sure about that.
And only the gods know how she convinced the boy. And why.
"Apologies, it was agreed this was an exhibition only. Not a fight to the death"
"Numerius has made his decision. I will reimburse you the cost of the man"
Gabrielle was shocked. This is what a life is worth here. She had never witnessed such a tragedy: a man killed to entertain a group of stupid brats and their cruel parents. Another man, forced to kill his best friend for the same senseless reasons. She gasped as the blade entered his flesh, covering her mouth her hand, unable to move her sight from that bloody scene. She didn't know the man, indeed she had never spoken to him. But he looked like a good man.
She locked her eyes with Xena, and she saw a silent tear roll down her marble face.
