Caesar rode at point ahead of his personal soldiers, his presence commanding, regal in a crimson and gold cloak that draped in folds about his white mare's hindquarters. The golden laurel wreath shone in the sunlight, making it appear as if a ring of light surrounded him.

Xena's encampment was in sight, the smell already fully reaching his senses, sickening him. He wrinkled his nose in disgust but carried on regardless. The sight which met his eyes was horror after horror. Hundreds of men still in armor lay scattered across the ground, torn apart and eaten, he heard some of his men mumbling about sorcery and stilled them with a raised hand.

"There is nothing to fear here but dead men and bad aromas" he commented dryly, silently warning them to know their place. The soldiers became stoic once again and Caesar urged his horse onward. His eyes were instantly drawn to the larger tent that stood in the centre. It appeared to be the only structure that had not been destroyed, although blood splattered the white canvas.

He rode steadily over to it, five of his personal bodyguards flanking him, turning their heads, their eyes searching for any danger. Caesar dismounted and passed the reins to one of the other men as three more followed his movement and dismounted, ready to follow their leader to whatever awaited inside. He pushed aside the flap and entered. He could tell instantly from the clothing lying casually over a chair, the small bone comb and golden spoils of war that this had been Xena's tent… just as he had expected.

His eyes grazed over the uncomfortable looking wooden pallet that was piled with furs, the blankets were thrown back as if someone had risen abruptly from slumber and nearby upon the cold ground was a guard, by his clothing a high ranking solider, perhaps her very own lieutenant, he lay in pieces. Caesar's gaze was quickly drawn by a small movement near the back of the tent, he turned, his sword already in his hand, hearing his guards draw their weapons ready for anything that would come. There, sitting quite serenely upon a bed was a young girl, Caesar was struck by a long forgotten memory and he had to search for a moment before the face, the look of the young girl registered with him. She bore a striking resemblance to Xena's slave girl. He furrowed his brow trying to remember the details… she'd been a stowaway, Xena had spared her because of her uncanny skills and they had spent a lot of time together while he was held hostage… when Xena was not with him in her cabin that was.

The girl's lips parted and she began to speak. "Hail Caesar." She rose and gave a shallow bow.

"Who are you?" Caesar asked, not lowering his sword.

"I am Queen of the Sandmirks" she said with a sly smile. "The ancients sent for me to do their bidding with my many children."

Caesar looked at her doubtfully. "You are but a child."

The girl smiled. "The ancients cloaked me in a disguise that would make the warrior let down her guard. I listened and waited until victory made the army drunk on power and wine… easy prey, then I called my children to me and we laid waste to the lives of these mortals."

Caesar raised an eyebrow, his heart jumping in alarm. "But you did not harm her, your masters told you not to kill her!"

She cast an unnerving eye over him, the lazy expression upon her face making him shiver; it was as if she were wondering what his flesh tasted like.

"She still lives, we did not disobey." She slipped back towards the bed. "I tire of this world and my work is done" she declared to the thin air, no longer troubling herself with the man before her. "This mortal skin suffocates me."

Before Caesar's eyes the skin and flesh about her began to rip and fall in large chunks to the floor until a large, pot-bellied, rat like creature emerged with a low, nauseating chattering sound. He only saw the disgusting sight for a moment before the rat creature turned and slipped under the hem of the tent. He sighed inwardly, glad that he did not have to hold a conversation with such a monster.

He left the tent and ordered his guards to search the encampment for a woman. The soldiers quickly obeyed as Caesar had a chair brought for him from within the tent and he sat down in silent wait.

It was not long before the cry was sent up that the woman had been found. Caesar rose out of his chair, his blood pumping hard within his veins, and followed one of his guards through the dismembered corpses.

There among the ruination was Xena. The path she had tried to take could clearly be seen, she had been trying to reach the horses, escape. Her determination made him feel strangely proud, a warm glow emanated from somewhere inside, he gave a small smile knowing greater men would have fallen easily against such odds, not Xena, never Xena.

He let his gaze be drawn back to her form, she lay deathly still, her skin was waxen against her raven hair that fell in silken strands across her face. Her clothing was no more than a light cotton undergarment, a slip of a dress used for sleeping in. He bent, reaching out a tremoring hand to touch her cheek; he brushed the hair from her and looked fully upon her face. She was more beautiful than he remembered within his memories, time seemed to have honed her features, bringing to full force her high cheekbones, the roundness of naïve youth was gone, replaced by a womanly curvature that suited her perfectly. He wished for a moment that she would open her eyes, letting their full force dazzle him; he let his finger slide across the smooth skin becoming acutely aware that she was icy cold. He furrowed his brow in anger.

"Bring me something warm to wrap her in!" he roared, and within moments a large fur trimmed cloak that belonged to him had been brought forth. Carefully Caesar wrapped her limp body in the warming garment and lifted her clumsily into his arms.

"Fetch my horse, we head back to Rome."

The soldiers mumbled but his orders were quickly obeyed and all his entourage, save the few that would stay to gather the riches, were mounted and ready to ride. Caesar had Xena placed in front of him in the saddle, his arms locking around her waist and holding her securely to him. Caesar knew that none of his personal soldiers would utter a word of what had happened upon this day and with a sly smirk he eased his mind with the thought, all was going just as he had planned, the rest of Xena's army would flee once word reached of the massacre, and he would make sure it got to them.

"Hail Caesar!" The men let up the salute as Caesar kicked into his horse's side and began the long journey back to his city.

---

Gabrielle did not understand why the palace was in such chaos, senators had been ordered away for the day, Caesar had claimed a public holiday should take place in celebration of his defeat of Xena. How anyone could be so certain of victory before the battle had even begun was beyond Gabrielle's understanding. She sighed as she finished laying out golden silk sheets upon the bed in the small, unused room that was connected to Caesar's own private chambers.

It had taken her most of the day to clean it, the dust and cobwebs had been thick. The other servants whispered that Caesar had once used this room for his mistress Cleopatra, before he had tired of her and had her sent back to Egypt, banished… Rumors were abound over that matter, she had heard the servant girls gossiping endlessly over it. Cleopatra was said to be a great beauty, intelligent and cunning, all the things that a man like Caesar should admire but it was said he treated her no better than his serving maids, taking what he wanted, uncaring, unloving… it was spoken in hushed voices that Caesar's heart belonged to another or that he had no heart to give because he had offered it up to the Fates as a gift so that they would fulfill his greatest destiny.

Gabrielle did not believe either story. She doubted a selfish man like Caesar could love anyone but himself, his goals in life were for his own gain, she could not imagine any woman fitting into his plans… and the Fates, she did not hold much faith in Gods and Fates and other such nonsense, she had never seen one and all her pleas and offerings went unanswered. She remembered fondly, bitterly, the memory of when she had been a little girl, she had laid offerings and prayers in Aphrodite's temple, asking that she be granted love and warmth when she grew up… the reality of where she now found herself was enough to dispel such silly notions of Gods, it was but man's fantasy to explain what he could not understand.

She returned back to the main bedroom dragging the gold chain behind her and then sat down upon Caesar's enormous, gaudy bed. She rubbed distractedly at her sore ankle, the endless hours of wearing it were taking their toll upon her tender skin. A ring of red glowered at her, swollen and painful. She gently eased the chain up, giving some brief relief of pressure. Finally she lay down; knowing that she would need all her strength for the day ahead, something told her it would not be easy.

As sleep began to descend over her, she let her mind wander and the question reared… what if Caesar were defeated and Rome taken… she supposed Xena may kill her, or would The Destroyer of Nations take pity on her and release her back into the world. The thought disturbed Gabrielle more than that of being killed, how could she live any kind of life knowing that she had been the Emperor of Rome's whore… how would she learn to be normal again. She curled her legs up to her chest and gladly let sleep take her.

---

Gabrielle had been awake for a few hours when the trumpets began to sound, alerting all the citizens that the Emperor of Rome had returned victorious. Gabrielle hurried out onto the balcony to watch the parade that would be taking place. The streets were crowded with many people, women were throwing flowers onto the path in front of the army that marched proudly past. She couldn't help her eyes searching for Caesar in the controlled chaos and then she saw him, he was mounted upon his favorite horse, his face stoic as he raised one hand to his people in acknowledgment. Her gaze fell upon the strange bundle that sat before him in the saddle. It seemed as if it were a large bag covered with a velvet cloth, spoils of the war no doubt.

Gabrielle's mind reeled at just how he had accomplished such a victory, she had heard that Xena's army far outnumbered Rome's and Caesar had not even taken all of his men with him, he had split the army into two to battle both of Xena's armies, she furrowed her brow in thought, her gut plainly telling her that all was not right. Still she knew he would be in a good mood and perhaps the cleaning of the small bedroom beside his meant that he would be taking a new mistress, he would no longer have need for Gabrielle, she would be assigned to the kitchens, or cleaning duties… she felt her heart soar at the prospect, perhaps she could gain some kind of life if she were away from him, with many people who were in the same mess as she was.

She rushed to the mirror and tidied her appearance, wanting to do nothing that would annoy him, to give him no cause to focus his attention upon her.

Within a short time, she heard the normal flurry that accompanied Caesar entering the palace and she stood patiently to one side of the room as Caesar pushed open the heavy doors. Within his arms was the same covered bundle, Gabrielle's brow creased in suspicion at it.

"Gabrielle!" Caesar said sharply, bringing her back to herself. "Close the doors - lock them" he commanded tersely.

She rushed forward and quickly obeyed, sliding the bolt into place as Caesar carried the bundle into the room and through into the smaller bedroom. Gabrielle watched him cautiously and then followed; her curiosity piqued by whatever he wished to keep secret. She stood in the doorway, standing upon her tiptoes, trying to gain a better look as Caesar carefully, tenderly laid the bundle upon the bed.

"Get a bowl of warm water and a cloth!" he snapped, not turning to look at her.

Gabrielle once again obeyed, opening the adjoining doors that led to his own personal hot springs. She drew a bucket into the steaming water and grabbed a soft cloth before hurrying back. She rounded the doorway and froze… he was lifting the velvet covering away from the bundle revealing a strikingly beautiful woman beneath. Her fingers slipped upon the handle of the bucket but she reacted fast enough to only spill a small amount. The woman was deathly still and for a moment Gabrielle wondered if she was indeed dead, her heart ached with sorrow if this were to be the truth. She edged forward and Caesar turned as she reached the foot of the bed.

"Is she…"

"No, but she is unwell, bring the water here" Caesar said, his voice surprisingly soft.

Gabrielle did as she was bid and Caesar moved a little to allow her access. She dipped the cotton cloth into the water and wrung it out, then gently wiped it over the woman's face removing the grime and smearings of blood.

"Shall I bathe her?" she asked in a whisper, not quite sure what was happening, who this woman was or why Caesar, arrogant, selfish Caesar cared.

Caesar nodded and rose to his feet. "Yes, be careful with her… let no one know she is here Gabrielle."

Gabrielle nodded and went to dip the cloth once more into the water but Caesar caught her arm.

"I am earnest; your life depends upon it!" he hissed, before turning in a swirl of robes and leaving her alone with the unconscious woman.