DESTROYING A BEAUTIFUL INNOCENCE
Xena looked at her desk it had been a quite week and in all that time she hadn't spoken again to Gabrielle. Though the complaints were endless but they were just the same things as before like her muddy paw prints and her being an animal. Despite these complaints she'd been a well behaved animal she hadn't touched the staff and she kept out of sight during the day. She'd had a lot of meetings this week and all had been boring un-enjoyable meetings all about trade routes. The huge royal banquet was on the horizon, it was a party she did every year and frankly she loathed it. All of the royal kings, queens, were invited to indulge in her hospitality for one night only.
There was food drink and vast entertainment and the servants were all invited to join in as well as be good hosts to these guests. Frankly she loathed the royals at times but she knew that she needed there loyalty, because if she was ever in trouble she needed them to help her out, so during this party she played up to their whims. She had a few rules though, no orgies or sexual activities and no naked dancers, touching the servants was forbidden and violence would mean punishment, all issues had to be solved with talk and diplomacy. The royals had stuck to these rules to the letter and the only blood that had ever been spilt had been in fighting demonstrations.
The royals for some reason loved to watch gladiatorial fights, so she normally brought in gladiator champions to do these displays. No one was killed it was a pure demonstration of power and ability purely to please the guests. In Greece unlike Rome gladiatorial sport was undertaken by free men and women, it was no different from being an athlete in the Olympics games. Any one could become a gladiator from the working class to the noble class so long as they were fit enough and strong enough to compete. These men and women were trained in the Greek special villas and could go home at night to their families, and were given a basic salary. The big money though was made when they won in the arena.
It was true that they could die in these games but then there were men and women out there willing to do it for the money that could be gained which could make them very rich if the survived and worked their way up the ladder. She'd wanted to ban the gladiatorial games in Greece after leaving Rome but they were incredibly popular so she'd changed their rules instead. Greek games were not political like in Rome, it was all for entertainment so killing in some fights wasn't always necessary. If a defeated gladiator was under his opponent's sword ready for the death strike, the opponent had to pull his sword away and give him life, so he could fight another day. Unlike Rome there was no shame in showing the hand signal for mercy, because it was considered brave to still be breathing at the end of these fights.
She poured some more wine in to her tankard ignoring the feeling of light drunkenness which was filling her senses. She ignored it she was having another one of her slightly depressing nights once again. She couldn't help it she just wanted to drink herself to sleep again like she had done most of this week. Maybe she felt this way because a part of her had liked that she'd Gabrielle around to distract her attention. The illusion was now broken though and she'd come to realize that Gabrielle wasn't even human anyway. She wouldn't lie to herself she'd had the idea in her mind that she might be able to make a friends since Gabrielle had no attachment to the palace, but that was not going to happen now.
Her thoughts were cut off as the door opened and Gabrielle was brought in closely followed by Iona who stepped back taking up her guarding position behind her. She looked behind her at the window where the sun was settings she turned to Gabrielle who looked tired. "You look tired maybe you should get some fresh air." Gabrielle pulled on the collar of her shirt, eyeing Iona she was already starting to hate this, it didn't matter what she was doing at the time. Iona would just pull her out of the room regardless. She breathed in deeply meeting the taller woman's light blue gaze. "I'll keep that in mind." She sniffed the air picking up the smell of alcohol hanging in the air clearly the Empress had been drinking heavily.
Xena stood up slightly. "I feel that we got off to a bad start so let's try again." She paused meeting her forest green eyes. "So how's about we start from the very beginning I saw in your record that you disappeared from Potidaea when you were sixteen years old. Slavers captured you and a number of other women that's what the records show, so why don't you tell me what happened that day?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply she should have seen this coming, she folded her arms she hated people asking about her past it was both shameful and heart breaking, she had never enjoyed reliving her memories even in her own mind. She looked down feeling her eyes dart before she looked up there was no point in fighting this. She was better off just giving the Empress what she wanted, she closed her eyes for a moment allowing the almost forgotten memory to fill her mind.
On the outskirts of Potidaea eleven years ago.
Gabrielle turned pushing her best friend playfully. "Oh please you haven't kissed Perdicus." Seraphin laughed throwing her shoulder length curly blonde hair back as her brown eyes darting. "Oh but you have? Last I looked your lips were firmly on Helena's." Gabrielle laughed leaning against the tree opposite. "Oh please I was just having fun." Seraphin looked at her friend who had very long blonde hair which was almost down to her waist. "That's not what your sister said." Gabrielle adjusted her long light blue and white dress. "You know my little sister Lila loves to gossip." Seraphin sat down on the fallen free in the meadow watching as the other younger women played there game opposite. She could see Perdicus in among them with his Seraphin friend laughing and joking. "Yeah but your always the point of her gossip, since your always running after men and women."
Gabrielle adjusted her dark blue and purple over jacket as she sat on the fallen tree opposite her friend. "Is this all we are going to talk about today, my sister and her gossip?" Seraphin adjusted her green dress as she turned sharply. "Well no I mean you could tell me what Perdicus was like to kiss? I mean was it as good as they say in scrolls?" Gabrielle eyed Perdicus who was talking to a young woman opposite. "Well it was interesting." Seraphin moved closer. "Tell me more." Gabrielle raised both eyebrows. "But that would spoil it for you, when it's your turn." Seraphin pushed her shoulder playfully. "That's not fair you know for a carpenter's daughter you're not very expressive."
Gabrielle put a hand on her chest. "That's because all my expression goes in to building furniture just like my sister." Seraphin put her hands together. "And your mothers pregnant again and soon you'll have a new brother or sister to bother you while you work." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "Don't remind me, my fathers already roped me in to making the cot with him and I still haven't finished the two chairs I'm making." Seraphin smirked. "That's because your daddies little girl and you're a much better carpenter than Lila, her work isn't nearly as beautiful as yours. I mean your work is so much more detailed. I loved those griffin head walking sticks you made and I heard that they were very popular at the market your farther sold all seven of them on the same day."
She felt a wide smile form. "I mean it's in your blood." Gabrielle smiled looking at her best friend. "Well my grand farther Typhoeus was a carpenter to and he and my farther were very close, they spent a lot of time together after my grandmother died. When he died he left my farther his whole inheritance and he used it to turn our house in to a villa and create a separate workshop." Seraphin laughed as she looked up. "See what I mean you were born to be a carpenter." Gabrielle lowered her gaze as a thought crossed her mind. "Don't you ever dream of being more than what you are Seraphin?" Seraphin sat up slightly. "What you mean like a warrior or something?" Gabrielle shook her head. "No not like that, I mean don't you ever want to travel?"
Seraphin shook her head. "No not really I like it here in Potidaea, what about you?" Gabrielle tapped her boots on the grass. "I'd like to travel the world and see the great wonders. I'm wouldn't want to be a warrior or anything like that though." Seraphin shrugged slightly. "You're to much of a dreamer Gabrielle, I mean I've heard there are dangerous people out there and that it can be a very unhappy place." Gabrielle looked at her hand. "Oh please that's probably just an exaggeration I mean…?" Her words were suddenly cut off as screaming filled the air she stood up watching as Seraphin did the same only to freeze in horror as fifteen men appeared all holding heavy swords. They surrounded them and the group behind them.
The leader was a big middle aged man with a thick heavy set beard and brown eyes he smiled eyeing them and then the other women. "Now look what we have here, aren't you all so cute?" She watched as the men moved inwards slowly bringing the other women together forcefully along with Perdicus who began to look angry. The leader eyed everyone. "You know it's not smart for you young girls to play so far away from home, something bad might happen to you." Gabrielle forced a smile despite the terror she felt as she looked at the leader. "Oh well we were all just about to leave." The leader eyed her pulling up his sword so it was with in inches of her throat. "Don't get smart with me little girl you aren't going anywhere!"
Perdicus snarled as he stepped forward in front of Gabrielle shoving his sword harshly away from her throat ignoring his look of utter disgust. "Look we don't want any trouble!" The older mans eyes narrowed as he pulled his sword back. "Oh I'm not here to give you trouble village boy, so long as you cooperate with me and my men." Perdicus folded his arms. "What is it that you want?" The man smiled. "Why I want to take all these young women away and turn them in to slaves! So if I were you village boy I'd leave and take your friend with you or we will kill you both." Gabrielle looked around her she could see the fear in everyone's faces she swallowed before speaking. "Take me and let the others go!"
The leader laughed as he pushed his dark brown hair back. "Oh please, as if I'm going to take you little girl when each of you'll will fetch a fine price on the Roman border!" He sneered slightly. "No I think I'll take you all regardless." Perdicus moved forward not thinking as he grabbed the man's sword hand. "Over my dead body!" Gabrielle moved back as the leader swung his sword it in what felt like slow motion. The blade swept around with lightning fast speed slicing across Perdicus's throat. His eyes widened in shock as blood ran free from the horrific wound he stumbled back gagging as he grabbed his throat unable to stop the steam of blood.
She came forward trying to contain her shock and horror only to watch as his other hand grabbed her arm as his eyes met her own. She watched feeling powerless and horrified as a friend she'd known since child hood fell to his knees in front her. The clear memory of sharing a kiss with him came back as the light died in his eyes and he fell to the ground as his last breath left him causing his hand to let go off her arm leaving blood stains on her sleeve, she turned watching as two of the men grabbed his friend. The leader eyed the dead boy at his feet before looking up at the other young boy who was struggling to get free. "Rip that little bastard's heart out." The cries of the women hit the air behind her as the young man was stabbed through the chest the sword was twisted with violent force. Blood spilled all over the grass as the weapon was pulled free, his body hit the floor hard it twitched before going still as death took over.
Gabrielle felt the pain as the leader turned grabbing her arm pulling her towards him violently. "Just so you know I hate smart mouthed women, so here's your first lesson in obeisance." She felt the pain as his sword hilt suddenly smashed across her face causing agonizing pain as her scream hit the air, the pain suddenly came again as the hilt was rammed in to her stomach. She hit the floor hard on her knees only for the sword hilt to find her face once more this time causing cold blood to fly through her teeth. She hit the floor hard on her side seeing Perdicus's dead eyes stare back at her as the sound slowly faded all around her and everything turned to darkness as she lost consciousness.
8
Xena looked up at the younger woman who was now silent. "You tell your story with such emotion maybe you should have been a bard." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "Don't make me laugh." Xena raised an eyebrow. "Well your story is fascinating are you going to continue?" Gabrielle felt her hand form a fist clearly the Empress found this all very amusing. "No I wouldn't want to spoil the ending for you." Xena looked up slightly. "Well then we'll finish this conversation some other time." Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "I know my story amuses you but I grew up with those two young men all my life and they were killed just like that, I couldn't save them or help them I was powerless." Xena looked up sharply. "You misunderstand I'm not amused those slavers and their leader should have been killed long before they ever got to your village. I sent out an order when I was in Rome to have slavers killed on sight."
Gabrielle put her hands together. "I'm so flattered that you sent out an order clearly it didn't make it to my village in time." Xena breathed in sharply hearing the thick sarcasm in the other woman's voice. She turned to Iona. "Please escort our guest back to her room for the night." She ignored Gabrielle's cold look as she was led out of the room. She watched as the door was closed she eased up the water skin full of wine filling her tankard once more. Gabrielle was a sarcastic, irritating individual who really knew how to grate her nerves. She took a long drink enjoying the flavour of the red wine, she knew this wasn't going to get any easier and she was trying so hard not to get angry. A part of her wanted to be angry but she knew to do so was not just or fair, not if she truly wanted Gabrielle to tell her everything about her life.
8
Thaleia walked in to the kitchen trying to ignore the commotion she really hated moving through hot pans and plates, it always made her feel uncomfortable. Kalika was at the far side of the room helping two cooking assistants with a thick stew, she inched closer trying to avoid a big dead fish as it was brought in. Kalika eyed the two women who were working on a large potato stew. "Careful now don't burn it, I know the royal guards don't seem to care what they eat but burnt food won't make them happy." She turned watching as another servant came in she clapped her hand together eyeing the young woman. "Ah well there you are, isn't today your lucky day, you get to take the dog her dinner."
She picked up a plate which looked like any other handing it to her. "Do be sure to put it on the floor or outside her room." Thaleia looked up sharply watching as the servant girl left. "Were you joking, I mean you don't put Gabrielle's food on the floor do you?" Kalika turned catching sight of Thaleia who looked nervous. "Oh so we are naming her now." She wiped her hands on the cloth. "But to answer your question yes I have the servant put her food on the floor, since she walks around on all fours at night." Thaleia lowered her gaze. "Isn't that cruel?" Kalika grabbed a hot plate moving it off the fire. "Look she's an animal she doesn't have feelings, I doubt it matters to her where her food goes."
She looked up sharply as Iona stormed in to the kitchen holding a list the dark haired warrior sneered as she passed it to Kalika. "New list from the werewolf." Kalika took hold of the list eyeing it. "Oh look it's the same list again." Iona's brown eyes narrowed as she walked towards the door. "She says she's had nothing since she's been here I assume she's lying?" Kalika smirked. "Of course she's lying, she's just greedy and just wants more." Iona grabbed hold of a piece of cooked meat biting in to it. "That's what I thought, stupid dog." Thaleia watched as Iona left slamming the door behind her she turned to Kalika who lowly raised the list over the burner watching as it set it alight. "What are you doing? That's her list!"
Kalika let go of the list watching as it burned in the flames. "I don't do orders for animals." Thaleia moved forward. "But that's what she wants I mean everyone has a list, its palace policy." Kalika stood up eyeing the young woman. "Yes everyone has a list but she's a thing not a person, she has no right to even have a list." She folded her arms. "I mean lets face it, the Empress has no love for her so why should we show her any? She'll only be here until her usefulness runs out, then the Empress will do us all a favour and mount her so she can join her friend in the study." Thaleia looked down feeling her stomach knot as the disgust took over fully.
This was just awful people were treating Gabrielle like a thing, even a slave was given a name but she didn't even have the right to that. She was a thing a being to be treated how ever people liked. She narrowed her gaze her mother was right this was no way for some one to be treated and the fact that she had ever been a part of this disgusted her. Kalika looked at the young woman who was deep in thought. "Was there something you wanted to eat?" Thaleia looked up sharply eyeing the older women feeling the distain fill her senses. She didn't want to be in this room anymore with these people who were treating another person like they were worthless, she turned moving towards the door. "No thank you I think I've just lost my appetite."
End of part 15
Silvermoonlight
I feel that I should give credit were credit is due Ideasofmany has been a great help in inspiring me with this story. We both had many discussions about werewolf Gabrielle being with Xena and how different things would be for the both of them as characters. I'm really grateful as these talks really helped me mould this story idea and shape it.