MARKED IN BLOOD AND FOREVER CHANGED

Another day another talk it seems that the only time I see Gabrielle is in our talks which we both have. I've taken a few short walks during the day just to stretch my legs these past few days and I've been told that she doesn't show herself at all during the day instead she stays in her room away from everyone. I wouldn't have called her today but I want her to finish the first part of the story that she started. I look at the little wooden Goldfinch its now clear to me that one question has been answered she may very well be the maker of it. She said she was the daughter of a carpenter so she obviously has skill in carving wood.

Surprising that a werewolf would have so much skill it's not something I'd expect. I confess I was slightly drunk last night and I know that I came off as very smug which wasn't something I really wanted. We've had very few conversations together but so far I've found them very testing, as Gabrielle isn't in the least bit polite. My gaze shifts as the door opens and Gabrielle comes in closely followed by Iona who takes up her usual position.

Xena looked up at the clear blue morning sky for a moment before turn to meet Gabrielle's gaze unreadable gaze. "I'd like you to finish the story you started a day ago." Gabrielle lowered her gaze eyeing Iona who smirked in her direction she hated having her listening to something which was personal to her, not that she could change her being her here even if she wanted to. She turned to the Empress she was in no mood to fight to day she just wanted to get this over and done with so she could back to her room and try to sleep. She wanted to get this next part over with quickly as she loathed it so much. "Where would you like me start?"

Xena looked at younger woman clearly there was no fight to day which was odd Gabrielle normally always had something to say which was laced with ether sarcasm or anger. She put her hands together. "Why don't you tell me what happened after the slavers took you." Gabrielle put her hands behind her back. "I don't remember much I was unconscious for a long time before I woke up and when I did I was chained up in a wagon and it was night, I can only assume that we'd been travelling for a day maybe more."

8

Gabrielle groaned as she opened her eyes watching as everything went in and out of focus for a moment. A deep rumbling hit her ears as the sound came back in to them causing her to wince painfully. She realized that she was face down lying on the wood of what was clearly a wagon because she could hear the slow grinding sound of the heavy wheels. Everything seemed out of place the smells the sounds she pulled her head up off the wood groaning painfully feeling her long hair fall in front of her face gods she felt awful. She'd never had anyone hit her like that before she could feel the dried blood on her chin and her stomach, she groaned sitting up fully in the wagon.

Her gaze shifted down to the long heavy chain which was now on her foot and was attached to an even thicker chain. She could see the same lesser chain was on all the other woman's feet as well, she turned catching sight of the leader who was riding a horse next to the wagon which they were all seated in. The sky above was dark and filled with many stars she could hear the crying from two of the other women behind her, there was the general feeling of fear and sadness. She lay back trying to keep her mind together as the fear instantly over came her, she had no idea where she was or even where she being taken.

"Thank the gods you're awake."

Gabrielle turned sharply meeting Seraphin's concerned gaze she spoke trying to ignore how dry her throat felt. "How long have I been out?" Seraphin looked up slightly. "You've been out all day Gabrielle I thought you weren't going to wake up, how are you feeling now?" Gabrielle looked at her hands. "I feel awful." Seraphin eyed her friend even the darkness she could see the deep bruise on her chin. "You look like you've had better days." Gabrielle groaned again. "Thanks, that just makes me feel so much better." Seraphin eyed her best friend. "I can't believe you did that Gabrielle, asking if they could take you instead of us."

Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "I just thought it was the right thing to do." Seraphin shook her head they'd been best friends since childhood and there were still moments when she couldn't fathom Gabrielle's actions. "You shouldn't try playing hero you're going to get yourself killed!" Gabrielle winced feeling her harsh tone pulsate against her ear drum. "Please just shout at me later my head hurts." Seraphin breathed in deeply touching her friends face. "You're lucky that's all that hurts than man could've killed you like..." She paused looking down sadly. "Like he killed Perdicus…" Gabrielle looked down sadly although Perdicus was not her best friend he had still been a friend and someone she had known and been intimate with. She breathed in feeling the tears as they started to run down her face. "I can't believe he's gone."

"Be quite all off you!"

Gabrielle breathed hearing the grinding sound as the wagon came to a stop she wiped away her tears realizing that they were surrounded by forest and the wagon was now in a clearing in the middle of a forest she didn't recognise. The leader pulled him self off his horse eyeing the other men who had been walking along side it. "Get these bitches out the wagon I want to look over the goods." Galinthias adjusted his shirt watching as his second in command Biton came up to him. "We should make the Roman border in three days so long as the Empress's little killing mobs don't find us." Biton looked up slightly as he spoke the uncertainty in his voice. "What if they do find us? I mean I've heard that they are killed with out mercy."

Galinthias sneered. "Those bastards won't find anything not with the road we are taking." Biton breathed in deeply. "Not to concern you but they say these woods are dangerous there are meant to be Amazons and monsters in here." Galinthias didn't think as he smashed his fist in the other man's face watching as he hit the ground hard on his knees. "I'm not afraid of the Amazons or any so called monsters!" Gabrielle felt the pain as her chain was pulled as another man dragged her and the other women out of the wagon. Galinthias watched as one of his men pulled out a hammer then forced a round metal ring in to the ground. He pulled their lesser chains free from the main chain then looped them around the thick ring one by one, then hammered the ring deeper in to the ground.

The only way the women could escape was if they forced the ring out of the ground which would free all the lesser leg chains and that could only be done with the hammer which one of his men was holding. He also doubted that any of them had the strength to do so, they were all weak little women and they were all terrified. Gabrielle felt the floor as she was forced to sit on it as the leader who had hit her walked towards her and the other women looking them over as his voice hit the air. "I assume your all virgins?" Galinthias watched as they all nodded with the exception of one, the annoying smart mouthed blonde woman at the far end who'd tried to be clever this morning.

He walked up to her. "You haven't answered my question!" Gabrielle looked up slightly trying to ignore the pain she felt as well as the image in her mind of Perdicus's death which kept repeating itself. "Yes I am a virgin." Galinthias didn't think as he grabbed her arm yanking her violently to her feet. "Are you sure, you wouldn't want me to stick my dick in side you and find out for sure?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply she could tell that he meant it and it scared her more than anything. "No." Galinthias felt a smile form. "Not that I'd want to screw you anyway, you're an ugly little whore, I'd rather your roman master or mistress get that pleasure." He felt his smile widen. "But I am going to teach you manners and you can start with your first lesson, which is to call me master."

He yanked on her arm. "So let's start right now! I want to hear you call me master!" Gabrielle eyed him for a long moment. "No!" Galinthias breathed in deeply as he pulled his dagger free easing it up to her face watching as her eyes darted the real fear showing in them. "You know what I enjoy most about taking young women? It's not the capture or even the torture it's breaking the spirit of the really fire some ones, like you." He flicked the dagger. "Believe me when I say I'm going to enjoy breaking you in so let's start by teaching you why you should never say no to me." He flicked his dagger. "You have such a pretty face, shame." He didn't think as let go of her arm grabbing her by her throat ignoring her cry of pain, if she was in pain now she had no idea what the next few moments were going to be like.

He didn't think as brought down the dagger piecing it in to her flesh, he grinned hearing her cry out in agony as blood ran down her face as he pushed the dagger in deeply bringing it down slowly across her eye brow. Gabrielle couldn't stop screaming as the blade carried on moving slowly down her face cutting in to her eyebrow then downwards towards her eye. Galinthias could see the blood flowing down from his blade as he pulled it away in a violent motion causing her to scream even more. There was now a deep diagonal wound which was spilling blood down her face. He didn't think as twisted the blade around smashing the hilt in to her face causing her to hit the floor on her side her scream of pain ending. "Ugly little whore you'll have to live with this for the rest of your miserable life!"

Gabrielle breathed in finally loosing the strength to scream, she could feel cold blood running down her face. All she could do was clutch her face and try to take the pain which was unbearable. Galinthias eyed his now bloody dagger looking down at her. "What's wrong filthy peasant you don't like your new scar? Did I cut the wrong way maybe I should cut the other side of your face as well then it'll look more creative, wouldn't you agree?" He laughed only to stop as he heard something crack behind him in the forest. He looked up sharply. "What was that!?" Biton raised his sword. "I have no idea." Galinthias sneered eyeing him. "Well don't just stand there fan out!" He watched as his men did as they were told, he smirked pulling out his sword as he put the bloody dagger away. "Come out, come out where ever you are, you bastards!"

He watched as a huge bush close by rustled he smiled stepping closer. "Not very clever hiding in plan sight like that is it?" He stopped as low animal like growl echoed through the air. He looked up catching sight of what looked like two eyes human eyes which were piecing light blue in colour looking back at him, they looked like they were framed with black fur. "What in Tartarus?" Gabrielle turned only to watch in horror with her good eye as a huge black eight foot tall monster which looked like a wolf but stood on its hind legs burst through the bushes. Its jaws instantly found the leaders head as it smashed him in to the ground, his screams hit the air as it begin to tear his head apart causing blood to fly everywhere.

Everything around suddenly turned to chaos as five more creatures that looked just the same apart from there fur colours burst though the trees on all four sides. They roared showing off their mouths full of teeth before going down on all fours as they attacked the slave traders. All she could do was scream in panic and fear as one of the huge monsters clawed hands slammed in to one of the slavers sending blood all over the place as his insides were ripped from his body and his dead body was tossed aside. The man closest to her was suddenly grabbed by a clawed hand causing him to scream in agony as he dropped the hammer which landed close to her. She didn't think as pulled on her leg chain trying to ignore the pain as she tried to grab the hammer only for it to slip from her grasp. She pulled harder ignoring her intense fear as she grabbed it.

All could she could hear was screaming and crying from the other women she turned slamming the hammer in to the round ring trying to force it free from the ground. Seraphin turned watching her best friend's efforts only to feel blood as it spattered against her arm as a mans was torn apart next to her. "What are you doing?" Gabrielle hit the ring harder. "Help me!" She watched as the heavy ring moved only to see that her friend was freeze in fear. "Help me now!" She felt the ring move becoming looser she grabbed it pulling on it causing one of the woman's leg chains to come free. The woman looked at her in surprise realizing that she was free. "Run!"

She grabbed the woman's arm. "Run now!" She watched as the woman got up running for all she was worst despite the chain on her feet. She pulled harder feeling two more of the chains come loose, the two women didn't wait instead they ran following the direction of the other. Gabrielle pulled on the ring again watching as two more chains came loose. The women looked at her then ran out of the clearing as the two remaining men were torn to pieces by the huge monsters. Only her chain and Seraphin's were left. Her chain had been the last to be hooked in she pulled harder seeing Seraphin's come loose, she grabbed her friends arm as she yanked her chain free with her hand. "I said run!"

Seraphin seemed to snap out of her haze, Gabrielle watched in horror as one of the monsters who had brown fur turned sharply as her best friend got to her feet. His huge clawed hand swung around finding its target, which was her best friend's stomach, blood spattered back hitting her dress as Seraphin screamed before hitting the floor close to her. Three huge claw marks had left deep horrific wounds which stained her friends dress red as blood leaked out. The black monster that had killed the leader turned slowly in her direction. It watched as the last man fell to the ground to join the other dead men who had been torn apart by the other monsters.

It made a signal with it's clawed hand causing all the others to stop, she watched as it went down on all fours it's blue eyes meetings hers as it came closer. She didn't think as she grabbed her chain pulling on it for all she was worth trying to free herself fully from the ring. Fear and terror were taking over her senses she felt truly afraid more afraid than she'd ever felt in her entire life. She was going to die! She felt her body freeze as the huge black snout came close to her face she could see the blood stained teeth. She felt the hammer drop from her fingers as the paralyzing fear took over. There was no sound anymore only her breathing and the huge huffing sounds as the black monster looked her over its piecing blue eyes studying her deeply.

The jaws suddenly came down slamming in to her shoulder their razor sharp points forcing there way in to her skin and all she could do was scream as they forced there way in deeper. The jaws suddenly let go of her as the agonizing pain took over there was so much pain pulsating through everything, it was unlike anything she'd ever felt before and she couldn't stop herself crying out. She watched in her pain filled haze as the huge monster slowly walked away, the others following it in to the trees disappearing leaving bloody bodies all around her. Her shoulder was on fire as was her face where the dagger had wounded her she moved her other hand feeling the ring come free fully and her chain in the process.

She looked down trying to ignore the stinging sensation as she moved towards Seraphin trying to stay awake despite the pain. She carefully pulled her best friend in to her lap as best she could. She watched as her pale face met her own. "Seraphin?" She watched as her best friends eyes opened looking at her. "I'm going to get you out of here, just hold on." Seraphin looked down at her bleeding stomach she coughed painfully trying to ignore the cold feeling as it swept through her body. "I…think it's to late…for that…Gabrielle." Gabrielle ignored her bleeding shoulder as she grabbed her friend's hands. "No it's not too late, I can save you!" Seraphin smiled painfully. "My best friend Gabrielle, ever the optimist."

She coughed tasting blood in her mouth. "You look almost as bad as I do." She felt the cold blood as it trickle down her chin. "With your shoulder and your eye..." Gabrielle ignored the blood as it trickled down her face and arm. "They'll heal." Seraphin breathed in deeply. "You know there's still one I want to know, what was it like to kiss Perdicus?" Gabrielle laughed despite her pain. "You're thinking about this now?" Seraphin smiled sadly. "Yeah but I really want to know, would you tell me?" Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "It was soft and sweet I felt like I was floating on the stars." Seraphin coughed feeling the agonizing pain which caused her to shiver. "That's what I heard it was like."

Gabrielle looked at her. "I've got to move you, can you stand?" Seraphin smiled sadly as she looked at her friend feeling the pain worsen. "Stop trying to be the hero Gabrielle, you're already the hero." Gabrielle watched in horror as her friends eyes closed and her hand slid out of hers. She found her scream of heart wrenching pain hitting the air as she started to shake her friend feeling the tears as they ran down her face mixing with the blood. "Seraphin! Seraphin please no you can't leave me!"

8

Gabrielle lowered her gaze feeling the pain wretch at her heart. "She was my best friend and she died in my arms that night. There was nothing I could do to save her and I know now that I wouldn't have been able to her insides were showing." Xena breathed in deeply putting her hands together. "So it was a group of werewolves that attacked you that night?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "Yes but I didn't know it at the time, I wouldn't realize that until a lot later, I also wouldn't realize how cursed I was ether." Xena looked up slightly. "Do you know why they attacked those men?" Gabrielle eased up her hand running it down her scar. "I know why and that's for another time in my opinion, all that matters to me is that they killed the bastard who gave me this scar."

Iona laughed slightly. "You spin a great yarn werewolf." Gabrielle turned sharply eyeing her in disgust. "I have no reason to lie to any one about what happened! My best friend died that night because I wasn't fast enough to pull out the ring which all the chains were attached to. I've had to live with that all my life!" She sneered slightly. "I always asked myself what if I'd been faster what if I'd been stronger why couldn't we have changed places? So that bastard brown werewolf would have killed me and not her!" She felt her hand form a fist. "I wouldn't lie about her death she's one of the few people I met during my life who was a true friend to me!"

Xena stood up slowly. "Silence both of you!" Gabrielle turned back eyeing the Empress she looked at her feet not feeling in the mood to say anything more. Xena eyed Gabrielle for a long moment. "You can go Iona will escort you back to your room." Gabrielle sneered slightly sensing no compassion from the older woman over the loss of her friend. "As you wish…Empress." Xena watched as she left the room this explained everything in the records and now it all made sense. She wanted to feel something for Gabrielle over this but she knew better than to give in to that emotion. It was a sad story but she couldn't afford for any one to see her weakness least of all Gabrielle, she would probably do what every one did when they saw it, which was try to kill her.

Gabrielle in human form was still a wolf in sheep's clothing and an incredible dangerous one at that. She couldn't trust her, all it would take was for her to open one emotional door and Gabrielle would take use that moment to kill her. Just because she hadn't killed her in the throne room that day did not mean that he wouldn't try given the change. Her life story did make one thing was clear though a werewolf was a werewolf and they had no mercy, they tour people limb from limb just as she'd seen it in Rome.

End of part 16

Silvermoonlight

It didn't feel right in my gut to only put up half the flash back so here's the rest :)