LETTING YOUR HATED GUIDE YOU TO DESTRUCTIVE RUIN
Xena eyed the royals who were all seated on long chairs in front of her throne they were now eating the food as it was handed to them on silver trays by the her staff most of whom were present. They were allowed to take part in this party though they had to stand on the sides of the room and not cover the doors. They could watch the displays from the room's sides but they weren't allowed to come with in the royals space. The reason for this was for the royals own protection as anyone could be an assassin and during this banquet there were visitors from outside the palace. She sat back in her throne looking at all the silver and gold banners which hung from every wall in the throne room they looked beautiful. Her staff had done a wonderful job and she'd make sure to reward them for all their hard work once this banquet was over.
Demetrius and Iona had taken up their places on ether side of her throne and were watching every door very carefully. They also had men placed next to these two huge double doors to ensure extra protection. She took a long drink from her wine goblet it was night and all the royals had arrived during the day, she looked up at the stage in the room's centre where the two male gladiators were fighting. She could see now that banquet was now in full swing, she took another long drink watching as the royals clapped enjoying the show as Crete's Retiarius champion smashed his huge trident in to the heavy shield of his Athens Murmillo rival causing a deep echo to vibrate across the room as he pulled his heavy net back.
Both had chosen to add bindings on their legs and arms which were made of white material which gave more impact to their dark leathers and bronze armour. The huge Murmillo roared in anger as he smashed his shield in to his smaller opponent knocking him to the ground the hard, only to feel the force as the trident came up smashing in to his armoured helmet almost taking it off which caused the big man to stumble back as blood sprayed through his helmets wide holes. She could see the Apollonia gladiatrix Hoplomachus champion in the corner she was in her dark leathers but had chosen gold bindings unlike her male counterparts she was watching the fight with great interest. In Greece women could compete against men in certain championships her interest was no doubt so she could learn about these two male champions just in case she faced ether of them in the future.
She had been the first act of the night and had displayed her skills to the royals with the prowess expected of a champion of a city and they'd enjoyed the show. She turned back to the fight watching as the heavy man sliced his sword across the Retiarius's shoulder drawing the first real blood of the night. The Retiarius's trident came up once more smashing his opponent's helmet causing him to back down as he avoided the net as it was flung at him narrowly missing him. She had many other events planned tonight display animal's namely tame lions, as well as acrobats and bards, she'd brought in everything possible to keep the royals entertained.
She watched as the Queen Diana turned to her from her seat with her husband king Philemon who was seated opposite, the woman looked similar to her except for her hair colour which was light brown and her eyes which were green. She'd been told that in the wrong light Diana could pass for her as there height was about the same though there skin colour was very different her skin was bronzed while Diana's was much whiter. True she could pass for her if she dyed her hair in black henna, but she'd never ask anything from her. Diana was an arrogant snob as was her husband and they both sucked up to her which she loathed. Her husband Philemon had short curly blonde hair and blue eyes he was well built and had a short thick golden beard.
She'd preferred King Lias who was Diana's father but he had sadly passed away three years ago from an awful illness, the man had been much more down to earth than ether of them. Diana narrowed her green eyes as she spoke. "Most impressive display Empress, your displays get more and more impressive each year." Xena watched as the Murmillo's heavy shield knocked the Retiarius over sending him tumbling across the ground only for the trident to slice across the bigger mans leg drawing blood. She cared nothing for all this she was just going through the motions she turned eyeing the other woman. "Glad you're enjoying the show." She took another drink before refilling her goblet, she was getting drunk and she knew it but frankly she didn't care. King Gregor turned clapping he was a small slender man with short dark hair and a thick beard on his chin which was braided in two places. His blue eyes met hers as he spoke. "Oh yes most impressive."
Xena watched as his wife smiled she was a small woman with long blonde plaited hair who had sea blue eyes and fair skin. Unlike the other royals she wasn't from a royal blood line. She had in fact been a slave brought just before she'd banned slavery from Greece permanently quite a few years back. Gregor had no wife and had fallen in love with her and made her his queen she had at first been a servant in his palace. She was now heavily pregnant with their first child. What she wouldn't give to be with child right now and be that close to having it. She took another long drink emptying her goblet before refilling it. "Glad you're enjoying the show." She turned eyeing Queen Sophia who was a young woman with long wavy red hair and blue eyes her husband was King Heli who was a big burly man who was almost her age and had a thick heavy brown beard and hair as well as brown eyes. Sophia's father King Kleitos had died in an assassination attempt three years ago leaving Sophia to rule. She'd married Heli who was her most trusted friend on the royal council. Behind them was Thera who was her lady in waiting who helped them both out with any royal issues. She knew her younger sister Kolina she was one of the city guards in Corinth.
She liked Sophia in general as she was a thoughtful kind young woman who had been brought up well by her mother up until her death which had been quite a few years back. Her mother had really taught the real ins and outs of royal protocol and respect. Her husband Heli was the same, both of them were about doing things by the book and she generally liked their company. Last was Marmax the Mitoan general who had become a king of a whole region after defeating and destroying the Thessalians. He was a well muscled man with short dark hair and dark green eyes. He had a thin beard and a scar running through his left eye he was also very aggressively spoken. Frankly though she could put with his loud mouth, it was his wife who she loathed. She was a well dressed Roman woman called Eulalia who had long brown hair which was decorated with a silver roman headdress. She was wearing a red dress and lots of expensive jewellery. She was young as Pandora who was in her twenties, and unlike her she had no manners what so ever, she was a bitch on every level and she loved rubbing it in that she didn't have children or a husband or wife.
She took another drink watching as the Retiarius managed to fling the huge Murmillo over his shoulder throwing his heavy helmet off. His trident came down locking in to his neck for the killer blow as he put his foot on his chest keeping the bigger man down. She rose her hand watching as he pulled his weapon away allowing the big man to get up as everyone cheered and clapped at the display. Eulalia clapped eyeing the dark haired woman seated on her throne as she lowered her hand as the two gladiators champions bowed respectfully in her direction. "You do bring the most impressive champions Empress, it is a shame though that you don't choose to kill them like they do in Rome, it would be so much more entraining."
Xena watched as the gladiators stepped away joining the gladiatrix and started talking to her as everyone around the room started to chat as the fire jugglers came out on stage starting their display as the music started. "I prefer that the great champions of Greece get to live so others can admire their prowess." Eulalia smirked leaning fully on her side chair. "These shows are all very interesting but a little bird told me that you have a bigger prize, which you're keeping from all of us." Xena breathed in deeply downing her wine ignoring Demetrius concerned gaze. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Marmax swallowed the chunk of meat in his mouth before looking at her. "My dearest wife is talking about your pet dog Empress." Xena narrowed her gaze. "I don't have a pet dog so you're mistaken." King Gregor filled his goblet with mead as he spoke the concern in his voice. "I have not heard anything about this Empress." Philemon raised his goblet as he chewed on more meat. "We have heard the rumour Empress, about your werewolf the one you're keeping in side the palace. We would be most intrigued to see your monster we've never seen one alive before."
Diana grinned as she spoke. "Yes it would be most entertaining." Eulalia smirked seeing her moment to speak. "Yes we all want to see it." Heli finished off his ale from the tankard. "No you wish to see it I have no interest in such things." Sophia looked at her goblet. "I agree with my husband whether the Empress has a werewolf or not, it's not our concern it's her private business." Eulalia felt a cruel smile form. "The Empress is not permitted to keep secrets from us, we are the royals she can't run Greece with out our obedience." She eyed the empty throne next to the dark haired woman. "Plus since she has no wife or husband to contest the matter, we are with in our rights to make this request." Xena felt her fingers grip the goblet tighter as she took another long drink finally feeling the alcoholic haze start to sink in, maybe she should give them just what they wanted. May be it was the drink talking but Gabrielle was a pain in the ass and she wasn't human anyway it wasn't like she had real feelings like a normal human being did. Demetrius leaned over slowly he knew that look the Empress only ever had it when she was considering something. "Don't do this Empress we both know it wouldn't be right."
Eulalia watched as the Empress finished her goblet she was getting drunk, she'd never seen her do this before none of them had. "No Empress don't listen to your stupid head warrior give us what we want to see, let us see the beast! Your ruler here he isn't!" Demetrius felt his eyes dart as he turned to the Empress keeping his voice low. "I know we haven't spoken in these past few days because we've both been busy but I'm begging you not to do this." Iona sneered eyeing the Empress who was now leaning on her throne the drink clearly sinking in. "No Demetrius is wrong! Gabrielle is an animal, who insults you and lies to you. She should be shown of to these great kings and queens as your trophy of your power over the werewolf race!" Demetrius pulled up sharply eyeing her. "Have you lost your mind Iona? This is wrong and you know it!"
Diana looked up sharply. "The beast calls itself Gabrielle did you give it the name Gabrielle?" Xena leaned on her elbow, a part of her wanted to see Gabrielle suffer. The younger woman had caused her nothing but trouble and she hated people lying to her! She hated that Gabrielle had a smart mouth and that she knew just how to get under her skin. She raised her hand slowly ignoring Demetrius's look of utter shock she didn't care if this was wrong she wanted some satisfaction! She felt her teeth grind together as she spoke ignoring the feeling of the alcohol she wasn't fully drunk but she now felt very hazy. "Bring Gabrielle in here now and bring in some chains!"
Chara looked up sharply as she lowered her drink watching as four of Iona's men left the room, had she just heard the Empress's words right? She turned eyeing Phrixus whose face was filled with shock. "I did hear that right didn't I she just asked for Gabrielle and some chains?" Phrixus lowered his drink in disgust. "Oh yes you heard that right." Chara turned eyeing Evadine who was refilling one of the royals goblets, even from this distance she could see the uncertainly in her lovers eyes. Phantasos put a hand on his beard ignoring the uneasy murmurs around him he could see Chara talking with Phrixus at the other corner of the room and he could see the concern in their faces. This was not like the Empress he turned to Kalika who had a cruel smirk on her face. "Tell me you don't agree with this?" Tiara turned sharply ignoring Kalika's evil smile. "No I don't agree with this, I think it's wrong."
Fedora looked up from her place in the far corner of the room, what in Tartarus had compelled the Empress to do this it was so wrong? Thaleia shifted uneasily on her feet. "There not going to really bring her out, are they?" Her words were suddenly cut off as Gabrielle was brought in by two men the other two staying behind her. She was in human form and dressed in her favourite clothing. The guards suddenly shoved her so she was in the centre of the stage causing the flame dancers to put out there fire and move back as the music instantly died.
Xena took a drink from her goblet raising her hand. "I give you my werewolf." King Gregor turned sharply. "Empress I mean no disrespect but that's not werewolf, it's a young woman." Eulalia turned sharply. "Are you trying to be funny Empress, because if so I don't understand your Greek sense of humour?" Xena sneered slightly eyeing her. "Oh its no joke you'll see." Gabrielle felt her eyes dart what was going on? She'd been sleeping only for her door to be kicked open suddenly. Four men had grabbed her and brought her in to the huge throne room and now she was standing in the centre surrounded by people. She suddenly didn't feel very good something about this didn't feel right at all.
She looked up feeling the sudden uncertainty she could see the Empress on her throne surrounded by what looked like important people no doubt the royals. Why was she here? What did they want with her? She turned watching as the men behind her who were Iona's men pulled their swords free to stop her from stepping back. Xena narrowed her gaze eyeing Gabrielle she sat up in her throne not really caring that everything felt surreal in her mind. "Transform!" Gabrielle eyed the dark haired woman who looked slightly drunk. She breathed in deeply before speaking in a cold voice. "Why?" Iona nodded to one of her men watching as he slammed his sword hilt in to her back bringing her painfully to her knees. "The Empress does not need questions monster you do as she commands you!"
Demetrius narrowed his gaze as he eyed Iona he couldn't believe this was happening it was a nightmare and he couldn't do anything to stop it. The Empress was drunk and she wasn't thinking straight. "That wasn't necessary she didn't do anything to deserve being hit!" Gabrielle breathed in deeply by Ouroboros it was so painfully clear now what this was, she was going to be tonight's entertainment. She eased up her hand taking hold of her pendent closing her eyes for a moment she knew this would happen in the end. Humanity was never kind to werewolves her trainers words always seemed to ring true. She was going to be humiliated in front of all these people, she let go of her pendent feeling the sadness take over she would probably die tonight after the humiliation was over.
Not that, that was a bad thing she'd craved death for so long, the only bad side would be that it wouldn't be in battle. She opened her eyes breathing in deeply she would loose her only good clothes the clothes which she'd been given as a gift by the only person she'd ever cared about, before he had chosen to leave her for another. She took in a deep breath ignoring the silence in the room she only prayed that her death would be quick along with her humiliation. She winced as the pain hit her as her transformation started. Xena watched as the clothes tore away as Gabrielle's body changed just as it had the first time they'd met, it was incredibly fast so quick that you hardly got a chance to see the woman's naked figure. She took another long drink from her goblet watching as the huge jaws clamped shut as the transformation came to its end. She could see the shock in all the royals faces as it finished completely and where a young girl had been now stood a huge golden furred seven foot werewolf. She smiled watching as the long ears lowered and the green eyes reopened looking in her direction. "As you can see it's not a young woman."
She sat back enjoying her moment and the shock on the faces of all the royals, Gabrielle looked quite different now in this form there was no more mattered fur it had all grown out leaving a thick healthy golden fur coat. The mane was much thicker and longer as was the tail which had now re-grown a new layer of thick fur. She watched as the four men bolted the shackles on both her arms and her ankles and finally a thick metal collar was bolted tight around her neck. All four men slowly took up there positions pulling the chains tight forcing Gabrielle in to a standing position. Iona smirked walking down from behind throne so she was in front of Gabrielle whose forest green eyes burned in to her with open hated. She grabbed the chain attached to the collar. "I give you the Empress's trophy!" She eased her sword free using it to ease up one of the huge clawed hands very slowly. "A werewolf a living breathing one, as you can all see." Diana smiled putting her hands together. "How fascinating, I had no idea werewolves had a human form." Eulalia smiled evilly. "Can you make it do tricks Empress?"
Diana clapped in enjoyment. "Yes make it do something for us." She paused before looking up. "I know make it dance!" Xena looked up slightly eyeing Gabrielle as her words hit the air in a vindictive tone. "Dance!" Iona didn't think as she sliced her sword across Gabrielle's side causing blood to flow free. "You heard the Empress, now dance!" Gabrielle looked up trying to ignore the pain she could hear the clapping from some of the royals and most of the staff. Iona watched as Gabrielle started to move her feet trying to stay steady on her hind legs despite the shackles and long chains. People all around her applauded and laughed enjoying the show in front of them as it continued.
Gabrielle breathed in painfully trying to stay in motion which was hard she wasn't built to dance not in this form and she wasn't used to being on her hind legs ether, she'd always found it easier to be on all fours. This was so humiliating she had become no more than a dancing bear to bunch of royal bitches and bastards and she could see that most of the staff seemed to be enjoying this as well. This was the price though for having loosing your humanity, once you leave the company of men and women and become something different, you're no longer part of them and they make it felt. You become their entertainment, their laugher and enjoyment. She ignored her stinging wound it wasn't a deep cut but it hurt none the less.
She breathed in painfully trying to imagine herself in a different place in her mind, one where she wasn't chained but free and in the golden corn filled meadows of Apollonia at night running through them on all fours as she listened to the waves crashing up against the shore while breathed in the rich sea while watching the roosting sea birds on the high cliffs bellow. Marmax looked up slightly. "Make it stop I want to have a better look at it!" Iona pulled on the chains forcing Gabrielle to stop suddenly but it was too suddenly and it caused her to loose her footing which caused her to slam in to the floor hard on her side. She watched as Marmax came forward as Gabrielle painfully got to her feet leaving blood stains on the floor. Marmax didn't think as he threw his goblet of wine right in to the creatures face. "Do you talk?" Iona yanked on the neck chain hard. "Oh she talks all right normally we can't get her to shut up." Iona turned eyeing Gabrielle who said nothing. "Now come on Gabrielle say hello to the nice royal guest, he wants you to speak." She didn't think as she slammed her sword hilt in to the huge shoulder watching as Gabrielle winced in pain but still refused to speak. "I said talk!"
Marmax folded his arms eyeing the huge head he could see two velvet covered things poking through the mane which reminded him of deer horn. "Is it deformed, because it has two odd structures poking out of its head?" Eulalia laughed as she eyed her husband. "All werewolves are deformed dear clearly it's just more deformed than the others." Iona breathed in deeply she was going to get Gabrielle to talk no matter what. She eyed the symbol around her neck she didn't think as she grabbed it pulling it free in a violent motion. Gabrielle turned sharply watching as the symbol of her goddess was pulled free from her neck she found herself yanking on the chains. "That's mine give it to me!" Iona turned watching as Marmax backed away in surprise before reseating himself. "As you can see she can talk." She turned dangling the symbol so they could see it fully. "She's also a heretic who worships the serpent goddess Ouroboros she has chosen to abandon the Greek and Roman gods!"
Gabrielle winced as she pulled harder on the chains she wanted her symbol back it was one of the few things in life she cared about! She looked up eyeing the Empress who was watching the whole scene but in a clearly distant manner with an emotionless face. She stopped pulling on her chains what the point in trying? No body in this room cared for her suffering no one would set her free she slowly lowered herself to her knees. She didn't want to be part of the sick, twisted game anymore she just wanted it to end. She knew what it was to submit she always knew how, she'd never ever been in charge of her own destiny her path had always been laid out for her.
Iona turned eyeing her audience putting the pendent in to her pocket. "Allow me to show you all, the Empress's already dead trophy so you can compare them!" She made a signal causing two men to run towards the curtain. She knew that the mounted werewolf had been moved out of the study and in to the throne room. For some reason which she couldn't fathom Tiara had hid it behind the curtains out of sight instead of putting it on display like she normally did. Tiara looked around realizing that everyone was no longer cheering she felt her heart beat painfully faster as the as the mounted trophy werewolf was dragged out. She'd made a decision this year that the werewolf shouldn't be on display and Gabrielle shouldn't see it, after speaking to her putting it out felt very wrong in her minds eye. She turned eyeing Kalika who was still smiling. "Is this what you wanted? Is this what makes you happy! Seeing her suffer like this?"
Phantasos breathed in deeply gods this was truly awful why didn't the Empress stop it? Gabrielle for all her misgivings had done nothing to deserve this. Phrixus turned sharply eyeing Chara feeling the anger start to burn. "This is disgusting she's not an animal, she's a person!" Chara breathed in sharply she turned eyeing Evadine who was no longer pouring drinks and looked truly sad as the big black werewolf was pushed out so it was opposite Gabrielle who was now on her knees in complete submission. Fedora breathed in sadly feeling the pain in her chest she turned to her daughter not knowing what to say. She'd known the Empress for years and she'd never done anything this cruel she'd always been kind and noble as well as thoughtful and good natured. Yet in this horrible moment everything Gabrielle had said rang true, in that she didn't like her. Thaleia felt the tears as they ran down her face words could not describe how awful this was. Gabrielle never showed violence toward her or anyone else in this form yet here she was being harmed and she felt truly helpless. She could see now that four of the royals wanted no part in this and there was a truly horrible silence now clinging to the air, none of the staff were clapping anymore they all saw this for what it was which was a humiliating spectral.
Gabrielle breathed turning to look at the huge black werewolf who was on her right side and had been turned to face her. She could tell that he was male when he had been alive, as he was bigger than her. His eyes had been replaced with blue glass ones and he was in a truly terrifying pose. So this was her true fate, to join him? No wonder the Empress hated her so, she suddenly felt her heart sink in to her stomach as she caught sight of something very familiar. Slice marks made by a sword in jagged lines across the huge broad chest and stomach. Old scars which had never healed and always remained, just like the one she had on her eye. She breathed in painfully as the voice of a long lost lover echoed through her mind. "Time changes Gabrielle but you always remain as beautiful as ever."
She lowered her head as the pain hit home fully as she spoke his name. "Damokles..." She very rarely cried she always tried to stop herself as she didn't like anyone to see her weakness, but right now she couldn't stop her self. She'd been told by the Imperial Council that he had left her for another woman. Yet here he was stuffed and mounted no more than a trophy in the Empress's keep, she felt the tears as they started to run down her long snout. They'd lied to her! He had been a great warrior who had served his people, he had even been trying to change the political balance in the werewolf race and he'd been so close to accomplishing his goals. Eulalia laughed slightly. "Oh look at it, its crying how pathetic." Xena looked up slightly feeling time freeze as she looked up looking at Gabrielle seriously for the first time. There were tears streaming down her face and her sobs were all that could be heard. Her staff were no longer clapping nether was Pandora, King Gregor Heli or Sophia and her lady in waiting, unlike the other four royals who still thought this was very amusing. She felt her goblet slip from her hand causing it to hit the floor she could see nothing but pain in those green eyes which weren't looking at her but the floor as the tears carried on falling. She turned slightly looking at Demetrius's face seeing the disgust in it directed at her and her alone. She'd never seen him look at her that way before.
She looked back again meeting the green eyes seeing nothing but pain she could see now for the first time just how human those eyes were and how real the pain was in them. It brought her back to a terrible event which she'd witnessed in her teens which she'd never been able to get out of her mind. She stood up slowly feeling the crashing wave of reality hit home of what she was doing and how it looked to everyone around her at this very moment. Gabrielle clearly recognised the stuffed and mounted werewolf in front of her she'd even said his name aloud. Her tears weren't even for self they were for him she walked forward ignoring the royals as she came to stand close to Iona whose face was filled with confusion. Iona blinked feeling unsure of her self. "Empress?" Xena narrowed her gaze hearing her cold tone hit the air. "Move…." Iona pulled on the chain. "But Empress I was just about to." Xena didn't think as she grabbed her by her shirt violently yanking her to one side taking her sword out of the other hand in the process. "I said move!" She watched as the collar chain hit the floor hard.
She eyed the other men. "Let go of the chains!" She watched as they looked at each other. "Now!" The long heavy chains hit the floor as the men backed away not daring to question her. Gabrielle didn't move though she remained in the same position lowering her head further as she spoke her pain filled voice hitting the air. "Hail the Conqueror." Xena blinked feeling the pain hit home, gods what in Tartarus had she just done? This wasn't a monster this was a person with real feelings and thoughts and who could express real pain and feel pain just like everyone else. She'd never even bothered until this moment to really look at this woman's eyes in this form if she had she would have seen that they were truly identical to her human ones.
All the expression and all the pain it there as clear as day on top of that the werewolf mannerisms made the feelings clear, both of hers ears were lowered in submission and pain. She could now even see the strange horn like bone coated in velvet poking its way through the manes fur that Marmax had been talking about. Gabrielle didn't look up as the Empress stepped closer so she in front of her, she could see the sword in her hand. She spoke trying to ignore her painfully tears. "Is this to be my fate? Are you going to take that sword and kill me and then turn me in to a mounted trophy just like you did to my friend?" Xena eyed the weapon she'd only forced it out of Iona's hand because she was so angry with her, she had no intention of using it.
She breathed in speaking gentle. "No it isn't." Gabrielle didn't look up. "Shame because I wish you would, it would be a fitting end to my miserable life." Xena blinked gods she'd never heard anyone say that to her before and she now realized that these were the words of someone who was deeply depressed. She didn't think as she dropped the sword hearing it clatter as it hit the floor. This was a woman who wanted nothing more than to die, she had not seen this in any of their talks because she'd never really paid any attention to her eyes or her face and when she had been reliving her painful memories, she'd mocked her over the death of her friends and her loved ones. She'd done it because she wasn't human and she'd thought that it was perfectly okay to do so. She kneeled down slowly putting her hands on the heavy collar carefully unlocking it. She'd once heard an old saying that there was shame is killing a beast only in killing a man, but where does one begin and other end? Tonight she'd been the real monster not Gabrielle who had taken the humiliation and shown her humanity through out the whole ordeal.
She looked up slightly seeing that Gabrielle still wouldn't look at her. "I'm going to set you free Gabrielle." Gabrielle felt the collar as it was pulled free of her neck. Xena dropped the heavy collar then slowly worked on the shackles easing each one of them free as she stepped back not wanting to see the faces of her staff instead she kept her eyes on Gabrielle. She raised her hand very gently seeing no movement from the golden werewolf. "You can go Gabrielle." Gabrielle looked up meeting her gaze trying to ignore the pain from her open wound she had no idea why the woman had set her free. She didn't want to stay in this room any longer though she just wanted to leave and hide in the darkness somewhere were no one else could see her pain. She slowly began to move away on all fours towards the door watching as Demetrius walked across the room opening the huge double doors for her. She walked through them keeping an eye on him but said nothing, she could see the sadness in his eyes but she didn't care for his pity. She carried on moving up the dark corridor realizing that he wasn't following her which surprised her. She turned as someone's foot steps echoed behind her she watching as Thaleia and Phantasos came up beside her the concern in their eyes she spoke unable to keep the anger out of her voice. "Go away!" Phantasos eyed the bloody wound on Gabrielle's side. "Please you need to stop Gabrielle I need to look at that wound, your bleeding all over the place."
Gabrielle sneered slightly. "I don't need your medicine it'll heal!" Thaleia moved forward trying to keep up with her friend. "Gabrielle please come to my room, I have enough room for two I can lay out some fur blankets for you." Gabrielle eyed her as she carried on moving. "No!" Phantasos moved faster trying to keep up with the golden werewolves pace. He could now see the velvet points which one of royals had pointed out which hadn't been there in their last session. "We just want to help, what happened in there shouldn't have happened. You did nothing to deserve that." Gabrielle stopped eyeing him in disgust. "What do you care if I deserved it, your not interested in me! I'm just your pet project for study you even refer to my race as monsters!" She turned seeing that more people were appearing now trying to follow her. "I don't want or need your help healer, get that though your thick skull." Thaleia watched as her mother appeared coming to stand along side her. Fedora eased up her hand very slowly speaking softly. "I know you're angry Gabrielle we understand how you feel right now the Empress did a terrible thing to you in there." Gabrielle pulled away before her hand could touch her snout. "No offence, but you don't have a clue how I feel right now."
She slowly stood up on her hind legs feeling her rage to start to boil in the pit of her stomach. "You have no idea what it feels like to be turned in to dancing animal and be humiliated on stage! To be chained and beaten and have wine thrown in your face and then to have your goddess's symbol taken away from you! Then to be shown the stuffed and mounted body of someone you once called friend!" She was unable to stop the roar of pain as it came out directed at them. She closed her jaws feeling the tears come again as she spoke unable to keep the pain out of her voice. "You have no idea at all." She didn't think as she turned on her heals slamming in to the ground on all fours running away from them all as fast as she could, no longer caring where she went. Thaleia turned watching as Gabrielle disappeared from sight. "Mother?" Fedora put a hand on her daughters shoulder. "Let her go she needs time to cool down she's just in a lot of pain right now and she needs to work it out for herself." Thaleia breathed in sadly. "She's always alone it's just not right that she should be this way."
Xena watched as Demetrius closed the doors she'd heard the painfully roar and she'd seen a few members of her staff follow Gabrielle out. She turned feeling her hand form a fist as she eyed Iona she didn't think as she grabbed her violently by her shirt again. "This banquet is over, tell the staff that they can leave!" She watched as Iona nodded. "After I've had my meetings tomorrow you and I are going to have words, is that understood?" Iona nodded, she knew now that she was in real trouble it wasn't often that the Empress got this angry. Xena let go of her shirt moving towards the royals most of them now looked deeply confused. "This banquet is over you will all go to your rooms then you will leave tomorrow morning."
She turned pointing at Heli and Sophia. "Except for you two as I we have other matters to discuss." Sophia stood up along with her husband. "As you wish Empress." Xena eased up her hand ignoring the headache she had coming. "You can go as can your lady in waiting Kolina." She turned to Pandora and King Gregor. "You two can also go as you've both done nothing wrong." She watched as the four royals and the lady in waiting were slowly led away by Demetrius's men. She turned eyeing Eulalia and Marmax as well as Diana and Philemon they weren't going anywhere though. She leaned on Marmax's chair seeing a nervous look spread across his face. "I was drunk tonight I confess and I made a very bad discussion, which was the worst one I could ever have made and I'll have to deal with that." She tensed trying to control her anger. "None of you acted very honourably, you took advantage of me and the situation and you mocked me over the fact I have no husband or wife!" She felt an evil smile form as she saw the panic in a few of the royals eyes as it dawned on them how far they'd over stepped the mark. "If any of you ever do that again in my presence you will pay the price!" She breathed in deeply seeing that all her staff had left the room now and they were truly alone with the exception of Evadine who was staying out of the way. "I believe in democracy I always have, but I will see you be humiliated in front of your kingdoms. Your people won't suffer it'll just be you and everyone who you rule over will know that I punished you personally!"
End of part 25
Silvermoonlight
As a note I just wanted to say that I've never been a fan of Diana looking completely the same as Xena in appearance and that goes for the other two look a likes as well. I prefer to think that their eyes colours are different and that they've put henna in their hair to dye it black as in reality it's a completely different colour. I also believe that they only look similar because all four of them including Xena have the same ancient genetic ancestor who no doubt gave rise to all of their family trees or shook the leaves of a few of other family trees so to speak.