TO BE THE BETTER PERSON

Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly she could see the morning sun drifting in through the closed velvet curtains. Thaleia had brought her here late last night, she only really looked around the room once and then gone to sleep she'd been too tired to really care. She also had no appetite for eating she just wanted to sleep. Yesterday she'd just slept for two hours on some fur blankets opposite Thaleia's bed Thaleia had then brought her, her clothes from the old room so she could get dressed in the morning and then she'd helped her make the ritual paint. Yesterday and the day before just seemed like a painful blur in her mind.

She eased the thick fur cover over herself she'd actuality had a full nights sleep in this bed. That felt strange to her since she never normally had a full nights sleep due to her nightmares keeping her awake. She sat up in bed wrapping the fur cover around her body looking around her. This large room had a stone balcony which once more overlooked the royal gardens but the higher view meant that you could see the whole of the gardens not just part of it. Everything from the fountains to the forest area and up to the semi maze and if you looked down you could see the two white marble lion statues near the outward entrance. The only problem was that if she turned to her left she'd be looking right on to the Empress's balcony which had a small wooden table and set of two chairs on it, no doubt for private guests.

In the room its self had a very large desk with a chair for no doubt for writing on much like the one she'd broken in her other room. There was another small round table and chair for eating on. The floor had a sheep skin rug as well as well as a tiled mosaic of a large yellow and orange sun with its rays moving drifting to each corner of the room. The bed unlike her other one had four posts and thin white material curtains which hung down and flowed with the light breeze. The bathroom was much bigger than the other one and had a deep set white marble tub and washing basin as well as bronze taps with silver decoration on them. The mirror was large and round and wall hanging rather than free standing it had silver griffins around its edges whose eyes were made of green sapphire.

It was separated by a curtain and not a door and the tiled floor was the image of ocean waves, strangely though there was another room a small room which was the same size as the Empress's study but it was empty as if it hadn't been finished apart from its floor which was black and showed the star constellations and the moon. She groaned leaning back on her pillows as she put her hand through her hair which was now two thirds of the way to touching her shoulders. Her fringe was over grown and would need cutting back she looked up sharply hearing a knock on her outer door she took in a deep breath before speaking. "Come in." She watched as Thaleia walked in she was wearing a new set of pure white robes complete with a golden belt which signified her new status. Thaleia breathed in the uncertainty in her eyes as she walked up to Gabrielle's bed in her hands she was carrying the other woman's chest which had her personal items in it she carefully laid it on the desk before looking up. "Good morning Gabrielle did you sleep well?"

Gabrielle eyed the room as she pushed the side curtain on her bed further back so she could see her fully. "Yes." Thaleia eyed the chest. "I made sure to bring up your personal items from your old room I thought you'd like them." She opened the wooden box gently easing out the wide scroll. "I brought your agreement as well." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze she didn't care about the agreement and she didn't want to see it. Thaleia eased out a scroll piece from her pocket she really hoped she had this right Ceto had gone over this with her last night. She had to ask what Gabrielle wanted for breakfast then ask her what changes she'd like to have done to her new room, or was it the other way around? Gods this was so difficult she had so much to pick up and learn and she hadn't even started yet. She had five scrolls to read and she had to learn how things were set out and how they were cleaned. She had to learn about Gabrielle's preferences what she liked what she didn't like and what she wanted.

Gabrielle eyed the other woman seeing the conflict in her eyes. "Are you okay?" Thaleia breathed in deeply. "I'm just new to this I have so much to learn." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Take your time I've never had a personal maid before, it's new to me." She lowered her gaze she'd had an adviser once but she had no happy memories of being in her company, she was a dishonourable bitch and she'd never trusted her. She looked up eyeing Thaleia, she trusted this woman though and there was something very comforting about that. Thaleia eased up the scroll piece feeling a smile form. "I believe I'm meant to ask what you'd like for breakfast." She eyed her scroll. "Then I take down your list of things you need…then I believe I'm meant to ask you about what you'd like in the spare room."

Gabrielle eyed the empty room. "Why would I want anything in the spare room?" Thaleia looked at the room. "The Empress sent me a message this morning that you can turn that room in to what ever you want it to be, be it a study a workshop, or just a store room for keeping things you like." Gabrielle put a hand on her face. "I don't know what I want that room to be." Thaleia looked at her empty parchment. "What do you want it to be?" Gabrielle took in a deep breath as she looked up half in deep thought. "I want a work desk and wood carving tools and for all of them to be high grade, any thing less just won't cut wood or craft it well." Thaleia slowly wrote down what she wanted. "I'll see that it's brought here for you."

Gabrielle raised her eyebrow. "Don't trouble yourself I doubt what I ask for will be brought here." Thaleia looked up sharply. "With my new position, no one is allowed to disobey anything written by my hand. What ever you want or ask for I will see that you get it, I promise you that Gabrielle." Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "Don't make promises that you can not keep." She looked up slightly. "I'm grateful though that you'd try to get these things for me regardless." Thaleia moved forward looking at her friend for a long moment. "Thank you Gabrielle." She breathed in deeply. "What would you like for breakfast?" Gabrielle took in a deep breath. "I'm not hungry right now."

Thaleia turned easing up what she written. "I'll go and talk to someone about this I'll be back soon." Gabrielle nodded watching as she left the room closing the door behind her. She pulled herself out of bed ignoring the faded scar marks on her shoulder chest and back painting the patterns of serenity they would remain for a day or more then they'd heal up completely as was custom. She moved in to the bath room running the cold water from one of the brass taps, before splashing it on her face. She scrubbed in the water breathing in sharply feeling how cold it was, she carried on washing her body she turned grabbing her clothes which had been washed and freshly laid out no doubt while she was sleeping.

She breathed in carefully putting on her underwear and thick socks followed by her shirt and her trousers then carefully eased her feet in to her boots then she did up her shirt buttons. She grabbed a comb carefully brushing her hair, frankly she couldn't wait till it grew back to full length and was over her shoulders once more. At least then it would hide the scar better on her right eyebrow, she moved back in to the room only to stop as she caught sight of the Empress standing just in side her door way, she could see a guilty look in her eye as she adjusted her silver armour shoulder plate, she felt her teeth grind together as she eyed her.

She picked up her pipe from the table pushing the coltsfoot deeper in to it then she slowly lit it using the candle. She carefully put it in her mouth as she looked up not caring for her cold tone. "What do you want?" Xena took in a deep breath she knew this wouldn't be easy and up till now she had been avoiding this all morning because she knew just how difficult it would be. She looked up slightly watching as Gabrielle breathed out the smoke from her pipe before speaking. "I wanted to see how you were settling in to your new room." Gabrielle eyed her for a long moment. "It's a nice room its unfortunate that its next to yours, did you put me in here to keep a closer eye on me this time?" Xena looked down slightly. "No I wanted to get to know you better I think you deserve that considering how badly I've treated you."

Gabrielle sat herself down in the chair opposite the small table breathing out the smoke from her pipe. "So I guess this means more talks another contract agreement, another person to watch over me while we chat since I made Iona bed ridden." Xena took in a deep breath, gods this going to be even harder than she'd first thought. "Please can I have the agreement we made." Gabrielle eyed the piece of scroll which Thaleia had laid on the table, she picked it up tossing it to the other woman watching as she caught it, she might have known this was going to happen the Empress just wanted to rewrite it. Xena slowly eased the parchment open. She looked at her own writing for a long moment the agreement was nether fair nor honourable it was one sided and shamefully and she hadn't stuck to it. She walked over to the lit candle easing it up from Gabrielle's table she eyed the scroll before setting it alight watching as the fire started to spread. "My agreement was nether, fair nor honourable." She watched as it carried on burning. "From now on there will be no more agreements or contracts between us."

Gabrielle watched as the Empress dropped the scroll as it burnt away completely she tensed sharply. "What does this mean? I can leave, no wait you'd never allow that, I am after all a king and too much of an asset to you." Xena lowered her gaze. "No you are not an asset to me and are now free to leave if you wish you will not be hunted or touched by anyone I've already sent out the order." She paused before speaking again. "I would like you to stay though so that we can talk through the hunting law." Gabrielle felt a cold smile form. "What possible interest would you have in the hunting law?" Xena looked at the burning scroll. "I want to talk with about ending it and I want to draw up a new scroll regarding it." Gabrielle breathed out the smoke from her pipe. "You're only doing this because you found out that I'm a royal figure, not because you care. After all if it ever got out that you chained me up and paraded me around in front of your royal guests the whole werewolf race would rise up against you in a heart beat."

Xena breathed in painfully. "No that is where you misunderstand I did a terrible thing to you and I want to make everything right. From now on I want us to speak to each other because you want to, not because I want you to. There will be no guards no more rules no more unfair treatment you can come and go as you please and no one on my staff will treat you like they have ever again." She took in a sharp breath. "You deserve better." Gabrielle studied her for a long moment feeling a sense of uncertainty take over. "Why the sudden change of heart?" Xena looked down slightly. "Because I treated you like a monster, but you are anything but a monster I see that very clearly now."

Gabrielle breathed in her pipe. "Oh really and what makes you say that?" Xena stepped forward. "Even when you're angry even when you had the opportunity to cause so much pain and suffering you made the choice not to. I think deep down you would rather suffer than bring about suffering to others who can't defend themselves I'm guessing you could have killed Iona but that's not your way, you pride yourself on honour and truth." She moved towards the door that separated both rooms opening it carefully. "I would really like to get know you for who you really are and not what I labelled you as." She looked down for a moment before looking up. "I doubt they gave you the title Golden Hind just because it's the colour of your fur." Gabrielle looked up sharply feeling the surprise take over. "What do you care about my title?"

Xena turned meeting her green gaze. "Phrixus translated the part of the scroll which was about you, he told me that that they called you that because of what's in your heart." She looked up slightly. "I hope that you'll come and talk to me when you feel ready, I would like to know how you became the Horn Hind of your people." Gabrielle watched as she closed the door behind her, she tensed she hated feeling out of sorts it was a feeling she really wasn't used to. She eyed the remains of the burnt scroll clearly now there was now no agreement at all which confused her. She honestly couldn't tell though if this was a trick or if it was truly sincerer.

She frankly didn't want to speak to the other woman right now least of all about herself but if she wouldn't lie she wanted to end the hunting law she wanted that more than anything. She just couldn't tell if the offer was genuine though she took in a deep breath putting her hand on her godly pendent everything was still so messed up in her head right now. She had truly expected the Empress to end her life in the throne room yesterday yet today she was alive and the other woman had let her bury her dead lover none of it made any sense.

8

Iona groaned as she opened one eye only to close it again as the sharp light penetrated her sight. She slowly opened both eyes trying to ignore the stinging pain of her body as she looked at the room about her. She was lying in the healer's bed in the healer's room she looked down realizing that she was naked and under a thick fur cover her chest had been wrapped in bandages as had her arm she shifted only to feel the intense pain in her limbs."

"Ah no moving, you'll make it worse!"

She turned eyeing Phantasos who was standing close by. "Oh gods no, tell me I'm not stuck in this room with you?" Phantasos eyed the thick herb paste he'd crushed up in a small wooden bowl. "As always your lack of manners is most annoying Iona." Iona felt her teeth grind together. "Screw you." Phantasos raised an eyebrow as he turned to her. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you're going to be here for two months or maybe more until you're fully healed." He eyed her. "Your also need a very strict diet to help your bones heal, Gabrielle did after all break three of your ribs and your arm. You should be glad though that it was a clean break, it means you'll be able to fight again."

Iona narrowed her gaze. "Tell me the Empress killed that stupid over grown dog." Phantasos eyed her in disgust. "No actuality she didn't kill Gabrielle in fact she's doing everything to ensure that she's now treated better." He moved forward raising the cover ignoring her surprised look as he rubbed the thick paste in to her deep wounds which he'd lightly stitched he watched as she winced painfully. "You're going to have some nasty scars, but you've got plenty as it is so three more won't make much difference." He pulled the cover back down. "Clearly Gabrielle is much better than you are in battle, it seems that you've finally met you match." Iona rolled her eyes. "Leave me alone go bother some one else." Phantasos looked up as hard knock sounded on the door. "Come in!" He stood up slightly as Chara and Demetrius walked in to the room. "Ah it's good to see you both."

Demetrius eyed Iona. "Good to see you to Phantasos is it okay if we both speak with Iona alone for a minute it's very important?" Phantasos moved over to the bowl washing his hands as he eyed Demetrius. "Of course I'll leave you alone with her." He moved towards the door carefully opening it. "Do be gentle she's in a rather temperamental mood." Demetrius watched as he left closing the door, he took in a deep breath before speaking watching as Chara pulled up a scroll getting ready to write on it. She sadly had to do this it was palace procedure when someone lied the reasons for there lie had to be jotted down so the Empress could read it before they received their punishment. "I'm very disappointed in you Iona."

Iona sneered looking away. "Oh please you've been waiting for this for years, a chance to see me fall so you can laugh at me." Demetrius breathed in deeply. "No Iona I never wanted this I've always respected you, though I don't respect your methods their cruel and your actions in front of the royals though were the most cruel I've ever seen, but that is not why I'm here." He narrowed his gaze. "You lied to the Empress about Gabrielle and now I'm here to find out why." Iona breathed in trying to ignore the stinging pain in her lungs. "Oh so that it." Demetrius leaned forward. "Don't make this harder than it already is Iona, if you tell the truth now you may avoid punishment altogether."

Iona eyed Chara. "Why are you here?" Chara eyed her quill. "To take notes its palace procedure." Iona eyed her in disgust. "Yeah right, you know I know about you and your little servant girl lover Evadine, do you think that things like that don't slip past me Chara?" Chara turned sharply feeling the anger take over how dare she say this! Her relationship with Evadine was none of her business. "You stay away from my lover you bitch!" She ignored Demetrius's surprise as she eyed the other woman. "If you go near her I'll break your face, do you hear me!" Demetrius raised his hand sharply. "Stop this, both of you!" He watched as Chara stepped back the anger still in her eyes. "This is about you not telling the truth Iona your not here to insult others or their partners."

Iona looked up sharply. "Okay fine I'll tell you why I lied about Gabrielle because Gabrielle is an animal and we should be using her to gain power, not keeping her as a house pet! I wanted the Empress to be mad at her, I wanted her to loose her temper with her because I knew it was the only way I might obtain what I needed which was to get a wound from her when she's in werewolf form." Chara finished writing on the scroll before looking up. "Thank the gods you didn't succeed because the thought of you become like Gabrielle turns my stomach." Iona eyed her feeling her teeth grind together. "Oh and why is that?" Chara looked at the scroll. "Because Gabrielle has discipline and restraint something you clearly lack if you were like her you'd truly be a vile monster."

Iona pulled herself up slightly despite the pain. "Tell me Chara wouldn't you want that kind of power, wouldn't you want to have it all, be more than just a pathetic little scribe?" Chara looked up slightly. "Power doesn't interest me Iona, it never has I like being a scribe, I enjoy my position here in this palace I have no interest in rising up the ranks I'm happy where I am." She breathed in deeply. "Clearly you've never been happy, as you always want more." She turned rolling up the scroll eyeing Demetrius. "Excuse me I need to take this to the Empress." Demetrius nodded watching as she left closing the door behind her he turned to meet Iona's gaze. "I agree with her you must be very unhappy in your life for you there must be a gapping hole which clearly you want to fill with power."

He shook his head sadly. "Your better than this Iona I know you are, I don't know what's happened to you ever since Gabrielle came here you've changed in to such cruel person obsessed with a pipe dream of having power and gaining it in such a cruel way." He stepped away from her. "I don't need to tell you how this will go, the Empress my take away your high rank at best or worse you'll be flogged for lying." He lowered his gaze. "Frankly I hope you receive nether, your beating has been punishment enough and she may pardon you." He walked towards the door opening it ignoring her surprise and confusion. "I hope that the next few months in bed give you time to rethink and revaluate your life I also hope that you find a way to end your need for power, because it is turning you in to someone your not." Iona sneered watching him go, she didn't need to change she was fine she'd always been fine! She didn't need to change not for anyone!

End of part 32

Silvermoonlight

I guess this chapter has a strange sense of irony since in my first story Iona was the monstrous werewolf who brought pain and suffering most of all to Gabrielle. Chara was also deeply corrupted by power in another story but in this story has love and therefore does not crave power or care for it. I think this is what makes this story so much fun to write is that despite that everyone's lives are different, there are moments when something could have been very close to repeating itself but didn't.