ALL YOU NEED AND ALL YOU WANT

Xena eyed the clothes which Ceto had brought in they weren't for her they were all for Gabrielle a whole wardrobe full just as she should have received when she'd first gone to her room but hadn't due to Kalika burning her list ensuring that she got nothing she asked for. She eyed Ceto who had laid the clothes out in front of her as she put a hand on her chin. "So these are all her size?" Ceto nodded as she looked up. "I asked Chara for the measurements then went to the market based on what Thaleia told me about her clothing habits and got all the clothes you requested. Of cause I got hold of three more pairs of black boots but I put them in her cupboard next door as I thought that you only wanted to see the clothing."

Xena nodded walking up to the bed putting her hand on the collar of one of the shirts which was made from fine Egyptian cotton and silky to the touch. "You've done a really good job Ceto I'm impressed, I know what asked off was a lot in and I gave you very little notice." Ceto nodded calmly. "You're welcome Empress it is always a pleasure to serve you." Xena turned meeting her gaze. "Tell me Ceto how is Thaleia settling in?" Ceto looked up slightly. "She's doing well though she's a little slow but that's not surprising there is an awful lot to learn. Being some ones personal maid is not just about cleaning and laying out their clothes its about learning about their personal habits and what they like and what makes them happy."

She felt a smile form. "I think in that sense she's already halfway there Gabrielle sees her as a friend from what I've witnessed." Xena took a sip from her goblet before placing it on the table. "What do you think off Gabrielle?" Ceto blinked feeling unsure as to where the Empress was going with this. "I think she's nice when she's in human form but I won't lie I find her other form slightly scary, not in the way she acts as she's clearly gentle but those big protruding canine teeth on her upper and lower jaw they scare me a little." Xena sat herself down in the chair opposite. "Did you hear about what I did to her in front of the royals?" Ceto felt her eyes dart. "Yes Empress my understanding is that Iona manipulated you in to the deed, as you were drunk." Xena smile sadly running her finger over the goblets rim. "That is only a half truth Ceto I am to blame for my actions as I let them happen regardless of whether I was drunk or not."

She looked up slightly. "It was my own misunderstanding of Gabrielle which led to that moment I saw a monster and not a person and I treated her as such and allowed others on my staff to abuse her. I even called her a liar when clearly she was the honest one and Iona was the one lying to make her look bad." She breathed in painfully. "What troubles me the most is that night when I had her chained up and completely at my mercy she said the words, hail the Conqueror to me." She turned her maid who now looked clearly shocked. "Tell me the truth Ceto have I started to become a Conqueror since I left Rome?"

Ceto breathed in deeply. "No Empress I don't see you as Conqueror you have always been a good person who has done things right for others. I think with Gabrielle you just lost your way, but then saying that I think most people in the palace did. We all made mistakes regarding Gabrielle and no one expected her to loose her temper in the way she did and destroy her room among other things." Xena leaned on her elbow. "Did you ever hear the story of the werewolf who met a young girl in the woods who was going to grandma's house and played nice?" Ceto nodded. "Yes Empress the werewolf went ahead of the girl, he killed and ate her grandma then dressed in her clothes and then played at being her, when the girl saw through his disguise he killed her and ate her as well."

Xena looked up breathing painfully. "Do you know that when I first saw Gabrielle all I could think about was that fairy tale and how she'd manipulate me and deceive me? I even got to the stage of believing that her emotions weren't real and all fake, it made it easy for me to be unkind to her, but when I saw her crying in submission in the throne room I realized that the monster wasn't her it was me." She looked up slightly. "I realize now that that fairy tale has no truth the werewolf in that story was evil because he was evil as a person. There could be another werewolf just like him who is kind and wouldn't go around tricking young girls because he'd see it as wrong. It's clear to me now that I can't judge any werewolf based on their appearance I have to judge them based on who they are as people and if Gabrielle is anything to go by they are intelligent beings with a strong sense of self who feel pain and happiness just as we do."

She narrowed her gaze. "Clearly there are some very cruel werewolves out there but they are evil by personal choice and Gabrielle is not one of them." She turned as a knock sounded from inside the study she turned to Ceto. "Thank you for your thoughts." Ceto nodded respectfully. "Always a pleasure, Empress." Xena walked in to her study eyeing the door. "Come in." She watched as Demetrius walked in the uncertainty in his eyes. She eyed him. "How can I help you?" Demetrius shook his head sadly watching as she closed the door to her room he raised the scroll in his hand. "Here is the scroll about Iona's reasons for lying to you."

Xena took the scroll slowly from his hand reading it feeling the concern hit home as she looked up. "She wanted me to kill Gabrielle, so she could obtain her power and become like her?" Demetrius nodded sadly. "Yes Empress, clearly she has become very disillusioned it's very saddening as she has always been loyal to her causes and has never lied like this before." Xena put a hand on her face. "What am I going to do with her Demetrius? I know she should be flogged for this, I know that's the punishment for undermining me but when I imagine having her strung up in front of the whole army and being flogged I can see her becoming my enemy and that' the last thing I want."

Demetrius stepped forward it was very rarely that the Empress asked for his advice but he could see her concern over this issue. He took in a deep breath. "In my opinion Empress she has already been punished when Gabrielle defeated her in battle and broke her bones. I feel she should be pardoned on the condition that she is not allowed to interfere with you or Gabrielle ever again." He paused putting his hand on his sword hilt. "If Gabrielle is to be watched during your talks I want to be involved as Iona's judgement has clearly been clouded by her need for power." Xena shook her head before looking up. "My agreement with Gabrielle is over, she has full freedom now and I want her to speak to me when she wishes." Demetrius felt a smile form. "I heard that you sent out the order that if she leaves she is to be unharmed." Xena took in a deep breath. "Yes I did and I'm surprised that she's stayed after what I did to her." Demetrius folded his arms as a thought crossed his mind. "Maybe she stayed because Thaleia is her friend."

Xena raised an eyebrow. "You think she'd stay for one person?" Demetrius looked up slightly. "I think so yes but also I have a gut feeling that she's here because she wants to be. Even if she is a royal the way I see it, is if she wanted to go back to her people she would have left the moment you said she could but she has chosen not to which tells me that she has things here that matter to her." He put on hand on his beard. "Perhaps we have something here that she's never had." Xena eyed the empty scroll which she'd started writing on. "I hope your right because I need her to stay I want the hunting law to end and I've started write up the agreement but I need her seal to finalize it and I want her here by my side to help me." Demetrius turned to meet her gaze. "Do you think she'll sign it?" Xena shook her head. "In all honesty no, I doubt she even trusts me now and I have a long way to go to gain that trust back." Demetrius looked up slightly. "I'm sure you can do it, you have always been a good leader." Xena leaned against her desk putting down the scroll feeling the need to change the subject. "I agree with your view on Iona."

She took in a deep breath. "Gabrielle has punished her enough and she'll be pardoned with certain conditions but this now leaves us with a problem I don't have some one of her calibur to protect me during meetings until she's well again. The others in her unit at the least the ones that aren't out doing what's needed for the kingdom just don't have her talent." Demetrius slowly turned to her. "Oh I beg to differ I think you have the perfect person, she right in the room next door. Even I won't lie the fact that she injured Iona as seriously as she did shows that she's very skilled."

Xena looked up. "You're talking about giving Gabrielle weapons?" Demetrius felt a smile form. "She is a warrior by nature and appears to be honourable to her word. If you give her weapons you'll be showing her that you trust her." He turned towards the study door. "Who knows it may even be the thing you need to begin the long process of working through your documentation with her." He slowly opened the door. "I'll give you time to think on it Empress, I have to go and do my duties." Xena moved to sit in her chair watching as he met her gaze. "Thank you Demetrius." Demetrius nodded walked through the door. "You're welcome Empress." Xena looked up watching as he closed the door behind him, she leaned forward putting her hands together as she eyed the document on her desk gods she had a lot to think about now and she had no idea where to begin.

8

Gabrielle slowly moved through the corridor on all fours shaking her mane she'd taken as small walk tonight she couldn't be bothered with anything more than that. The only good thing about this new room was that there were a number very empty corridors which she could walk around with out any one even seeing her apart from the guards, as far as staff went it was empty. She moved up the corridor opening the door to her room watching as Thaleia looked up, she was laying out her clothes for tomorrow. She stood up slowly on to her hind legs watching as the young woman looked around a smile appearing on her face as she spoke. "Sorry I was just finishing cleaning your room, it just took a little longer than I thought it would, I thought that I'd be finished before you got back from your walk."

Gabrielle raised a clawed hand. "It's no problem." Thaleia eyed her friend she'd been looking forward to this moment. "All the things you requested on your list came through the Empress even double checked it and added a few things." Gabrielle breathed in deeply great this was just what she didn't need right now. "What did she add?" Thaleia moved over to the cupboard opening it looking at all the new clothes inside which included shirts, trousers, boots and one or two dresses. "She got you lots of new clothes." Gabrielle moved forward eyeing the clothing for a long moment clearly the Empress was feeling guilty hence why she'd given her this gift. She turned away walking past Thaleia. "It's a nice sentiment of her guilt." Thaleia blinked hearing the slight edge in her friend's voice. "I disagree I think it shows that she wants to make things better between you." She moved over to the other room carefully opening the door watching as the new work desk came in to view complete with wood tools, a chair and lots of parchment to draw on along with quills. There were many bottles of wood paint in many different colours.

There was even a pile of wood close by ready for use. "The desk is beautiful and the tools are high quality just as you asked for." Gabrielle moved forward looking inside the room there was everything she had requested, she staring at the wood carving tools she hadn't expected anything she'd put down on the list least of all this. She moved slowly forward putting a clawed finger on one of the tools eyeing the fine edge which was made from high grade bronze. She turned watching as Thaleia walked in to the room. "The Empress honoured my request?" Thaleia moved forward so she was standing next to her. "Yes she did." She paused before looking up. "So you are a carpenter?"

Gabrielle picked up one off the tools looking at it before putting it down. "Yes my father was a carpenter he taught me everything I know before I became a werewolf. Despite that I became a warrior I never stopped doing wood carvings it was always my favourite hobby next to watching birds." Thaleia moved to stand next to the desk watching as she eased her clawed hand away from the tools. "It's nice that you have hobbies, my mother was worried that you had none she was asking how you were feeling today I told her that you were feeling better." She paused moving over to the chair opposite pulling up a very large light brown skirt which was cut at both sides for leg movement as well as a cut at the back for tail movement. It also had a thick dark brown leather belt which was adjustable her mother had spent the past two days putting this together in her spare time she looked up. "She wants you to come to meet the children in the palace school in your werewolf form."

Gabrielle moved back in to her main room watching as the young woman followed her, she sat herself down on the bed flicking her tail over the tattered material cloth she was wearing. "Why would she want me there like I am now? I'd just scare the children and I doubt their mothers would want that." Thaleia moved forward. "She's already talked with the children's mothers and there perfectly okay with you coming to visit." Gabrielle raised a clawed finger about to speak only to stop as she caught the wanting expression in her friends face. "Okay fine I'll go." Thaleia moved forward. "She'll be so happy you said yes." She raised the skirt with its thick dark brown belt. "She also made this for you, frankly she hates that you have to wear that tattered thing to cover up and I agree with her."

Gabrielle eyed the light brown Hessian skirt with it thick heavy dark brown belt as she took it from her hand. "She made this for me?" Thaleia smiled as she stepped back she could see Gabrielle's surprise and from what she knew of her she didn't normally show any form of surprise about any thing, she felt a smile form. "She made everything but the belt I ordered that in for you, but my mother can adjust it if it doesn't fit." Gabrielle eyed the sowing it was so fine it brought back a faint memory of home of when her mother used to sit by the fire sowing her clothes. She felt the pain as it entered her chest as she stared at it. "Would you and your mother like some gold pieces for this, I have some in my chest?" Thaleia pushed the clothing closer to her as she pushed it forward. "No Gabrielle it's a gift we don't want anything for it, we both made it just for you."

She paused seeing the confusion in the forest green eyes she stepped closer to her friend as a thought crossed her mind. "Haven't you ever had a gift before?" Gabrielle eyed the skirt as she put it on her lap looking at it. "The only gift I've ever received was the ring which my lover gave me, but I returned that to his hand before I buried him." She lowered her head sadly. "Everything else I received in my life I worked for." She looked up slightly. "Apart from when I was young when my farther used to give me little sweet gifts from time to time." Thaleia looked up catching sight of the pain in the green eyes. "Where are your family Gabrielle are they still alive?"

Gabrielle felt herself tense. "There still alive but where they are doesn't matter all that does matter is that their happy." Thaleia raised her hand. "Don't you think they'd be happier if they knew that you were alive?" Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together as she looked up. "Could we please drop this topic, I really don't want to talk about it?" Thaleia stepped nodded clearly Gabrielle still needed more time to adjust before she became more open. Gabrielle put a clawed hand on her face she hadn't meant to say that so harshly. Thaleia was the first real friend she'd had in a very long time, her mother was also very kind to her and the last thing she wanted was to be disrespectful to her daughter because she was being temperamental. "I don't mean to be short with Thaleia I just don't like talking about my family."

Thaleia moved closer a part of her had wanted to do from the first day she'd first seen Gabrielle in werewolf form, she moved her hand putting it on her shoulder feeling the fur which was soft to the touch and felt silky. "It's okay Gabrielle." She pulled away watching as Gabrielle looked at her slightly oddly as if she was slightly conflicted by the fact she'd touched her in this form but wasn't sure what to say. "What would you like for dinner?" She eased out the small piece of parchment from her pocket trying to make her friend feel more comfortable. "You know I heard that last night they brought in pheasant and rabbit." Gabrielle looked up sharply. "They have rabbit?" Thaleia raised an eyebrow clearly that had perked her interest. "Yes they do I can get them to cook you some rabbit stew if you want?" Gabrielle raised a clawed hand. "I'd like that a lot."

End of part 33

Silvermoonlight

The girl and the werewolf was a reference to Little Red Riding Hood, which did not always have a happy ending until the Brothers Grimm in 1812 published there Grimm Fairy Tails changing it, making the end much nicer and creating the version we are all used to reading now. In the older versions the wolf was a werewolf as they were feared creatures. In the older versions this fairy tail does differ in one version the young red riding hood gets in to bed with the werewolf only to be eaten herself. While in another version she escapes the werewolf through her own cunning and with out any help from a hero figure.