THE RAGING PAIN DEEP WITHIN MY DREAMS
Xena slowly lowered her quill as she raised the scroll which was now complete and would end of the hunting law as well as give werewolves equal rights. She felt her gaze dart as she read it over carefully checking that it sounded right which it did. She slowly stood up putting it down as she poured the wax on to the edge. She didn't think as she slammed her ring in to creating her seal then signed the bottom. All she needed now was Gabrielle's signature and her version in werewolf tongue which she'd need to put her signature and royal seal on. She looked up slightly hearing a loud moaning sound from the other room. She slowly placed the quill down standing up. It was late in the morning and she now knew that Gabrielle slept in late, because she was up for most of the night.
She slowly walked towards the other door knocking gentle as she spoke. "Gabrielle?" She paused hearing no answer she slowly put her hand on the door handle opening it carefully hearing the moaning get louder. She knew that Gabrielle didn't like it when she used the central door but she felt like she had no choice in this instance, the moaning sounded deep and painful. She watched as Gabrielle's bed came in to view she was under the covers clearly naked but she could see even from here that she was tossing and turning violently as if in the throws of a nightmare. She stepped closer catching sight of the screwed up angry look on her face as she tossed over again in her sleep trying to get away from what ever was tormenting her.
She moved so she was at her side, it had been a long time since she'd seen this kind of thing the last time she'd seen it had been during the Spartan occupation. Men and women who were plagued by nightmares of battles, they'd wake up in agony because they were tormented by the things they'd done on the battle field. They couldn't free themselves from there guilt ether which only added to there suffering. She did have nightmares like this herself but hers were never about the battlefield as she had never set alight to villages or killed innocent people. No her nightmares were all about her deep regrets. The regret that her husband had never loved her and only used her to gain power as well as the regret that she couldn't save her mother from the illness she'd had.
She'd tried everything to get her a cure in Rome and it had all been for nothing as she had lost her, her mother had meant everything to her as she'd had she had no brothers or sisters to speak off. Her father had gone back to Amphipolis refusing to have anything to do with her he had also blamed her for her mothers death, they hadn't spoken in five years, every now and again she'd send him a letter but he never replied. She shook the painful thoughts from her mind as she turned to Gabrielle who tossed again violently in her sleep. She eased out her hand moving it towards her in truth she was curious as to what the younger woman was dreaming about which was causing her so much pain, what had she done that was tormenting her so?
Gabrielle breathed in looking at the blood dripping down her clawed hand she looked down staring at the bloody lake which was up to her knees and filled with skeletons whose dark hollow sockets stared back at her. She could see human guts floating on the surface as she waded through the bloody water which was getting harder. She carried on moving only to find it getting harder the bloody water was thickening turning to a swamp like consistency. She moved forward only to find that she couldn't, her furry hind legs were now stuck fast. She eyed the ugly black trees around her which were dark and twisted above them was a black sky which had no stars or moon.
She felt her teeth grind together as she tried to force her foot forward only to feel no movement. She eased out her hand grabbing at the trunk of the closest tree, the smell around her was rancid and sickening and the bloody swamp was freezing as was the cold air which was blowing through the dark trees, it was so cold that she could feel it even through her thick fur. She stopped her struggling as she felt something crawl up her back she turned sharply only to cry out in surprise as a bloody skeleton which still had a single sea blue eye in its socket wrapped its bone arms around her neck forcing her head back violently as a female voice hit the air. "That's typical of you isn't it Gabrielle, always trying to run away from your responsibilities!"
Gabrielle roared in anger as she shook her back hard trying to get it off only to feel the grip around her neck tighten as the one good eye looked in to her own as the skeleton wrapped its legs around her middle locking itself in to place as it spoke again. "Your pathetic you run from everything, you friends, your family you're so called throne as Horn Hind!" Gabrielle eyed the skeleton feeling one of its bone hands grab on to one of her velvet cover horns. "Go to Tartarus!" The skeletons eye moved closer. "I'm already there thanks to you, you did kill me after all, you remember that don't you Gabrielle?" Gabrielle swung her head around trying harder to get free. "I had no choice! The Imperial Council forced me to kill you!"
The skeleton laughed but it was a cold laugh. "There is always a choice you just took the easy road! I was sixteen the same age as you I didn't deserve to die! Nether did my village which you destroyed!" The skeleton paused before speaking again. "How many innocent people did you kill on that campaign? Was it hundreds may be thousands?" Gabrielle swung harder trying to get the skeleton off her. "Get of me!" The skeletons grinded its lower jaw as it spoke. "You can't shut me out you bitch! You killed me and thousands of innocent people and all because you're Imperial Council asked it off you! You're a murder and a coward because you didn't stand up them or your bitch of a lover, you just let it happen!"
The skeletons arm suddenly moved inwards crushing painfully against her wind pipe causing her to choke painfully. "You have no right to make excuses you are Horn Hind you are the werewolf king! You are the true ruler of your race!" The skeleton grabbed her ear yanking on it. "You should pay for your sins a thousands times over!" Gabrielle leaned forward trying desperately to breath. "I'm sorry!" The skeleton's jaws grinded again. "What makes you think that sorry fixes everything? Sorry changes nothing you deserve to die the same way I did!" Gabrielle watched as the skeletons around her started to move there arms suddenly flew out of the water grabbing at her fur.
The skeleton on her back let go off her ear in a sharp motion. "Also I don't think they care for your pathetic apology, I think they'd rather tear you apart slowly and watch your guts spill out and I agree with them but before I let them I just want to tell you something. You always make the wrong choices Gabrielle you always let other people dictate your life, its pathetic, it also makes you a no body." Gabrielle felt the intense agony as the skeletons hand slammed in to the middle of her chest causing intense pain. "Now wake up while you still have a beating heart!"
Gabrielle felt her eyes snap open as she bolted upright in bed grabbing her chest and the covers in the process. She closed her eyes as the piecing sun hit them, she put a hand on her face feeling the sweat which had made her fringe damp she ignored the pain in her chest which felt like it was squeezing her heart as she breathed in deeply regaining control of her breathing. She hated having nightmares and that one was much worse than normal. She just couldn't seem to hide from the things she'd done they were going to haunt her forever. She breathed in looking up slightly realizing that someone was standing opposite her bed she hadn't realized that they were there, it was the shadow cast across the sheets that gave them away.
She turned pulling the cover further up her naked body as she met Xena's concerned gaze, she spoke evenly as she eyed the other woman. "Why are you in my room?" Xena eased her hand up. "You were having a nightmare I could hear you in my room, I came to check if you were all right." Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "It's nothing it's just a nightmare." Xena blinked she could hear the slight bitterness in the other woman's tone. "Its sounded bad, you were crying out in your sleep." Xena eased out her hand. "Would you like to talk about it?" Gabrielle breathed in inwardly as she eyed her. "Was there some thing you wanted?" Xena lowered her hand clearly she wasn't going to get any thing from the younger woman she could tell by her emotionless tone.
She wished that Gabrielle would say something just because then they'd have more to talk about it but it was clear that she didn't want to talk about it. She seemed to just close up emotionally repress her problems rather than talk about them. She took in a deep breath before speaking in truth she was in here for more than one reason. "Do you have a personal royal seal ring?" Gabrielle turned sharply. "Yes I do." Xena looked at her boots for a moment. "Is that ring in this palace right now?" She knew it was a long shot but she knew that all royals hid their seal ring if they were in trouble. They were normally hidden in strange places and something deep in the pit of her stomach was telling her that Gabrielle would have hidden hers. She just had no need for it now so she'd properly kept it hidden.
Gabrielle felt her eyes dart. "Yes I have it and its hidden but I can't tell you where it is and you can't have it, it's the only proof I have that I'm Horn Hind. It's was the ring given to the very first Horn Hind and it's been passed down through the line, it was given to me after I became Horn Hind." Xena raised her hand slowly. "You misunderstand Gabrielle I don't want to take your ring, far from that I want you to put it back on." She moved away from the younger woman's bed. "If you could get up and dressed I'd like you to come though to my room as I have something which needs your seal as Horn Hind with out it, it does not carry the very power of its words." She put her hand on her ring. "My seal is already on it but it needs yours and your signature to complete it."
She moved towards the door opening it slowly. "I'll let you get ready?" Gabrielle watched as she closed the door what could she possibly want to put her royal seal and signature on? She breathed in throwing the white cover off her naked body trying to ignore the pain in her neck which had been brought about by bolting up right in bed. She eased herself out of bed grabbing her robe throwing it over her shoulders as she walked towards her chest she slowly opened it easing her hand inside bringing out the old wooden horse toy. She had brought this from a seller many years ago because it reminded her off her childhood, but that wasn't her only reason for buying it, she needed a safe hiding place for items.
She turned the horse's head slowly hearing the creak as the twisting joint started to turn, she took in a deep breath as she pulled the head free revealing the deep hollowed out centre in which things could be hidden. She over turned the body watching as a heavy gleaming silver ring fell out which had a round thick plated surface with the image of a deer head with huge antlers on it. Like all werewolf rings it had adjustable hinges which meant it could be worn in both forms, she slowly picked up the ring putting it on the third finger of her right hand adjusting the hinges so the fit was perfect. She eyed the ring which was in essence the most priceless piece of her races history. The Imperial Council had no power to put forward any new law unless her seal was on them.
She slowly formed a fist looking at her ring watching as it gleamed in the sun light, she had in essence been missing from the Grand City for over two years which meant that the bastards were powerless which they had to be very unhappy about. To create a Horn Hind a fake a seal was forbidden and it was punishable by death, as the Horn Hind seal was very special. It was a ring forged from godly metal rumour had it by the Titans, though as far as she was concerned it was created by Ouroboros. When she'd received it, it had been a thick heavy gold ring with precious red jewels around the seal. Yet the moment she'd slipped it on the jewels had fallen out and disintegrating away and the ring had had thinned around the rim and the metal had turned in to light weight gleaming silver.
It had also adjusted to fit her human hand and her werewolf hand perfectly. This ring changed when ever a new Horn Hind put it on and its appearance changed to suit the person's personality. It was worn by the Horn Hind until there death and only after their death it was passed on to the next Horn Hind in a special ceremony. She lowered her gaze as her thoughts drew back to what Xena wanted her to sigh and seal a part of her hoped that it wasn't another agreement. As she'd already promised her that there would be no more agreements between them she took in a deep breath there was no point in dwelling over it she needed to just get ready and find out what it was.
8
Xena heard a sharp banging on her door she looked up slowly from her breakfast. "Come in?" She watched as Gabrielle walked in adjusting the collar of her shirt as she stepped inside. She felt a smile form as she carried on eating her late breakfast as she eyed the scroll on her breakfast table and the wax and ink well which she were already out. "Ah there you are." Gabrielle pushed her hair back which was still wet from taking a bath as she stepped closer to the other woman's breakfast table. She hadn't had her breakfast yet and was trying to ignore her stomach which was complaining silently not that it was helped by the Empress eating in front of her. She shook her head trying to ignore her uncertainty as she raised her hand so the taller woman could see the gleaming silver seal ring. "This is the Horn Hind seal there only one in existence and it's only worn by the Horn Hind no other werewolf is allowed to wear it."
Xena put her fork down as she eyed the gleaming seal ring. "Your people must be worrying that it's missing along with you." Gabrielle felt a cold smile form. "When I was sent to kill you the Imperial Council wanted me to leave it behind, to stop them from getting it I hid it away. They are not allowed to change any laws unless my seal is on the scrolls it was a security measure in my absence, that they have no power to change things." She felt her gaze narrow. "Because I don't trust the bastards and I refuse to give them full power in my absence I am still king and my ring proves who I am even in human form." Xena felt her smile widen. "Please sit down." Gabrielle slowly moved forward sitting her self on the other side of the round table suddenly feeling even more uncertain of her self.
She really didn't know that this was all about and she wasn't used to it, normally when she got given scrolls it was always very formal and boring. Xena looked up slightly she could see the uncertainty in the other woman's eyes. "Would you like some breakfast?" Gabrielle looked up sharply speaking before her brain could catch up with her stomach. "Yes." Xena felt her smile turn to a wide grin. "I'll get you something as soon as Ceto comes back." She slowly turned the scroll so it was facing Gabrielle's direction. "In the mean time I'd like you to read this." She slowly pushed the scroll forward so the other woman could see it, she watched as she picked it up reading slowly.
She lowered her fork. "I apologise if the writing isn't formal enough, I tried to make it as serious as possible." Gabrielle carried on reading only to tense as she realized what the scroll was, she looked up sharply. "This is about the hunting law on werewolves!" Xena eased up her other hand. "Please keep reading it'll all become very clear I promise." Gabrielle eyed her for a long moment before turning back to the scroll as she carried on reading only for her world to freeze as she reread it again unsure as to whether or not she was seeing things or imagining things. The words were clear as crystal but it was hard to believe they were real.
"With this scroll I here by end the hunting law against werewolves.
The hunting of werewolves is now illegal through out the Greek Empire, and anyone caught hunting werewolves for pelts, skulls, and meat will be punished. Selling werewolf parts on the open market is also now deemed illegal and anyone doing so will also be punished. Eating werewolf meat in dishes and drinking blood is also a criminal offence.
All purchased werewolf items are to be brought to the palace as they will now be handed back to the werewolf society so that their dead can be buried in a way fitting to them. All recent werewolf attacks and deaths in the Greek empire are to be written down on scrolls and sent to this palace as from this day onwards they can be dealt with by a very important and powerful werewolf figure who has the power to end these attacks and deal with those who are causing harm personally.
Werewolves from this day forth will have the same civil rights as Centaurs, Minotaur's and Satyr's as they are an intelligent race, they have been very much misunderstood in these past few years and it has come my attention that I have misjudged them. I am now in the process of working to form an alliance with them and will hopefully end the disputes between our two races."
Xena Empress of Greece
Xena watched as Thaleia opened the middle door very carefully she put a hand under her chin as she met her gaze ignoring her surprise as she caught sight of Gabrielle sitting opposite her on the breakfast table. Gabrielle didn't seem to notice her as she was far to focused on the scroll which she was now staring at. She looked up slightly. "Hello Thaleia." Thaleia stood up slightly she hadn't expected to find Gabrielle in the Empress's room. "My deepest apologises Empress I meant to knock I was just searching for Gabrielle." Xena raised an eyebrow placing her spoon down as she put her hands under her chin. "Gabrielle's just reading a scroll I gave her could you please get her, her breakfast?"
Thaleia nodded as she looked up. "Of course Empress I'll bring it through to her." Xena watched as she smiled before closing the door turning back to Gabrielle who was still staring at the scroll. "The scroll just needs your signature and your royal seal." Gabrielle looked up snapping out of her haze. "This is an end to the hunting law." Xena nodded as she looked at her half finished breakfast plate. "Yes I've been working on it ever since I saw you bury your loved one, I'm sorry that it's taken so long to get to you but I needed it to be perfect. All that it really needs is for you to do another version in werewolf tongue so that your people will see that it's very serious."
She lowered her gaze. "It will be signing and sealing just like this one, which can go out today as soon as you as sigh it and put your seal on it. The one in werewolf tongue can go out as soon as you finish it just as second confirmation that this is a very real scroll and both our races can read their version." Gabrielle slowly put the scroll down. "Why are you doing this?" Xena raised an eyebrow. "I'm doing this because I misjudged you and your race deserves better as do you. Also if any among your race are half as noble as you are then they deserve the chance to show off that nobility to the rest of the human race." She leaned closer seeing something she'd never seen before she could see the beginnings of a smile on Gabrielle's face.
It was a half smile and not quite complete but it was a smile and the first genuine smile she'd ever seen her make. Gabrielle breathed in trying to ignore the pounding of her heart which was threatening to explode out of her chest. She also had a feeling of happiness which seemed so strange to her as it had been so long since she'd felt this way. She breathed in deeply trying to calm herself down as she took hold of the quill carefully putting her signature opposite Xena's. She eased up the candle wax pouring it carefully on the scroll. She didn't think as she slammed her fist down hard pressing in her seal. She carefully pulled her fist away eyeing the seal as she met the other woman's gaze. "Thank you this means a lot to me."
She paused before speaking again as she pushed the scroll towards her. "I'll create a version in my own language as soon as possible." She looked up suddenly feeling unsure of herself again. "I should leave you alone I'm sure you have important business to attend to." Xena shook her head. "No as a matter of fact I don't and I'd like you to stay here and have breakfast with me." She looked at her seeing the uncertainty in the other woman's eyes again clearly she was very much out of her comfort zone and unused to this. "That is if you'd like to stay here and have breakfast." Gabrielle lowered her gaze putting her hands together she knew it would look rude if she went away now so it was best that she stayed despite how uncertain she felt. "Yes I'd like to have breakfast here with you." Xena felt a smile widen. "That's nice because I'd very much like your company."
End of part 42
Silvermoonlight
I just wanted to say in advance that Xena and Gabrielle's relationship will develop slowly because I really want end result to feel genuine rather than throw them in to a bad situation which will force them together. Don't worry it won't be really slow and there will be plenty of interesting moments :)
I hope those who went to the Xena Creation 2012 Convention had a great time, I saw the video of Xena (Lucy) proposed to Gabrielle (Renee) what a great maintext moment, you lucky people.