DEEP AND PROFOUND INNER STRENGTH
Phantasos eyed the thick crossbow bolt which was sticking out of Gabrielle's shoulder gods this was one nasty wound, frankly he was surprised that the young blonde woman was still conscious. He could only assume the reason that she was, was due to her werewolf healing ability it was clearly keeping her conscious, though she was starting to look pale. The Empress had brought her straight to his healing quarters because he couldn't take this bolt out with out his normal tools he needed something better. The young woman was now sitting on the healing bed so he could see the wound better, he breathed in deeply eyeing the Empress who was standing directly behind him looking concerned.
She was in fact blocking his light slightly because she was very close to Gabrielle keeping an eye on her. He stood up slightly putting a hand on his beard eyeing Iona, Thaleia and Ceto who were also in the room but standing near the door watching. He had wanted to kick all three of them out but he knew he didn't have the time he had to now work on getting this bolt out with out damaging Gabrielle's collar bone in the process. He took in a deep breath watching as the Empress's eyes darted as she spoke. "What is it?" Phantasos turned slowly to her. "I need to rip her shirt open to get this bolt out." Xena didn't think as she moved in front of him watching as Gabrielle looked up. "Can I rip your shirt?"
Gabrielle nodded painful watching as the other woman grabbed the shoulder tearing it open in a violent motion. "I liked that shirt." Xena pulled the bloody material back speaking in a soft tone. "I'll buy you a new one sweetheart." She stopped realizing what she'd just called the other woman, it had been a slide of tongue but she couldn't help it just felt so right. Gabrielle looked up sharply had Xena just called her sweetheart? No she couldn't have she was just imagining things. Her thoughts were suddenly shattered as Demetrius burst in through the door the shock in his face as he spoke. "I heard about what happened are you all right Empress?"
Xena eyed him for a long moment before speaking. "I'm fine in fact I'm still breathing because Gabrielle saved my life." She stepped back allowing Phantasos to see the crossbow bolt. "She took an arrow that was meant for me." Phantasos eyed the heavy cross bow bolt. "If only this was an arrow then it'd be easy to remove as it is this isn't, this is a crossbow bolt it's three times thicker than an arrow. Gabrielle's very fortunate that the arrow head went right through her back it means I can get this out. Who ever fired this knew just what they were doing and they were clearly a good marksman but obviously today there aim was slightly off."
He touched the bloody bolt. "Also I've never seen an arrowhead like this one before, it's not stranded palace issue clearly as it was specially made to kill with one shot." He grabbed a small metal saw before turning to face Gabrielle. "I'm sorry this is going to hurt I need to cut of the cross bow bolts flight end I can't just snap it, it's too thick and the last thing I want is for it to break off inside your body." Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "Believe me this isn't the first time I've been shot by an arrow or a crossbow bolt so please just get it over with." Phantasos rolled his eyes warrior they always made the worst patients, he turned to Xena. "I need you to hold on to cross bow bolts arrow just above the tip which is protruding out of her back the moment I cut the flights off I need you to pull it out along with the rest of the bolt."
Xena nodded taking hold of the cross bow bolt above the tip watching as he moved the saw slowly across the bolt which caused Gabrielle to flinch she held wooden bolt tighter hoping that it would dull the pain. Phantasos kept his eye on the wood as he carried on sawing slowly he eyed the blonde woman who teeth were grinding together this was clearly hurting her a lot but she trying her best not to show it. He eyed the others behind him. "Do any of you have any experience in cauterizing wounds through burning?" Demetrius stepped forward. "I do, I've done it many times on the battlefield." Phantasos turned back as he carried on sawing he was so close now to cracking the bolt's arrow flights off. "Good then go and heat that small bronze flat plate up over there I need it to be at just the right temperate." He watched as the dark haired man moved over to fire torch opposite pulling it off the wall he slowly picked up the bronze round flat plate which had a handle then put it in to the flames slowly heating up.
He turned back grabbing the flights hearing the crack as the saw broke through the heavy flight feathers, he smiled throwing the flight to one side then turned to the Empress. "You know what to do, pull it out through her back slowly." Xena turned eyeing the younger woman. "I'm sorry Gabrielle this is going to be painful." Gabrielle breathed in deeply before speaking feeling a half smile form. "I've been flogged, I can take the pain." Xena felt a wide smile form as she grabbed the cross bow bolt tightly. "Then this won't hurt at all." She pulled with her might watching as Gabrielle's teeth ground together she eased it slowly out watching as the blood started to steam down the other woman's shoulder the other woman's cry of pain hit the air as the bloody bolt was pulled free. She eyed it for a moment before throwing it to one side as Phantasos forced bandages down as the blood started to spill through the now open wounds on both sides.
He looked up sharply. "I need that heated plate now!" Demetrius moved forward handing it to him. "It's ready." Phantasos eyed the hot flat plate which was smoking and red hot he turned to Gabrielle who wasn't showing any fear. "I know you have an amazing healing ability but I don't want to you bleed out anymore, you've already lost a lot of blood and I don't want you to pass out." He pulled the bandage away from the wound above her chest. "I know that this burn mark will heal up and disappear tomorrow." He forced the flat plat on to her open wound hearing her cry out as it bunt her, he moved quickly to her back throwing the bandage of as he put the hot plate against her exit wound hearing her snarl inhumanly due to the pain. He pulled the hot plate away eyeing the both wounds which had now been burnt shut. He turned putting the hot plate on the bronze tray close by. "You're all done but you need to go straight to bed and rest as soon as Xena's cleaned all that blood off you."
Xena turned eyeing the others as she picked up a bowl of cold water and a cloth. "I'll clean the blood of Gabrielle and take her to bed." She slowly opened the other woman's ripped shirt as she began to wash the blood away watching as the other woman flinched painfully. Gabrielle shifted ignoring the pain. "I'm fine I don't need to rest." Xena carried on cleaning the blood away. "Please Gabrielle just do this for me, don't be stubborn." Gabrielle groaned as she met the other woman's concerned gaze, she rolled her eyes. "Okay I'll rest but not all night just for a couple of hours." Xena turned slightly eyeing the others as a question crossed her mind which had been bothering her for a while. "Tell me Iona why were you near the study?" Iona breathed in deeply watching as the Empress carried on cleaning away the blood from Gabrielle's shoulder causing her to wince painfully as it touched her burnt skin. "It is my duty to protect you Empress, I'm sorry that I disobeyed Demetrius orders." She paused before speaking unable to keep the pain from her voice. "It's just the only…"
Gabrielle winced as she eyed Iona. "It's the only place you belong and with out being in that place, your world feels empty?" Iona blinked in surprise she turned seeing the shock in the Empress's face before looking down at the floor. "What Gabrielle said is the truth, it is my duty to protect you Empress I will take any punishment you give me, for not doing as I was ordered." Xena breathed in deeply recomposing herself as she looked at Iona. "No you will not be punished, you were doing your duty and for that I'm grateful." She felt a smile form. "You'll just finish Demetrius's training later to night." Iona felt herself breathe out with relief. "Thank you Empress." Demetrius raised an eyebrow as he turned to Iona. "I agree with the Empress you'll just train later tonight and continue with your duty when it's needed, though I'll still be with you at all times to teach and guide you." Iona nodded she carried on staring at the floor as she spoke calmly. "As you both command."
Xena put down the bloody cloth and water she moved taking a fresh bandage then slowly wrapping it around the younger woman's clean wound. She tied it up then slowly helped her to her feet keeping her arm around her back. "Come on I need to take you to your room." She eyed the others. "Thank you for your help Thaleia and Ceto you can both take the rest of today off. Demetrius and Iona you can both go back to your duties and find out who did this." Iona nodded watching as Demetrius did the same thing. "I'll take one of my best men and see how those bastards got in to the palace to start with I'll also find out what happened to the warriors whose clothes they stole." Xena nodded as she passed her by. "Please do that as I want to know that as much as you do." Phantasos watched as Xena left with Gabrielle closing the door behind her he eyed the others. "You can all go back to your duties now I'll clean up in here."
Iona moved toward him putting her hands behind her back speaking in a low tone. "Can I have the arrow head the Empress took out of Gabrielle's back?" She paused before speaking again she wasn't used to using this next word at all. "Please?" Phantasos blinked in surprise he slowly leaned over taking hold of the bloody bolt passing it to her. "Of course…make sure you find out who did this and tell me, because I've never seen this type of arrow tip like this one before." Iona turned the bloody arrow bolt eyeing the arrow tip which had a deep inner grove in its middle which was clearly meant to stick inside the body when it penetrated but in Gabrielle's case it hadn't. "Don't worry I am going to find out where this came from, even if I have to resort to beating the Tartarus out of the bitch who survived." Ceto breathed in sharply. "Well I hope you do because this time it was far to close to call, if Gabrielle hadn't pushed the Empress out of the way she'd be dead."
Thaleia folded her arms. "No we should all be grateful that Gabrielle is a werewolf because she's going to heal up without a scar." She opened the door watching as Ceto followed her. "I'm glad that she'll going to be all right she's my friend and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her, I don't think the Empress would ether, she clearly cares a great deal about her." She took in a deep breath as she closed the door behind her. Ceto turned to her. "Are you okay?" Thaleia looked up slightly. "I'm fine I've just never seen so much blood before." Ceto put a hand on her shoulder. "This is part of your duty as a personal maid and I know how hard it can be I've seen the Empress covered in blood with a bloody sword in hand many times. It can be quite a shock the first time around. It's best to just take a walk in the gardens and gets lots of fresh air, you'll feel much better believe me." Thaleia nodded as she turned to her. "I'll do that thank you."
8
Xena turned the corridor keeping a tight hold of Gabrielle who looked slightly pale saying that though if it had been anyone else they probably wouldn't be walking right now not after a fresh cauterized wound like this. They'd be lying on the floor unconscious she could honestly say that from personal experience she had a scar on her chest from where an arrow had hit her on the battlefield during the Spartan uprising. She'd spent three days in bed after Phantasos had taken it out she'd never felt so ill in all her life. She had come so close to death if that arrow had been an inch higher it would have pieced her heart instead it had grazed her lung which had been very unpleasant, but in the grand scheme of things she'd take the intense chest pain over her heart being stopped any day. She looked at Gabrielle for a long moment clearly werewolf healing was remarkable
She moved her hand pushing open the other woman's bedroom doors as best she could. She watched as the other woman eased herself free of her grip sitting herself down on the chair next to the breakfast table, as she pulled the scabbard holder free of her shoulder then put both swords on the table in a swift motion before eyeing her bloody ripped shirt again as she spoke in a tired tone. "Clearly people really do want to kill you." Xena felt a smile form as she down on the chair opposite eyeing the dark sky outside the balcony she took one the candles lighting it before placing it on the table in front of the other woman. "Yes they do but today I was very well protected thanks to you."
She paused before speaking watching as the candle light flickered close to the other woman's forest green eyes causing its beautiful lighter green hues and tones to reflect ever so slightly in the dim light. "You said you've been hit before by an arrow and a crossbow bolt." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "A couple of times yes, safe to say you never look at arrows quite the same way again after one hits you in your privates in werewolf form it hurts a lot, as for crossbow bolts I've been hit in the back more than once with one in both forms." She eyed her shoulder again. "Normally though they don't go right through my body and I can pull them out myself." Xena looked at her again eyeing her bloody shirt she slowly stood up walking up behind her. "Let's get you out of that bloody shirt and in to bed."
Gabrielle looked up slightly. "I'm fine really." Xena put a hand on her good shoulder. "Please let me get that bloody shirt of your back Gabrielle." She watched as the woman lowered her gaze in deep thought, she felt her eyes dart as realized why she was saying no. To take of her shirt meant she'd be topless and maybe she felt subconscious about that. She breathed in deeply she knew Gabrielle didn't see herself as beautiful or attractive and because of that she was sure that she was holding back because of it. It also felt odd as she was well aware that the other woman had seen her naked already though she hadn't said anymore about that day and she had chosen not to push her. She wouldn't push her now ether or say that because she'd seen her naked that she now had the right to see the younger woman's body.
It wasn't the right thing to do instead she wanted help her to be more comfortable she walked over to her cupboard opening it slowly so her back was to her. "What do you sleep in?" Gabrielle stood up slowly ignoring the pain in her shoulder. "My underwear." Xena closed the cupboard. "Would you feel better if I kept my back turned? That way you can get in to bed and I don't have to see, but if you want my help just ask." Gabrielle took in a deep breath she shook her head eyeing the dark haired woman who now had her back turned to her. Xena wasn't going to change her mind and leave the room she knew that already. She slowly began to un-buttoned her ripped shirt only to feel the pain as she tried to pull it free, she eyed the other woman trying again only to feel more pain she turned slowly to Xena. "Please help me with my shirt."
Xena turned moving towards the other woman so she was behind her back. "I won't look I promise you that." She took hold of the bloody sleeve easing it free of the other woman's shoulder keeping her eyes low. She could see the strong ripple of muscles on the other woman's back and shoulders and arms clearly from a lifetime of fighting and yet despite this she was still very feminine and beautiful. Gabrielle moved her bandaged shoulder slightly ignoring the pain. "Thank you." Xena turned slowly so she had her back to her again as she eyed the bloody shirt as she heard the other woman pull her boots and belt off. "How big is a werewolf's heart?"
Gabrielle pulled her trousers off she slowly walked over to the bed easing herself under the sheets pulling them up to cover her chest. "It's bigger than a human heart." She paused before speaking. "You can turn around now." Xena turned slowly on her heel she picked up the other woman's swords from the table along with the candle. She walked up to the bed watching as the collared dove flew over landing directly on sheets in front of the blonde haired woman who stroked its back feathers gently a wide smile forming on her lips. "How big though twice or three times the size?" Gabrielle leaned back on her pillows taking hold of her pet with one hand as she took hold of the plate on the side table next to the bed which had bread parts in it. She picked one up feeding it to her pet which pecked at it as it started to eat.
She stroked its feathers watching as the dark haired woman sat opposite her bed putting her swords next her bed side and the candle on her side table next to her. "It's bigger but only by a third even in human form but it's not the size that counts so much, it's the chambers there are five chambers and not four like a human heart it means the blood gets pumped around harder and faster, hence why wounds heal faster. In this fast moving blood is the gift of healing, but I can't tell you what that is because even I don't know." She stroked her dove under the neck watching as it finished the bread. "That's what the werewolf healers told me in the Grand City at least, don't know if its true through, I also don't pretend to understand why I don't carry the curse anymore even though I'm Horn Hind."
Xena moved her hand up stroking her face gently. "Some things aren't meant to be understood that was what my mother used to say." Gabrielle eased up her hand taking hold of the other woman's. "Where is your mother now?" Xena lowered her gaze sadly. "She died a long time ago." Gabrielle looked up slightly meeting her sad light blue gaze. "I'm sorry." Xena shook her head. "It's all right, she became very sick and died there was nothing I could do my father has never has forgiven me for it though, he believed that with all the power of Greece I should have been able to heal her." Gabrielle lowered her gaze sadly. "No one can control death Xena it comes to us all eventually." Xena shook her head. "Your right it comes to us all, I guess what matters is how you greet it in the end." She stood up slowly. "You should get some rest it'll help you heal that wound."
She leaned over gently placing a kiss on the younger woman's head before pulling away. "I'm sorry we didn't have lunch as I promised you." Gabrielle blinked feeling uncertain of her self once more, had the other woman just kissed her? Yes she had why had she kissed her. She shook her head snapping out of her thoughts. "Its okay there will be another time I'm sure." Xena moved towards the middle door opening it slowly. "Yes there will." She turned slowly to her taking in a deep breath gods the younger woman was beautiful. "Goodnight Gabrielle." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Goodnight Xena." She watched as the other woman closed the middle door behind her. She looked down at her dove before leaning over and picking up more bread gently feeding it as she stroked its back. That was an act of friendship that was all it was it wasn't romantic, there was no way a woman as beautiful as the Empress was would ever love her, not in that way.
End of part 56
Silvermoonlight
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