ECHOES OF SHATTERED BRONZE

I feel truly sorry for her right now, her ex is returning and she has no say to her coming here. I have a really horrible feeling in my gut about Adrienne's whole visit. This is the bitch who offered my cook a deal which she took it and that deal caused Gabrielle so much pain and suffering and meant that she didn't see the sun for two years or more. Clearly this is a dangerous woman who does not respect Gabrielle as king. This also brings up another nagging question how in Tartarus did this evil little bitch end up in Gabrielle's bed, as her lover? I mean she can do ten times better than some bitch like that she deserves to be with someone who loves her and who treats her with respect. I read Adrienne's letter to Gabrielle and yes it took a while as my understanding of the werewolf language isn't perfect yet but I got there in the end.

Frankly I was utterly disgusted by it. This is a woman who clearly sees Gabrielle as some kind of bed warmer all she could talk about was sex in an undertone fashion there wasn't even an, I love you. I would never treat her that way! I would tell her everyday that I love her if she were my lover. I still can't fathom how Gabrielle could go from loving someone like Damokles, who from what I've heard was a deeply honourable and loving man who would do anything to help her to this shallow bitch who clearly just wants to have sex with her and expects her to just play along and be happy about it. The only conclusion I can come to is that after Damokles was killed that Gabrielle became deeply depressed and lost her way and I've seen what happens to people going through this kind pain, they attracted people who want to take advantage of their weakness.

My guess is the Imperial Council used Gabrielle's depressed state to bring in someone who could manipulate her. Clearly they threw this woman her way as a means to take advantage of her open sexuality but also as a means of getting close to her and getting under her skin by whispering softly and sweetly in her ear. Sending a man her way after the loss of Damokles might have backfired as her feelings would have been far too raw. Maybe in her depressed state Gabrielle started to just give in and in doing so slept with this bitch. She said she saw her as a distraction and I can understand that as it's very easy to give in to distractions like this when the pain is so deep it becomes a way of letting go but its doesn't heal the soul. It just hurts it even more as the person who you're sleeping with does not love you and they never will and no matter how many times you sleep with them it doesn't change anything.

Its funny I've never even met this Adrienne and I already feel that I'm a better partner for Gabrielle than she is but I know that's my jealousy and anger talking and I'm not looking forward to her coming here. She's trouble and its no joke that she's probably a warrior just like Gabrielle and I'm guessing that warrior werewolves are both powerful and extremely dangerous and shouldn't be left on there own ever, at least not ones like her. I confess I didn't see Gabrielle last night but she didn't leave her room I'm guessing this is really hard for her and she's trying to stay in control of her emotions which must be difficult when it comes to this woman, I can tell just by the way she talks about her that she hates her very passionately. That in it self has alarm bells ringing for me I've never heard Gabrielle say that she hates anyone openly other than myself and I deserved it because I was treating her like a monster.

I dread to think what this woman did to Gabrielle to make her feel this way. I was going to leave her alone today but I've now changed my mind I will not have Gabrielle wallowing in pain all alone because I know better, once she gets in to a cycle of depression she has difficulty breaking free from it. I hate to see her depressed, she's been so happy lately and I really want to put a smile back on her face. Xena moved towards the inner door she knocked on it calmly. "Gabrielle?" She breathed in hearing no reply she slowly opened the door watching as Gabrielle's room came in to view which was empty. She closed the door behind her seeing the empty breakfast plates clearly Gabrielle had eaten so she was here. She looked up catching sight of her Collard Dove which had ruffled up its feathers and was sitting on the bed frame. She turned sharply hearing a chipping sound from behind the workshop door. She felt an inner smile form as she walked up to the door knocking on it. "Gabrielle?"

She looked up as calm voice spoke back. "Come in." She slowly opened the door watching as Gabrielle came in to view she was working on a huge wooden statue using a fine cutting tool to put in the last of the details which were vivid and beautiful. She stepped closer realizing for the first time what she was looking at it was huge wooden carving of Jason fighting the Hydra on the island of Lemnos so he could get the Golden Fleece from its lair. It was a stunning carving and by the looks of it, it was almost complete, Gabrielle was scratching out the last of the Hydra's scales. Jason was still alive though he was much older than her from what she'd heard but he wasn't a king anyone as he'd given up his kingdom to marry a woman called Eurydice from none royal background.

Rumour had it that now lived the quite life in side Satyr territory and played no more part in heroics and to even to speak to him you'd be very lucky. He had the Satyrs loyalty as he saved them from being killed by raiders many years ago and because of this they wouldn't tell anyone where his home was, or where to find them. When she had been young he had been the hero her mother used to tell her about and she had wanted so much to be like him, he had been her idol and even now as a grown woman she still wished that she could meet him. It was clear though that he would not reveal himself even to her despite that she'd said that he was more than welcome to come to the palace any time he wished. She kneeled down watching as Gabrielle finished her carving blowing away the dust. "This is magnificent." Gabrielle blinked in surprise eyeing the other woman she eased up her pipe which wasn't lit putting it in her mouth as she played with her carving tool. "Thank you but I still need to paint it."

Xena moved herself closer so she was opposite the other woman. "How long did this take you to carve?" Gabrielle eyed the carving. "A week I've been working on it in my spare time, it's for the children's new room." Xena eased up her fingers running over one of the highly detailed Hydra heads. "Why did you do the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "I don't know I guess it was a story my father used to tell me and my younger sister when we were small I liked Jason so much he's a great hero, I thought that the children should know his story." Xena raised an eyebrow. "Tell me have you ever seen him, I mean your well travelled?" Gabrielle shook her head. "I know where he is, he's in Satyr territory, it's very close to Apollonia I've walked through it but the Satyrs can make themselves disappear with the help of the Nymph's so I've never seen anyone there."

She paused as she took hold of candle getting ready to light her pipe. "I once got a message from the Satyr king Acteon he said to meet him in the central forest by the ruined white pillars I made the trip and I stood by those pillars in werewolf form and he did show himself but he looked at me and said you're not ready then he just walked off. I asked him how was I not ready and he just gave me a cryptic answer which was that my soul was missing the other half of it light. I've never understood what he meant by that to this day all I can assume is that I wasn't old enough or knew enough about being king and I can only return to him when I become a better king." Xena eased up her hand using it to lower Gabrielle's which had the candle in it. "I wouldn't dwell on it he's always been cryptic with me despite that we have an alliance. He sits in the yearly meetings but never says a thing all he does is push forward a scroll with what he wants for his people on my desk and I always agree with it, but we never talk."

She shook her head. "I get more out of the Minotaur and Centaur leaders than I do him they say he's that way because he sees things differently from us, rumour had it he can see the past with his right eye and the future in his left." She kept her hand on Gabrielle's. "When you visited him was Damokles with you?" Gabrielle shook her head feeling the sadness hit home. "No he had gone from my life all I had left of his was his ring." Xena turned to face her she put a hand on her shoulder stroking gently. "Tell me about the last time you saw him?" Gabrielle looked up feeling her eyes dart as the confusion took over. "Why do you want to know about that?" Xena kept hold of Gabrielle's hand as she put the candle down. "I want to know more about Damokles, because he meant so much to you and made you so happy." Gabrielle breathed in deeply feeling the memory flood back in to her mind.

8

Gabrielle lowered her gaze her world now felt like it was truly out of her control right now. Every thing had changed she'd gone from being a virtual no body to the most well known person in the Grand City. Every one knew she was Horn Hind everyone knew her name and she couldn't escape from them they were around every corner she couldn't even take a walk with out being surrounded by people desperate to see her. She was the first ever Horn Hind to be not be from a pure blood linage and that meant just about every one who hadn't been born a werewolf was even more desperate to speak to her. She now found herself hiding in side her living space watching as letters, scrolls and all manner of things were pushed under her door slot in an ever mounting pile which she couldn't even fathom going through right now. The Imperial Council had done their ceremony and had her sit on her so called gold throne as was custom. Then they'd told her that she had to live in the Crescent Hinds old quarters above theirs in the council area. She had refused she would not live there and nothing they ever said would make her do so, this room was hers and she wanted to stay here.

She felt happy here with Damokles, it was the only place she truly felt safe, he was guiding her through this and helping her to cope with the pressure she was under, he'd moved all his belongs down here and was now living with her. She wasn't used to being noticed ever since she'd arrived in this world of werewolves she faded in to the background and no one had ever taken that much interest in her. She still didn't understand why she'd been picked to be the next king maybe it was irony as she'd told the Crescent Hind that all he cared about was himself and not the werewolf race. She wasn't sure but something told her this was Ouroboros's doing. She had always remained true to her goddess and when ever she'd heard her voice she did what ever was asked of her. Though it had been a while since she'd heard it, she breathed in deeply adjusting her armour as she sat on her bed. Even if she had done it, why make her king? What was the method in the madness? She had no skills as a leader other than leading troops in to battle she knew nothing about the democracy she didn't even know how to speak people, she'd never even socialized.

How was she meant to even lead the werewolf race? She knew things weren't right but how was she even meant to put that point across? She ran both hands through her long blonde hair in utter frustration, this was such a mess in her head and she had no idea how to clear it. She breathed in deeply watching as Damokles came through dressed in his armour he closed the door behind him hard. She could hear people behind her door talking and chatting all of them desperate to get a look at her. Damokles breathed in eyeing his lover, she really wasn't coping well he could see it in her eyes she wasn't used to this kind of attention. Though in his view everyone should see her she was a very beautiful woman with a noble heart. He believed it was a great thing that she had been picked she was a person who believed in change and so did he. She had the power now to embrace her dreams and become a Horn Hind unlike any before her and he wanted to be with her all the way. The gods had chosen her above all others and he was willing to do everything to ensure that all those things she talked about became realities.

He breathed in deeply he hated though that he had to leave her, though it wouldn't be for long a week at most, the Imperial Council had told him to go to one of the other cities and spread the news of the new Horn Hind to those who had not heard about it. He turned to the door making sure her locking mechanism was fully across, he'd be back here as soon as possible he knew that she needed him more now than ever. He stepped forward feeling a smile form. "You know there going to break down the door soon." Gabrielle breathed in deeply putting her head in her hands. "Why is this happening to me Damokles?" Damokles walked towards her hearing the fear and uncertainty in her voice. "This is happening because the gods will it." Gabrielle looked up sharply. "I don't believe in your gods Damokles you know this." Damokles moved closer getting slowly down on one knee in front of her. "My gods your god it doesn't matter you were picked to be Horn Hind and you will be a great Horn Hind." Gabrielle breathed in trying to stop the tears from falling. "I'm not even a full werewolf Damokles I know nothing of what it is to lead people."

Damokles eased up his hands putting them on her face. "Please don't doubt yourself Gabrielle I believe you were picked because you want change, in all the time we've been together you've talked so much about change and how you want things to be and I agree with you. The werewolf race needs change it's falling apart at the seams, half breeds, full blood werewolves nether should matter we are all one and the same." He slowly met her gaze. "We need change now more than ever, you and I both know that werewolf numbers are dropping, last week I was reading through the scribes records. Full bloods numbers are plummeting, half breeds numbers are also falling the haunting law is now impacting us. It's gone up from twenty dinars a head to fifty now, something has to change." He felt him self breath in sharply. "If this carries on ten years from now our numbers will be half of what they were, twenties years or even thirty we might be extinct as a race."

He paused. "Things have to change and you're now Horn Hind you have the power to make things right and I want to be at your side to help you do it." He lowered his gaze. "The Imperial Council are corrupt and decadent and you now have the power to end there reign. You are the one true king of our people not them, Horn Hind should no longer be a figure head she should be the true ruler." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "You believe I can do all this?" Damokles nodded he leaned up gentle kissing her lips. "I believe you can do all this and more." He looked at her for a long moment. "Time changes Gabrielle but you always remain as beautiful as ever."

He moved his hand away easing his bronze adjustable ring free from his second finger. "The Imperial Council has sent me on a mission to another city I will be gone about a week." Gabrielle felt her eyes dart. "You can't leave now I don't know what to do or where to start." Damokles stood up slowly he eased up her hand gently putting the bronze ring on her finger. "Don't worry I'll be back before you know it, this is my ring it's very special to me and I want you to have it, when ever you feel alone I want to look at it and think of me." Gabrielle eyed the ring for a long moment. "I love you Damokles." Damokles smiled running a hand through her hair. "I love you to." He felt his smile widen. "Don't worry about a thing, I will return and then we can both begin the process of getting rid of the Imperial Council for the good of the whole werewolf race."

8

Gabrielle took in a painfully breath trying to stop the tears which were threatening to fall. "That was the last day I ever saw him." She looked down trying to gain some control over her emotions. "I never stopped wearing his ring I wore it until it was taken off me before I was put in the pit. After I found his body here I felt it only right to return it to him, it was never mine to keep." She closed her eyes unable to stop a tear as it ran down her cheek. "I think he just lent it me because he wanted to put my mind at ease because of what I was going through at the time." Xena eased out her hand wiping the other woman's tear away with her thumb. She could see that she wanted to cry but even in this moment she was trying to stop herself maybe she was doing so because she thought crying made her look weak, which it didn't. "He loved you deeply he was a very lucky man to have someone like you." Gabrielle laughed but it was a sad laugh even to her own ears. "Lucky no he was unlucky because of me he's dead."

Xena eased her hand under her chin using it to gently raise her head forcing her to meet her eyes. "No Damokles was lucky, he was happy with you and he loved you very deeply he believed in you more than anyone else, he saw how great you are and I don't think he'd take it back if he had the chance." Gabrielle felt her eyes dart she didn't want to admit it but she knew the other woman was right. "Thank you for letting me bury him in the royal gardens I know he'd be very happy to be buried under that apple tree, he always loved apple trees." Xena put her hands together feeling the need to ask a question which had been playing on her mind for a very long time. "The burial ceremony you did for him what did all that paint on your body symbolize and why did you set it on fire?"Gabrielle wiped away her tears breathing in deeply as she recomposed herself. "The paint symbols on my body represented the weaves and curves of my soul. Werewolves call the ceremony the Eternal Breath Of Fire, they believe that you cannot reach the heavens of a god or goddess without passing through the fire of another person's soul first.

That is the reason why I set those patterns alight on my fur so he could find his way to the Elysian Fields the fire torches were also put out to help to guide him there. I believe it's an ancient ritual which the first Horn Hind the Emerald Hind made after the death of his brother. They say he painted his soul on his body in weaves and set it alight to help guide his brother's soul to the moonlight, that's what I read in the library in the Grand City and saw the ritual performed many times while I lived there." Xena eased both her hands away watching as she raised the candle again getting ready to light her pipe. She eased out her hand putting it on hers watching as she looked up in surprise. "You know I have a better remedy if you want to try it, it's better than smoking." Gabrielle slowly put the candle down. "What's that?" Xena eased up her hand putting it on her shirt she slowly started to undo the top buttons, she ignored Gabrielle's surprise as she pulled down her shirt revealing her shoulders she stood up moving to sit directly behind her.

Gabrielle felt her eyes dart she had no idea what the other woman was about to do. "What are you doing I don't understand?" Xena moved her hand up pushing the other woman's long hair aside so she could see her shoulders. "Have you never had a massage?" Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak only to stop as the woman's hands found her shoulders they began their slow rotations as her fingers kneaded her muscles. Xena felt a smile form as the younger woman tensed painfully as she found a knot. "You know it feels like your carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders." Gabrielle winced painfully feeling the other woman find another knot. "No just the weight of my race that's how it feels sometimes." Xena shifted a little closer. "It's never easy being a leader people don't realize the pressure involved."

Gabrielle breathed in feeling her whole body start to relax as the other woman's hands worked their magic which felt so good to her at this moment in time. "Yet you always do it so well nothing ever fazes you, not even me roaring in your face when I'm not in human form." Xena moved her hand to her neck pushing her head forward very gently as she worker her fingers in to her skin. "If I'm honest it did scare me the first time, it was your upper and lower canine teeth." Gabrielle winced as she found a knot in her neck. "I can't do anything about those and I know they do scare people at times, some werewolves get lucky they don't have protruding canine teeth." Xena used her hand to bring her head up very gently as she moved her hands lower. "You misunderstand I really like those teeth of yours, they say a lot about you and that you are not to be toyed with or mocked." She moved her hands out from under her collar then pulled her shirts shoulders up then slowly eased up her shirt up at the bottom putting her hands under it ignoring the younger woman's surprise. "People never question that side of you, makes me wish that I could have a pair of those teeth I might get some of those who really annoy me to listen."

Gabrielle winced as she found a painful muscle in her lower back. "People respect you and listen to you, you have their loyalty despite how strong I come across I don't have all of my people's loyalty." Xena moved her hand up massaging the muscles on her central back. "No not yet but one day you will." Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Yes if I could stop them trying to kill me or trying to sell me out to the Imperial Council." Xena stopped easing her hands out from under Gabrielle's shirt she gently wrapped them her arms around her waist pulling her close. "You will have their loyalty Gabrielle, the only thing stopping you is the Imperial Council and they deserve to be dethroned you're the rightful leader and king of your race not them." Gabrielle breathed in deeply feeling the other woman's grip tighten around her waist she blinked trying to focus her thought's elsewhere ignoring the intimacy of the touch. There was nothing in this the other woman was just hugging her to make her feel better. "You make it sound so easy." Xena eased up her other hand moving a strand of her golden hair in between her fingers. "Some things are just that simple Gabrielle."

"Excuse me Empress I don't mean to interrupt you both."

Xena turned sharply feeling the moment of bliss shatter, why in Tartarus was this happening? Very damn time she got this close to Gabrielle it was like some one ruined it! She eased her arm free of the other woman's waist as she stood up slowly, she watched as Gabrielle got to her feet tuning away in embarrassment as she re-buttoned her shirt as quickly as possible. She turned seeing that Demetrius was standing close by she breathed in deeply unable to control her anger in her tone as she spoke. "Some one had better be dying!" Demetrius breathed in he knew he'd just ruined the Empress moment just like Phrixus had last night, he lowered his gaze to floor this really couldn't be helped though. "We need a new head cook today, the kitchen is falling apart and turning in to a disaster area."

He folded her arms. "The lesser group who have taken Kalika's place aren't good enough and not one of them will take charge and their making mistakes. Three people have been sick this morning I wouldn't have bothered you but so far I've had twenty complaints about food tasting bad and ten about it being late, the lesser staff need some one to lead them and quickly." Xena put a hand on her face great just great this was just what she didn't need right now. She turned slowly to Gabrielle. "I'm sorry I need to fix this, we'll talk later." Gabrielle nodded watching as she walked towards the inner door she looked up as thought crossed her mind. "You should put forward the position as open and allow those to come forward who really want the job and then have them cook for you. Then you should pick the one with the best tasting dish and put that person in charge." Xena felt a smile as she met the other woman's gaze. "Thank you Gabrielle I'll try that."

End of part 62

Silvermoonlight

Thank you everyone for your thoughts favs and comments I really appreciate them.