A DEEP ACT OF HONOUR AND COMPASSION
Darkness a drifting warm darkness all around me embracing me it so nice like being hugged, it's like a warm softness, wait a second. This isn't a dream I know its not I can feel it even in this half dreaming state, someone's with me sleeping next to me. No there not sleeping with me there up against me I can feel there body up against mine and their arm wrapped around my waist pulling me closer to them. I have no idea who is up against me, wait I can smell jasmine and the faint smell of leather soap. I know these smells they have penetrated my soul and my very being over these past months. Its like there a part of me and in these past hours of my long walk in Corinth before I came in to this villa I missed them so much. Maybe I'm still dreaming and this is all in my head but it feels too real to be my dream, I want to wake up just to know for sure. I'm not tired anymore I also have no idea how long I've been sleeping for but I know I need to wake up now, I know I'm a long way from the palace. I know it will be a long walk home but I know that now feels like the right time to return to the one place that I considered my home, above all others.
Gabrielle opened her eyes watching as the darkness of the room came in to view. She took in a deep breath only to stop as she felt someone move up against her body. She felt her eyes dart as she looked down catching sight of the arm wrapped gently around her waist which she recognised instantly by the fingers and signet ring. She could smell jasmine and leather soap now the smell was so strong that she couldn't escape it. She turned slowly watching as Xena's face came in to view the taller woman was fast asleep. Even though she was sleeping she could see a smile on her lips. She found herself staring at the other woman in shock what in the name of Ouroboros was she doing here? She hadn't expected her to be here, let alone be sleeping in bed next to her with her arm wrapped around her, not after the argument they'd had. She felt her sword slip from her fingers before she could stop it. The weapon hit the marble floor hard causing a deep echo to vibrate through the small guest room. She watched as the other woman's light blue snapped open and her arm left her waist as she bolted up right in bed pulling up her own sword which was close by in a lighting fast motion.
Gabrielle eased herself out of bed staring at her as she grabbed her fallen sword as a feeling of nervousness took over as she spoke unable to keep the uncertainty out of her tone. "I'm sorry I…dropped my sword." She looked down at the floor. "I didn't know you were here." Xena looked at the younger woman who now looked completely out of her element she could see her reflective lenses in the darkness and the utter confusion in them. She slowly got up off the bed putting her sword back in to her scabbard as she turned to face her. "I came looking for you." Gabrielle opened the curtain behind her seeing the dark sky outside as she moved over putting her boots back on then put her second sword back in to its scabbard. "You came to find me?" Xena stood up moving towards her. "Yes I came to find you, I was worried about you." Gabrielle stepped back as she pushed the door open watching the gardens came in to view. She needed to get some fresh air, it felt as though nothing made sense to her anymore the last thing she'd expected was for Xena to leave her palace to go and find her. She walked out in to the garden watching as the other woman followed her, the concern in her eyes.
She walked in to the centre of the garden which were empty of people it was early in the morning though the sun had not fully risen in sky yet. There was still a blanket of darkness along with the light which was breaking through the sky in the distance. She stopped opposite one of the huge statues which had a tall over grape vines over hanging it and peach and apple trees surrounding it. She paused watching as the other woman came to stand opposite her. She eyed the sword in her hand what did it matter why the other woman was here? It wasn't her place to question she was here now and she could apologise and do what was right. Xena eased up her hand. "I was worried about you Gabrielle you didn't leave a note, it took me a while to find you I didn't expect you to end up in Abraxas's villa." Gabrielle looked down the floor. "Ilithyia invited me here I thought it would be rude to say no." Xena moved a step closer to her she spoke in a calm tone hoping it would put the other woman at ease. "You know you were right I really don't spend enough time outside my own palace walls. It was nice to go out in to my own city I'd forgotten what it looked like." Gabrielle eyed the sword in her hand for a long moment through out her life she'd been forced to kneel to the will of others.
She knew though that this time was different though, she would be kneeling because it would a personal choice not one forced up on her. She couldn't stand the thought of being seen as dishonourable or unworthy of her sword and just wanted to put things right between them, what ever it took. She eased her other sword free from her scabbard ignoring the other woman's confusion. She breathed in deeply lowering herself on to one knee as she put her other sword on the floor. She eased up her second sword lowering her head to floor as she moved the sword higher trying to keep the pain out of voice as she spoke. "I surrendered my sword to you so that I may redeem my soul I have clearly dishonoured you and my sword with my actions during the androphonomania massacre." She breathed in sharply ignoring the pain in her chest and the tears which threatened to fall. "Please take my sword from me and I will do everything in my power to gain it back and regain my honour in yours eyes. I'll do what ever it takes and do what ever you ask of me to redeem my soul, you have only to ask and I will honour it with out question."
Xena felt her body freeze as the pain twisted in her chest this was the last thing she wanted she didn't want Gabrielle kneeling to her she didn't deserve to kneel to her. She knew though that Gabrielle's life was about honour and her doing this was her way of righting the wrong she believed she had committed. She closed her eyes as the younger woman's words from when she'd been bleeding on the floor after she'd been stabbed by Adrienne came back to her. "You are such a beautiful woman…I think…the gods you worship would kneel in the face of such radiant beauty. I know I would kneel to you…if you asked it off me." She opened her eyes looking at the other woman who wouldn't look up and remained kneeling with her sword outstretched. She took a step forward realizing that there was only way to fix this, she took the other woman's sword from her hands looking at it for a long moment watching as younger woman lower her hands which held the weapon while keeping her eyes fixed to the floor. She slowly lowered herself on to knees in front of her. "I'm sorry Gabrielle." She gently took hold of her hand putting it back on the hilt of the sword. "You deserve this weapon you have not dishonoured it."
She shook her head sadly. "It was wrong of me to say that to you, there are those out there who are unworthy of their sword and should give them up to redeem themselves but you not one of those people." She moved her hand up putting it under the younger woman's chin using it to gentle ease up her head she could the surprise as green eyes as they met her own. "You are worthy of your sword and I have no wishes or demands of you, you don't have to redeem yourself in my eyes." She looked up slightly. "I only have one request." Gabrielle felt her eyes dart. "What is your request?" Xena leaned closer to her. "That you never kneel to me again, my higher position of power does not mean that you should ever have to submit to me like the other royals do. You are not my lesser you are my equal and my friend and you matter to me more than anyone, so please stand up." Gabrielle stood up slowly she eased both swords back in to their scabbards on her back. She had not expected her kneeling to go this way she'd assumed Xena would want her to redeem her self. Not that she would give her sword back and say that she'd honoured them, she watched as the taller woman slowly stood up.
She lowered her gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to smash your vase, I was just mad…I'm too proud to admit it, but I have a problem with my temper I can't always stay in control of it." Xena moved her hand putting it gently on her arm seeing that she was once more looking at the floor. "No I'm sorry for calling you a stupid monster that breaks things and for saying that I have to clean up your mess. I don't care if you trashed every room in my palace it wouldn't matter to me, things are things they can be replaced, repainted and rebuilt but you can't be replaced and I'd be lost with out you." Gabrielle laughed but it was a sad laugh even to her own ears. "You didn't have to come here I wasn't running away I would have returned to the palace, I just needed time alone to think things through." Xena eased up her other hand putting it on her other arm. "I came here because I wanted to find you Gabrielle, because I didn't listen to you. I misjudged with out knowing everything about the androphonomania massacre." Gabrielle shook her head. "You didn't misjudge me I killed those people and they were all innocent I committed the worst of all sins and for what, a meeting with the Imperial Council, which I never got?"
Xena looked at her for a long moment. "I didn't give you a chance to tell me about the children the ones you risked your position to save, the werewolf with crooked horns that's what they all called you. You hid them under floorboards in chests and wardrobes anything to save them from being killed. I even spoke to one who's now a hoplite he spoke very highly off you." Gabrielle felt the shock hit home as the other woman's words sunk in. "The children I saved lived? I never knew that they had survived I had to leave the houses and pray to my goddess that they'd live long enough to be rescued." Xena nodded running her fingers gently up her arm. "Yes Gabrielle they lived and I should not have called you liar when you spoke about not killing them because you were telling the truth." Gabrielle breathed in painfully feeling a tear as it ran down her cheek. "What else could you have done? You had no living children to see that I was telling the truth." Xena put her hand on her shoulder. "What could I have done? I should have listened to and not doubted you and given you a chance to explain yourself." She eased up her hand running it through the long golden hair. "You love children, your kind and compassionate to the palace children and I should not have accused you of killing children it's something you'd never do."
Gabrielle breathed in painfully. "I'm sorry for everything that happened during the androphonomania massacre, you were right I should have been stronger. I should have said no to the Imperial Council, it was my place as ruler to do what was right…I just wasn't strong enough." Xena looked at her for a long moment. "No Gabrielle you were stronger you risked your life to save children you didn't even know." She paused before speaking. "That's why you want to be punished though isn't it? For all the lives you took and you didn't save." Gabrielle felt her body tense painfully. "Yes I thought you'd punish me for the androphonomania massacre because that would be justice for the husbands, wives and lovers whose lives I took." Xena shook her head sadly. "I think you have suffered enough Gabrielle both by the hands of others and my own hands and I won't bring anymore harm to you, nether will I allow others to do so. As far as my diplomats go I'll tell them the truth which was that you had no choice and the Imperial Council forced this up on you." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "They didn't force it up on me I went because I was told it was going to be an honourable campaign." Xena raised her hand. "Then they lied to you Gabrielle and we can use this and their past actions towards you to bring all the diplomats in Corinth to your side, I even have the hoplite you saved at the palace he wants to stand up for you."
Gabrielle shook her head unable to stop the tears as they started to fall freely. "You shouldn't be doing this Xena you shouldn't try to paint this picture of me." Xena eased up her hand wiping away her tears with her thumb. "I want to paint this picture of you, because that's how I see you, it's how I want others to see you." She eased up the younger woman's chin so their eyes met once more. "It's why I love you and all the feelings I have for you were never about conquest, I don't even care that your not human I want to be with you regardless." Gabrielle breathed in painfully. "How can you still love me after what I've done?" Xena felt a smile form. "I love you because I know you're a good person with a good heart and I know you don't see yourself this way but I would like to be the person to tell you every day how beautiful you are and how much I love you. I need to know though do you love me? I know you returned my kiss but I don't know if you did it to please me or because you thought you had to or because you wanted to." Gabrielle eased up her hand taking hold of the other woman's she felt no need to hide her feelings anymore. "I returned your kiss because I love you Xena." She lowered her gaze. "I'm just terrified of loving you because all my past relationships have ended in tragedy. The man I loved was murdered and my second lover abused me, I'm terrified to love and to be loved. I guess that's why it's been easier to deny all your affections because I thought it was better for you if you didn't love me or if I told myself it was all about friendship."
She took in a painful breath. "I don't want you to suffer or die because of me." Xena eased up her hand putting it on her face, gods it felt like such a weight had been lifted of her shoulders. The one question that always left her uncertain which was if this woman loved her had finally been answered and knowing that meant that the kiss that she'd shared had been very real. It also meant that the affection Gabrielle had showed her was because of her underlying feelings. She leaned closer to her. "I want to be with you Gabrielle I want to spend the rest of my life with you I don't care about the risks I can't imagine you not being in my life I promise you though that I won't leave you, I'll always be here for you." Gabrielle felt a sad smile form. "You can't promise that." Xena looked up meeting her gaze. "No I can promise that, because I would go any lengths to be with you and I will do everything in power to ensure that this relationship does not end up like the others." Gabrielle stood still realizing that she was once more paralyzed by the intense blue eyes which she couldn't break away from, no matter how hard she tried. "Really?" Xena felt her smile widen. "Yes sweetheart." She eased up her other hand running her finger gently down the scar on her eyebrow. "I love you Gabrielle and I'll do what ever it takes for us to be together."
Gabrielle raised her hand putting it on the other woman's face as she wiped away her tears. "I love you to Xena." Xena leaned forward gently putting her arms around her bringing her close, breathing in the smell of her hair. "Things will be different from now on I promise." Gabrielle tightened her grip around the other woman's waist. "I don't want things to be different I just want to be with you that's all that matters to me. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to realize it, I was afraid." Xena felt her smile turn to a wide grin. "It's all right I'd be scared if I'd suffered what you have, what matters to me, is you being with me. I missed you so much please don't walk out like that again." Gabrielle looked up she eased up her hand running it through the other woman's long dark hair enjoying the soft silky feel. She moved her hands to her face running her fingers gently over the contours enjoying the feeling of the soft skin. Xena leaned forward she couldn't stand it anymore she needed to kiss her just to feel her lips again. She leaned closer watching as the moonlight bounced of the other woman's eyes causing the lenses to reflect in such beautiful way as she moved her fingers to her face stroking gently.
She met her lips kissing softly enjoying the sensation there was no tension from Gabrielle this time, she found herself sinking in to her kiss as the other woman responded instantly and this time and with out any hesitation. Gabrielle felt the pounding in her chest as her heart beat faster she had stopped their last kiss but she didn't want to stop this one she wanted it to carry on. She could feel herself being backed up against the statue and she didn't care she wanted to feel the other woman's love more than she wanted to breath right now. She didn't care if they didn't do anything else but kiss tonight she just wanted to breathe in every sensation of love the other woman was giving her. She wanted to remember what it was to love someone and to be loved by that person in return. She could feel the fire of her desire and yearning taking over which felt so strange her even now. She knew she was sinking in to it and yet she didn't care, she wanted it more than anything. She loved this woman she'd loved her for a long time and she'd been so terrified of this moment in so many ways. Yet now that it was happening she didn't want it to end and she could feel those fears drifting away in the nothing.
Xena stopped taking in a breath she felt a wide smile form on her lips as she looked deeply in the other woman's eyes for a long moment before meeting the other woman's lips again enjoying the sensation which was warm, loving and passionate. She knew this moment would end but she just wanted to enjoy it with every once of her being. She wanted to do so many things with the younger woman there were so many ideas running through her mind right now of the things they could see and do as well together along with what she'd tell the public and the palace. In both cases she didn't care what the reaction would be she wanted to be with this woman and nothing and no one was going to stand in her way. She moved away from her lips kissing her neck gently watching as a wide smile formed on Gabrielle's lips showing her clear enjoyment of the sensation. She could sense nervousness though in that Gabrielle wasn't touching her sensually but she knew that would come in time. In truth it had been a long while for the both of them and they'd both have to find their feet again. She moved her hands up running them through the younger woman's hair, feeling her breathing slow down. She wrapped her arms around her bringing her close once more closing her eyes as she spoke in a gentle voice. "Don't ever change Gabrielle."
8
Talus adjusted his heavy red and bronze armour as he sat back in his chair in the tent listening to the screaming and angry screams outside of his army being killed. He wasn't winning this battle at all Joxer had decimated his men and he knew he had now been defeated. It would only be a matter of time before someone came in to the tent to end his life. He eyed the golden items on his desk in disgust then smashed his hand across them sending the pieces flying, Joxer was such a clever little bastard he couldn't stand it! He had been attacked by werewolves three nights in a row the attacks had meant that his best men had been killed. Because of this the battle was now a complete and utter as loss because his remaining men just weren't up standard! He had wanted this to be his glorious victory that would forever nail his name in to the history scrolls as the man who had defeated the Warrior King, yet now he knew that the end was near, it was only a matter of time. This whole battle had come about because he'd raped one of the female warriors in Joxer's army after capturing her. He'd beaten her to with in an inch of her life then sent her crawling back to him for personal amusement.
At the time he'd just assumed because this woman wasn't his favourite he wouldn't care about what had happened to her. After all she was a woman and a woman's duty was to please a man, which was why the gods had created them to serve and kneel and do as they were told. Joxer had taken this very personally though, he had sent him a message saying that he'd see him burn in Tartarus for his actions. He had clearly remaining true to his words. Obviously he had the idea in his head that women should be treated as equals and he didn't like slavery despite that there was good money in it. Not that any off this really mattered now he knew he couldn't escape this tent it was to late to do so, so he might as well just wait for his death. He put his hand on his chest ignoring the agonizing pain as it shot through his heart, he'd had this curse since his youth, he should have died as a teenager but the gods had kept him alive bearing the pain for many years. Maybe that's why he didn't want to run he just wanted to die to end the pain.
He looked up as a woman dressed in a red and black light weight hoplite armour walked in to his tent. She had a medium sized light weight Boeotian shield which the Trojans used on it was a red griffin head. Her skirt was light brown in colour and her helmet was plated in dark metal and had black and red horse hair plumes. He could see long black hair hanging down over her leather armour and sea blue eyes looking at him through the helmets eye sockets, in her right hand was curved Kopis sword. "Oh please Joxer sent a bitch like you to kill me, what is your leader being ironic, so I'm guessing your Leah, his new favourite?" The small woman stopped she slowly eased off her helmet putting it on his table in front of him. He could now see up close that there was a long slicing cut close to the helmets eye socket where a sword had once stuck it. He eyed the woman who was clearly not Leah but someone completely different he eyed the symbol on her shield. "Wait you're not Leah!" The young woman turned eyeing him as a cold smile formed on her lips as she spoke in an even tone. "No I'm not Leah though I did see her hacking up your men outside with the Warrior King it'll be a while though before they get to you Talus."
She didn't put think as she slammed her sword point between his legs then forced the shield under his throat in a violent motion pushing his head back with it. "You like taking girls and selling them in to slavery don't you?" Talus swallowed. "Yes I have…in the past." The woman's eyes narrowed. "Unless you want to be a eunuch you'll tell me if you stole a group of women from Potidaea eleven years ago! There was a girl among them with really long blonde hair and forest green eyes she would have been sixteen at the time. She stood up to you and your leader took offence to it. He apparently used his dagger to give her a diagonal scar on her right eye because she refused to call him master!" She pushed her sword blade up slightly. "Ringing any bells in that dense little brain of yours?" Talus looked up eyeing her in disgust. "No I never took a girl like that and our leader at that time did not like us to scar the goods or take away their virginity because it would ruin the sale price in Rome." He tensed painfully. "Every girl and boy I have ever sold was untouched."
He narrowed his gaze. "So I didn't take that girl so you can pull your sword away now." The woman eased her blade away keeping her shield in place as she spoke coldly. "I'm disappointed clearly you're the wrong slave trader." Talus raised his hands. "Well now that we've cleared that up how's about you get lost, I'd hate to be killed by a worthless woman like you." The woman turned sharply he could now see an old scar on her cheek which was very thin and had healed up a long ago, her voice hit the air filled with blinding rage. "My name is Lila and I am not worthless, you're the worthless one, you bastard!" She didn't think as she slammed her blade in to his chest full force ignoring his agonizing cry of pain. "I have heard that you already have a heart condition so this will be really painful for you." She lowered the shield watching as the blood ran down his chin. She pulled the weapon out with violent force watching as he hit the table hard his body shaking as death took over. She eyed her bloody sword for a long moment before eyeing him, bastard he wasn't the right slave trader! He wasn't the ones who had taken her older sister Gabrielle.
"Are you done?"
Lila turned watching as large Satyr walked in he was dressed in identical armour to hers complete with a brown hanging skirt. He didn't have a helmet due to his horns and no brown boots due to his heavy hoofed feet. His eyes were hazel in colour and he had a goat like face with ears which both had three gold earrings on each side. In his mouth were both chewing teeth and upper and lower canines similar to any human beings apart from there length which was much longer. Woolly black fur covered his legs, head and arms, she knew his chest was also covered in fur and he had a small goat like tail which was hidden from view. She slowly picked up her helmet putting it back on carefully. "I'm done Korudon." Korudon eyed the dead man. "Then we need to leave now? The werewolves out there are scaring me and you and I know that their all loyal to Joxer." Lila turned to her closest friend feeling a warm smile form. "We'll go now." Korudon breathed in with relief. "Good because Joxer's going to be really annoyed if he finds out that we ruined his chance of killing Talus, he loves killing slave traders just like you."
He paused eyeing the dead man. "How much is he worth dead or alive? You said he was a high on the wanted list." Lila turned slowly to him using the tent material to clean off her bloody sword. "He's very high up on the wanted list he's worth about two thousand coin give or take that was the Empress's last amount. She's wanted him dead for ages, ever since he slipped past her elite palace killer named Iona twice in a row. I heard that Iona was furious about it as she hates being made to look like an idiot." Korudon pulled his sword free. "That's a lot of coin, should we take his hand or his head?" Lila eyed the dead man. "His hand the one with the seal ring, Joxer will want his head." She ignored the sound off Korudon's sword as he cut of the dead mans hand. "We can cut the total amount in half and take half each then I can send a large amount of my share to my father to help him with the business." Korudon looked up. "I know that your father thinks that we are both in the Empress's army don't you ever worry that he'll find out that your really a mercenary and all the money that your little brother and your mother get is from us killing criminals and dealing with peoples problems?"
Lila shook her head. "I'm doing a public service I only kill criminals and all he needs to know is that I'm doing good, I'm making sure that no other bastard or bitch slave trader ever takes away a member of someone else's family again." She lowered her gaze. "I'm still searching for my sister because of the actions of a slave trader and no family should have to suffer what my family went through when Gabrielle was taken from us. It was never the same again, it broke my father's heart and my little brother hears about her all the time but he has never met her." She shook her head. "Recently I heard a new rumour that someone saw my sister four months ago in Corinth." Korudon put the body part away. "You really think you'll find your sister? I mean this could be a dead lead just like this one." Lila turned to him. "I have to try Korudon, she's my sister I want to bring her home where she belongs, I know she's alive I can feel it." She put her hand around her pendent which was the symbol of Athena. "Ever since Ephiny told me that she hadn't seen my sister I have been searching for her." Korudon shorted in disgust. "Ephiny's a bitch and she shouldn't even be Queen of the Amazons it should be Velasca, she's the right full heir. It was Terreis's last wish before her death that she take the throne, Ephiny forced her hand and took the mask from Velasca beating her in combat even though she's not worthy of it."
Lila nodded. "I know Ephiny was lying to me I could see it in her eyes, I was in a village many years ago I forget the name and this woman said she'd seen a young woman who matched my sister's description in rags. She said that she vanished that same night after a store keeper was ripped apart by a werewolf." She looked up slightly. "I just know it's all connected I can feel it I think she ran away the only thing that I can't work out is why she didn't come home, maybe she thought that she'd shamed us in some way." She felt a sad smile form. "That's Gabrielle though she always was a deep thinker who questioned everything." Korudon nodded. "We will find her Lila, I'll go anywhere you go after all if it weren't for you I would be dead now, you stopped those drunken thugs from killing me." Lila raised both eyebrows. "Well you know me I don't like people picking on others just because their different." Korudon turned as the noise grew louder outside. "Okay we have to go now, Joxer's coming and he'll kill us both if he sees that we took away his fun." Lila turned sharply. "You're right let's go." She walked towards the other tent opening not looking back as she closed it behind her, he was right Joxer wouldn't take this very well at all. He hated anyone interfering in his business he saw it as an offence and a dishonour to his warrior code.
Leah pulled open the tent easing up her bloody sword. "Hello Talus!" She stopped eyeing the dead body on the table feeling the shock hit home. Her gaze darted as Joxer burst in behind her his sword raised, his smile fading instantly as looked at the dead body. He took in a deep breath before speaking in an even tone. "Well this is very disappointing." Leah raised her hand. "I know I wanted to kill him myself, but someone else got here first and it know it wasn't your men or the werewolves." Joxer eyed the blood on the floor as he moved over to Talus's body grabbing his head by the hair easing it up to look in to his dead eyes. He turned eyeing the missing hand then he let his head go. "Mercenaries, clearly they wanted their coin hence why they cut of this hand." Leah blinked. "But they didn't take his head." Joxer stood up fully. "No they didn't which I'm surprised about as they honoured me." Leah eyed him. "You're not mad?" Joxer shook his head. "No I'm not I don't care who kills a slave trader so long as I get their head it's a matter of principle. Besides I need his head I have plans to send it to this slave trading sister who has also been selling people recently, before we pay her and her group of vile criminals a little visit." Leah eyed her bloody sword. "Well I hope I get to kill her." Joxer turned to her putting a hand on her shoulder. "Oh you will Leah I'll make sure of that."
End of part 85
Silvermoonlight
Thank you everyone for your kind reviews and feedback I really appreciate them. :)
Talus was in Death In Chains in season 1, though in this story his life took a very different direction.
I finally got to write a Satyr, been wanting to write one for years as there the rather quirky side of Greek Mythology the horny little drunks who chaise around Nymphs and seduce men and women. My concept for them is that they are in fact very nice beings but alcohol really impacts them much worse than other beings. Though there are Satyr's like Korudon who refuse alcohol completely, because they want to always be focused in their lives and not be a slave to it.