The Fires Of Blood And Glory

They say that there is no shame in dying on the glorious sands of the arena, they say that's what any gladiator or gladiatrix craves it more than the air of life its self. Sadly though to me it's a lie, the night would hold no salvation for me if I died on these sands and nether would it if she died with me on these sands. My name is Xena I once lived in Greece until I was captured as young girl, at the time I was fighting a rebellion against Rome as they spread their advance on to Greece's shores. Maybe I should happy that I didn't become someone's sex slave and be grateful that I didn't get sent to the mines to dig up silver and gold and live a very short life. No instead I was placed in the Ludus of Herculanum to be trained as a gladiatrix. I think it had become clear to everyone that I just wasn't obedient slave material and I was better off put to good use doing what I do best which is fighting other people. The first years of my life there seemed like a rush of nothing but training, killing and fighting along side the other male and female gladiators. I would have been happy to see my life end at this point despite my title of Black Lion and the wealth I owned. Yes that might surprise you I am very well off, still am, I had my own living quarters which I purchased at the Ludus.

I have my own bed furniture and everything I desire, I was even told that I could have a husband or wife, despite this all I did in my own time was drink away my sorrows. You can have all the wealth in the world and it does not change the fact that you are a slave and even though both the Dominus and Domina of my house are noble it does not change the fact that they can crucify me when ever they see fit or sell me on. That's what I felt until the day that she came in to the Ludus. A violent untamed force of nature, sold off because she killed two of forma master's guards apparently it wasn't pretty they say that she just snapped and their guts got spilled all over the place. Oh yes normally slaves die for this but this is Herculanum the place of the rich and powerful of Rome. It's a holiday resort for them and let's just say they like to pamper their egos and pretend that everything is nice here. So as a rule they don't like to kill slaves out in the open, here they like clean streets and for everything to look nice, it adds to the delusion.

Plus if you can sell on a problem slave, all the better and my Dominus loves problems slaves he will pay very highly for them. The only reason I'm alive is because he paid so highly for me all those years ago. Safe to say though that this woman became my problem he instantly ditched her on me after calming her down somewhat and giving her training and focus, he never broke her. He is not a man who believes in being brutal or cruel to force submission from slaves and he has never touched any female gladiator or taken one to his bed. His love is for wife and he treats the house slaves well, from what I've seen and heard. At first I though it was annoying that I had been saddled with some little blonde who was temperamental and difficult but you know when I think about it, I think I see what he had in mind. I didn't enjoy pairing up with the male gladiators on the sands not because I don't respect them because I do and they respect me as their equal. Its just I tend to take away their glory because I'm two well known, I'm the female gladiator the crowd cheers for and the best Herculanum has to offer, the undefeated female champion. Gabrielle became Champion in her own right she killed her way to victory but once her victories could not be measured it was better that we were put together as a team rather than seen as rivals. It's also worked out every well for us in another way some years ago I became aware that I was in love with her. This was before she became champion and got her nick name Golden Lion and she returned my love she had also been in love with me for some time.

I will never forget that night we made love in my quarters nor will forget the breaking off my heart as I watched her go out on to the sands the day after and almost die taking on three Gladiators in the arena. Nor how she looked as the healer stitched up the gapping wound in her side she was an inch away from death and I thought I'd loose her no one thought that she was going to pull through. I think my Dominus caught what was going on between us and that's when he paired us up as a team. Oh we do, do single fights now and again but its rare these days, they call us the day and night because we are so different in appearance but they say when the Black Lion And the Golden Lion roar all fall at our feet, that is sadly true today for our opponents today.

Xena pushed the sword blade through the mans exposed neck not really caring for the cheer of the crowd as he fell on to the sands his blood leaking on to it. She turned sharply watching as her lover sword forced its way in to the other female gladiatrix's stomach. Oh it wasn't the nicest way to leave the land of the living but then Gabrielle has never really had a lot of patience when it came to killing on the sands. She did but then she had done this for many years now she knew how to take her time, she watched as the woman's dead body hot the sands hard. She could hear the roaring of the crowd getting louder with the announcer pointing out their victory. She wasn't really listening to it despite striking a pose watching as her lover did the same, it was all part of the show and she was long past it. She bowed watching as the younger woman did the same, no what she waited for was the end of the game that was what made her life worth living.

She walked away watching as the younger woman followed as the huge doors closed before shutting behind them. She stepped in to the darkness of the room which was for gladiators to sit down and clean up, right now it was empty. She dropped her heavy helmet closing her eyes as she leaned against the wall as she sat on the wooden bench. "I wanted something more interesting." Gabrielle dropped her sword and shield as she sat down opposite the other woman taking the bloody Sica's from both her hands putting them down opposite her own weapons. "What do you mean something that would last longer?" Xena opened her eyes meeting her lovers not caring that she was covered in blood they both were. "Something like that yes." Gabrielle raised both eyebrows as she stood up. "Oh I see so you want a worthy opponent I'm not good enough for you then?" Xena felt a smile form as she grabbed the younger woman's arm pulling her close. "No you are my one and only equal and I would die for you in a heartbeat." Gabrielle leaned over placing a gentle kiss on her lips savouring the moment. "Thank you." She paused feeling a nagging question hit home. "Don't you ever worry that one day they might make us fight each other?" Xena eased up her arms wrapping them around her waist. "They won't do that."

Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "But what if they did?" Xena stood up slowly easing up her hands taking hold of the other woman's arms. "If it ever came to that I would ensure that you won." Gabrielle looked up slightly she knew what was coming the Black Lion her lion was full of battle lust and so was she and it needed to go somewhere, right now they were both holding it at bay. "Then make me a promise." Xena eased up her hands putting them on her lovers face. "Anything." Gabrielle breathed in as she was pushed slightly forcefully against the wall. "If it comes to that, there will be no winner and no loser we kill each other, because I could not stand to live a day with out you." Xena looked at her for a long moment she could see that she was serious and she also knew that she was right. She couldn't live without her ether gods she loved this woman far too much and she wouldn't deny any promise made, their love was above the arena. "To equal death then." Gabrielle breathed in as the other woman's hands started to roam all her body and the pleasure took over. "To equal death." She felt the other woman's lips meet her own again, she wasn't even clean of blood and she didn't care. That was the arena, blood death and love all at the same time and she wouldn't have it any other way

Silvermoonlight

This is based on a more realistic version of gladiators in that they could have wealth and there own quarters which could be very large and was also paid for out of their winnings. A Ludus was huge place Spartacus's ludus historically had 70-80 men who break out not 20 as shown in the series.

Herculanum was also Rome's holiday resort for the wealthy and rich to pamper themselves.