A/n: thanks for the support guys, I'm really glad you guys like this story because I enjoy writing it, btw I did watch the gladiator last night for the first time ever, I swear! It was just a coincidence the it was Jane Shepard of Spain and that's where the guy was from, I just thought it sounded kinda cool tbh you know "sos" Shepard of Spain, no? That's not cool to anyone but me?…anyways! I would love to here your feedback so review and enjoy!
"Who! Do you think you are?" Ferons hands slammed down on the table making liara jump as she stood in the far corner, She watched how Shepard didn't move a muscle though, the red haired slave just sat there, staring intensely at the candlelight flickering back and forth in the middle of the table.
"To you…I am just a nameless slave, someone who walks amongst the undead, someone who kisses death everyday. To you I am an urchin, who robs and murders, but simply is trying to survive. To me I have a name, and the crowds might sing it and the whore might moan it, but to me…" Shepard looked up at liara with the same intensity she had given the dancing flame, "There is only one persons lips I would die to hear it escape."
Liara shivered like the flame at the primal lust that shined in shepards eyes. She looked away to liaras relief, her eyes now harden when she looked at liaras betrothed. That was beautiful, slaves didn't speak with such passion and they didn't have such a powerful diction when they spoke. Slaves didn't really speak at all when royalty was around. They weren't aloud to.
"I would like to take my leave now." Shepard said standing up. "I must get my rest for practice tomorrow."
Feron crossed his arms, "You're not going anywhere. Guard, take Shepard to the holding cell."
Shepard smiled, "Watch me." She licked her fingers and pinched the candle light. The room went completely dark and silent, the last sound that was heard was the draw of the guards sword and the sizzle of the candle going out. Liara stood completely still in the dark, she
Could make out figures moving across the room, a gasp escaped her as she felt her hand being grabbed and a soft, warm pair of lips being pressed to the back of her hand.
Her hand fell with theirs and it was gone the next. Clenching her eyes closed, the tingle still dancing across her skin as if the lips were still there. She heard a laugh come from the opposite side of the room then a loud thump as something hit the floor. Liara controlled her breathing. Barely. She was petrified, especially when she heard that laugh.
A match was stroke and the candle was relit. Liaras eyes slowly flutter opened, she swallowed a rock in her throat when she saw the guard passed out on the floor and a sword in shepards hand pointed toward Feron. A lazy smirk fell on shepards face. "I always carry matches…you never know when you might need one." Shepard said.
Feron gulped, "…Obviously the overseers need to search you slaves better."
Shepard smiled, "No one touches me." She dropped the sword and began walk toward the door where Liara stood. Feron snatched the sword and put it toward shepards back. "Don't make this a thing, Princess." She mocked. She turned around slowly the blade touching her body the entire time. Liara watched. Terrified, but beyond interested.
"Sit back d-"
Shepard kicked Feron in the groin, slowly he crumpled, letting the sword fall out of his hand. Jane shook her head, "They never learn to leave me alone." She turned to Liara. "Do they princess?" Liaras heart stopped, and just as fast sped up like a steam engine. Shepard stepped closer edging Liara closer to the wall. Inches apart Shepard breathed in liaras scent. "The pleasure is mine, your highness." She whispered huskily.
Liara let out a shaky breath, her stomach felt as though it was filled with jello and her knees felt as weak about as just as much her head felt light. "T-Thank you and Like wise…Jane Shepard of Spain." She kicked herself for how formal she sounded, it had came out too choppy.
Unable to help herself, Shepard caressed Liaras smooth, beautiful face. A gasp leaped out of Liaras throat and she resisted the urge to…actually lean into the warm welcoming touch. "Fare the well princess, may our paths intertwine soon and stay that way." Shepard let go and left the room.
Liara let her shoulder hunch over, it was extremely too hot to be proper. She had just noticed how flushed she was.
"Why didn't you stop her you buffoon?!" Feron groaned. "Go get help!
Liara straightened her shoulders, "My apologies my king, I will alert the guards.
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"How could that peasant detest me! Who the hell does she think she is?!" Feron shouted, his voice was so loud that the guards standing outside of liara's bedroom could hear coherently, they didn't even have to eavesdrop like usual, no doubt they were ready to spread the word that there was trouble in paradise-well, ferons paradise, liaras…not so much, quiet the opposite really. She really didn't even see what the big deal was, people disobeyed all the time. She was more interested to WHO disobeyed, who was that red head? Really, not the slave, not the murderer, but the woman.
"Jane Shepard of Spain! Shepard the savior!" Liara snapped back to reality, her hearing perked as the name was mentioned for about the thousandth time today, last she heard the name it was from aria, it was rumored that she was also interested in the mysterious woman and would possibly purchase her, making her a sex slave. Liaras stomach twisted at the thought, however, she did not know this possible, "revolutionary" or "liberator," rather, she somehow felt she wouldn't be okay with that, the woman seemed as though she had more potential than a sex slave or even a regular slave.
Liara sighed inwardly, for she knew if she had sighed out loud, feron would jump down her throat and this entire thing was already getting tiresome, she didn't need yet another reason for a migraine to kick in."Feron, please. Calm down, it was only a simple-"
"Of course you would say that!" Liara looked a little bit taken back when the words came spewing out angrily. Just what was he trying to say? "I hope you enjoyed the show, Princess." He mocked, "Who the hell did she think she was? Amonkira? Lord of the hunters? Well, if she thinks she's going to get away with this, she's sadly mistaking."
Liara stood from her bed, "Feron. Can you not just let this go? What could you possibly do to her? She is already a slave, there is no need to worsen her fate." The princess felt bad for speaking badly about the woman, but she was helping her, at least she was trying to. Liara continued solemnly, making it clear to sound nonchalant. "I believe we should keep her alive." She moved away from Ferons burning glare, feeling as if she should stand there any longer she might catch on fire. She turned to a window, over all the hills of the lush forest that surrounded her palace, she saw the sand dunes where the coliseum lied. "It would start quite an epidemic if we killed or punished her with all her new fans and not to mention, it would make us look callous and cold, resulting in us being unfavorable to many citizens."
"Why do you insist on keeping this mongrel around? Are you one of her fans? Don't think I didn't notice the way you were like a little giddy girl when she winked at you." Feron growled, walking closer to Liara. Predatorily.
Liara stood her ground however, "Feron. Someone once said, climb the highest mountain, but not for the world to see thou, but for thou to see the world. A person does not have power to change the situation, but the situation has power to change the person." She looked her former friend in the eyes, he was still mad though, as if her words made no sense to him and just floated in one ear out of the other. She did sigh this time.
"You are useless! Weak! How will your mother ever expect you to lead your own empire?!" Feron shook his head, "This just simply won't do, I won't kill Shepard. I will simply just…"
"I will override your command. Need I remind you we are…" liaras confident demeanor crumple and she almost slouched as ferons eyes burned, his fist balled up and ready to strike. Liara resisted the urge to gulp, she could feel the jewelry around her neck the usually hugged neck now basically strangle her, "Not…bond-"
Feron cupped his hand around liaras small, delicate, neck. "Listen bitch." His breath picked up the pace, along with liaras. He slammed her into the nearest wall with his hand still clung to her neck, liaras eyes were wide but not bulbous, she wasn't actually that shocked this was happening, it wasn't the first time something like this happened. Liara felt the wall smash her crest on impact, sending a pulse of pain through her head and down her back.
"Guar-!" Feron clasped his hand over liaras mouth, he pinned his body against hers ferociously.
"We may not be bonded yet, but I am still the king. Soon this will be my kingdom and soon you will love me and you will be mine also." Feron chomped down on uncover part of liaras neck, almost teasing the flesh off, he tasted blood. Liara banged against the stone walls out of shear pain and huge cry leaving her body as she saw purple liquid drop to the floor. Liara began to fight back, she thrusted her two fingers into ferons eyes, he let out a yelp and let go Liara completely, bended over in pain, cupping his eyes with his hands.
"You little-"
A guard asari, came bursting into the room her sword at the ready, "Your highness! is there a problem…?" she furrowed her brows when she saw the princess holding her neck with blood on the ground pinned to the wall and Feron constantly rubbing his eyes. Completely confused, she put her sword back into the holsters. "I just heard a lot of commotion and…" she didn't know what to say.
"Yes, thank you, but I can assure you everything is quite alright, as you can see." Liara said lying through her teeth, last thing she need was a scandal. This would definitely go without her mother knowing about this however. "Feron was just about to depart to his own room, please escort him there, and make sure you see to him getting there safely."
The asari nodded still unsure, but Liara had persuaded her no doubt. Feron, began walking to the door toward the gaurd. "Oh and please do send up lady benezia, I have a very urgent issue to discuss with her." Liara said feeling the blood flow continue. Feron shot her look before leaving the room completely. The door slammed shut and Liara was on the move, she walked hastily to her dresser, she pulled out the first draw that was full of basic first aid supplies, she grabbed a cotton ball and dabbed it in peroxide, she carefully whipped the wound clean, feeling her skin sting slightly from the chemical. Next, after cleaning her neck completely, she popped the cork off of an omni gel potion, and she dipped one slender, finger into the bottle, massaging the gel into her wound, finally placing a small badge on her neck.
Liara let out a sigh. "Goddess…"
There was knock, but benezia came in without an invitation. Liara shut the drawer and turned to her mother, she stepped further into her room her hand clasped together in front of her.
"You sent for me little wing?" Benezia asked rhetorically, she had to start the conversation somehow, and Liara did look a little…distressed. Toying with her fingers childishly, it was a bad habit, she would do it when she got int trouble as little kid for frivolous things like digging in the flower beds and such.
"Yes, mother…it has come to my attention that Feron is a little upset about what happened today at the coliseum." Liara continued, "And…well, he's trying to somehow redeem himself by punishing the slave who has done no wrong." Benezia opened her mouth to speak, but Liara beat her to the punch, "And I know that we need money for the kingdom and Feron is a great ally with all the money he makes with the coliseum, but I believe he is becoming a little…well... Goddess, how I say this?"
"Liara you don't have to marry him…well not yet anyway, if you would like to postpone the marriage, I am sure I could convince Feron to be a little more patient." Benezia said.
Liara looked down at her feet, "I…I just need to be alone right now. Thank you for speaking with me mother." Liara said turning away.
Benezia didn't say another word as she left. Liara liked being alone. It was the only time she felt like it was okay to be herself and relax. Sure she would rather be in her lab working on potions and examining artifacts she had discovered , but it wasn't enough privacy with people thinking they could just waltz in there whenever they pleased. Liara walked over to her bed and sat beside the nightstand, she picked up her favorite, odyssey. She knew that it was just a legend and not some factorial book, but none the less she loved the story of a hero. She began to read, but somehow when she read, she couldn't think about the book she loved, but what could that slave woman possibly be doing right now?
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Scratch that seven out of ten slave mate.
"Anyone ever tell ya it was rude to fart around a lady?" Shepard said, fanning the smell from her top bunk a smile contradicting her. It was childish to say, but this felt like a sleep over and it was actually Shepards FIRST she never had any friends growing up…she didn't have anyone growing up.
"Better out than in." Garrus chuckled. "So? Shepard the savior, huh? More like Shepard the sympathetic, Shepard the pussy."
Shepard rolled her eyes, "Haha. Whatever, at LEAST I have a nickname, besides," she shrugged, "I like it, I'm the good guy for once you know?"
"You the good guy? You sliced that guys leg off and wiped your bloody sword on him that was just disrespectful, and for your information I DO have nickname thank you very much, and it's way better than Shepard the sissy." Garrus said as matter a factly.
Shepard scoffed, "Archangel does not count, okay? You didn't earn it. You totally just named yourself that and I will admit it did catch on a little." Shepards folded her arms over her chest. "And it's Shepard the savior."
Garrus contained the flare of his mandibles, "Fair enough, fair enough, but maybe your name should be Shepard the savior, but instead…" he waited for a dramatic pause. "Shepard the suave seducer."
Shepard refused to give him the satisfaction in seeing her squirm, "I have no idea what you're talkin' 'bout." She knew that she was just digging herself a bigger hole, but she couldn't just let him bully her into not talking.
Hooked. Line. Sinker. Garrus continued his onslaught, "A certain princess would disagree Shepard, I believe that it was something along the lines of, "oh princess, please notice me," does that ring a bell?"
Shepard turned over in her cot, "Not in the slightest. Was the princess even there? Why, I didn' even notice." Shepard closed her eyes, pretending to now be done with entire conversation and asleep.
Garrus hummed. Very amused. Shepard heard a page turn, the turian cleared his throat. "I saw the princess today in the burning sun as I fought the beast who challenged me to the death, little did She know it was her who was making me hot." Shepards eyes shot opened, Garrus licked his talon to swipe to the next page. "Wow Shepard, a little raunchy, no?"
Shepard leaped out of bed, almost landing face first from the top bunk. "Would ya-! That's-! There's nothing raunchy in there!" She snatched the book, beating garrus with it before climbing back into her bunk.
"Goodnight." Garrus sung, drawing out every syllable to Shepard annoyance. She ignored him, somehow she thought that would hurt his feelings and SHE would have the last laugh. She was wrong however, she didn't respond, she refused to entertain Garrus any longer as she heard the turians wise cracks and laughter until she fell asleep.
Tomorrow was bound to be a tiresome day.
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"Listen up slaves! 'Cause I don' like repeatin' myself," The overseer barked.
It was hot, beyond hot, and frankly, shepards skin was NOT cut out for the heat. She leaned against the wall of the arena in the shade, she watched as the overseer shouted at the rest of the inmates as they scorched in the Armali sun, they would look back at Shepard, envious and jealous- even garrus got to stand with her, by default, of course. He WAS her partner after all, and he made sure that was acknowledged.
Garrus mandibles twitch as a slave in the line up kept staring back at the two, "You think they're gonna try to jump us when we go to sleep tonight?" They watched as a man had finally said something to the overseer about the two and all eyes finally gave their full attention to the turian and human.
Shepard took a hearty bite out of her apple, "Not unless they would wish to fight me in the arena." She said trying not to sound too cocky. Garrus nudged Shepard and pointed toward the overseer who was waving them over. Taking one more bite out of her Apple, shepard threw it too the ground, they walked a couple of yards to meet the group in the middle of the arena. "What seems to be the problem?" Shepard said folding her arms and leaning on one of her legs.
Kai leng turned to Shepard, getting inches away from her face, "I'll tell you what the problem is savior." Shepard cocked a brow and lazily blew a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. "While we're burning alive out here, YOU get to relax in shade! Like you're fucking above the law! Which can't be true because you're a fucking slave."
Shepard snorted, "Well." She walked away from the group to retrieve her two swords, carrying them in both of her hands, she strutted back to the impatient man with a smile on her face, "Would you like to solve it? Your problem I mean," she handed her two swords to Kai and looked around. "Is there anyone else who like to join in our debauchery?" Nobody answered, they all took a huge step back.
"Uh, Shepard? You're not going to fight with a sword? Don't you think that's a bit…" Garrus shrugged, "stupid?"
Kai leng charged after Shepard before she could answer, focused and knowing Kai was actually a fierce opponent, She dodged his first attack, dunking under the sword and swiftly, kicking him in his gut. With his defenses down Shepard pounced, she pulled back her fist and pounded her fist into his jaw. Regaining his footing faster than Shepard thought he would, he took the right sword, attempting to slice Shepard straight down the middle, but an inch away from her head, she clasped the blade between the palms of her hands, she could feel the calloused skin being sliced and blood pouring from her closed hands, but she held on, twisting the sword the side, she saw an opening.
The read head lifted her leg in the air forcefully, kicking Kai's elbow, so hard a loud pop rung out through the arena. He roared with pain dropping the sword right into shepards bloody hands. She knew she didn't have much time until Kai was ready to strike again, letting the blade slide through her hand, Shepard grabbed the hilt of the sword. Kai came at the ginger with his left sword, his right arm hanging at his side, it was probably to hurt to even move it. A sinister smile on his face, her swatted the sword, leaving a long gash across her abs. Shepard felt a slight pain, but other than that she didn't even notice it, she was too focused. Retaliating, Shepard swiped her sword toward his. Soon after, It was over for him, Shepard sliced his fingers off his hand, The sword dropped with the digits still gripped to the handle, tightly.
Leng fell to his knees with his fingers gushing blood uncontrollably, he attempted to grab the sword with his right hand, but it proved difficult with shepards sword right under his chin. "This isn't over." He Grunted out.
Panting Shepard spoke, "Please. Save yourself…there's no need to lose any more body parts over petty pride." Defeated Kai fell to the ground, curled over with pain, she watched him before facing the crowd. "Is there no one else?" Everyone remained quite again. "At least he had the balls to stand up for what he believed was right." She said eyeing the crowd before wiping her swords on Kai leng.
She holstered both of them. "I admire him for his bravery and outspokenness." Shepard looked down at her stomach before wiping the blood away. The gash wasn't too deep- not really a gash at all, basically a scratch. The red head flanged the blood on the ground, the splatters dried up in the sun as soon as they hit the dirt. "And he's not a bad swordsman either."
Slow clapping came from behind Shepard, she turned to see the bane of her existence, feron, a smile on his dry lips. Two guards with their swords at the ready, not that it matter. Shepard took a step closer to feron, a smirk on her face as she let a laugh escape her. "Wow, the one day you dare step down in the arena and there are no hungry varren."
Feron laughed besides himself. "Ah Jane Shepard of Spain." He clapped his hands together. "I am not here to bring you in for the whipping you oh-so deserve, but instead, I want to invite you to the kingdom of Armali for a banquet, a little party rather."
Shepard crossed her arms, "I thought slaves weren't a loud in the royal palace?" She cocked a brow, "Who put you up to this?"
Feron laughed again, "Oh Shepard. This is simply just a friendly gesture for the most popular…gladiator, in Armali."
"Shepard, I have a bad feeling about this." Garrus said.
"Oh, so…I'm a gladiator now? Interesting…I thought I was just some slave who hasn't died yet," Jane hummed, "I accept your invite, when will this party be?"
"Excellent! Tonight my friend, I will have someone pick you up and clothes ready for back at your slave quarters." Feron smiled.
"Garrus comes too." Shepard stated as she nodded back to her turian friend, he waved his talons at feron so there was confusion to who he was. The red head turned to walk away, "Come Garrus we must get our rest," she stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder. "Oh and we are NOT friends."
"Of course!…of course." He called after shepards retreating form. "Guards…" he lowered his voice, "Send a message to to the…bartarians, tell them we have a special FAMILIAR, face attending the party tonight." A smile ripped through his face, "And please, don't inform the princess about any of this. Let it be…a surprise."