With a slew of disturbing thoughts of what potentially lay ahead for her, Gabrielle followed the young woman named Elle through the building that she assumed was the Conqueror's residence when she wasn't out terrorizing innocent people or doing whatever else the woman did. With her head hung low, Gabrielle walked quietly behind the other woman who looked to be about the same age as Gabrielle, possibly a little older. This fact made Gabrielle wonder what could have brought such a seemingly young and unassuming woman to come into the service of the Conqueror. Was she like Gabrielle, a captive that was taken for whatever reason the Conqueror felt was called for? A servant? An outright slave that the Conqueror kept along with who knew how many others meant to cater to her every beck and call without question? So many more questions ran through Gabrielle's mind as she looked at the young woman. Elle was of average build, just slightly taller than Gabrielle, and had fair skin with long, flowing red hair that she wore down with some slight natural waves and curls to it. She had on a long blue dress with some simple golden designs around the neck, around the bottom of the dress, and where her sleeves connected to the torso of the dress. The blue color of the dress matched the young woman's eyes, along with the small gem that she wore around her neck, which Gabrielle figured was probably cheap or a worthless fake if the woman was a slave or servant. Although if she were the Conqueror's slave, how would she have gotten it or the fairly nice-looking dress to begin with? Gabrielle thought that it was possible if she was a slave, maybe the Conqueror had the slaves she would see more or all the slaves she might have wear decent clothing so she wasn't looking at people walking around in rags. Though she wondered about the woman's exact status within the keep, Gabrielle didn't ask as she didn't want to possibly upset the seemingly friendly girl if she was, in fact, being held there against her will. Gabrielle's thoughts were interrupted when Elle stopped in front of a door and opened it.

ELLE

This way, Gabrielle. We'll get you checked out by a healer first.

Gabrielle walked into the room and was fully examined by one of the women there. She had the multiple cuts and scrapes cleaned, and fortunately, none were too deep or had heated enough to not require stitches or bandages. Her injured ribs were also significantly better than they had been, but just as a precaution, the healer wrapped some fresh bandages around her just to make sure Gabrielle would fully heal properly. Saying that they could probably come off in a few days to a week. After being asked how she got hurt, Gabrielle told the healer and Elle about her escape from Hector and the rest of the slavers. She began to cry as the thoughts of her sister and mother and where they might be now.

ELLE

It sounds like you've been through a lot. I'm sure it isn't much comfort, but for what it's worth, I'm really sorry that you had to go through that.

Gabrielle sniffled as she wiped the still-flowing tears from her eyes and cheeks as the healer finished her work.

GABRIELLE

Thank you.

Once Gabrielle was dressed Elle walked to the door and held it open.

ELLE

Come on, we should get going. Don't wanna keep her lordship waiting.

Elle lead Gabrielle out of the healers area as she began making her way towards the Conqueror's quarters.

ELLE

So after you escaped from those slavers, how did you end up with the lord Conqueror?

GABRIELLE

I wandered around for a while before spotting her camp in the distance. I was so exhausted when I stumbled across her and didn't know who she was when I asked for help before I passed out. The next thing I know, I'm in her tent and then she just takes me with her.

With a sad expression on her face, Gabrielle looked down at the floor as they walked.

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) I just wanna go home. I want my family back.

Tears once again streamed down her face as everything she'd been through, witnessed, and the fact that her future now seemed so bleak in that moment all overwhelmed her.

GABRIELLE

I, I don't want to be here with that woman. She scares me so much. After seeing what she did to that man...

Gabrielle tried to push aside the memory of seeing Petrodes being brutally beaten, hearing his screams as he begged both for mercy and for someone to help him. Neither of which he received, as Gabrielle remembered hearing his last yell before he was finally killed by the Conqueror.

ELLE

The lord Conqueror does things for a reason. She doesn't just kill people simply for the fun of it.

Gabrielle looked at Elle as they continued walking.

GABRIELLE

Is that supposed to make me feel better? She killed him because she wanted his city. Is that what she does? Just brutalizes and kills people who don't immediately give in to what she wants? I guess that's your reason, huh?

She then lowered her gaze back to the floor once more as the fear of what was going to happen when she was brought to the Conqueror tightened its hold over her.

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) And what's she gonna do if I don't give her whatever she wants from me?

The other woman didn't say anything as she felt sorry for this new girl whose whole world had been turned completely upside-down. In such a short time, she had gone from her simple life in a small village to finding herself fighting just for survival, to being brought against her will to a place that was so far from home and held there by a woman whose arbitrary mood at any given time could decide the poor girl's fate. Though they had just met, Elle found herself already liking Gabrielle and felt terrible that she had gone through such harrowing experiences. She didn't want to scare her any more than she obviously already was, but honestly, Elle didn't know what the Conqueror had planned to do with Gabrielle. She had several ideas, some of which she truly hoped weren't what Xena had in mind. But there was never any real way of telling what the Conqueror was truly thinking, as she was a woman who typically kept her most inner thoughts, feelings, and intentions concealed from everyone around her.

ELLE

Well, I'm sure if you listen and do as she asks, you'll be okay.

Gabrielle found no comfort in Elle's statement as they continued on in silence as the two came to a set of stairs, and Elle gestured for Gabrielle to go ahead of her. Gabrielle began ascending the spiraling staircase that led up multiple levels until they reached the top floor of the fortress. At the top of the stairs was a door that sat just a few feet from the steps. Elle walked ahead and grabbed hold of the door's handle.

ELLE

Here we are, her lord Conqueror's personal quarters.

Elle knocked as she announced herself and got a simple reply from the other side of the door to come in. Recognizing the voice as the Conqueror, Gabrielle felt a chill run down her spine as her legs began to shake. She wanted to run, she wanted to find a way out of there or somewhere to hide. But she couldn't bring herself to move from where she stood as she watched Elle turn the door's handle and push it open.

ELLE

Okay, come on in.

Gabrielle felt the other woman put her hand on her back and essentially force her uncooperative legs to carry her inside.

XENA

About time you got her up here.

Gabrielle stood just inside the large room that she had been forced into and saw the Conqueror lounging in a large pile of pillows on the floor as she casually popped a grape into her mouth from the spread of food that was laid out before her.

ELLE

Sorry, my lord, I know you don't like to be kept waiting. The healer wanted to make sure she did a thorough examination.

XENA

Whatever. You're here now, so I suppose it's fine.

Gabrielle saw as the Conqueror looked her up and down for a moment and felt her stomach drop when the woman told Elle to leave them. With a bow of her head, Elle turned around and left the room, shutting the door behind her and leaving Gabrielle locked in the room alone with the Conqueror.

XENA

Come.

The Conqueror motioned for Gabrielle to come over to her as she patted a pillow near her. Gabrielle found herself too afraid to move toward the woman, so instead, she backed into the locked door behind her and tried frantically to turn the knob to escape. The Conqueror's eyes never left Gabrielle as she watched her attempt at leaving for a moment before speaking again.

XENA

You make me get up, and you won't like what happens.

(Stern tone) Now get over here. I won't say it again.

Not wanting her fate to be worse than what she already feared, Gabrielle slowly walked over to where the Conqueror lay and knelt down on a pillow near the woman.

XENA

See, that wasn't so difficult, now was it?

Gabrielle watched as the woman put aside the food and turned toward her, and she felt her blood run cold as she heard the Conqueror's next words.

XENA

Now shall we get started? And if you're smart, you won't make things more difficult than they need to be.

TO BE CONTINUED...