Not knowing what to do, Gabrielle began to tremble as she knelt before the Conqueror, who sat eyeing her.
GABRIELLE
Please, don't do this. Please, I...
Gabrielle didn't know what else to say other than beg the woman sitting there not to hurt her. With an emotionless face, Xena sat watching the young woman as she pleaded for the Conqueror not to harm her. After listening to her for a few moments, Xena found herself annoyed by Gabrielle's pleas.
XENA
(Stern tone) Quiet!
Gabrielle jumped slightly at the sudden shout. She fell silent, lowering her gaze from the woman, and trying to control her fearful trembling as she waited for what she assumed was coming. Meanwhile, Xena watched her for another moment, her face unreadable as she finally spoke again.
XENA
(Stern tone) Are you done?
Gabrielle didn't know what to say, so she just remained silent, staring down at the pillows beneath her.
XENA
(Stern tone) I asked you a question.
Gabrielle felt the other woman grab her chin in a firm grip and force her to look her in the eyes. Gabrielle's terror-filled eyes met the Conqueror's intense, steely gaze.
XENA
Well?
Gabrielle fought back her tears as she tried to figure out what the woman wanted to hear.
GABRIELLE
(Scared tone) Please, don't hurt me.
XENA
(Stern tone) Then don't make me have to keep repeating myself, and I won't.
Xena released Gabrielle from her grasp and leaned back into the pillows.
XENA
Now I'll ask one more time. Are you done sitting there crying and acting like a child?
GABRIELLE
(Quiet tone) Yes.
XENA
Good. Now, where to begin?
Feeling that there was no way out and resigning to her fate, Gabrielle closed her eyes. She silently prayed to any gods that might have been listening, hoping that whatever was about to happen would be over quickly. With nervous hands, she reached up and began untying the lace on the front of her blouse.
XENA
(Stern tone) Stop. What are you doing?
Gabrielle froze, opening her eyes and looking at the Conqueror with a scared, confused expression.
GABRIELLE
(Nervous tone) I... I thought..
(Thinking to herself) Does she want to do it herself? Gods, what do I do? I don't know if I can get through this.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Xena began to chuckle. Gabrielle slowly lowered her hands, utterly confused about what was going on. After a moment, the Conqueror calmed down and shook her head in apparent disbelief, sighing to herself.
XENA
(Chuckling) What exactly did you think I brought you up here to do?
GABRIELLE
Well, we're in your private quarters, and with the way you're laying. Then you said we were getting started. Based on everything I've heard, I just thought you wanted... you were going to um...
XENA
You thought I was going to force myself on you.
Gabrielle nodded slightly, hearing the Conqueror scoff and look away as she muttered to herself.
XENA
(Muttering) Some of the things people think I do.
Xena waved her hand dismissively.
XENA
Well, you can relax. I have no interest in taking your innocence or whatever else people say I do to women.
Xena glanced back at Gabrielle and raised her eyebrow, flashing a smirk.
XENA
Not to say I'm not enjoying the little show you're giving me right now though.
Gabrielle felt her face get hot as she quickly pulled her top closed after realizing that it had opened, nearly exposing her breasts. She turned away and retied her blouse as the brief moment of embarrassment passed, giving way to an incredible rush of relief that the Conqueror apparently didn't want to use her for her body.
XENA
Well, if you're done being ridiculous...
The Conqueror picked up a small bunch of grapes, plucking one and popping it in her mouth. She chewed it and swallowed before continuing to speak.
XENA
I'd like to get this out of the way. It's getting late, and I plan on making it an early night.
(Thinking to herself) All those weeks of traveling and dealing with people's crap has me beat.
Gabrielle didn't say anything, not knowing what the Conqueror actually wanted from her. So she remained silent and waited for the other woman to continue.
XENA
Given what happened with Hector, it's clear now that you aren't some kind of spy or anything. For reasons I'm sure you heard me say already, I've decided to keep you here with me until either Draco wants you back or I decide otherwise. But now the question is what do I do with you while you're here?
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Why not just let me go?
XENA
I'm sure you're thinking that I could just release you and send you on your merry way. That would probably really piss Draco off, right?
Xena smirked at the somewhat surprised look on Gabrielle's face after she said what Gabrielle was thinking before continuing on.
XENA
Yes, well, while I'm sure he doesn't like the fact that he lost the profits or benefits he'd get from whatever he inevitably chose to do with you, I know that once he finds out that I have one of his would-be slaves in my possession, he'll see it as being even worse, to know that I, of all people, now have something he sees as belonging to him.
(Sinister tone) If he wants to try and take what's mine, he'll soon learn that coming up against me was the biggest mistake he could have ever made.
Although Gabrielle had only just stumbled into this world of people fighting over the possession of land or apparently for control over all of Greece entirely, it was clear that there had already been some serious animosity between the Conqueror and this man they called Draco before what took place in Olympia. Though the events there had obviously amplified whatever issues or conflicts the two already must have had between them.
XENA
But while I'm waiting to see just how much Draco cares about his missing little would-be slave, we come back to the question of what do I do with you until then?
Xena ate a couple more grapes as she looked at Gabrielle, trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her.
XENA
Gabrielle, wasn't it? You said you're from Potidea. It's been quite some time since I've been around there. Is it still primarily a farming village?
GABRIELLE
It is.
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror appeared to think for a moment.
XENA
(Thinking out loud) Hmm. Well, I don't really have any need for more farmhands. The garden is already well tended to, and we get all our meats and produce from a few different sources delivered regularly.
Xena studied Gabrielle for a moment.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) She's a bit on the small side, even though she grew up in a farming area. I doubt she did any of the actual farm work. Not the more physically demanding aspects of it, anyway.
She looked Gabrielle over for another moment, seeing an uncomfortable expression appear on the young woman's face as she was being stared at.
XENA
Out of curiosity, Gabrielle, how old are you?
GABRIELLE
Seventeen. I'll be eighteen mid next season.
Xena studied Gabrielle for another moment, almost not believing her based on how young she appeared.
XENA
Really.
GABRIELLE
Why would I lie about such a thing?
XENA
Fair point. Just curious, I suppose. So back in Potidea, did you actually live on a farm?
GABRIELLE
Yes, but we mostly raised livestock. Though it wasn't many due to our farm being fairly small. And my father's the one who typically tends to the animals and takes our extra produce to be sold at the market in a nearby town.
XENA
And did you do anything?
GABRIELLE
Well, my mother, sister, and myself did the things like cooking, cleaning, and all the other typical things women do in a household.
(Thinking to herself) Not exactly the life I dreamt of, but compared to being held captive by this woman or being brought into slavery, I'd take that boring small village life any day. Gods, I wish I were back home now and mother and Lila were both there, safe and sound.
Xena noticed the saddened look that fell over Gabrielle as she silently thought about the life and family that she didn't know if she'd ever see again. But not particularly caring about her backstory, the Conqueror continued on with figuring out what she should do with Gabrielle.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) I don't think any more cooks are needed. It couldn't hurt to have another seamstress, servant, or maid, I suppose. But I don't think I really need more of them either. It's a possibility that I'll leave open, though, in case I can't find anything else to do with her.
After the brief thought, Xena continued questioning Gabrielle, who kept her answers honest to avoid exciting the Conqueror's wrath if she were to find out that she'd been lied to.
XENA
What else did you do back in Potidea?
GABRIELLE
Um, not much actually. There wasn't really much to do. So I just spent a lot of time retelling the stories I heard from when I was little to the younger children. And writing down some of my favorites.
Gabrielle saw the Conqueror raise an eyebrow with intrigue.
XENA
A writer and storyteller, huh?
Again Xena went quiet as she briefly thought before beginning to form an idea that she thought might be a good fit for the new young woman who had unexpectedly ended up in her life, even if she wasn't sure just how long she'd actually be keeping Gabrielle around.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) I guess having a personal scribe might not be a bad idea. It would certainly beat doing most of the physical letter and decree writing myself. I honestly don't know why I haven't gotten myself a personal scribe by now anyway. And as a bonus, if those stories are at least half decent, it could be somewhat entertaining when I'm not doing anything. But obviously, I'm gonna have to actually see how well she does with being a scribe before I make my final decision.
While thinking, Xena yawned and looked out of the window that she could see on the far wall behind where Gabrielle sat. The sun was getting low as Xena hadn't realized how late it had gotten, as she began to feel the effects of a long day take hold and finished her drink before standing up.
XENA
Well, I'm convinced that you're not any kind of threat, so I can decide what I'm doing with you tomorrow.
Just then there was a knock on the door, and the Conqueror looked towards it as she spoke for whoever it was to come in. The door opened and a woman walked in, asking if there was anything that the Conqueror needed.
XENA
Ah, good timing. You can take this away now.
Xena motioned to the remaining food that was left sitting in front of her before looking back at Gabrielle for a moment.
XENA
Unless you want any.
GABRIELLE
No, I'm not really hungry.
Xena shrugged as she then gave the go-ahead for the servant to take the leftover food away. The woman did as instructed and began to carry the tray of plates, bowls, and cups away.
XENA
Oh, and take the girl with you. Her name's Gabrielle. Set her up in the servant's quarters for tonight and have her brought back to me in the morning.
The woman replied with a standard "Yes, my lord," and Xena motioned for Gabrielle to follow the other woman. Gabrielle happily did as she was glad to be done with such a long, tense, and genuinely horrid day around the Conqueror. Even though her worst initial fears of what was going to happen to her were put at least for the time being put at ease, she still felt very apprehensive and anxious about what her life would now be like, now that the Conqueror would apparently be keeping her around for the time being. Still, after the stress of the day, piled on to everything else that Gabrielle had endured in such a short period of time, she suddenly felt just too tired to think about it at the moment as she heard the Conqueror call after the servant to be sure to keep the rules for the new arrivals in mind. The other woman again replied affirmatively and led Gabrielle away. Gabrielle was brought down a flight of stairs from the Conqueror's quarters and to a long hallway with a series of doors on either side. The woman led Gabrielle to one of the rooms and opened the door. Gabrielle looked at the older woman who didn't say anything but simply nudged Gabrielle, causing Gabrielle to stumble a little forward into the room. The woman pointed out a small curtained area that had a chamber pot for if Gabrielle needed it in the middle of the night. She then told Gabrielle that someone would come get her in the morning as she left the small room and shut the door behind her, locking it from the outside as she walked away. Leaving a completely alone and scared Gabrielle who, after trying for some time to get the door open and with no windows in the room, sank to the floor and eventually cried herself to sleep by the door as her first full day of her new life with the Conqueror came to an end.
TO BE CONTINUED...