NOTE:
The following chapter has a very brief reference to rape, and while it isn't described and is only quickly mentioned, I didn't want anyone to be caught off guard by such sensitive subject matter. And please note that this is a work of pure fiction and isn't meant to make light of such a serious subject.
The day had started off as the others had before for Gabrielle as she began begrudgingly settling into her new life in service to the Conqueror. She sat at the desk in the Conqueror's quarters as she wrote down what was said. It wasn't anything of much importance to Gabrielle, so she just mindlessly wrote what the Conqueror said and didn't give the words she was putting on the parchment a second thought. After a while Xena decided to take a break for lunch and as she sat lounging in her seat idly eating a chunk of cheese that she held as cut pieces from before popping the smaller pieces into her mouth, she watched Gabrielle still seated at the desk gazing out the window not knowing what was going through the young woman's mind. Gabrielle's thoughts once again had wandered off, thinking about her family and home village that she wished more than anything that she could see again.
XENA
(Slightly Irritated tone) Hey, you know I don't like repeating myself.
GABRIELLE
Huh?
Gabrielle was brought back to the present as she heard the Conqueror's voice break into her deep thoughts, and turned in her seat to look at the woman.
GABRIELLE
Sorry my lord. I guess I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment.
Gabrielle looked away for a moment to try to hide the sadness that she was certain could be seen in her eyes.
GABRIELLE
Um, what did you need?
Xena shrugged as she took another bit of cheese and ate it as she tossed a piece of fruit at Gabrielle, who fumbled with the unexpected toss for a moment before securing it.
XENA
You've been working hard today, you should take a break and eat something before you head back to the archives.
GABRIELLE
Oh, uh, thank you, my lord.
Gabrielle sat there quietly and ate as she could feel the other woman watching her. But before she could really think about it, Xena's gaze moved elsewhere, and Gabrielle felt a bit of relief to not have those eyes that always showed so much intensity off her for the moment. After a few moments, the Conqueror stood and moved over to her desk and began looking over some papers.
XENA
Once you've finished, you can go back to the archives.
The Conqueror didn't look at Gabrielle as she spoke and after finishing what she had in her hand, Gabrielle left and headed to the archives as she saw the Conqueror watch her leave before returning to her work.
ELLE
Oh hey Gabrielle. Where are you off to?
Gabrielle paused as she looked over her shoulder to see Elle walking over to her.
GABRIELLE
I was just with the Conqueror, and now I'm heading to the archives.
ELLE
Oh good, I was on my way there myself. Mind if I walk with you?
Gabrielle shrugged.
GABRIELLE
Sure, I guess.
The two walked together as Elle talked.
ELLE
Boy, you're really not much of a talker, are you?
Gabrielle looked at Elle as she thought of how ironic it was that someone actually thought of her as being quiet. Something that she definitely had never been.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Trust me, I can be. But being held captive by someone who utterly terrifies you to think that you'll say one wrong thing you'll end up another one of her victims, tends to make a person a little less talkative.
(Out loud) I guess not.
ELLE
Well that's okay, I still like you anyway.
Gabrielle smiled at the young woman who, since her arrival at the keep, had come to be somewhat of a friend. Something that while Gabrielle never thought she would have found during her servitude in the large keep, but was something that she was thankful for nonetheless.
GABRIELLE
Thanks Elle. I like you too.
The two walked on and reached the archives.
SARA
Ah good afternoon Gabrielle. Elle. What brings you here today?
Sara placed a stack of books on a table as she looked at the two young women entering the room.
ELLE
Just looking for a recipe for one of the cooks. Though, I think she just wanted me out of the kitchen.
Sara chuckled.
SARA
Still not getting along with her, huh?
ELLE
She says that I just get in the way and don't know what I'm doing. Though if you ask me, the woman is just a grouchy, old, hag who wouldn't know flavor if she got slapped across the face with it.
SARA
Hey now, Isidora has been here longer than most of us, and there's obviously a reason that her lord Conqueror has kept her around.
Elle scoffed.
ELLE
Because she hardly has to deal with the old hag. Everyone who has to see that woman on a daily basis knows that she's the most miserable crone to have ever walked the face of this world.
SARA
Oh come now Elle, she isn't that bad.
ELLE
Fine, you go work with her, and I'll stay with my friend Gabrielle here.
Elle put her arm over Gabrielle's shoulder, who as a result was dragged into the conversation.
SARA
Oh no, that's a bad idea. I don't cook. Just ask my husband. The last time he ate something I made, he spent the next few days on the chamber pot crying like a baby.
Gabrielle couldn't help but feel bad for Leonidas as she thought of the man in such a miserable state, as he had been nothing but kind to her since their meeting. Elle giggled at the thought, as Sara shook her head with a smirk.
SARA
(Joking) I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see that you're so amused by his suffering.
Sara turned around and began walking over to one of the shelves.
SARA
Well let me get that book for you. Which one did Isidora want?
Elle told Sara which book she needed, and Sara easily found it and brought it over to her.
SARA
Here you go.
Elle took the book with a sigh and slowly turned to leave.
ELLE
Thanks Sara. Guess I have to go back now.
As Elle dragged her feet towards the door, Sara sighed to herself as she looked at Gabrielle.
SARA
You know what Gabrielle, I think I have everything covered here today, so why don't you go with Elle and see about giving Isidora an extra hand in the kitchen.
Gabrielle looked at the woman with a questioning expression.
GABRIELLE
Are you sure it's okay. I mean the lord Conqueror sent me here and…
Sara patted Gabrielle on the shoulder as she smiled.
SARA
Don't worry about getting in trouble, Gabrielle. That's how this place continues to run as efficiently as it does. We all pitch in where we can. And as long as everything runs smoothly, her lord Conqueror is just fine with people moving around and doing things on their own.
GABRIELLE
Oh… well, if you're sure no one will get in trouble.
ELLE
It's fine, really. Come on, Gabrielle, there's no way that old hag can be mean to you.
Before Gabrielle could protest, Elle grabbed her wrist and pulled her along behind her as she left the archives with Gabrielle in toe.
?
It's about time you got back here, Elle.
Gabrielle heard a woman's voice as she and Elle entered the kitchen. She looked over to the side to see an elderly woman standing over a large pot that she stirred as its contents simmered over the brick fire stove.
ELLE
It took a bit to find the book you wanted.
The old woman glanced over to see Elle plop the book on a table. She raised a curious eyebrow as she noticed Gabrielle standing beside her.
?
(Sarcastically) I didn't know that the book was so heavy that you needed help bringing it here.
Elle turned to face Gabrielle and the old woman as she leaned back against the table.
ELLE
Oh this is Gabrielle. She works in the archives and is the lord Conqueror's personal scribe. Sara thought she'd be of more use here for today.
Elle looked at Gabrielle as she gestured toward the old woman.
ELLE
Gabrielle, this is the head cook here at the keep, Isidora.
Gabrielle greeted the woman who was obviously fairly advanced in age which was evident by the very prominent wrinkles on her face, neck and hands. Isidora wore a simple, long, dark blue dress with some brown trim around the neck along with the beginning and end of the long sleeves. She had long gray, hair that she wore completely down. All in all she didn't really stand out from any other older woman that Gabrielle had seen. But she figured that if she was in charge of cooking for the Conqueror, then she must be very good at what she did.
GABRIELLE
Nice to meet you.
Isidora looked Gabrielle over for a moment before she turned back to tending to what was cooking on the stove.
ISIDORA
Fine, maybe she'll actually be competent help.
Elle scowled at the woman's coment that was obviously a jab at her as Isidora gestured with her free hand towards the long counter beside her
ISIDORA
You can get to work chopping those vegetables into small chunks for this stew.
Without saying anything Gabrielle moved to the counter, grabbed a knife and began cutting up the various vegetables that sat in a basket in front of her. After finishing the meal prep and clean up Gabrielle sat on a stool beside Elle as they both sipped on some cider.
ELLE
Thanks for the help Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
It wasn't a big deal.
ELLE
So are you getting used to life here at the keep?
Gabrielle shrugged as she looked into the cup that she held as her hands rested on her lap.
GABRIELLE
I guess. But...
Gabrielle paused as thought that Elle probably didn't want to hear about her missing her family and just how scared of the Conqueror she really was.
ELLE
I get it. It's hard to be thrown into something completely different from everything that you've ever known.
Gabrielle raised her eyes from her drink as she looked at Elle once again.
ELLE
I was just a little girl when my family were all killed by raiders.
Elle looked off as she continued.
ELLE
My mother, father, brother, two sisters and myself were all traveling from our village to attend my aunts wedding. It was about a weeks trip and on our third day of traveling we crossed paths with a group of raiders. My father tried to appease them and gave them all our money, which honestly wasn't much. But he figured that if he just gave them what we had they would leave us alone. But for everything that they were given, those monsters wanted more
Elle shook her head at the memory that ran through her head as Gabrielle saw a deep sadness that lingered behind the typical cheerful young woman's eyes.
ELLE
It's been years and I can still hear my mothers screams as they took turns and held my father captive, forcing him to watch what they did to her.
Gabrielle didn't know what to say as Elle paused in telling her tale. Then after a moment she continued.
ELLE
After they were done taking what they wanted from my mother, they just killed her right there. That was when my father finally lost it and broke free. Though he was unarmed, he charged at the raiders and as you can imagine it didn't end well for him. He was cut down in one strike and as he layed there dying, with his dying breath he told us kids to run. So we did. We didn't get far before we heard my older sister yelling. I looked back to see her being picked up by one of the raiders but my younger sister just grabbed my hand and forced me to keep running along with him and my older sister as we could hear her screaming behind us. Then he dropped to the ground after he was hit in the leg with an arrow. As myself and my older sister ran I tripped and twisted my ankle. I begged her to keep going without me, but she just said that she couldn't let those monsters take her whole family from her. So she quickly dragged me into some bushes and ran off as a distraction.
Elle shook her head as she took a drink from her cup before finishing her tale.
ELLE
I don't know how long I stayed in those bushes, but those raiders never did find me. So after waiting until it felt safe, I crawled out and headed in the direction my sister had ran, just hoping that I would find her. And eventually I did. But the state she was in. I could only imagine what they did to her. I held her in my arms as she took her final breaths and then I was left completely alone.
GABRIELLE
What about the raiders? How did you escape?
ELLE
Actually after finding my sister, I never saw them again. So I just spent the next few days wandering around until I found my way here. The guards found me and brought me to the lord Conqueror. I must've looked like a mees because she took one look at me and sent me to the healers then gave me a room and I've been in service of her lordship ever since.
Gabrielle felt for Elle as they had similar stories for how they had found their way to the Conqueror. But why? What did she get out of it? Free labor?
GABRIELLE
So you're her slave?
Elle giggled.
ELLE
No. The lord Conqueror dosen't own slaves. Everyone here is fully compensated for what they do in one way or another.
GABRIELLE
Everyone except me apparently.
Elle didn't know how to respond as she finished her drink.
ELLE
Well, I'm sure the lord Conqueror has good reason for keeping you here.
GABRIELLE
(Talking quietly) Yeah, sure.
After talking a bit longer, Gabrielle and Elle left the kitchen and Elle walked Gabrielle back to the dinning hall. As they walked in, Gabrielle spotted Xena seated at the head of the very long table. She watched as the woman's eyes seemed to instantly find her. As she had earlier they watched Gabrielle for a moment then Xena looked away and carried on with her previous activities.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) What was that look about? No she must be mad that I went to the kitchen with Elle. This isn't good. What's she gonna do to me?
Gabrielle felt a nudge as Elle walked by her.
ELLE
Come on let's go sit down.
Gabrielle followed Elle and sat down. As she ate Gabrielle could again feel the Conqueror's eyes on her and crouched down in her seat to try and escape her gaze. Xena took a bite of her meal as she watched Gabrielle hunch down and shook her head at the young woman's behavior. Everyone in the large room, ate and talked amongst themselves as Xena lounged back in her seat as she took a drink of her wine and watched the room. Her attention was then drawn to the doors to her side as her senses picked up fast footsteps coming their way. Then a moment later Leonidas walked into the room and moved with purpose to where Xena sat.
LEONIDAS
(Talking quietly) My lord we have a very serious issue that's in need of your immediate attention.
Gabrielle saw Leonidas talking to the Conqueror but couldn't hear what was being said. That was until Xena stood as she shouted so loud that everyone in the room stopped speaking as many including Gabrielle jumped slightly after hearing the Conqueror's sudden angery outburst.
XENA
(Angry tone) What?! This had better not be someone's idea of a joke Leonidas.
LEONIDAS
It's true my lord. We just received word. Draco's army isn't to far out from Amphipolis and from the intell we have, they definitely appear to be targeting the village specifically.
Xena scowled as she felt her blood begin to boil. In a huff she turned towards Leonidas.
XENA
Have the bulk of the army here ready immediately. We ride for Amphipolis in the hour.
With that Xena stormed off to get her armor and weapons.
ELLE
Why would anyone be foolish enough to go after Amphipolis of all places? This isn't gonna be good.
GABRIELLE
Why, what's so special about that village?
ELLE
Because before she was the woman she is today, that was the village that she once called home.
TO BE CONTINUED...