A knock on the door awoke Gabrielle from her slumber. She opened her eyes to the morning sunlight pouring through the window of the small room she'd been locked in all night, as the grim reminder of where she was returned to the forefront of her mind. She then heard a voice from the other side of the door.
ELLE
Gabrielle, it's Elle. Time to get up. The lord Conqueror is requesting your appearance shortly.
Gabrielle sat up with a grimace due to her side still bothering her as Elle unlocked and opened the door slightly.
ELLE
Can I come in?
GABRIELLE
Sure, I guess.
Gabrielle slid to the side as the woman opened the door more to see Gabrielle sitting on the floor by the doorway.
ELLE
What are you doing on the floor? Are you okay?
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Okay?! How can I be? Nothing about any of this is okay.
Gabrielle could see a look of concern on Elle's face as she crouched down beside her, and could help but believe it to be truly genuine. So she decided to ease the young woman's concern.
GABRIELLE
It's nothing. I guess I just fell asleep here last night.
ELLE
Oh.
Elle gave a relieved smile as she stood and offered Gabrielle her hand to help her up, who accepted and stood.
ELLE
(Joking) You do realize you could've slept in the bed, you know?
Seeing the unamused look on Gabrielle's face she received for the comment, Elle cleared her throat awkwardly.
ELLE
Sorry. I didn't mean to make light of things. I'm sure none of this is easy for you.
Gabrielle softened her expression as she thought that Elle had likely been with the Conqueror for a while and had probably forgotten about what it was like to just come into that world.
GABRIELLE
It's okay. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it.
Elle gave a slight releaved smile as she then stepped back out into the hallway for a moment before returning holding some neatly folded up clothing in her arms.
ELLE
Here's some more clean clothes. I'll leave you for a bit to get dressed, and then I'm to take you to her lordship. Just come out when you're done.
Elle put the clothes on the bed and left the room, shutting the door behind her as Gabrielle looked at the clothes that were fairly similar to what she usually wore and sighed as she decided at that moment that if she wanted to survive this whole ordeal, find a way out and somehow locate, save and reunite with her family, then she would have to play along and be obedient to what the Conqueror wanted. She just hoped that they were okay and that she'd be strong enough to endure the days ahead and whatever they entailed.
XENA
Enter.
Xena stood looking out the window as the door opened after a knock and Elle lead Gabrielle into her private quarters.
ELLE
I've brought Gabrielle as you requested, my lord.
Xena looked over her shoulder at the two before returning her gaze out the window to the scenery of the green rolling hills that the room overlooked.
XENA
Good. That'll be all for now, Elle.
With a "Yes my lord", Elle bowed her head as she then turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her. Gabrielle stood uncomfortably as she watched the Conqueror continuing her watch outside as the morning sunlight bathed her in a warm glow, not looking at Gabrielle as she spoke.
XENA
There's breakfast over on the table. Help yourself to whatever you like, then go sit at the desk.
Gabrielle complied and once done, Xena turned around and picked up a few scrolls, other blank pieces of paper along with an inkwell and quill from a stand near the window as she walked over to the table where Gabrielle sat.
XENA
Read these to me.
Gabrielle swallowed her bite of food as she picked a rolled up scroll from the items placed before her, opened and read aloud what was written on the parchment. Which seemed to be a checklist for amounts of various items in the keep such as Wheat, barley, grapes, and other agricultural products. The list also included products from animal's such as milk, cheeses, and meats. With no reply needed, Xena had Gabrielle move on to reading the next scroll. Doing as she was told, Gabrielle picked up another paper at random and proceeded to open and read it aloud, as she had for the first one. Again it was just a mundane message as Gabrielle then sat quietly and wrote down what the Conqueror dictated for the letter's reply. Once done speaking, Xena took the paper that Gabrielle had been writing on and read it over for herself. She noted the fine penmanship that the farm girl possessed, then satisfied with Gabrielle's work, Xena returned the parchment to the desk and told Gabrielle to roll it up and seal it. Gabrielle again did as instructed as she rolled the paper, poured a bit of hot wax from the burning candle that sat on the deck beside the writing supplies on it, and then pressed a stamp into the rapidly cooling wax to seal the letter shut. This pattern continued as Gabrielle read and replied to several more letters using the Conqueror's words. Once all the messages had been read and the ones that needed to be replied to had been, Xena was satisfied with the job Gabrielle had done and casually mentioned as such.
XENA
Good it seems that you've done a well enough job so far, the time being we'll continue this trial basis for you to be my personal scribe.
Xena looked at Gabrielle for a moment as she thought of what to do with her while she didn't have things that would require the writing skills of her new acquisition. After a few moments, an idea came to mind that seemed to be an obvious fit as she stepped out of her room and spotted Leonidas walking down the hall and called him over.
LEONIDAS
Good morning, my lord. What do you need?
Xena motioned back towards where Gabrielle still sat.
XENA
Bring her to the archives. I'm sure will Sara be happy to finally have some help over there.
LEONIDAS
Sure thing my lord.
Xena looked back at Gabrielle and gave a nod towards Leonidas.
XENA
Alright, follow him and make sure that you listen and do everything the librarian tells you understand.
GABRIELLE
Yes.
Gabrielle stood and walked over to Leonidas, who smiled and greeted her.
LEONIDAS
Good morning little one, come with me to the archives, and I'll introduce you to my lovely Sara. She oversees keeping the archives in order and everything else that goes with it. And she looks quite beautiful while doing it too if I might add.
Leonidas smiled and gave Gabrielle a quick wink.
LEONIDAS
Though if you were to ask most of the other guys here they'd probably just say that I'm being biased giving the fact that she just so happens to be my wife.
Xena rolled her eyes as Leonidas walked Gabrielle out of the room, as she scoffed at how ridiculous and pointless the notion of romantic relationships between people were. The thought was then quickly forgotten as she too left the room to carry on with the other various things she had to attend to.
--MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE--
?
(Angry tone) What do you mean Petrodes is dead?!
HECTOR
I'm sorry Draco, but it's true. Xena killed him. She was pissed when she realized that he had pledged his allegiance to you over her.
Draco calmed down as he learned back in his seat, allowing the outburst of anger to pass.
DRACO
Well I guess it doesn't matter too much anyway. I'm sure I can still seize control over Olympia and everything that's around it. And then the rest of Greece to follow.
He then flashed a grin as he idly fiddled with the dagger in his hand, that rested on the arm of his chair.
DRACO
After all, Xena has no idea just what she's up against.
Draco laughed as he then glanced over at a figure that faded away as an unknown alliance had just been made that would inevitability shake the whole world of the Conqueror to its core. And in a way that no one would have expected.
TO BE CONTINUED…