CONQUERING THE CONQUEROR

by TrueT159

An alternate timeline where Xena is still on warpath accross the lands. She's still angry, lost and on a path of destruction. Both for everyone around her as well as herself. That is until one fateful day that while she doesn't know it at the time, the seemingly meaningless events will become the spark of something that will completely change the course of her life.

32. Chapter 32

The Conqueror's keep was more a buzz than normal as Gabrielle moved through the hallway carrying several scrolls from the archives to be delivered per request of the Conqueror. And while the bustle seemed similar to when Xena had returned injured from battle, the general feeling that Gabrielle got from everyone around her was fairly different. Though she couldn't quite place it, the general feeling appeared to be a mix of excitement and unease.

ELLE

Hey, Gabrielle. Where are you off to? Aren't you usually in the archives this time of day?

Gabrielle looked over her shoulder as Elle came up beside her and began walking along with her.

GABRIELLE

The Conqueror sent a message to the archives requesting these scrolls.

ELLE

Oh.

GABRIELLE

Hey, is it just me, or does things around here seem a bit more tense today than usual?

ELLE

Yeah, it definitely feels like everyone is on edge.

GABRIELLE

Any idea what's going on?

ELLE

Funny you should say that because I was just about to ask you the same thing.

The pair kept walking as Gabrielle gave Elle a questioning look.

GABRIELLE

Why would I know?

Elle shrugged.

ELLE

I thought maybe because you work directly with her lordship, you might have some inside information about a lot of the goings-on around here.

Gabrielle scoffed.

GABRIELLE

I'm her scribe, Elle, nothing more. What makes you think she would tell me anything?

ELLE

Guess I just figured you'd probably heard something while working with her.

GABRIELLE

Nothing I can recall. Though I doubt that I'm always around for every message she gets.

ELLE

Good point.

The two young women walked a bit further together before parting ways as Elle went off to continue what she'd been doing as Gabrielle made her way to the Conqueror's quarters.

XENA

Come in.

The door to Xena's study opened as Gabrielle walked in, carrying an arm full of scrolls with her.

GABRIELLE

Um, I brought the scrolls you sent for.

Xena looked up from the papers she had been looking over and motioned to an open spot on her desk that she was sitting behind.

XENA

Just put 'em there.

Following Xena's instructions, Gabrielle walked up to the desk and set down the scrolls, of which the Conqueror immediately grabbed one and opened it as she began quickly scanning through what was written before settling it aside and doing the same with another. Gabrielle watched as she repeated the action again, and then once more. As Xena grabbed yet another scroll and began to open it, she happened to glance up to see Gabrielle still standing there.

XENA

(Slightly Irritated tone) What are you still doing here?

GABRIELLE

Sorry. You didn't say I could go, so I just thought you must've still wanted me for something.

Gabrielle could see that the Conqueror was in a particularly foul mood and thought that it would likely be better if she excused herself and left the woman alone.

GABRIELLE

But I can see that you no longer have any need for me right now, so I'll just go.

Gabrielle quickly turned to leave as she began to head for the open door, but stopped when she heard the Conqueror's voice call after her.

XENA

Wait a minute. I'm not seeing one of the documents I sent for.

Gabrielle froze in her tracks as she turned back to face the other woman, worried that she had forgotten to bring her something she had ordered to be brought to her.

GABRIELLE

I'm sorry. Let me see what I forgot.

Gabrielle returned to the Conqueror's desk to see which of the documents she had forgotten to bring.

GABRIELLE

What one are you looking for?

XENA

An Amazon treaty. It's the most important thing I sent for.

Remembering the short time she and Elle spent with Terreis and the others from the young princesses' tribe after her attempted escape, Gabrielle paused looking through the scattered scrolls and looked at the Conqueror as she wondered if whatever was happening somehow involved those women.

GABRIELLE

Did you say Amazons?

Xena glanced up at Gabrielle from her search.

XENA

I did. Why?

Suddenly realizing that she shouldn't have said anything about it, Gabrielle frantically began piecing together a way to explain herself without letting it slip that she had meet some of them after she had escaped from the keep some time ago.

GABRIELLE

(Lying) I just always found the Amazonian culture and way of life fascinating.

Xena raised a curious eyebrow.

XENA

Oh, really. I'm surprised that someone from such a small settlement like Potidea would even know about the Amazons. Those women are famously known for keeping to themselves for the most part.

Gabrielle quickly continued spinning the tale of how she had come to know about the tribal women in a desperate effort to avoid the Conqueror finding out the truth and suffering what Gabrielle was certain would be the dire consequences of what might happen if she did.

GABRIELLE

(Lying) Well, one time when I was little, I accompanied my mother to another town near my Potidea and there just happened to be some Amazons there.

XENA

Huh. Is that so? How can you be sure they were Amazons?

GABRIELLE

Well, it's kinda obvious when you see them, isn't it? Plus everyone's heard stories about them, haven't they?

XENA

Hm, I guess you have a point. They do have a tendency to stand out from the average woman you would see around these parts.

The Conqueror's attention then returned to her search for the treaty amongst the other scrolls, as Gabrielle breathed a silent sigh of relief that the Conqueror seemed to believe her story.

XENA

I still don't see that treaty. You must not have brought it.

GABRIELLE

I could've sworn I did.

Xena scowled as she looked at Gabrielle.

XENA

(Irritated tone) Are you calling me a liar?

GABRIELLE

(Nervous tone) No, of course not, my lord.

Gabrielle began looking through the mess of papers in a desperate attempt to avoid getting in trouble.

GABRIELLE

Let me just see what is here so I know if anything else is missing, and I'll go get it right away.

Gabrielle looked over the parchments and stacked the ones she read into a pile. Once nearly done going through the papers, Gabrielle was becoming more nervous that she had left something behind, and as a result, while reaching for one of the last two remaining documents, she accidentally knocked the whole stack of papers off of the desk, sending them scattering all over the floor at her feet. She looked at the floor for a moment before looking up at the Conqueror, who Gabrielle could see was losing her patience with her.

GABRIELLE

(Nervous tone) I'm sorry. I'll pick it up.

Gabrielle hastily knelt down and began picking up the unrolled scrolls. She got down a little closer to the floor to reach one paper that had slid halfway under the Conqueror's desk, and as Gabrielle retrieved it, she spotted a still-rolled-up scroll that, unbeknownst to anyone, must have fallen and rolled beneath Xena's desk. So after reaching further under the desk, Gabrielle grabbed the runaway paper and stood up with all the papers. As she stood, Gabrielle saw the Conqueror still standing there with the same scowl on her face.

GABRIELLE

(Nervous tone) Sorry again. I didn't mean to make a mess. But I found this under your desk. It must've fallen without our noticing. Maybe it's the treaty you were looking for.

Gabrielle held out the rolled-up scroll for Xena to take. Which she did, as she promptly opened and read it. It was exactly what they had been looking for.

XENA

Yeah, this is it.

Xena glanced at Gabrielle, who felt a wave of relief hit her at those words.

XENA

Nice work.

Xena rolled the paper back up and tucked it into her shirt for safekeeping, as she casually told Gabrielle to reroll the other documents and leave them in a pile in the center of the desk, so none would fall off again.

LEONIDAS

My lord, the Amazons are approaching the front gates.

With the treaty in her hand, Xena stood from the chair she had been sitting in as Gabrielle finished stacking the scrolls and looked up to see Leonidas standing in the doorway.

XENA

Good. Let 'em in.

Xena began walking toward the door.

XENA

Now let's see what just what in Hades those women think they're doing.

Gabrielle stood there as Xena walked out of the room, and silently hoped that none of the Amazons who had come to the keep would see or recognize her and potentially tell the Conqueror about her visit to their village. And with the worry of what might happen if they did, Gabrielle left the room in search of Elle to see what they should do.

GABRIELLE

Elle, there you are.

After searching for a bit until reaching the bottom floor of the keep, Gabrielle found the young woman making her way towards the front doors of the building and stopped her.

ELLE

Oh, hey Gabrielle. I guess you heard about the Amazons? I wonder why they're here? Did you hear anything from her lordship.

GABRIELLE

No, but that's not important. We have much bigger things to deal with right now.

ELLE

What do you mean?

GABRIELLE

Elle, If any of those Amazons are the ones that we met when we left the keep, and they see us and mention it in front of the Conqueror, what do you think is gonna happen?

ELLE

I honestly haven't thought of that. But I'm sure it'll be fine.

GABRIELLE

Maybe you will be. But what's gonna happen to me if she finds out that I tried to escape from her? You work here willingly. I'm being kept here as a ploy against her enemies.

Elle went quiet for a moment as she tried to think of what she should say to reassure her friend.

ELLE

I'm sure it'll be okay. After all, the Amazons are obviously here for something important, so I doubt they'll have time to even notice us. Besides, that was a big village. What are the odds that any of the ones we met are the ones that came here with the rest of the group?

Xena stood outside along with a large number of guards and soldiers as the group of Amazons brought their horses to a stop in front of her. She stood fully dressed in her Conqueror attire, which had become the iconic look that so many had come to recognize immediately. Her face was a Stoic mask over how uncomfortable the weight of her armor felt against her chest, which still hadn't completely healed from the seemingly ever-persistent injury that Draco had given her. Still, in spite of the discomfort, Xena remained focused on the situation in front of her, as she was determined to get to the bottom of why the Amazons had made their presence known on her lands.

XENA

Melosa.

Xena stood unmoving as she watched the Amazons dismount their horses and gather behind Melosa as the Amazon queen approached the Conqueror and stopped just in front of her.

MELOSA

Lord Conqueror.

The Conqueror's men stood not far behind her, ready to strike on command, as the two powerful leaders stood face-to-face with an air of uncertainty and tension hanging over all of them. That was until Melosa held out her hand in an offering to Xena, who, after a moment, did the same as the two women clasped each other's wrists in the warrior's handshake.

MELOSA

It's been quite some time. You're looking well.

XENA

Like wise.

The two released each other's arms as Xena got straight to the heart of the matter.

XENA

Though I can't help but wonder just what it is that brings you here, Melosa.

The Amazon queen looked at Xena with a questioning look for a moment, as she also eyed the large number of guards that the Conqueror had brought out to meet them.

MELOSA

Did you not get the message I sent ahead?

XENA

I never received anything of the sort.

Melosa sighed as she shook her head disapprovingly.

MELOSA

(Talking to herself) Then something must've happened to our messengers.

(Quiet angry tone/ talking to herself) If I get my hands on that monster...

XENA

Do you think you could fill me in on what's going on here, Melosa? Because I'm not exactly fond of people just showing up on my doorstep with your people's combat skills and no warning beforehand.

MELOSA

Trust me, Xena, I'm well aware of your dislike of uninvited guests on your lands. A sentiment that we share, actually. Which brings me to the reason why I'm here.

XENA

Which is?

MELOSA

We Amazons are under attack and being taken captive. Many of our sisters have already fallen in one way or another to this threat, and per our treaty, I was hoping for your assistance in putting a stop to this and saving our people.

Xena stood a bit relieved by the unexpected news, as she found herself glad that it seemed she wasn't going to have another direct enemy to deal with at the moment, as she still had no idea what Draco had been up to since news on the warlord had been relatively silent.

XENA

Alright. Then why don't you and your party come in? I'll have some rooms prepared for your stay along with a good meal, and we can discuss the matter of why you're here.

MELOSA

We accept your offer, Conqueror.

XENA

Very well.

Xena turned around and went back inside as her guards, Melosa and the other Amazons followed. And though Xena's concern about the Amazons coming to her for nefarious purposes against her had been dispelled, what actually would soon take place involving those visiting women at her keep, would reveal an unknown conflict that would soon come to a head with very unpredictable results.

TO BE CONTINUED...