A loud thud Jarred Gabrielle awakes from her slumber as she jumped slightly before groaning when the sudden movement exasperated her injured ribs. Gabrielle grabbed at her side as she laid there, before her eyes focused on a pair of boots sitting on the floor not far from her face. She then heard a voice above her and raised her head to see the Conqueror sitting on the bed looking at a piece of paper before rolling it up and putting it into a pouch in her pack. The woman glanced over at Gabrielle for a moment before returning her attention to her current task of looking over a couple more things as she placed them in her pack.
XENA
Good you're finally awake. Get up and get yourself together. And make it quick, I've got things to do today.
Gabrielle sat up and stretched out a bit as she tried to relieve the aches and stiffness in her body from her injuries paired with sleeping on the hard floor. A combination that was not pleasant in the least. She winced and let out a painful groan as the pain from her injured ribs hit once again. The sound got a brief glance from the Conqueror before she finished putting her things away and walked out of the room, leaving Gabrielle alone. After a moment, Gabrielle pushed through the pain and got to her feet as she stood looking around the small room.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Get myself together? What's that supposed to mean?
Gabrielle looked over and saw a full-body mirror standing in the corner of the room. She moved a little closer and ran her fingers through her disheveled reddish-gold hair until it was straighter. She then stood there for a moment, wondering why she had been so quick to do as she was told. But then felt a bit of fear hit her when she saw the reflection of the Conqueror returning to the room. Gabrielle turned around and stood there as the other woman appeared to give her a quick look over.
XENA
Good enough.
She then tossed an apple in Gabrielle's direction before turning away as she began walking back out of the room.
XENA
Let's go.
Gabrielle stood there for a moment holding the piece of fruit, still trying to process everything she'd been through over the past few days. It almost didn't seem real. Or at least Gabrielle wished it wasn't anyway. But it was. All of it. And now there she stood in a city far off from Potidea as she was being kept by the ruthless, feared Conqueror. What would become of her? Gabrielle had no way of knowing. So far, the Conqueror hadn't done anything to harm her. But with a reputation like the one she had, Gabrielle could only assume that if she wasn't careful around this woman, she would be in very serious danger.
XENA
(Slightly Irritated/ threatening tone) I'm not waiting all day, girl. Stop standing there staring off into nowhere before I give you something to really stare at.
Gabrielle's focus quickly came back to the present as she saw the Conqueror standing by the door to the room looking at her impatiently. She then walked over and Xena opened the door, leading her out to the hallway and down the stairs. Xena then looked at the already crowded room. Most of her men were still passed out from the night before, but there were several awake and sitting at a table together being their typical rude selves to the severs as they walked by trying to ignore them and do their jobs. One of them noticed Xena and immediately stopped hassling the women as he looked away before the rest noticed Xena as well and also pretended they hadn't been doing anything.
LEONIDAS
Gonna need to give some of those newer recruits a lesson in decency
Xena looked over to see Leonidas sitting at the bar with a few others from her army. He took a more gulp of his drink before putting the cup on the counter.
XENA
(Slightly Irritated tone) The new recruits are supposed to be your job. So if there's a problem with them, that means there's a problem with you.
LEONIDAS
They've only joined less than a couple of months ago. It's a bit difficult to train 'em properly when we've been almost constantly on the move as of late.
XENA
(Slightly Irritated tone) I don't pay you for excuses, Leonidas. I pay you for results.
LEONIDAS
No excuses, just a thought my lord.
XENA
(Slightly Irritated tone) Yeah, well you can save some effort by keeping those thoughts to yourself and focus more on getting these damned rookies to fall in line before I end up taking matters into my own hands.
She glanced at the light scar that ran down Leonidas' cheek, which was mostly hidden by his beard, and smirked.
XENA
After all you and I both know how things can turn out when that happens and the recruits get too full of themselves that they end up pissing me off.
Leonidas subconsciously touched the part of the scar that came up above his beard and gave Xena a small half grin in return.
LEONIDAS
Yes. But it can be quite the lesson, my lord. And very effective too if I may add. That is, if they're lucky enough to get the opportunity to learn said lesson and not end up with a one way trip to Hades himself after meeting the end of your blade.
Xena motioned to the man behind the bar to bring her a drink. He brought it over, and she picked it up as she looked at her men sitting in various places around the room.
XENA
Well if they're smart enough it isn't a very difficult lesson to learn quickly.
LEONIDAS
Very true my lord.
Gabrielle stood by silently, listening to the conversation as Xena made quick work of her drink before putting the mug down and walking towards the door.
XENA
Enough idle chatter, we have things to do today. Let's go.
Leonidas stood and saw Gabrielle standing nearby.
LEONIDAS
Um, my lord?
Xena stopped and turned around.
XENA
What.
LEONIDAS
The girl. If I'm coming with you, what do we do with her?
Xena let out an annoyed grumble as she looked around, realizing that she couldn't just leave the girl to her own devices if Leonidas was with her as he was the only one she trusted not to do something stupid if Gabrielle was left alone with him. Not to say that all the rest of her army there weren't trustworthy, but the girl was her captive for the time being, and in actuality Xena's biggest concern was the girl giving her men the slip and escaping. And Xena didn't want her running off. After all, she still wasn't convinced that Gabrielle wasn't being used as a tool in some way by one of her enemies. Of which there was a rather extensive list. Most of whom Xena wouldn't be surprised if they resorted to using such an unassuming young woman to try and trick Xena into lowering her guard. But Xena wouldn't be so easily fooled. Regardless of who this girl truly was, Xena was determined to keep an eye on her, at least until she had the time to fully assess who this Gabrielle was and decide her fate. So without any better options Xena looked at Gabrielle for a moment before turning back towards the door.
XENA
I guess we have no choice but to take her with us. Now keep an eye on her and let's go get this over with already.
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror walked out the front door and looked beside her when she felt a hand on her back.
LEONIDAS
You heard the lord Conqueror little one. Let's get going. It's best not to keep her waiting.
Gabrielle was gently guided outside where she was walked along with Xena and Leonidas through the busy streets of Olympia. As they moved through the city Gabrielle thought of taking the chance and making a run for it. Surely at least one of the many people around would help her, wouldn't they? Or perhaps she could just simply get lost among the crowds and slip away before either of the other two noticed she was gone. But could she actually get away in her condition? After all she was still experiencing quite a bit of pain from her injuries and knew that she would be much slower than usual, which admittedly wasn't all that fast anyway. But even so she would at least be more agile than she was in her current state. Regardless Gabrielle quickly came to the conclusion that no matter what type of condition she was in, if she were to suddenly try to escape by running away, she'd almost certainly be caught before she made it far. And what would happen to her afterward? Gabrielle was certain that the Conqueror would not be happy with an attempted escape and would surely do something to her as punishment. That is if she didn't just out right kill her right there in the street. Suddenly almost as if she had read Gabrielle's mind, Xena put a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and spoke quietly into her ear.
XENA
(Quiet tone) Don't go getting any ideas while we're here. Trying to run away will only guarantee that your life will come to a very painful end. Understand?
GABRIELLE
Yes.
XENA
(Quiet tone) Good girl. Now when we get where we're going I want you to stand there and be quiet. You're not to say a word unless you're directly spoken to. You're also not to speak a word to anyone about what you hear today got it?
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Who would I even tell?
I won't, I swear.
XENA
Good. Just keep that in mind, and it might work in your favor when I decide what to do with you.
It wasn't long after when they arrived at the front door of a large three-story building. Gabrielle noted that it looked fairly elegant. Even compared to most of the other buildings in the city, which were all a very far cry from the simple structures that Gabrielle had been used to seeing in her home village and the few neighboring buildings she had seen from time to time when she would venture just outside the village. Olympia certainly was a beautiful city Gabrielle thought as she momentarily forgot the circumstances of which she now found herself in this vast settlement. Reality returned very quickly however as Gabrielle's eyes landed on Leonidas who walked up the number of stairs that lead to the front door of the building and stood by the set of doors which had a couple of guards posted in front of it. He then stood at attention and waited as the Conqueror began ascending the steps next. Mid-way up she suddenly stopped and turned back towards Gabrielle who still at the bottom of the steps and gave her an unhappy look. Realizing that the woman was clearly waiting on her, Gabrielle walked up the stairs and followed Xena as the guards appeared to recognize Xena and opened the doors, allowing all three of them to enter. Inside Gabrielle followed the other two up another set of stairs and down a small hallway until they came to a large pair of doors with a couple of guards standing in front. They, too, recognized Xena but didn't move as the trio stopped in front of them.
GUARD
My lord Conqueror, what brings you here on this fine day?
XENA
Petrodes in?
GUARD
Yes my lord.
XENA
Good that makes my life easier.
Xena then proceeded to effortlessly shove the guards out of the way and threw the doors open with a loud thud as they collided with the walls behind them on the other side. The noise startled the man who was sittng with his back to the doors, causing him to jump slightly before he turned to look behind his chair to see his unexpected guests as Xena flashed an insincere smile.
XENA
(Ominous tone) Hello Petrodes. Long time no see.
TO BE CONTINUED...