Surrounded by a group of masked, armed strangers Gabrielle and Elle stood close together as Gabrielle frantically tried to think of a way out of their predicament. So with a great amount of caution she slowly raised her hands in an effort to show the strangers she was unarmed.
GABRIELLE
We don't want any trouble and don't have anything of value so please just let us go.
One of the masked strategies, who like the rest of the group was a scantily dressed woman stepped forward and spoke to Gabrielle and Elle from behind the decorative wooden mask she wore obscuring her face.
?1
And why should we believe you when you're the ones who are trespassing on our lands?
Elle looked at the masked woman with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
ELLE
What are you talking about. Everything here and for miles around belongs to the lord Conqueror.
?1
Well not here. These are sacred lands belonging to the Amazon's just as it has been long since you or your Conqueror were ever even born.
Gabrielle and Elle looked at each other for a moment as they both began to feel as though they had just gotten themselves into a very bad situation, before returning their eyes to the group of masked women before them.
ELLE
But I thought the lord Conqueror owned everything except for a couple cities in this area.
?1
We Amazon's are a sovereign nation and have a treaty with your Conqueror which allows us to operate according to our own laws and traditions as long as they don't interfere with the Conqueror's business or ability to rule effectively.
GABRIELLE
I don't get it why didn't she just take over your land like she did with everywhere else?
Elle looked at Gabrielle.
ELLE
Because like I've been trying to tell you, her lordship isn't the utterly heartless monster that you and so many others think she is.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry Elle, you can keep trying to convince me of that she some kind of good or just person, but I've seen the rage and brutal violence that she's capable of. That woman is nothing more than a tyrant who only seems to do things for her own benefit. So even though these women might have some sort of treaty or agreement with her, I'm certain that it's only because she still gets something from them she wants.
Elle scowled.
ELLE
(Angry tone) You know I don't get you Gabrielle. The Conqueror hasn't done anything to you but yet you seem to hate her primarily off of her reputation when you've been living with her for some time now and seen for yourself the kind of woman that she truly is.
Gabrielle returned a scowl of her own back at Elle
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) She's holding me in that place her, you and everyone else who blindly follows her call home against my will. I'm nothing more than a way to get to one of her enemies. I escaped from one nightmare and ended up right in another one. Because though you say she doesn't own slaves I sure feel like one given the fact that she has me doing stuff for her and I haven't received one single dinar for anything I've done. So don't you stand there and try and tell me that she's just some kind of misunderstood, tortured soul. Because I've both seen and experienced first hand exactly what that woman is like.
With a very autoable and exaggerated clearing of her throat, the masked Amazon that Gabrielle and Elle had originally been speaking with broke into the pairs rather heated conversation.
?1
(Commanding tone) The two of you can argue about your opinions on the Conqueror some other time. Because right now what you both should be more concerned with is explaining why it is that you saw fit to enter our lands unprompted or invited.
Gabrielle and Elle's focus returned to the other woman as Elle spoke up.
ELLE
We apologize if we're trespassing but we didn't know that this was Amazon territory. My friend here wondered off from the lord Conqueror's keep and I was only following after her to bring her back safely.
Gabrielle glared at Elle.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Wandered off? I left because I don't want to be there.
?1
So you're an escaped prisoner then?
The masked woman looked Gabrielle over for a moment.
?1
Interesting. It seems that the Conqueror has grown far more lenient in her treatment of prisoners. Not to mention the level of security she keeps.
GABRIELLE
Well I suppose I'm not a prisoner in the typical sense of the word, but I was still brought there and held against my will.
ELLE
(Irritated tone) You showed up at her camp injured and exhausted so what would you rather have had her do? Leave you to fend for yourself? Giving the condition you were in when you first arrived I can only imagine how you were when she first found you, so I really don't see how you could've made it much further on your own before you either succumb to your injuries or ended up finding someone who actually did have some kind of anterior motives for what they wanted from you. Instead you were brought somewhere safe and had your injuries treated. You were given warm food, clean clothes and a comfortable place to sleep. So tell me how living in the lord Conqueror's presence has been so terrible.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) I never asked for any of this. Sure she might've done that but why? And if I'm not allowed to leave tell me how that dosen't make me her prisoner regardless of the way I'm treated.
ELLE
Well she...
Elle paused for a moment as she didn't exactly have anything to dispute the point that Gabrielle had just made.
GABRIELLE
Not to mention the fact that I literally heard her say that she's only keeping me around because she knows it'll anger one of her enemies. So do you still wanna stand there and try telling me that she isn't an awful person?
Elle sighed not knowing what to say to change Gabrielle's view on Xena at the moment.
ELLE
Given everything you've seen from her if I were in your shoes I guess I can't really blame you for feeling the way you do about the situation. But you have to believe me, despite what you've seen her lordship really isn't the heartless monster you think she is.
GABRIELLE
Well I'm sorry Elle but I really don't see that decent person you seem to think that woman is and sincerely doubt that there will ever anything that'll be enough to convince me otherwise.
Again one of the masked women spoke up, interrupting Gabrielle and Elle's conversation as she addressed one of the other unknown women in the group.
?2
(Irritated tone) This is ridiculous. Why are we simply standing here listening to those two argue when we should be dealing with them for trespassing?
The woman pointed the sword she was holding at Gabrielle and Elle as she stepped closer to them.
?1
That's not your call to make Velasca and you know it.
The other woman who was just addressed as Velasca turned to face the woman who had just spoke as she lifted her mask to reveal a scowl.
VELASCA
(Irritated tone) And what do you suppose we do with them Ephiny? Just let them go? They're trespassers and we have no way of knowing what they might be up to.
The other Amazon also lifted her mask.
EPHINY
Which is why they'll be brought before the queen so she can decide what to do with them. As is the law.
Velasca sneered.
VELASCA
Oh please Melosa has always been far too lenient for her own good.
EPHINY
(Irritated tone) Well regardless of how you feel about how Melosa rules, she's still our queen and you should show her some more respect.
?
Exactly.
Velasca glared at the masked woman who had just decided to insert herself into the conversation.
VELASCA
(Irritated tone) Stay out of this Terreis, just because you're Melosa's daughter doesn't mean you know anything about how our people should be ruled.
Another mask was removed to reveal a young woman that looked to be even younger than Gabrielle.
TERREIS
(Annoyed tone) Hey just because I'm young doesn't make me ignorant to how things work. My mother is a wonderful queen and I don't appreciate you speaking ill of her when she isn't even here.
Velasca glared at the young Amazon.
VELASCA
(Threatening tone) You really are lucky that your Melosa's daughter other wise I would have taught you a very painful lesson in respecting your elders a long time ago. Maybe then you wouldn't be such an obnoxious little brat.
Terreis stepped up to Velasca and looked up at her without a shred of intimidation.
TERREIS
Well my mother isn't here now, so why don't you give it your best shot Velasca. Come on I'll show you that my being an Amazon princess is more than just a title given to me just because of who my mother is.
VELASCA
(Threatening tone) I suggest that you tread very carefully before you make an attempt to start something that we all know you can't finish little girl.
Velasca kept her gaze locked on to Terreis as everyone, including Gabrielle and Elle could feel the immense tension rapidly building between the two. Things seemed to be nearing a boiling point when Ephiny spoke up again.
EPHINY
That's enough, both of you. We have much more important matters to attend to then to have the two of you going at it. Velasca you're an adult so I would expect you to act like it instead of challenging a teenager to a fight over something so ridiculous. And Terreis you're the Amazons princess, you're supposed to know better. I think you're mother would be very disappointed to see you acting this way. Especially when in front of outsiders.
Terreis looked down in dejection as Velasca shot Ephiny an angry glance before turning away and storming off to the side of the group where she stood leaning back against a tree with her arms folded across her chest as she sulked in her anger at both Terreis and now Ephiny. All the while Gabrielle and Elle had remained silent as they watched the heated exchange unsure if they should chance making a run for it while the woman seemed distracted. Gabrielle had just begun to slowly start back away when she felt herself bump into something behind her and looked back to see one of the Amazonian women looking down at her with a very serious stare.
GABRIELLE
(Nervous tone) Oh, um hi.
Gabrielle let out a small nervous laugh as the woman put a firm hand on her shoulder and escorted her back to standing beside Elle as the pair exchanged nervous looks, both having no idea what might happen to them going forward.
EPHINY
Sorry but we can't just allow you two to leave. You are trespassing on our lands whether you knew it before hand or not. And now we have to deal with you accordingly. Which means bringing you before our queen so she can decide what to do with you. Now let's move
Ephiny turned around and began to walk away before pausing in her stride to look back at everyone else.
EPHINY
And someone tie their hands together, we don't need them trying anything and having someone ending up hurt or worse.
The blonde Amazon then continued walking away as did most of the others while a few women stayed behind to bind Gabrielle and Elle's wrists together with rope before leading them off with the rest of the group as the both of them realized that it was wiser for them to simply go along with the women instead of trying to get away as they knew that a fight to escape would be a battle that even working together, the two of them would certainly not be able to win.
XENA
What are you doing here Ares? I sincerely doubt that you give one damn about who has control over a small village like Amphipolis.
The God of War scratched idly at his bearded chin as he shrugged.
ARES
I don't.
Xena scowled.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Then why get involved in any of this at all?
ARES
Why not? After all it's not like we have any kind of agreement or anything that says I can't.
A small smirk crossed the gods face as Xena felt her level of anger raising knowing exactly what Ares meant.
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) So that's it. I turn you down for your so-called "help" and you just couldn't stand the fact that I dared to turn down the almighty God of War. And here I thought Draco was a pathetic little worm.
Ares lost the smile on his face as his expression turned serious with a resentful look directed at the Conqueror.
ARES
(Warning tone) You had better watch yourself Xena and remember just who it is that you're talking to.
XENA
I could say the same for you Ares. You seem to be forgetting the fact that I don't fear or give one single damn about any of you gods at all. You're all nothing but beings who think far too highly of themselves, take whatever you want and expect us mortals to blindly worship and follow you for doing nothing but creating problems for humanity.
ARES
And tell me Xena, just how is that any different from what you do?
Xena scowled for a moment before a small grin appeared on her lips.
XENA
Simple, I couldn't care less about what people think of me. And whether people want to believe it or not what I do isn't solely for my own benefit and greed.
ARES
(Sarcasm) Right, slaughtering countless people all across multiple different lands was definitely for those people's benefit.
XENA
(Angry tone) Fuck off Ares.
ARES
Oh don't worry I'm leaving. I just wanted to let you see why it is that you're about to lose everything you have and how this all could've been avoided if you had been too blind to see what you could've had.
XENA
(Angry tone) Oh why don't you go crying back to Zues and Hera like the little crybaby that you apparently are and leave me to finish putting Draco back in his place.
Tired of Xena's blatant disrespect toward him, Ares stormed up to the Conqueror and stood barely inches from her face as his anger began to rise.
ARES
(Angry tone) You know what Xena your about to learn a very hard lesson in what happens when you decide to screw with the wrong God.
Xena smirked as she showed no fear while standing face to face with the powerful immortal.
XENA
(Sarcasm) Really because it sounds to me that this has more to do with the fact that I wont.
Ares face turned slightly red in rage and frustration as he found himself at a loss for words for a moment before finding his voice once again.
ARES
Forget this. I have better things to do than to waste my time on someone who isn't able to see the potential standing right in front of her.
(Angry tone) Have a nice trip to Tartarus Xena. I'll be sure to tell Hades to reserve a partially nightmarish spot for you when I see 'em.
Xena flashed an evil smile at the God.
XENA
I look forward to it.
Seeing his comment having no effect on the Conqueror only served to anger Ares further as he simply let out a quick frustrated yell before disappearing with a flash and leaving the battlefield. With Ares gone Xena's focus returned to her previous task of facing of against Draco as the powered up warlord took the opportunity to strike while Xena was still distracted. The Conqueror just managed to dodge an incoming strike from Draco and backed off slightly as the two prepared to face off as they both gave their respective army's the command to attack. And with the sounds of steel clashing and yelling around tthem, , Xena and Draco collided in a fight which would soon come to an abrupt ending that would in the not so distant future inadvertently trigger both the beginning of something completely unexpected as well as the end.
TO BE CONTINUED...