Darkness fell over the keep as the night arrived, and Gabrielle walked the halls as she made her way to the Conqueror's quarters as per Xena's earlier request. Still having no idea what it was that the woman wanted her to see, Gabrielle pondered the possibilities of what it could be but couldn't pin down anything specific for what it actually was. Having done so since that afternoon, when Xena had first asked her to meet up with her just after sunset.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) What could she want to show me? She seemed convinced that it would be something I'd like. Something "I" would like. As in, she thought to do something just to make me happy. But why? And she asked me come. Didn't command, but asked. As in giving me the option to choose what I wanted to do.
Gabrielle paused in her steps.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) So could it mean that what she said to me was really true, and she does actually have feelings for me?
Gabrielle felt her heart beat slightly faster as her mind thought of the possibility, before she shook her head at the thoughts.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Come on Gabrielle. What's wrong with you? You can't seriously think that any of this could possibly be real. You can't actually be letting yourself fall for whatever this is that she's doing? You've not only heard but seen what she's capable of. She's a violent, angry killer who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
The young woman stood leaning against the wall in the middle of the hallway with no one else around as she felt her head and her heart wagging a war within her.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) But she did save from those Amazons. And then earlier, the woman I knew when I was first brought here wouldn't have thought twice about getting rid of Isidora. Honestly, based on what I saw before we got here, she very well might've killed her.
Gabrielle sighed as she layer her head back and looked up at the ceiling.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) What am I supposed to do? Has being around her too long made me lose my mind? Gods, why is that woman so confusing? Every time I think I know who she really is something happens to make me question everything that I thought I knew about her.
The young woman turned her head to look down the hall.
GABRIELLE
(Talking to herself) Or myself, apparently. Because this settles it, Gabrielle, you've officially lost your mind.
Settling the internal struggle at least for the moment, Gabrielle pushed herself off the wall and tried to settle her racing thoughts as she carried on the way she had been going.
GABRIELLE
Hello?
Gabrielle knocked on the door to the Conqueror's study as she waited a moment for a reply and when she didn't get one, waited another few moments before knocking again and again got no reply as she stood there unsure of whether she should just leave or go inside.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Maybe she fell asleep... it's probably for the better anyway.
So, silently telling herself how much of a fool she was acting, Gabrielle turned around and began walking away from the Conqueror's quarters when she had gotten partially down the stairs before hearing a door open behind her.
XENA
Leaving already?
Gabrielle stopped and turned to look up at the Conqueror who was standing at the top of the stairs.
GABRIELLE
You didn't answer when I knocked, so I thought you might have fallen asleep or changed your mind.
XENA
Not at all. I was just finishing up a couple little things when you knocked.
GABRIELLE
Oh, well if you're busy.
Xena smiled.
XENA
Don't be ridiculous. I asked you to come here tonight, didn't I?
The question she posed clearly rhetorical as she moved to the side and held her arm out to the room in an open invitation for Gabrielle to enter.
XENA
Come on.
Pausing for just a moment, Gabrielle looked at the other woman's face and saw what Gabrielle could only conceive as a gentleness in her expression. And with one more thought that she should just walk away then fading away, Gabrielle walked back up to where Xena stood.
XENA
I'm glad you came.
Gabrielle gave a small smile back at the woman before continuing inside with the Conqueror following. Once inside Xena moved ahead of the young women as she lit a couple more candles before moving to a chair where a thick fur coat was hanging and put it on.
XENA
Over here.
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror moved to a set of large doors that sat between two windows and pulled them open before again stepping aside and gesturing for Gabrielle to walk through. Again Gabrielle looked at the woman before she moved across the room and stopped right in front of her as she gave her a slightly apprehensive look.
XENA
(Joking tone) Relax, it's not like I'm gonna heave you over the balcony or anything.
A look of fear fell over Gabrielle as the possibility of the woman wanting to kill her hadn't even crossed her mind. A look that Xena caught immediately and silently cursed herself for making such a comment so casually, knowing full well that Gabrielle had known about and witnessed her killing in such a cold and unfeeling manner. As Xena then quickly continued in an effort to lay Gabrielle's fears of anything like that to rest.
XENA
That was a joke. Sorry, I guess someone like me saying that kind of thing kind of kills the humor of it.
Xena stood there for a moment, unsure of what she should say before turning to step outside.
XENA
I'm just gonna go out now. Feel free to join me when you're ready.
Xena paused for a moment as she tried to be sure to choose her words more carefully.
XENA
That is if you want to.
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror walked outside and up to the banister that encircled the balcony as the woman then stood stoicly appearing to turn her attention to the night sky above. A few moments passed Gabrielle watched Xena from inside before slowly moving to the doorway as her curiosity for what Xena was looking at got the better of her. The young woman reached the doorway and as Gabrielle raised her eyes to search for what Xena could have been looking at and was met with nothing but a plain night sky as she gave Xena a questioning look and got a small smile in return.
XENA
Just wait. If my calculations are correct, and they almost always are, it should be starting any moment now.
GABRIELLE
What should be starting?
XENA
That.
Gabrielle saw as Xena nodded for her to turn her attention above and looked up in response as she saw a small, quick light shoot across the night sky. She was about to look back at Xena as she wondered what was so special about one little shooting star but kept her eyes fixed on the sky as she saw another light fly by. Then another and another. And before Gabrielle knew it she was walking countless streams of light dash across the night sky in a dazzling display that she'd never thought to imagine.
GABRIELLE
(Breathless wonder) it's beautiful.
Hearing Gabrielle's voice, Xena looked over her shoulder at her and smiled.
XENA
It's really something ain't it.
Gabrielle kept her eyes on the sky as she walked up the balcony's railing as she stood a little apart from Xena who watched the young woman's face as she looked up at the majestically lit sky as it shimmered with the shooting lights that had completely captivated her attention. That was until she received the unwelcomed reminder that it was winter, and she was standing outside with nothing but the dress she normally wore on as she felt a shiver run through her, and she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to keep warm. But when another cold wind blew and cut right thought her clothing as though she had nothing on at all, Gabrielle knew there was no way that she'd be able to stay out there and was reluctantly about to turn around and hurry back inside when she felt something get dropped over her and looked beside her to see that the Conqueror had taken off her big, thick fur and wrapped it around Gabrielle to keep her warm.
GABRIELLE
Thanks, but now you're gonna be cold.
Xena shrugged casually.
XENA
Eh, I'll be fine.
Gabrielle looked at the woman's exposed skin, as the Conqueror was wearing a sleeveless shirt that Gabrielle could tell wasn't very heavy. And with the same being said for the thickness of the woman's pants, Gabrielle knew that no matter how indomitable Xena may have appeared there was no way the woman couldn't have been unaffected by the bitting wind that wiped through the night and as such, couldn't just let the Conqueror stand out there exposed to the harsh elements on her account.
GABRIELLE
Here my lord, please take it back.
Gabrielle took the coat from her shoulders and held it for Xena to take back only to have the woman gently push her hands back toward herself.
XENA
I'm okay, really. Plus it's obvious that you're cold, so...
Xena took the fur from Gabrielle's hands and began to drape it over the young woman again but was surprised when Gabrielle put her arm out to stop her.
GABRIELLE
No, I don't want it.
Xena paused as she looked at Gabrielle for a moment, stunned by the fact that the woman had just told her no. As Gabrielle saw a serious expression fall over the Conqueror's face.
XENA
Did you just tell me no?
Having not realized what she had said before hearing it back, Gabrielle looked at Xena nervously as she fidgeted slightly and tried to talk her way out of what had suddenly become a rather uncomfortable situation.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly nervous tone) Did I? Well you see what I meant to say was no, I don't want it, but uh if you insist who are I to refuse.
Gabrielle let out a small nervous laugh as she looked at the coat for a moment before moving to put it on but stopped as the Conqueror spoke up.
XENA
Alright fine. If you're really sure you don't want it.
Gabrielle looked at the woman.
GABRIELLE
Not if it means that you have to go cold.
Xena smirked.
XENA
You do realize that all I have to do is take a few steps, and I'm back inside?
GABRIELLE
Yes. But by that logic so could I.
XENA
I suppose you have a point, but then you'd miss the show.
GABRIELLE
Maybe, but at least I'd know you weren't standing out here in the cold because of me.
Xena sighed to herself as thought of how ridiculous this all seemed and held out her hand to take a fur back.
XENA
Okay if you're really worried about being warm at my expense, I'll take it back.
Gabrielle handed over the coat and Xena put it back on as Gabrielle began to watch the sky again for another moment or two before planning to head inside. But as she was about to turn around to go inside, Gabrielle suddenly felt the warmth of the fur coat wrapped around her once again, but this time found that there was someone standing directly behind her as she was gently pulled close to the warm body behind her and heard the Conqueror's voice speak into her ear.
XENA
There now we can both be warm and happy.
Gabrielle wasn't sure what she should do at that moment, but couldn't help but think of how surprisingly warm and comfortable she felt in the other woman's arms. And weither it was because of the cold or how she no longer cared what all logic and reason told her, for the first time since she could remember, Gabrielle felt content and happy to be exactly where she was. As though it appeared to Gabrielle that Xena's feelings for her were in fact genuine, there was something else that had been silently happening to the woman who was standing right behind her. Because despite Xena being known far and wide as the Conqueror, due to her plans to take over or force every land that she came across to become subservient to her. Perhaps if someone were to look into the deepest depths of the warrior's soul, and could see what had begun to take place within her, they could argue that maybe it was actually Gabrielle who was truly the conqueror. And despite Xena's refusal to admit it to anyone, the least of all being herself, it was because of this young woman from the small farming village of Potidaea who had stumbled into her life who had somehow taken hold of her heart. And no matter how hard she tried to ignore or deny it, something far greater deep within Xena had already begun to change.
TO BE CONTINUED...