Gradually a pair of tired eyes fluttered open then shut as a small groan was heard. After a few seconds, the eyes opened slowly once again and blinked several times as they adjusted to the light. As they did, a somewhat foggy mind began to realize that the surrounding setting was new and unfamiliar.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Where, am I? What happened?
Slowly, Gabrielle raised her head from her position of laying on her stomach and looked around. Nothing seemed familiar. From what Gabrielle could guess, she appeared to be in a large tent. But why she was in the tent or how she had even gotten there to begin with, she had no clue. Gabrielle began trying to sit up but stopped when her body still hurt from her rather difficult journey to where ever she now found herself. Still, Gabrielle managed to get herself into a sitting position. However, as she maneuvered her sore body, Gabrielle realized something that sent a confused and frightening feeling through her. Because as she moved, Gabrielle noticed that shackles and chains had been placed around her wrist and ankles. The chains were just long enough to give her some mobility but still not allow her full, unrestricted use of her arms and legs. The combination of everything she had gone through and now being unexpectedly bound by an unknown assailant was enough to send Gabrielle in a panic as various thoughts began rushing through her mind. Had the slavers she had escaped from found her? Had she run into another terrible group that planned on doing something similar or worse? Either way, Gabrielle didn't want to wait around to find out as she began frantically pulling against the chains, desperately trying to get free. But after a few moments, Gabrielle realized her efforts were pointless, and she was still too hurt to escape this way and stopped tugging as she took a better look around the tent. It seemed to be a rather ordinary tent with just a small blanket on the ground that Gabrielle had been placed on. Aside from that there wasn't anything of note around her, however as she sat there, Gabrielle began to hear a couple of faint voices coming from outside. She moved slightly towards the tent's opening but was stopped when she reached the limit of the length of chain she was connected to. The voices drew closer until Gabrielle could see silhouettes of a few people standing just outside.
?1
(Angry tone) I don't care what they say, I said we're going today.
?2
You do realize going there anyway like this won't go over well for the negotiations.
?1
Well if they didn't want problems, then they shouldn't have changed their minds about when to meet. The meeting was for their benefit, not mine. We had an agreement, and now they're gonna find out what happens when they don't honor it. Now get to work helping to get everything together. Have my horse brought over and saddled. We leave in no later than noon. Dismissed.
Gabrielle watched as one of the silhouettes moved away from the tent as the other stayed in place for a moment, then it moved closer to the tent's entrance and Gabrielle pushed backwards as she suddenly felt a rush of fear hit her, not knowing what might happen to her once whoever was coming her way stepped into the tent. Her back hit the wall and left her with nowhere to go as the flaps of the tent parted, letting in the bright sunlight of the day. Gabrielle raised a hand and squinted as she shielded her eyes to the sudden brightness entering the darker confines. After a moment the light faded and Gabrielle lowered her hand to see a tall figure standing just inside. She looked up at the person and was a bit surprised by the fact that despite hearing the brief conversation just outside, the person standing there before her was a woman. Gabrielle watched as the woman stood there for a moment before appearing to notice her sitting there. With an emotionless look on her face, the woman moved towards Gabrielle, who froze, unsure of what to do as she quickly found the woman standing over her. Gabrielle lifted her head to look up at the woman who stood glaring down at her with her arms folded across her chest.
?
We have two options for how we're gonna do this. Option one, you talk and just tell me why you're here. Or opinion two, you don't tell me what I wanna know right away and find yourself in some very painful situations that even the toughest of men would have a very difficult time enduring. So tell me, little lady, which one is it gonna be?
Gabrielle looked at the woman, unsure of what to say.
GABRIELLE
(Nervous tone) I, I don't know what happened. My village was attacked and a bunch of us were taken, but I ended up escaping and ran for help. I ended up failing into a river and when I washed up I saw the fires from your camp and followed them here.
The thoughts of her family and friends being taken away flooded Gabrielle's mind.
GABRIELLE
My mother, my sister, they were taken away, along with a number of others from our village by slavers. Please, I didn't mean to trespass in your camp, I just wanna find them.
Gabrielle watched as the woman squatted down and appeared to study her for a moment. She noticed the intense look in her eyes that were a crystal clear blue. The woman stood tall, with long hair that was as dark as midnight. Her face while intimidating was actually quite stunning, as for a very brief moment Gabrielle thought just so before realizing that she was staring for some reason and quickly averted her eyes from the other woman's intense gaze. Finally as she did the woman spoke once more.
?
Mmm well I suppose that since you were completely soaked when you came stumbling out of these bushes and landed at my feet before passing out, your story does definitely seem plausible.
The woman then reached out and took hold of Gabrielle's chin in a firm grip as she looked her over again. Gabrielle tensed as she was grabbed, and the dark haired woman brought her face close to hers. The woman looked into Gabrielle's eyes and saw the uncertainty and fear that laid beneath. However what she didn't see was any notion that this little strawberry blonde intruder was lying about anything that she had said. So finally, after another tense moment passed, the dark-haired woman released Gabrielle's chin and stood.
?
However I'm so dumb to not know that looks can very easily be deceiving.
GABRIELLE
No please I'm not lying. You gotta believe me.
The dark haired woman raised an inquisitive eyebrow that Gabrielle honestly couldn't tell whether or not the woman found her statement amusing or just plain ridiculous.
?
Oh, do I? And do you have proof that can cooperate your story?
GABRIELLE
I was soak and wet when I was found wasn't I? And just look at my arms and legs. I've got cuts and bruises all over them.
Gabrielle winced as she shifted and felt the deep pain in her side that still hurt from being beaten and were likely made worse by her involuntary rough trip down the river. She grimaced as she instinctively grabbed at her injured ribs.
GABRIELLE
Among other places, I'm sure.
The woman took in Gabrielle's current condition as she seemed to assess the probability of her story being true.
?
And how can I be certain that this isn't some sort of clever trick to get me to lower my guard? After all, from the looks of you, you don't exactly appear to be all that resilient. So the fact that you not only survived this so -called ordeal of yours, but made it all the way here in "this" condition,
The woman gestured at Gabrielle's injury riddled body.
?
I find that fairly difficult to believe.
GABRIELLE
You can't be serious? Look at me. Who would fake all this?
?
I know plenty who would try far more underhanded tactics in order to get whatever it was they wanted.
Gabrielle shuttered as she saw a brief sinister smile cross the unknown woman's face.
?
Myself included.
The woman was about to continue speaking when the tent flap opened and Gabrielle saw a large armored man walk in. He then stood straight as he brought his fist to his chest in a greeting towards the woman.
LEONIDAS
My lord. Everything except your tent has been picked up, and your horse waits just outside and ready.
The man spotted Gabrielle sitting chained up and looked at the woman who called him in curiosity.
LEONIDAS
A surprise guest, my lord?
?
You could say that. Though I'm still not certain of where exactly this little surprise guest came from.
LEONIDAS
You think she could be an enemy? My lord, look at her. She's just a girl. Barely even a young woman. Surely you don't suspect such an innocent face of having nefarious reasons for being here.
?
You're fooled too easily, Leonidas. There are plenty of times when even the most unassuming appearance can be an unexpected cover to lull those they encounter into lowering their guard. I'm sure you've heard the term "a wolf in sheep's clothing"?
LEONIDAS
Yes of course. So should I take care of her for you then?
Gabrielle's eyes went wide with fear at the implication.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Oh god's they're gonna kill me. I escaped from those slavers only to end up here and get tied up, interrogated and then murdered. Just who exactly are these people?
?
No, there's no need for that.
Gabrielle breathed a small sigh of relief at hearing that.
?
Not yet anyway.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking nervously) What?
?
I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about this girl.
LEONIDAS
Something about her, my lord?
?
Yes. I looked into her eyes and there's something more than what she might appear to be.
LEONIDAS
Than what is it that you would like me to do with her?
The woman thought for a moment as she looked at Gabrielle before returning her attention back to Leonidas.
?
Get some rope. We'll make sure she's good and secure, then we'll all ride out and get this business done with that city to settle that business.
Though Gabrielle tried everything she could think of to talk her way out of her current situation, it wasn't long before she found her wrist and ankles tied as she laid on her stomach draped over the back of a horse. She glanced up at the dark hatred woman who sat in the saddle behind her as the woman spoke to the army that she apparently commanded.
?
Alright, everyone had better have gotten plenty of rest. We've got some good distance to cover before we reach Olympia. We'll see what that city's idiot leader thinks of my proposition when he sees a whole army showing up at his gates.
LEONIDAS
You would think with you already owning all the surrounding areas that he'd see that your offer to him was far more than fair.
?
Yeah, well, stubborn men like him wouldn't know a good deal if it came up and bit 'em in the ass. But I'm sure he'll be much more willing to see things my way when he sees his precious little city that his trying so hard to cling to crumbling right between his tightly gripped fingers. Now let's move out.
The woman got the horse moving as Gabrielle rode away with her while hearing the man called Leonidas address the rest of the large group.
LEONIDAS
You heard her men. Onward to Olympia.
ARMY
For her lord, Conqueror! Xena!
The group began moving as all sorts of alarms began going off in Gabrielle's head after hearing the name of the woman who had now apparently taken Gabrielle captives. Like so many, Gabrielle had heard stories about the woman known far and wide as The Conqueror. Each one more terrifying than the last. And as a whole new level of fear sank in, Gabrielle began to squirm to try and quickly slip from the saddle, though being tied up, she didn't know what she would do afterward. Not that it mattered when she felt a firm hand on her and heard a voice speak in her ear.
XENA
If you're smart you'll just stay there, behave yourself and enjoy the ride. You causing trouble will end up going far worse for you than anything else. Trust me. You don't wanna make me mad, do you?
Gabrielle shook her head no.
XENA
Good girl.
And with that the Gabrielle felt that horse pick up speed as she lowered her head and watched the ground pass by as she was carried off by one of the most feared people within all of Greece, wondering if she might have been better off being taken by the slavers she had escaped from. Or if everything about the Conqueror's reputation was to be completely believed, Gabrielle began to question if she might have even been better off if she were just already dead.
TO BE CONTINUED...