The room was dark and cold despite the hungry bodies crowding the room around me. The overwhelming smells permeating from all of us threatened to wrench what little food my stomach still contained. I closed my eyes and forced my nerves to settle. I was slowly adjusting to the majority of smells but somewhere in the dark room hid the decomposing body of some lucky bastard no longer bound to a world mired in shit and piss. Suffice it to say that was one smell I doubted I would be able to adjust to.
As for how I got here I had been dragged kicking and screaming into Athens fighting the soldiers that had kidnapped me from my village just a few days ago. Hopeful that any one of the people we had passed would have done something about the clear injustice taking place. Instead they had all averted their eyes, my pleas falling unheeded.
I sat trembling against the cold bars trying to make myself as small as possible in the crowd. Out of nowhere I heard the blood curdling sounds of a woman far in the back of the cage screaming out in pain and terror. Quickly deducing that one of the men had decided to sample the woman for himself. Unable to stop myself I got up and pushed my way to the man. My heart raced when I saw the man sitting with the woman struggling in his lap. He hadn't yet violated her and I wasn't going to let him. Taking a stabilizing breath I grabbed her arm pulling her from his grasp and quickly retreating back into the crowd with her just as fast.
The man was momentarily stunned as he took in my tiny blond stature. Deciding he could take me he began pushing other people out of the way. I sped up doing my best to keep the shaking woman on her feet. My eyes firmly stuck on the imposing threat as I felt a panic devouring everything inside of me until it seemed that it was all that was left. So lost in my own morbid thoughts I didn't even see the fire of a torch rapidly approaching or the gate opening just before the back of my head collided roughly into the iron bars.
Dazed, I fell to the ground barely registering the sound of a calculated fight taking place just steps away from me. The woman I had saved was now pulling me back to my feet. Checking the back of my head. Her dirty fingers stinging as they dipped into a cut that was heavily bleeding on the back of my head. I quickly pulled her hand back from the injury and looked past her toward the sound of fighting. I was just in time to see the empress of the world absolutely wailing on the crumpled figure of the once huge man. He was already dead by the looks of it but no one there had the audacity to try and stop the wild bloody empress.
I swallowed when she suddenly stopped and looked me dead in the eyes. Like a stone I was frozen in place. In the light of the soldier's torch I could see the tendrils of thick red blood running along her angular jaw. A jaw that after a minute of uninterrupted staring on my part clenched in assumed rage. I could now at least feel the look now resting on my own face. My jaw was slack in awe, my eyes nearly sparkling with unchecked feelings that I couldn't even begin to explain. My pulse was so fast I thought I might explode. I gasped when the Empress rose to her feet before a person could rush a blink; she was nearly on top of me.
I was breathing way too hard. My eyes couldn't help but to stay buried deep in her own. How they too seemed electrified. I bit my lip and felt as though my body was waiting for her to do something to me. Anything. My hands trembled with their sudden desperation. Longing to touch the woman in front of me. Needing to know if she was even really there or just some delusion brought on by my starvation and assumed minor injury.
Suddenly her hand wrapped aggressively around my elbow turning my body on my heel. Before I knew it I was all but dragged from the dingy cell past the athletic looking soldiers that stood holding the source of light I had hardly registered.
"Pretty sure my laws are clear about the separate quarters for men. A law I made, mind you, that was meant to protect women from this very thing." I watched in shock as the empress still holding my arm used her other hand to expertly cut one of the slaver's throats right in front of us. His neck gushed his hot blood out at us.
"That is for hitting the woman with the damn gate." she said coldly as he looked at her questioningly finally he fell to his knees and clutched his bleeding throat.
Instinctively I had tried to jump away from the gruesome death. Only to have Xena looking back into my very soul with the rage she clearly felt for the man she had just stolen from life itself. With a jerk she pulled my body closer to hers manipulating my arm until I was firmly holding her. Before I knew it I was also wrapped tightly in her arm as she effortlessly picked me up. My legs instinctively wrapped firmly around her waist. All of it happening in the minimal time span of just seconds.
I was in a state of shock like I had never experienced before when it spiked through the roof as I felt the odd sensation of my body being catapulted up into the air. Held tightly against her I had no room for panic. I was too focused on the intense feeling I was getting as her body flipped us upside down through the air over another slaver I hadn't noticed before. As we went over the man I saw the glint of his sword slashing where we had once been. Mid flight I barely saw Xena's swift hand as she released her dagger, throwing it dead center into the top of his head.
Xena's other arm coming protectively around my shoulders. At once realizing that the Empress of the world had just saved my life yet again. Knowing that I was the only one at risk from the deadly accuracy after all he had been slashing for me as I had stupidly stumbled towards him.
When we were back on firm ground I couldn't help myself as I remained in her strong arms. Feeling the pulsing muscles as they rippled just under her taut skin. I could hear her breath as it traveled into her lungs. Words becoming familiar uttered before I had a chance to think of the consequence, "Take me and let the others go." it was only a whimpered plea so unlike the first time I had uttered the protective words.
Suddenly the Empress pushed me back and looked at me with a line of questions in full display on her stern face. An action I was helplessly avoiding in unexpressed shame I looked at the ground suddenly humbled by my new station in life. Her hand was under my chin guiding my face up to look into now cheerfully amused blue eyes. Color that shrank back to her growing pupils.
I was in shock though at the time I didn't know it. I swallowed anxiously though admittedly I had nothing left to swallow. I watched as her eyes traveled the length of my trembling body feeling like they burned their way across my trembling flesh. Until finally they landed back into mine.
"Is that what you want from me?" Her eyebrow popped up in a teasing question and I swear when she gave a half grin it made me feel dizzy for some reason.
I felt whimsical as thoughts of her strong arms wrapped around me accompanied by her body pressed firmly against me invaded my thoughts. Unable to give voice to my true desire I instead shook my head in the positive.
"They were just about to watch you get attacked and you would have me free them in exchange for you?" Xena seemed doubtful.
"I would see them free, My Empress." I bowed respectfully to the queen.
"You do realize that if you are a member of a household no law can free you."
"Then I will still be yours." I finished for her, it felt so right to acknowledge that I was hers, that even the feeling of the sides of my lips curling upwards though almost imperceivable but notable to me felt undeniably right, "Please let them go."
The empress grinned devilishly as though I had willingly walked into her well thought out plan, "I accept your terms."
Suddenly a soldier was beside me, his booming voice making me jump when he informed the Empress, "The slavers are gathered on the front porch, Empress."
Xena's hand again wrapped around my elbow as she pulled me up the stairs and out into the bright daylight I blinked as my free arm sheltered my eyes from the sudden bright light. She pulled me from the porch and into the dusty street now filled with curious onlookers. As my vision cleared I took in the slaves filing out behind us and standing in line a little away from where what was left of the slavers stood on the porch ahead of us. My arm was still held firmly by the Empress as she too took in the malnourished men, women, and children. I could see the cold rage building just beneath the surface making the empress appear to radiate.
"Proceed." Xena ordered her voice cold. The men made quick work killing the rest of the slavers. Before they began to free the others from their shackles. Handing each a heavy pouch full of dinars.
"By order of the Conqueror this shop has been hereby closed. Any sale or purchase of another human being sold in or near Athens will see the seller's head on a pike."
I couldn't help it when my jaw dropped. I looked up at the empress who stood a little prouder in my eyes. I watched helplessly as a single eyebrow arched high enough to disappear beneath her hairline. As though she could see me she turned playful eyes back to me. She grinned.
"I'm sorry, Empress. I didn't know your intentions." I gushed happily, foolishly thinking myself counted among the free.
"It's too late to go back now. I freed them as you asked and I'm even giving them a hefty fee to help them get back on their feet. In return you have given yourself to me: that is even better than the deal you proposed now isn't it?" Her smile was brilliant and I was taken aback by how it made me feel. "That means you are mine." her eyes narrowed cruelly to me as she growled my worst fear. Still my body began to tingle with anticipation. I'm sure she thought I was crazy when a wide happy smile claimed its place on my face.
Her eyebrow now joined by the other behind her bangs suddenly she laughed out loud a twinge of confusion on her face and that of her loyal men who stole curious looks at our Empress. The laughter was short-lived before the empress's mask slid back into place. Although I could see chinks in her emotional armour form whenever she looked at me and she did that a lot. Even now a smirk is still hiding upon her sexy lips almost like it was for me alone to witness. By the Gods I had never felt more excited and her hungry eyes seemingly lost deep within my own adding to the fire that raced through my body, mind and soul.
Without so much as a look to her general Xena gave him an order, "Maverick, I want you to grab more men and split up to finish up the list. I want them all freed by the end of the day." her eyes seemed almost enchanted as she continued to gaze at me, "As for you come along with me. I'll show you to your new home."
Her hand still firmly holding my elbow she guided me away from the others. As we moved through the crowded streets I noted that everyone gave the warrior queen a wide path. They seemed so terrified of the woman next to me that their bodies even seemed to shrink as they noticed her. It honestly should have been a warning to the danger I was in. That coupled with the fact that most said that the woman was evil itself.
I glanced shyly towards the woman who walked confidently at my side. Staring at her strikingly sharp features. She looked angry and in a way almost paranoid as her blue eyes continuously moved from one assumed threat to another. I spent a moment watching how they quickly flickered from one terrified on looker to the next. She still had that smirk on her face but it seemed sort of off as though weighed down by immense worry. Even still her head was held high. Her shoulders were centered. Her chest sticking proudly out as though to lead the way.
It was at that moment that the warrior queen looked over at me. My eyes widened and in a flash I was suddenly looking at my feet trying to hide the utter fascination I had for the tall woman next to me. Given the forced reprieve yet only for just a moment I let myself worry about my sister's long trip back to Potidaea but from the look of the coin purse she had been given she and even the rest of my family would be able to retire happily.
I couldn't dwell on them for too long because before I knew it Xena and I turned the corner and headed toward the large castle in the center of the large city. It was placed in such a way that nearly every street had a glorious view of the impending towers and elaborate walls. Realizing that I was being led to the massive building by the Empress herself made evident by the people lining the street getting out of my majesty's path. All of them bowed deeply at the waist to show the respect well deserved by the beloved yet vengeful warrior.
Besides I was too excited at the thought of being one of the few trusted to see the inside of the gorgeous palace. I felt giddy and my body was humming especially near the warm hand that still held me in the steady pace. It didn't take long even as I fumbled my steps a few times before we made it past the front gates.
As we came in the gate closed and suddenly a lady appeared at a pace behind us. I looked at her in study wondering if that would be my fate. I wondered at my own smile felt upon my lips. Knowing I would more than happily follow the strong woman beside me wherever she desired me to follow.
The first room in the castle that I was ushered into was the elaborate throne room. I took in the spectacular decor that showed all the glory of the ruler of the world. The room was oddly bright as the light from the sun lit the room mainly from behind the throne. I imagine that during her court she must be lit as though she were a glowing goddess.
Xena pulled me to a stop and after she gathered my easily acquired attention she ordered me sternly, "Wait here."
I watched feeling helpless as the two women disappeared through a door to our right that led further into the impressive castle. Now left to wonder at the sudden ache I could feel under my left breast. God's she had hardly left the room and I already missed her so much that it literally hurt. Nervously I scanned the elaborate throne room. Taking in the large throne sitting center stage of the massive room.
A full minute passes before the confident Empress strode back into the room claiming her seat on the throne I had just been looking at. Now nothing else held my interest besides the woman now taking me in with seemingly hungry eyes. As I suspected, the light behind the warrior made her appear to glow wonderfully, while the ones on the side illuminated and accentuated the warrior's naturally gorgeous features.
"Come closer." Xena's voice rumbled through every inch of my body as though it was a fierce fire.
I swallowed as numb feet no longer in my control walked confidently towards the source of my body's unusual desire. I had never felt more alive as I stood on the first of three steps to the throne. Shyly taking in the labored breath of my empress. Her eyes were again taking inventory of her newly acquired body. Of my body.
The thought of my Empress making me her willing body slave made my hunger weakened body tremble with pent up desire. I never wanted anything more in my life then her hands returned to my strangely desperate body. Uncertainly I felt my foot leaving the safety of the third step daringly placing itself upon the second.
Xena swallowed, before her deep voice filled my ears in earnest agreement with my bold step, "Closer."
I licked my lips as my body moved just a small step away from the front of the throne Xena's eyes stilling for only seconds at a time at any given spot of my body. Taking in my breasts under the now flimsy blue dress. Taking in my lips and finally finding rest in my eyes she seemed so comfortable laid back in the large throne, one of her legs casually resting on the plush arm of the chair. I couldn't help but to imagine what it would be like to run my hand along its soft looking length.
I swallowed my drive to move towards her in turn just standing there unsure of what was expected of me. Knowing only that I would give everything just to climb atop the wild looking Empress still covered in the blood of the slavers. I also admittedly had a fountain of questions. I wanted to know everything about the woman who had so easily stolen my complete fascination.
Suddenly cold hands spread out my left arm and began to take my measurements. The older woman was there only for a few seconds and at the time I had been unable to break the intense exploration of the Empress's dazzling eyes. She was the one thing my eyes had ever been magnetized to. I couldn't stop myself from looking into the eyes of my Empress even though I knew the level of risk the act was certainly accruing.
The warrior gave me a challenging look, her eyebrow raised and her lips smirking deliciously, "You sure had a lot more fight in you when you were dragged into town."
I was shocked that someone had indeed sprang into action on my behalf last night, and that the person who did was the conqueror herself, "I find your company far more favorable my Empress. I always dreamed of meeting you one day. Though I imagined a little more freedom if I'm being honest." My eyes widened at my own bold admission.
Xena's eyebrow had disappeared again and I almost wanted to grin but was still just mortified enough to hold my little apparent composure. For a moment I almost thought I said the wrong thing when her jaw suddenly clenched in assumed anger. Although her eyes again openly looking over my body gave me more than enough pause to find hope.
"Stop calling me Empress." It would seem that the statement had confused even the empress herself, even when she tried to recover by saying, "Call me your Conqueror." she cleared her throat and forced her composure back into place, "How long have you been a slave?" I couldn't help but wonder why it hurt so much when she didn't claim me as 'her' slave.
"Nearly three days now, my Empr.. My conqueror. Although so far it has just been me keeping up with everyone else on the walk here." my eyes had widened upon her narrowing eyes and my supposed near fatal slip, aside from that I had answered her as nonchalantly as I could muster.
Her eyes drifted as she stared angrily off into space no doubt planning to clean-house. After a minute she looked back at me and continued, "Who captured you?" her jaw becoming once again clenched in thinly veiled rage. Somehow I just knew she wasn't angry at me.
"Draco." I was getting nervous under her interrogation, but I did my best to keep my composure as the Conqueror of the world continued.
"From where?" I started to get the feeling that if the Conqueror could get away with it she wouldn't say a single word.
"My hometown of Potidaea." A part of me wanted to keep the information to myself but I quickly dismissed it as the fool trying to trick me. Somehow I knew I could tell this woman anything. Frankly I oddly even wanted her to know.
"What did you do before you were captured?"
"I helped my family however I could."
"You've never done anything for your own amusement?"
"Well actually, I love to tell stories that I've read at the village tavern, but I like to put my own spin on them."
"A bard. Are you any good?"
I couldn't help the blush that stole across my face as I admitted, "I've been told that I have an immense talent for the spoken word."
"I can tell." It appeared the Conqueror's turn to find herself again confused at her own words, she bit her lip then continued, "How long have you been able to read? Not many people have such a talent."
"I learned when I was really young. A traveling female bard taught me and I taught my sister when she was old enough. It was in exchange for my family letting her stay until her leg healed. She had taken a fall when her horse was spooked by a snake."
"I'm assuming that your sister was also captured."
I felt a lump form in my throat when I thought back to what must be the last time I would see my younger sister, "She was."
"Was she among the slaves I freed today?"
"Yes." I said my voice was full of the gratefulness I felt.
"Was she the woman you saved from that slave?"
"No." Still I couldn't help but to think, 'Well now, who is the monosyllables-est?'
My answer shocked her and it showed clearly on her face, "Did you know the woman at all?"
"That was the first time that I ever saw her in my life. I didn't even know her name."
"Then why did you put yourself at risk like that?"
"I couldn't stand by and do nothing. She was in danger and no one else was going to help her, so I did."
"Well that's…something I suppose." After a thoughtful pause her voice boomed through the hall, "Guard." On her order a man burst through a hidden door, his sword being drawn as he rushed in, scaring me to near death and making me jump backwards nearly falling down the stairs.
A wave of her hand halted his entrance in his place near the door. Xena's eyes stayed fixed on me the whole time, she had even flinched forward in her seat reaching for my arm as though to catch me if I had indeed decided to take a stumble. Xena dropped her hand back and tilted her head feeling uncomfortable by her own knee jerk reaction to protect me from myself. She took a calming breath and sat back on her throne.
Her voice shaking slightly ordered the man, "Go find the women being escorted to Potidaea from the last slave house I went to today." Somehow I knew Xena meant my family no harm and so I again relaxed, "Have them prepared." Xena knew the man would keep them fed and waiting within the castle walls until given further instruction.
"Aye Empress!" After a chaste salute the man jumped into action, zealous to do her bidding.
Once he was gone she continued her line of questioning, "Is your sister the reason you gave yourself to me?"
"Yes and no." I looked away from the Conqueror for the very first time unprovoked by outside forces, suddenly feeling vulnerable.
"No?"
I looked back up, noting her quizzical expression, joined by that sexy brow raising back into her hairline. Suddenly I knew I had no other option than to be completely honest with her no matter how hard I found the truth to be, "I have had this feeling ever since I first saw you… Like we are meant to be together."
To my complete surprise the warrior nodded her head in agreement and even gave a voice saying as much, "I admit the same feeling."
I was shocked and my jaw dropping must have informed the warrior as she cockily smiled back at my dumbfounded expression. As though the warrior in front of me was taking pity on me she effortlessly changed the subject back to my capture.
"Did you hear where Draco's army is going next?" her eyes were so intense and it was honestly making me increasingly nervous. Even still I was enjoying our conversation immensely and a large part of me never wanted to stop. I wanted to share what my life had been thus far and an even larger part of me wanted to learn everything about my new owner. She was so enigmatic to me and vastly different than I ever thought or heard of her to be.
"I heard the men talking about going toward Thessaly next. Something about needing more horses."
"Well they are well known for breeding excellent animals." The Conqueror grinned and looked out of one of the large windows that led to the pasture where a large golden palomino stood proudly grazing.
Before I could help myself I was asking a question of my own, "Is that where she came from?"
The Conqueror was quick to turn her arched brow back to me and a part of me wanted to back away knowing that Xena had a temper and was well known for it. Still there was a twinkle in her eyes that gave me pause, "It is." her grin was back and the arched brow was raised more than ever.
She paused as though taking me in all over again. I couldn't help myself when I returned her grin with a large smile of my own. Suddenly the much taller woman reclaimed her height and closed the little space between us. I swallowed from the sudden tension between us as I felt her heat radiating out to me. A terrible thought of overstepping my bounds when I spoke out of turn chose that moment to charge forward but somehow I remained downright cheerful. After all she was licking her lips in the most seductive way.
Her eyes were nearly black as they scanned my body taking in the tattered blue blouse and what used to be my long skirt that was now also torn almost in half. I was trembling when the Conqueror began to slowly walk around me no doubt appraising her newly acquired property. I did my best to keep my eyes forward but the Conqueror proved to be irresistible and I found my eyes following hers, my neck taking liberties as well as I tracked her slow movements. Thinking that the Gods had taken their sweet time when creating the woman.
Oddly I felt like I was at long last finally home. I had never felt like this before, I was nervous but undeniably excited. I wondered what I would be to the confidant warrior who now owned me. Suddenly stories I had heard of the lesbian side of the Conqueror quickly overtook my mind. My body reacting to it viscerally was surprising. I had never thought of myself in such a way but I found myself unable to help it.
The warrior was now in front of me again and I helplessly fell into her eyes. My mind running wild began to imagine what it would be like if the warrior's hands were to reach out and touch me again. This time taking delicate touches as she undresses my body. I almost whimpered when the warrior gently tucked my hair behind my ear. I watched helplessly as Xena pursed her lips and furrowed her brows together shyly removing her hand and placing it at her side.
"Her name is Argo." Her voice again rumbled through my body as though it was a tidal wave causing me to shiver in ecstasy.
"Who?" For the life of me I could not discern who the Conqueror was referring to, even as the warrior rolled her eyes at me. Even still I could see the beginnings of a grin curling her lip ever so slightly.
"The horse." she gestured to the window and the large horse outside of it.
"Oh. Right." I chuckled at myself in embarrassment, shaking my head in a failed attempt to clear the image of the warrior taking liberties with my body.
When she took her eyes away yet again a part of me couldn't help but wonder what I was thinking. I watched in a trance as the woman reclaimed her place on the throne, her long legs draping comfortably over the arm. I felt giddy when her eyes yet again fell onto me. I licked my lips and squirmed in place in an attempt to quell what she had ignited inside of me.
"What is your name?"
This question had left me truly puzzled why she would want to know a lowly slave's name was beyond me on every level, "Ga..Gabrielle."
"Well Gabrielle of Potidaea. I want to thank you for your honesty." she redirected her attention to the closed door and called out, "Cassidy."
The warrior didn't have to wait long as a medium sized woman with long wavy hair burst through the door and came to the middle of the large throne room before bowing to our queen.
I internally chastised myself for not having the common sense to do the same. I also noted the way the woman remained slightly bowed not looking at the warrior; she instead seemed fascinated by the shiny marble flooring.
"Take this slave across the hall to the queen's bath and clean her."
Cassidy took my hand in an instant and started pulling me away from the woman. The warrior had said it so nonchalantly that I hardly even pondered on the name of the bath I was being dragged off to. Let alone the title used to refer to me. I knew I should get used to the term but it was honestly one of the hardest things I thought I would have to do. I looked back at the warrior once more surprised to see that she was tracking us with those shining eyes of hers all the way until the door clicked shut behind us.
As we walked across the hall my heart began to hurt. Even more than when I was walking away from home that fateful night when my sister and I had been taken. So much more than when I walked away from my sister earlier this very day. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked down at my chest. How strange was it that I already missed my conqueror so much more than even the village I grew up in? Or the people who at times I knew better than I did myself and vice versa. I sighed looking over to the woman who had at least let go of my elbow just in time to watch her open the elaborately decorated door.
"My lady." Cassidy bowed to me slightly as her hand gestured for me to enter first.
As odd as I found the other woman's behavior, and showed as much with my facial expressions with a scrunched brow and even my hands coming up in a frustrated gesture. However I soon found myself in awe of the sunlit bathing room ahead of us. I was instantly taken aback by the gorgeous decor of the room. Everything was a brilliant marble. It was white with black veins running through it and any metal was gold.
I was blown away by the paintings that were painted onto the marble walls with depictions of such amazing views of the vast world. Large cities and amazing views from atop high mountains. A desert city with a strip of green running through the core of a vast desert city. Then there was the large pool of water in the center of the room that was already steaming hot. An elaborate looking marble seat was in the middle making a sort of underwater island in the deep pool of water.
The light smell of lavender filled my senses and drew me deeper into the room. Finding myself filled by a sense of calm and letting it take root inside of me. Still I missed the warrior more with every breath. So much that I couldn't help but to begin to question myself. I had no clue how I could feel so at home in the large castle. Although a part of me knew it was the warrior queen herself that had filled my heart. The second our eyes had first met I was rushed with the unfamiliar feeling.
Suddenly Cassidy was behind me pulling at my clothes. At her first touch I rushed away and pulled my blouse back up to my shoulder where it belonged. Doing my best to look at her as disparaging as I could muster but I quickly noted that the woman was avoiding my eyes and face altogether.
"Stop, I can do this myself." I said as sternly as I could muster under the frustrating situation.
The woman was clearly frustrated herself when she slowly said in a low monotone, "I must do what the empress has told me to do. As should you."
I looked at her wondering why she still wouldn't look me in the eyes. Finally I grew the courage to just ask her why she was acting so weird. Obviously we were in the same boat here, "Why won't you look at me?"
"Because we are not the same." she sighed and looked behind her to the door we had entered through as though she expected the warrior queen to enter at any moment, "No one but Xena is permitted to bathe in the queen's bath. You are different and I will not incur my empress' wrath."
"But she called me a slave. Why would she do that if I was so different huh?" I attempted to make her see reason but she was clearly not having any of it as her eyes remained on the floor.
"I'm not a slave. In fact you are the only one you'll find in the empress' castle with the title. Now please miss. Let me fulfill the empress' order. I don't want any trouble."
"Apologies. I assumed.." I trailed off with a confused sigh. I was trying to reconcile Cassidy's fear of the woman that had thus far been nothing but kind to me.
"What's the delay Cassidy?" the warrior growled, making us both spin around but only one of us spun around and met the warrior's cold gaze. Cassidy was bowing even deeper than the first time to the warrior leaning comfortably against a wall. I couldn't help it when I wondered how long she had been standing there.
Before Cassidy could get the chance I jumped to her defense, "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I'm afraid I'm a bit shy, my Conqueror."
Cassidy looked me in the eye for once. She was clearly stunned by my selfless act. I smiled comfortingly. A part of me saw the fear that Cassidy now held for my safety. I held no such fear, I simply knew that Xena held no malice for me.
"Leave us Cassidy." Xena's voice seemed happy, which shocked Cassidy even more, "Go see if the kitchen staff needs help. They have their hands full today anyways." The warrior tracked her movement and so did I as she quickly left the room leaving us alone once again.
I felt like I was on fire when Xena's eyes coldly returned to me. Her words were husky when they nonchalantly ordered me to, "Take your blouse off."
I looked down at the tattered blouse in question, picturing my own body made me cringe. My feet once again fidgeting on the marble floor. A wave of heat taking over my pale skin turned me bright red and made me extremely dizzy. The next thing I knew I was staring at the shining black boots of the Conqueror. How had she approached me so completely silently? I quickly raised my eyes to meet hers.
Unsurprisingly the Queen looked very angry at me. I swallowed nervously just as the warrior questioned, "Are you refusing my order?"
"N..no… I.. I just…" I stole an anxious breath internally begging for my body to stop shivering with any God that might answer such a desperate plea.
"Then take-it-off." she growled, breaking apart the last three words effectively making the order that much more terrifying. I couldn't believe that her voice that was once so calming in the throne room now only invoked a terror like I've never known.
I looked back at her in confusion wondering who this other woman was. Searching her eyes I would swear that this was a different person altogether. I began to take a trembling step backwards but just as my body began to follow my foot the warrior's hand was on my elbow pulling me back into my original position.
"Don't back down now." her blue eyes were burning a hole into my very heart because even in all that rage there was a small glimmer of playfulness, "Take it off."
My hands trembled as the warrior watched. I began to pull my right arm into the blouse then my left. I took the shirt over my head and winced at the sharp stench of the tattered thing. When I came out of the bottom of it I was met with the hungry eyes of the warrior as she took in my upper torso. Her face became pleasantly shocked as she took in my individual abs one by one. I felt my entire body twitch at the desire written all over the queen.
"Now the rest." Xena's eyes were a blazing inferno as she scanned each of my abs individually, her tongue was a slow temptation of movement as it licked her lips.
I swallowed again and reached for my worn out sandals. Taking them off seemed entirely too easy as I nervously came back up. I noted that my audience was still watching my every move as though she was captivated. When my hands reached behind me to loosen my skirt string it pulled my chest out jutting my breasts towards the Conqueror and making her gasp. Which in turn made my fingers move as though they were encapsulated in a thick syrup that made me slower then I even knew was possible.
As my skirt fell to the floor I watched the warrior's hungry stare move down my body taking in my exposed lower half. The Conqueror either didn't notice how beneath her I honestly was or she just didn't care. The woman was a perfectly sculpted work of art as she soon showed as she began to take her own clothes off of her strong body. It was a battle to stay upright as I felt a powerful wave of dizziness take me over.
"Throw those nasty things out the window." the warrior said, gesturing to my clothes and sandals.
I nervously gathered the only objects I had left in the world and tossed them out of one of the high windows that let light and fresh air in but didn't offer much of a view of the busy city streets. 'A view no greater than the one standing in the room anyways.' I thought as I turned back to the woman presently removing her gauntlets. My feet, having a mind all their own, began moving closer to the woman. I couldn't help but to be drawn back to her.
When she noticed me watching she rolled those blue eyes in frustration, "Get in the water." the warrior ordered.
I was about to do as she said but then she bent down to undo her boots. I couldn't help but to continue to watch her. Much as she had done as I had undressed. After she pulled her boots off she came back to her full height. The angry look was back again and I had nothing to offer except the smile that I just couldn't help. The warrior grinned back as a twinkle formed in her now mischievous eyes; it was everything my scared little heart needed to bounce back.
I was fortunate that the pool was so large because the next thing I knew the warrior's hand was on my shoulder pushing me back into the deep waters. As I fell in slow motion my facial expressions went from surprised to questioning. When I surfaced I had settled on being angry but the sound of her laughter quickly obliterated any hurt feelings I had.
