~ If...This Had Been The Beginning ~
by planetsolin
DISCLAIMERS: See Part One.....
Feedback at: planetplanetsolyn@hotmail.com.
PART THREE
chapter four
"Gabrielle are you awake," a low voice cut through the darkness, its tone already familiar to her ears.
"Yes," the bard sat up on her pallet.
"I want to show you something," the Conqueror called and nodding to herself, the bard slipped out of bed. She found the tall woman sitting on a large golden horse just outside her door. "Give me your hand."
"I'm not dressed," the bard said automatically glancing down at the thin sleeping shift she was wearing.
"It won't matter where we're going, there will be no one there to see you," came the laconic response. "Now, give me your hand."
Gabrielle immediately complied and felt herself lifted up onto the back of the horse. She hated horses and instinctively her arms circled the warriors waist as she hung on tightly, burying her face in the woman's back.
"Hey," Xena laughed unexpectedly. "Let me breathe."
"Sorry," Gabrielle immediately apologized loosening her grip. "I hate horses."
"I'll take it easy," the warrior promised and then clicked her heels to get the horse moving.
They rode unmolested out of the camp, passed the soldiers on guard duty and into the night. They were unaware that they were being observed by more then the night watch. Several pairs of curious eyes followed their progress.
"What do you think she's up too?" General Rufus mused out loud to his companion.
"I don't know, maybe she's courting the bard," Argus replied with a cruel smirk.
"That's disgusting," the General replied icily. He didn't want to think of the Conqueror with the innocent girl.
"Maybe, but you know she takes both kinds as lovers," the large bearded man replied and Rufus scowled.
He wanted the bard for himself. He knew of her innocence and so had tempered his own desires, hoping his patience would be rewarded. It angered him to think of the Conqueror stealing something that he thought of as his own.
"I want you to trail them, see where they go," Rufus made the decision and then watched as Argus glanced sharply in his direction. "You are just there offering protection."
The man nodded before hurrying off to collect his horse.
Xena made sure the horse didn't go to fast along the trail, concerned for her passenger. Besides the arms wrapped around her waist were warm and strangely comforting. She didn't want to end the contact any to soon.
They followed a path through the surrounding woods and up the slope into the nearby mountains. Gabrielle peered through the darkness at her surroundings. She had never ventured this far off the roads, weary of what was lurking so far inland. She knew she should be afraid now but she felt completely secure, somehow knowing that her companion would offer all the protection she needed.
She took a deep breath, savouring the clear, crisp night air as she rested her head on her companions back. She could feel the warmth of the woman in front of her and it instilled a strange peace over her senses. She was happy, almost giddy, yet didn't have a clue as to why.
After what seemed like a long time they emerged into a clearing by a large mountain pool with a waterfall which glimmered in the brilliant moonlight. She caught her breath at the still beauty as her companion brought them to a ledge before stopping the horse.
Xena swung one leg over the horses neck before sliding to the ground. She turned to help the bard down and Gabrielle was amazed how easily the woman was able to lift her to the ground. After tethering the horse, they strolled along a narrow path up along side the waterfall until they were on a ledge. From this perch they could see out over the trees to the valley below. Gabrielle sighed involuntarily. She could make out the military camp with its bonfires.
"You can't really make it out," Xena said pointing in one direction down the valley, "but on a clear day you can see Amphipolis from here."
The bard followed her gaze and strained her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of a torchlight or fire that would pinpoint the town. But it was to distant and she could see nothing. She slumped down onto a nearby rock and breathed deeply, savouring the night air and its familiar sounds.
"This is beautiful," the girl sighed, her eyes scanning the placid lake below and the shimmering mist of the waterfall. "How did you know about this place?"
"I found it as a child," the Conqueror reminisced. "When I was much younger my brothers and I would wander the countryside. I think we discovered every nook and cranny from here to Antienemus. We would be gone for hours and worried our mother senseless."
Gabrielle sensed a wistful note in the voice of her raven haired companion. There was a sadness about this woman that was hard to describe.
"It sounds like you had a lot of fun as a child," she said softly and watched as the Conqueror nodded her head.
"Yes," a rueful smile etched its way across the warriors lips. "Until we spent our first night out and then our mother refused to allow us to go exploring again."
Gabrielle couldn't help but wonder how someone, who had such pleasant memories of childhood could become the Destroyer of Nations. She wanted to ask but realized she might be pushing her luck. The mood around them was so peaceful she didn't want to disturb that.
"I could never go far from my village," she said instead revealing something of her own childhood. "It was to dangerous with all those marauding bands and my parents were terrified that my sister and I would get hurt."
Xena was silent. She estimated that the bard was nearly a decade younger then herself. She would have grown up amid her tremulous rampaging years. The girl's parents would have been afraid of the armies that she was leading across the land.
"Your parents were right to be worried," came the stoic reply. "Even now it is dangerous, I cannot understand how they allowed you to go off on your own."
"They don't have much choice," Gabrielle admitted quietly. "They know they can't keep me locked up and that's the only way I would stay there."
"Was it so bad?" the Conqueror wanted to know.
"No," the bard shook her head. "They were great but I always wanted something different then what
I had there. My parents thought that would change in time and so arranged a marriage with a local man. I considered marrying him but then realized just how my life would be so instead I ran away and by the time I returned several moons later, my parents realized they couldn't dictate my life. We came to an understanding after that."
"Are you happy now?"
"Yes," Gabrielle said without thought. "I've gotten to meet a lot of nice people and have even been to Athens several times. I'm living the kind of life I had always dreamed about." There was a slight hesitation. "What did you dream about when you were a child?"
"Being a warrior," the Conqueror replied with a grim smile.
"Gosh, your dreams really came true," the bard acknowledged with some amazement. She didn't hesitate this time before voicing her next question. "Do you ever wish it were different?"
Xena was startled by the question. She glanced sharply at her companion but there was only an open curiosity on the girl's face. The silence lengthened between them.
"I have everything, anyone could want, why would I wish anything was different?" she finally answered with a question of her own.
"I don't know," Gabrielle shrugged, drawing her knees up and hugging them. "Sometimes we fulfil our dreams only to find out it wasn't what we'd imagined."
"Is that the way you feel?"
"No, I love what I do and I couldn't imagine doing anything different, yet the reality isn't always as glamorous as it sounds," the girl was honest. "I am on the road a lot and have a lot of adventures but sometimes it is really very lonely. It's hard not having someone to talk too, someone who is your friend who knows what's happened or what's going on," the bard became daring, not completely understanding why she was so bold. "I imagine you must get pretty lonely."
"I am constantly surrounded by people," the Conqueror hastily claimed.
"But do you trust them," the bard persisted. "Are any of them your friends?"
Xena hadn't expected this direct a question. She was silent as she tried to formulate a response. Normally she would have snapped back an angry retort and punished the asker but there was something about this girl's gentle probing that didn't annoy her. Perhaps it was the bard's innocence or her total lack of pretension, but her normal reactions here were conspicuously absent.
She turned her gaze out over the darkened landscape as she reconsidered her answer. She was lonely. Wasn't that the reason for her restlessness? Wasn't that why she tolerated this small woman? It probably was, but she was not about to admit that to anyone.
"You sure talk a lot," she commented instead and Gabrielle knew this was the Conqueror's way of closing the discussion.
"I'm a bard, that's what I do," she replied with a faint blush and her companion laughed. It was such a deep and rich sound that the bard found herself mesmerised by the echo that seemed to resonate through the darkness.
"I guess it is," Xena agreed unable to control the smile that creased her face. "So tell me a story."
Gabrielle smiled and immediately launched into one of her most favourite tales. It was a story of when she was small and she went with her parents to Amphipolis and the adventures they encountered.
Argus listened from his hiding spot in the woods. He didn't know what Rufus wanted but he was decidedly uncomfortable spying on the Conqueror. They said she was like a hawk and nothing got passed her vision or hearing. More than once she had glanced in his direction and though the shadows had hidden him, he felt she was staring right at him.
He listened to the tale for a bit and then slide back further into the forest. There was nothing he could bring to his Commander and he knew the safest thing was to retreat before being caught.
Xena knew they were being spied upon yet she had felt no danger in the hidden man's presence. She suspected that Rufus had sent one of his loyal soldiers to spy on her. She trusted him no more than any of the others under her command.
It was almost near dawn before Xena decided it was time to return to the camp. Her companion had long since fallen asleep and was resting her head against her shoulder, snoring lightly. The Conqueror smiled at the incredulous situation aware that no one would believe it possible. The smile immediately disappeared. No one would find out, she decided. Gently she stood up, lifting the bard with her. She whistled and Argo came trotting out of the darkness. Careful so as not to disturb the slumbering girl, she hoisted them both onto the tall war horse and then cradling the girl in her arms, she clicked her heels signalling the animal forward.
It was late the next morning before Gabrielle was rousted from her slumber. She lay for a moment studying her surroundings and wondering how she had gotten back to her cot. The last thing she could remember was sitting on a rock next to the Conqueror by a quiet mountain lake. With some embarrassment she realized that she must have fallen asleep, which meant that the Conqueror had brought her back here. Quietly she lay in bed, savouring the thought along with the moments she had spent in the Conqueror's company.
This will make a great story, she told herself yet knew at the same time that her interest in the tall warrior went beyond any bardic value. She had found the woman to be nothing like she imagined. In a way the woman was a chameleon and Gabrielle suspected that much of her outer fierceness was a mask. A mask forged to cover a kinder nature. A nature she had been forced to bury to survive the life she had created. Since meeting the Empress she had seen glimpses of another person lurking in the depths of those pale blue eyes. A person who was weary about showing itself in public.
There was a knock on her tent and she scrambled out of bed just as one of the soldiers, acting as a retainer for the Conqueror entered bearing a tray. He glanced at her and then at the ground as he put the basket down on the table next to the bed.
"The Empress asked that we deliver you breakfast," he mumbled backing towards the doorway. "She requests that you meet her on the training field in a candlemark."
Gabrielle nodded and the man was gone before she had a chance to thank him. She glanced at the basket and smiled. There was a good assortment of food stuffs from bread and cheese to wildberries. There was even a thick slice of nutbread. She polished off the meal in good time and then scrambled into her clothes. The Conqueror was already in the practice area by the time she arrived.
"Good morning," she greeted cheerfully and the warrior nodded.
"Morning," Xena motioned to the bard. "Take up your position."
Gabrielle was a little disconcerted at the formality of her companion and suspected it was a front for the soldiers who had gathered to watch them exercise. She forgot about it and concentrated on the practice. By the time the sun was overhead the bard's hands were raw and her arms and shoulders ached. She was relieved when the Conqueror called a halt to the session.
"You can tell me when you are tired," Xena said slightly annoyed when she noticed the bard's discomfort though she admired the girl's gritty spirit. Gabrielle flushed with embarrassment. She could not say that a part of her did not want to appear weak to this tall woman.
"I'm okay, just a little sore," she replied unwilling to admit just how much her muscles were protesting from this exercise.
"Come I have some salve that will help," the Empress said and lead the bard back through the compound to her own private quarters. "Sit on the bed," she instructed and then went to a pouch that was stored in a corner.
Gabrielle did as she was instructed, her eyes taking a glance about the room. She had been there once before but hadn't taken the time to look around. It was a simple place, standard for a field camp quarters. There were no luxuries to indicate that this woman ruled all of Greece.
"Lean your head forward," Xena motioned and then moved the girl's hair out of the way, she knelt on the bed behind the bard and then gently applied the lotion to the bare skin she found.
Gabrielle tried not to jump but there was a definite spark when the older woman gently touched her naked skin. She closed her eyes, momentarily speechless as a warmth, not entirely from the salve, spread throughout her body. She swallowed and closed her eyes.
Xena kneaded the muscles feeling the knots and understanding part of the tension she found there. She moved from the neck and shoulders down each arm and she could feel the bard go limp, the tension slowly easing out of her body.
The Conqueror took a deep breath and filled her lungs with the sweet scent of the woman in front of her. She enjoyed running her hands over the soft smooth skin and imagined what it would be like to make love to this woman. The thought sent a tingling throughout her entire body. Abruptly she finished the therapeutic massage and slipped off the bed, chiding herself for allowing herself to dream.
She glanced covertly at the bard as she straightened. It was useless to think that there could be anything between them. Gabrielle was so different. She was a lightness to her darkness. There was no chance that they could be friends much less anything else. Yet these last few days she had felt a glimmer of something she had known as a child. A glimmer of what----hope, trust, loyalty, affection. She wasn't certain for it had been a long time since she had felt anything. It was hard for her too remember what any of those were.
"Thank you," Gabrielle said in a quiet voice struggling with the strange feelings that filled her entire being. It was something unfamiliar. Something she was willing to explore further.
"You're welcome," the warrior said in a nonchalant voice as she strolled across the room and leaned against a table crossing her arms over her chest. She had needed to put some distance between the bard and herself, afraid of what she might do if she didn't.
"I really enjoyed last night," the younger woman continued aware of an invisible tension that was building quietly between them. "It was so beautiful."
"I thought you might like it," Xena shrugged indifferently, acutely aware of the way her heart began to beat just a little faster. It made her absurdly happy to know she had pleased the other woman.
"How?"
"How what?" the Conqueror was perplexed.
"How did you know I would like it?" Gabrielle wanted to know.
"The bard thing I guess," the Empress shrugged again almost caught off guard by the question. She should have known the girl would be curious. "I assumed bard's liked that kind of stuff."
"Yes, we do," the girl confirmed and then decided to be bold. She was never anything less. "I would love to see it during the day. Get a different perspective."
Xena was quiet, aware of the sudden skip of her heart as she looked across at those green eyes. She was usually immune to such things but today she found herself responding in a way she never had before.
"That can be arranged," she replied not breaking their look. Before another word could be spoken there was a knock on the door. "Enter!"
Rufus stepped through the threshold and glanced about the room. His sharp eyes were quick to noticed the details. The bard was sitting on the bed fiddling with the hem of her skirt, while the Conqueror was casually leaning against a table on the other side of the room. In spite of the distance between them, he could sense the tension. An anger stirred deep inside his gut. He did not have to use much of an imagination to understand what was going on. Despite his inner rage, he was careful to keep his face an emotionless mask.
"My Empress I need to speak with you in private. It regards the matter we discussed yesterday," he finally spoke breaking the silence that enveloped the room.
"What is it?" she asked unable to hide her impatience at being interrupted.
"We have rounded up all those involved with the attempt on your life yesterday," Rufus paused swallowing to wet his dry throat, aware that the Conqueror was barely listening to him. "What do you wish for me to do with them?"
There was silence and the room was suddenly filled with a tension that had nothing to do with the situation that the General had interrupted. The Empress felt a rage inside her begin to stir. This was not a subject she wanted to address in front of the bard yet the warlord inside her could not help but use the situation. She looked at the girl sitting so quietly on her bed.
"What do you suggest I do?" the question was posed to the bard.
Gabrielle swallowed. She knew why the Conqueror was asking. She had jumped to the defence of the thieves that had threatened her so now she suspected that the Empress was expecting her to do the same for these men. Funny thing was she didn't have that inclination. She had no desire to defend anyone who sought to hurt her new friend.
Xena was somewhat surprised by the girl's silence but did not press her. She would ask the bard why, but later when they were alone. She turned her anger on Rufus and her eyes narrowed as she caught the General's fugitive glance at the bard. She had a suspicion about why he had chosen this moment to bring this matter to her attention.
"Do what you normally do to soldiers who betray the Empire," she said leisurely throwing the decision back into his lap.
Rufus stiffened aware that his small plan had backfired. For him now to say something would diminish his own statute in the bard's eyes. He had hoped for the Empress to pronounce judgement so that the girl would see how cruel the woman could be. He felt a surge of anger rise up inside his stomach but he clamped a tight control over his feelings.
"Is there anything else?" the Conqueror asked with raised eyebrows.
"No," the man swallowed.
"Then handle the problem. I am busy," Xena dismissed him with a casual wave of her hand, her eyes turning back to the bard.
"But...."
"But what?" she asked harshly, fixing him with a hard look from her icy blue eyes.
"I thought you might wish to handle this matter personally, seeing it was an attempt against your person," Rufus continued in a halting voice.
"That is why I have you," she reminded patronizingly, in a deliberately cool voice as her lips curled into a menacing smile. "If you can't handle your position as Commander just tell me. I'm certain I can find someone willing to take your place."
"Yes, I'm sorry for disturbing you," Rufus nodded grimly and then hastily retreated out of the room. He paused once outside, taking a deep breath to steady his shaking nerves and to gain control of the anger that was surging through his body. He noticed Argus standing in the middle of the parade square and stalked over to the man.
"She has humiliated me for the last time," he rasped with uneven breaths. "If it's the last thing I do, I will destroy Xena, the Empress."
Gabrielle sat quietly, staring at the tall woman for a long moment. The sudden change in demeanour and presence had been startling, it was as if she had been looking at an entirely different person.
"Did you have to be so cruel?' she dared to ask instinctively sensing that the same fury would not be directed at her. Indeed when the Conqueror turned to look at her, the expression on her face had softened.
"A warlord cannot be soft on their men, if they are, the soldiers will turn on their leader."
"So you rule through fear?"
"Do not blind yourself," the Conqueror spoke softly. "There isn't one of my General's who wouldn't love to put a sword in my back. They all lust after my position and power. They all wish to take my place."
"Don't you think that might change if you treated them better?" Gabrielle was not shy with her questions.
"Mine is a cruel business. The people around me know, no other way. I cannot afford to be soft," Xena replied honestly. "If I am, they will think me weak and then they will challenge my authority."
"But you are stronger than all of them," the bard spoke the truth as she knew it.
"I may be strong, but I am not strong enough to fight them all," was the surprisingly honest answer. "Let's forget about such grim political problems. You wanted to see the falls by the light of the day."
"Yes," Gabrielle nodded. She sensed an undercurrent of emotion in the warriors voice but she said nothing and allowed herself only to think about the wonderful way she felt and the beautiful things she was discovering, But her nature was such that she could not entirely dismiss the subject and delicately broached the matter several days later when they were sitting in a glade filled with a multitude of colourful flowers.
"Doesn't it bother you to know everyone hates you?" the bard dared to ask. The bright sunlight was bathing the clearing and sparkling off the clear water in the stream.
"I don't think about it," was the truth. Xena shrugged. "It doesn't much matter."
"I find that hard to believe," Gabrielle shook her head not understanding. She drew her knees up into her arms.
"It's not something that ever had been important to me," the woman shrugged. Once again it was the truth. She didn't really think about it, not since her family had rejected her. That was the last time she had allowed anyone's opinion to affect her.
"I don't know how you do that," the younger woman sighed. "Every time I step out on stage to tell a story, I worry someone won't like it."
"Why?" the Conqueror was curious, unfamiliar with this need to be popular.
"I don't know," Gabrielle admitted honestly. "I guess I have always had this need to make people happy."
"That just illustrates the difference between us," Xena said quietly. "You want to please everyone and I don't care to please anyone."
Gabrielle turned her head and stared at the other woman's profile for a long moment seeing the angular features and the high cheekbones. The woman was an enigma and the bard was more certain then ever that the stoic warrior was more than the cold hearted warrior she tried to project. The last few days had shown her that truth.
"What happened to those men that General Rufus arrested?" she dared to ask a question that had been plaguing her for days.
"They were dealt with in the same manner as all traitors are," was the solemn response. There was a long silence and the bard felt the other woman's eyes on her profile. She turned to met the gaze. "Why didn't you try to save their life?"
This was a question that Gabrielle had been expecting for some time. She turned her eyes away unable to look at the other woman as she carefully choose the words that would explain why she had said nothing.
"Would it have made a difference if I had pleaded for their lives?" she asked instead.
"No," the Empress was honest. "They threatened my life. I could not let that go unpunished. My soldiers needed to know what wouldn't be tolerated."
"Perhaps that's why I didn't say anything," the bard sighed, hugging her knees more tightly. "I knew this was something that couldn't go unpunished."
Xena didn't know what to say in response to such a simple statement. It was a bluntly honest and told her that the girl understood what she needed to do to control her army. She gazed out at the lake her mind filled with a confusing mixture of emotions and thoughts.
She didn't know what took hold of her but for the next fortnight she spent most of her waking hours in the company of the young bard who never ceased to amaze or challenge her intellectually.
During the mornings they would spar together in the practice field and then afterwards the Conqueror would spend time dispensing with any business that arrived by messenger from the Capital. The afternoons were spent exploring the surrounding region.
It was an idyllic time and Xena found herself relaxing and enjoying herself more than she had ever done. Most of all she enjoyed the other woman's company. She found the girl, funny and highly intelligent with an opinion for just about everything. More then once she found herself arguing some silly point of philosophy with the girl and more then she cared to admit she had to change the subject rather then admit the girl was right.
In the evenings she would sit and watch as the bard performed for the soldiers, regaling them with tales about Hercules and the Gods. Afterwards they would take a walk, finding a place in the grass to lie down and stare up at the stars. It was something she hadn't done since she was a child.
A smile tipped her lips at the memory. As a child she used to sneak out at night dragging her brother Lyceus with her. They would wander out of the village into the fields were they would lie in the grass and gaze up at the stars and plan their futures. They had discussed so many dreams beneath those starry night skies.
Xena sighed. Gabrielle reminded her so much of her younger brother and that was how she summarized the attraction towards her. Lyceus had been honest and innocent and full of dreams. That realization made her pause.
She was alone on the practice field as she was every night after the bard retired, running through her sword drills and her thoughts. She stood for a very long time staring into the surrounding darkness as she realized the truth.
For the first time since Lyceus had died, she had found a friend, someone who accepted her for who she was. Someone whom she could trust, for if there was one thing she had learned about the bard it was that she was honest and open about everything.
The Conqueror turned her head seeing the darkness. Her own life was like the night and the bard was like the moon, a bright torch of light amid all the blackness. Lyceus had once been that light but it had gone out when he died. Now it was burning again.
Her limbs trembled. A part of her longed for that friendship yet another part remembered the pain she felt at Lyceus's death. She had been swallowed by a rage that had caused her to lead her army rampaging across Greece, destroying anything and anyone that got in her way.
Instinctively she knew that this would be different, losing the bard would be worse and she knew she would lose the younger woman. Her enemies would conspire and intrigue and use her as a pawn. Already she could sense the pensive gaze Rufus' cast in their direction. It was something that she would not tolerate or ignore.
No, she decided expelling a deep breath into the chilly night air. She could not risk the bard or herself. Emotions made her weak, clouded her judgement and she could afford neither. Her spies were reporting activity all over her Realm and she knew it was time to return to Corinth, to continue the life she had built and to forget what she might have found here.
She left the training area and summoned Rufus, rousting him from his slumber. She waited with a snarl on her face as he dressed. She did not like him. She certainly didn't trust him.
"I'm leaving for the Capital," she informed him briskly. "I need four horsemen to accompany my regular escort. I wish to leave immediately."
"Yes, Empress," the General nodded hiding his smile, masking the delight he felt at the news.
Gabrielle was completely taken by surprise at the news when Rufus told her the next morning. She couldn't believe the woman would leave without saying farewell. She was unable to mask her disappointment and the General was eager to take advantage of her distress.
"You were foolish if you expected anything more," he chided gently still feeling a sting over her obvious affection for the Conqueror. "You were her pet. She is notorious for playing with the affections of others. She bores easily. You were fortunate, her interest in you lasted longer than it does with most people."
Gabrielle didn't want to believe what this man said and deep down she didn't but the doubting side of her personality won. If she had been different then the others and for some reason she desperately wanted to be, then surely the woman would have at least said goodbye.
She suddenly felt very weary and decided it was time to go home to visit her family. She declined Rufus' offer of an escort and set off for Potedaia the next morning, hoping the journey back home would help her sort through her confusion.
************
Xena felt the change the instant she set back out on the road. The mood amongst the people and the soldiers she encountered had shifted. The looks were angrier and more insolent. There was something else besides fear in their eyes. There was a look of hatred and it unsettled her. It was the same looks as she had always received yet in the past she would have dismissed or completely ignored them but today for some reason they nibbled at her conscious. She knew it was a result of the time she had spent with the bard.
Xena knew she had taken the cowards way out by leaving without saying a word. She had hoped by putting distance between them she would be solving the problem that plagued her. But she realized to late that it wouldn't be so easy to forget the girl.
Upon reaching the Capital she was immediately beset with problems and for the next few days she had little time for anything but the concerns that had arisen in her absence. Titus was a capable battlefield leader, but like the rest of her General's, he had limited political abilities. Thus everything had fallen on Archius shoulders.
Though she was kept busy dealing with the various situations, thoughts of the bard were never far away. She missed the girl's lively company and her honest observations. A smile tipped the corners of her lips as she realized that Gabrielle had a definite opinion on every subject they had discussed, and grudgingly she had to accept that some of them even made pretty good sense.
However, the bard hadn't told her anything she didn't already know. Xena knew that she only retained her power through a fine balance of physical force, intimidation and mediation. She was well aware that the people of Greece would tolerate only so much before they would rebel.
That was the reasoning she used to justify the changes she made to the laws. She was unwilling to admit that the bard had influenced her thinking, yet it was true. She had come to accept that it was time to stop being a warlord and time to become a responsible governor to the people.
She often thought of the young woman wandering the roads of Greece and wistfully longed for the simple, carefree existence. The first time she had that thought she had been paralysed by the idea, but later she realized it was a result of the dissatisfaction she felt with her own life.
She tried not to think about it to often believing it was a wasted effort to think about what could have been. The friendship they shared had been a fleeting thing, destined to be only a brief interlude. Holding that thought she turned her attention to the days business.
"Gentlemen there are several matters of policy I would like you to take care of," the Empress said passing a piece of parchment across the desk to each of the men standing there. "The time away gave me a new perspective on matters and I thought a few changes could be made to the laws."
Titus and Archius both read their separate scrolls and then glanced at each other before turning their individual gazes over to their Ruler. The woman had stood up and walked over to the balcony window. She was looking out over the Palace grounds. After a moment she turned and met their stares. There was a hint of amusement on her face.
"Is there a problem?" she inquired softly.
"I do not understand," Titus spoke before the other man could say anything. He waved the piece of parchment he held.
"What part of it don't you understand?" she asked quietly her blue orbs boring into him, as she casually strolled back into the room. "I thought it was very simple. From now on, all the troops that are otherwise not engaged in military duties are to help the local farmers in their Regions with the planting and the harvests."
"I think it is the purpose that I fail to comprehend," the General admitted.
"The logic is very simple," the Conqueror explained. "The strength of our Empire is dependent on the quantity of resources we have. Food is one of our most important resources, without it we cannot exist as a nation, we cannot built a strong fighting army. Besides having the soldiers working alongside the local people will help to dispel the distrust the population has for them. Eventually as time passes, the soldiers with marry local girls and settle in the Region, thus establishing a firm foothold. I see it as a perfect idea."
"There will be many who will oppose this idea," the General shook his head.
"Then it is your job to see that they understand they have no choice," she said in a voice that warned him she would not accept opposition to the proposal. "I want the proclamation delivered to all the Regional Commanders."
"Yes, my Empress, I will see to it immediately," the General bowed and hurried from the room.
"Well Archius, do you have no opinion?" the Conqueror turned her attention on the slight man who remained in her presence.
"No, My Empress, though I wonder if some of this is too much to soon," he said quietly.
"I think perhaps it is long overdue," the Empress sighed. "By the last reports our treasury is healthy so there is no need for us to over tax the population and as for the travel restrictions the only people it is hurting is the general population. Those who wish to fight the Empire and my Rule will do so whether there is a travel restriction in place or not. Besides I think it will be a benefit to the whole economy for there will be more active trading across the land."
"It will," the man agreed and bowed his head respectfully. "I will see to it immediately. Oh, in case you have forgotten a Roman delegation will be arriving shortly. It is time to renew our mutual trade agreements."
"All right," the Empress sighed her blood stirring at the mention of her rivals with which she shared an uneasy alliance. "Make sure that they are heavily escorted while in the Capital."
"Yes, my Empress."
*************
Gabrielle was in an odd mood and not even a visit home to see her family could restore her good spirits. She had decided to mention nothing about her extended visit with the Conqueror. She was restless and after a few days she moved on taking to the road once again, heading to Amphipolis to visit her friends.
"What happened?" Cyrene asked upon seeing the bard again. She had never been so relieved as when she had seen the bard come wandering into town. "We were so afraid something had happened to you. The Conqueror can be so unpredictable."
"No," the bard shook her head. "She was a perfect host."
There was a perceptible pause as one of the serving girls appeared with a hot plate of stew, some fresh bread and a mug of warm cider. She looked at her hosts for a moment, taking a deep breath before posing her question.
"Xena grew up here so you must have known her as a child," she said hesitantly eyeing her companions. "What was she like?"
"She was the same only smaller," was the tense reply.
"She couldn't have been like that," Gabrielle couldn't believe what Toris said. The woman she had gotten to know was different then what the world knew.
"No," Cyrene shook her head unable to meet the girl's eyes. "She was a friendly child eager to help out, but she was always very head strong and independent. She always wanted everything to be her way."
"What happened?" Gabrielle wanted to know. "What made her change?"
"She got a taste of blood and power," the older woman said in a distracted voice, her eyes wandering around the tavern. She stood up, a distant look on her face as she glanced at the bard. "I'm sorry to leave you but I see a customer in need."
The girl watched as the woman hurried off to the far end of the room. Instinct told her the Innkeeper was reluctant to discuss the Conqueror and she couldn't help wondering why.
"Xena used to be a fixture around the Inn," Toris supplied quietly without revealing the truth.
"Was it the bloodlust and the power?"
"It was a combination," the man sighed. "But I think what pushed her over the edge was the death of her younger brother Lyceus. She adored him and they did everything together. He used to tag after her like a puppy. After he was killed she wasn't the same. She became this angry person that nobody recognized."
" I think she is still that same little girl," Gabrielle said after a moment and her companion's eyes narrowed. "I think she just got lost in all that rage." Perhaps she just needs someone to show her the way back, the bard finished to herself. Perhaps for whatever reason I could be that person.
"Where are you going from here?" Toris asked in an attempt to change the subject and the bard sensed it was time to let the matter drop.
"I though about heading to the Capital and see whose still at the Academy," she offered.
It was only part of a lie, unwilling to admit the true motivating reason. It wasn't until much later when she was on the road to Corinth the doubts began to settle over her plans. There were so many things to consider like how to get into the Palace or if the Empress was interested in seeing her again. The tall Conqueror had not given her any reason to think she would welcome a visit. At her darkest moment she wondered whether Xena would even remember who she was.
But she was resilient and buried all those doubts beneath a mountain of hopeful expectations and began her plan of assaulting the Palace. She knew she would probably be able to gain entrance on the guise of being summoned to entertain. After that she would just have to follow her instincts.
The closer she got to the Capital, the more excited she became. Corinth was a busy city with a distinctive cosmopolitan flare. She had experienced its delights during her brief tenure at the Academy, but as diverse as it had been, she had always longed for the open roadway and the small towns and villages of Greece. That was where she felt most at home.
She felt the undercurrent the moment she stepped through the cities gates. As before people hurried about their business but now the merchants and traders eyed each stranger wearily. With the lifting of the travel restrictions, people had poured into the city. Normally this would have made everyone happy but these refugees arrived penniless and without the proper training in one of the trades. Without the ability to support themselves or their families it was putting a strain on the city and its residents.
Gabrielle wandered along the plaza's and avenues, noticing for the first time the amount of beggars that were loitering on the corners. She was touched by there plight but didn't know how she could help.
"The citizens aren't happy," Lucas explained later that evening over dinner. She had gone straight to the Academy to look up her old friends. Only Lucas remained and he had eagerly invited her out to a nearby tavern for supper. He was anxious to hear of her adventures since her departure.
"Why?"
"They have no skills or means of support," Lucas replied munching on a piece of crisp bread. "Now that the Conqueror has eased up on the amount of taxes we all have to pay, they don't want them to be risen again to support these refugees."
"It's pretty hard living out in the country," Gabrielle said thoughtfully. "People don't have much."
"Which makes me wonder all the more why you don't stay in the Capital," Lucas said. "I'm certain you'd make more money here. You're a great storyteller."
"Thanks but I like travelling," she shrugged. "Besides I'm sure given time, things will change. You know they are already changing."
"Ever the optimist," the man smiled. "You sure haven't changed."
Gabrielle would have disagreed but she knew her friend would not understand. Besides in spite of her travels and recent adventures she was relatively the same person who had attended the Academy with him.
"Tell me what you've been up too," he prodded and so she did, launching into a series of stories that detailed her latest adventures. She ended the monologue by describing her meeting with the Conqueror and her plans to renew the acquaintance while visiting the city.
"You're crazy," the man stated flatly once he had overcome his shock about learning of her meeting with the Empress. "Sure the Conqueror has softened some of her laws, but she's still a dangerous woman. Why just yesterday she publicly executed one of her own guards. She took her sword and cut off his head."
"I've seen her do the same thing," the bard acknowledged remembering the scene in the army camp. "But I'm sure she had a good reason."
"She makes up her own reasons," the man retorted cynically. "She's a cruel and ruthless person and I can't understand why you would want to see her."
Gabrielle did not try and explain to her friend realizing it would be a waste of breath. Lucas had always had his own opinion of matters, making up his mind about something without looking at all the options. She was in no mood to debate the matter and instead deftly changed the subject, sitting quietly while the man described his life.
Perhaps I am crazy, she thought later that night as she lay in bed in the room she had taken at the Inn. Certainly everyone else seemed to think so and she wondered if they weren't right. Yet an even bigger question was why she was so determined to befriend the most hated person in Greece. It was a question she could not answer.
The next morning she took the most direct route through the city to the Palace. She walked straight up to the guards manning the gates, determined to appear confident. She had decided her biggest obstacle would be to let the Empress know she was there.
"I'm here to entertain the Empress," she announced boldly to the one she assumed was in charge.
"Aren't we all," the man snorted as his eyes wandered leisurely up and down her body before glancing at his companions with a knowing smirk on his lips and Gabrielle immediately sensed her mistake.
"I'm a bard," she said with a flush. "I tell stories."
"I'm sure you do," the guard said with the same leering smile. "But no one told me to expect you. Besides you're not the usual storyteller that comes."
"Well no," she thought quickly. "But If you just let the Conqueror know that Gabrielle the Bard from Potedaia is here I'm sure everything will be cleared up."
"Now why should I do that?" the man asked looking insolently at her as he hooked his thumbs into his belt.
"Because if the Conqueror finds out that I was here and that you turned me away, she will be very unhappy and if she's unhappy you just might end up like that guard in the market square the day before yesterday."
Silence greeted her bluff and she saw the indecision in the guards eyes as they narrowed pensively. She knew he was considering her claims and his options. She could sense a fear lurking in his now tense posture and decided to press her advantage.
"I entertained the Conqueror when she was staying with Commander Rufus near Amphipolis. She invited me to entertain her here at the Palace." Gabrielle was not normally given to lying but in this case it did the trick. The honest and innocent look of her features helped tip the balance and the guard made his decision.
"Stay here," he said gruffly and then motioned to another guard. "Watch her. I'll be right back."
Gabrielle smiled, hoping to appear natural and tried to avoid the suspicious looks the other guards were casting in her direction. She thought about their first impression and glanced down at the ground, hiding her blush. It was something she should have expected given the Conqueror's reputation.
Archius listened to the guard uncertain whether he should bother the Conqueror with this matter. Normally he would have just ordered the bard sent away but he had heard the Royal Guard speak about the young woman who had kept her company during her absence. The Conqueror was in a strange mood and had been since her return from visiting Commander Rufus.
He considered his options. It was odd for anyone, not in a delegation, to request an audience with the Empress. No one would dare display such arrogance useless they were either a complete fool or absolutely confident of their request. Against his usual judgement he decided to approach the Empress. He slipped quietly into the council room where she was discussing military matters with General Titus.
Xena glanced up from the papers on her desk as the door to her chambers opened to admit her aide. By the expression on his face she knew there was a problem. She had come to hate dealing with the petty matters of state that took up most of her time. Sometimes she thought that if she had known what was involved in running a regime she would never have conquered the damn country.
"What is it this time?" she barked before the man had a chance to speak, revealing her foul mood.
Archius flinched at the tone of her voice and hesitated, afraid now of her reaction. He always tried to anticipate her needs yet there were times when he hadn't a clue as to what she was thinking. Her moods were so unpredictable.
"There is a bard at the gates who says she has come to entertain you," he said glancing at the General who was watching him with barely concealed amusement. The two men had no liking for each other and revelled in the knowledge of when the other were about to be reprimanded.
"A bard!" the Empress exclaimed unable to hide her irritation. "You bother me with such a foolish matter."
"I am sorry Empress but she was most insistent and I feared that sending her away would displease you," Archius said hastily aware of the other man's smirk and cursing himself for not acting on his instinct. "She said she entertained you during your visit with Commander Rufus near Amphipolis. She claims you invited her here."
Xena went absolutely still, her breath caught inside her chest. There could only be one person brave enough to try and lie her way into the Palace. A slight smile tipped the creases of her lips. She did not want to believe it possible that the girl had come to Corinth. She slowly stood up and both men sensed the change in her demeanour.
"Did she give her name?"
"Gabrielle of Potedaia," the man responded eyeing her carefully.
"Yes, I know of her," Xena said quietly. "Bring her to me."
Archius nodded bowing his head to hide the smile that came to his lips as he backed out of the room. He moved swiftly through the Palace thinking about the change that had come across the Conqueror's face at the mention of the bard's name. He briefly dwelt on what that meant realizing that the rumours he heard had probably been true.
Gabrielle waited patiently, leaning on her staff and hiding her anxiety behind a sweet smile. She was more nervous then she appeared and was already thinking of a secondary approach when she noticed the guards return. She caught her breath at the intense expression on his face. She knew she could be severely punished for her lie.
"The Conqueror has agreed to see you. Follow me," he barked motioning her through the gates.
PART FOUR
chapter 5
Gabrielle thought she might faint from relief. She had been so afraid of being turned away that she had not considered, at least not seriously, the possibility that the Conqueror would actually see her. Briefly a dark thought crossed her mind. She shook her head dismissing the disturbing images.
At the front doors of the Palace she was turned over to an officious looking gentleman who hastily escorted her through the Palace. She had no time to take in her surroundings before she was taken into a spacious room. She glanced around and noticed a large man standing next to a desk. He was dressed in a military uniform much like the one Rufus wore.
She dismissed him immediately as her eyes came to rest on the woman sitting behind the desk and her heart pounded erratically in her chest as the Conqueror slowly rose from her seat. She had only ever seen the Empress in her formidable black leathers so the picture she presented today was completely different and much less threatening.
Today the woman was dressed in a long colourful robe of blue satin with pink embroidery on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The colour contracted sharply with the features of her face and the darkness of her hair. The Warrior had always attracted attention because of her looks but today Gabrielle could only think of how beautiful the woman was.
Titus eyed the new arrival with open curiosity. His interest was piqued by the Empress' unexpected reaction to the announcement of this woman's arrival. He didn't know what to expect but he was surprised anyway. The bard was younger then he imagined, not much more then a girl, with straight strawberry blond hair and green eyes. She was pretty and that was what he imagined drew the Conqueror's interest. The woman was not immune to the beauty of either sexes. He watched intently as the Empress slowly walked around the desk and towards the girl.
Xena paused a few steps in front of the bard and slowly let her eyes wander over the girl. She was wearing the same brown skirt and rust coloured shirt she had on while at the camp near Amphipolis. She was leaning causally against the staff and a bulging pouch with a thin bedroll was slung over one round muscular shoulder. For a moment glinting green eyes met smothering blue ones.
"Leave us," she said in a low rumble that Titus barely heard. He instantly knew the direction was meant for him. He did not know the situation but he could feel the tension radiating between the two women and could only guess at its source. Silently he bowed and then hurried from the room, aware that neither of the women would miss his presence.
"You are a long way from home," Xena finally broke the silence, ensuring her voice was without emotion. A strange tingling had begun in her gut. "What brings you to the capital?"
You, Gabrielle wanted to say but lacked the courage to be that bold. For the first time she was slightly intimidated by the woman, and realizing it had nothing to do with the fact that the woman could have her killed on a whim.
"I was visiting the Academy of Bards and just thought to stop in and say hello," she responded in a weak voice surprised by the emotions she was feeling. "I thought you might like to hear some more of my stories."
A slight smile toyed with the older woman's lips. She could see that the bard was lying but instead of being angry she found herself inexplicably pleased. She raised a finely shaped eyebrow.
"You have new stories?"
"A bard always has new stories," Gabrielle replied gaining courage. "Beside I haven't finished the one about you yet."
"Aaah," the Conqueror nodded slowly as if she understood. "Have you come in hopes of finding an ending?"
"Yes," the bard replied feeling as though she was doing a strange dance with this woman. She was unable to tear her eyes away. "Perhaps I might even find the beginning of a new one."
The Conqueror's lips twitched in amusement. "I'm not sure anyone would enjoy hearing any stories about me."
"I don't know," Gabrielle smiled impishly. "This time I could have you rescue a baby instead of a bard."
"Do you think anyone would believe that?" Both eyebrows raised this time.
"The way I tell it they would," the bard replied confidently.
"You are very arrogant," Xena said softly and the look on the bard's face flickered and the Conqueror saw then how much was arrogance and how much was bravado.
"People would probably consider me foolish," the girl answered hesitantly, "but I consider myself confident. Confident enough to believe that I can make my stories interesting enough for everyone to enjoy and perhaps even believe."
"And you think I am an interesting subject?"
"Yes," Gabrielle swallowed and screwed up her courage. "You are the most interesting person I have ever met."
Xena was momentarily stunned by the response. She didn't know what to expect but this answer wasn't the one. A smile tipped the corners of her lips. She liked this brash young woman, more than she ever imagined possible. She knew that she should send this girl away but she didn't listen to the warlord inside herself. The girl had come after her and that's all she cared about.
She reached across to a rope slung along one wall and pulled. Almost immediately a woman appeared at the door. The servant glanced discreetly at the two women and then down at the floor as the strawberry blond woman returned her gaze. Gabrielle guessed they were about the same age.
"Belaus, please show my friend to my personal guest quarters and then see that she gets whatever she desires," the Conqueror instructed the handmaiden her eyes never leaving the bard. "Unfortunately I have other duties to attend to right now but I will see you at dinner."
Gabrielle nodded and turned to follow the servant out the door.
"Gabrielle," the sound of her name rolled sweetly off the other woman's lips and the younger woman turned back to look at her. "I much prefer rescuing bards."
The younger woman flushed at the comment yet a thread of excitement ran up through her body. She knew she was getting herself involved in a dangerous situation but strangely she didn't want to untangle herself from the web that was weaving itself around her.
The room she was shown to was huge and ornately decorated with colourful throw rugs and pillows. There was a large bed along one wall and opposite it was a large fireplace with a thick fur on the floor in front of it and a wide couch to one side. There was a table and chairs in one corner and a window that opened out onto a narrow balcony which overlooked the palace courtyard.
Gabrielle had never been in a place that was so luxuriously decorated and for a moment she was overwhelmed. That feeling was only heightened when the servant led her through to an adjoining room where a large tub sat in the middle of the floor. There was a lever that automatically released water into a marble basin that was heated by a narrow conduit that ran alongside the fireplace.
"Is there anything I can get you?" the maiden asked demurely once they were back in the main room.
"No," Gabrielle flashed her a smile. Already she was thinking about the pleasure of having a nice hot bath. "My name is Gabrielle, everyone calls me that."
The girl merely nodded, showing no interest in becoming familiar with this woman. She didn't think this reddish blonde woman would be around long. None of the others had lasted very long for everyone knew the Conqueror's was easily bored.
"Is there anything you require?" the servant asked demurely instead.
"No," the bard laughed cheerfully. "I don't have much," she indicated the simple pouch and bedroll she carried. "But I am quite happy." The servant looked at the meagre belongings and then at the young woman. It occurred to her that this bard was nothing more then a simple peasant girl. She didn't know quite what to think of this new revelation.
"If you need anything just pull on the cord by the wall."
With that the girl was gone leaving the bard alone to explore her unfamiliar surroundings. She set her pouch down on the floor and then sank down onto the bed revelling in the softness. She was just a simple country girl from a small village and the riches that surrounded her were almost to much.
She tried to think of how she should feel. She knew that all these beautiful things were pillaged from Regions conquered by the Empress. She knew that she should probably reject this luxury but she couldn't help being selfish. She couldn't change the past but perhaps she could help shape the future.
It was a lofty goal she knew, but she was determined to try. From past experience she knew the Conqueror had listened to her modest proposals, even going so far as to implement some changes. Perhaps she could be instrumental in making a few more. With that thought in mind, she stripped out of her travelling wear and hurried into the bath, eagerly anticipating the feel of the warm water caressing her naked flesh.
Xena summoned Titus back into the room once the bard had left but the Conqueror found it hard to concentrate, her thoughts straying back to the young woman. She could recall every detail of her face and even now could smell her distinct scent lingering in the room. Abruptly she pushed away the scrolls in front of her and stood up ignoring the curious gaze the General cast in her direction. He was even more perplexed when she summoned the maid.
"Did my friend get comfortably settled?" the Empress asked of the servant when she appeared.
"Yes, my Empress," Belaus said quietly thinking it odd that the Conqueror had summoned her to ask such a simple question.
"Did she ask for anything?" Xena continued impatiently. It had suddenly become supremely important for her to please the younger woman.
"No, she said she had all she needed," the servant replied keeping her eyes down on the ground.
"Perhaps," an amused smile played on the tall woman's lips. She was aware of the bard's few possessions. She turned to the General. "I think we have done enough for today. Summon the Royal Escort, I believe I would like to go shopping."
Titus visibly started, astounded by this announcement. The Empress abhorred shopping and he didn't think she had ever been to the market place just outside the Palace walls. His mind quickly went back to the bard and he wondered again about the women's relationship, thinking perhaps the girl was a spy.
Gabrielle lay in the water until it grew cold, savouring the simple pleasure of taking a hot bath. Only then did she reluctantly climb out. She was to lazy, however, to get dressed and so wrapped a large linen around her slender body before strolling back into the main bedroom.
A smile came automatically to her lips as she spied the food tray that had been delivered in her absence and hungrily she dove into the basket of goodies, pouring herself a mug of cider from the pitcher that had been left. She grabbed a scroll from her pouch and sat contentedly writing while she ate. It was only a matter of course that once her stomach was full she became sleepy. The soft bed called to her invitingly and unable to refuse she slid in between its clean sheets.
The merchants were stunned at the sight of the Empress as she wandered through the marketplace. They watched with some fear and awe as she paused at the various stalls. To their recollection they had never seen her there before and they scrambled to help her in any way they could.
Xena was quite pleased with herself. Without too much fuss she had managed to find exactly what she had been looking for. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she thought about what the bard's reaction would be to the gift.
She did not bother knocking on the door to the room where the girl was staying, merely pushing it open and walking in. With one sharp glance she took it all in, the empty food tray and the sleeping bard. A grin spread over her lips as she quietly crossed the room. Her first thought was to roust the woman but the scene that greeted her gave her pause.
Unconsciously she took a deep breath, her heart pounding unsteadily as she looked down at the slumbering bard. By Gods she's beautiful, was her first thought. She looks so innocent, was the next and smile on her lips disappeared.
For perhaps the first time in her life she was indecisive. Logic told her to send this bard away instinctively knowing she was trouble, but another largely forgotten part of herself rejected that notion. She liked the woman and didn't want to send her away.
She considered all the arguments she had used in leaving the girl behind at the camp. Nothing had changed, the reasons were still the same, only now she knew that she would never leave the girl behind again. She would use all her resources to protect the bard against any danger.
Blue eyes raked over the slender form, desire twisting a knot in her gut at the realization that the woman was probably naked beneath the bed sheets. Her heart pounded fiercely at the image as her eyes traced the outline of the muscular body printed against the blankets.
A part of her wanted to be the demanding warlord taking callously what she needed to satisfy her most basic needs, while another part of her was a young girl longing for the friendship that was being offered. In the end it was her deeper desire that prevailed. She would do nothing to risk the fledging friendship they shared. She would satisfy her physical lust elsewhere. With that resolved she quietly put her gift on the pillow next to the bard's head.
Despite her resolve she could not stop her fingers from reaching out to caress an exposed cheek. The action caused the slumbering woman to stir and a wistful sigh escaped from between slightly parted lips. It was a sound that pierced every one of her defenses and went straight to the Conqueror's heart.
"Belaus," the servants name rumbled out of her throat and the timid woman slowly emerged from the shadows of the next room. "See that her clothes are cleaned, I bought her a new gown, make sure she wears it tonight."
"Yes, my Empress," the maiden replied but the Conqueror had already left.
Belaus emerged completely from the adjoining room her eyes on the door from which the Empress had just departed. She had been a silent witness to the mirage of emotions that had flickered across the Conqueror's normally stoic features. Her eyes strayed to the slumbering woman, a curious thought beginning to rumble around inside her brain. Quietly she retrieved the woman's discarded clothing.
*********
"Wake up!"
Gabrielle felt a hand on her shoulder and green eyes popped open. She looked up into a pair of anxious brown eyes. The expression on the girl's face displayed her displeasure. She sat up clutching the bed sheets, aware that she was still naked.
"What is it?"
"You're late," the servant scolded in an edgy voice. "It's nearly supper time and you haven't begun to get ready. You can't keep the Conqueror waiting."
"Sorry," the bard apologized with a flush, searching the room for her pouch and a fresh set of clothes. She smiled sheepishly at the maid. "I seem to have misplaced all my clothes."
"The Conqueror requested that we do your laundry. She left this for you to wear," the girl handed over a wrapped bundle.
Gabrielle fumbled with the laces and then gasp as the outer wrapping opened to reveal an ornately colourful silk gown of blue with intricately sown designs of gold on the collar and cuffs. She gingerly touched the material, her heart pounding erratically at the smooth feel under her fingertips. She had never worn anything so exquisite.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, running her palm over the smooth fabric.
"The Conqueror likes beautiful things," Belaus replied and then impulsively offered. "Would you like me to braid your hair? The Conqueror will like that."
"Yes," Gabrielle nodded. She would do anything to please her hostess.
Xena drummed her fingers impatiently on the table in the dining hall. All her guests, save one, were already seated and the servants were awaiting her signal for the meal service to commence. She felt her temper begin a slow burn. No one dared to keep her waiting.
Titus was seated next to the Conqueror and he could see the beginnings of her temper. A smile came to his lips as he thought about what would happen when the bard finally arrived. He would enjoy seeing the girl get whipped.
The Empress was in a foul mood. She had been waiting all afternoon for a chance to see the younger woman again. She was prepared to give the bard a severe tongue lashing but all her anger faded the moment the door opened and the woman in question hurried into the suddenly quiet room. All movement froze as eyes fugitively rotated from the bard to the Conqueror.
Breathe, Xena commanded of herself, yet that simple action remained a struggle as her eyes captured the vision that came to a halt directly in front of her. My Gods you're beautiful, she wanted to say, her eyes transfixed on the bard.
Gabrielle stood absolutely still, aware that every eye in the room was now focused on her. Her chest rose and fell with each breath as her heart hammered loudly in her ears, imprinting the delicate roundness of her breasts against the smooth cloth of her gown. Green eyes locked onto pale blue orbs for an interminable minute before the Conqueror let her gaze drop over the bard.
The Empress' nostrils flared and a warm fire was lit in her belly. Her choice had been perfect. The blue silk robe with the high collar with gold trim seemed made for the younger woman, who had pulled her long hair back into an elegant braid which rested down between her shoulder blades. It was simple yet exquisite.
Titus glanced sideways as the Conqueror slowly rose from her chair. Resting her hands on the table, the Empress leaned forward until her face was only inches away from the bard's. He saw the young woman tremble and smiled imagining her fear.
"You are late," the words came out in a low rumble, the stoic mask on the Conqueror's face unchanging. A shiver raced up the girl's spine.
"I'm sorry, I overslept," Gabrielle stammered, swallowing nervously and briefly afraid her unsteady limbs would give out on her. She was not afraid of the Conqueror but rather of the confusing mixture of emotions that were swirling through her body. Try as she could, she was unable to tear her eyes away from the other woman.
Xena groaned inwardly as the image of a sleeping bard filled her thoughts. She was certain now that she would be unable to get that picture out of her head. She knew that this girl could do anything and she would be unable to bring herself to mede out any punishment.
"Don't let it happen again, I hate waiting," she growled fiercely for the benefit of the others who were intently watching the scene.
The bard nervously ran a wet tongue over her lips and a feral smile came to the Empress' mouth. She leaned in closer until her breath fanned the bard's lips. Her voice was almost a whisper, but it was rich and filled with a seductive warmth.
"You look very beautiful. Now sit down before I make you the main course."
Gabrielle's eyes went very round for an instant and then a deep red washed over her features as she came to understand the meaning behind the woman's compliment. She had been intently aware of how the Conqueror's breath had felt against her mouth. It had been like a gentle kiss and unconsciously she reached up and touched her lips. The Empress smiled, aware of the effect she had on this woman. She settled back into her chair, idly signalling for the meal to begin, though her gaze still lingered on the younger woman.
Titus could barely contain his surprise. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as the bard hurried around the table to sit in the chair to the right of the Conqueror. He had expected a different reaction from the ex-warlord. He was certain no one else would have gotten off so lightly.
"You must try a little of everything," Xena instructed her guest when the food trays were passed around. "I like to think I have the best cooks in all the world."
Gabrielle nodded, surprised that the Conqueror had noticed her hesitancy in accepting some of the delicacies offered. She had rather simple tastes and much of the fare on display was foreign to her knowledge. She motioned the servant to fill her plate. Even then she picked at the food.
"Are you not hungry?" the Conqueror asked with a frown as she continued to watch the woman out of the corner of her eye. She was having a hard time keeping her gaze off her companion, aware of how the torchlight reflected off her reddish golden hair.
"I've never tasted some of this stuff before," the bard admitted reluctantly and the Conqueror laughed, gingerly plucking a tiny battered fried ball off her plate.
"It can be pretty intimidating," the tall woman agreed. "Try this."
Gabrielle stared for a moment at the long tanned fingers that held up the offering to her. She made to reach out but her hands were quickly captured in a steel grip. Her heart pounded wildly at the contact as strong fingers wrapped around her slender wrists, pinning them to her lap. She looked up and saw a strange emotion flicker in the pale blue eyes. It was a challenge, a dare backed up by the slight smirk on the older woman's lips.
Gabrielle took a steadying breath and leaned forward, closing her eyes as her lips wrapped around the fingers. She bit gently into the tender morsel and was rewarded with an explosion of taste that burst inside her mouth, setting her senses tingling. Briefly she wondered if the delicious sensation was because of the food or something else.
Xena's nostrils flared as the bard's teeth brushed against her fingertips as soft lips settled around her digits. She released the delicacy and felt a thread of pure lust race through her body as the younger woman sucked the juices from her skin before leaning back in her chair.
"How was it?" the Conqueror asked her eyes narrowing intently as she took in the bard's flushed features.
"Good," Gabrielle replied shyly feeling a heat rush through her body and the fingers curled around her wrist tightened.
The simple word inflamed every one of the Empress' senses so that she had to exert all her self control. Her body throbbed with desire, making her wet. She wanted to take this woman into her arms and plunder her right then and there. Except for the darkening of her eyes, she showed none of those emotions.
"Would you like another?" the Conqueror asked in a silky voice. There was a feral grin on her lips as she lazily reached over and plucked another delicacy from her plate.
"Yes," Gabrielle replied in a low voice.
I have this woman, Xena thought triumphantly dismissing all her earlier resolves. She had only to look into the innocent looking face to see that the woman's desire mirrored her own. Despite this knowledge she was determined not to rush. She held out the bite of food, content for the moment to feed her companion.
Titus could barely contain his surprise. The Conqueror was a sexually dynamic person and her appetite was renown but usually she saved herself for persons of greater importance. His eyes narrowed as he covertly watched the pair. He needed to know who the bard really was.
Gabrielle found it hard to control her emotions as wave after wave of heat rolled through her body. Her cheeks burned as she glanced shyly at her hostess. Any attempt to draw away only resulted in her being draw further towards something she didn't understand. She had never felt this way before. It was new and exciting, and there were moments when she thought her body would explode.
"Tell us a story," Xena prompted once the meal was finished. Only dessert remained to be served.
"Certainly," the bard eagerly agreed, glad for the chance to put a little distance between her and the Conqueror. She wasn't certain how much more she could tolerate before doing something irrational. She moved to the center of the room where everyone could see her. She had a wide repertoire to choose from but was aware that the Conqueror had heard a lot of them, so she began with a tale involving Hercules and his half brother Ares.
Xena stiffened at the mention of the God of War. She hated to be reminded of the one to whom she owed so much. Her posture relaxed as the tale continued and she found herself chuckling over the way Hercules outsmarted his sibling.
Gabrielle was pleased by the reaction she received and hastily launched into a story of Helen of Troy. She finished the evening with a story about Aphrodite and two hapless lovers.
The audience, lost in her storytelling, laughed and applauded and Gabrielle bowed deeply, appreciating their enthusiasm. She glanced covertly at the Conqueror throughout her monologue pleased by the reaction she saw for there were moments when she could detect the faintest of smiles on the woman's face.
Xena enjoyed the evening more then she would admit to anyone including herself. Her eyes had been riveted on the bard, captured by every subtle movement she made until she thought she was driving herself crazy. She was completely enthralled by the woman. Abruptly she stood up, effectively ending the evenings' festivities.
"I will take dessert in my private chambers," she announced all eyes on her and then glanced at the bard. "Join me?"
It wasn't so much of an invitation as a command, either way Gabrielle merely nodded, not trusting her voice. She followed the Conqueror out of the room and down the hall to her private quarters. She had been aware of the speculative glances and snickers that followed her out of the dining hall, but she ignored it all. She realized that if she were to spend time with the Empress she would have to ignore a lot.
The Conqueror's private domain was more luxurious then anything she had ever seen. There were large ornate tapestries on the walls and thick furs covering the floor. There were soft couches with pillows and a bed larger then anything she had ever seen. She tried not to stare at her surroundings, aware the woman was watching. She turned to watch as the Empress slid gracefully onto a large couch in front of the fireplace. A negligent hand patted the cushion beside her.
For a moment Gabrielle couldn't move as her eyes went to skin exposed by the woman's action. Xena was wearing an outfit similar to her own, only it was red with short sleeves and while the embroidery around the collar and sleeves were also in gold there were small gold flowers sewn into the fabric.
There was a slit in the side of the skirt and now it exposed a great portion of the woman's thigh and leg. She had seen the Empress in less but somehow it had never been as seductive as this moment.
"Are you impressed?" Xena asked with amusement. She had seen the younger woman's expression of surprise and wonder. She had seen the girl's eyes fall upon her own body and it brought her pleasure.
"Yes," the bard stammered as she slipped onto the couch awkwardly. "I imagined something different."
Xena raised an eyebrow but refrained from saying anything immediately. There was a flurry of activity as a low table was brought over and set in front of the sofa. Next a huge platter with a mixture of sweets was set down along with a pair of goblets and a cask of wine.
The Conqueror dismissed the servants with a wave of her hand and then leaned forward to pour them a goblet of the sweet nectar. She passed the bard one cup before settling back into the corner of the couch.
"What did you imagine?" Xena finally asked. She could guess what the girl had thought but wanted to her say it. Gabrielle shrugged, more than a little embarrassed. She avoided the other woman's eyes and focused on the rich colour of the wine. Nervously she tasted its sweetness.
"Come on, tell me what you thought?" the Conqueror prodded, aware of this woman's sudden shyness.
The bard took a deep breath. "I guess I expected it to be more warrior like."
"You mean with swords hanging on the wall and spears propped in the corner," Xena said with some amusement and unable to meet her gaze the girl nodded.
"I am a woman Gabrielle," she said in a soft voice that ran like a gentle caress up her spine.
"You are a warrior," the bard replied this time looking up to meet those blue eyes.
"And I am still a woman," the Conqueror reminded, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Why are you suddenly afraid of me?"
"I am not afraid of you," the bard's denial was only half a lie. "It's more that I am a little overwhelmed."
"By what?" the dark haired woman pressed curiously.
"By the fact that I am sitting here in the Palace with the Conqueror," the blond haired woman said.
"I was the Conqueror by the lake and at the army camp?"
"Yes, but somehow that was different," Gabrielle said innocently licking her lips with the tip of her pink tongue. "You seem different."
Xena was silent as she contemplated the woman. It was true. Beyond the Palace walls she was a different person. She was still the ex-warlord who had killed innocent people while pillaging their villages but here she was also the statesman, dealing with the petty intrigues that were naturally woven into any political situation. Here, more then out in the field, she had to be on her guard.
"I am the same person," Xena said instead, unwilling to explain her thoughts. "Sometimes my position demands that I wear different facades."
"I understand that you have to be tough in front of others," Gabrielle reasoned quietly. "It's just hard to accept that person. I liked the one who took me up to the mountain lake in the middle of the night."
"You caught me at a vulnerable moment," Xena conceded quietly. "I had relaxed my guard."
"I would have thought this was the one place where you could relax," the bard frowned and the Conqueror smiled without amusement.
"Logically it would seem so," the Empress sighed and then bent to retrieve a sweet from the plate. She studied it carefully for a moment. "But in the battlefield you know who your enemies are, it's not so clear here."
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror popped the treat into her mouth. She had lost her earlier nervousness and regarded her companion with a curious gaze. In the last few minutes the stoic mask covering the woman's face had eased, replaced by a more familiar persona. Someone less intimidating.
"How do you fight that?" the bard was curious. A warrior fought physical battles but what would they do with an unseen enemy.
"By not letting anyone close," was the matter of fact reply. "I don't allow myself to trust anyone."
"That sounds very lonely," the bard spoke her thoughts out loud.
"There is always a price to pay," the Conqueror shrugged indifferently. She reached over and selected another sweet before glancing back at the bard. "So Gabrielle, why did you come to see me?"
This was a question that Gabrielle had expected to be asked. She knew there were two responses she could give. She could lie or she could be honest. She choose to be true to herself.
"To help you not be so lonely."
chapter 6
Xena was up early the next morning. She dressed in her battle leathers and then wandered out onto the balcony. From her window she could see beyond the Palace walls into the city itself. She took a deep breath, ready for a new day, yet almost dreading its beginning.
She thought back to the previous evening. The bard's simple words had been a powerful aphrodisiac yet in spite of the temptation she had restrained her desires. They had parted, agreeing to meet this morning on the practice field. It was a meeting she was both anticipating and dreading.
She took a deep breath. She had barely slept the previous night. The tension in her body so thick that she had finally summoned one of her guards and taken him to bed. But that had almost done nothing for she had been left unsatisfied. There was only one person she wanted to feel in her arms and until that happened she didn't think anyone else would satisfy her.
Gabrielle was up earlier then usual. Her sleep had been uneasy despite the comfort of the bed, the tension in her body making her muscles ache. She relished the opportunity for a sparring lesson, even though her partner that morning was the cause of her distress.
She was out at the practice field before the Conqueror and she had the opportunity to watch the woman arrive. She stared at the Empress as she emerged from a side door and strolled purposefully across the yard. Her movements were swift and graceful and all Gabrielle could think about was how beautiful the woman was.
It was a clear day and the early morning light reflected off the black, blue of her long hair which hung loose around her tanned shoulders. She was dressed in her black leather, without the armour and it looked well oiled and shiny.
"Good morning," Xena greeted curtly. "Are you ready?"
Gabrielle nodded and then took up her stance. She tried to remember everything she had been taught. She crouched low swinging her staff and deflecting the blows that came towards her. They started off slowly but as the session progressed the sped and intensity of their strikes increased. To stubborn to admit she was tiring from the exercise she continued long after it was prudent. It was this fatigue that made her lose concentration and thus allowed Xena the opportunity to land a stinging blow to her left shoulder and back.
Gabrielle dropped to her knees, instinctively reaching with her free hand to the injured limb, biting down hard to prevent any pronouncement of pain. She didn't want her companion to know how much the blow had hurt.
"I'm sorry," Xena was immediately contrite, her remorse genuine. She hurried to the bard's side and dropped to her knees. She had been measuring her strikes so as not to overpower her young opponent. However she had not seen the bard's momentary lapse in time to check her stroke. The last thing she wanted was to inflict any type of injury on this woman.
"It's okay," Gabrielle said bravely but the Conqueror could see the truth in the expression on her face.
"Here," Xena took charge scooting around to sit behind the younger woman. Very gently she probed the shoulder with her fingers, relieved to realize that nothing had been broken. She would have been unable to forgive herself if the injury had been more serious.
Suddenly her hands stilled as she allowed her mind to think about her last thought. It occurred to her that she had not thought about anyone else's pain in a long time. She had never cared what anyone else might be feeling. Her mind backtracked even further and she realized with some horror that she had actually apologized to the young woman. Her eyes strayed to their surroundings and she saw the soldiers who had gathered to watch them.
"Come with me," she said with a hint of anger and the tone of voice prevented the bard from mounting any type of argument. Gabrielle slowly got to her feet and followed the Conqueror aware of the woman's sudden change of mood and wondering what had brought it about. She wondered if the Empress were angry at her for her incompetence.
Xena took the girl back to her private chambers and away from the prying eyes of the soldiers. She motioned the bard to sit on a stool, before retreating to a corner of the room where she retrieved a jar of salve from a wooden cabinet.
"Here," she tossed the bard a robe. "I need you to take your shirt off so I can apply the ointment. It will help your muscles heal faster."
Gabrielle nodded and carefully undid the laces of her shirt. She gingerly slipped the garment off her shoulders and held the robe up to hide her naked breasts. Xena deliberately kept her back to the bard giving her the privacy she needed and then moved around the stool until she was behind the girl. She gently began to apply the salve, rubbing it deep into the skin and muscles of her shoulders and back.
Gabrielle tensed at the first touch because of the pain it brought, but quickly found herself leaning back into the pressure of those strong hands. Using her injured arm to hold the robe in place she used her free hand to lift her hair away, allowing the Conqueror access to the muscles in her neck.
It was an invitation the dark haired warrior couldn't refuse and her hands began to move differently over the smooth skin. They were no longer massaging but caressing and the bard closed her eyes and breathed deeply as the beat of her heart increased.
Xena could feel the change in atmosphere and for a brief instant lost control of her actions. She lowered her mouth and gently laid a kiss on the bard's neck. Then she moved onto an ear which she gently nipped with her teeth.
Gabrielle moaned, an ache beginning to stir in the pit of her stomach. An ache that spread lower and made her warm and moist. She held her breath as the Conqueror laid another kiss on her shoulder and then turned her head so that their faces were level.
There was no protest from the bard and Xena didn't need any more of an invitation as her mouth leaned into the girl's lips. The kiss was soft and gentle, a tentative exploration between two new lovers. It was followed by a second one with deeper passion and the Conqueror dropped one hand to squeeze the soft round breast of the young woman.
Both knew where the kiss would have ended if they hadn't been interrupted, for the Empress had moved around the bard and was now kneeling in front of her, the robe had fallen away and Xena had seized the opportunity to cover the taunt nipples of her companions breasts with her lips. The knock on the door abruptly ended the passion and Xena was on her feet shielding the partially naked girl from whomever entered.
Titus blushed at the scene as he glimpsed the young woman hastily struggling to put her shirt back on. He noticed the way the Empress stood protectively in front of the girl. So it's that way, he decided thoughtfully but was smart enough to say nothing.
"Sorry for bothering you, my Empress but the delegation from Rome has arrived," he announced lowering his eyes.
"I will be right there," she replied in a cold voice. "Next time wait until I tell you to enter before doing so."
"Yes," the man flushed and hurriedly backed out the door. Here was another clue to the mystery. The Conqueror had never worried about being interrupted before.
Xena turned to look at the bard who was once again fully clothed. She ran a hand through her hair, annoyed at being interrupted. Her body rebelled but common sense prevailed. She had duties to perform. Her mood began to sour. Her body was wound tighter then before. Anyone crossing her this morning would be in peril.
"I want you sitting beside me at dinner tonight," she announced, her eyes clouding with suppressed passion as she stared down at the younger woman. Her nostrils flared. "And then afterwards we will continue this."
Gabrielle just nodded not trusting herself to speak. Her heart still wasn't beating normally and the ache in her groin hadn't been satisfied. She wondered bleakly if she would be able to wait until after dinner.
Xena nodded and then bent to plant a passionate kiss on the bard's mouth before turning on her heel and strolling out of the room. She cursed the Gods for this untimely intervention. The newly arrived delegation felt the brunt of her foul temper.
"Xena it is a pleasure to see you again," Marc Anthony extended his hand in greeting. He noticed that she was dressed in her leathers rather than her usual ceremonial robes.
"Yeah," she snorted accepting the greeting. She did not trust this man. He was a close friend to her sworn enemy Julius Caesar. "What brings you here?"
The General sensed the irritation in the Empress' voice. It was obvious that his arrival had come at an untimely moment. Normally the woman was more cordial. He hoped that the mood would not persist. He had hoped to better their own acquaintance and thus had volunteered to lead this delegation.
"It's time to renew our trade agreements," he replied easily with a smile. "Surely you haven't forgotten?"
"No," the Conqueror shook her head and raised her eyebrows. "But there is nothing that any one of your public officials couldn't have done."
"Yes, but then I would have missed an opportunity to further our acquaintance," he smiled warmly.
Xena stared at the man. He was not unhandsome and his physical presence was something to be desired. However, she knew two things. One, that his interest in her was solely because of her past relationship with Julius Caesar and two, that she was not interested.
A General in Caesar's army, Marc Anthony coveted everything that his friend had possessed, including her body. He had already taken Cleopatra to his bed unbeknownst to Caesar and now he wanted to lie with her. Under different circumstances she might have indulged his little fantasy but today she had other interests. The bard's face floated in front of her vision. There was no discussion in her mind who would take precedence.
"I'm afraid Marc Anthony that I am otherwise occupied," she was pointed. "However, you are welcome to my hospitality until the treaties are signed."
The General was disappointed by this revelation and wondered who his opponent was. It wasn't like the Empress to turn down the type of invitation he had issued. Everyone in the known World knew of her appetite and her desire to conqueror not only the minds but the bodies of her potential enemies.
"I shall graciously accept your offer," he bowed respectfully.
"Good," the Conqueror said perfunctorily. "The sooner we get down to business the sooner we can enjoy ourselves."
Gabrielle went through the day feeling like she was floating on air. She knew from the servants that Xena would be busy all day, tied up in trade negotiations with the Roman's. She would have to wait until dinner, a grand state affair in honour of the visiting dignities, before seeing the Empress again.
She took the few dinars she possessed and headed out to the market, intent on buying scented oils and a few other personal items. She had planned on going alone but Archius, the officious gentleman she had first met on her arrival at the Palace, insisted she take an escort.
"The Empress insisted," he said when she protested. "She is most concerned with your safety."
"I've always looked after myself before," she didn't want to be followed around by a lumbering group of soldiers.
"Things are different now," the man insisted wondering nervously what would happen if this woman continued to refuse. "You are with the Empress now."
Gabrielle wasn't certain what he meant by that statement but she could see the genuine fear in his eyes and relented. She would ask her hostess about it later.
Four young soldiers were assigned to act as her escort and she tried to be cheerful about there presence but quickly noticed the curious glances that were cast her way by everyone they encountered. It was oddly uncomfortable the attention her party drew and she found herself unable to enjoy the shopping spree like she normally would.
"Listen.." she finally approached the man in charge of the small group.
"Joshua," the soldier replied smartly.
"Listen Joshua, do you think you and the rest of your boys could back off a little," she said trying to hide her irritation. The last straw had come when she had paused at a stall that was selling chains and necklaces. The poor merchant had made an innocent motion towards her with a necklace and the soldiers had moved menacingly towards him.
"It's our duty to protect you," the soldier insisted.
"From what?" she asked waving her hand around at the surrounding merchants. "A bad purchase?"
Joshua tried not to smile but the girl had a valid point. No one knew that she was associated with the Conqueror and there really was no reason to be overly protective, though each of them valued their heads, which would surely be lost if something did happen to the girl.
"All right," he conceded defeat seeing the determination in her flashing green eyes. "We'll give you a little more space, miss."
"Gabrielle," she said watching as they took a few steps backwards. "My name is Gabrielle."
She shook her head realizing that the space he meant amounted to nothing more then a few feet. Sighing in resignation she continued about her business, trying as best to ignore their presence and the looks she was receiving. Fortunately she found most of what she was looking for at a small booth in the middle of the market.
It was a colourful stall with a variety of goods from silk scarves to pleasant smelling oils and scents. She picked one up and breathed deeply wondering why it was familiar and then realizing that it was because she had smelt it on the Conqueror. She quickly added it to the list of her purchases. She selected several vials of oils and scents for herself and then laid then on the table.
The booth was run by a young girl who moved with a limp. It was because of this infliction that Gabrielle did not try to barter down the price of her purchases as she normally did. She had a soft heart for those who suffered a milady and though she would have liked to ask what had happened she did not what to pry into what could be a painful memory for the child.
"How much?" she smiled at the sweet faced girl who was bundling together her purchases.
"Five dinars," the girl replied shyly and before Gabrielle had a chance to dig the coins out of her pouch the soldier slapped a half dozen coins on the table.
"There are six," Joshua said nodding towards the money on the table. "One extra for your trouble."
"Just a minute here," Gabrielle finally found her voice. She had mutely watched until now, dumbfounded by the exchange. "I have money."
The soldier looked down at the woman mildly surprised. It was unusual for any one to complain when the Empress paid. His eyes narrowed as he looked at this young woman, really for the first time. He saw the youth and innocence and felt a stirring in his breast. She really wasn't the Conqueror's usual type of conquest.
"It is customary for the Empress to treat her guests," Joshua said diplomatically.
"You mean everyone who stays at the palace gets this same treatment?" the young woman demanded to know. The soldier flushed and shifted uneasily. He didn't quite know how to answer that question.
"The Empress was very specific in saying that it was her treat," he replied grateful he had thought of something more tactful then the truth.
Gabrielle saw that the man wasn't being entirely honest. She would have said something more but knew it was useless to rail against him. He was merely carrying out his instructions.
"All right I will speak to her later," she decided aware that their argument was drawing the attention of everyone around them. But the joy of the afternoon was gone. The soldier seemed to sense her mood change. Without knowing why he found himself liking this woman more than any of the others he had had to escort. She was difficult in a nice way, unspoiled or pretensious.
"The Empress only wants to please you," he said hastily. "I'm sure she meant no offence. She knows that most people don't have allot to spend."
"Then she shouldn't tax them so much," Gabrielle retorted unthinkingly and the guard looked momentarily shocked at her open hostility. He remained silent. He could hardly wait until he could tell his mates about the Conqueror's latest interest.
Most of the bard's fury had dissipated by the time she returned to the Palace. The last of her anger receded as she sorted through her purchases. She lifted up the vial of scent she had purchased for her new friend and sniffed at its fragrant aroma, a silly grin plastering itself onto her face as she imagined how the Conqueror would react to such a gift.
"Belaus," she called to the servant who had just entered the room. The maid glanced across at the girl. "I need you to do me a favour."
Gabrielle hastily scrambled to her feet and hurried over to the table. She pulled out a blank piece of scroll and after a moments thought wrote a few lines on the parchment. Once she was done she folded it and then hastily wrapped the vial of scented oil before handing it to the servant who was waiting patiently nearby.
"Could you deliver this to the Conqueror's room," Gabrielle paused feeling suddenly a little embarrassed by her gesture. "Could you make sure she gets it?"
"Yes, miss," the servant nodded quietly revealing none of the surprise she felt. It was her experience that most people just took from the Conqueror without thinking of giving anything back. She knew that the scented oil was a simple gift, yet the gesture was hugely significant.
continued in part five
The Athenaeum's Scroll Archive