by LJ Maas
"She's my wife!" I hissed at the Amazon.
"I'm sorry, did I miss that wedding, Lord Conqueror?"
"Just what--" I stated, only to be interrupted.
"Will you two please sort this out another time?" Gabrielle turned to us both and growled under her breath.
"It seems you have more than enough willing Champions, Princess. So, which what will it be? Will you select a Champion, Gabrielle?"
Once more Gabrielle's head turned to look at the blonde Amazon and myself, standing side by side. We both nodded our heads to the young woman.
"No, I'll fight for myself," Gabrielle answered.
"What?" Two voices in unison again, mine and the Amazon's.
"Do you mind?" I growled at Ephiny.
"Gabrielle, take a moment and think about what you're saying." I implored her. I suppose I could have ordered the whole thing stopped, but how would that make Gabrielle look, in front of the Amazons, as well as the people of Greece. I wanted them to know she was not simply a pretty toy of mine, but I didn't want them to see her die before her wedding day.
Gabrielle temporarily ignored me. "I won't fight you to the death, though."
"And just what kind of parameters would you set for this combat?" Melosa questioned.
"That if I win, you will not proceed with your war. You will listen to reason with your head, and not your heart."
"And if you lose?"
"I--I haven't anything to offer," Gabrielle answered softly.
"Haven't you, Gabrielle?"
I knew exactly what Melosa was thinking by the way she looked at Gabrielle just then, and I would have none of that. The Amazon Queen surprised me, though, when she continued.
"If I were a younger woman, I'd make you put your charms up as part of the wager. I like you, Gabrielle, and if you think you have enough skill to best me, then that's all we'll wager. I'll give you a candlemark to compose yourself, and then I'll meet you on the Conqueror's training field."
Melosa walked away, but stopped and turned back to the small blonde. "What weapons would you like to use, Princess?"
I watched as a different expression stole across Gabrielle's face. She looked down at the palm of her hands, slowly turning each of them over as if to examine them.
"My hands," she said at last.
Melosa smiled as if she were indulging a small child in a nonsensical request. "Very well. Hand to hand combat it is." She walked off, followed by the Amazons.
Ephiny was the last to leave. "I hope you taught her well." She tossed at me in that flat, dry sort of tone she had.
* * *
"Gabrielle, are you insane? I mean, have you recently hit your head, or suffered some sort of massive brain injury that I know nothing about?" I shouted.
We were alone in our rooms. Gabrielle sat on the bed, her hands clasped together in her lap, patiently looking up at me. I paced, and I raged. I suppose it was all fear that was causing me to yell like this. The good thing is that I think Gabrielle knew that because she just sat there as if waiting for my fury to calm, knowing it eventually would. Like the summer storms that passed through quickly, all thunder and lightning, my ire did finally calm.
I sat down beside Gabrielle, and ran my fingers through my hair. I sighed deeply.
"Little one, do you understand what's happening?"
"I'm not a fool, Xena! I know what I've done," Gabrielle answered. It was the first time she'd ever spoke to me sharply, and I could see she was afraid, as well.
"You can still change your mind, choose me as your Champion, Ares balls, choose the Amazon, but don't try to fight Melosa. She's almost as good as I am, Gabrielle. She could hurt you, even if it's not a fight to the death."
"Xena, I . . ." Gabrielle took a deep breath and turned toward me, taking both my hands in her own. "I need to do this. I have no idea how to explain it to you, Hades teeth, I don't know how to explain it to myself!"
It was the first time I'd ever heard her swear, and I couldn't help but smile. It was that smile that allowed me to open my head, and my heart, enough to hear what she had to say.
"I don't know what it is, and I could be insane, but I can do this . . . I must do this. I can't explain how or why any better than to say this feels like my destiny, Xena. It's as though my whole life has been leading up to this one moment. I'm sorry, I'm not explaining this well at all."
She hung her head in defeat. I didn't know how to tell her just then that I knew exactly what she meant. I felt the same thing on the evening I walked into Gabrielle's room, got down on my knees, and asked her to forgive me. I freed her from slavery, and asked her to marry me. At that moment in time, in that semi-darkened room, I felt that my whole life had been leading up to that space in time. That my destiny was clicking into place. I wanted to tell Gabrielle all of this, but as was my habit around her, my tongue froze. When I needed my eloquence the most, it deserted me.
I pulled the smaller woman against me, and wrapped my arms around her. At last her body relaxed, and I felt mine do the same. When she looked up into my eyes, I knew that I didn't have to voice ant of my thoughts. Gabrielle seemed to always know what I was thinking, anyway.
"Athena will protect me, Xena, I have every confidence." Gabrielle whispered.
"I hope so because if Melosa hurts you, I'm going to kick her ass from one end of Corinth to the other," I growled.
"Xena!"
Gabrielle's admonishment was interrupted by a knock on the outer chamber door. I was rather surprised that it was Yu Pan standing in the corridor. He was holding a small package in his hands.
"Ni hao? Lord Conqueror," he acknowledged me.
"I am not so well at this very moment, thank you for asking," I answered.
"I have something for Gabrielle."
"Master Yu Pan, I'm not sure that now is a--"
"It's all right, Xena." Gabrielle stood in the doorway between the bedroom and the outer rooms, and smiled weakly. I could see her mind was on Melosa. What I still couldn't understand was why she said yes. How did she think she was going to accomplish this?
"I have something that belongs to you, my nuer," Yu Pan said. He crossed the room and placed a parcel wrapped in cloth into Gabrielle's accepting hands. ”Please open." The old man indicated the package.
Gabrielle looked at me, and then moved to a nearby chair. She placed the package in her lap, untied the string holding it closed, and finally peeled back the cloth. The look on Gabrielle's face, I can only describe as equal part revelation, and astonishment. She fingered an article of clothing from inside the package. It appeared to be silk, deep blue, with very tiny yellow blossoms embroidered on it.
She slowly raised her head, and stared at Yu Pan. "It's true, then?" was all she asked the old man.
"It is true," Yu Pan answered.
"I thought . . . I don't think I understand how this can be."
"Gabrielle?" I nervously asked. She and the old man seemed to be having a conversation that revolved around something they alone were privy to.
"It's all right, Xena." Gabrielle repeated the same reassuring words to me, only this time her smile was genuine. Actually, it seemed as if her expression was one of relief.
"Tong zhi zhe," Yu Pan addressed me by my Chin title. "Perhaps if I might have a few moments alone with Gabrielle, so that I might help her prepare?"
"You're going to do something, right? Some spell or some tricks?" I asked desperately.
"No tricks, my friend. You are about to get that wish that you once hoped for, Conqueror," Yu Pan commented in a cryptic fashion.
"Gabrielle," I turned toward her to attempt once again to talk her out of this foolishness. "I can't just--"
"Xena, you have to trust me," she said quickly. "Please, love, we only have a short time, and there are things I need to ask Yu Pan."
"But..." I finally realized that it was so much easier to trust when you were the one doing the asking. How many times since I fell in love with her had I asked Gabrielle that very thing? T
rust me.
Gabrielle came to stand before me as my mind warred with itself. She reached up and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"Tell you what, love?"
"How hard trusting really is?" I responded.
"Perhaps you just haven't had enough practice at it yet."
She smiled that seductive smile of hers and I was reminded again why I fell in love with her in the first place. Because she made it so blasted easy to do, that's why.
"I won't let anything serious happen to you, little one." I whispered fiercely.
"I know you won't. Now go, and I'll see you outside," she responded.
I nodded dumbly, kissed her, and left her alone with Yu Pan. I prayed to Athena that Gabrielle was right, and that my patron Goddess truly thought enough of Gabrielle to protect the young woman.
"Children and fools," I muttered to myself as I retreated from the castle. Surely there was a special place in the Afterlife for the both of them.
CHAPTER 17
FOR AS EVENTS ARE SHAPED, THEY HAVE TO BE.
THERE WAS NOTHING, absolutely nothing in the world that could have prepared me for the sight of Gabrielle, as she made her way down the palace steps, accompanied by her mentor, Yu Pan. Her golden hair had been plaited tightly in one long braid down her back. She was wearing the silk that I had identified as being inside the parcel Yu Pan delivered. It was a deep, royal blue color with tiny yellow blossoms embroidered in a seemingly random pattern. It was exactly the same style outfit that I had seen Yu Pan wear during his Qigong routine. The long-sleeved silk jacket or robe came down to mid-calf, and it appeared that she wore loose fitting silk trousers underneath the robe.
There was something different about Gabrielle; I recognized it at once. Just as I knew, deep inside, that Yu Pan had been something more than he appeared, Gabrielle now held that same power. It was in her gait, and the direct, confident eye contact she made. The girl who now stood before me would never be mistaken for either a slave, or a victim.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked quickly.
"I'm positive. Remember, trust in me, Xena." Gabrielle reminded me.
"I'm going to do my level best, love." I answered. I was honestly giving it all I had.
We walked hand in hand to the training field, neither of us caring if people whispered at the sight. So many people showed up, it looked like the old Romans' Coliseum. Obviously, word had gotten out that something interesting was going to happen. I merely hoped that the interesting part didn't involve Gabrielle breaking her neck. Her body seemed to be practically humming, and I knew it was simply nervous energy.
There were formalities and preliminary instructions to go over, but finally the time was at hand. Each woman was directed to a corner of the octagonal fighting area. They each began to warm up in their own fashion. It was then that Gabrielle took off the long jacket. Underneath, she wore the same patterned blue silk, but in a tight fitting sleeveless top that clung to her skin, ending where it tucked into the silk trousers.
I never thought of Gabrielle's body as it pertained to anything other than beauty or pleasure, but now, I could really see why I always took her embrace as deceptively strong. Her arms were short, but sleek, and muscular. Suddenly, my mouth went dry. I was seeing something of this woman that I hadn't before, and I found myself rather enjoying the sight of her.
Gabrielle spun her body completely around, easily accomplishing a roundhouse kick. She stretched, and practiced some more kicks, but I was already awe struck. She moved like liquid in motion. Surely, Yu Pan had performed some sort of miracle while the two of them were up there. At this moment I didn't much care what it was, I was merely happy that Gabrielle had a chance at holding her own.
Both women met in the middle of the ring, and the contest began.
Did I say, hold her own?
Sweet Athena, had I been living with this woman for all this time now? I turned my dumbfounded gaze to Yu Pan, who I found standing next to me.
"D--Did you . . . do . . . this?" I motioned with my hand toward Gabrielle. Right now, the girl looked like poetry set to music. "Is it some form of magic?"
"I told you, no tricks, Conqueror. As you said once before, however," he replied as he focused his attention on Gabrielle's movements. "Gabrielle is indeed my greatest student."
Whereas Melosa was a larger woman, she fought more like me. She wrestled and boxed, using her size and strength to beat an opponent. Gabrielle was fast, incredibly fast. Her movements were a blur. She looked as if she were doing a Qigong routine, only faster. Every single one of her actions were reactions. They were defensive moves, nothing offensive.
After close to a quarter of a candlemark, Gabrielle had tossed Melosa from one end of the ring to the other. It was mesmerizing watching Gabrielle. Each time Melosa came at the younger woman, Gabrielle reacted as if every movement was pure instinct, as if her body knew exactly what to do. After a full candlemark of the strenuous activity, Gabrielle's technique still appeared as effortless to her body as breathing out and breathing in.
I know I keep telling you how stunned I felt, but I don't think you can truly appreciate how astonished I was. Here was my little Gabrielle, and she was kicking the Amazon Queen's ass!
Just as I thought that, Melosa came across with a glancing blow that caught Gabrielle high up on her left cheekbone, near her eye. The force knocked the young woman to one knee, but then she quickly managed to shift and duck to one side as Melosa flew by her instead of tackling the young woman to the ground. My fingers reflexively wrapped around the hilt of my sword.
Melosa landed on her back, obviously winded, but even before her body hit the ground, Gabrielle was tucking her small body into a backwards somersault. Just as Melosa hit the dirt, Gabrielle rolled against her. All it took was one hand pinning Melosa's arm to the ground, and the smaller woman's knee pressed against the Amazon's throat. In her state of exhaustion, The Queen hadn't the strength to remove the steady pressure Gabrielle seemed to be placing on the Amazon's larynx.
"Mercy," Melosa gasped at last. The entire crowd was stunned into silence.
Gabrielle immediately rose, holding out a hand to the surrendering Queen. Melosa sat upright, leaning her forearm on one bent knee. The whole time she simply stared at Gabrielle. She didn't look happy by my estimation. She looked even less so when Gabrielle offered her arm.
The Queen finally grasped it, however, pulling herself up. The two women stood before one another, Melosa towering over Gabrielle. There was still quite a bit of collective breath holding going on as everyone watched the two women in the center of the ring. At last, Melosa smiled slightly, nodding her head in appreciation. She placed her hands on each of Gabrielle's shoulders.
"Timara chose well, whether she knew it or not," Melosa quietly commented.
I think everyone watching breathed a sigh of relief. Except for me, that is. There were too many people surrounding the two women for my comfort, far too many. I must have been getting old, complacent, or a little of both because it was only now that I was taking notice of the fact. Between my soldiers, and the Amazons, there were at least three hundred trained warriors on that field. Armed warriors. As I always say about hindsight, however; if we didn't have it, we'd have no way to kick ourselves later.
All it took was one shout. "Weapon!" Someone screamed.
To shout that under ordinary circumstances might not mean much. To scream it among a bunch of soldiers is dangerous, but to hear it when three members of Royalty are present throws things into complete chaos.
I didn't even have to give orders, Atrius and the Royal Guard had already surrounded me, and I saw three of them tossing bodies out of the way to get to Gabrielle. That's when I lost sight of the small blonde in the sea of bodies being jostled around us. As nature would have it, that's when total pandemonium broke out.
It happened so fast, and my mind was trained on only Gabrielle. Even I couldn't be absolutely certain what the
first words were.
"Amazon treachery!"
"Centaur betrayal!"
Then surprisingly enough, it all went down hill from there. I don't mean to make light of the matter, for this was well and truly the first battle the palace in Corinth had seen for at least a dozen seasons. I fought just as the guards around me, taking a few blows to the chin as I pressed my way toward the center of the fighting area. I noticed Torava fighting beside me, and grabbed her by the neck.
"Get in there and find Gabrielle!"
"I can't leave my position beside you, Conqueror!"
"Fuck that! She's in there without protection!" I jammed my left fist into an attacking Amazon's face, just as she was about to slice open Torava. "Go on!"
I suppose she made a career decision by obeying me, but she saw that I was surely the master of my own space as I tossed people off me as if they weighed so little. I admit, it had been a while since I did battle, but this was even more difficult. I was trying hard not to use my blade, even though I had it in my hand. I didn't need any more Amazon blood on my hands than I already had.
I caught a Centaur rearing up from off to my left. When I looked up, a young Amazon took a swipe at me with her sword. She caught my free arm, slicing my shirt open, and then into the skin below. It wasn't deep, more of a scratch, but all it took was the slight tinge of red to breathe life into the beast.
How I held back from plunging my blade into her, I never will know. I fought for some sort of control, my hand raising my blade toward her. I shouted a string of curses, and brought the Lion's head of my sword directly across her chin. Her jaw would most likely be broken, but she wouldn't know that until she woke up, as she fell into a heap on the ground.
The beast had gotten the better of me, but at least I hadn't lost complete control. I sunk my blade into the ground at my feet, and bid the nearest Amazon to come take it. I had no trouble finding takers, and one by one, I fought with my hands, not actually aware what was going on around me. My monster had won its freedom, and was taking advantage of its limited independence.
