by LJ Maas
“I thought... I mean if you wanted... Gabrielle, are you saying you would stay with me... here?”
“But, you would have to tell people, I wouldn’t want them thinking I was still a slave.” The small blonde stood before me, a mildly defiant look in her green eyes.
“Gabrielle,” I said jumping up and nearly knocking her down, “I would make you my queen!” I exclaimed.
She laughed at that, placing her arms around my waist. “I don’t want to be a queen, Xena, just your wife.”
I was well and truly speechless as I lifted Gabrielle into my arms, kissing her for all I was worth. I don’t think I ever knew such happiness before this moment. A few candlemarks ago I wanted to kill out of anger and hate, now I look at that space in time as if outside myself, watching a stranger. All of this was due to Gabrielle. Whether my lover would admit to it or not, there was something in her, something unique and blessed by the Gods. I vowed, to myself and my future wife, that I would forever be there, standing alongside of her.
“Look, Xena... see that star?” Gabrielle pulled me with her toward the balcony.
“Hmmm, it’s new. I don’t know when I first noticed it, but it’s very new, and bright.” I said, standing behind her and wrapping my arms around her. I felt the warmth of Gabrielle’s body against my chest and kissed the top of her head.
“Do you think it’s true, that the Gods toss diamonds in the sky to create the stars?” she innocently asked.
“I suppose it’s as good an explanation as any.” I replied.
“I first saw it on our way to Corinth. You know the top of your tent, where the side poles meet in the middle, and there’s an opening in the tent, so the center pole can stand? One night I saw that new star through the flap in the tent. I was lying close to you, thinking it was so strange that you wanted me this way. I’d never slept with any of my previous masters, not for the whole night. I fell asleep that night and I had a dream.”
Gabrielle looked up at me and the expression on her face told me that she thought this could be one of her visions. I smiled and kissed her gently, encouraging her openness.
“Tell me, my love... was it that kind of a dream?” I asked.
“I won’t know, I suppose, until the moment happens. Do you want to know what I dreamed?”
“Tell me, please.” I whispered.
“I was lying in bed in our room and you were standing over me. You kneeled beside the bed and Delia placed a baby in your arms. When I looked at you, you had tears in your eyes, and over your left shoulder, I saw the star through the window. Delia said that your daughter would someday make as wonderful a ruler as her mother.”
“Is that it?” I questioned, suddenly full of questions.
“Yes.” Gabrielle answered. “What do you think of that, Xena?”
“Is that what you would like someday, Gabrielle... children?”
“Your children,” she answered adamantly.
I chuckled and pulled her closer to me. “I would like that too, only I fear I may be lacking the necessary equipment to produce the desired results.”
Gabrielle turned in my arms to face me. “Perhaps if I make an offering every single day to Athena, she would bless us,” she said seriously, with hope in her eye.
“We can certainly try, love. I haven’t spoken with her in many seasons, but I’ll see what she has to say.” I replied.
“You’ve talked to the Goddess... and she’s talked to you?” Gabrielle asked, her mouth hung open in astonishment.
“Yes,” I laughed aloud at the look on Gabrielle’s face. “I don’t want to scare you, and it isn’t like I’ve ever been to Olympus or anything, but some of the Gods have been known to visit me on occasion. Except Ares, he and I have a deal. He doesn’t try to bother me any more and I don’t kick his ass in front of mortals,” I finished.
The talk of Gods, especially my old mentor, the God of War, brought back how long it was since the last time I was in Athena’s temple. Right before the capture of Athens, the final battle in my quest to own the Greek Empire, I turned my loyalties from Ares to Athena. Whereas they both ruled the Olympiad when it came to war and warriors, Ares perpetuated chaos and destruction, while Athena was the patron of the disciplined aspect of war. I made a decision on the eve of my greatest campaign; I turned my back on Ares and his brutal ways. I gave up on his ways of madness and waste, bowing my knee and receiving Athena’s blessing as her chosen one. From that day forward, my loyalties fell under Athena’s strategic and glorious methods of war.
A kiss to my lips brought me back to the present and I smiled into the delicious sensation.
“I love you, Xena. I’m sorry I ever hurt you,” Gabrielle said softly.
“I love you, Gabrielle. I promise, I’ll do everything in my power, never to hurt you again.”
We stayed there for a few more moments, staring at our star, as Gabrielle began to call it, and spoke of our future. I was never one for talk, but I told myself that Gabrielle would never again doubt my love for her because of my own silence.
At last, we walked back to our rooms, hand in hand. I’m sure I heard an audible breath of relief from the palace guard. It would be this same way for Gabrielle and I, many seasons from now. On the rare occasions that we would have a disagreement, the whole palace would hold its collective breath, until we made up and life could continue at its usual pace.
I lay in bed that night, Gabrielle in my arms, a look of peace and contentment resting on that beautiful face. I smiled to myself before I joined her in sleep. Tomorrow Kassandros and the others would be found guilty or innocent, and then I would sentence them. The court was in for the surprise of a lifetime. I smiled again as I drifted off to, meet up with my lover in Morpheus’ realm.
CHAPTER 18
THE HAPPIEST DAY... THE HAPPIEST HOUR
I HEARD HER SOFT steps before I felt my long hair pulled to one side and her lips tickle the back of my neck. Quicker than she anticipated, I reached around and grabbed her waist, pulling the small figure into my lap.
“No fair!” Gabrielle cried out between her laughter.
“Oh, and it was fair, you stealing a kiss?” I asked with mock sternness.
“It didn’t feel like I had to steal it,” Gabrielle replied, “seems to me you gave it up awfully fast, Conqueror.” She said, reaching in to place a quick kiss on my cheek.
Yesterday’s pain and hurts all but disappeared between us, replaced by an almost giddy feeling of first love. Gabrielle even looked like a changed woman; she most certainly acted differently, and not from when I first met her, but since yesterday. She appeared self assured and strong and I could feel myself falling in love with her all over again. She teased me with the title, Conqueror, and I felt the bond between us was solidified, for both of us to accept such a thing.
“You realize you’ll have to pay for stealing that kiss.” I said, standing and lifting her easily into my arms. I walked into the outer room, our bedchamber on my mind.
“Oh,” Gabrielle purred seductively, “and what will my punishment be?”
I stopped in the middle of the outer room, the sound of Gabrielle’s voice arousing my smoldering libido into a full-fledged blaze. I arched an eyebrow and gave her a wicked smile.
“You’ll have to give it back,” I whispered.
Our lips met in a kiss unlike any other we ever shared. The only way, in which to describe it, with mere words, is to say that it was powerful. That one kiss soon led to another and another, until my knees began to literally shake from something that had little to do with the weight of the slight figure I held in my arms. Unfortunately, that was exactly when the door opened. I don’t know who was more surprised, Sylla, or the two of us. I’d completely forgotten that my maid... correction, our maid, came in to the rooms like this every morning to wake me. She’d taken to not walking into our bedroom at all, but I suppose she thought the outer rooms were still safe.
“I... uh... forgive me, Lord Conqueror.” Sylla stammered.
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br /> “It’s all right, Sylla” I chuckled, still holding Gabrielle in my arms.
Suddenly my lover must have felt slightly foolish, which I was surprised about, but I attributed it to Gabrielle’s new sense of herself. She was a free woman and I was going to have to start remembering that fact.
“Xena, put me down,” Gabrielle ordered and I immediately complied, much to Sylla’s amazement.
The young maid straightened the room and brought the trays in with our early morning meal. I noticed both young women, their heads close together, speaking in low tones. Sylla looked at me with a distrustful eye a few times as I walked in and out of my study. That, I marked up to the quickly fading bruise left on Gabrielle’s cheek. Finally, I watched as Sylla hugged Gabrielle tight and I was sure my young lover told her friend her important news.
“Xena... are you going to sit and eat something?” Gabrielle asked.
I walked over and popped a small piece of sweetbread into my mouth. “I need to bathe and get ready, the verdict and the sentencing are to be today. Besides,” I placed a small kiss on top of the golden hair, “you need to get ready too.”
“Me?” Gabrielle asked in surprise.
“Yes, don’t you want to be present at such an event?”
“Yes, but I--”
“It will be your first time in the Great Hall as a free woman and I intend to have you by my side.” I responded before waiting for her answer.
Gabrielle smiled and as I entered the bathing chamber, I could hear the two women begin a lively discussion as to what the Conqueror’s future bride should be seen wearing to a day in court.
* * *
I’m not sure how to describe how I felt walking into the Hall. I usually just strode in as Antillius, the youngest advisor on my staff, announced me. I liked Antillius. He was an honest young man, like his father before him, who served me well as an advisor for many seasons. I search back over the summers that have passed in this palace and realize, through all my debaucheries, I always seemed to have a soft side. It simply didn’t rear its head often. Antillius’ father was an advisor on my staff until one winter a fever took more out of him than he could recover from. I could look around the palace now and see that nearly half my staff was comprised of people I rewarded for some reason or another. Either that, or I felt I owed their parents something, although that’s how I ended up in this mess with Kassandros, isn’t it?
It was customary for all those in the Hall to stand until I seated myself. On this day I led Gabrielle into the room, my hand placed strategically under her elbow. I wanted to make it clear; in the way that Gabrielle walked by my side and not behind me, her status within the palace, as well as my life, had changed. I’d made arrangements with Antillius earlier to scribe the necessary documents regarding Gabrielle’s freedom, and also to make plans for a chair to be situated next to mine. I stopped and motioned for Gabrielle to sit before me, another indication of her status change. It sent a very clear message to those within the Hall. It told them that I placed Gabrielle’s welfare above my own; thereby signifying that only one here had as much power as I within the Empire.
“Her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire,” Antillius called out in a clear voice, “and the Lady Gabrielle,” he added per my request.
Antillius grinned slightly as we passed and I winked at the young man. As Gabrielle and I took our seats, I heard the murmurs coming from those in the audience. Part of it was due to confusion over hearing the title affixed to Gabrielle’s name, the other, anger because she was there in the first place. I plucked a few scrolls off the table beside my chair, I went about the pretence of scanning the information in the parchments, while one of the men appointed to argue this case before me, stood up, clearing his throat.
“You have a question, Terillus?” I asked, without looking up.
“Uh, Lord Conqueror... ”
I looked up as he was nervously glancing over at Gabrielle. I knew he didn’t want to be the one to say it. Terillus was a decent enough man, but I was breaking the law, having a slave seated in the Hall.
“Oh, yes.” I said as if it just occurred to me. I was rather enjoying this. “Antillius, don’t you have some sort of proclamation to read?”
“Yes, Lord Conqueror,” he stepped up and cleared his throat, unrolling the scroll as he did so.
By order of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire,” I rolled my eyes in embarrassment at Gabrielle as Antillius read off my title and she used her hand to cover her smile.
“This morning, her Royal Highness declares that the slave known only as Gabrielle, receive her freedom from servitude. According to law, the Lady Gabrielle will present herself to this court seven days hence, for the official decree. Until that moment, the Lady Gabrielle is presented temporary status as a Greek citizen with all the rights that privilege contains.”
Gabrielle looked at me and the smile on her face warmed my heart. I saw only love, mixed with a tiny bit of surprise. I leaned over to whisper in her ear.
“You asked if I would tell people... is this what you had in mind?” I questioned innocently.
“Not exactly,” she whispered back. “I envisioned something a tad more intimate, but thank you, Xena.”
Those green eyes sparkled in my direction and I knew in my heart, this wouldn’t be the first time I would attempt to move a mountain for my lover.
I looked out into the sea of faces looking back at us. Some smiled and nodding their approval, other looked a bit taken back, and some, of course, appeared angry, frightened that the way of life they knew was about to change. Against the far wall, I caught the eyes of a familiar face and the large smile that graced the older woman’s features. Delia’s eyes shone with unshed tears and I bowed my head in her direction, in deference to the woman who showed me the most about being a friend, with the possible exception of the young woman seated beside me.
Terillus bowed and backed away. “Lord Conqueror... Lady Gabrielle.” He said respectfully.
“Has the council considered a verdict, Terillus?” I asked, getting back to the matter at hand.
“They have, Lord Conqueror.” He answered.
“Have the prisoners brought before me to hear their judgment,” I commanded to no one in particular.
The six of them were led in, bound in chains. They filed in, at least four guards surrounding them, Kassandros brought up the rear. Finally, they all looked up and a surprised gasp escaped from Gabrielle’s throat. Looking quickly over to her, the small blonde’s hand reached out and she clutched at my forearm, digging her nails into my skin.
“Gabrielle?” I leaned toward her.
Her face was contorted in pain, her breathing increased by the telltale rapid rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes took on a glazed over cast as she stared down at the men, more particularly, Kassandros.
All I could do was reach out and call her name, which she seemed suddenly oblivious to. Gabrielle stood up, all the while staring daggers at the man. Suddenly, her balance seemed compromised and she clutched at my arm again. I jumped from my seat just in time to keep her from hitting the floor. I scooped her into my arms as Atrius opened the door into a side chamber. I moved through the open doorway, already calling out for my healer.
* * *
“How beautiful.” Gabrielle dreamily commented as she moved toward consciousness.
I was worried now; the girl wasn’t making any sense as she looked up, past me, and into thin air. I was standing over the low couch I’d laid Gabrielle’s limp body on, upon first entering the room. Kuros, my healer kneeled at her side, proclaiming that she simply passed out and he couldn’t find anything physically wrong with her beyond that.
“Gabrielle, are you all right?” I asked nervously.
“I see stars,” Gabrielle tried to focus, pointing toward me.
“I told you she wasn’t all right, Kuros,” I chided my healer. Gods, it’s amazing that the man still puts up with me, I turn into such a c
hild around him.
He turned to look up at me and opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly he broke out into a smile and pointed above me. “Lord Conqueror... she does see stars.”
I looked over my head, since Gabrielle and Kuros were both pointing toward the ceiling. I had to smile, sweet Aphrodite, the girl would be the death of me someday, I just know it. I stood looking at a painting of the night sky over Amphipolis, one that I commissioned an artisan to paint on the ceiling when I was in one of my more melancholy moods a few seasons back.
Atrius walked into the room and closed the door. He stopped when he saw all three of us looking up at the ceiling. His head inclined, then he took stock of the three of us once more.
“Lord Conqueror?” he asked uneasily.
“Oh, It’s nothing,” I said quickly, realizing we must look like a pack of fools. “Gabrielle?”
I kneeled beside her when Kuros relinquished the spot, brushing the hair that fell into her eyes. I kissed her lips, watching as the color came creeping back into her cheeks. Her face quickly lost the dreamy quality of sleep and she tried to jump up into a sitting position.
“Oh, Xena!” she exclaimed.
Gabrielle clung to me and I could feel her body trembling. It didn’t feel like fear, it felt as if anger were coursing through her.
“Easy, easy,” I said, helping her to sit up on the edge of the couch. “Please, Gabrielle, tell me what’s wrong.” I asked.
“I... Xena, that man!” Gabrielle cried out. I looked up rather helplessly and Atrius shrugged his shoulders, not understanding any better than I to whom Gabrielle referred.
“Gabrielle, I don’t understand. What man? Has someone hurt you?” I asked slowly.
“The man... the one that stood before me in chains... he was the one.” Gabrielle stammered.
“Kassandros? The burly man on the end?”
“Yes! It was him, Xena, I’ll never forget his face.” Tears formed in her eyes and I felt myself growing angry over whatever Kassandros had done to Gabrielle to terrify her so.
