Journey's End

by LJ Maas

  “I’m sorry I didn’t know how to tell you sooner,” I said, taking her hand in my own, looking down at it and feeling the smoothness against my own much rougher hand. “I’m sorry that I ever led you to doubt how very much I love you, Gabrielle. I’m not always proud of who I am, much less who I’ve been, but having you in my life makes me believe that I can be a much better person; having you in my heart, makes me know that I am.”

  I was mightily rewarded with the sweetest kiss in the world for that little speech. Gods, who would have known? If I’d have recognized that the simple truth of revealing my feelings could do this, I might have tried it long ago.

  “Xena, you’re an incredible woman,” Gabrielle said, surprising me. “You’re different from every person I’ve ever known in my life, and I love you because of it. I knew there was something different about you after the first evening we were together, but I never knew it could cause me to feel this way; never realized it would instill this feeling of absolute love and trust for you, and I do you know.”

  I didn’t want to cry, not again, and not in front of Gabrielle, but I was fighting a losing battle. All I could do was bring the hand in my own up to my lips and kiss it.

  “I never thought, Xena... never dared to hope that something this beautiful would ever happen to me. That someone like you would ever want a girl like me,” Gabrielle added.

  I looked up, and through my tears, I smiled.

  “Did I say something amusing?” Gabrielle asked.

  “No, something mystical,” I replied. “You just read my mind. Those were the very thoughts running through my mind. Gabrielle, are you sure, I mean, sure that I’m the one?”

  “Would you rather I not be?” she asked in concern.

  “No!” I answered quickly, “no, love it’s not that. I only think about the fact that... well, Gabrielle, I’m quite a bit older than you, I’ve earned my share of enemies over the seasons. I worry that you’ll be committing to a lifetime of loneliness or have your heart broken should Celesta come looking for me one day soon.”

  I searched her eyes, the green irises turning darker, misting over with tears. Just as suddenly they brightened, then she smiled and shook her head.

  “No, Athena would never have fulfilled our destinies this way to set us up for pain. It’s not like her to dangle a golden carrot before someone without at least giving them the chance to jump at it. I will make special offerings to her in hopes that she can persuade her uncle not to call your name for a very long time,” the young woman answered optimistically.

  “Gabrielle, do you know what an enigma is?” I asked. My tears forgotten, a smile now graced my features.

  “Something that is difficult to understand?” she answered, uncertainly.

  “In a way, yes, but it’s more. It’s something or someone that is puzzling, that’s simply inexplicable. You are that for me.” I responded. “You are the most loving, generous woman I have ever known, yet living the life you have, that you are that way, completely baffles me. You can be shy and timid, but in the time it takes an eagle to strike down its prey, you can be forceful and commanding. I can’t explain it. You are a riddle, my love, that I want to spend the rest of my time in this mortal realm solving.”

  I reached over to kiss the look of shock from her face. “We need to get back, but I want to ask you something.”

  I pulled the small signet ring from my little finger. I kept a large, heavy ring in a box on my desk, which would someday go to my heir. I only wore it at official functions and kept it locked at my desk to use as a seal. For Greek royalty, the ring that bears our crest carries no greater sign of commitment. To give the ring to my heir or the next in line for the throne, displayed an open and willing commitment to the bearer of the ring. It showed great faith, trust, and belief in the recipient of the gift. No ruler ever gave their signet up lightly.

  I took hold of Gabrielle’s hand once more and pulled it toward me, easily slipping the trinket on her ring finger. Once in place, I kissed the tops of her fingers, then turned her hand and gently kissed her palm.

  “This is my promise, Gabrielle. All that I have I share with you, except my heart, and that I give to you completely,” I said softly.

  “I don’t think I deserve to be a Queen, Xena,” she replied in a tearful voice.

  “You do, my love, and I plan on spending the rest of my life showing you just how much I believe that.” I smiled. “Are you ready?” I rose and held out a hand to her.

  When I felt her hand slip into my mine, I thought of the eve before I took Athens, the night I pledged my allegiance to Athena. Suddenly I was there, in that old tent I set up as a shrine for her, remembering the Goddess’ words to me.

  “With Ares power, Xena, you would have become the mightiest warrior in the Known World. With mine, you’ll become the greatest ruler Greece has ever known.”

  She slipped her hand into mine and I felt a tingling sensation travel up my arm and into my chest, followed by a feeling of confidence, that what she was saying would indeed come to pass.

  “And what will I owe you?” I questioned in a low dulcet tone. My naturally suspicious nature knew the Gods didn’t give anything away for free.

  “Your heart,” Athena answered.

  “I thought you were the Pallas,” I drawled, the use of the old title, indicating the Goddess’ renowned virginity. I also stared hungrily, greedy for a chance at being the first. It seems conquering was in my blood.

  Athena smiled seductively. “I’ve seen the way you go at it, Xena. I think if I were to take a lover, I’d want it a little less rough.”

  “Don’t knock it till ya tried it,” I grinned, turning on the charm.

  This time she laughed. “Xena, you have a long journey ahead of you, and I fear what Ares has molded you into, may make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to recover.”

  I didn’t understand one damn word she was babbling on about, but the ample breasts, threatening to spill out from their armored hideaway, weren’t helping me keep track of her words any.

  I looked into her face and she was shaking her head in amused disapproval. “Xena, I’m going to keep your heart for you until you need it.”

  “Trust me, that I won’t need,” I responded, still ogling her chest.

  Quickly she reached out and grabbed my chin, holding it firmly within her fingers. I saw a previously hidden fire in her eyes and I realized her patience had come to an end.

  “You will need it someday. Trust me, there will come a time when you will want it back,” she said strongly.

  “Yea, when?” I sneered.

  Her gaze softened again. “When you want to give it away,” she replied. “Were you even listening to me before?”

  “Yea, yea... I’m going on a journey,” I answered, rubbing my sore chin.

  “Of a sort, yes.” She smiled again, only this time the smile seemed sad. She turned to leave and I couldn’t help asking.

  “Athena... .” I called out and she turned back. “When will I want to give my heart away?” I asked quietly.

  “I thought that would have been apparent,” again, the bittersweet smile, “at your journey’s end, of course.”

  She was gone in a multicolored flash, but I looked down at the hand that still tingled with warmth.

  “Xena... Xena, are you all right?” Gabrielle asked.

  I had to literally shake my head and look around to realize where I was. I remembered the incident with amazing clarity, but up to a few heartbeats ago, it had been lost to my memories. It was as if it never happened, but I knew that it had.

  Athena and I both kept our promises after all. She made me the greatest ruler in all of Greece and I gave her my heart. Thank the Gods there was at least one benevolent deity on Olympus. Athena safeguarded my heart all these seasons, her words coming back to me as I felt the warmth of Gabrielle’s hand in mine.

  “Until I want to give it away,” I whispered in amazement.

  “What?” Gabrielle aske
d with a worried frown.

  I smiled brightly and squeezed her hand. “Nothing, love, just remembering something that happened a long time ago.”

  We walked through the garden, and I swore the olive wood statue of Athena Polias, which we passed before entering the palace, winked at me.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you want to be in there?” I asked Gabrielle before we entered the Great Hall. Gabrielle nodded her head silently and I watched as she twisted my ring on her finger. “Gabrielle?” I asked.

  “Xena, I just don’t want you to back off of punishing that man because he gave us the information we needed.” Gabrielle responded, indicating Kassandros’ testimony.

  “I’d never interfere with your decisions, it’s only... he needs... ” tears formed in her eyes and I took her in my arms and held her.

  “To suffer?” I finished for her.

  Again, the silent nod.

  “And, you think I might let him off the hook, for the testimony that freed you?” I asked.

  “I don’t ever want to be the cause for so many feeling that justice wasn’t served in your court.” She responded.

  “I understand, love, but sometimes the law and justice are leagues apart from one another. I promise you one thing, though, justice will be served today.” I answered.

  Moreover, Kassandros will suffer, I thought to myself, as Gabrielle and I entered the Hall.

  * * *

  I stood and paced before the men brought for sentencing. I was speaking of the inhumanity of the slavers, their ways, detailing in graphic examples, exactly what the kidnapped children could expect as slaves. Ever since I could first remember, I had a knack for speaking in front of people. The rush that I received from my battle speeches was something akin to being pleasured, and I used to ride that wave of pleasure, squeezing every last drop of emotion from it. I did the same right now and I could see it in their faces. Some realizing, for the first time, what the life of a slave must be like, so I continued to speak.

  I was setting them up for my victory, and the majority of them never even knew it.

  “You have all been condemned and convicted of the crime of illegal slave trade,” I directed my comments to the prisoners. “By Greek law I have the right to condemn each of you to death.”

  “Wait a minute,” I heard Kassandros growl under his breath.

  I held up my hand for silence. “But, is death really appropriate for this crime? I turned to the people once more. “Would their deaths bring those children back? Can it bring the stolen lives back?” I asked, pausing to look up at Gabrielle. “Do the victims even care if these men die? Of course, not, they can only think of one thing... vengeance. Many of the victims will never be known, but for them, this court exacts that vengeance for them.”

  I moved back to my chair, touching Gabrielle’s shoulder lightly as I walked past her. That small connection was enough for me to feel energized, committed to my goal.

  “In this case, death is actually too good for you.” I said seriously. “Because of that, I sentence you to life imprisonment.”

  Murmurs and grumbles arose from the audience before I was even finished. “In the mines at Pella,” I added.

  The grumbling stopped immediately and only murmured whispers could be heard.

  “You bitch.”

  Pella was in upper Macedon, Kassandros’ homeland, so he knew what I had in mind.

  The city of Corinth produced silver coins, my face stamped on some, the symbol of a lion on others. Silver was used because it was plentiful in mines all over the Empire. Gold coins were something a bit more rare. They were minted in few cities, but the most profitable was in Pella, due to the supplies of gold ore. The deposits were deep underground, the labor nearly death defying to mine the precious metal, which was why prisoners were used in the mines. In the mines at Pella, even slaves were considered too valuable to send in.

  “You said the rest of my life... I’d be sent to a prison for the rest of my life,” Kassandros yelled as they pulled him away.

  “I figure that should be in about one season,” I returned calmly.

  Once the astonished onlookers were calmed a bit, I motioned to Antillius. The young man opened a scroll and cleared his throat.

  “By order of her Royal Highness, the Lord Conqueror of the Greek Empire, the following proclamation is issued as law. To begin on this day at this very moment, the Lord Conqueror has commanded that slavery be banished from within the boundaries of the Greek Empire. The throne will be willing to provide a modest compensation to slave owners, as recompense, or to be used as wages, if the slaves of a household or within an industry choose to stay in their position, as hired servants. The army of the throne will see to it that said law is met with compliance, however the Lord Conqueror and her advisors shall be available on a daily basis, to see to it that the law is made a reality. Effective immediately, slavery is at an end in the realm.”

  Antillius looked over at me for approval and I smiled at the young man. “So be it.” I said, thereby putting the law into effect.

  He then brought the scroll to me and handed me a quill, wet with ink. I signed my name to the document, and another, exactly like the first. Terillus insisted we have a duplicate copy. A remarkable thing happened after I signed my name. Almost the entire Hall cheered. I certainly wasn’t expecting that, which made Gabrielle brighten and lean towards me to whisper in my ear.

  “And now... you are an enigma to me,” my future Queen smiled

  * * *

  Not a soul bothered us again for the rest of the night. We ate a leisurely dinner that Delia outdid herself creating, followed by an even more relaxing bath, with more touching and caressing going on than actual bathing. We ended up in front of the game table, each of us enjoying a goblet of wine. I think Gabrielle humored me in drinking hers, I know she didn’t care for the taste very much.

  The game of King’s Men went about like all our games; I got my butt kicked.

  “How do you do that?” I raised my voice slightly, staring down at the marble playing field.

  “Because you do the same thing over and over,” Gabrielle countered.

  “I’ll have you know that I won every campaign I ever waged, from Sparta to Troy, with the exception of one.” I shot back.

  “Hhmm,” Gabrielle said, rising and turning her back on me, “Funny, but you haven’t won any in Corinth.”

  I stared at her retreating back, open-mouthed. Now it was a well-known fact that I hadn’t won the first Campaign I waged to take Corinth, well, actually, I didn’t lose, but I called a retreat. Long story. What amazed me is that Gabrielle managed to cut me down to size in a rather amusing jibe equating that battle and my ability at King’s men.

  So quickly, I bet she never heard it; I jumped from my chair. I had her in my arms and up in the air, tossed over one shoulder before she knew what was happening. The combination of Gabrielle’s screams and her laughter as I tickled her, brought a much too enthusiastic Aristes, charging in through our door.

  We all just stopped and stared at one another. I repositioned Gabrielle in my arms and the guard was wondering, I’m sure, which it would be, Tartarus or Elysium.

  “I... forgive me... I... I heard... well, then I thought maybe... I thought the lady... um, that she could be... in trouble... ” the guard desperately tried to stammer out.

  Gabrielle and I never said a word.

  “I’ll just... um... ” Aristes pointed toward the door and he left the way he came, only a lot quieter.

  Once the door closed, Gabrielle and I took one look at one another and burst into laughter.

  “That poor boy,” Gabrielle said.

  “Poor boy, my ass,” I said while crossing the room and pushing the bolt on the door, while holding on to Gabrielle with one arm. “He’s lucky I’m in a good mood.”

  “Are you going to put me down now?” she asked.

  “Oh, sure... after that Corinth comment?”

  “So, what are you going t
o do with me?” she asked with a gleam of expectation in her eye.

  “What do you think?” I asked, crossing the threshold of our bedroom.

  * * *

  “Why are you laughing? I think I could,” I said, sure if I pouted a little Gabrielle would give in and agree.

  “Oh, Xena, I’m sorry, love but you... as a body slave? I just can’t picture it.” She continued to chuckle.

  “Well, I didn’t say I’d be great at it, just that I could, if I had to.” I replied.

  “Uh huh.” Gabrielle arched her eyebrow.

  “I could! Quit looking at me that way.”

  “What way, love?” she asked.

  “That way. That condescending way that says, you don’t think I can do it.”

  “Xena, dear... we’re talking about forgoing your own pleasure to see to your master’s, not thinking of taking one bit of satisfaction for yourself. Do you remember the first evening we met, when you eventually passed out?” Gabrielle asked.

  “I fell asleep, I did not pass out. Besides, I fought in a battle that morning.” I whined rather pathetically.

  “All right,” Gabrielle rose from the couch we’d been reclining on. She let her robe slide from her shoulders, her beautiful, naked body standing there before me. She turned on her heel and walked to the bed. Pulling back the comforter and sheets, she sat down and leaned back, reclining on one elbow.

  “Well?” she looked at me.

  “Now? Right now?”

  “It’s now or never, Conqueror.” Gabrielle answered firmly.

  She held an amused look in her eyes that told me she thought I was far from capable of pulling off such a feat. I wondered why I was even trying, when I knew damn well that making love to Gabrielle, denying my own release, would damn near kill me.

  I can do this, I kept whispering in my head. I stood up and walked to the bed.

  “Take off your robe.” She commanded and I felt myself getting wet.

  Just like that I was aroused. Hades, this wasn’t going to be much of a seduction if the slave came before her master. Why am I even considering this? Gabrielle doesn’t expect me to prove anything. I let the robe fall from my body, becoming increasingly aroused at the hungry stare Gabrielle used to look me over. She abruptly rolled into the middle of the bed, on her stomach.