In the pre-dawn hours before first light, Gabrielle, the Queen of the Amazons, lay in her private cell and awaited her impending doom. She pondered her life and the Fates that led her to this dismal place. She couldn’t help but feel like a failure. She was supposed to lead the Amazons out of the darkness and overthrow Xena’s throne. She had known that was her destiny and yet, in a few hours, she knew her life would come to an abrupt end. Despite her bravado to Ephiny about carrying on the fight, she wasn’t so sure the Amazons could succeed. Her death could be the catalyst that would spark a successful uprising against the Conqueror, but on the other hand, it could also evolve as Xena had predicted, frightening any and all who dared rebel against the Conqueror. She had been much more optimistic a week ago, before the spy revealed her true identity and sped up their covert plans. And with Xena having a new consort, it didn’t help matters in the least.
Forty lashes. Everyone knew that only the ones with near super-human strength ever survived Xena’s forty lashes. It was a quicker way to die than the cross and yet more ruthless. The Conqueror seemed to favour the cross of late, but Gabrielle was certain Xena’s method of death had been chosen in no small part because of her title as Queen of the Amazons. The Conqueror wanted to make an example out of Gabrielle and a flogging would be a graphic display of what happened to dissidents. Xena was heartless with the whip and enjoyed watching her prey be tortured for as long as humanly possible. Only intervention by the gods could save her victims but they didn’t seem to listen to the tortuous pleas. Gabrielle’s fate was sealed. She would die at the murderous hands of Xena.
How had things gotten so out of hand? Gabrielle wondered. The Amazons had generally kept to themselves and protected their territory with fierce devotion. At first, there were rumours of Xena’s army marauding the surrounding lands until her army squeezed a tight grip on their territory, forcing the Amazons to take refuge elsewhere or to join forces with Xena outright. Gabrielle’s band chose to stay and fight. Terreis, her lover, had been killed in battle. It was an honourable death as was her life and Gabrielle would always be indebted to Terreis and the Amazons, who had saved Gabrielle’s home village of Potedeia from Xena’s slavers.
As repayment, she devoted her life to the Amazons and soon became devoted to her mate, Terreis, as well. In her mate’s final battle, she gave Gabrielle her right of caste as the Amazon warrior gasped her last breath of air. When Terreis’ sister, Queen Melosa died in battle as well, Gabrielle became sole heir to the throne. But emotionally, she was in no state to take power and only Ephiny’s level-headedness kept the Nation stable. For several moons, Gabrielle was a mere figurehead as Ephiny tackled any and all problems during the transition. If Ephiny hadn’t been there as her rock steady support, the Amazon Nation would have surely been torn apart. Instead, they were able to regroup under Gabrielle’s command. It had been a great honour for the farm girl from Potedeia to ascend the throne following Melosa before her.
In retrospect those were the glory days, a simpler time for all. Before Amazon turned against Amazon and followed the Conqueror’s ways. Those were the days before Xena became the Conqueror, before she murdered Caesar. His had been the last empire to fall. It was only a matter of time after Xena formed an alliance with Lao Ma, the ruler of the Far East. And when she was murdered by her own son, well, Xena just took what she deemed was rightfully hers. All the kingdoms in the Far East. Caesar was a fool to think he could woo Xena away from the intoxication of absolute power.
The Amazons didn’t intend to woo Xena away from her throne. They intended to kill her where she sat. The idea of planting a consort had been Gabrielle’s when she had been become aware of Xena’s predilection for fair-haired women. She had volunteered for the job herself as she deemed it much too dangerous to hand over to just any Amazon. It was her idea and she would take full responsibility. But now, all those plans had been cast aside and Ephiny would take her place. She felt as if she had let all her Amazon sisters down.
Gabrielle’s train of thought was interrupted by a visitor to her cell. From the proceedings in the Courtyard, she immediately recognised him to be Darphus, Xena’s Second in Command. He was alone. She rose from the iron slate that served as a bed.
"Well, it looks like the Conqueror has taken a liking to you and you’ll live to see another day."
Gabrielle was relieved to hear it, but said nothing. It was clear that Darphus wanted something from her.
"A pity, really. I was looking forward to your flogging. Sometimes Xena takes all the fun out things. Tell me, Amazon Queen, does the Queen scream as exquisitely as her warriors?"
"What do you want?" Gabrielle spat out, she didn’t need to hear what sick pleasure Darphus might have gained out of her tortuous death.
"It seems that Xena has summoned for you." The soldier feigned boredom with the conversation, but Gabrielle knew it was merely a ploy to get her interest. Unfortunately, it worked, she was highly intrigued by Xena’s plans for her. The original plan of posing as Xena’s consort and poisoning her may still work after all.
"And?...."
"My guess is she wants to make you her consort. I was wondering, how would you feel to be subjected to her every whim, her every need, her every desire?" he asked lecherously.
"I’ll deal with what I have to if it means staying alive."
He laughed. "I guess you haven’t heard about her... um..." he paused, "how shall I phrase it, her exotic tastes."
"Like I said, I’ll deal with it. Now, are you finished?"
"Well, there’s one other thing." Darphus paused in that maddening way of his to get her attention. Gabrielle just wished he would get to the point. "I thought you might like to know, Ephiny’s dead. It seems she had a plan to assassinate the Conqueror. You know anything about that?"
"No," she said simply, careful not to reveal a thing. Her heart broke at the news, if it was true, but she would have to hear it from someone other than Darphus to believe it.
"I guess you don’t know anything about the poison then, either." He studied her face, hoping for a sign of recognition. Gabrielle conveyed nothing.
"No I don’t," she stated flatly.
"It won’t work, Amazon. Xena will simply make you her food tester, if she doesn’t smell it first, that is."
"I have no intent – " Gabrielle began. Darphus held up his hand to cut her off.
"Don’t! Admit it, Amazon, you need me. And I need you. If you help me, I’ll help you. We both have at least one thing in common. That’s to see Xena dead. Now all you have to do is lead her in the right direction. I’ll do the rest."
"I’m listening." Gabrielle knew that Darphus had no intention of letting her live even if his traitorous scheme panned out. However, if she didn’t live past Xena’s death, any other ruler was better than the Conqueror and she had no doubt that her Amazons could overthrow Darphus in the end.
Gabrielle entered the Conqueror’s private quarters. Her tattered peasant clothing stood out in stark contrast to her lavish surroundings. She suddenly wished she had been able to take a bath before meeting with Xena as the exotic aroma in the room made her feel more dirty than she really was. It was clear Xena had the upper hand in the most primitive of ways.
Xena rested on a majestic divan. Behind her, a slave with long flaxen hair, the same one from the Court the previous week, stood behind her mistress and massaged her shoulders. Her nudity, along with the leather wrist and ankle cuffs clearly defined who she was, the Conqueror’s pleasure slave. Gabrielle was impressed by the extravagant ambience but was careful to exude an air of neutrality. The room was decorated with the finest wares of Xena’s conquered lands, from the Far East to Gaul and even some items from the local Greeks. The Conqueror herself wore a robe that had the distinct markings of Asian hands. She presumed it had been a present from Lao Ma. In spite of herself, Gabrielle’s gaze fell upon the supple thigh exposed to the bright mid-day sun.
"So, Amazon, tell me why I should let you live." It was a question the Amazon knew had no correct answer and she also knew if the Conqueror had truly wanted to kill her, she’d be dead already. Xena simply wanted to be entertained and Gabrielle would oblige her. She knew her greatest gift was her loquacious oral skills and she would use that endowment from the gods just long enough to fulfil her destiny.
"There is no reason I can give you that would change your mind if you intend to kill me. You can strike me down, but will you be able to strike down your pain? If you wipe out every Amazon in the known world, will you be able to wipe out the hatred inside you? It’s your hatred that will lead to your ultimate demise, not my death. My death will simply make me a martyr. And my people will live on long after you are gone. You cannot kill who we are."
Xena’s back stiffened and her face broke into a deadly smile. The slave ceased kneading her shoulders.
Gabrielle inwardly cringed at the ire that flashed through Xena’s eyes but consciously kept her poise. She had no intention of backing down and from Xena’s reaction, it became apparent that the Conqueror wasn’t used to anyone speaking to her with such brutal honesty. In spite of her healthy fear, Gabrielle was nevertheless mesmerised by the warrior’s natural beauty.
"Leave us," Xena gestured to Callisto as she rose from the divan. The slave’s hesitation did not go unnoticed by Gabrielle, but she was much more preoccupied by the formidable presence of the legendary Warrior Princess staring down at her from just a short distance away. The Amazon held her gaze for several moments, but found an excuse to turn her attention to the lingering slave. Callisto took her time leaving the women in silence.
"Do you always show such a clear lack of respect, little Queen? Do you even realise who you are talking to?" Xena circled close behind the smaller woman in an attempt to intimidate the Amazon by using her size and stature. Gabrielle’s stomach closed into tiny knots but she stood her ground against the imposing warrior. Despite her resolve to succeed in her plans to free her people and dispose of the Conqueror, she found herself drawn in by the allure of her raw sensuality.
Xena dropped her voice to a low dulcet tone and spoke close to Gabrielle’s ear. Both hands rested on her shoulders and the Conqueror’s touch burned clear through her thin clothing. "Let’s see, you think I should let you live because if I don’t, your Amazons will try to kill me in your name. Is that right, little Queen?" Xena pulled Gabrielle’s hair away from her neck and continued to let her fingers comb through the long tangled hair. It was enough of a distraction that, for a moment, Gabrielle didn’t realise she was supposed to be answering a question.
"Yes, it could – " Gabrielle stopped in mid-sentence as she felt Xena’s lips brush her neck. "happen," she finished. The Amazon Queen, who had been known as an expert in negotiations and diplomacy with the many dealings she had as the leader of her Nation, castigated herself for falling for the oldest ruse known to humanity. Sexual power. She was supposed to be formulating a plan to destroy the Destroyer of Nations, but her body paid no heed to her mind. Her face flushed hotly and a wave of heat rolled through her, finally settling in her loins. She knew she was being swept away by Xena’s seductive charms but her body refused to listen to the logic of her mind.
"No, my little Queen, I won’t make you a martyr. That’s what the Amazons want the most and what you’re most willing to give them. No, what I want is your dignity, your respect, your heart, even your soul. I want you to love what you hate the most. Me."
Xena stopped her gentle kisses and Gabrielle discreetly brought her breathing back to normal.
The Conqueror walked back to the divan and crossed her legs. Gabrielle regained her composure but not before her eyes glanced momentarily over a well-developed thigh carefully exposed for her benefit.
"Go find a servant who will show you where the baths are. And tell the slave to present herself. I have need of her," Xena said and turned away, effectively dismissing Gabrielle from her presence.
"Is she going to help us?" Velasca asked Darphus when they found a discreet corner of the castle to talk.
"She says she is," Darphus answered in a hushed tone.
"You don’t trust her, do you?"
"Of course not! But if she helps us even a little, our plan can still work. We’ll kill her later."
"And the Amazon Nation will be ours." Velasca’s eyes lit up. When she rebelled against the Amazon Nation and joined Xena’s army nearly a year ago, she had no idea she would find herself in a position to overthrow the mighty Conqueror. But since the opportunity fell in her lap, she had no intention of passing it up. She looked forward to seeing those pitifully idealistic Amazons grovelling at her feet.
"Exactly. Any word on Ephiny? Do you know who helped her escape?"
"Yeah. Eponin and Solari. They must have found out that we knew."
"Not surprising. Where are they?"
"They disappeared. My guess is they left the castle with Ephiny."
"Yeah, you’re probably right. Did you send out some soldiers to find them?"
"Done."
"Good. Even if we don’t find them, their Queen is as good as dead anyway."
Well into the late hours of the night, Xena could not sleep. The warrior turned on her side and watched the gentle breathing of her slave, secured by chains from her leather cuffs to the four posts at each corner of the massive bed. She was in a deep slumber, worn out by the long hours of lovemaking the warrior had subjected her to. Xena examined the fair skin marked by red welts and abrasions that were a testament to the Conqueror’s voracious appetite. However, the slave had not been able to satiate the inner fire that still burned within her. That fire could only be extinguished by the golden redhead who had visited her quarters earlier in the day.
It disturbed her how unnerving the blondish redhead had been. No one had dared to be so disarmingly honest with her since she’d become the Conqueror. Long ago, the love of her life, Lao Ma, had tried to get her to harness her inner demons and it worked for a time, but when her lover was murdered by her son, Ming Tien, no one, god nor mortal, could stop her. Xena had fully embraced the dark side, encouraged by her exalted mentor, Ares, the God of War. He seduced her beyond all rational thinking and she had conquered any and all who stood in her way. Amongst the carnage lay her heart, shredded to pieces by Lao Ma’s death. She couldn’t even bear to be with another who even remotely resembled the Asian woman. She made sure only blondes would be allowed to satisfy her erotic needs and they were entertainment, pure and simple. She sealed off the entrance to her heart and had been unable to feel anything except malevolence. That is until now. Now it was the Amazon who had found a way to seep into her soul unbidden.
No! Xena berated herself. No one would capture her heart the way that Lao Ma had. No one would make her go through that anguish again. If the Amazon Queen thought she could seduce Xena into letting her go free and leading her people in revolt, she had better think again. Xena had no intention of allowing herself to be swayed by the little Amazon, however, her own plan could still work to perfection. It wouldn’t be long before she had the little Queen on her knees and handing over the Amazon Nation to her on a silver platter.
Nevertheless, she wondered what was so special about the Amazon. Had she met her before? She didn’t seem familiar except in the vaguest sort of way. Although Xena had impeccable skills at controlling herself, she found herself aroused by the magnetic appeal of the brave little Amazon. When she played with the woman’s tangled hair, she had imagined letting herself go wild in those tresses, however, it was an image she would never share with another living being. And it didn’t go unnoticed by Xena that the Amazon had been equally aroused as well.
Xena reached over the side of the bed and grabbed her phallus, adjusting the leather strips around her waist.
"Get up," Xena said. The slave’s eyes flew open in an instant and the Conqueror smothered the slave’s mouth before she could speak. She positioned herself over the slave’s wide open thighs and slid the phallus along the length of the slave’s entrance. Xena was pleased to find it well lubricated and recalled the slave’s pronouncement that she always stayed ready for the Conqueror. It was exactly what Xena needed.
"What is your name, Amazon?" Xena asked, breathing harshly into Callisto’s ear.
The slave gasped, "I’m not---". Her response was cut short when a strong hand smacked against her thigh.
"I asked you, Amazon, what is your name?" Xena buried her face in the wavy locks of the slave’s flaxen hair. Her lips grazed her neck and she breathed in her scent, likening the smell to that of the Amazon.
"They say her na– my name is Gabrielle. It’s Gabrielle."
"Well, Gab-ri-elle, tell me this, can Amazons be conquered?"
Callisto moaned aloud and thrust her hips off the bed. However, the chains held her securely in place and Xena didn’t accomodate her. She teased the slave mercilessly as she held back from the wet entrance.
"Answer me, little Queen. Can Amazons be conquered?" Xena repeated.
"Yes, they can. Please! Take me!" Callisto panted. Xena thrust the length of the phallus inside the slave, all the while imagining it was the Queen of the Amazons. The familiar clanking of chains echoed throughout her chambers as the blonde slave writhed beneath her. Their bodies move in a single rhythm that would soon climb to an inevitable crescendo.
"Say my name, Amazon," Xena panted. She wanted to hear the little Queen scream her name.
"Oh, yes! Xena! Conquer me!" Callisto heaved breathlessly.
"Say my name again, little Queen."
"XENA!"
Xena moved faster inside the slave, envisioning that it was the Amazon’s sweet lithe body completely surrendering herself to the Conqueror. The harness built a friction against her pleasure spot and she knew it would soon drive her over the edge of ecstacy and into the realm of sheer bliss. But she wanted to hear her name one last time.
"Say it!" she grunted, her breathing erratic and ragged.
"XENAAAAA!!!! Callisto screamed as her voice reverberated throughout the walls of the castle.
Well into the late hours of the night, Gabrielle could not sleep. She slept fitfully and tossed and turned on the hard bed in the servant quarters. No matter how hard she tried, she could not block out her encounter with the Conqueror. The images played over and over in her mind and they all coalesced into a beautiful portrait of the infamous ruler. Finally, she gave up and simply allowed the visions to wash over her, along with the conflicting emotions that duelled in her heart.
Inevitably, her mind wandered back to the slave who was privileged enough to pleasure Xena in her lascivious desires. She was surprised at her own jealousy that wanted to take the slave’s place. She knew the plan was to become Xena’s consort, but it wasn’t supposed to include the notion of falling in love. She thought she had insulated herself against the Conqueror’s whimsy and had thought she had fully prepared herself. She had heard about Xena’s exotic tastes and knew that the Conqueror could be quite cruel, but her cheeks flared with an unexpected urge to succumb to Xena’s dominating powers. She wistfully remembered the strong hands that burned through her thin clothing and a soft moan escaped her lips. She pressed her hand between her thighs in an effort to quiet the blazing inferno that Xena had sparked in her.
No! Gabrielle berated herself. She couldn’t allow Xena to control her this way. What was it about that woman that pierced through the armour that she had built around her heart? She had not taken a lover since Terreis was killed nearly three years ago. She had focused all her attention on saving the Amazon Nation, but it seemed as if in a single meeting, her soul had come alive with a new awakening. If truth be told, she had thought the Conqueror would be more cold, more demanding, more ruthless, similar to the coldhearted Xena who passed judgement in the Courtyard every week. Instead what she got was a sensuous creature who used all her powers of persuasion to seduce Gabrielle away from her original plan. But it wouldn’t work. The Amazon Queen decided that it wouldn’t discourage her from her mission.
Despite her newfound determination, Gabrielle still could not sleep. Eventually, her hand travelled to the warm patch between her legs. Unexpectedly, she found herself wet and in need of attention. She envisioned what it could be like if the Conqueror allowed her to please her in the very same way that she knew a consort must. She continued to rock back and forth against her fingers as she neared her climax and thought of Xena’s thick dark hair and luscious full lips. She imagined the warrior’s sultry voice whispering her name in her ear. She was startled to hear a woman’s voice coming from the castle hallway. The woman screamed out Xena’s name. Gabrielle knew it was the pleasure slave. Xena, she murmured quietly, and drove herself headlong over the edge and into the vast well of her passions. Within minutes, she was asleep.
"How much longer do I have to watch those two slobber all over each other?"
"Calm down, Callisto, it won’t be much longer," Aphrodite replied soothingly. "They still have every intention of killing each other and things are still spiralling out of control in the other realms. You know Xena has a nasty habit of killing first, then asking questions later."
"Tell me about it. I lived through Cirra, remember? I thought you put some kind of spell on them or whatever it is you do. They were all but drooling over each other, acting like stupid fools. It was enough to make me puke."
Aphrodite’s face lit up with a bright smile. "I know! Isn’t it beautiful?" she cooed as she clasped her hands together. "Their love transcends all, even Death and the many strands of the Fates. It’s a wonder to behold!"
"Excuse me, Goddess of Mush, I’ve heard all this before. Yeah yeah yeah, we know they have the hots for each other. But why do I have to stick around to watch?"
"Hey, you shouldn’t complain. Xena took out all her passions on you, didn’t she?"
"Yeah, but she was thinking about that Amazon slut the whole time," Callisto muttered bitterly. Nevertheless, her face broke into a lecherous grin as she remembered their ravenous love making. She loved the untamed Xena who surrendered to the most primal animalistic urges lurking inside her.
"Look, I’m sorry, Callisto, but you’ll just have to hang around a while longer. Xena is still intent on wiping out the Amazon Nation, thanks to you. Why did you suggest that anyway?"
"Just thought I’d make things a little more interesting. After all, she is the Destroyer of Nations, isn’t she?" Callisto laughed. "But what are you complaining about, I got her to spare Gabrielle, didn’t I? Who cares why?"
Aphrodite shook her head. "Never mind. You’ll just have to stay close until I’m convinced they won’t kill each other."
"You mean until she dumps me for the irritating blonde."
"Well, yes. Then you go back and it will be as if you never met Xena."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Another Realm
In a busy tavern in Athens, a lone woman warrior sat unmoving in a corner, save to take another gulp of port. Although weapons were normally checked at the door, the warrior was permitted to keep hers. No one dared asked for them as she allowed only the serving girl within an arm’s length of her table. She stared at nothing, observed nothing, asked for nothing except more port. In fact, the lone word she’d spoken since she had entered the tavern was "another" as she gestured for a refill. After the first time, she had simply held up her mug. The proprietor didn’t dare approach or ask for dinars from the woman known as Xena, the Warrior Princess. The telltale maniacal glint in her eye told him that he’d be dead before he hit the floor.
From another corner of the tavern, a man and a woman discreetly observed the beautiful warrior woman. The man held a mug of port in his hand, the woman sipped wine. Neither of them really drank much of anything as gods and goddesses didn’t need spirits to sustain themselves.
"Admit it, ’Dite, you’ve lost," Ares taunted. "Solan’s dead, Gabrielle’s as good as dead. Hell, even Hope is dead." He thought for a moment. "Well, sort of. Tell you the truth, I didn’t think the do-gooder had it in her. But if she hadn’t killed the evil brat herself, Xena surely would have." He chortled, his eyes beaming with admiration.
Aphrodite blanched. "Why do you say Gabrielle’s as good as dead?"
"Don’t you see that gleam in Xena’s eyes? That wonderful murderous sparkle? I’ve seen it before, she intends to kill the one who betrayed her."
"Gabrielle?!" Aphrodite asked incredulously. "But she loves her!"
He smirked, "What’s love got to do with it? ’Dite dearest, you are so incredibly naive."
"But how could she kill her?"
"Because," he paused. "She loves her. Gabrielle’s lucky she left Kaleipus’ hut when she did. If she had stayed a moment longer, she’d be dead as we speak. She should be thankful to Callisto that Xena was able to exhaust some of her, uh…hostility."
"Yes, I know, so much hatred," Aphrodite said sadly, shuttering as she remembered the encounter between Xena and her arch nemesis.
"It took all of Xena’s self control just to remain civil at the funeral."
"I must admit, it surprised me that she was so calm," Aphrodite confessed.
"Calm? That was a volcano waiting to erupt. It’s still bubbling beneath the surface. What do you imagine she’s thinking now?" Ares queried.
"I don’t know, but she looks like she’s about to snap."
"Wrong. She’s already snapped. She’s thinking about all the people who’ve betrayed her before: Caesar, Nasika, Borias, Petrocles, Larissa. Gabrielle has just joined that dubious list, but she’s hurt Xena the worst."
"Because she’s truly in love with her, she gave her whole heart to her."
"Exactly. And what does the irritating blonde do? She ripped her heart to shreds."
"But she loves her!" Aphrodite insisted. "That should be worth something!"
"Yeah. Something. They say there’s a thin line between love and hate, and Xena’s is thinner than most."
"How much longer do you think she’ll sit there? She’s been there for two days already."
"My guess is another day nor two, then she’s off to hunt down Gabrielle. She’s taken refuge with the Amazons."
Ares sounded more confident than he actually felt. From past experience, he knew Xena was quite capable of following the path he’d laid out, but he also knew Gabrielle was an unpredictable element in Xena’s life that he had no control over. Xena had never before given herself so completely to another. Aphrodite may very well win this round, unless he did something to prevent it. He made a decision that if Xena didn’t intend to go after the irritating blonde, he would make sure that she would.
"I wish there was something we could do," Aphrodite sighed. She’d have another talk with Callisto.
Meanwhile back in Xena, the Conqueror’s realm
"A prisoner’s escaped," Darphus informed Xena.
"Who?"
"Her name was Ephiny."
"And...?" Xena knew there was something more that Darphus wasn’t saying.
"She was an Amazon. Two guards helped her escape." He hesitated a moment. "Solari and Eponin."
"Wait. Don’t tell me, let me guess. She was in the same cell with this self-proclaimed Queen."
He nodded.
"I’m disappointed in you, Darphus. I thought you kept a better watch on things."
"I didn’t – "
Xena cut him off. "Find them, or your life is forfeit." She turned away from him without another word.
Darphus knocked on the door to the servants’ quarters where Gabrielle slept. The Amazon answered the door freshly bathed, but she still wore the peasant clothes she’d been arrested in two days before. It meant that the other pleasure slave still held Xena’s favour and it worried Darphus. He was used to Xena taking her pleasures the night of their arrival, but not this one. Xena was saving her for something and it made him nervous.
If his plan was to work, he had to move before the Amazons came back to rescue their Queen. Not that they would succeed, but he was worried that Gabrielle wouldn’t be in a position to help him. His plan was predicated on Xena taking the Amazon to the hot springs on the full moon, just three days away. Otherwise, she would be useless to him. The other slave was unapproachable, but the Amazon.... He had something she wanted. A chance to save her people.
Darphus also knew he had to work fast, Xena was too smart. The Conqueror already knew the Amazons would be back for their Queen and he was sure it wouldn’t take long for her to figure out that a plan for assassination was being conceived as well. After that, the rest would lead directly to Darphus. Somehow he had to speed things up.
"So, either Xena likes the peasant look these days or you haven’t replaced the other blonde just yet." Darphus leered at Gabrielle, imagining the luscious curves beneath the tattered clothing. He would be loathe to admit it, but he was partial to Amazons, their athletic bodies appealed to him. Not that any one of them was ever interested in him, he usually just took what he wanted. After Xena, of course. But when all was said and done, he would take what he wanted from this one, too.
Gabrielle seemed to consider her words carefully before she spoke, ignoring his undisguised lechery.
"These things take time, if I move too fast, she’ll get suspicious. It’ll be too obvious if I rush her, especially someone in my position. I’d like to stay alive if I can help it."
Someone in her position, Darphus laughed to himself. He knew, of course, that she meant being Queen of the Amazons, but the soldier also knew that it made no difference to anyone except an Amazon. He couldn’t believe how high and mighty those women warriors could be sometimes. He couldn’t wait to wipe those arrogant women off the face of the earth. This one would be the first to go, and he’d be sure to do the deed himself.
"If you wait much longer, we’ll all be dead," he said. "Xena’s no fool."
"Why? Did something happen?"
"No, I just know Xena. And trust me, she’s smart, so be careful."
Xena, the Conqueror had sent the slave to fetch the Amazon and patiently waited for her arrival in her private quarters. She was already beginning to tire of the new pleasure slave, who had survived ten days. It was longer than most but nonetheless, Xena’s focus had wandered elsewhere. Her curiosity had been piqued by the Amazon, who presented an interesting challenge to the warrior. If the little Queen thought she could seduce Xena to do her bidding, she was sadly mistaken. It wouldn’t be long before Xena trapped the Amazon in her lair. The little Queen had been told she would be summoned, but Xena waited well over a candlemark to grant an audience. She was going to enjoy this game.
If what Darphus said was true about Ephiny, that would mean that the Amazons were waiting for a message from their Queen. They may even be stupid enough to try to rescue her as the few remaining Amazon warriors were devoted enough to foolishly risk their lives. Even in defeat, the Amazons claimed superiority. She was determined to squash that smug demeanour out of the little Queen. She smiled at the notion of making the Amazon fall in love with her, taking over the tribe of warrior women and then destroying any and all Amazons who didn’t accede to her authority.
Xena wondered who this Ephiny was to the Queen. Her Second in Command? Her protector? Her best friend? Her lover? Unexpectedly, a pang of jealousy surged through her. She suddenly felt a sense of rage that anyone else would be privileged enough to caress her Queen. Ephiny was already a dead woman because Xena had come to regard the little Amazon as one of her many possessions. Now all she had to do was take what was already hers.
Gabrielle waited patiently in her quarters. She had been told that Xena would summon for her but that was well over a candlemark ago. The longer she waited, the more anxious she became. It was an effective strategy Xena employed and she knew she should calm down, but she couldn’t. The fate of the entire Amazon Nation rested on her shoulders and she worried that she would fail.
The Amazon smoothed out her peasant skirt. She wished Xena had given her some new clothes, goddess knew, she could afford it. Despite having had a thorough bath, she still felt grungy underneath the ragged material. She imagined what it would be like for Xena to run her hands along her body, shedding the peasant clothing as she went. The scenario continued to play out in her mind as she imagined that she would slink to her knees and pleasure the Conqueror in the most intimate of ways.
Stop! Gabrielle reminded herself. Xena is the enemy. She’s needs to be destroyed, she told herself half-heartedly. Nevertheless, her face was radiant with unfulfilled desire. It had been too long, she mused. Terreis had been gone for three long years. Despite plenty of offers, she’d never wanted anyone to fill the empty space. Xena had been the first woman to awaken her dormant libido and it excited and shamed her at the same time. She was supposed to be leading her people as Queen of the Amazons not behaving like a love-sick young girl at Springtime.
Gabrielle had to admit that she had expected Xena to be a demonic harpy rather than a charismatic seductress. She wondered what events in her life had conspired to transform her into a vanquishing monster. Maybe underneath her protective walls there was a feeling human being and Gabrielle could find a way to penetrate the dark exterior. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for Xena after all.
"The Conqueror will see you now," a servant announced, startling Gabrielle. She self-consciously straightened out her clothing and walked down the castle hallway with the dignified air of an Amazon Queen.
Gabrielle found Xena, the Conqueror soaking in a hot tub surrounded by an array of candles on the wooden edge. Steam rose above the water and the Amazon consciously avoided looking beneath the surface. Instead, she chose to occupy herself with the many items that swayed her attention away from the warrior’s nude body. How she ever thought her covert plan could work was beyond her comprehension. Xena had been known to possess many skills and it was obvious using her innate beauty was one of them.
"Would you hand me that towel over there?" Xena broke the silence. As she emerged from the water, streams of liquid cascaded down her nude form. The water’s level reached just below the warrior’s navel and wisps of steam clung to her skin. Rivulets of water trickled from her long dark hair like raindrops sliding off leaves after a summer storm. Mesmerised, Gabrielle remained unmoving.
"The towel?" Xena pointed with a smirk on her face. Gabrielle’s heart drummed erratically in her chest, the beat tightening like a vice around her vocal chords. Her gaze remained fixed on the warrior and dazzling twin pools of cerulean blue. By the gods, Gabrielle wondered, was she this radiant before? She couldn’t remember.
"Maybe you could walk over to it and just pick it up, I’ll do the rest," Xena advised.
"Oh!" Gabrielle exclaimed, a nervous giggle erupted from her lips, so flustered was she by Xena’s nudity. With her cheeks reddened from embarrassment, the Amazon took a moment to regroup, her focus resting on anything but the Conqueror. Finally, Xena covered herself with a deep blue robe, the sheer material covering nothing at all. An intense heat burned between Gabrielle’s legs and she didn’t know what was worse. To be burned by a candle or by a torch, but in the end, she knew she would still go down in flames. The Amazon Queen swallowed hard and concentrated on her breathing.
The Conqueror sat on the edge of the bed, her favourite dagger in hand. Before her stood Gabrielle at the threshold of conquest. Xena sliced the front of the Amazon’s tattered clothing and watched the little Queen’s eyes smoulder with an equal mixture of fear and desire. Xena’s nerves always tingled when she played this power game, especially when a tinge of doubt coloured her victims’ demeanour, wary that they would survive the experience. She had to admit that sometimes for her sex and death merged into one and the fine line blurred itself irreparably. But somehow this little Queen was different. The Conqueror had every intention of keeping her around for awhile. If nothing else, she would be a perfect ransom for the Amazons and if Xena kept her as her consort, the others would most certainly back off.
Regardless, Xena was enamoured with the effect she had on the woman. The Amazon seemed to be receptive to the slightest whisper or caress by the warrior. No one had been as genuine or as amenable since Lao Ma. Most of her lovers were too afraid of displeasing her and thus hardly relaxed enough to enjoy her affections. Except the last one, of course, who seemed as though she wouldn’t be frightened of Zeus, King of the Gods, himself. But, no, this Amazon was very unique. She seemed to strike the perfect balance between fear and respect, with a healthy dose of hedonistic cravings mixed in.
"They say your name is Gabrielle," Xena stated casually. The top of the Amazon’s clothing had been discarded and Xena watched the sway of the little Queen’s breasts as she breathed in short heaving gasps.
"Yes, it is," Gabrielle answered, her voice shaky, her eyes magnetically drawn to the swell of Xena’s breasts. It didn’t go unnoticed by the warrior that the Amazon was having a hard time not peering through her sheer robe.
"Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons." Xena’s blade severed the remains of the material that once clung to Gabrielle’s hips as a skirt. The only piece of cloth left was her britches. Xena reached for them as well.
"Now tell me, Gab-ri-elle, what would the Amazon Council say if they knew I made your passions surge like a raging flood?" Xena tossed the remaining cloth to the floor so that the Amazon Queen stood bare before her. Gabrielle gasped audibly.
"What if they knew you stayed with me willingly?" Xena murmured. She pulled the Amazon close to her and pressed her lips between her ample breasts. She licked the soft flesh and her mouth wandered its way to an erect nipple. Her tongue snaked around it, twirling the extended nub between her teeth.
"Oh!"
"What would they think of their Queen sleeping with the enemy and loving every moment of it?" Xena whispered.
"I don’t know," Gabrielle finally admitted.
"Oh, I know," Xena said emphatically. She leaned back on the bed, pulling Gabrielle on top of her. She smothered the Amazon’s mouth, engulfing the naked woman in her arms. Her hands explored every part of Gabrielle’s lithe curves and Xena knew that when all was said and done, she just might keep this one around for a while. Xena rolled Gabrielle onto her back, their mouths locked in a battle of passion. The warrior’s hand followed the rippling muscles down the Amazon’s abdomen, finally coming to rest on her most prized possession. The Conqueror emitted a low moan. The Amazon Queen was more than ready for her.
"Tell me, Amazon, does your lover make you overflow like this?" Xena asked as her fingers delved into the wet folds and easily slipped inside. "Does Ephiny make you hotter than the flames in Tartarus?" she hissed.
"Ephiny?" Gabrielle panted in confusion. With lightening quick speed, Xena reached for the leather cuff attached to a bed post and secured Gabrielle’s wrist. The Amazon struggled against the chains, but the effort was futile.
"Oh, don’t bother struggling, little Queen," Xena whispered in Gabrielle’s ear. "You don’t really want to get away from me, do you?" Gabrielle continued to grapple half-heartedly with the cuff. Xena took her time tightening the other cuff and soon she had the Amazon chained to her bed and striking a beautiful pose. The Conqueror sat on her knees between Gabrielle’s legs, keeping them unfettered and wrapped around her waist.
"I ask you again, Amazon, do you get this passionate with your lover?" Xena rubbed her hands over the supple muscles of the smaller woman’s stomach, raising goosebumps along the sweaty flesh. Gabrielle sucked in air between her teeth.
"No," she said quietly.
"I didn’t think so." Xena grinned. She loosened the ties that bound her robe and crawled over Gabrielle’s prone body. Her breasts hung close to the Amazon’s mouth and Gabrielle strained against the cuffs to reach them. The Conqueror teased her mercilessly, letting the flesh barely graze her lips. The Amazon Queen writhed beneath her and her emerald eyes grew dark with an unfulfilled yearning.
Xena buried her face in the hollow of Gabrielle’s neck and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the blonde Queen.
"Tell me what you what, little Queen," she moaned as she licked the side of her neck. "What you need...."
"I need you, Xena!" Gabrielle panted breathlessly. Xena mewled a wordless response, every nerve tingling by the way Gabrielle said her name.
"I know you do, my little Queen."
Xena’s lips scorched a path down the Amazon’s voluptuous curves, her open mouth devouring anything and everything in its path. Gabrielle splayed her legs, further encouraging Xena to take what she wanted, to take what she needed. The Conqueror reached the furry triangle and feasted on the Amazon Queen like an untamed hungry wolf. Her tongue explored the flooded cavern and flickered over Gabrielle’s pearl of passion again and again.
"Yes, Xena!" the Amazon heaved and cinched her legs tightly around the warrior’s head. The Conqueror moaned into the wet cave as Gabrielle’s cries sent her past the point of sheer bliss. Her tongue kept up a steady rhythm, a familiar rhythm that matched the ancient beat of time, until she plunged two fingers inside that soon sent Gabrielle over the edge and into virtual oblivion.
"May I ask you a question?" Gabrielle asked. She broke the long silence as each woman took time to regain their strength. Gabrielle remained anchored to the bed post while Xena wrapped an arm and a leg around the smaller woman.
"Yes?"
"Why did you mention Ephiny?"
"She’s your lover, isn’t she?"
"No."
Xena lifted her head to look Gabrielle in the eye, checking to be sure she was telling the truth.
"You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?"
"Yes, I am."
"So, who is she then?" Xena queried, intent on wiping out any and all who dared to put so much as one hand on her Amazon.
"My best friend. I don’t have a consort."
"Yeah, right." Xena smirked. When Gabrielle shook her head, Xena realised she was serious. "You’re serious. But what kind of a queen doesn’t have a consort?"
"There’s more to being a Queen than having consorts," Gabrielle said quietly. She paused thoughtfully. "No one’s interested me much since my lover died three years ago."
"So what made you finally break down? Perhaps you and your little band of Amazons had a plan to become my lover and then poison me. Is that it?"
"No," Gabrielle lied. "You’re just..." she paused, "...different. I thought you’d be different."
Xena scrutinised the Amazon, knowing full well she was lying. But it didn’t matter. The little Queen would not succeed in her plan to poison the Conqueror. Starting at the next morning’s meal, she would be sure to make her the personal food taster. In the meantime, she would be held in ransom so that the Amazons would stand down and withhold from an attack. Even still, she would be loathe to give the precious Queen up.
"Your friend, Ephiny," Xena said with distaste, "has escaped and I’m sure she’s waiting for a message from you right now."
"She did?! How?"
"She had help. Don’t worry, they’ll be coming to rescue you, I’m sure. But it would be a foolish move. So what shall we tell her?" Xena asked with a hint of humour. "That the Amazon Queen is all tied up and can’t come to the Courtyard?"
"No." Gabrielle paused for a long moment, an unspoken question in her eyes. "We’ll simply tell her we’re still in negotiations."
Gabrielle grinned. Xena laughed, then closed her mouth over the Amazon’s, their mouths duelling once again in a passionate dance.
"Let me pleasure you this time, Xena."
A smile spread across the Conqueror’s face. It wouldn’t bother her one little bit if their entire night was spent improving diplomatic relations.
Callisto discreetly left the room where Xena and Gabrielle made love. She’d only been there a few minutes, but it was enough to get a clear picture of what was going on. Xena was acting like a foolish girl struck by Cupid’s arrow. It sickened her, but she knew her mission was still incomplete. The bargain she’d struck with Aphrodite was to ensure that Xena would spare the irritating blonde’s life, and things were slowly but surely moving away from that path. However, Xena still had every intention of securing the Amazon Nation as her own and Callisto could easily envision Gabrielle’s death at the end of that strand of fate.
Callisto dressed herself in the servant’s garb provided for her. Her days as Xena’s pleasure slave were clearly over. Words from a dream swirled around her, "I’m the woman of your dreams, Xena. And your worst nightmare." The blonde goddess knew she had already fulfilled part of her destiny, now it was time for the rest.