Disclaimers:
1. I dont own the characters, I just love writing about them.
2. Things in this story you might want to know about in advance include: mentions of
nonconsensual sex in a characters past, a little angst, a little violence, and
beautifully detailed descriptions of women making love.
Description: Did you ever wonder what might have happened if Xena had conquered
herself all those years ago in Chin and become Lao Mas Warrior Princess? The story
takes place in that reality and occurs (not nine, not eleven but) ten years later.
Thanks: To the kind folks of the Bardic Circle for feedback. To Sam Reifler
for his translations of the I Ching.
Didja like it?: MiladyCo@aol.com
The House Of Lao
copyright May 2001
by Xenas Little Bitch
(aka Julia Noël Goldman)
Were drunk, playing the game with the tiles. I dont even remember what
its called, but I know Ill win. I always win. Its nice to have some
certainties in life. We lounge on big square pillows on the floor, looking out onto a huge
balcony. I stare out into the night sky, at the gauzy red and yellow curtains as they
shift voluptuously in the light wind. Its dark and cloudy and Im getting
bored. Inside it is less dark; orange and warm. The pillows I lie on have tiny mirrors
sewn into them. The ceiling of the room is high, the furnishings low and few. Simple and
elegant. It feels as if I am as much within the room as I am floating outside in the
night.
Borias, go! I blurt out.
What? Ive obviously startled him.
Its your turn. We could just stop playing...
No, no, he says distractedly, looking blankly at his tiles.
I roll my eyes and light the hooka, inhaling deeply; the smoke makes my eyes water and I
pass it to Lao Ma who accepts it with a little smile. Ive never seen a person handle
themselves while intoxicated like she does. I know shes had as much as I have and
yet she seems almost as sober as she did at breakfast. And she looks beautiful, her long
black hair flowing loose around her, the slight flush to her cheeks the only sign of her
inebriation. I lie back on the pillows and stare at the clouds as they move lazily around
the night sky. A gong sounds loudly and I pull my attention back inside. We all exchange
glances. I dont know what theyre thinking but Im bored. I feel like
dancing, maybe. Some dancing would be nice. While changing positions I
accidentally knock over the low table the game is resting on with my foot.
Oops, I say, giving Lao Ma what I hope is my most charmingly mischievous
smile. She pretends to frown at me. I win.
Xena wins again, says Borias, poking me in the ribs and finishing off his
glass of wine. He pours another, and I hand him mine to refill.
Two soldiers enter the room, holding between them a young woman so stunning I sit up
straight and cannot help but stare directly at her, my wine and my boredom immediately
forgotten.
She was found stowed away on one of your trade ships returning from Rome, one
of the soldiers explains to Lao Ma, She bears Roman markings.
This woman stands a head shorter than I do, her hair is short and blonde and dirty.
Shes dressed in soiled gray rags; one wrapped around her torso, covering her
breasts, the other fashioned into something that is almost a skirt. Though her condition
breaks my heart, I cant help noticing that her muscles are incredible, that they
gleam like copper in the dim light. She is beautiful, and she radiates strength and anger.
I watch the muscles in her arms straining not to break free of the soldiers hands. She
could do it easily, but she chooses not to.
Let her go and leave us, says Lao Ma, and the soldiers obey. The glorious
woman stands there, staring at the floor. Come, sit with us, says Lao Ma
gently. The girl does not move. I can see her breasts rise and fall quickly with her
breathing and her fists clench convulsively at her sides.
I havent stopped staring at her since she entered the room. Finally she looks up at
me and meets my gaze. Everything is liquid, suddenly, from my insides to the very air
around me. Her light-colored eyes reflect the flames from the tall candlesticks that stand
near her, and I... Ive met a lot of people, but not one has ever made me feel this
way when I first saw them. Not even Lao Ma, and believe me, my first sight of her was like
a punch in the gut. This is just scary.
No one is going to hurt you. You are free now. I am Lao Ma, please, tell me your
name, says Lao Ma in her most enticing tone. Still the woman does not respond, and
she looks back to the floor. Do you understand me?
It takes a few moments but the warrior nods her head slightly.
Can you speak? Lao Ma asks. The beautiful woman does not respond. I feel Lao
Mas eyes on me. I look at her, feeling silly about staring at the girl. Theres
something about her so fierce and so gentle that I want to be devoured by it. In fact the
process has already begun, and I can see that Lao Ma knows it.
Little one, I hear her saying to the girl, I think you need a friend
right now. I present to you Xena, Warrior Princess of Chin. You may stay with her and she
will be your guardian until you figure out where you want to go and what you want to
do.
In other words, says Borias gently, You got on the right boat.
The girl looks up at him and he smiles his warm, beautiful smile. Her expression is still
dark.
Now, it is late. Let us all retire for the evening. And thus we are dismissed
by the Empress of Chin.
I can hear the sound of the callouses on the girls feet as they brush the polished
wood floors behind me on the way back to my chambers. This is not the first time Lao Ma
has assigned a lost soul to my care, but the first time that the soul touched my own so
quickly; the feeling is so intense it seems impossible. Somehow that makes it easier to
deal with; how do you think about the unthinkable? You dont. Everything we pass is
swathed in red fabric trimmed with gold. Huge gongs adorn the walls, delicate vases stand
on small pedestals, all the details are carvings of dragons and monkey heads. Ive
gotten used to it. It is so beautiful and elaborate, not at all like Greece, the naked
wood and plain furniture I knew back then.
We enter my chambers and stand in the main room. Large windows across from the door, heavy
green curtains, a huge desk by the window. A fireplace on the right, a low couch in front
of it, the door to my bed chamber. The bathing chamber is to the left, and I know
theres a hot bath waiting.
Woman without a name, I say to get her attention. The bathing room is
that way; please enjoy yourself and take your time.
She looks at me. I look at her. I dont want to think about the last time she bathed;
probably not since Rome.
I know you understand me. Why dont you go in there and bathe? Just go.
She looks at the floor.
Youre not a slave anymore, I say. There is no slavery in Chin. I
promise. We run the place in case you didnt guess. Lao Ma makes the rules and Borias
and I enforce them, so I promise, youre safe. Dont you want to take a
bath?
No response. I walk over and stand next to her. This is how its done, I
explain, turning to face the bathing room, then slowly walking into it. She follows me.
The chamber is simple and square. A large, round, paper lantern hangs in each corner, a
low couch leans against each wall. Theres a fireplace to heat water, and shelves and
shelves of bottles and jars of stuff I almost never use.
Are you from Greece? I ask her, watching as she looks around the room. She
nods, a guarded expression on her face. I walk to a shelf and choose incense and soaps and
lotions scented with herbs and flowers native to my homeland. Perhaps they will remind her
of her life before, of freedom. They might make her sad, but Ill take any reaction.
Am I going to have to get into the bath before you will? I ask, staring at the
large, square, tiled tub that commandeers the center of the room. Steam rises out of it.
There are spies in the palace who just wait to figure out when we are coming back to our
rooms so the water is always hot. Something a tavern keepers daughter can
appreciate.
If you dont take off your clothes, Blondie, I will come over there and take
them off for you and pick you up and put you in the tub.
The small, muscular woman looks at me as I bend and light the incense from the fire,
sizing me up, wondering; could she beat me?
Did you fight in the Coliseum? I ask.
She nods. Since Ive never lost a fight while able-bodied, I figure I could beat her,
but maybe only just.
Did you escape?
No answer.
Get in the bath. Nothing. Fine. I will do what I must to avoid
getting Roman dirt in my bed. I take off my black silk pants and my black silk shirt and
lay them gently on a couch like Lao Ma taught me so long ago--she said I treated my
clothes angrily, like everything else. She had laughed and I had frowned. I frowned all
the time back then.
I get in the tub, easing myself into the hot water until it just covers my breasts. I
dont watch as the gladiator pulls off her rags and gets in as well and sits across
from me. I take a bar of soap and hand one to her. I begin washing myself and see her
sniffing the soap with her eyes closed.
I was born in Greece, in Amphipolis, I say, The smell of coriander
always reminds me of home.
We sit in the tub, smelling the soap and washing ourselves. She has a lot of tattoos.
Though Caesars marks cover her body, she is still amazingly beautiful. I can think
his name without getting angry. That took years. I still feel the hate, and the pain of
his betrayal, but I can keep it from controlling me now, even though I have a new reason
to hate him. On her arm it says Minerva.
Is that what they called you, Minerva?
No response.
Should I call you that?
No response.
When was the last time someone told you you were beautiful?
She blushes and then looks almost angrily down at the water. And there she is, the little
Greek girl inside the hardened warrior. Flattery can be a very effective way of gaining
information.
Well, you are. Dont worry, Im not making a pass at you. Not that I
wouldnt want to... under different circumstances.
I am impressed that I am drunk and in this hot bath naked with this gorgeous woman whose
soul reaches out to kiss mine, and I am not making a pass. Guess I really have
conquered myself after all. She washes her body almost tentatively; I imagine she is so
used to having terrible wounds and bruises that she is surprised when she doesnt
flinch at her own touch. Her muscles are amazing, so large and yet shes so
well-proportioned for her height. Her skin is smooth and brown from the sun, except for
all the tattoos and the scars. Part of her is very conscious of my presence, aware that I
could prove myself to be unsafe at any time. We bathe in silence for a while. Earning her
trust is going to be a challenge.
We get out of the tub and change into long silk nightshirts. I manage to keep my eyes off
her as she dresses. I point out that theres food on the table by the window but she
doesnt even look. She follows me into my bed chamber, a small room that is mostly a
huge bed. Theres a window on one side, and the soft, dark material that gathers in
the middle of the ceiling hangs down the walls to create curtains that surround the bed.
Impressive, isnt it?
She looks from the bed to me and back again, and then to the floor; the blank look returns
her face.
Listen, girl, I say quietly, walking towards my bed, Im Xena,
Warrior Princess of Chin; I dont take women against their will. If you insult me
like that again, well... I dont know you well enough yet to know how to threaten you
appropriately, so consider yourself threatened. Just get into the bed and go to sleep and
maybe tomorrow youll start trusting me.
She gets into the bed. I smile with satisfaction as I blow out the candles. Though I am
unused to another person sleeping near me, I enter Morpheus realm easily and remain
there happily for a few hours. Soon enough I am pulled from my deep slumber by movement in
the bed next to me. I remember that the girl is here, and her jerks and twitches tell me
shes having a nightmare. I can hear her try to call out, a raspy, wordless whisper.
I know exactly the kind of nightmare she is having. The kind where youre already
terrified and then you scream and scream and yet you cant make a sound: total panic.
I have to wake her up and I do the first thing that comes into my mind. I take the ceramic
mug from the table by the bed and throw it as hard as I can into the corner of the room by
the door. I feign sleep as the warrior shoots up into a sitting position, having no idea
even that it was a sound that woke her, only that she is awake and no longer in the
terrible dream place. I listen as she tries to calm her breathing, and eventually it
pushes me back into sleep.
I wake up the next morning, hung over and aching. I open my eyes to see the blonde
gladiator standing by the window, gazing out at the great wall of Chin in the distance.
Her short hair is combed back and she looks wonderful in the red silk night shirt. She is
completely still, her breathing is silent. I want to come up behind her and put my arms
around her, but Ive got to be strategic. She is far too unfamiliar with physical
comfort, mistrustful of tenderness. She reminds me of myself, the day Lao Ma brought me
home and washed my hair. It took all the strength I had to stay in the water and submit to
her gentle touch. The gladiator is not in hiding here, nor is she lame as I was; she could
easily leave before I manage to reach her. I have to treat her as I would a cat I wanted
to tame; I have to get her curious, entertain her, make her want to stay.
She turns away from the window and looks right at me staring at her. I smile and say good
morning, tell her Im glad shes still here. I gesture to the wardrobe and tell
her she can wear anything she wants. She doesnt move. I put on gray-blue silk pants
with a matching top. The girl watches me dress and then looks through the clothing until
she finds something thats a little smaller and almost the same color and style.
You wanna blend in, huh? I smile at her, Dont worry. Its
just Lao Ma and Borias. You met them last night. Theyre both really very nice.
As we walk towards the dining hall I am amazed with myself. Assuring someone that Borias
is a nice guy. Gods how times change! I remember the time he... well, he never killed
women and children anyway.
Today Borias is hung over. He sits at the huge golden table in our private dining room,
his back to the window, staring vacantly at his food with bloodshot eyes. Lao Ma of course
looks lovely and fresh, her hair perfect, sitting up straight and tall in her chair. I
look at her and she smiles at me. The gladiator and I sit next to each other, looking out
the huge window at the beautiful sunny morning. The blue sky looks as if it goes on
forever, and maybe it does. The table is long and covered with dishes and platters. I take
my little charges plate and fill it with things I think are delicious, hoping
shell like some of them.
I decide to start my day with the hair of the dog that bit me. I mean, why not? I have
nothing planned, no warrior-princessing to fence me in. I pour a large goblet of red wine
for myself, and some for the gladiator as well.
Good morning, Lao Ma says to the girl. She doesnt look up from her
plate. Then to me, Has she spoken to you?
No, I said matter of factly, as if it didnt really matter either way,
But I figure she will at some point.
Perhaps we should call her Gentle Dragon? Lao Ma asks, looking pointedly at
her.
She looks like more of an Angry Dragon to me, says Borias warmly, smiling at
the girl.
What if shes not a dragon? I ask.
Shes a dragon, says Lao Ma, Wait and see.
The gladiators face is red from the gentle teasing. Slowly she raises her hand and
points at a tattoo of a tiger on her lower arm.
Tiger? I ask. What kind of tiger? I can feel Lao Ma and Borias
staring at me, at the intensity with which I stare at the girl. Unsurprisingly, she
doesnt respond. Then its Tiger. For now.
What are you going to do with your day off, Xena? Lao Ma asks. She never needs
a day off. Shes happy to be responsible all the time.
I figured Id show Tiger around.
Show off, you mean, mutters Borias. I can see out of the corner of my
eye that Tigers eating and I dont want to disrupt that by punching Borias. So
I just smile. Lao Ma shakes her head at me.
After breakfast, the girl and I walk over to the stables. She allows me to pull her up
behind me onto the back of the glorious black stallion I call Desire, and we slowly ride
away from the palace, through endless green fields.
Im going to show you around the place, give you a taste of what its like
here, see if you have an affinity for it, I say, turning my head as far around as I
can and speaking loudly into the wind, But you could go anywhere in the world. Have
you been anywhere interesting?
Only in my dreams, she says into my ear. Her voice is deep and full of
emotion; worth waiting for.
I know just what you mean, I say to her, enjoying the way her hands feel on my
stomach. Dont get me wrong, Ive lead a very interesting life, but
thats still not the same as having the things you dream about. Why in Hades
did I say that? What a stupid, stupid thing to say. Whats your name? I
ask, hoping to cover it up.
What do you dream about? she asks. Her lips accidentally touch my ear and I
feel her pull back quickly, lighting shooting through my body.
Ill tell you that when you tell me your name.
I havent told anyone my name since I became a slave, she says.
And Ive never told anybody what I dream about, I counter.
As we ride on, I slow the horse and point things out to her. Not that the beautiful
countryside of Chin needs any explaining. The fresh air and sunlight seem to agree with
her, and her face becomes almost animated as we explore Lao Mas grounds.
We stand at the top of a mountain from which we can see as much of Chin as can be seen
from any one spot. I explain to her that all of this is Lao Mas. Its endless
and beautiful.
At first I didnt understand, I just thought it was land and that controlling
land gave you power. Lao Ma taught me how the land itself holds power. I pause and
chuckle, I thought I knew everything about power, how to get it, how to keep it, the
best things to do with it once you had it. I was such a fool. I did terrible things,
before Lao Ma...
My companion looks up at me for a moment, then back out at the view. I wonder when she was
last outside of Rome, what her favorite color is, what her skin would feel like under my
hands. Her blonde hair glows in the sunlight. I can tell she is savoring her new feelings
of freedom; from slavery, and perhaps from herself as well.
Im really free? she whispers.
Really. You got away. This part is the bonus. I smile at her and she looks up
at me.
Thank you, Xena, she says gravely.
No problem, I say, suddenly feeling emotional and changing the subject,
Look at those clouds. Theres a storm coming.
We ride quickly across the fields towards the palace. As the sky changes color with the
wind and the clouds, so does the plant life. Everything glows and sparkles and I can feel
the excitement in the small body behind me. Probably she has not seen a storm in years.
You like it, dont you, I call behind me into the wind.
I love the weather, she says into my ear, it makes me feel alive.
We dismount at the stables and hand the horse off. The sky is dark green with the storm,
but it is not yet raining. We walk together in silence, soon coming to my favorite of Lao
Mas sixty-four decorative gardens that represent the hexagrams of the I Ching.
Each has a stone at the entrance with an inscription, and I read this one to Gabrielle.
This hexagram is called Kway, Breakthrough. The marsh above heaven. The superior man
rains benefits on those below him and does not let his gifts go unused.
She looks at me curiously.
Thats from The Book of Changes. Self-augury. Its main purpose is to advise in
battle, but it applies anywhere. One aspires to live as the superior man does.
Lightening cracks in the sky, followed closely by thunder. I watch the girl marvel at the
unusual stone sculptures, the small topiary cats, the waterfalls. So delicately does she
run her fingers along the tops of the bushes that I wonder how she could possibly have
turned off her gentleness to fight in the arena.
This is marvelous, she whispers, Youre so lucky, living
here.
There are all kinds of jobs in the palace, and those who work in the palace
generally live here as well. Im sure we could find something for you that suits your
skills. But I want to make clear, you can choose. Youre free. To go anywhere, do
anything. Well help you get set up wherever you want.
Suddenly there is a clap of thunder and the rain explodes from the sky. I figure its
a little bit of everything, but the gladiator smiles. At the rain, the marble benches, her
freedom, me. I smile back and we hold each others stare for longer than necessary. I
think shes started trusting me. And more than that. Or is it just me? I tear my eyes
away.
We only got to be outside when we were fighting, or practicing, she says,
staring into the pool at the bottom of one of the little waterfalls. The raindrops cause
the surface of the water to be constantly disturbed. And when we were inside, there
were no windows. At least, a storm you can hear. You cant hear a sunny day.
No, you cant, I agree, feeling immeasurably sad for her. The fingers of
her right hand caress the leaves of a bush, and she stares down at the pebbles on the path
below us.
Six years of my life. You dont get years back, she says bitterly.
I know. There are quite a few years I myself would like to have to redo, but
Ive mostly come to terms with it.
Yeah? She turns and looks up at me almost hopefully.
It takes a lot of work but, yeah, I promise youll feel alive again, like the
present makes the past bearable. Ill help you. If you want. My heart pounds
against my ribcage and I know, damn the gods I know, what this feeling is. Ive never
felt it before but theres really no other explanation. Lightning cracks overhead, a
little closer than Id like.
Really? she asks, looking intently into my eyes, her bangs plastered to her
forehead by the rain.
On my honor, I say, because I have honor now and the way she looks at me when
I say it makes my chest expand with happiness. Oh, the things I would like to be for this
woman.
She slowly puts out her right hand, and I take it in my own. It feels calloused yet soft,
and it fits into mine perfectly. I sense that my body has given itself away somehow,
whether by sound or sudden movement I cant tell, but I feel exposed. She continues
to hold my stare.
Gabrielle, she says.
Gabrielle, I say, the name is like honey, and Im smiling so wide it
hurts. Perfect. Very pleased to meet you.
Thunder rumbles, leaves rustle in the wind, water splashes loudly.
Its your turn, she says, with something close to a smile.
I give her an innocent look.
Your dreams, she prompts, still holding my hand. No hand has ever felt like
hers.
Can you give me a little time? Its a more complicated answer.
Today?
Today.
We enjoy the storm until we are drenched, then walk slowly back to the palace. In my
chambers, we dry off in front of the fire, not looking at each other as we change into
long, soft, silver under dresses. Outside it is still green-gray and stormy, but in my
rooms everything is licked gently by the warm orange of numerous, well-contained flames.
What would you like to do? I ask.
I like that question, says Gabrielle shyly, can we just stay here?
Sounds great, let me just get some things. I leave the room and speak to
someone in the hall, asking for food and wine to be sent up. When I return, she is sitting
on the couch in front of the fireplace, looking for all the world like someones
little girl. Mine! a part of me calls out; no one could resist the urge to
take care of something so beautiful. Even at my worst, part of me would have cried out to
a girl like this one; something Borias and I have always had in common. Yet these feelings
are different, not mixed in with a thousand other more negative emotions. Borias has
always been better than I am about... caring for people. I always mess everything up.
I sit on the other end of the couch. The food arrives and I pour us each a goblet of wine.
I watch her lips as she drinks. They are so pretty.
From the time I was little, I say, I wanted to be a warrior. I had
brothers and grew up like one of them, yet at the same time I always felt different.
Gabrielle smiles as she takes a sip of her wine, looking into the fire. I was a
happy little kid. I told stories and taught smaller children how to play different
games... I wanted to be a bard, she says huskily, and suddenly shes sobbing. I
put my hand out towards her and she sinks down to the floor away from me, knocking her
wine onto the carpet and her dress.
Gabrielle, I say softly. She continues sobbing, trying to catch her breath, as
she slowly crawls along the floor away from me. My heart wrenches and I have to follow
her.
Leave me alone, she whispers savagely, kicking back at me and moving more
swiftly towards the door.
No, I say, and I throw myself on top of her. She scrambles and flips me over
quickly, straddling my torso and holding my wrists crossed over my head. She stares at the
floor and tries to regain control of her breathing, but she cant. She continues to
sob as she speaks.
I wanted to be a bard... my parents didnt want me to... I wanted to grow up,
and fall in love... her voice cracks and catches, and she stops to regain control.
Tears pour down her face. I wanted to tell stories. Make people happy. On the
last word, she looks into my eyes. She takes my breath away. My urge to help her is even
stronger than my urge to hurt the people who caused her this pain. But if they were here,
Id kill them. Easy. No questions asked.
I know, I say softly, trying not to move, You didnt deserve what
happened to you, Gabrielle, and you can never get back what you lost. But you can still
have everything you dream of. You can still be all the things you wanted to be.
Tell me what you dream of, Gabrielle says quietly, her breathing calmer, tears
still flowing. She grips my wrists harder and stares down at me.
From the time I was very young, I felt like I was different. Ive always wished
for someone who loved me completely, without judgment. Someone who thought I was the best
thing in the world, who made me feel like I wasnt alone. There, I said it. My
terrible truth brings a change into her eyes.
You dont already have that? she asks softly, her tears finally stopped.
You mean with Lao Ma or Borias? There have been times when I have been
very...intimate with each of them, but it was never like what I dream of. And thats
all in the past anyway, I mean, with them, like that...
Xena, you make me want to tell you things Ive never told anyone before.
Tell me. I want to hear.
She crawls off of me, letting my wrists go, and then she sits on her heels, wraps her arms
around her knees, and bends over until her forehead rests on the floor next to my ear. I
am not going to get angry and swear vengeance. I am going to listen and try to comfort
her.
Once upon a time there was a girl named Gabrielle, she whispers, and she
was innocent and smart and funny. One day the slavers came and they took her. She fought
back hard but they eventually knocked her unconscious and chained her up, took her far
away from home. Because she was pretty and they were evil, they raped her. She fought
back, hard. So hard she hurt them, so hard that even when she was chained up it always
took at least four of them, and all four came away with injuries. Eventually they realized
her spirit would not be broken and that she might be better suited to a different kind of
slavery... She pauses.
So they sold her to fight in the arena, I whisper, sliding my hand slowly
along the floor towards her, hoping that eventually she will take it again.
Yes. She learned all kinds of different fighting techniques, from nets and tridents
to bare-handed. She learned how to fight wild animals, and groups of ten men at once with
only a dagger. And she learned to kill. She learned to forget that the men she fought were
men even as their blood flowed down her almost naked body as she held them against her,
slitting their throats, one after another. There was the training, the fight, the kill,
and the staring at the gray wall of her cell. There were no friends, only potential
opponents; she learned the hard way that there was no other option. Sometimes she ate.
Sometimes she thought about things, or told herself stories, or imagined a better future,
but the longer she was there, the less energy she had for fantasy and hope. For six years,
this was how she lived, and as time passed she felt the girl who wanted to be a bard
disappearing more and more. The fight was all there was, and the fight felt good.
It was the closest she came to feeling alive, I whisper. Oh how familiar is
the feeling of the satisfaction of a fight when you have nothing but the kill to nourish
you. Like the tribes who eat the hearts of their enemies, you pull their life force into
your self-hatred and then youre pulsating with power. I know that feeling all too
well.
Yes. She was beaten and she was branded. She was tortured for the entertainment of
the guards. She tried to escape many times, and the torture was more terrible each time,
and always, always worse because she fought it. But she still fought it. There was her
anger and there were her opponents to take it out on. There were months at a time when she
didnt speak to anyone. She stopped thinking about her parents, about her home, her
sister... her voice breaks on the last word, and the tears begin to flow again. She
takes a moment to compose herself and I sense she sees my hand, palm up, near her head.
She takes it, and I hold hers tightly. Because the girl was fierce and beautiful,
she became a popular attraction at the arena. They called her the Amazon Warrior, and one
day she was being transported from Rome to Alexandria for a royal exhibition. When the
Romans went off guard duty on the dock they did not tell the Egyptians how to properly
contain her. And of course, them being slavers, the girl being a slave, they attempted to
rape her, and she killed them all. She found a boat with unfamiliar lettering on the side
that was leaving Rome at that very moment, and she stowed away. Foreign soldiers found
her, but they didnt try to hurt her. They contained her, but they fed her, and they
brought her to the most beautiful palace. Her fingers tighten their hold on my hand
and I press back. It was peaceful, and the people seemed kind, so the girl knew it
couldnt be real.
Gabrielles tears begin again. I move as slowly as I can until I am sitting up next
to her, still holding her hand.
Hey, dont worry. All this is real. Youre safe now. All that other stuff
is over.
I never told anyone any of those things before, she whispers, I know I
did the best I could but still I feel ashamed.
I know. Im honored you told me. Ill help you see theres no
shame.
I dont want to burden you with my pain, Xena. I just couldnt hold it all
in anymore.
Gabrielle, it is an honor that you trust me with it. I will do everything I can
never to betray your trust in me.
Her emotions have exhausted her and she gets into my bed and falls asleep quickly. I tuck
her in and stare at her a while before going to visit Lao Ma. Gabrielle amazes me. I have
to remember to ask Lao Ma; Im sure she has the perfect word to describe something
that is both so gentle and so strong. Some kind of reed, I imagine, that bends without
breaking.
I knock on the door to Lao Mas chambers and she bids me enter. Her receiving room is
large and sparsely furnished. The walls hold beautiful paintings, black on white, bold
brush-stroked scenes of the countryside of Chin. Its all her work, and in fact she
is painting as I approach her from behind. Somehow she has convinced a small group of cats
to sleep in a pile in front of her canvas, and she paints them quickly, almost never
looking at her work.
Good afternoon, Xena, she intones deliberately as I arrive at her side.
Hey. Nice.
Thank you. How is your little charge this stormy afternoon? she asks, smiling,
continuing to paint.
As well as can be expected, I say, blushing, Shes going to be
fine. Shes very strong.
I know. I sensed that when I met her, just as I knew it about you. Destined for
greatness. She turns and grins at me. I move forward and kiss her cheek, squeezing
her shoulder in a delicate embrace.
There are no words to thank you for what you did, I say quietly for the
millionth time.
As I always say, Xena, it was you. Look at the little dragon--who is saving
her?
She is, I say, finally seeing it, Im just holding her hand.
And the candle, just ahead, down the dark hallway, she says, Have some
wine.
I pour us each a glass and pace the floor beside her as she paints.
Caesar is a lucky man, I say, Because of you.
He did not personally set the whip to her back, you know.
Still, he is lucky.
You are the one who is lucky, Xena, you and the girl.
Gabrielle, I say, knowing I have put way too much emotion into it. Lao Ma
turns and looks at me, her face almost bursting with her smile.
Youre already in love! she laughs. Caesar is no threat to Chin. I
promise, if ever he were, his life is yours. I could only hope that by then you
wouldnt want it.
I dont want it, I whisper, And I wouldnt say that
Im, you know, in love...
What would you say?
That, well... you know, I... I pause again, That its possible that
I might be in love.
Ahhhhh.
Shes done nothing but fight for six years. Its a terrible story.
And she has such a gentle soul. It must have been exceedingly difficult for
her.
Yes, I say, It isnt fair that she had to live the life she has.
Part of me cant help but wonder why it had to be that way.
I think there is no reason, Xena. Things just happen as they do sometimes. Like when
a whole village of people dies because one person fell asleep with their blanket too close
to the fire. Cause and effect. The slavers came to Gabrielles village. Thats
why all the bad things happened. Theres no better reason, and even if there were,
you still couldnt hold it in your hand, you couldnt use it to take away her
pain.
Youre always right, I complain, Dont you ever get tired of
it?
Never, she says, smiling.
One of the cats wakes up for a moment, and yawns. It looks at us curiously and goes back
to sleep.
I hope you will both join us for dinner.
Anything is possible, I say, smiling at her as she continues to paint the
sleeping cats.
In my chambers I find Gabrielle still asleep in my bed. Like everyone does, she looks more
peaceful while she sleeps, so I pretend she is having nice dreams. I know her dreams are
anything but. When youve spent days killing people, pleasant dreams are almost
impossible to come by. So I watch her for a few minutes, allowing myself the luxury of
feeling that everything is right now that she is here. What I feel conflicts with my lack
of belief in fate; there is no supposed to be, yet here is Gabrielle. I decide
that for the moment she needs sleep more than food, so I leave her be.
I am late for dinner and Borias lets me know this by pulling my chair out from under me
while pretending to be courteous.
How much have you had to drink? I ask him.
Just the right amount, I think he says, drinking.
I watch the sun set. Purples and pinks tonight.
How is Gabrielle? asks Lao Ma.
Gabrielle, drawls Borias knowingly.
Shes sleeping. Shes been through a lot. Tell us about your day; what
were the highlights?
Servants hover silently about. Birds chirp in the distance at the dying of the light.
I resolved minor land disputes in the morning and painted in the afternoon,
replies Lao Ma, I suppose the painting was the highlight. Yours?
I rode around with Gabrielle, enjoying the storm together. She painted cats, I
explained to Borias, You?
As you know, I listened to reports of all the things that are broken or missing.
That took all day, as you might imagine, so I cant say that there were any
highlights. Do you think our stowaway is going to stay, Xena? I would bet that there are
all kinds of things she could do around the palace... He grins at me.
I want her to stay, I say, But I dont know what shell
do. I look down at my chopsticks and sigh quietly. I feel sad suddenly; if she
doesnt stay, and why would she stay, I will feel bereft.
I hope she will join us for breakfast tomorrow. I look forward to hearing her
voice, says Lao Ma.
I pour us all more wine. Suddenly I feel relaxed, like everything is okay. Is it some
power Lao Ma has to do that to me? I still dont know, after all these years, the
extent of her abilities. If she can stare down a hunting dog when hes standing right
in front of his quarry, what can she do to a mere human? As we finish dinner, Borias
suggests a game of darts. And of course I am never one to pass that up, so moments later
the servants have cleared away the meal, set up the dart board, served more wine and
brought out the hash. Sometimes I think that ruling Chin is not so bad an occupation.
The darts have been laid out on the table halfway across the room from the board. Lao Ma
and I sit leisurely on a couch, while Borias stands next to us, a dart in his hand.
Hes wearing black leather pants and a black leather vest, his long, dark hair
braided away from his face. Hes already drunk enough to think that he could win.
Please, Borias, take the first shot, says Lao Ma, gesturing with her head.
Borias lifts his hand slowly and takes aim, and I find myself staring at the tattoo on his
upper arm. I have always wanted to get a tattoo but have never been able to figure out
what. Lucky for me, else I might by now have Kill em all emblazoned on
my breast. Borias shot hits just left of the bulls eye and he sits down next
to me on the couch, lighting the hash pipe and inhaling deeply. I watch Lao Mas red
feathered dart rise up into the air above the table as if lifted by an unseen hand,
finally pausing to float directly across the room from the dart board. Suddenly it shoots
forward, and lands in the middle of the bulls eye. I remember when she showed me she
could break a bottle with her mind, how I asked her to teach me. Little did I know it
would take years to learn, like everything else.
Im gonna go for directly between your darts, I say to them, taking a
swig of wine. I close my eyes to gather as much concentration as I can at this hour and
heave my dart into the air. I open my eyes and hurl it across the room with my mind; it is
an almost physical act. It lands two hands below the board.
Whoops, I say, Guess my concentration is off. Could I do it the other
way?
If you want to give up so easily, of course you can, says Lao Ma.
Why do we put up with her? I ask Borias.
Dont ask me, he laughs.
Its your turn, I tell him, wrestling with myself. Do I want to do it
right or do I want to win? I want both, dammit!
Borias throws another decent shot. Lao Ma blindfolds herself with a red silk scarf; still
her dart hits the bulls eye. She is much easier to compete with in games that take a
combination of skill, strategy and luck. I concentrate on my dart and lift it from the
table, asking the universe ever so politely if it could just shove it into the middle of
the dart board. Push! And there it is, almost touching Lao Mas.
Its always better when one doesnt give up, she says, exhaling hash
smoke towards my face in a long thin line. I roll my eyes at her and gesture for Borias to
take his third turn. He gets up and takes another dart from the table. He has never wanted
to try to learn to move things with his mind, though he was always closer to living her
other lessons than I. And I suppose on some levels he still is. He and Lao Ma have much in
common, their patience being the first thing that sets me apart from them.
Borias takes his shot. It hits just to the right of Lao Mas, in the bullseye.
Very nice, she says. Borias and I watch as her third dart rises into the air.
Lao Ma smiles and makes it do a little dance for our entertainment. I laugh.
Whats the meaning of life again? I ask to distract her from her throw.
To find peace within yourself and to share it with the world, she says, as her
dart flies across the room; theres not much space left in the bullseye now. My shot
better be good or Ive lost this round. I concentrate on lifting the dart into the
air and take careful aim, which is honestly hard to do from the angle at which I am
sitting. Just as Ive gathered the energy and begin to push, Borias calls out
Caesar! and my dart hits the wall halfway across the room from the dart board.
You bastard! I dont like losing the first round of anything. Or any
round, to be honest.
Xena, its not like you didnt just try to do the same thing to Lao
Ma, he says, laughing.
But thats different, I say, knowing I have no excuse.
We play for another hour or so, talking about little things, teasing each other, then I
announce I need to get back to my room.
And dont even start, I say to Borias. He closes his mouth.
Gabrielle is awake, sitting back in bed, when I return to my chambers. The black curtains
serve only to accentuate her beauty. She reminds me of a little princess from a story
book, and yet of a prince at the same time. Its hard to explain, how she can look so
sexy in such a strong way and such a gentle way, like she is both the rescuer and the one
needing to be rescued.
Hey, I say, Did you get any sleep?
A little, she says quietly, Im sorry about before.
Please, I say, waving it off.
I really...appreciate it.
Its what Im here for.
Trusting you terrifies me, Xena. Its been so long since I even tried.
Didnt you fight lions barehanded?
Actually, I got to use weapons on the lions, she says, smiling shyly at me,
it was the Elijians I had to fight barehanded.
Lao Ma missed you at dinner. I told her you needed your rest.
She must think Im so impolite.
No! Gabrielle, Lao Ma is the wisest woman Ive ever met in my life. You wanna
know what she said about you?
What?
She said she knew when she met you that you were a strong person, and that you have
a gentle soul.
Gabrielle blushes and looks pleased. Yeah?
Yeah. I told her I agreed with her.
Thank you. I cant tell you how much it means to hear that. But I really was
rude. I could have responded to her. I dont know why I didnt.
Hey, when I first met her she tried to ally with me and I tried to kill her.
Really?
Get in the bath and Ill tell you a story before bed, I say, wondering
who in Hades Ive become.
We bathe and I tell her the story of myself and Borias, the life we lived before we met
Lao Ma. I saw him for the first time in a tavern. I was drunk, Id been
fighting with someone and I was upset. I looked across the room and there he was, like a
dangerous prince from a foreign land, and I thought, if I were a man, thats who
Id be. I pause for dramatic effect and to reach over the side of the tub for
our glasses. I pass Gabrielle hers and continue my story. I found out who he was, a
warlord with an army, as well as a wife and a child who traveled with him. He was
powerfully charismatic. I knew there were things I could learn from him, so I took
him.
You took him?
I took him away from his army, his child, his wife. It was easy. I was good at
things like that.
You must have been a very different person then, Xena.
In some ways.
What happened to Borias child?
Eventually he found him again, and the wife. The wife doesnt like him very
much and wont accept his help, but he visits a few times a year anyway, to keep in
touch with the kid. But youve distracted me.
Im sorry.
No problem. So Borias and I set out together. We were a terrible pair. I was full of
anger and self-hate, I blamed everyone but myself for everything, and I took out my
frustrations wherever I felt like it. My behavior made me hate myself more, then Id
do worse things, feel worse about myself, on and on... I hated Borias in the moments I
thought he might actually care for me, though those were few and far between. We were bad
people and we did bad things. We wanted more, we wanted to win, we wanted our lusts and
our desires satisfied, and we were strong enough and ruthless enough to get what we
wanted. It was the kind of lifestyle that went nowhere, but that was just where I deserved
to go, so it was the perfect trip. Our goal was ultimate power, world domination, and we
ended up out here with a pretty large army. We were good leaders, and good fighters, and
we always won, so people followed us. When I was on horseback, no one in the world could
beat me, but when I was not, well, Borias had more power than I would have liked.
Why when you were on horseback? She drinks and leans back in the hot water,
watching me. Tonight the story seems even farther in the past than usual. Ten years is a
long time.
Because my legs were broken. A long time ago I trusted the wrong man, Julius Caesar,
before he was Emperor, and I ended up on a cross with broken legs. Suffice it to say I got
here from there but the first part of the journey was a bitch.
You dont want to talk about it.
Well, no. I never want to talk about it. Just thinking about it now I can feel the
anger. I still hate that man for his betrayal, but I dont let it consume me any
more. I try to remind myself that its because he hurt me, and that my feelings of
pain dont have to lead me to violence. Controlling that is the hardest thing
Ive ever done.
I can imagine, says Gabrielle, suddenly sounding a little tipsy.
Its interesting how we both did such terrible things. It makes me feel as if
we are alike in some way.
Not in that way, I say almost angrily, You did horrible things because
you had to, I did them because I loved it.
No, you didnt.
No, I didnt.
We were both trapped. Now we are free, she says.
I look at her and wonder to myself, Really free? Am I? One can never be free
of ones self.
I realize as I prepare to get into bed that I should have offered Gabrielle her own room
by now. I have no real excuse not to; shes probably not going to run, or if she
does, I know shes okay to take care of herself. Being with her gives me pleasure,
and I am no longer interested in denying my true self pleasure. Again I am awakened in the
middle of the night by Gabrielles deepest fears. My eyes grow accustomed to the dark
and I reach out to touch her shoulder. Her sleeping self responds by smashing her fist
into my face. My screamed curses wake her up. Shes confused and disoriented.
You were having a nightmare. I tried to wake you up. I think you may have broken my
nose. I can feel the sticky blood flowing down my face and neck. Its
okay. I mean, you didnt mean to.
She sits silently next to me in the dark, shaking. I guess I should have broken another
mug.
Im gonna light a candle, Gabrielle, so I can clean myself up. Shield your
eyes.
In the candle light I can see a few tears rolling down her face. I want to reach out and
wipe them away.
Hey. What is it?
All I know how to do is hurt people, she whispers, Make people bleed.
Youre covered in blood because of me.
Then come help me wash it off.
I get up and walk into the bathing chamber, sitting near the still-burning fire. I pour
hot water into a bucket, and hand her a towel. She takes it from me and tentatively begins
to wipe the still-wet blood from my skin.
I dont think my nose is broken, I say hopefully. I dont know if
anyone has washed my face since I was a small child. Gabrielles soft touch is so
nice. I try not to catch her eye; it feels too intense. Watching her face from under my
eyelashes, it seems like it was the right thing to do, to have her wash off the blood.
Perhaps what she needs is a sense of control.
Do you ever think about having children? she asks suddenly. Maybe she thought
about her mother cleaning her face, too.
No. Ive been pregnant once or twice, but Ive always taken the
appropriate measures. You?
Never been pregnant but, she pauses, and so softly says, having children
is one of the dreams I gave up.
I cant help you with that directly, but... I say, watching her blush,
I could help figure something out.
She finishes cleaning me off and we go back to sleep, more tired even than we had been
before.
I wake up the next morning lying on my side. In our sleep we moved closer together and I
can feel Gabrielles back lightly pressing against my own. Hard for me to believe as
it is, there really are women who dont enjoy making love with other women, and
theres no reason to believe Gabrielle might not be one of them. Nevertheless my body
reacts to her; I close my eyes and luxuriate in the feeling of desire. I imagine that she
turns around and suddenly we--I pull myself out of bed before my fantasies take over my
poor taxed brain. My face hurts, though in the mirror the slight bruising is barely
noticeable.
At breakfast Gabrielle introduces herself to Borias and Lao Ma, and attempts to apologize
for her behavior.
Gabrielle, you have nothing to apologize for, Lao Ma answers gently, You
are an honored guest, and you have been through great trials. You deserve as much room as
you need.
Thank you, Empress.
Please call her Lao Ma or we shall all be ill, says Borias,
Plus, youre Xenas friend now, and any friend of Xenas...
Shut up, I say, Behave. Shes an honored guest, remember?
Gabrielle is smiling. Its going to be a great day.
Gabrielle and I have decided to work out, so we change into appropriate attire, my idea of
which is loose blue pants and a matching sleeveless shirt. Hers is just this side of total
indecency in brown leather. How will I ever concentrate on my drills? The sun is out and
we walk along to my favorite work out spot, one of the simpler hexagram gardens. This one
is called Kheih, or Release, and I read the inscription to Gabrielle.
The thunder rolls. Releasing a cloud burst. The superior man stays on friendly
ground. He forgives errors and deals gently with those who wrong him.
I think Im starting to like the superior man, says Gabrielle, smiling.
He lives within us all, you know, I say, half jokingly.
Most of us anyway, she amends. I cant completely disagree.
The ground is flat and theres room to spread out. So we practice by ourselves for a
while, doing exercises and fighting the air, each lost in our own world. I find that I
have worked up a sweat by the time she shyly suggests that we spar. Part of me is afraid
of fighting with her, and part of me desires it, to be on the receiving end of whatever
kind of passion this woman is willing to share with me.
Xena, Warrior Princess of Chin, twirls her sword three times over before advancing on her
beautiful opponent. Gabrielle is immediate and fierce in her attack, and suddenly I am
moving backwards, blocking strike after strike. I have to pay attention; she is better,
even, than I had imagined. I change tactics, pushing her back, putting the battle onto
equal ground. I can sense the location of the white-washed walls around us, the vines, the
trees, where the benches and sculptures are, and decide to use them to my advantage to
make the fight more interesting and less likely to cause serious damage to either of us.
She follows me, a smile on her face, enjoying the pursuit, as I retreat around a statue of
Lao Mas late husband, the Emperor Lao Tzu. Gabrielle backs me into a wall and our
swords clash, I block strike after strike and finally turn to run up the wall and jump
backwards over her head. She spins and thrusts her sword out at me just as I land,
engaging me again easily. Now I am on the offensive, and I lose myself in the attack. Our
swords clash, vibrations echoing down my arm, and our feet shift quickly on the sandy path
beneath us. Our swords meet again and I push forward until the hilts are touching, and
suddenly we are face to face, looking into each others eyes. We are both breathing hard,
all our senses heightened. She grabs my right wrist and spins me around, pushing me back
until I come up against the wall. Gabrielle slowly pushes her body against mine, trapping
our sword arms between our chests so that our swords rise from between us and point
skyward right next to my head. I can feel her hot breath against my neck and it excites
me. She is so strong, and I can feel the lust coming off her body in waves. She slides her
thigh between my own and touches my neck with her mouth, trapping me against the wall with
my own desire. She moves her pelvis against mine, and my body responds, pressing back when
she presses forward. Her lips suck my neck; I have never felt this exposed before, as if
everything I am shows in the taste of my skin. I groan as I copy her rhythm, not thinking,
just following the pleasure, and for a moment I give myself over to it. I caress the hot
skin of her back with my free hand, moaning as she bites me. Gabrielle pushes even harder
against me and finally the one part of my brain that is not consumed by lust surfaces and
forces me to whisper, Gabrielle, we have to stop.
She pulls away from me and drops her sword. Im sorry, she says to the
ground.
Its fine, I say, trying to breathe, I mean, if later, when
were not in the middle of a battle, if you want to...
She looks at the ground near my feet. I dont deserve any of this
kindness.
Oh please spare me! I say, almost angrily. Im sorry. Im just
confused. I mean, not confused. I dont know.
I never did anything like that before. I didnt mean... Lets talk about
it later?
Good idea.
We spend the rest of the afternoon riding in silence, patrolling sections of fencing for
damage. I gave Gabrielle her own horse, and she follows just behind me, soaking in
everything around us, watching everything I do. She has clear handwriting and has been
taking notes for me of the repairs that are needed on the fences. If she can fight and
write, who knows what other skills lurk in between. I think of earlier in the afternoon,
the way her body pressed into mine with such purpose. It makes me shiver just imagining
it. No one has ever made me feel like that, like they could be, for those few moments,
everything in the world. I hope what she did was at least a little bit about me. People
call it battle lust, but I dont believe in that. I believe that sometimes our
emotions are tied into our bodies very intensely and in those moments you never know
whats going to happen. Rage, murder, birth, love, sex. Were animals just like
the rest of them; lots of animals walk on two feet. My mother used to say that. I
havent seen her in a thousand years. Would she be proud of me yet?
I planned it so wed be on the best hill to watch the sun set from at just the right
time. We dismount and sit on the ground, overlooking infinite grassy fields, hills and
trees and rocks, and all the way at the other end of the earth, is the sunset. Tonight
there is a lot of orange in it. We sit quietly, passing a wine skin back and forth. As the
last of the sun slips out of view, she says,
I dont know what came over me earlier. Ive never touched anyone before
the way I touched you today. It was, just there suddenly. I apologize for doing something
so ill considered and ill mannered.
Shes staring out into where the sun was and she passes the near-empty wine skin back
to me.
I dont know how to feel. What to say to this girl that wont be the wrong
thing. There are always a million wrong things to say, and Ive said most of them at
one time or another.
Gabrielle, its okay. Sometimes our bodies react in strange ways. It was an
intense moment, you responded in an intense way. I pause and say more quietly,
And you might have noticed, it wasnt like I tried to stop you
immediately.
She turns and looks at me, a big smile on her face, Oh yeah, I didnt really
think about that. Shes remembering my hand caressing her hip and her back, the
sound of my moans. She blushes. I blush in response.
Lets go to dinner, I suggest, If we leave now well be just
in time.
Late again, drawls Borias as we enter the dining room, both slightly out of
breath.
In my most threatening voice I say, Better late than never, and I give him the
evil look. He smiles.
Gabrielle, you look lovely tonight, he tells her, pulling out her chair for
her and looking pointedly at me when he doesn't pull it out from under her. He sits back
down across from Lao Ma. Gabrielle blushes. We eat dinner, and it is as usual more than
delicious. The servants refill our glasses far too frequently for me to maintain any
coherence, and suddenly I focus my eyes and find Ive been staring at
Gabrielles hands. Borias is saying,
After Xena killed Ming Tsu, Ming Tien declared war on the House of Lao. Though Lao
Ma had thrown our beaten bodies out onto the street only days before, we felt compelled to
fight for her, and so we did. We toppled the House of Ming in a matter of weeks, and
eventually earned her trust again. We still do not know what happened to Ming Tien.
I cant help but glance at Lao Ma; she looks sad and wistful, as she always does when
the topic of any of her children comes up. She has two daughters as well, who she gave
away when they were very young, in order to protect them. She can protect them now, so
always, always, there are men out on the trail looking for all her children.