Mayt

Mayt_FanFiction@sbcglobal.net 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

This short story is the beginning (Part One) of the final installment of the My Lord series – An Act of Love. To truly appreciate the events of this story, a reader will need to be familiar with the premise of the My Lord (Conqueror) stories, specifically My Lord: Athens. Please refer to My Lord: Athens for a character listing.

FIDELITY’S POEM

Gabrielle ran down the palace corridor. She skated around a corner barely missing Stephanie, who jumped back in surprise. "Whoa! Sorry…" said Gabrielle breathlessly.

"Your Majesty. Is there something wrong?" asked the servant.

"Nothing to worry about," said Gabrielle brightly as she looked over her shoulder. "My Lord is seeking me out."

"And you don’t want to be found?"

Gabrielle wore a wicked grin. "Not until I’m sure she’s regained her sense of humor."

"I think it’s best if I don’t ask why she is in ill-humor."

"Maybe Makia will hide me," Gabrielle thought aloud, weighing her options.

"And have the kitchens turned inside out?" said Stephanie in the lighthearted spirit of the moment.

Gabrielle hugged the palace wall and peeked around the corner. "Oh Gods, here she comes."

"Should I misdirect the Conqueror?" offered Stephanie conspiratorially.

Gabrielle placed an appreciative hand on Stephanie’s arm. "Oh, if you only could. What’s best is that you stand aside."

"Gabrielle!" Xena’s call echoed throughout the palace.

Stephanie stepped out in full view of the Queen’s pursuer. She said softly to Gabrielle, "Your Majesty, the Conqueror is…"

"All wet," said Gabrielle completing the servant’s observation with undisguised pleasure. "Yes, I know." She laughed as she ran toward the Royal suite.

Xena stepped boldly through the palace searching out the perpetrator of a deliciously well executed practical joke. She was intent on having a proper revenge, though at the moment she had no idea what form it would take. The very fact Gabrielle had exercised her pixyish nature was a boon to Xena’s disposition. It had been a hard road back from Athens. As the joke proved, they had somehow returned completely to each other, to the effect that the palace had slowly been transformed from a sober place to one where wit and whimsy were common. It was infectious, this joy and Xena hoped it would never slip from them again.

Xena neared Stephanie. "She went to our suite, didn’t she, Stephanie?"

"Who, your Majesty?" asked the servant innocently.

Xena burst out laughing. "It’s all right. We are only playing a game of cat and mouse."

"I’ve never known a cat that liked to get wet, your Majesty."

Xena looked down at her body. "I must be a sight."

"It is a new look for you," said Stephanie biting her lip.

Xena put her hands on her hips. "Tell me, as the Conqueror am I more intimidating like this?"

Stephanie smiled; intimidated was obviously not what she felt. "Your hair is quite mad."

"I’m glad I’m nowhere near a mirror." Xena glanced in the direction of Gabrielle’s felt essence. "I shouldn’t tarry. The Gods only know what our Queen is up to."

"Have a pleasant evening, your Majesty."

"Oh, you can count on it."

Xena proceeded toward the Royal suite. Her water soaked boots squishing with each step, leaving a wet trail. Xena turned and walked backwards. "Stephanie! I am counting on you to tell Makia that the ruining of her clean floors was not my fault."

"Should I say it was the Queen’s?" she asked helpfully.

"Absolutely! It is not only the truth but Makia will be far more forgiving." Xena turned again and entered a steady jog in search of her partner.

Hamish entered into the corridor. Xena called out his name.

"My Liege," answered the Guardsman. His expression upon seeing her shifted from incredulousness to knowing understanding.

Enjoying but choosing not to acknowledge the Guardsman’s reaction Xena continued her march to her suite. Not missing a step she directed Hamish, "Tell Trevor to place a guard at my door with orders to kill whoever dare disturb your Sovereign and Queen with the exception of Makia delivering our meal"

Hamish smiled. "Any instructions for Makia?"

"Yes. She should be generous with the wine… and the sweets."

"As you command," said Hamish robustly as he saluted.

"Good man!" Xena relished the encounter. A few moments later she entered the Royal suite and called out Gabrielle’s name.

Gabrielle stepped out from the bath. She had a towel draped over one arm and Xena’s robe draped over the other. "My Lord."

"Oh no!" Xena pointed at Gabrielle accusatorily. "You don’t get off so easily."

"I don’t know what you mean," said Gabrielle, her innocent expression a mirror image of Stephanie’s.

"I could hear you laughing," cited Xena.

"From the horse trough?" asked Gabrielle, well aware of her partner’s superb hearing.

"Yes, from the horse trough which I would not have tripped into if it wasn’t for you."

"I was nowhere near you. It seemed Coal had nudged you," said Gabrielle referring to the colt she had been training.

"Nudged? I would not call his head butt a nudge."

"I thought him only playing."

"And your whistle had nothing to do with his playfulness?" said Xena unwilling to cease arguing her case and ending their banter.

"I whistled to call him to me," responded Gabrielle, sharing the well known fact of her training of the colt.

"It wasn’t your usual whistle."

"I didn’t realize I have a particular whistle."

"You do."

"I wonder…" Gabrielle cocked her head as her gaze tracked the full length of her Lord.

"What?" asked Xena amused by Gabrielle’s blatant admiration.

"If I whistle will you come to me?"

"I am no two year old colt!" barked Xena in mock outrage.

"No, my Lord, that you are not," said Gabrielle cheerfully. "A filly…"

"Gabrielle..." growled the warrior.

The younger woman took a step forward. "I think you should get out of your wet clothes."

"Really? That is a novel thought," said Xena crossing her arms. "I think you should help me as an act of contrition."

"An act of contrition? That would require me to confess to having been complicit in your fall."

"And that would not do, would it?" Xena opened her arms, as much a gesture of surrender as invitation. "Then do it as an act of love."

Gabrielle’s emerald eyes glistened. She stepped down the first two of the three steps to the living chamber floor. Xena approached, pausing before Gabrielle. After a moment in which they shared a smile, Xena bowed her head as she began to undo her tunic belt. A gentle whistle caused her to look up. "I am here, Gabrielle. There is no need to call me to you."

"You are beautiful," said the bard appreciatively.

"Ha! Stephanie said my hair is a fright."

"I can understand why." That earned Gabrielle a scathing look from her partner. Gabrielle did not hesitate to raise the towel she was holding and dry the offending hair. Her task complete she assessed the results. "Better."

Xena shook her head and chuckled. "By the way, except for our dinner I’ve ordered that we not be disturbed. I hope you don’t mind."

"We are to have an evening to ourselves?"

"Yes, if you can bear having only my company."

"I don’t mind at all." Gabrielle altered her voice to a tender caress. "Undress love, before you catch cold."

"Speaks the woman who orchestrated my state."

"If I did, look where it has gotten us. Is your state truly so terrible?"

"You are incorrigible," said Xena as she undressed.

Gabrielle waited patiently. With feigned regret she surrendered the towel to the naked Xena earning another chuckle from the warrior. After Xena dried herself, Gabrielle helped the warrior don her robe.

Xena tied the robe closed. "I say I am now ready for the evening. I don’t think it’s worth the effort dressing further. What say you, my bard?"

Gabrielle leaned forward placing her arms around Xena’s neck, drawing the taller woman close. "I don’t know why we bothered with your robe." They met in a mutual kiss. Soon thereafter Gabrielle found herself being carried into the bedroom.

Laid upon their bed, Gabrielle raised her hand over Xena’s heart. It was a gesture constant in their life together, one of love, of trust, of protection and of invitation. Xena took Gabrielle’s hand in her own and kissed its palm. Another constant gesture, one of acceptance, which given the events of Athens was a grace Gabrielle would never take for granted. As night blanketed Corinth, Gabrielle found herself blissfully immersed in her partner’s tender passions.

Targon entered the Royal suite followed by Joél. The young Guardsman carried an intricately carved wooden box. They were accompanied by a man of Chin descent dressed in a military uniform.

Xena took immediate notice and rose from her desk chair. Gabrielle was sitting by the fireplace with Honor sleeping on the floor beside her. It was Xena’s anxious essence that caused Gabrielle to stand and position herself beside her Lord.

"What’s this, Targon?" asked the Sovereign.

"Your Majesty, allow me to present Zan Quan of Lao Ma’s Imperial Guard.

Xena welcomed the soldier in the language of Chin.

Zan Quan bowed respectfully. He spoke in Chin. "I bring greetings from La Mao." He handed Xena a scroll. "The Empress of Chin humbly petitions your Majesty’s assistance in determining the nature of an amulet I have brought for your inspection."

"What is so special about this amulet?" asked Xena continuing to speak in Chin. She handed the scroll to Gabrielle assuming that it, like all other correspondence from Lao Ma, would be written in Greek.

"It is said to have great powers, whether for good or evil is unknown. The finest scholars of Chin have been unable to read its markings. The Empress hopes you and your scholars will be more skilled in unraveling its mystery."

Xena stepped behind Gabrielle to better read the scroll now held open by her partner. All that Zan Quan had said was repeated. There was more. Lao Ma speculated that the amulet might have Coptic origins. She closed with a passionate warning not to touch the amulet until its powers were understood.

Xena instructed Joél to set the box on a nearby table. She inquisitively kept her gaze upon the box until he rested it in place. She then turned her attention back to Zan Quan. "What are your orders?"

"I am to stay in Corinth for a fortnight and then to return to Chin with whatever knowledge you share with me," said Zan Quan.

"Are you to take the amulet back to Chin?"

"The Empress said the decision was yours to make."

"Very well. My Administrator will see to your comfort. He will also provide a daily report of our progress."

"Thank you," said Zan Quan as be humbly bowed.

Targon, who was well versed in the Chin language proceeded to guide Zan Quan out of the suite. Joél followed.

Left alone Xena quickly recounted her exchange with Zan Quan to Gabrielle.

"A fortnight. That isn’t very much time," said Gabrielle.

"Either we have information about the amulet or we don’t. If we don’t, Lao Ma knows it will take more than a fortnight to research." Xena walked to the table and stood before the carved box.

Gabrielle did not need their connection to sense her partner’s uneasiness. She placed a comforting hand on Xena’s arm. Xena kept her gaze fixed upon the box. "There was a time when I searched the known world for anything I could use to help me conquer Greece. Lao Ma is living proof that there are powers on earth you can’t completely understand. You must just accept them for what they are."

"What troubles you?" asked Gabrielle as Xena’s anxiousness seemed to bleed from the warrior.

"Lao Ma taught me how to empty myself of all thought in order to tap the very essence of existence and then to focus that essence as a powerful force against my enemies."

"The Way?" said Gabrielle having had discussed Lao Ma’s unique abilities with Xena prior to her introduction to the Chin Empress.

"Yes. She taught me enough that I could use the power defensively, never offensively. She said that Ares’ Chosen could not be trusted to use the Way for only the Greater Good. I resented her for limiting my power. Then the day came when I proved her right. I betrayed a trust with a tribal leader from the Northern Steppes. His army was moving aggressively against Chin. I took an advantage during a battle that ultimately saved Chin from a bloody defeat. It was then that Lao Ma and I brokered our truce. She swore allegiance to Greece. I swore never to invade Chin.

"Lao Ma had no reason to trust me. I had proven a promise meant nothing to me. What I didn’t realize until later was that I lost the powers Lao Ma had taught me. When I asked her why she said that by betraying the tribal leader I had lost my integrity and that someone without integrity, without honor, was not deserving of the Way."

"From the first day I met you, you’ve always been an honest ruler," said Gabrielle genuinely.

"I took Lao Ma’s lesson to heart. I did terrible things after I left Chin. One thing I’ve never done again is break a trust."

Gabrielle was well aware that their conversation now touched the rare subject of Xena’s past conquests prior to Cirra, prior to Xena’s commitment to defeating oppressive warlords and unifying Greece with the goal of maintaining peace in the realm and safeguarding it from foreign invasion. "That time in your life… You must have difficult memories."

"That’s not what’s bothering me. Why did Lao Ma send something to me with powers she didn’t understand? She’s a practical woman. It’s not like her to take such a risk."

"She must see that you’ve changed."

"I’m still Ares’ Chosen."

"You don’t repeat your mistakes."

"No, I just find new ways of…"

"Xena, don’t!" said Gabrielle forcefully. "Lao Ma sent you the amulet for a reason. That’s a fact you can’t deny."

Xena fell into a sober silence. Gabrielle fixed her defiant gaze upon her lover. After an extended moment Xena glanced over to her partner, shook her head and said sheepishly, "Self pity isn’t very attractive, is it?"

"No, it isn’t," said Gabrielle gentling.

Xena returned her gaze to the box. "There’s something else I don’t understand. Where did the amulet come from? And why does Lao Ma believe it might have magical powers?" Xena placed her hands on opposite sides of the box and opened it. Inside the box rested an oval shaped amulet a third of a hand in length. It composition seemed like onyx. It had faint markings on its face. "Well, it doesn’t look like much, but I’ve learned not to judge solely by appearance."

A knock on the door garnered the attention of both Royals. Alem entered. "My Liege, you are expected in Court."

"Damn, just as the day was getting interesting," said Xena, her voice resonated with her disappointment.

"I can go if you rather stay here," offered Gabrielle.

"Oh, that’s a tempting offer," said Xena. "What price will you exact from me?"

"Promise you’ll be careful."

"There is no need to ask that of me. I have too much to lose."

"Promise me still," insisted Gabrielle.

"I promise," said Xena easily.

Gabrielle kissed her on the cheek. "I love you." She turned to Alem. "Come on," she said to the Guardsman. "It’s my turn to keep peace among the Lords."

"Maybe we should bring Honor to growl when arguments grow tedious," quipped Alem.

Gabrielle smiled. "Good idea." She called the hound to her. "Come on, boy. We’re going to have some fun." He obeyed enthusiastically. Gabrielle left the suite appreciative of the sound of Xena’s muted laughter.

After Court Gabrielle returned to the Royal suite. She found Xena where she had left her, standing in front of the opened box. "Have you been frozen in place?" she asked.

"Hardly." Xena reached for the amulet. Gabrielle’s hand intercepted hers and held tightly. Xena turned to her partner. "Gabrielle?"

"Xena, you promised. Please don’t tempt the fates. Lao Ma’s warning must be heeded."

"I wasn’t going to touch it. I just wanted to see if I could feel any force radiate from it."

"That is still too close for my comfort."

"Very well." Xena withdrew her hand. "We shall break its secret another way."

"What do you think of it?"

"The box it is carried in is from Chin. I’ve been able to translate the writings. They are nothing more than warnings. The amulet itself is Coptic. Lao Ma was right about that. The scrolls in the Chin libraries don’t cross far enough west to be of use to her. Maybe our library will be more forthcoming. And if not, I will see that the Academy archives are researched. For now I’m having a half-dozen drawings of the amulet made. One is being sent to Udell. He or someone in his scholarly circle may recognize it and know its legend."

"Legend? So, you don’t think it’s dangerous?"

"Despite everything I said about Lao Ma, she is the exception, not the rule. In my travels I’ve found that legends about magical weapons have too often been given life by overly imaginative bards." Xena paused and added warmly, "Present company excluded."