Disclaimer:
This is a work of fan fiction. The characters in this story: Xena, Gabrielle, Eve or Livia
(and any mention to characters from the television show Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys)are the property of Renaissance Pictures and Universal MCA. This story is not
meant to infringe upon their rights or the rights of the actors who portray them. Also, no
part of the story entitled Growing up "Livia" is to be copied, whole or in part,
without the author's permission. It is not to be copied for public use or for profit by
any person or organization.
Growing
Up Livia
Written
by: Caina Q. Fuller
Cainaq@Yahoo.Com
Chapter
Five
The sisters
surrounding them in battle began to cheer. Brigid looked away from Livia to find that the
Romans were either dead or fleeing. One warrior, seeing her chance to kill the
commander that had started the raid on their people, moved in to kill Livia.
No! Brigid
barely managed to halt the warriors sword with her own blade before Livia was run through.
The sisters began to look at her in confusion. Why was she sparing the commander? Is it
because she was female? To them it shouldnt have mattered. This girl was the enemy,
female or not.
Chain her and
bring her with us.
Several sisters looked
at Brigid as if shed suddenly lost her mind, but they followed the order. Perhaps
Hanai wished to use this woman, as a bargaining chip should more legions arrive to destroy
them. Who could know? They did as their queen ordered, and pulled Livia along with them,
deeper into the forest.
**********
Livia was used to the
heat of the valleys and plains where there was very little shade in which to escape the
sun. But here in these trees the world was constantly dark and cool. So cool that Livia
found herself uncomfortable. She squirmed in the wagon shed been chained to, all the
while conscious of the stares of the Amazon women who were looking at her with hatred
burning in their eyes. It was an uneasy feeling to know that each and every person around
you wanted to kill you.
Their acting Queen,
known to them as Hanai, was also one of the many sets of eyes staring at her from the
horse that followed the wagon. They did not speak, for Hanai didnt want her sisters
to know of her association with Livia. At least not until theyd had a chance to calm
from the days battle. Emotions were running high, and they werent especially warm,
positive emotions toward Romans at the moment.
Livia continued to
stare back at her former sister. Shed believed Brigid to be dead or enslaved in some
far off country all these years. It was the loss of this one woman that had pushed her
into Ares arms to begin with, and now Livia wondered how much Ares had had to do with
Brigids disappearance. Perhaps hed planned it all along.
Thats silly, Livia
told herself. Why would the god of War separate two little girls? The answer to
that question came almost as quickly as the question itself. Because he saw something
in me he knew he could use to turn me into what I am now. A darkness that attracted him to
me like a rotting corpse attracts buzzards. And thats what I am. A rotting soul
satisfying the dark hungers of a god who is no better than a buzzard.
Livia knew she was a
cold-hearted, merciless killer, and thats what Ares loved most about her. Her willingness to shed blood turned the god of
War on like nothing else did, and that in itself should have disgusted her enough to turn
away from him, but it didnt. She had
yet to kill someone outside of a fair fight, but she knew it was a question of when, not
if, she would commit the sin of murder against innocent. That is, if she escaped this
situation alive.
Something in her gut
told her she would. The soldiers that had escaped battle would return to Rome and tell
Augustus what had happened to her. Shed be horribly embarrassed, both publicly and
privately of course, but she would live to make it up, even if it took her years of
non-stop battle and conquering for Rome. She
could feel it in her gut.
And what of her
feelings? They were mixed as she thought about Brigid. The two of them were young adults
now. Livia was almost nineteen and Brigid was well over twenty. Livia believed herself to
the future Empress of Rome, and Brigid was already the acting Queen of the Amazons.
The paths in life they were on now had inadvertently made them enemies, but would it stay
that way?
Brigid brought her
horse alongside Livia and pulled her sword. For a brief moment Livia was sure her
sister was going to cut her down right there, but instead she broke
Livias leg irons. Her wrists remained cuffed however.
Brigid grabbed onto Livias elbow and hauled her from the wagon and onto the
saddle in front of her.
Hanai? The
warrior driving the wagon looked at Brigid in confusion. What was she doing?
Ill meet
you in the village. Continue on without me. Brigid kicked the horse into a run and
carried Livia deeper into the forest.
**********
The clearing was small
but blessedly warm, and Livia was glad for the feel of the sun on her uncomfortably cool
skin. It felt like winter in this dark place.
What are we
doing here?
Brigid unceremoniously
dumped Livia to the ground then circled around her on the horse. Her beautiful face was a
mask of conflicting emotions as she circled Livia. This is where Cyane brought me
when I first arrived in these forests. Its sunny here, and I could be warm.
Its a good place for a newcomer to adjust to the cool of the forest.
So Brigid knew exactly
what Livia was going through as shed squirmed in the wagon. Thanks. How you
people go around in these trees nearly naked without freezing to death is beyond me.
Its hardly
cold enough here to freeze to death. It just feels that way. Dont worry.
Youll adjust, Brigid answered.
So are you
telling me in a round about way that you arent going to kill me?
Brigid looked
genuinely shocked. Kill you? Why on earth would I do that?
Silly question,
Livia thought. Im the enemy. I raided your land. I was going to kill you
all.
Youre my
sister Livie. I would never kill one of my sisters.
A pang of pent up
emotion Livia didnt know was there suddenly stole her breath and she remembered how
shed cried herself to sleep in Augustus arms before shed left Rome. She
felt like weeping now and she hated herself for it. She was a Roman warrior and she
wasnt supposed to cry.
She was also a
tortured young woman whod rediscovered the only family shed ever known, and
doing so had awakened something deep within her soul. A soul shed believed had died
the day shed lost the very same person who stood before her now. The nickname her
adopted sister had given her years before had flowed from Brigids lips as easily as
it had the first time she had said it. It was almost like theyd never been apart,
and Livia feared the knot in her throat would choke the life from her.
Livie
I
havent heard that name since you spoke it last.
Livia turned away from
Brigid to hide the pain on her face until she could swallow past the lump of emotion in
her throat. She didnt want to appear weak in front of the enemy
No. She
didnt want to appear weak in front of her big sister.
After a few silent
moments, Brigid rode around to face her. I think youre warm enough Livie.
Its time to go home.
My home is in
Rome.
Your home is
here now, as my slave. Its the only way Ill be able to keep you safe from
execution until my sisters adjust to your presence.
Livia almost laughed.
I believe the roles were reversed when we were little.
Brigid grabbed
Livias arm and pulled her back into the saddle, in front of her, and rode for the
camp, whispering in her ear as they went. Were
not little anymore.
**********
The sisters of the
tribe stared at their new queen as she entered with Livia on the saddle before her. Brigid ignored their hateful glares and led Livia
to the Queens hut, where she would reside until Brigid was either killed in battle from
outside opponents, or other Amazon royalty for the right of caste. Until that happened however, she was Queen, and
she would do all in her power to save her sister, even if it meant giving up her own life.
How long do you
think you will be able to keep them from overpowering your authority to kill me?
Brigids response
was somewhat offensive, even for someone of Livias thick skinned ilk. Amazons arent like Romans. We dont make it a habit of stabbing one
another in the back while we smile in their faces.
Once they had
dismounted Linara, now Princess Linara since Brigid had no blood sisters in the tribe,
came to her and saluted. Brigid knew the
woman well enough to know Linara was angry with her for allowing the commander of the army
that attacked them to live.
My Queen. I would like to speak with you please.
Of course. But
first I have an announcement to make. Gather all of our sisters for me, will you?
Linara bowed, but her
eyes remained glued to Livia in a hateful stare. It
was clear she would rip the Roman warriors throat out if she knew she could get away
with it.
Once Linara was gone,
Brigid took Livia up the stairs of the Queens hut. Unlike
the other huts in the village, the Queens hut was raised above all others to signify her
importance among the people, but Brigid was prepared to give it all up to save her sister,
whod so obviously lost her way since theyd been separated as children.
It didnt take
long for the sisters to gather together once Linara had sounded the rams horn. The
warriors congregated amongst the huts, talking to themselves so that their voices began to
sound like a low, deadly rumble, and it reminded Livia of the arena she had fought in not
long before shed begun this disastrous campaign.
She just hoped they were as loyal to their Queen as Brigid believed them to be, or
she was all but dead.
Once enough of the
women had gathered together, Brigid motioned for the rams horn to be blown twice,
signaling the women to silence. The quiet
that followed was more dreadful and deafening to Livia than the sound of their voices had
been, partly because every pair of eyes was glued to her in looks of pure hatred. Brigid squeezed her shoulder, hoping to comfort
Livia, then stood forward and made what Livia was afraid would turn out to be the biggest
shed ever seen a leader make: she told her people the absolute truth.
Sisters. In the
last few weeks the Amazons have gathered here, in the First Tribe, to defend
ourselves against outside forces. We came to
protect what has been ours for thousands of years: The
Sacred Forest. It was here Artemis gave the first downtrodden women of male society the
strength they needed to stand up to their male oppressors and say No more! It was here we told the men of the world that we
would no longer allow them to abuse us for their sick pleasures. We will be a strong and mighty nation, fierce and
independent of unjust domination and exploitation. We
are women, and we can think and fight for ourselves.
As Brigid spoke, the
sisters attention shifted from Livia to her and her message. Amazon pride lifted the
chins of each woman in the crowd as Brigids voice carried loud and clear on the
cool, still air. Now that she had their
attention, Brigid began the story of her life, hoping with every word it would be enough
to make them understand her decision to keep Livia alive.
I have a story
to tell you, and when I am finished you will each understand exactly why I have spared
this Roman warrior who had the audacity to attack us.
I was born in a far off land called Ireland, to a wonderful couple named Ann and
Aiden. When I was three, my father was killed
in a boating accident, which left my mother alone to raise me as best she could. When one of her friends decided to follow her love
to Greece, Ma set off with them. We ended up
in Alexandria, working at an Academy for the daughters of wealthy Roman men.
We were hired
help, but you might as well have called us slaves. We were treated like garbage. My mother
worked under the oppressive hand of the Head Mistress, an evil, hard hearted woman named
Odessa. She hated us for the simple fact that we were not slave and she could only go so
far in her abuse. I wasnt allowed an education and I was constantly teased and used
by the girls that lived there.
I hated my life.
I was a child with no friends and no life to speak of. There was only work and sleep, work
and sleep. Then one night, in the fiercest rainstorm Id ever seen, Romes
wealthiest soldier, a warrior known then as Octavius, brought his favored charge to the
Academy. She was unlike any other rich girl I had ever met. Instead of being snobby and
cruel she was humble and kind. She embraced me not as a slave but as a friend. She loved
me and I loved her.
From the very
first night we bonded, and soon my mother came to love her every bit as much as she loved
me. For four years we were happy. My new
sister made certain I received an education by having me attend classes with her. She took
care of us and because of her status as the most wealthy child in the Academy, no one
would dare mistreat us.
Then one fateful
day Ares army came looking for my sister. They were losing ground in their struggle
against Octavius, and they believed that by sacrificing Livia to their god of war they
would somehow be favored in his eyes. Odessa
betrayed us, and my mother gave her life to save my life, and the life of my sister.
That wasnt
enough for Odessa however. She found us when
we tried to run and my sister, only ten years old, killed Odessa to save us. She not only
saved us, but she avenged our mothers death. The
sister who sacrificed so much for me is Livia.
The crowd exploded
around them in a mass of confusion and anger. This
Roman, whod done her best to destroy them and their way of life was their
Queens sister?
Im not
finished yet. That night, while Livia was
asleep, the Roman soldiers whod come to stop Ares men, came and took me. I was
an orphan and Academy policy stated I was to be sold. Thats when Cyane, my adopted
mother found me and brought me here. That is how I came to become your sister, and now
your Queen.
I owe my life to
this woman. She saved me so many times. Not just from loneliness but from death itself.
She may not be related to me by blood, but she is my sister. I will not sentence
her to death.
The sisters
werent the only ones affected by Brigids story. All of the years of pain and
anger brought on during her time with Ares, trying to become the ultimate killing machine,
had erased the tender moments shed shared with Brigid in the early years of her
life. Shed been happy then. What had happened?
Ares happened,
Livia told herself. A lifetime of lessons on how to cause suffering (in an effort to ease
the pain of losing the only mother shed ever known) instead of learning how to ease
it had happened. A lifetime of lessons
learning how to end life instead of nurture it had happened. Now she was listening to a
voice that she had come to believe she would never hear again. Sure it was heavier and
older, but it was still Spiders voice. The face was wider and stronger, but it was
still her sisters face.
The love in
Livias heart had faded to the point of being almost forgotten, but in her
souls eye Livia could still see it, like a painting on an old stone the elements had
almost erased. It was almost gone, but there was just enough of it left that given time
and patients, she knew Brigids gentle love and giving heart could paint it back in
and make their old love new again. Brigid was the panacea that could heal Livias
heart and make it feel again.
As Livia looked into
the dark green eyes of her sister, she knew she had found the key to resurrecting her dead
soul. All she had to do was reach out and take hold of it.
All she had to do was accept it. Livia
wanted to so badly she could taste the sweet flavor of forgiveness and acceptance, but she
was so afraid.
What if she was wrong?
What if Ares came back? What if she was tempted to be selfish just once and she did
something to jeopardize the friendship Brigid was still willing to give her? If she found that kind of peace and lost it again,
she knew she would die inside, and no amount of love would ever be able to heal her again.
Was it worth the risk? Was love really worth it?
Livia was struggling
with these thoughts so hard she didnt realize tears were spilling down her face
until Brigid reached up and gently wiped one away. Livie? What is it? Why are you
crying?
Livia took in a deep
breath, but she was too tired to think up a reasonable lie.
Nothing.
Thankfully, Brigid
didnt argue the point. Its
getting dark. We should rest. But
first
Brigid turned to her
sisters one last time. Livia will
remain here as my captive. She will be my slave, and therefore she will have no rights
within the community. However, she is not to
be abused by any of you. She is my property now, and she will be treated as a human being.
Am I clear on this?
The sisters
spoke their understanding en mass. Yes
my Queen.
Another thing. I
have decided to take back my birth name. I loved Cyane, but I have always felt it wrong to
take away the name my mother gave me. From now on I will no longer be known as Hanai. You
will call me Brigid, the name my birth mother gave me. Dismissed.
With that out of the
way, Brigid led Livia into her home and shut the door behind her. The world was a place ironically full of pain as
well as happiness this day, and she wanted to escape it all for just a little while. Brigid had found her sister, a woman who had not
fared as well as she had over the years. There
was a lot of healing that needed to be done in Livias soul, and Brigid was going to
do it. Even if it killed her.
**********
The first night was
the longest of Livias life. She so expected a visit from an assassin that she
wasnt able to close her eyes for more than a moment.
Finally after waking Brigid up with her tossing and turning for the fifth time, the
new Amazon Queen pulled her blankets off and stoked up the fire.
Ok Livia. Its obvious youre not going to sleep
tonight.
Im sorry
Brigid, Livia said, and she meant it. With every moment shed spent awake in
the hut shed watched Brigids face. The
sight of her sleeping peacefully had brought back an image of the young girl shed
known in childhood.
Brigids face
also brought back the face of another shed dearly loved. Ann. Shed
spent almost an hour lost in memories of her private times with Ann, when Brigid had been
off doing some chore and it was just the two of them. A mother and her child.
Dinar for your
thoughts Livie, Brigid said, grinning from ear to ear. In the light of the fire
Livia was stunned by Brigids exotic beauty.
I was thinking
about my life, and about our mother. I
didnt realize how much I missed her until
until I saw your face while you were
sleeping. You have no idea how much you look like her.
And you have no
idea how wonderful it is to meet someone who knew Ma.
I miss her so much at times. I believe
I will never get over losing her.
I dont
think were supposed to Spider. I think
maybe thats what love is supposed to be all about.
Never forgetting the ones you love, and how much they meant to you.
Livias words
brought a smile to her Brigids face. Im
relieved to hear you say that.
Why?
After seeing how
cold youve grown over the years, I had thought youd forgotten what love
is.
Livia let go a short
burst of laughter. So had I.
Brigid reached out and
took Livia by the hand, and she was surprised by the level of comfort the touch inspired
in her. You can rest Livia. I promise
youre safe with me. I wont let
anyone hurt you.
I believe
you.
The women lay back
down, and this time Livia sank comfortably down into the first restful sleep shed
had since shed left Rome.
The
End of Chapter Five