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
Six
Life among the
Amazons, Livia noted a month into her stay with Brigid, would have been a wonderful and
fulfilling experience
were she not a slave. For
someone in her position, life was nothing short of dreadful. What made it even harder was the fact that
shed grown accustomed to giving the orders, not taking them.
She wasnt
subjected to any particularly difficult labor, but she wasnt comfortable either. She was tense every moment she was a way from
Brigids royal hut, living in constant apprehension that each woman around her was
just waiting to kill her first chance she got. She
wondered if they would succeed, considering she was only fed when she was with Brigid.
No doubt this was how
all slaves were treated. Keep them weak, Livia mused, so they would be easier to
control. From the conquerors point of
view, it made perfect sense. From her point of view as the one who has been conquered, it
was nothing short of hell.
Livias duties
today were to help the male slaves, captured who knows how many years before, carry water
from the river into the heart of the camp. It
was a duty that was tiring to say the least since it was a half-mile hike one way. She was
on her third return trip, and her shoulders ached so badly she thought her arms would pop
off like a cork in a shaken wine cask.
She would have spoken
to her fellow slaves
if any of them had a tongue to form words with.
Livia was so involved
in her work that she hadnt noticed the small group of Amazon children that had taken
to following her from the river until they began to circle her, staring at her with a
mixture of fear and curiosity.
What do you
want? She asked irritably, and the
girls shrank back.
Weve never
seen a female slave before, one particularly brave child said, moving closer to
Livia. Livia tried to imagine what it would be like to have grown up in this cold forest,
being taught that men were good for nothing but to be used for menial labor and breeding. She also wondered what happened to the male
babies. Were they also raised to serve as slaves? Or
were they just executed for the crime of simply being born male?
Well,
theres a first time for everything isnt there? Livia snapped.
She was tired and hungry, and the last thing she wanted to do was entertain a crowd
of the enemys brats.
Whats it
like where you come from? For women I
mean?
This was Livias
opportunity to get rid of them, so she decided to take advantage of it.
The wealthy
warriors, like me, eat female children who arent smart enough to survive. I sure am hungry.
I wonder how youd taste with butter and salt.
The girls eyes
widened in fear and they took off in a screaming caravan for the village. Livia was rid of them, but soon she would come to
regret her little lie when they rushed up to one of the women standing in a group around a
cook fire. She realized the woman was Linara, Brigids right-hand woman and the
tribes princess.
Linara glared at Livia
when the frightened girls ran off for their mothers, then came stomping toward her.
Look, I
didnt mean anything-
Livias
explanation was cut short when Linaras hand snaked out with lightning speed and
caught her across the mouth, knocking her overworked, malnourished body to the ground. Her
lip began to bleed and her head ached from the force of the blow.
Think
youre funny, scaring our children with your silly stories Livia?
Linara leaned in close
to Livia, her voice low and dangerous. You
need to understand something slave. You
may mean something to Hanai, but you mean nothing to us. Pull something like this again,
Ill kill you myself. Understand
me?
I understand
you. Now you understand me. Livia stood
up, her pride was not about to allow her to be condescended to by someone she considered
to be little more than a nearly naked savage.
If I ever get
out of these chains, youre the first one Im killing.
Really?
Linara said, the smirk on her face stoking the fires of frustration that were already
burning in Livias gut. Well,
lets just see about that. Shall we?
Love to.
Linara drew her sword
and for a moment Livia thought she was going to go the way of the coward and run her
through on the spot. Instead Linara broke the
chains binding her hands and feet, giving her freedom to move. Even weak, Livias lifetime of training would
make her a superior opponent to almost any Amazon warrior in this camp, with the exception
of Brigid, aka Hanai.
The two warriors
circled one another, looking for an opening to make their first strike and hopefully cause
the most damage. Livia got that move first by
punching Linara squarely in the chest and stealing her breath away. The young Amazon
warrior went flying into the crowd of her sisters whod come to surround them, but
she was quickly back on her feet, throwing deadly punches and kicks at Livia in an angry
flurry.
**********
Brigid had just begun
to relax into her routine as Queen of the First Tribe and was beginning to think that
perhaps her sisters were beginning to accept Livias presence. However that theory was proved wrong when she was
pulled from her mid-day meal by the sound of cheering women from outside.
She emerged from her
hut to find her people had congregated by the cook-fire, their fists raised in the air in
support of Linara, but what her new Princess was doing was unclear. Every once in a while she could hear the sound of
a fist connecting with flesh and a grunt of agony. It
was a fight apparently, and Brigid didnt need an oracle to tell her who Linara was
fighting with. She motioned to the lookout to sound the rams horn, then flipped from
the banister surrounding her porch, and landed on the outer rim of the crowd.
Brigid shoved her way
through, expecting to see Livia lying in a bloody heap on the ground. Instead she found
Linara was the blood-covered lump of flesh, her face no longer recognizable, and her head
in a choke hold.
Livie! Stop it
right now! Let her go before you kill her!
She started
this! In the mouth of anyone else that
would have sounded like a childish statement. Coming from Livia it sounded like a sound
defense against a hanging.
If you kill her
I will have no choice but to behead you Livie. Dont make me do that. Dont make
me choose between you and my people. Let her go.
With a cry of
frustration Livia let Linara drop, unconscious, to the ground in a wet heap of blood and
sweat. She stood back just as the rest of the
sisters began to draw their swords.
What do you all
think youre doing? Brigid asked, and she wondered, not for the first time, if
she was going to lose control of her people in a revolt she could feel brewing just
beneath the surface of everyday life.
She fought one
of our own. Slaves are not permitted to fight us, unless they are looking to be put to
death.
Brigid faced the woman
whod spoken up. Tell me the
truth, on your honor as an Amazon warrior. Who started this fight?
The woman looked down
in shame, knowing that she would have to tell her Queen the truth, or dishonor her name
forever. Linara freed her from her
chains for the fight. But she only did it to put Livia in her place for scaring some of
our children.
Scared our
children how? Livia?
They were
following me around, asking questions. I told
them that where I come from warriors ate little girls.
I only did it to get rid of them.
Livia, go home. Youre finished with your labors for the
day.
The crowd parted,
albeit begrudgingly, and allowed Livia to pass through. Once Livia had closed the door of
the royal hut behind her, Brigid spoke.
I want everyone
here, in the main square, at sunset. Everyone."
**********
Rome
Augustus Caesar paced
the floors of his private chambers. Hed
sent scouts out to tell him what had become of his beloved Livia and her Alpha legion. She
should have either returned or sent word from a messenger by now of how the campaign was
going. Instead there was nothing.
Finally, just as he
was ready to mount up and ride to the Amazon Forests himself to find out what was going
on, a soldier entered the room. He carried a scroll and his face was pinched and worried.
My lord. I have bad news. The Alpha legion has disappeared.
There is no sign of them with the exception of some bodies found floating downstream, and
at the mouth of their forests.
No sign? How can
that be? She went out there with ten thousand
men!
The messenger shrank
back in fear from his lords wrath, but had nothing to say in response. Augustus pulled his emotions under control and
nodded, trying to regain some measure of control over the worry that was gripping his
heart. Hed just found Livia. He
couldnt lose her now.
Very well. I want four legions prepared. Were riding
against the Amazons. Now!
The soldier saluted
and rushed out, wanting nothing more than to be out of the presence of his angry emperor. Augustus, however, was more afraid than angry. At
least for now. If he found that Livia was dead, he wouldnt rest until every single
Amazon in existence was dead. But before he
did any of that
**********
Ghita was rarely
shocked, but she was astonished when Augustus had her taken from her cell. Not to be crucified as she was expecting, but
cleaned up and dressed in fine robes. She
stood before him as he looked out of his bedroom window, staring down at the streets of
Rome as soldier after soldier prepared to march against the Amazon forests.
My Lord.
Augustus turned to
face her, his handsome face looking more haggard than usual. Im glad youre here. I dont
need to tell you that the nature of our relationship has changed.
Changed? I
thought it was over.
Augustus nodded and
came to stand before her, holding her shoulders, gently instead of angrily like she was
expecting. Yes. Its over. I have fallen in love with Livia. However, I have
decided not to have you crucified as she has ordered. Instead, there is the matter of a
certain baby, possibly orphaned.
She waited as he
stared a hole though her eyes and into something private that she couldnt fathom. Yes?
Instead I want
you to take responsibility for your actions. You
have a choice. You can either raise Doran as
your own or you can hang on a cross.
Thats a
hard one, she said with her old sarcasm. Ill
raise the child.
Theres
another stipulation. You must leave Rome and
never return. You cannot take any of your valuables or possessions, except the clothes on
your back.
She stared at him,
shocked. How do you expect me to
provide for the child?
Augustus ran a hand
insultingly over her body. You have
great assets to use in your favor, wouldnt you agree?
She stared him down
until he finally rescinded some of his contempt for her.
The baby will need some things I suppose.
Alright. I will have a soldier meet you outside of Cadmus quarters. You may
take one slave and a bag of gold. After that, youre on your own. If you ever return to Rome, Ill allow Livia
to whatever she pleases with you.
He turned from her and
Ghita new better than to push her luck with this man.
She turned away from him and found a guard waiting to escort her either to the
child or to the cross.
Take me to the
child.
**********
Livia, what were
you thinking? You could have gotten yourself
into a situation that I couldnt get you out of!
I was thinking
that I wasnt going to let that Linara bitch beat me without a fight.
Is there
anything else that happened I should know about Livie?
I told you
everything.
Brigid sat down in
front of Livia so her younger sister would have no choice but to face her. Livia,
what happened to you since we were separated? Why
are you so full of hate? Why cant you trust anyone?
Livia stood and turned
away from Brigid. She was at her lowest point in life, but she was too blinded by her
resentments with the world and Ares doctrines that she couldnt see the
blessings that had been bestowed upon her by the powers that be. Shed been given a second chance with family,
and she was wasting it by withdrawing into herself instead of sharing with Brigid.
I want you to
pack your things.
Livia looked up in
excitement, but her hopes were quickly dashed when Brigid began to laugh and shake her
head. No, no. Im not releasing
you. If I did that, the tribe would have my head.
No, Im taking you out of here for a little while. Get ready. Ill be
back for you in an hour or so.
Where are you
going?
Im going
to talk to the princess. Then Im going to make a few things clear with my
sisters. Brigid left, and Livia began
to pack her few belongings. She was finished
in under a minute, and had nothing but an entire hour of boredom to look forward to as she
awaited Brigids return.
**********
Brigid entered
Linaras tent to find one of the healers tending her wounds, but the biggest wound
Linara was suffering from was her pride, and she turned away from Brigid in shame.
Is she going to
be ok?
The healer gave her a
small wink. Her most serious wound
cant be treated with a balm. Ill check on her again later.
When they were alone
again, Brigid took a seat next to her sister. After a few moments of silence in which it
became clear Linara wasnt going to talk without prompting, or maybe a direct order,
Brigid pulled her over to face her.
Id like to
hear your version of the story. Being the loyal Amazon you are, I know youll tell me
the absolute truth.
Fine. Linara struggled to sit up. Once she was reclined
against the headboard of her bed, she pulled her knees up to her chest. Livia told
some of our children that she would eat them if they didnt leave her alone. She
scared them, so I went over and told her to try it with me.
Her chains were
cut.
I did
that.
Brigid understood
exactly what had happened, and it angered her. So
you used that silly, pathetic excuse of Livia scaring the children with a story you knew
was designed to get them to leave her alone while she worked as an excuse to try and kill
her.
I cant
believe youre taking her side on this!
Perhaps it was the
stress of the past month of having Livia in their camp and trying to stand up under the
constant disapproval of her sisters, or maybe it was the anger she felt for whoever had
turned Livia from the sweet, innocent child shed known and loved only a few years
before to the monster she was now, but Brigid was going to put her foot down. Not just
with Linara, but with all of her sisters.
I want you to
understand something Linara, and understand it good.
Livia is my sister. You know my story with her, and you know that Im
determined to save her if I can. Something happened to her when she and I were separated,
and I have to heal her. Im going to do it, whether or not you like it or understand
it. As far as Im concerned you got what
you deserve for disobeying me.
Yes, my
Queen.
Though her words were
obedient, Linaras eyes flashed with anger, hot and furious.
That sounded
more like Fine you stupid bitch but Ill assume you meant the utmost
respect. Brigid said, and Linara didnt try to deny it.
Im taking
Livia out of here for awhile. I think
everyone could use a break from seeing her, and vice versa. When we return, Im making Livia an Amazon
citizen. Youll be in charge until my
return.
Linara watched her
Queen go, and she was overwhelmed with resentment. Livia was the enemy. Shed tried
to destroy the Amazon nation and take their forests from them. How could Brigid possibly try to resurrect a
friendship that no longer existed?
When the other sisters
heard of Brigids plan, Linara believed, they would probably be angry enough to
revolt against her rule and banish her from the tribe. Hell, they may even consider
executing her as a traitor for sparing the enemy. If
so, would Linara remain faithful to the Queen who was rapidly becoming a stranger to her?
Or would she join the opposition if it arose?
As she lay back down,
hurting from the wounds inflicted by Livias hands and Brigids words, Linara
wasnt so certain where her loyalties would lay when the time came to choose sides.
The
end of Chapter Six