Antony
and Cleopatra, An Awakening XXVII
Frau Hunter Ash
Xena broke in the door easily with a kick of her foot and she grabbed at Artemis' arms as Gabrielle's hands dropped to her sides, barely conscious.
"Artemis! Have you lost your mind?" Xena demanded.
The warrior was thrown back into the gangway of the ship by a massive electric charge from the Goddess. Xena shook her head with a growl as she took in the manic eyes of the Goddess of the Hunt and her own mate's red face.
Xena concentrated and held her hands out in front of her and sent all her sense of desperation into one burst of emotion, sending her own electric bolt at Artemis.
The warrior blinked and tried to stand up but found she couldn't. She crawled into the cabin and found Gabrielle leaning against a bulkhead, coughing violently. There was no sign of Artemis.
Xena slammed the door shut, crawled to her mate and drew Gabrielle into her arms.
"I take it that it didn't go well," she whispered as Gabrielle began to cry.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"How in Tartarus are we going to explain a black eye and handprints around my throat, let alone this voice?" Gabrielle demanded, her voice harsh and in almost a whisper.
"We say the training got a little intense today and leave it at that," Xena suggested as she held Gabrielle in her arms on the bed.
"Xena, what happened? I've never seen her like that," Gabrielle asked softly.
"I don't know," Xena admitted. Gabrielle had told her everything that had happened and she couldn't believe that Artemis had reacted that way. "We know the gods can be as petty and jealous as everyone else but this was more than an over reaction."
"I want to go home," Gabrielle repeated. "I don't think Greece will be too hospitable with us if Artemis has turned against me and Mars doesn't like either of us."
"That is a given," Xena agreed.
"How do we get out of this if Artemis won't zap us out of here?"
"I've been thinking about that," Xena said slowly. "Maybe we do have to follow through with some of this. Not for Artemis or anyone else but because it's what is right."
"Xena, what do you mean?"
"You saw what Antony was like after Caesar's death, he tracked the Senate members responsible for the assassination with a vengeance that was beyond brutal," Xena said thoughtfully. "He had friends of friends killed, even distant cousins of the assassins out of revenge. Imagine what he would be like as Emperor after a 10 year civil war with Octavian."
"Octavian is in power in Rome," Gabrielle said, musing it over. "Antony would have to purge the entire Senate and most of the high citizens of Rome."
"As well as most of the officers in the Legions and the entire Praetorian Guard," Xena added.
"Well, all conquerors do that, hazard of the job," Gabrielle tried to smile. “For some reason it comes down to killing everyone around you to prevent even more deaths from those bent on revenge. I hate politics.”
"For the sake of Greece, Octavian needs to win," Xena said finally.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cleopatra was very concerned over Gabrielle’s black eye and swollen throat and ordered special soft foods be prepared for the bard despite Gabrielle’s protests that she would be fine as she healed fast.
Xena noticed Antony’s sharp brown eyes taking in Gabrielle’s injuries and her claim of healing quickly.
The warrior wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle excused herself from the usual after dinner talk and entertainment. Xena knew that her bard was still hurting both physically and emotionally from the attack by Artemis and needed some time.
Xena also wanted a chance to talk with Antony.
The warrior wasn’t disappointed when she went out on the deck later that evening to discover that Antony followed shortly behind her. She also wasn’t surprised when he stood very close to her and began to nuzzle her neck. Xena shook him off.
“I told you, I am loyal to Gabrielle,” she growled.
“Is that why you two fought?” he asked casually and laughed at her surprised expression.
“I saw that workout this morning, you two barely touched each other,” he grinned. “You certainly didn’t have your hand wrapped around her throat. What happened?”
“None of your business,” Xena snapped, suddenly very uncomfortable with the role she was being thrust into. The warrior hated her past and now it was back again with Antony thinking she was capable of abusing Gabrielle. At one time it would have been common for Xena to abuse both men and women: physically, emotionally and sexually.
Even though that had been years before, it was now back in her face. She couldn’t deny the accusation without raising some questions she couldn’t answer. Xena didn’t dare tell Antony that Gabrielle was attacked by her own patron goddess.
“How do you keep Cleo from finding out about your sexual wandering?” Xena demanded.
“No big deal,” he said with a grin, leaning and placing a hand on either side of Xena on the railing, almost hugging her and inches away from her. “I drug her wine.”
“How in Tartarus do you manage that with her tasters?”
“I share my goblet with her, I have quite a tolerance for it,” he continued to grin.
Xena shook her head and moved under his arms and out of his potential embrace.
“No matter what you think, I am loyal to Gabrielle,” Xena growled.
“In two days we either decide on the battle that could determine the fate of the Empire, don’t you think we should be friends?” he asked, moving close to Xena again.
“We will never be friends, Antony,” Xena reminded him as he drew her into his arms, she resisted hitting him.
“Well, you were never friends with Caesar either but you were incredible with him,” Antony muttered as he kissed her neck.
“Is that what this is about?” she demanded, letting him pull her even closer, keeping her hands on his chest, ready to shove. “You want to conquer what Caesar conquered, even me?”
“Maybe, tell me you don’t miss this,” he insisted and began kissing her.
Xena shut down her emotions and returned the kiss for a moment before pushing him back.
“Better focus on business until after the battle,” she snapped and turned for her cabin.
Once out of sight, Xena wiped viciously at her lips and smacked the bulkhead with her fist, hard.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Apollo?” Gabrielle said softly as she sat on the bed in her and Xena’s cabin. “Father?”
Gabrielle shielded her eyes as brightness filled the cabin and subsided to reveal Apollo standing at the foot of the bed. The bard smiled at the sight of her most handsome deity father as he quickly moved around the bed and carefully examined her eye and throat.
Gabrielle held up her hand to stop the God of Healing when he raised his hand towards her eye.
“Others have seen it, they’ll get suspicious if it’s instantly healed,” she explained.
“Gabrielle, I’m sorry, I wish I could have stopped that before it happened,” he said gently.
“Do you know what happened?”
“I was about to step in and take my sister in hand when Xena surprised her with that lightning bolt,” he explained, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Do you know why?” Gabrielle asked, her eyes filling with tears. “She attacked me!”
“I think I have an idea,” Apollo said slowly. “Gabrielle, you know the Greek gods and goddess are fairly close to humans in our behavior.”
“Yes,” Gabrielle nodded.
“Our emotions tend to be a little intense at times and because of our powers, humans tend to get hurt,” Apollo continued. “Artemis has fallen for a human and it’s driving her crazy because it’s really a first for her. She hasn’t the slightest idea how to handle it.”
“A human? Not Antony!” Gabrielle protested.
“No, my sister isn’t known for her patience or attraction to males: god or human,” Apollo smiled.
“No,” Gabrielle shook her head, her eyes widening. “Artemis wants Antony out of the way for Cleo?”
“I’m afraid so,” he nodded.
“She wants me to kill Antony just so she can hook up with Cleo?” Gabrielle demanded in a hiss.
“In addition to his killing her Amazons and your tribe,” he pointed out.
“I cannot believe this!” she growled.
“I can’t interfere; too many gods have their eyes on this civil war with Antony, Cleo and Octavian. That’s why Artemis won’t just kill Antony herself,” he explained.
“You can’t zap me and Xena out of here?” she asked with a frown.
“No, you’re here and already entwined in the planning,” Apollo shook his head.
“Damn,” she muttered.
“I must leave,” he announced and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. “I won’t let Artemis hurt you.”
“You might not have a choice, Father,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully.
“What do you mean?” he demanded.
“I’ll have to give up my Queenship of the Black Forest Amazons, she might demand some sort of punishment for failing to carry out my blood oath,” Gabrielle explained.
“My sister can get as prissy as she wants about it, you’re still my daughter,” he growled and disappeared as the door started to open.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle found Xena sitting on the edge of the bed before dawn the next morning. She told the warrior about Apollo’s visit and his explanation of Artemis’ behavior.
The bard sat up and leaned against Xena’s shoulder, moving up against the warrior.
“You okay?” she asked softly, letting Xena’s warmth and energy connect with her.
“Yeah, I think I figured out what we can do,” Xena said, leaning back into her bard. “It’ll be dangerous and probably cost us our friendship with Cleo.”
“Dangerous isn’t anything new and no matter what we do is going to cost us Cleopatra’s friendship,” Gabrielle responded.
“I know and I’m sorry we didn’t think this through before agreeing to come here,” Xena said, the regret apparent in her voice.
“We’ve been making a lot of mistakes lately,” Gabrielle commented. “I think we need to get out of the hero business for awhile if we’re going to stay sane.”
“I agree,” Xena nodded. “We get out of here and go home. I want to rebuild our relationship, raise Asher, and see Sasha as much as possible.”
“Sounds like my plan,” Gabrielle smiled gently. “What is your idea?”
“Antony says that his officers have searched among his galleys and there’s no sign of Eli,” Xena began. “If he’s still alive and in the galleys it’s on Octavian’s side.”
“Damn, I was hoping but we knew it was a long shot,” Gabrielle muttered.
“Well, I’m going to talk Antony into letting you off the ship, before we make camp, when we hit land. We’re going to tell them that you’re going to Palestine to search for Eli,” Xena explained.
“Okay, first: why am I leaving you? Two: he won’t believe I’m leaving you.”
“Antony already believes that you’re unfaithful because of Asher and that I’m the one that caused those bruises,” Xena said softly and felt Gabrielle’s muscles tense. The warrior wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle pulled away. Xena turned and found a very angry Gabrielle.
“It’s bad enough I feel like I betrayed us without that bastard smirking around,” Gabrielle growled.
“I know and we’ve been through this, the bacchanalia wasn’t your fault,” Xena said once more. “Neither was Callisto and Antony’s opinion doesn’t matter about anything. I love you and I know you love me.”
“I probably should have tried to think of something different with Callisto,” Gabrielle muttered.
“We aren’t going to debate this again, Gabrielle,” Xena frowned impatiently. “After being trapped in the lava, Callisto was more insane than ever and would have burned you if you had tried to talk your way out of there and you know it.”
Gabrielle continued to frown but shrugged. “You aren’t planning the same idea with Antony, are you?”
“Something close,” Xena admitted and held up a hand as Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed at her. “Bad boy or not, he makes my skin crawl, lover. The night before the battle he’ll try something; I’ll bash his head around a little bit and then reveal what a bastard he is to Cleo the next day. She’ll throw him to Octavian and, hopefully, call off the battle and negotiate with Octavian.”
“Why do you think she’ll believe you? He’s been doing that to women for years,” Gabrielle questioned.
“If I have to, I’ll take parts of his anatomy to prove my point,” Xena promised.
“Okay, so you want me gone so he’ll believe you’re available or at least that we’re fighting,” Gabrielle pondered. “Where am I going? I am not going to Palestine without you.”
“No, you’re going to Octavian’s camp and giving him Antony’s battle plans,” Xena said easily.
Gabrielle sighed heavily. “And Octavian will believe me because I’ll be his hostage.”
“Yes, and he’ll remember us helping him when he took on Brutus,” Xena pointed out.
“I don’t like being separated on two different sides on a battle, Xena,” Gabrielle complained.
“I know, neither do I,” Xena agreed and pulled Gabrielle into her arms. “After this we’re heading home. Long nights in front of a fire, listening to your stories and watching Asher getting bigger. Drinking Iolaus’ mead and hunting with Herc, that’s what we’re going to do after this.”
“We need that, Xena,” Gabrielle agreed.
“That and long nights of making love to you,” Xena whispered and lowered her lips to kiss the bard gently and lovingly.
Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her warrior and sighed. Leaning her head on Xena’s shoulder, enjoying the embrace.
“So when do I leave and how do we go about this?”
“I figure that we pretend that we’re mad at each other starting this morning and I’ll talk to Cleo and Antony about you leaving when we dock later this afternoon,” Xena said, wishing they could ignore the problems facing them and just stay in the moment of having Gabrielle in her arms, neither one of them injured or in immediate danger. A calm and loving moment and those never lasted long enough.
Xena made a mental promise to herself that she was going to make that up to her wife.
“Okay, I don’t like the plan but I can’t think of another one,” Gabrielle muttered, pulling out of Xena’s arms.
“I know, just a couple of days. The plan is to camp for two days and surprise Octavian on the sea,” Xena explained. “Octavian and Agrippa know that Antony and his admirals are no match for them so they won’t be expecting a sea attack.”
“Being unpredictable, are you?” Gabrielle grinned.
“Yup,” Xena agreed with an answering smile. “If Octavian doesn’t know about the plans, he could be caught napping and lose the battle and maybe the war.”
“Antony will have me searched when I leave,” Gabrielle pointed out.
“I know, you’ll have to memorize the plans,” Xena suggested and the bard nodded.
“Let’s get this over with,” Gabrielle said unhappily.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle fought against looking back over her shoulder to the ship she just left. She knew Xena was watching her but so was Antony and Cleopatra and she couldn’t betray Xena’s plan by letting them see her face right then.
The bard pulled on all her skills to keep her face as rigid as she could but was quickly failing. Gabrielle kept her shoulders straight and her walk confident until she got around a corner and out of sight. The bard leaned against a wall and finally let sobs escape her throat.
Knowing that Antony’s spies were everywhere, Gabrielle quickly composed herself and moved off towards the market, determined to act as normal as possible. She was off the ship and her appetite was returning.
After getting a few supplies, the bard moved to a tavern on the waterfront and inquired about passage to Judea. She was directed to a tough, weathered and gruff merchant captain and haggled with him until they were both satisfied with the terms.
She agreed on the passage and the departure of two candle-marks later. Gabrielle knew that she was probably under observation and finally spotted two different men watching her, probably one from Antony and one from Cleo.
Gabrielle managed to avoid talking to either of them during the day and had made hasty goodbyes, playing her part of being upset and leaving her mate behind.
It had been so hard to leave Xena behind.
Gabrielle wandered through the local market and made a few casual purchases and stuffed them in her traveling bags. She made the ship in plenty of time for departure. She leaned casually against the railing as the ship left the dock. The bard spotted the two spies watching the ship depart.
The bard stretched and walked towards the cabins, in full view of the people on the dock.
Gabrielle quickly moved around to the other side of the ship and glanced around. Seeing that all the sailors were busy with their duties, the bard slipped over the side of the ship, holding her breath against the cold water. She waited for the ship to pass, not really surprised that no one on the ship noticed her among the small boats roaming back and forth as well as the ships leaving the docks.
Gabrielle worked her way slowly to the docks and crawled out, ignoring the stares from the local sailors and dockworkers. She moved quickly to the stable where she grabbed her cloak and travel bags from under the hay in the stall she had rented. Gabrielle grabbed the horse she had purchased earlier.
Dressed like a messenger, Gabrielle left the stable and headed out the city gates.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena managed to avoid Antony, and Cleo as well, for much of the day as everyone was busy transferring to the main camp that was set up on land near Actium, Greece. Dinner, however, was strained. Everyone was tired and stressed about the upcoming battle. Each of them knew somehow that this battle could well determine the entire outcome of the long and bloody war. How important it was to both sides.
Cleopatra was concerned with Antony’s drinking and sullen behavior; Antony was distracted with the battle plans and Xena let her irritation and frustration at Gabrielle’s absence show through.
“So, Xena,” Antony said, finally snapping out of his sulkiness. “Tell us about this slave you’re searching for.”
“As I told you, he’s a personal friend of ours,” Xean began. “He’s Hebrew and was wrongly labeled a Zealot because his brother was. He was sent to the galleys and we’d like to take him home.”
“A condemned criminal?” Cleopatra asked.
“Yes, by Rome,” Xena clarified. “He’s a messenger of peace and doesn’t preach rebellion. He became too popular though and he worried the officials in Judea.”
“They have every reason to worry,” Antony muttered. “I’d wipe out the entire province if it wouldn’t be so damned expensive. That desert breeds zealots, madmen, saviors and snakes.”
“Eli is none of those,” Xena smiled slightly.
“What happened to his brother?” Cleopatra asked.
“Killed, crucified by the Romans,” Xena responded, keeping her voice level and calm. She remembered how Gabrielle had suffered with the vision of seeing Asher Ben-Mishael being crucified. It brought up all the old nightmares of her own crucifixion at the hands of Caesar.
“He’s important enough for Gabrielle to leave just before a major battle to search for him in Roman prisons in Judea?” Antony asked, frowning over his wine.
“We told you once before, we take care of our friends,” Xena growled.
“And I, for one, am grateful that you do,” Cleopatra quickly added, hoping to defuse the tenseness between the two warriors.
“Thank you, Cleopatra,” Xena said respectfully.
“When do you anticipate the battle taking place?” the Queen asked, changing the subject.
“Day after tomorrow,” Antony asked. “According to our spies, that’ll be the best opportunity to catch Octavian off guard in the gulf.”
“I agree, he won’t be expecting a sea attack and he’ll be planning on landing his troops for battle,” Xena explained.
“Excellent planning,” Cleo said.
“The loser won’t know what hit him,” Xena said with a small smile.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle tried not to let her nervousness show as the Captain of the Guard examined the message tube. He carefully inspected the wax seal and the imprint in the wax but then frowned.
The bard pulled on a chain around her neck, pulling it out of her tunic and showed him the ring.
“Leave your weapons with the guards, all of them,” he instructed.
Gabrielle, knowing the thoroughness of Praetorian Guards, handed over her sais, short sword, and two daggers. She opened her cloak and let one of them search her. The bard clenched her jaw tightly, trying not to react to his hands on her body. He was efficient and not out of line and Gabrielle was grateful.
“Come with me,” the Captain instructed and opened the tent flap in front of her.
Gabrielle stepped inside the tent of Octavian, also known as Augustus Caesar, and felt a sense of familiarity come over her. Xena was correct in her assessment of Romans, once they found something that worked, they never changed it. The tent was just like his tent was 10 years before, when she and Xena had last seen Octavian.
“A messenger, Lord Octavian,” the Captain announced.
The would-be Emperor of the Roman Empire didn’t even glance at the messenger as he took the message tube. He quickly opened it and scanned the message inside.
Octavian hesitated and looked up from the table. Gabrielle pulled the head of her cloak slightly back and smiled at his surprised expression.
“Everyone out!” he said softly and his officers and the Captain looked confused. “Out!” he said louder. “Now! The messenger stays!”
It took several moments of loud protests and Octavian refusing to answer questions but eventually he was alone with the bard.
“Gabrielle?” he asked softly and she pulled the cloak off. “By the gods! You are still incredibly beautiful!”
Gabrielle laughed, remembering how her first instincts had told the warrior bard that she liked the young man, then and now.
“You look good, Octavian,” she said easily and accepted a hug from him.
He had grown into a handsome man with sharp features that reminded the bard of a fox but without the vicious glint in his eyes that Caesar had been known for.
“Where’s Xena?” he asked.
“You’re not going to believe me,” Gabrielle smirked.
“The note says to trust you totally and the upcoming battle and the Empire will be mine. Were you sent by the gods?”
“Sorta,” Gabrielle hesitated. “Listen, call in food and drink, it’s a long story and bring in Agrippa only. You have a traitor among your officers.”
“How do you know that?” he demanded, suddenly serious.
“I just came from Antony and Cleopatra,” Gabrielle said truthfully. “They don’t know I’m here.”
Octavian looked at Gabrielle for a long moment and went to the tent flap. “Bring the messenger’s weapons back to her. Have food and drink brought in immediately. Agrippa, get your pirate ass in here.”
“Yes, Caesar!” voices shouted.
Gabrielle pulled her hood back up as servants rushed to comply with Octavian’s orders and finally pulled it off when they left, leaving her with Octavian and Agrippa.
“Agrippa, this is Gabrielle,” Octavian said, pulling out maps and glancing over them until he settled on a coastal and ocean one. “Bard, warrior, Champion of Rome, and friend to Xena.”
“You forgot Queen of the Amazons, enemy of Caesar, and friend to Cleopatra,” Agrippa added.
“Guilty of all of those,” Gabrielle nodded. “I just came from Antony and Cleopatra’s royal barge.”
“Well, you’re not a spy if you came in the open,” Agrippa commented. “Come to negotiate terms for them?”
“Antony is even more stubborn than Julius Caesar was and not half as smart,” Gabrielle complained. “And Cleopatra is blinded by her love for him.”
“They won’t surrender, will they?” Octavian said sadly.
“No, at least not the way things are right now,” Gabrielle agreed. “Let me start at the beginning.”
The Roman Admiral and Roman Emperor sat patiently while Gabrielle explained how she and Xena got to Egypt from Germania and their role in planning the upcoming battle. Both looked skeptical when told of Xena’s plan.
“You have the battle plan memorized?” Agrippa demanded.
“Yes, everything Antony is planning with Xena,” Gabrielle nodded.
“Why should we trust this?” the Admiral demanded. “It could be a trap!”
“Yes, it could be,” Gabrielle said easily. “If it is then my life is forfeit. I’m your hostage to ensure Xena goes through with the plan.”
“That royal signet ring, that was Brutus’ wasn’t it?” Octavian asked.
“Yes, Xena took it off of him when he killed himself rather than face her in battle.”
“You helped both Antony and me in that battle,” Octavian said thoughtfully. “You said then that you had a blood oath against Antony but that it would wait. You waited 10 years to take revenge?”
“Octavian, you’ve been at war with Antony for 10 years, is there a difference?” Gabrielle asked softly, her voice bitter.
“Xena plans on getting Cleopatra to denounce Antony after all this time?” Agrippa growled. “How?”
“By showing Cleo what a bastard he is, especially with women,” Gabrielle explained.
“Why should that matter?” Octavian asked. “Everyone knew Antony’s reputation years before Caesar died. Cleopatra knew that and used it to drive him crazy when he came to gain her favor. She used her beauty to entice him and then denied him until he was mad with lust and it turned into love, power, and conquest.”
“He wants to conqueror Xena as well. She’s hoping that will finally snap Cleo’s patience,” Gabrielle frowned, considering what Octavian had said. If he was right, then Cleo wouldn’t react the way they needed her to. “If not, Xena plans on knocking her unconscious and changing the battle plans around Antony during the fight.”
“Well, Agrippa?” Octavian asked as the Admiral looked over the map.
“We could work a very effective defense against his first strike and then mount an offense from this position,” Agrippa said, pointing to two different places.
“Yes,” Octavian agreed.
“What is your motivation besides revenge, Gabrielle?” Agrippa asked.
“The Greater Good,” she answered wearily. “What is best for the Empire is Octavian, not Antony. What is best for Egypt is Cleopatra without Antony.”
“What’s best for Xena and Gabrielle?” he demanded. “What do you get out of it?”
“Hopefully, to go home to our son and leave the damned politics and wars to someone else for a few years,” she snapped.
“No treasure requests? No official post of power? No title of royalty? No citizenship of Rome?” Agrippa pressed.
“I’m already a citizen of Rome,” Gabrielle growled, her voice an octave lower in anger. “Given to me by the hand of Caesar when he handed me a wooden sword in the Circus.”
“You can’t be old enough to be Dancer!” he protested.
“Think back on your tales of Xena and Gabrielle,” Octavian grinned.
“I’m older than I look,” Gabrielle explained. “As for reward, all we want is safe passage through the Empire on our way home.”
“Xena was a vicious conqueror,” Agrippa frowned. “You’re telling me that she has the power to decide who will be Emperor of Rome and you want nothing?”
“Nothing more than traveling expenses and one favor,” Gabrielle clarified.
“Now we get to it!” Agrippa nodded. “What would you demand from the Emperor of Rome?”
“The pardon and release of a prisoner in one of your galleys,” Gabrielle said easily.
“What?” Agrippa shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe what he had heard. “A slave? You want a slave? Hades, take your pick of any soldier or gladiator. They’re in better shape than galley slaves.”
“I think you miss the point, Agrippa,” Octavian said calmly. “Who is the prisoner?”
“Eli Ben-Mishael,” Gabrielle answered.
“A Hebrew?” Agrippa questioned. “A Zealot?”
“He was branded a zealot but he’s not,” she said. “He spreads a message of peace, not rebellion but he became too popular and the politicians feared him and his brother. They crucified his brother and sent him to the galleys. I ask for a total pardon and his freedom.”
“Agreed,” Octavian said casually.
“Caesar!” Agrippa protested. “We know nothing of the case!”
“I trust Gabrielle,” Octavian shrugged. “If he’s a friend, then it’ll be fine. I’ll have papers drawn up for you to search for your friend and anyone else you want to take with you. I have many servants, slaves and soldiers from the North, there might be someone from your area that wants to go back. I give you that choice.”
“Thank you, Octavian, that’s generous,” Gabrielle said softly.
“Not at all,” he shrugged. “If you’re giving me an Empire, a few slaves or servants would be a small price to pay. I will still consider myself in your debt if this works.”
He turned to Agrippa. “Now, let’s plan a surprise for Antony. Guard! Send in my scribe. Gabrielle, you’ll have the papers in a few minutes and I’ll have the Captain of the Guard take you to the galleys and you can search for your friend.”
“Thank you again, Octavian,” she said.
“You’ll stay in my tent and keep out of sight,” he continued. “By the way, which of my officers is a traitor?”
“The one known as Linus Caspirus,” she responded.
Agrippa’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
“He’s a loyal Roman!” he protested.
“He’s loyal to Antony’s gold,” Gabrielle responded as she put on her cloak. “He’s been feeding Antony information for months now.”
“Have Linus taken into custody and don’t let him see Gabrielle,” Octavian ordered his Admiral.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Antony froze in place, not even daring to breathe. He swallowed around the tip of the dagger pressing against his throat and waited.
“Go back to your own bed, Marc,” Xena’s voice said wearily. “I don’t need company.”
Antony backed away from the blade slowly and felt Xena turn the rest of the way over in the bed. He sat down carefully on the edge, keeping his hands away from the sheets.
“Tell me you don’t miss having a man in your bed,” Antony insisted.
“Why do males insist that a woman can’t satisfy as well as a man?” Xena smirked and sat up, keeping the dagger in her hand between them.
“Men and women are different, the pleasures you reach may be the same but the energy is different.”
“That’s true,” Xena pondered. “That’s why you could never measure up to Gabrielle.”
Xena could feel Antony tense with anger and felt her own muscles tighten in anticipation of whatever he might do.
“Then why isn’t she with you now?” he demanded.
“You want the truth? She couldn’t take staying around and watching you become Emperor,” Xena snapped. “We thought she could set aside her revulsion for you and her blood oath but it was too difficult for her.”
“And you can take it?” Antony grinned, his eyes adjusting enough to the dark to see Xena’s face as she watched him.
“You forget, I used to be like you,” Xena growled. “I can bite back my disgust.”
“Disgust?” Antony questioned, carefully moving his hand to push the knife aside and lean closer to the warrior. “Didn’t feel like disgust last night.”
“Antony, go back to bed before I cut off something Cleopatra would be upset about,” Xena threatened.
Antony grinned but backed up.
“One day of preparation and then we face Octavian, after that battle we’ll celebrate, Xena!”
“After that battle I’ll be gone, Antony,” Xena warned.
“Don’t try and fool me, Xena!” he laughed. “You can feel the power surrounding me and Cleopatra. Come along for the ride! There’s more than enough room! Fulfill your destiny and old desires!”
“That’s all they are, Marc,” Xena shook her head. “Old desires, long dead and forgotten. I have what I want with Gabrielle.”
“A cabin in the middle of barbarian lands with some man’s bastard to raise? Cleo is very attracted to you, we could share the power.”
“And have one of you kill me out of jealousy or out of politics?” Xena countered. “Antony, give up this damned war! You know Rome will never accept you after Octavian has had 10 years to poison their minds against you. They never accepted Cleopatra when Julius was alive.”
“I’ve found over the years that power and gold buys a lot of acceptance,” Antony reasoned. “The people won’t care as long as they are fed and happy. The Senate won’t care as long as we spread the power and money around enough for them. The army won’t mind as long as we give them plenty of victories with lots of bonuses and loot. Anyone else to worry about?”
“So, with the gold of Egypt, you’ll ride to Emperor,” Xena commented.
“Yes, that was always the plan,” Antony nodded. “Having Cleopatra as my wife makes it all work and worthwhile. You may not believe it, Xena, but I do love her.”
“She loves you and won’t see you for the bastard you are,” Xena growled.
“Cleo sees a lot but doesn’t ‘see’ much more,” he agreed. “Our relationship works better that way.”
“Go to bed, Antony,” Xena repeated. “We have a lot of last minute planning tomorrow. I want this over with and to be headed to Judea to join up with Gabrielle.”
“Always Gabrielle, isn’t it?” Antony demanded with a frown.
“Always,” Xena agreed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“You’re up late,” Octavian commented as he walked around from the screen separating his bed from the rest of his tent. Gabrielle looked up from the table and smiled slightly.
“Yeah, guess I’m adjusting to being back on land.”
“And missing Xena?” he ventured and sat down, the sheet wrapped tightly around him.
“Yes, very much so. I hate it when we are separated like this,” Gabrielle complained.
“I wish I knew what that was like,” he mused softly. “There’s a young woman that I’ve met on trips back to Rome. It’s a match I think I’d like to try for. She’s intelligent, beautiful, and comes from a powerful family.”
“Always politics,” Gabrielle teased.
“Always. It is Rome, after all,” Octavian explained with a smile.
“What’s her name?” Gabrielle asked, watching the man she knew as a youth.
“Liva,” he smiled. “What about you, worried about Xena falling for Antony’s fabled charms?”
“No, remember, she resisted Ares for years,” she grinned.
“That’s true,” Octavian agreed with a smile. “I will be glad when this is all over. I’m tired of fighting, Gabrielle. There is so much that can be done with the power of Rome, so many reforms. Many of them my uncle had planned but let the rise to power seize him.”
“Do you blame us for his death?” Gabrielle asked.
“I know that you warned Brutus that my Uncle was planning on killing him,” Octavian admitted. “Even Antony doesn’t know that or you’d both be dead. He worshipped Uncle Julius. I don’t blame you and I don’t even blame Brutus and Cassius. They were just responding to his threat.”
“You Romans are a strange lot,” Gabrielle said, shaking her head.
“Yes, politics makes strange alliances, marriages, enemies and never friends,” he agreed.
“That’s why we want to go home and leave all this to you and the rest of them,” Gabrielle said, shaking her head.
“You’re tired of being the hero?”
“I don’t know if we’re heroes, Octavian,” Gabrielle protested. “What I know is that we have a son to raise, a daughter to visit while she studies and a life to live together.”
“Then let’s end this ridiculous civil war and get everyone where they belong,” he suggested with a smile.
“Even if you win the battle it might take awhile to finish things up,” Gabrielle complained.
“We both know, whoever wins the battle coming up will end up winning the war as long as the winner keeps the loser off his feet,” Octavian said firmly.
“I’m going to look for my friend tomorrow,” Gabrielle informed the Roman leader. “Why did you throw in additional slaves or servants if I wanted?”
“Like I said, I have northerners in there,” he explained. “If some of them are yours, I want you to be able to claim them immediately.”
“Thank you, Octavian.”
“Thank you, that both you and Xena may have ensured my rise to Emperor,” he pointed out.
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