Captured Chapter 1

Captured Chapter 1

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright  1997

            Gabrielle plopped down in the chair next to Xena and took a sip of her wine. She looked around the room, observing the same activity that she would have in any other tavern with one exception, every patron here was a woman.

            Odd that Xena would have chosen this place to rest for the night.  Or maybe not so odd.  Gabrielle leaned back in her chair, running her finger around the rim of her glass and began to think about her evolving relationship with the stoic warrior. The clues were subtle--averted eyes when she would catch Xena watching her towel off, the goose flesh whenever she would help the warrior fasten various buckles on her armor, the sleeping warrior pressed against her back at night.  Subtle.

            Gabrielle smiled at her private memories, sweet images of the fierce warrior woman reduced to that of a clumsy school girl whenever Gabrielle asked to have her tense shoulders rubbed, or when she would walk around the campfire, naked, waiting for her clothes to dry.  It must have been the performer in her, for the bard had always been quick to shed her clothing, feeling completely uninhibited in Xena’s presence.

            Either the atmosphere was right, or the wine had finally kicked in or it was a combination of both, whatever it was it had given Gabrielle the courage to finally broach the topic with her traveling companion. 

            She leaned forward, arms resting on the table. ”Xena, if I ask you a personal question, will you promise to answer it honestly?”

            Xena studied the bard’s face, swallowing hard. “Yes.”

            “What would you do if I asked you to...”  

            Her question was interrupted by a commotion coming from the direction of the entrance.  Gabrielle turned to look and immediately spotted the source of the noise.  

            The woman was not much taller than the bard herself, stocky but muscular, with the movements that reminded Gabrielle of a cat; a large, quick and fierce cat.

             Her head was covered in thick, dark brown, curly hair which hung below her shoulders and was pulled away from her face, at her temples, by a single braid running down the back of her head which set off pronounced cheek bones.  Sitting above those cheeks, in almond shaped openings, were the bluest eyes that Gabrielle had ever seen, rivaling even those of the warrior’s.

            “Pray tell, I smell the scent of a flea laden, cowardly warrior princess who makes her reputation by slaying innocent women and children. I swear to Zeus, but how do you stand the stench!” the woman sneered.

            Gabrielle raised an eyebrow and looked at her companion, preparing herself for whatever action Xena might take.

             Xena pushed away from the table, expressionless, and turned to face her tormentor. The room went deathly quiet, every patron wondering who in this world would be brave or insane enough to challenge the infamous warrior princess.

            “I knew I smelled the detritus from the bottom of the slop pot.”  The newcomer began to walk towards Xena, oblivious to the path opening before her as the crowd stepped back, giving the mortal titans room to work.

             Xena waited, working her jaw, clenching and  unclenching her teeth until she nearly gave herself a headache.  She watched this brash young woman strolling across the room and thought of the day when she would no longer have to stand for these insults from a bunch of mewling half-bakeds still trying to make their own reputations.

            The two women stood only inches apart, Xena looking down at her tormentor, meeting a gaze that was unwavering in its intensity.  Suddenly, the stranger lunged, wrapping her arms around Xena’s neck and legs around Xena’s waist, giving the warrior princess a bear hug which threatened the integrity of a few ribs.  This was followed by a loud kiss on her cheek.

            “Your mouth is going to get you in trouble one day,” Xena finally said.

            “Already does,” she smiled and winked, “gets me out of it, too.”

            Xena laughed, “I see you haven’t changed a bit.”

            “Nope, and you’re still the sexiest woman I’ve ever met and didn’t sleep with.  I’m still trying to figure that one out.”

             Gabrielle cleared her throat, breaking the private reverie of these obviously close friends.  Xena let  Rhoane drop to the floor then looked

around the room and noticed that things were returning to normal.

            “Sorry, Gabrielle, this is Rhoane, probably one of my dearest friends and worst enemies,” she smirked.

             Rhoane backhanded Xena in the chest, never taking her eyes off of the beautiful redheaded bard.

            “She flatters me and I’m charmed.  Xena, I suppose you’re keeping this one for yourself?”   When she heard no response,  Rhoane looked up at her tall friend, noticing the color in Xena’s cheeks and pursed her lips. “OOPS. Well... don’t know ‘bout you two but I’m thirsty.”  She started to walk towards the bar but was stopped by Xena’s hand on her shoulder, “I’ll get it. You still drinking that fermented pond water you call alcohol?”

            Rhoane winked at Gabrielle, “charming as ever, isn’t she.”  Rhoane spun her chair around and straddled it, arms draped across the back. “So, you’re the bard that Xena talks about. I can see why she’s so fascinated with you,” Rhoane smiled.

            Gabrielle found herself liking this brash, almost cocky woman, and decided that they could become pretty good friends in their own right.  “Talks about me...a lot?”

            “She mentions your name in every message she leaves for me.”

            “Message?”

            “Unh huh. Anytime she passes one of our favorite hang outs, she leaves a note.  That’s how we keep up with each other, how I knew you’d be here.  Didn’t know that about her did ya?”  Rhoane continued cryptically, “a lot you don’t know about her.”

             Xena returned to the table, interrupting  Rohane’s statement by placing a glass in front of her. “Don’t pay any attention to her, she’s not to be trusted.”

            “And you’re still jealous.”  Rhoane downed her drink and let her eyes roam around the room.

            “Am not and why are you here?”

            “Business,” she looked at Gabrielle and winked.  “And a little pleasure.”

            Xena noticed the bard blush and felt the slightest stirrings of jealousy at the exchange taking place between her two friends.

            “Business?” Gabrielle asked.

            I’m a collector.”

            Xena barked a laugh. “Don’t listen, she’s a thief.”

            “I’m not a thief; I collect and relocate. Big difference.”

             Xena signaled for another round. “So, what’re you after this time?”

            Rhoane reached inside her tunic and produced a folded piece of parchment, sliding it across the table to Xena.  “That.”

            Xena studied the drawing and then handed it to Gabrielle.  It was a small talisman, round in shape and covered in tiny symbols resembling different geometric shapes.

            “This looks vaguely familiar,” Gabrielle said as she gave the parchment back to Rhoane.

            “It should.  It’s the final piece to the Wheel of Destiny.  My benefactor wants it pretty desperately and she’s paying quite handsomely for it, as well she should because it’s going to be virtually impossible...”

            Rohane’s sentence was interrupted by a serving girl bending over the table, handing out their drinks and there, dangling in Rohane’s face, was the talisman represented in the drawing.

            “...to find.”

            The thief’s gaze wandered up the smooth arm, lingering on the full, rounded breasts, over shoulders strengthened by the nights spent carrying trays laden with food and drink, finally coming to rest on gentle hazel eyes set in a face surrounded by curly, amber colored hair.  Although she would spend the rest of her days denying it, Rhoane felt her face flush a deep red which was exacerbated by the fact that Xena was there to witness such a rare sight.  One that had never been seen before and would never be seen again.  That look was quickly replaced with one that Xena had seen all too often and she knew that their young serving maid was in for a bit of trouble.

            “Rhoane?”  Xena asked, trying to redirect her friend’s attention. 

            “Hmmm?” she answered absently.

            Xena winked at Gabrielle. “You have a snake crawling up your breeches leg.”

            Rhoane slammed her hand down on the table, “Did you see it?”

             Startled by Rohane’s sudden actions, Gabrielle nearly dropped her cup.  “Good great Zeus.  See what?”

            “Around her neck...hanging around her neck?”  Rhoane’s question was met with blank stares.  “Gah…the talisman hanging around her neck is the piece I’m looking for,” she squeaked, leaning heavily against the back of the chair, her attention, once again, focused on the beautiful, young serving girl.  “This is almost too easy.”  She sighed.

            Xena leaned over the table, pointing a finger in her dreamy-eyed friend’s face.  “Don’t you do it.  Don’t you....you offer to buy that piece.”

            “XENA!  I wouldn’t dare.”

            “Oh, yes you would.  I’ve seen you do it over and over again.  You leave her alone.”

            Rhoane waved off Xena’s protestations and took another drink from her mug.  They sat, enjoying each other’s company.  Rhoane told stories on Xena and Xena responded with stories of her own, some of which caused Gabrielle to blush to her boots.

            The thief was in the middle of a particularly entertaining story involving Xena and the High Priestess from Demeter’s temple in Elbonia when a commotion caught her attention.  She stopped mid-sentence and looked in the direction of the noise.

             Their serving girl was backed against the bar with three very unkempt hire-swords surrounding her.  One, the apparent leader, had stretched his hairy arm across her path and was leaning against the bar.

            “Well, lookie here, boys. We got us a fresh one.” He smiled, revealing yellowed and rotting teeth. The young girl tried to push past him but his grip on the bar held firm.  “And look at this, she’s got spunk.”  He and his companions guffawed.

            Rohane’s eyes never left the scene, “’scuse me. I’ll be right back.”

             Gabrielle started to follow but was stopped by Xena’s hand on her arm.  “Sit down and watch. This could get quite entertaining and don’t worry.  If she gets in over her head I’ll go help but I doubt she will.”  Xena flashed her smile at Gabrielle and the bard felt her heart skip a beat.  “I wonder what they’re doing in here anyway?”

            “What do you mean?” Gabrielle asked, a frown touching her face.

             Xena leaned back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest and stretched her legs out in front of her.   “Look around, Gabrielle.  How many other men do you see in here?”

            Gabrielle blinked.  “Well, none.  They’re it.”

            “Take a closer look. Notice anything about the women in here?”

             Gabrielle slowly scanned the room and noticed more than one pair of women involved in obviously very intimate conversations, etc. The bard blushed and looked back at the warrior princess.  

            Xena raised her eyebrows and smiled.   “I like it here,” was all she said then turned her attention back to entertainment across the room.

            The group’s leader was about to make another crude remark when he felt a very forceful tap on his shoulder.  He turned to see who was intruding on his intimate party and burst into laughter when he saw who it was.

            He stood nearly a foot taller than Rhoane and outweighed her half again as much.  “Oh look, another little girl has come to play.  Or is it a boy?  I can’t be sure.”   They burst into a fresh round of laughter.

            Rhoane just smiled and waited for them to settle down.  “Darlin’, I am more woman than you’ll ever have and way more man than you’ll ever be.  Now, why don’t you and the other little boys just run along.  Go play somewhere else.  There’s the door.  I suggest you take it.”  She pointed towards the front of the tavern but he was having no part of it.

            Rohane’s insult had made him angry.  “I’ll break you in half for that remark.”

“Well, well, well...the garbage speaks.”  She looked at the young lady, “Hon, what’s your name?”

“Brandy,” came the soft reply.

            “Brandy, I think you need to speak to the owner about taking the trash out.  It’s beginning to pile up in here,” she pointed to the other two men standing there, “and it’s breeding maggots.” 

            Rhoane easily ducked the wild swing from the leader and countered with three quick jabs to his throat, chest and groin.  The entire tavern could hear him wheezing.

             She grabbed a handful of hair and pulled his head back.  “Think you can find that door by yourself or will you need an escort?”

             His companions decided to take matters into their own hands and tried to land punches of their own but  Rhoane was much faster than her appearance would lead one to believe and she was also much stronger.  She easily lifted the smaller of the three men over her head and sent him crashing into some tables behind him.  

            The last one standing had managed to pull his sword free but was finding it difficult to maneuver in the confined space.  Rhoane blocked a clumsy downward stroke and caught the man in the face with the heal of her hand causing a crack could also be heard all over the tavern.

             When it was over, and some other patrons had thrown the men out into the alley, Brandy collapsed in a chair and began to cry, the stress finally taking over.  Rhoane sat next to the upset serving girl, pulling the tear streaked face over to her shoulder and gently rocked.

            Xena and Gabrielle watched the entire scene, neither making any comments until all was calm again. Xena had seen her old friend fight before so she was very non-plused by the whole scene.

             Gabrielle, on the other hand, was in awe.  She leaned over the table, resting her chin in her hand and looked at Xena.  “She’s good.  Almost as good as you.”

            Xena smiled, a look of admiration playing across her face.  “I can whip her with a sword but with bare hands and knives?  She’s much more deadly than I am. She learned her stuff on the streets and I’d let her watch my back any time.”

            “On the streets?”

            “Yeah,” Xena nodded, “but it’s a long story and I’m sleepy. You coming?”

            “Sure, but shouldn’t we wait on Rhoane?  She hasn’t got a room.”

            “No way...” Xena laughed.  “You don’t want her sleeping in our room anyway.  She snores like Zeus. She’ll be fine.”

            Rhoane spent a restless night in the barn.  Her restlessness had nothing to do with her surroundings; in fact, she found most haylofts much more comfortable than most inns.  No, her restlessness was caused by thoughts of Brandy whirling around in her head.

             She was sitting at the table toying with her food, pushing her peas around on the plate, unconsciously arranging them in the shape of Brandy’s necklace.  Never, in the past, had her feelings interfered in her ability to do a job.  She simply could not afford the annoyance of becoming attached to any of her victims. 

            Well, she was annoyed as Hades now.  She could not stop thinking about the young lady.  Every time she had an idle moment, the image of Brandy crept into her head, teasing her with fleeting glimpses of soft full lips, liquid hazel eyes, hair that just begged to be wrapped around the thief’s fingers and those breasts...dear sweet goddess those breasts.

            Rhoane pushed her plate out of the way and crossed her arms on the table then laid her head down. She lost track of time, maybe even dozed, and managed to block out all of the sound in the room.  Even caught up in her own space and time, even dozing, her senses were always alert so she sensed before she heard Brandy approach or felt the soft touch on her shoulder and she raised her head.

            “I...I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to startle you,” Brandy said quietly.

            “You didn’t.  Well, maybe a little but it’s OK,”  Rhoane answered, hoping that her voice would not betray her nervousness to the woman standing next to her.

            “I, um, just came over to tell you that my shift is over.  Pop has given me the afternoon off.”

            Rhoane motioned towards a chair, “That’s great. Please, sit down.”

            “OK, for a minute.  I don’t want to intrude.”

            “Trust me, you aren’t.”  Rhoane paused, her face lighting up with a sudden thought.  “Hey, it’s perfect outside. You wanna take a walk?”

            “Sure.  I’d like that.”

             The sun was bright but not uncomfortably hot and the two women walked for hours making idle conversation.  They shared stories about family, or lack of as the case was for Rhoane.  They talked about hopes, plans for the future, what foods they liked and what they hated, what made them laugh and what did not...everything. 

            Rhoane found herself telling things about herself that she had never revealed to anyone else except for Xena.  Trust was not something that she gave in to easily and yet after only a short while,  Rhoane knew that she would trust this young woman with her life. 

            They came to a nice shady place beneath two ancient oaks and Rhoane sat down to rest, leaning back against the tree and watched as Brandy gracefully lowered herself to the ground, easily tucking her legs beneath her.   Rhoane’s skin tingled every time Brandy brushed against her and it was happening more often than to be a mere coincidence.  With each touch, Rhoane’s senses became a little sharper until she could almost hear the other woman’s heart beating and the blood racing through her veins.

            She could not take a breath without filling her nostrils with the sweet smell of Brandy?s perfume.     Rohane’s head began to spin. She was caught up in the intense fire of hazel eyes and when Brandy reached out, desire overtook her.  Rhoane took the serving girl into her arms and kissed those enticing lips until both women were left breathless.  

            Rhoane pulled away first, a look of panic mixed with open animal lust on her face.  “I’m so sorry,” she apologized.  “I didn’t...I shouldn’t have...”

            Brandy smiled and held on to the thief’s hand.  “I’m glad you did.”

             Rhoane was completely unprepared for this response. In the past, she had either gotten a sharp slap to the face, a diatribe on proper courtship of a lady or a kiss returned with so much intensity that it sucked the very breath from her lungs.   Not once had she ever apologized.  She was certain she was losing her mind.

            “You’ll catch flies.”  Brandy reached out and gently closed the befuddled thief’s mouth.  “It took you long enough.”  Brandy raised herself to her knees and moved closer to Rhoane, grabbing hands full of shirt and pulled the blue-eyed woman to her.  “Kiss me again, thief.”

            Rhoane slid her hands around the other woman’s waist and held her tightly, kissing Brandy’s soft lips with both the urgency and tenderness of a time when experience comes together with innocence.  Rhoane wanted to feel what Brandy felt, to experience the first time flood of emotions and sensations that tend to fade or become jaded with the passage of time.  And she did. 

             In their haste to remove each other’s clothing they fell, rolling across the soft moss until finally coming to rest with Brandy looking up into mesmerizing blue eyes.  She followed those eyes as they moved down her body, closing her own when she felt a warm, soft mouth surround her nipple.  She closed her fingers and clutched  Rhoane’s hair trying to use it as an anchor.

            Rhoane felt Brandy’s body responding to her touch, her kiss, the gentle strokes of her tongue against the woman’s nipples.  The soft sounds of pleasure were driving  Rhoane, feeding her increasing desire to make

this woman hers, to hold and fondle, to make love to until neither had enough strength left to even open their eyes.

            Brandy felt her legs being spread and she gave in easily.  Rhoane’s mouth was everywhere leaving fire where ever it went.  The serving maid’s body arched and pushed when it felt strong fingers slip inside her, filling her, stretching and pushing her towards the ultimate in physical pleasure.  She floated there until  Rhoane’s tongue sent her crashing through the last barrier, clearing the way for Brandy’s orgasm to careen through her body, swirling inside her head, ending in a primal scream the silenced the forest around them.

            Time stood still.  Rhoane moved up to lie next to her lover, taking the satiated woman in her arms and let Brandy’s head rest in the hollow of her shoulder.  Neither spoke. Neither wanted nor felt the need to.

            “Brandy, come on, wake up.  We’re gonna be in deep crud.”

            Brandy slowly opened her eyes then sat bolt upright when it dawned on her that it was pitch black dark.  “Oh gods. What time is it?”

            Rhoane looked up towards the sky.  “I don’t know, a few marks past sunset would be my guess.”

            Brandy was busily trying to get her clothes back on, a task made even more complicated by the fact that it was dark.  “My father’s gonna kill me.”

            “I’ll go with you. Tell him it’s my fault.  I’ll take the blame.”

             Brandy looked up, the whites of her eyes clearly shining in the darkness.  “NO!  I mean that won’t be necessary.  No sense in him being mad at both of us.”

“I won’t let you take all the blame for this. I’m going with you.?”

            “No. Please.....I’m begging you. Stay away from my father.  I can handle him,” she implored.

            Rhoane paused for a moment trying to read the face in front of her.  “If you’re certain...”

“I am.”

             Rhoane hid in the shadows and watched Brandy enter then close the door behind her.  Satisfied that her lover was safe, she turned and headed for her hayloft.

            The next morning found Rhoane sitting at a table with Xena and Gabrielle, enjoying hot spiced potatoes and warm tea.  Suddenly, the door flew open, slamming against the wall with a loud crack. “Where is she!” yelled the man filling the doorway.