DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer.

The Slave
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"There you are!"

Xena turned, surprised.

"Gabrielle."

"What were you thinking, leaving me a message not to come after you?"

"Gabrielle…"

"You should know better than that. So, why are we going to Larisa?"

Xena stared at her friend for a few moments before replying.

"I'm going to see King Nycteus."

"A king!"

"A very dangerous king, Gabrielle. He used to be a warlord and I don't think the people of Larisa are very fond of him."

"So why are you going to see him?"

"He sent me a message."

"A message?"

"Yes."

"Why does he want to see you?"

"He says he wants to discuss something with me and that he has a surprise for me."

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

"I don't know, Gabrielle."

"Well, I guess we'll find that out soon enough," Gabrielle said when she sighted Larisa in the distance.

When they entered the city, they both noticed that the people seemed to recognize Xena and that they didn't like her.

"Have you been here before?" Gabrielle asked.

"No."

"Is it just my imagination or are the people around here really looking hostile?"

"For the moment they are just looking, but in a few minutes they will start to act hostile."

"How do you know?" Gabrielle asked and looked around.

"Trust me."

Gabrielle did and she clenched her staff with both hands.

Only a few minutes passed when Xena's prediction came true. A small group of people surrounded them and attacked. The two friends had a short workout with them before they retreated.

"That was…" Gabrielle started, but stopped when she saw soldiers approaching.

"Are you Xena?" their leader asked when they got closer.

"Yes."

"King Nycteus sent us to escort you to the palace."

Xena looked at the soldiers, but they didn't seem to plan a fight. She put her sword away and started to walk. Gabrielle followed her. The leader of the soldiers wanted to make a comment, but Xena gave him a sharp look and he changed his mind.

"Xena! Long time no see," Nycteus greeted her.

"Hello, Nycteus," Xena said and looked around. "I see you're doing well."

Nycteus laughed.

"Extremely." He looked at Gabrielle. "And who have you brought with you?"

"Gabrielle. She is my friend," Xena added and looked around the soldiers, who immediately looked away.

"Of course," Nycteus said.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Business."

"What kind of business?"

"Your favorite. But first, the surprise I promised you."

Nycteus winked to his soldiers and two of them started to turn a wheel on the wall. The floor opened and a cage slowly appeared. And in the cage was…

"Callisto!" Xena and Gabrielle exclaimed in unison.

Callisto was looking at them with a demonic look in her eyes. She was dressed in some rags which were barely covering her breasts and her waist. Her body was even skinnier that usually and she was covered with blood and dirt. Xena immediately noticed that something was wrong with her legs and arms. They had cut her sinews. Even though she was in a cage, Callisto was still chained.

Gabrielle wanted to go to her, but Xena stopped her.

"I'm flattered, Nycteus," Xena said and smiled at the king.

Gabrielle stared at her friend, confused.

"I knew you'd like it."

"When did you catch her?"

"A month ago."

"Really? Say, do you have her armor and her weapons? I would really like to have them since you're probably going to keep Callisto."

"Why don't we talk about it over dinner? Your friend is also invited."

"Of course."

"My men will take you to your rooms."

"We prefer to sleep in the same room."

"Of course."

Nycteus winked at the soldiers and Xena and Gabrielle left.

"What is going on Xena?" Gabrielle asked when they were alone.

"I don't know, Gabrielle."

"We have to save Callisto."

Xena looked at the bard, surprised.

"We will."

"We will? You don't object?"

Xena smiled.

"No."

"Thank you," Gabrielle said and hugged her friend.

Finally, they were summoned to dinner.

"Let me do all the talking," Xena said as they were walking. "If I laugh, you laugh. If I don't, you don't either. If he insults you, just glare at him. And under no circumstance show any compassion for Callisto, even if he decides to whip her."

Gabrielle gulped and nodded.

They entered the dining hall. Callisto's cage was still up and Callisto stared at them with a murderous glee.

"Xena!" Nycteus greeted her.

Xena nodded and she and Gabrielle sat.

"I hope you like the food, Xena. My cooks did their best, after all, I don't have such prominent guest every day."

"I'm flattered, Nycteus," Xena said and started to eat.

Gabrielle followed her example.

"I'll get right to the point, Xena. As you already know, there are some rebels, who are trying to get rid of me. They're nothing to worry about. What worries me is King Thestius. My scouts report that he is gathering his army and will attack in a couple of days."

"And you need my help?"

"Exactly."

"And what's in it for me?"

"Half of everything we capture."

Xena was surprised.

"My, how very generous of you. And Callisto's armor and weapons?"

"That too," Nycteus said and nodded to one of the servants, who immediately left.

"Hm, I think that would be acceptable."

"Excellent. How soon can your army be here?"

Xena was surprised, but she didn't show it.

"If I leave now, they will be here the day after tomorrow. I'll also send out my scouts."

"Excellent!"

The servant returned with Callisto's stuff and gave it to Xena. Xena put it aside and took Callisto's chakram.

"I'll use her chakram from now on," she said and switched the chakrams.

Nycteus laughed.

"To victory!" he proposed the toast.

"To victory!" Xena said.

"To victory!" Gabrielle quickly added.

"Eat fast, Gabrielle. We leave as soon as we finish eating."

Gabrielle nodded.

"You're all business, Xena."

"You said that King Thestius will attack in a couple of days. There's no time to lose."

"Of course not. How about some entertainment, like whipping Callisto?"

"There will plenty of time for that later, Nycteus, right now I have to think about the battle."

"Very well."

"Where are we going, Xena?" Gabrielle asked when they left the palace.

"To see the rebels."

"Rebels?"

"Yes. One of the servants is a rebel and she should go to her friends soon."

"How do you know?"

Xena smiled.

"Experience. We'll wait for her in that dark alley."

They went to the dark alley and waited. They didn't have to wait long.

"Stay with Argo," Xena said and took her own chakram from the saddlebag. "I'll send someone for you."

"Be careful."

"I will."

Xena stealthily followed the servant. The woman soon reached a house and knocked. Xena carefully listened for the password. She waited a few minutes and then went to the house and knocked. She heard movements inside.

"Who is it?" someone finally asked.

"Danger," Xena responded.

A few moments later, the door opened and Xena entered. The rebels were surprised for a moment and then attacked her. Xena knocked down the closest three, took a hostage and put her dagger on his neck.

"Back off or I'll kill him."

"You'll kill him anyway," one of the rebels, probably their leader, said.

"If I wanted to kill him or you, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now, because you'd be dead." Xena let go of the hostage and put away her dagger. "I came here to help you."

"Help us?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because that's what I do. Now, do you want my help or not?"

"How do I know we can trust you?"

"You're still alive, aren't you? Now send someone to get my friend and my horse. They're in the second alley before the inn. And send someone to King Thestius to tell him that I will take care of Nycteus. Whoever will go should show this to Thestius," Xena said and gave her chakram to the rebel leader. "Now move, I only have this night to scout the palace. We will attack tomorrow night."

The leader stared at Xena for a few moments and then sent out two people. One of them soon returned with Gabrielle.

"Xena?"

"We'll need a place to hide for tomorrow, for us and the horse. Gabrielle, you take care of Argo."

"Where shall I take her?"

Xena looked at the rebel leader.

"Thallo, show her," he said.

Thallo nodded and she and Gabrielle left.

"What's your name?" Xena asked the leader.

"Phyleus."

"And yours?" Xena asked the servant.

"Baucis."

"Okay, Baucis, you will show me into the palace. I'll scout it and then return here. You will come again tomorrow, after Nycteus goes to bed. Phyleus, you will inform your people tomorrow to be ready."

"Okay."

Xena turned to Baucis.

"Let's go."

"Wait!" Phyleus called. "What about your army?"

"I don't have an army anymore," Xena said and left.

"Good morning," Gabrielle greeted her friend when Xena woke up the next morning.

"Morning. Is Phyleus here?"

"No, he's out."

"Go, get him, will you?"

"Okay. I've made a breakfast for you. It's in the kitchen."

"Thanks."

Gabrielle left and Xena went to the kitchen to eat the breakfast.

Gabrielle quickly returned with Phyleus.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning. Do you have something on which I can draw a plan?"

"Yes." Phyleus fetched a piece of parchment and something to write with. "Will this do?"

"Yes," Xena said and took the stuff.

She quickly drew the layout of the castle and then explained the plan.

In the evening, Xena made sure that everyone knew their job and then she waited in Phyleus' house for Baucis. She finally did.

"Let's go," Xena said.

They sneaked into the castle. Xena and Gabrielle went to Nycteus' room. When they got there, they found out that it was empty. Xena noticed that Nycteus had been lying in his bed, but had obviously gotten up again for some reason.

"Where is he?" Gabrielle asked.

"I don't know. Let's go save Callisto."

The two friends left Nycteus' room. Xena had barely closed the door when she heard sounds of a fight.

"Come," she told Gabrielle and started to run.

In the dining hall, Phyleus and his people had engaged Nycteus' guards and Nycteus himself. Xena immediately engaged Nycteus.

"Xena!" the ex-warlord exclaimed, surprised.

"Your scouts really suck, Nycteus, or you would know that I have changed and don't have an army anymore."

"You bitch! You'll join Callisto in the cage!"

"We'll see about that."

The two ex-warlords started to fight. Xena first relieved him of the keys and threw them to Gabrielle. Gabrielle quickly opened the cage and unchained Callisto. Callisto almost collapsed to the floor but Gabrielle caught her. She dragged her out and lay her on the floor, beside a wall. Then she stood over her and protected her. Callisto tried to get up, but her arms and legs didn't obey her. She crawled to a soldier which Gabrielle had downed and took his weapons. She sat up and considered throwing the dagger at Nycteus, but she realized that he was too far. She decided to help Gabrielle instead.

"Au!" Gabrielle moaned after one of the soldiers swept her off her feet.

She quickly hit him in the family jewels and when the man fell to his knees, she knocked him out. She wanted to get up, but a dead soldier fell upon her. She pushed the corpse away and looked at Callisto.

Callisto was lying on the floor and tried to push away the body of another dead soldier. Gabrielle helped her. Suddenly, she noticed that one of the soldiers was about to impale Callisto and that she couldn't defend herself. Gabrielle threw herself over Callisto to protect her.

A moment later, she heard the man collapse on the floor. She looked at him and saw Callisto's chakram imbedded into his chest. She looked at Xena, who nodded at her. Gabrielle looked at Callisto and then got up and continued to fight.

Callisto stared at the young bard, astonished at what she just did. She pulled herself together and returned to the fight. She crawled to the corpse and retrieved her chakram. She looked at Xena and saw that she wasn't fighting Nycteus anymore. She looked around and saw Nycteus lying on the floor. She looked back at Xena and saw that she was fighting a group of soldiers. She looked at the ceiling and saw a chandelier. She concentrated and forced her arm to obey her for just long enough for her to throw the chakram.

Xena heard the familiar clinging of the chakram and looked around. She spotted it and quickly calculated its destination. The chandelier. She screamed at the soldiers and pushed them back and then backed off, just barely avoiding the crashing chandelier. She caught the chakram and looked at Callisto, who was already fighting another soldier. Then she engaged another group of soldiers.

The fight was quickly over, because most of the soldiers were trapped in their rooms by Phyleus' people. Gabrielle looked at Xena and saw that she was all right. Then she looked at Callisto and saw that she was bleeding from the side of the head and was fighting unconsciousness. She picked her up.

"Xena, get the herbs! I'll take her to Nycteus' room!" she called and left.

By the time they got to Nycteus' room, Callisto lost her consciousness. Gabrielle gently lay her on the bed. Then she went to the bathroom and prepared the bath and the towels. She returned to the bedroom and carried Callisto to the bathroom. There, she undressed her and carefully put her into the small pool. Then she undressed herself and joined Callisto. She carefully cleaned her body, making sure that she didn't open any old wounds.

When Xena got to the bathroom, she was surprised by the sight.

"Do you have the herbs?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes."

"Good. Put them on the bed and get the towels."

Xena obeyed and together they dried Callisto and then Xena carried her to the bed while Gabrielle dried and dressed herself. Then they took care of Callisto's wounds.

When Callisto woke up the next day, she felt much better than the day before. Her skin felt different and so did everything else. She opened her eyes and looked around. She noticed that she was lying in a comfortable bed in a big room. She moved her arms a bit and felt that her wounds were bandaged. Then she noticed Gabrielle, who was sitting behind a table, writing.

Gabrielle heard the rustling of the sheets and looked up. She smiled when she saw that Callisto had woken up.

"Good morning," she said and went to Callisto. "How do you feel?"

Callisto stared at her with mixed feelings.

"Are you hungry?" Gabrielle asked.

Callisto nodded and Gabrielle pulled some rope which Callisto figured was connected to a bell somewhere in the palace.

"Let me see the bandages," Gabrielle said and uncovered Callisto.

Callisto looked at her body and saw that her body was cleaned and that she was dressed in a loose underwear and plenty of bandages. She observed Gabrielle as she checked each bandage.

"I'll change them after you eat," she said and covered Callisto again. "By the way, we won last night and Nycteus will stand trial in a few days."

Callisto's eyes became murderous when she heard Nycteus' name. She wanted to get up, but Gabrielle stopped her.

"You're not going anywhere. You warrior women are all the same. You think you can take all the beating in the world and when you finally collapse, it's up to people like me to take care of you. You lay still, I just patched you up."

Callisto stared at the bard who dared to order her around. She was furious for a moment, but then she remembered that this bard had actually saved her life and that she was taking care of her right now. The murderous look slowly disappeared from Callisto's eyes.

Someone knocked.

"Come!" Gabrielle called and a servant entered with food. "Ah, thank you," Gabrielle said and took the platter. "Will you please tell Xena that Callisto is awake?"

"I will."

"Thank you."

The servant left and Gabrielle took the platter to the table. Then she went to Callisto.

"I'll help you sit up," she said and helped Callisto.

Then she fetched the platter, put it over Callisto's legs and spoon-fed her. Callisto felt awkward at first, but then she found it amusing. A sheep feeding a wolf. She observed Gabrielle and thought. She was still furious at Nycteus and she wanted to rip him apart with her bare hands, but somehow Gabrielle's presence calmed her down. She felt almost like she felt when she was young and sick and her mother spoon-fed her. She shuddered.

"Is it too hot?" Gabrielle asked when she saw Callisto shudder.

Callisto shook her head and Gabrielle continued to feed her. Callisto continued to observe her. She remembered how Gabrielle stood over her and protected her and how she finally threw herself over her. It bothered her that a woman whose husband she had killed would do that. And now she was here taking care of her like a mother took care of her child. And not only her, but also Xena. Xena, she thought and was astonished when she felt gratitude instead of rage. She felt strange, being saved by the woman she hated most.

"Hi, Xena."

Callisto jerked and looked toward the door.

"Gabrielle," Xena said as she approached the bed.

"We will have to change the bandages."

"I know."

Xena sat at the table and waited for Gabrielle to stop feeding Callisto.

"Are you still hungry?" Gabrielle asked Callisto when the plate was empty.

Callisto shook her head.

"It's better she doesn't eat too much right now," Xena said.

"Oh."

Gabrielle put the platter on the table and then uncovered Callisto. With Xena's help she changed all the bandages within half an hour.

"Can you fix that?" she asked when she noticed that Xena was examining Callisto's arms and legs.

I don't know. I can improve it, but if I can completely correct the damage, I don't know." She looked at Callisto. "Do you want me to try?" she asked.

Callisto stared at her worst enemy. She felt strange, being offered help by Xena. She nodded.

"It will hurt and you will have to remain in bed for a month because I will have to cut your muscles again. And after that, you will have to take it very easy for a while."

Callisto nodded.

"Then I'll go ask if we can stay here for another month or so," Xena said and got up.

"Could you take the platter?" Gabrielle.

"Yes."

Xena took the platter and left. Gabrielle then helped Callisto lay back and covered her. Suddenly, Callisto grabbed Gabrielle's arm. Gabrielle turned, surprised, and Callisto saw fear in her eyes. She let go of the arm.

"You were willing to sacrifice your life to save mine," Callisto said. "Why?"

Gabrielle stared at the warlord for a few moments.

"I don't know. Instinct, I guess."

"You and Xena saved me and protected me. Why?"

Gabrielle wanted to explain that Xena had changed and all, but then she remembered that each time she had tried to explain, Callisto made fun of her.

"Does it matter?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Why? You don't care. You're just gonna make fun of me and you won't believe me."

Callisto realized that Gabrielle was right, at least she would usually be, but right now, it mattered.

"Please, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle was surprised. She decided to give it a try.

"I don't know exactly why Xena did it, but I think she feels responsible for you and she tries to help you even though you hurt her in return. And others."

"And you?" Callisto asked when Gabrielle didn't continue.

"I don't know. I guess it's in my nature."

"But I killed your husband."

Gabrielle bit her teeth.

"I know," she quietly said. "I guess I feel that there is still good in you and I want to help you find your peace."

Callisto observed Gabrielle as she returned to the table and tried to write, but couldn't. Finally, Gabrielle got up and went to the bathroom. Soon, Callisto heard faint sobs and she knew that Gabrielle was crying. For some reason that disturbed her.

When Gabrielle returned, Callisto saw that her eyes were red. Gabrielle avoided Callisto's eyes and returned to her writing. She had just begun to write when Xena returned with their stuff.

Xena immediately noticed the red eyes of her friend and she glanced at Callisto, but saw no derision in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked Gabrielle.

Gabrielle forced a smile.

"Yes."

"Okay. We can stay here until Callisto gets well," Xena said and turned to Callisto. "I'll wait for a few days so that your wounds get better."

Callisto nodded.

During the day, Callisto kept quiet and let Gabrielle feed her. In the evening, she watched as the two friends changed into their night-slips. Gabrielle looked the way Callisto had expected, but Xena was an unusual sight.

The two friends spread their bedrolls and lay down. Callisto observed them for a while, thinking.

"Gabrielle," she finally said.

"Mmm. What?"

"This bed is big enough for three."

There was no response for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Gabrielle sat up.

"Come, Xena," she said and got up.

They rolled their bedrolls and put them away. Then they went to the bed, taking their blankets with them.

"Hm," Gabrielle said, "I think I should lie on one side and you on the other."

Xena nodded and Gabrielle went to the other side. Then they lay down on either side of Callisto.

Callisto felt strange, lying between Xena, whose victim she was, and Gabrielle, who was her victim. It was strange, but also comforting somehow. She felt almost as safe as in her mother's arms. She lay still, thinking about her life.

Suddenly, she realized that she was crying. She wanted to wipe the tears, but changed her mind when she realized how good it felt. She was confused for a moment and then allowed herself to cry, for the first time since she had buried her family. In the back of her mind, she felt alive again.

The End