From the Hands of Rome
By Absinthe
For Disclaimers seePart 1
Part Two:
A young woman discreetly entered their bedroom the next morning to wake them and prepare them for their audience with the Queen. The servant followed the sounds of movement to find the warrior outside, glistening with a thin coating of perspiration from her exertions. Xena glanced casually at the petite woman and continued drilling, the blade of her sword flashing and singing in the morning air.
"Yeah?" She asked irritably.
"Mistress, I have been sent to ready you to see her Majesty and incarnation of Isis on Earth," the servant rattled of the foremost of the Queen's many titles and bowed deeply to the strange woman-warrior.
"All right..." Xena replied, slowing the terrifying whirling of her sword, "Why don't you go get Gabrielle up out of bed then?"
The young woman bowed again and backed away quickly.
Xena listened as Gabrielle released a squeaky yawn, and the servant repeated her message word for word. Shaking her head, Xena returned her concentration to the rhythmic beating of her blade on the air as it circled with deceptive leisure just inches from her body at times. Gabrielle's footfalls approached, and the blonde stuck her tousled head out the door.
"Hey sleepyhead," Xena called.
"Morning," the bard replied, "Why did you let me sleep so late? I'm so excited! What are we supposed to wear to see the Queen of Egypt anyway?"
"I dunno, ask her," Xena nodded her head in the direction of the maid sent to help them.
"I will," the bard smiled and stretched down to grab her ankles and pull her head as far back between her knees as she could.
"Xena?" She said between deep breaths.
"Yeah?"
"You do know that she's involved with Caesar now don't you?"
"Yes," Xena grimly replied.
"They have a son," Gabrielle watched her lover's non-reaction, "named Caesarion."
"Little Caesar, yeah, I know."
"Does she know about your history with him?"
"No," Xena said, "let's keep it that way, huh?"
Gabrielle gave a slight nod of understanding and continued with the yoga exercises that Xena so heartily disapproved of.
The couple stood outside of a set of even larger, more ornate doors than they had yet seen. Xena wore her usual armor, and Gabrielle had traded in the BGSB for a traditional Egyptian, nearly transparent, linen sheath. Xena was rather enjoying the view when the doors opened and Mardian motioned that they follow him inside. Not at all sure what to expect, they walked cautiously into the echoingly empty room. Mardian led them further inside, through a short hallway and out into what appeared to be one of Cleopatra's personal chambers. The Queen herself sat, informally attired, relatively speaking, bouncing Caesarion on her thigh and letting him toy with a string of huge pearls.
She looked up, her green eyes startlingly painted with green malachite. She smiled warmly and stood up to greet her guests, shifting the child to her hip just as any mother would.
"Welcome," she said in a voice that could melt butter, "Xena, Gabrielle, to Alexandria, I'm so pleased you decided to take me up on my invitation, finally."
"Thank you," Xena curtseyed in that inimitable fashion that made Gabrielle's blood boil.
Gabrielle shot her lover a dirty look and opted to bow instead of showing off her clumsiness, "We appreciate your hospitality to us, we've never had the chance to visit Egypt before. Is this Caesarion? We've heard so much about him, and you." Gabrielle did not hide her admiration for the courage that the Queen had exhibited in her handling of the Roman dilemma.
Xena watched with detachment as Gabrielle performed her usual trick of saying exactly the right thing and instantly befriending a near-total stranger.
At that moment, Mardian re-entered the room, accompanied by a taller man who was also well dressed. Cleopatra interrupted her conversation with the bard to introduce Olympos, her physician and advisor.
"Your majesty, the guards have a messenger who says-"
"He can wait until tomorrow surely," Cleopatra shrugged.
"Who says," Olympos pointedly continued, "that he is from the Kandake of Nubia."
The Queen nodded her carefully arranged head and handed her son off to one of her maidservants, suddenly all business.
"Have him sent to the throne room. I will be there shortly," she turned to her guests, "I'm sorry to have to cut this short, but we will see each other again."
As she swept out of the room, followed by Charmian, the maidservant, she glanced back once at the Greek warrior women. Cleopatra hoped they stayed long enough for her to learn more about them. There was something inherently fascinating about the lives they lead.
"The Kandake?" Gabrielle asked.
"Kandake, is just another word for queen," Olympos supplied.
"Oh."
"Hey, is there any way we could see the meeting?" Xena asked. Gabrielle gave her a puzzled look, wondering why on earth, but also trusting the warrior's instincts.
"Yes, certainly," Olympos took them to the throne room. As they awaited Cleopatra's arrival, he said, "So you are the woman that saved Cleopatra's life?"
"Uh-huh," Xena replied, her eyes on the back entrance.
"We all owe you a great debt for saving her, thank you."
Xena shrugged uncomfortably. Olympos smiled at her self effacement.
"You're a healer?" Gabrielle asked, leaning around the warrior's body to talk to their new friend.
"Yes, I have studied healing at the Museion since I was a child."
"Xena's a great healer too. I'm still learning though," the bard said.
"We are all still learning Gabrielle, that's what makes life so interesting."
As if this were her cue, Cleopatra entered the throne room. She had changed into her royal regalia, though she had forgone the heavy crown of upper and lower egypt in favor of a simple cobra circlet.
The room fell silent, and the messenger was brought in. He glanced nervously around and then fell to his knees before the Queen.
"The Kandake sends her greetings," he said in Greek.
"What message do you bring?"
"It is for your ears only. The others must leave. It is of the utmost importance."
Cleopatra glanced at Xena and then ordered everyone to leave; except for Xena and Gabrielle. They would remain and act as guards. Olympos looked angry, but left with the rest.
"Please your Majesty, this is delicate information."
"These women are to be trusted."
"I cannot."
Xena could almost hear the wheels turning in her head as the Queen began speaking to the messenger in his native language. The man beamed and obviously proceeded to deliver his message. Xena stood watchfully as the conversation continued and seemed to take a dark turn. Cleopatra looked upset when she finally dismissed the messenger.
Mardian and Olympos returned.
"I will be journeying to Nubia to...strengthen diplomatic ties with the Kandake," she announced, rising. The statement sounded hollow even to the two visitors. Cleopatra motioned for her friends to follow and returned to her chambers.
They arranged themselves on her terrace, which commanded a view of the sea, the mouth of the river, and a delicate breeze. Xena was ill at ease with their sudden absorption into the household.
"You came to see Egypt," the Queen smiled directly at Gabrielle, "How would you like to accompany me to Nubia? I will need people I can trust with me, and Mardian and Olympos must stay here to minister the country."
Gabrielle didn't even look to see what Xena wanted but eagerly accepted the proposition.
"Excellent, and Xena, I owe you my life once already, thank you for giving me the opportunity to repay you with my hospitality."
Xena once again resisted the desire to squirm uncomfortably.
"What did that messenger really have to say to you?" Olympos demanded to know.
"This can go no farther than this room," the Queen sighed, leaning forward, "there is an impersonator of Ptolemy in Nubia. He has a few followers already, but the Kandake has captured him. I have to see him, and confirm him for the liar he is before he is executed. Obviously, the fewer that know of his existence, the safer we'll all be."
Gabrielle chewed her lower lip. She and Xena had both heard the stories of this generation of Ptolemies' intrigues. The long and twisted plottings of Cleopatra's older siblings had caused their deaths at the hands of Caesar, and left a young and jubilant Cleopatra safely on the throne. Though her crown had not come easily, and despite their treachery, blood was a powerful tie. The transition had been far from painless.
She was now relatively secure, however, and through her "tactful" handling of Caesar, had procured the status of friend and ally to Rome for Egypt.
The Ptolemies were known for their treacherousness, and the possibility that an impostor might rise to power and attempt to usurp the Queen was not to be taken lightly.
When Olympos and Mardian left at last, Cleopatra turned her attention to her guests yet again.
"Tell me," the Queen of Egypt asked eagerly, "what it's like traveling Greece?"
Gabrielle smiled and happily launched into the story of the time that Xena took on the biggest, meanest giant in all of Greece. Xena sighed inwardly, watching Cleopatra watch her bard. With her attention focused on the animated storyteller, the mask of authority and self assurance melted away and the Queen's youth was suddenly apparent. Xena understood far too well what it meant to give youth up in favor of instant authority and power. From what she'd seen of the Queen at work, however, the woman was clearly in her element as ruler of the world's richest, and possibly most important country.
Looking over the railing at the shimmering waters below, it occurred to Xena that this was the place from which to rule an empire, not far off and insignificant Rome. Rumor had it though, that Cleopatra was not just fucking Caesar to save Egypt, but was really in love with him. Military action, any action really, against Rome was decidedly unlikely. Xena suppressed another sigh.
Gabrielle brought her story to its dramatic conclusion, and Cleopatra laughed delightedly.
"You are truly a gifted storyteller, Gabrielle. Perhaps you would consider writing some of your tales down and letting us copy them for the Library?"
"The Library?" Gabrielle sat up straighter and her breath quickened, "Of course I would!"
"And I know you'd both like to see Alexandria before we leave, I can arrange a tour for you tomorrow," Cleopatra said, the gold braided into her hair jingling as she spoke, "We'll have time to talk more while we travel, but now I have business to tend to."
The Queen rose and swept away, leaving behind a cloud of lotus-scented perfume. Gabrielle tugged Xena to her feet and they wandered out into the gardens. The palace grounds were lusciously appointed and ingeniously landscaped with artificial ponds and tiny waterfalls. Just across the garden walls were the Museion and not far beyond lay the Library of Alexandria, the largest collection of literature in the world. It had suffered some heavy damage during the war that returned Cleopatra to her throne, but they had already repaired most of it.
"She must be lonely," Gabrielle said softly as they walked, so close that they nearly stumbled over each other.
"Huh?"
"Cleopatra," the bard smiled sadly, "They say that Caesar is a great lover, and that he is her first love. She must miss him, all alone every night, up on her throne, untouchable, a goddess."
"She's married to her brother..."
"He's twelve years old," Gabrielle slapped her lover's arm gently, then asked in a quieter tone, "So, when you had Caesar captive, did you HAVE him?"
"Did I HAVE him?" Xena mockingly replied.
"Well?"
"I was bargaining with him in the only way I knew how at the time."
"So you did," Gabrielle, instead of being jealous or repulsed by the idea, seemed intrigued. Xena quirked her eyebrow at the sudden realization that the bard enjoyed the thought that she had managed to capture a woman that had been with the "best." Hercules, Caesar, Helen; names with such weight; names so widely known, and yet in Xena's mind, Gabrielle of Potedeia eclipsed them all.
"You'll have to tell me about it later." Gabrielle nudged her suggestively.
"I'm afraid," Xena huskily replied, "that I am a woman of action."
Gabrielle giggled childishly, and immediately demanded that they return to their room.
Both women agreed that Cleopatra was trustworthy, and it was apparent that Cleopatra trusted them as well. They were enjoying themselves immensely. Not since her days as the Destroyer of Nations had Xena enjoyed such luxury, and never before had either of them had the chance to enjoy each other so fully and without fear or distraction from outside quarters. They could relax, and let go the constant alertness that was necessitated by their lifestyle and Xena's reputation in Greece. Here they were safe. They could focus entirely on each other.
Xena smiled into Gabrielle's hair and they slept, exhausted by their lovemaking. The following day, they toured Alexandria. They saw the Lighthouse, Alexander in his crystal coffin, the site on which Cleopatra planned to erect her tomb, and a blur of other wonders both ancient and modern. Their guide, a scholar who lived and studied in the Museion, left them ,as the day began to wane, in the great Library. The huge bustling establishment was filled with people of every description reading and copying scrolls. The walls were lined with cunning little compartments and shelves all crammed with carefully labeled and organized papyri and parchments. Works consisting of multiple scrolls were contained in baskets set along the walls on the floor.
Gabrielle browsed contentedly, at last settling down with a copy of a foreign epic tale from the distant east. Xena even found something that interested her and they sat in companionable silence, absorbed in their respective scrolls.
Later, Gabrielle managed to procure a small stock of blank papyri and fresh ink to set down more of her stories while they traveled south into Upper Egypt and the arid southern regions of Africa. She intended to leave the scrolls in the Library when they returned that way before going home.
They left Alexandria behind a few days later, sailing south on a huge royal barque. Cleopatra brought Iras, her Nubian maidservant and friend along to give the young woman a chance to see her homeland. Xena stood at the prow of the boat, watching the clear turquoise water slide past.
"Akhit has begun," Cleopatra's voice came from just behind her, "The water will soon turn muddy brown with the life-giving sediments from the Nile's source."
"Akhit?"
"The inundation," the Queen explained, "The flood that fertilizes the land and makes Egypt possible. The legends say that the sediments come from Osiris' severed member, the only part of him that Isis was unable to find."
Xena couldn't tell whether Cleopatra believed what she was saying or not. The Egyptians placed great stock in their ancient legends, but Cleopatra was more Greek than Egyptian.
The journey passed in serenity, as the beautiful landscape passed steadily every day. Cleopatra talked of clearing out irrigation canals at first, but opened up as they went farther south. Gabrielle at last got the story of her first meeting with Caesar, via the infamous carpet, straight from the horse's mouth.
They passed the cataracts of the Nile and had to abandon the barque for overland travel for a while. A smaller, sturdier boat took them the rest of the way, and their close, sheltered circle was soon ruptured by the affairs of state that were the objective of the voyage in the first place.
Part 3
Back to the Beginning
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Email: absinthe@earthling.net