At a distance
By Melissa Good
Contact: merwolf@bellsouth.com
Amphipolis
Xena sat quietly on Argo’s back, surveying the valley below her. Home. Amphipolis. "Been a while, Argo." she muttered to the mare, who flared her nostrils into the oncoming breeze. She looked down, and scratched little Ares...no, damn. I am NOT going to name him that. ..on his head, and watched as he chewed contentedly on a piece of her leather skirting. The animal had been an unexpected comfort, she grudgingly admitted to herself. Keeping her thoughts on something other than what was going on two days north of here. Giving her something to focus on that didn’t involve thinking about possibilities. Or the lack of them.
She glanced up, and spotted a person on horseback, heading out from the village, and grinned a little in recognition as the rider moved closer and turned out to be her brother, Toris, on a long limbed roan stallion with a rough gait. Still can’t sit a horse worth a damn. "Come on, Argo." she said to the mare, as she kneed her forward towards the road.
Toris didn’t see her until she was almost on top of him. Typical. He straightened in the saddle, and gave a little yell as Argo came even with him. "Xena!" He grinned wholeheartedly. "Boy am I glad to see you."
"Oh yeah?" Xena said, giving him a sideways glance. "What’s wrong?"
Toris scowled. "Can’t I be glad to see you just because your my sister?"
Xena raised an eyebrow at him. And waited in silence.
Toris rolled his eyes, blue as hers, and gave a little sheepish shrug. "OK, well, I am glad to see you. But..." He glanced down at her saddle. "What is that?" He leaned over and got closer to it. "Is that what I think it is?" He looked up at Xena with a wicked grin. "You got a puppy. How cute."
Xena somehow, managed to keep herself from backhanding him off his horse. It was a struggle, though. "No." she growled. "YOU have a puppy." But she didn’t relinquish her hold on the small creature. "I was bringing it to mother."
Toris laughed. "Oh, right." He looked at her. "Hey, you look good. But what did you do to your arms?" Leaning forward to get a good luck at the angry red marks. "That looks recent."
His sister sighed, and jerked her chin towards the bundle of fur. "Mother was killed by a panther." She met Toris’ horrified gaze, with an air of nonchalance. Tweaking him was always fun. I’d forgotten that. Mostly.
"You got that animal away from a panther?" He reeled in his saddle. "Xena, you’re nuts."
"I didn’t say I got it away from a panther." Xena commented, watching his brows contort. "It wasn’t anywhere near the panther."
"Oh." Toris answered, relieved. "That’s a relief. For a minute there, I thought you were going to tell me you fought off a panther on it’s behalf." He chuckled. "Those mountain panthers are far too dangerous to play around with."
"No, " Xena drawled casually. "I fought off the panther because it jumped on top of me." She glanced at him. "The puppy just got lucky." she continued, pretending she didn’t see his jaw drop, and his horse stop in it’s tracks. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. Served him right. She turned as rapid hoofbeats caught her up, then slowed as he came abreast of her again.
"A panther." he repeated, wincing at the healing gouges on her shoulders. "Boy, Xena." he shook his head. "So, where’s your bard friend?"
Xena had practiced the answer to this. "Running the Amazons for a while." In an unconcerned tone. She glanced at him, and their eyes met, and Xena got an idea of what it was like to look into eyes as vivid as her own. It was interesting. Maybe that went a long way towards explaining that very odd look Gabrielle got sometimes when they were spending time just...Anyway. "They’re having some problems with their neighbors. "
Toris considered this for a moment. "So.. why her?" he asked, puzzled. He sort of liked the little bard, and had a sneaking suspicion his hard as nails sister more than sort of liked her too.
Xena shrugged. "Well, she is the queen by rite of caste, Toris. She thinks it’s her responsibility to try and help them out." She shrugged. "She’s big on responsibility."
"Really?" Toris was intrigued. He knew about the Amazons. Most did, who lived in this general area." Just how did that happen?"
"Long story. " Xena said, glancing ahead. "I’ll tell you later, but you better tell me what’s going on first, before I have to hear it from mother. "
Toris accepted the change of subject gracefully. "OK. Well, yeah - it’s been rough around here lately. There are two warlords in the general area, and they’ve sort of divvied up territory between them. We’re about in the middle, and get harassed by both. "
"Harassed?" Xena asked, quietly, feeling her temper start to rise.
"Yeah." Toris sighed. "They ride in, take food, take supplies, that sort of thing. Or sometimes they just want cash payment, in return for which they don’t come back for a while. " He didn’t meet Xena’s eyes. "You know what I mean."
His sister nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."
"So anyway." he continued awkwardly. "it’s hard, and it’s made business slow. Mother’s worried about the inn." His eyes turned to her. "I think she’s going to be glad to see you. She’s talked about you a lot, lately."
Xena snorted. "I can imagine, given what you’re going through with warlords, one of which I used to be." Her eyes closed in disgust. "Maybe coming here was a mistake."
Toris grabbed her arm, startled when he felt her flinch, then remembered who it was he was grabbing. "Sorry." he muttered, but didn’t let go. "Listen...the only thing that’s kept us whole, Xena... the only thing... is the fact that both those warlords know who we are. They know I’m your brother. And she’s your mother. And they won’t touch us. There are three villages in smoking ruins to the south, and another to the east. But not us. " He smiled a little. "They’re scared of you, little sister."
Xena raised an eyebrow at him. "Little?" she chuckled wryly. "Watch it. Or you’ll find out just how little I’m not."
"Oh yeah?" Toris grinned, reaching out again and grabbing one forearm. "Is that a challenge?"
"Toris." Xena growled, reaching down and clamping a good hold on Argo with her long legs. "I’m not in the mood." Grimly, she tucked the puppy into a saddle pouch as Toris began to try and lever her arm. "Cut it out."
Toris laughed in delight. "Oh ho...I’ve got you now!" He pulled enthusiastically on the arm, trying to unbalance her. "Yow!" he yelped in surprise, as he was lifted out of his saddle and dumped on the dusty ground, losing his hold. "How do you DO that?"
Xena shook her head as she adjusted her bracer. "You never learn." She nudged Argo towards the inn. "Come on, let’s go." Sighing as he laughed and leaped back aboard the roan and followed.
The inn was at the edge of town, a one story building with a heavy door in front which closed in a seating area, and was backed by a service bar which hid the kitchen and cooking areas from the patrons. At this time of day, it was empty, though recently the time of day hadn’t been very relevant to the number of customers frequenting the place. A stocky woman of middling height leaned against the service bar, regarding the empty room with a somewhat grim expression.
"Cyrene, do you think we have enough barley here to do a stew?" Johan’s gentle voice reached her, disturbing her thoughts.
"Hmm?" she answered, leaning stiffly to peer at what he was doing. "Oh, yes. Johan. We have enough. Go ahead." She sighed. Barely. And if there were more would depend on if there were enough guests to pay for this potload. She wiped her hands on her apron, and moved back to the counter, resting her elbows on the worn wood and gazing, unseeing, at the late afternoon sunlight pouring into the front of the inn.
Business had been bad for a long time. Even the locals kept to their homesteads, not wanting to advertise the fact that they had dinars to spend on food and drink, where someone from the warlord’s troops might see them. And the troops confiscated everything they could get their hands on, leaving the villagers with ends and odd lots, mostly. Survival, but just getting by all the time made people angry, and upset, and it just got worse. She got angry, a lot, at the warlords, and their soldiers, at the meekness of her fellow villagers, but she was just one, aging, worn out woman. They needed something more. She moved to the window with a lightness that belied her years, and stood gazing out at the road, and across it towards the balance of the village. After a moment, Johan joined her. "Stew’s on." he commented. "Will Toris be back for dinner?"
Cyrene shrugged. "Probably. He usually doesn’t miss a meal." She let a quirk frame her mouth for a moment, thinking of her eldest son. He was a good boy, really. She loved him, but though she never said it, she kept looking in him to see the fire of Lyceus, and never found it. And sometimes, like now, she looked at him hoping to see some of his sister’s courage, and didn’t find that either. Xena. His sister. Her daughter. Cyrene shook her head in bemusement. It was hard to believe sometimes. And though she had once both feared and disowned her fierce offspring, now.. now.. she had gotten a feeling that, given time, she could both come to appreciate, and even like the woman grown from the wild little girl she’d borne. Their last parting had been warm, and Cyrene had almost grown comfortable thinking about who Xena was, now. And found herself wishing, more and more often, that she would be given the opportunity to get closer to her.
"Here he comes now." Johan commented. "He’s not alone." he continued, surprise tingeing his rough voice. He had spotted two horses heading their way. One Toris’ roan, the other a golden colored animal with a cream mane and tail. With a rider almost Toris’ height, and with his coloring. "Zeus...that can’t be who I think it is, can it?"
"Gods." Cyrene whispered, spotting them. "I can’t believe it." She grinned, for the first time in a long while. "It’s my daughter." She headed for the door, Johan right behind her. "Of all the times for her to just show up...at the moment I was thinking about her."
The two siblings pulled their horses up to the inn’s tie off rail, and dismounted, Xena handing something to Toris before she headed for the door, and her mother’s compact form. "Mother." she nodded, in greeting, faintly surprised when Cyrene wrapped her arms around her in a brisk hug. She returned it, and with a small grin, lifted the smaller woman off her feet. "Nice to see you too."
"Let me down!" Cyrene laughed, pounding Xena on the back. "Show off." But she was smiling, and continued to smile, as she grasped her daughters arm, and tugged her inside the inn. "Let me see you." Her eyes drank in the tall form, wincing as she spotted the angry claw marks. "What have you been doing?" Not waiting for an answer. "Where’s Gabrielle?"
Toris sat down on a nearby bench, looking amused. "She’s running the Amazons."
"Really?" Cyrene and Johan asked together. "How did that happen?" Cyrene glanced at Toris. "And where did you get that wolf?"
Sister and brother looked at each other, in the way that only siblings could. "I think we’d better sit down, so I only have to say this once." Xena sighed.
The Amazon Village compound, Queen’s hut.
Gabrielle sat pensively, chewing the tip of her quill as she considered her next words. It was late on her first night in the village, and she had decided, since sleep seemed to be eluding her again, to keep a sort of running diary of her thoughts.
A light knock sounded on her doorpost, and she glanced up sharply. It was a little late for visitors. "Come in." And was somehow not surprised when it was Arella’s tall form that darkened the doorway verge. As she had told Jessan, sometimes you just knew when people meant to do bad things to you; Now was one of those times, she knew in her gut Arella was no friend, nor ever could be, because she wanted power and Gabrielle had it, and her conversation with Xena came sharply into focus as the tall, powerfully built Amazon sauntered into her hut, and stood gazing at her with unfeigned interest.
"Hi." Gabrielle said, closing the tied scroll she was writing in, and leaning back in her chair. "You’re up late." She kept eye contact with the tall redhead, waiting to see what her next move was. What would Xena do? She’d stay cool, and relaxed, and pretend nothing was wrong. Right. OK. Here we go.
"Yeah, well." Arella said, casually, seating herself in the chair opposite the bard’s desk. "I was out scouting, and saw you still had a torch lit. Thought I’d drop in and say hello." She studied the woman behind the desk critically. "You know, not to get personal or anything, but we probably could get you a sleep shirt that fit." Damn... she looks like a little kid in that thing. Ephiny should know better than that, though I suppose she’d say what the queen wears to bed is her own business. Maybe I can make it my business. A smile curved her lips upwards. "You are the queen. "
Gabrielle let a slight smile cross her face, and glanced down at the ink stained quill twirling in her fingers. The shirt was too big for her, the shoulders slid half way down her arms, and the length was almost to her knees. Not surprisingly. "No, this is just right. I like them this way." She assured Arella with a cordial grin. "But thanks for asking."
The redhead shrugged. "Your choice." she looked around the room. "So, how do you like it so far? This must be different that what you’re used to." she returned her gaze to the bard’s face, still and reserved in the faintly flickering torchlight. She’s harder to read than I thought she’d be. I used to think Xena kept her around for laughs. Now I’m not so sure. Nice eyes.
"Well," the bard laughed. "not exactly. I spend a lot of time sleeping on the ground, for one thing. She glanced at the walls. "Or in small village inns." Her eyes studied Arella. "And, occasionally, in the odd palace or two." She stood up, and walked over to her pouch, putting the manuscript inside of it. Aware of the eyes on her. "So.. did you find anything interesting while you were scouting?"
"Oh, this and that." Arella drawled, "But I shouldn’t keep you up." Saying that, she stood and stretched, and sauntered over to where Gabrielle was standing. Let’s give this a try. Should be amusing. She flicked the bard’s overlong sleeve with one hand, and smiled. "So, you like them big, huh?" Capturing the green eyes with her own. "I’m the yardstick they use to gauge that around here."
Gabrielle blinked at her, innocently. "How nice for you." she smiled. "that must make you feel pretty special." Folding her arms across her chest, and catching the faint, familiar scent rising from the fabric, which shielded her against the edgy energy flowing from the Amazon standing far closer to her than courtesy demanded.
"It does." Arella answered, quietly, then stepped back, and gave Gabrielle a little flourish with one hand. "your majesty." And then she was gone, gliding out the door with neat precision.
Gabrielle sighed, shaking her head and laughing a bit to herself. Pity she doesn’t realize I’m used to a different yardstick. One about 3 inches taller. She giggled. and about a thousand times more...she tried to find a word to describe it. Complicated? Maybe. Complex? Definitely. Dangerous? Oh, no question there.
"Gabrielle?" Ephiny’s head poked in the doorway, a worried look on her face. She spotted the bard near the bed, apparently deep in thought, but the green eyes lifted after a second and found hers. "Everything OK?" she edged into the room, flicking her eyes around. "I saw Arella come out of here." she walked over to Gabrielle, concern edging her voice.
"Everything’s fine, Ephiny." the bard sighed. "Please stop worrying. I can handle myself." She added, with a touch of annoyance. "she just came in to pass the time of night, I guess, and to...I don’t know... play around with me a little." She glanced up at Ephiny, who was looking at her with an inscrutable expression. "She’s really obnoxious." she added, making a face.
Ephiny snorted in laughter. "She thinks she’s irresistible, yknow. We call her Arella the Irresistible behind her back." I guess she’s not to Gabrielle. Won’t that be a ego sinker. "She’s made a lot of her.. er.. conquests that way." She scowled a bit. "She’s pretty persistent. You let me know if she gets to be too much of a bother." She tilted her head to one side and her brow furrowed. "And, where on earth did you get that shirt? It’s way too big."
Gabrielle gave a deep sigh. "I know." she said, bursting out laughing. "Arella said the same thing." She sat down on the bed and wrapped her arms around herself. "If I’d have known Amazon Queens frequently got visitors way after late watch, I would have dressed more appropriately." She glanced at Ephiny, who still seemed to be waiting for some kind of explanation. She raised her hands in surrender. "All right, all right, look - I grabbed it by mistake when I was packing, OK? It’s pretty obviously.." and she held out the shoulders. "one of Xena’s. So...can we get on to the next subject, please?" Grabbed it, yeah. By mistake? Uh.. sure. Right.
"OK..OK.." Ephiny held out both hands, laughing. "I get the picture." Do I? Hmm.. I wonder. . She sobered. "but be careful with Arella, OK, ? Listen, we’re friends, right?" she caught the bard’s eye.
"You know we are." Gabrielle answered, warmly. Though you used to think I was Xena’s pet. Not anymore...
"All right. I know you don’t want to drag Xena into this." Ephiny said, seriously, reaching out and touching Gabrielle’s arm. "But your being queen is not going to keep Arella away from you." A wince crossed her face. "She doesn’t like taking no for an answer." A grim look formed. "So, if you have to use Xena’s rep to beat off Arella, don’t you feel bad about it. Don’t, please? I asked you to come here because I thought it was important, but I don’t want to see anything happen to you, I really don’t." Because, among other things. Xena will never forgive me for that. And she will take this place apart. I know it. "Look." she lowered her voice. "Everyone knows you and Xena... are really close. Right? Nobody in their right mind is going to cross her, Gabrielle." Her eyes flicked briefly to her shirt, then back to her face, a glance the bard didn’t miss.
Gabrielle stayed silent for a long time. Everyone knows, huh? She grinned to herself. Finally she tilted her head in acknowledgment. "Thanks. I appreciate that, Ephiny. A lot." She looked at the ground thoughtfully. "You’re right. I don’t want to drag Xena into this. That was the whole point of her not coming here with me, remember?" The Amazon nodded. "I’ll do that only as a last resort. And this wasn’t a last resort." She moved over to her working table, and picked up a small item, idly turning it in her fingers. "Besides, Xena told me more or less to do the same thing." she gave Ephiny a little smile. "She warned me there would probably be some people like Arella around." She was right. Gods, I hate when she’s always right.
Ephiny had to be satisfied with that. Reluctantly, she nodded, and turned to go. "That’ll have to do, then. Good night." She gave the bard a brisk nod, and walked to the door, passing through it and into the night, almost bumping into one of her own lieutenants. "Watch it, Granella."
"So.. what did the Irresistible one want?" the slim brunette asked, falling into step next to Ephiny. "Already making designs on our new leader? She doesn’t waste time."
Ephiny snorted. "Yeah, but Gabrielle sent her packing. Must have been a shock." She gave Granella a sly grin. "However, I discovered that our queen sleeps in one of Xena’s old shirts, so you might want to pass that around. It might save her some headaches."
Granella chortled lightly. "Oh ho...really?" Her elfin face broke into a grin. "Aww.. that’s sweet, Eph."
Ephiny grinned along with her. "Yeah, it is, isn’t it? I guess I’m still a romantic at heart."
Her lieutenant raised an eyebrow. "I guess you are, but I never figured Xena to be." She cocked her head thoughtfully. "You sure it isn’t an advanced case of hero worship?"
Ephiny thought about that while they walked across to Ephiny’s quarters. "I used to be pretty sure it was. Now..." She shook her curly head. "There’s something there, Gran. Something that runs pretty deep. I don’t exactly how deep, but if I were Arella, I sure wouldn’t want to find out."
"Well, you’re not. And boy am I glad." Granella snorted. "You up for a little hot spiced wine? It’s getting cooler at night." She waggled an eyebrow in invitation. "C’mon, let us fawn over you for a change."
Ephiny smiled, lifting her hands in resignation. "All right... why not. I want to hear the latest gossip from the scouts anyway. Let’s go."
Amphipolis, early morning.
Xena opened one blue eye cautiously, blinking a little in the pre dawn gloom. She took in her surroundings, and relaxed, stretching her long limbs out and yawning a bit. The stable walls could barely been seen, and the only real light was coming in the glazed window which bisected the hay loft she was comfortably curled up in. A rustling sound drew her attention, and she peered down at the tiny ball of fur nestled in the crook of her arm. Great. Just great. All these people and he picks me to attach himself to.
The puppy had followed Xena all over the inn last night, causing a lot of giggling at her expense. She had tried to ignore both it and him, but finally had ended up picking the beast up, and carrying him around, fully aware of the amused grins from both her family and the curious villagers. "You’re ruining my image." she muttered to the sleepy puppy, who opened his yellow eyes, and blinked at her, then stretched his tiny head out across her forearm, and yawned, making little satisfied noises. A tiny pink tongue appeared, and tasted the inside of her elbow.
"Hey!" the warrior hissed, biting her lip. "That tickles." She clapped her hand over her mouth, and darted a glance around the barn. Then she put her lips down close to the puppy’s tiny ear. "If you ever, ever, so much as breath a word of that to ANYONE, I’ll make you into a fur muff." She glared at the pup. "Got it?"
The yellow eyes looked up at her solemnly. Then the pink tongue licked the edge of her nose, and the puppy nestled closer to her. Xena shook her head in amused disgust. "I know I’m going to regret this." she said to no one in particular. "If Gabrielle ever sees this, I’ll never live it down." If. That turned her thoughts sober. She laid her head down on her outstretched arm, gently petting the small form with her other hand. "I wonder what she’s doing right now, Ares." she whispered wistfully to the half asleep wolf. Glancing at the window. "Sleeping, probably." she concluded with a tiny grin.
The argument with mother had been pretty spectacular, she mused, as she rolled onto her back and regarded the ceiling not far from her head. She had wanted to pay for a room, seeing the bare cupboards in the inn kitchen, and having the dinars. Mother... had refused, saying she was not going to have people say she was making profit off her own family. She’s stubborn. Xena admitted, wryly. But then, so am I. The money was refused, so Xena had simply refused the room, saying she’d rather snug down with Argo.
Actually, she reflected, it was true. The hayloft had been one of her favorite childhood haunts. She lifted a hand, and brushed her fingertips across a scarred wooden crossbeam, tracing deeply engraved lines there. Her name. Lyceus’ also. They had lain side by side, making up stories about how they were going to be great warriors when they grew up. And one day, after Xena had found part of a long forgotten blade in a field not far away, they had crudely carved their names in the crossbeam. She swallowed hard, then glanced at the window again.
Time to earn my keep. Came the sardonic thought. Mother won’t take money. All right... but I bet she’ll take meat for the pot. A grin curved it’s way around her mouth. And that I can do. Along with fixing up some of the stuff around the place, gods, which hasn’t been done in years. Yeah... maybe it’s about time I put some sweat into the old inn. Hades knows mother has been for ever. She rolled over, and dropped out of the hayloft, landing neatly not far from where Argo was dozing, startling the mare. "Sorry, girl." she apologized, giving her a pat. "You stay here and relax." She rummaged in her saddlebags, pulling out some cloth. "I think we’ll ditch the armor for a few days, Argo.. no sense in startling the locals more than I need to."
Not long after, she slipped out the barn door, and headed towards the distant tree line at a purposeful jog, carrying a longbow and quiver. Nice morning. she reflected, drawing close to the start of the forest. Let’s see what we can find, hmm? She paused, taking in the cool breeze, catching a faint hint of a familiar smell on it. Well, that would certainly be an addition to the inn stocks.
She moved deeper into the trees, feeling the dew form on her skin, and the wet morning air drench the dark green linen tunic she was wearing. The scent got marginally stronger, and she changed direction slightly, ducking under fallen branches, and carefully avoiding the slick leaf litter where an unwary hunter could slip. At last, her ears confirmed the scent, picking up the unmistakable sound of an animal patiently chewing the rough forest foliage. Ahh...her movements slowed, and she crept forward a pace at a time until she could part the last set of feathery fronds, and see her quarry.
Handsome. A buck, every inch of five feet at the shoulder. Even field butchered, this was going to be stretch to carry, she reminded herself, then grinned. Well, I said I could use the exercise. I think this was a little more than I’d planned, but...the buck was unaware of being hunted, and continued to crop the grass as she settled the fletching of one long shaft onto the bowstring. Pausing for a moment to settle herself, she raised the longbow, and leveled the point at the animal’s jugular. Slowly, she drew her right arm back, smoothly bringing the shaft with it, until she was at full extension, and held, rechecking her aim. Without even a whisper of sound from the release, the arrow found it’s mark, taking the buck in mid chew, and dropping him to his knees in a spurting explosion of blood.
Hmm. Not bad, considering how long it’s been since I hunted longbow. She mused, a touch surprised. It’s usually shortbow, and rabbits, Or tossing the odd fish at Gabrielle. A smile flickered briefly at the thought, then she moved into the clearing, and dropped to one knee at the side of the gasping deer. One touch, and a sudden wrench ended its agony, and Xena set to work making the kill ready to be carried back. She bled the animal, and removed its organs, tossing them to the assembling scavengers, then removed the head, and tied the legs together.
I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew, this time. The warrior mused, measuring the load skeptically. Oh well. Sooner started, sooner finished. She cleaned her knife, and tied the bow across the carcass to keep it out of the way. Then she took a deep breath, and, grabbing the tied legs, hoisted the bulk to her shoulders, settling it as comfortably as possible. Oh boy. her mind mocked her. I’m about to regret all those long evenings lounging around the fire when I should have been getting drills in. Oh yeah. Get going, Xena, before you drop this thing.
Sometimes, she mused, almost to the village. I’m not sure if I’m really this strong, or just too stubborn to admit I can’t do something. Stopping a minute to catch her breath, she resettled her burden, dismissing the burning ache in her shoulders and focusing grimly on the early daylight washed roof of the inn, where a curl of smoke was wafting up out of the fireplace vent. Not much further, she grinned to herself, approaching the door, and hearing the murmur of voices within.
"Last night might have saved us, Johan" Cyrene stated, shaking her head in bemusement. "At least for a little while. Now, if I can only get some fresh supplies, we can maybe turn this around a little bit." Sighing, she peered at the empty cupboards. "I guess I’d better go shopping. Maybe I’ll get some salt meat. You can do those sandwiches again."
"This would probably be better." Came a low, amused voice from the doorway, surprising them both. "Watch out." Xena warned, as she smoothly swung her burden off her shoulders, and laid it down on the long low table at the back of the kitchen.
"Xena!" Cyrene gasped in shock. She reached out a hand in disbelief and touched the skin of the carcass. "What... how......"
The taller woman just patted the bundle, and grinned. "You won’t take money." she shrugged. "I went out and found something else you would take." Brushing off her tunic, she turned and headed for the door, not waiting for Cyrene’s reply. As the door closed behind her, she leaned against the wall for a moment, working a painful kink out of her back. Whoa. I’m glad I don’t have to do that every day. A wry grin crossed her face. The expression on Cyrene’s face had been worth every minute of it.
"Hey!" Toris called, as he stepped around the corner and spotted her. "What are you doing up so early?" He fell into step with her as she started walking towards the springhead, above the village.
"I was out getting breakfast." Xena answered, casually. "And I’m always up this early." She glanced at him. "Going for a swim. You interested?"
Toris gave her a sideways glance. "Brrr… Not this early, thanks." He fingered the sleeve of her tunic. "Blood?"
"Breakfast." the warrior answered, jerking her head back towards the kitchen.
"Oh. You got a couple of rabbits?" Her brother patted her on the shoulder. "That’ll be nice."
"Yeah," Xena answered, a glint in her eye that Gabrielle would have recognized instantly. "Really weird looking ones, too. I’ve never seen anything like it."
"Well," Toris cleared his throat. "I’d better check it out. I know all the types around here. I’ll tell you what kind they are." He turned on his heel, and headed back towards the inn door.
Xena chuckled to herself, and headed up to the spring.
"Cyrene." Jahon asked, in awe. "Tell me, truthfully. What on earth did you feed her when she was a child?" He walked around the deer carcass, and moved one hoof, shaking his head.
Cyrene folded her arms across her chest. "Well, she did drink a lot of milk." she mused, laughing a little. "But other than that... would you look at the size of this thing? We’ll have meat for two weeks." She ducked her head and smiled. "Brat. Did you see the twinkle in her eyes?."
Jahon gave her an indulgent look. "Just like her mother’s when she’s gotten one over on someone." He teased, ducking the light slap. "She’s not at all what I expected, Cyrene."
"No." the innkeeper said, her face thoughtful. "She never is."
Amazon Village - Council Chamber
"I’m sorry." Gabrielle repeated, politely. "Explain to me again why attacking the Centaurs will help us gain stability in the region? I didn’t quite get that part." The bard folded her hands on the table, and cocked her pale head in sincere interest. At her side, Ephiny was maintaining a solemn expression, now and then taking a few notes on the scroll in front her . Now, she looked up, and traded a quirked eyebrow with Solari, who was seated midway back in the chamber. Solari yawned in answer, and silently moved out of the room, and headed for the dining hall.
"I said." Arella enunciated clearly, a touch of annoyance tingeing her voice. "As long as we have a disputed border, there’s no way we can safely extend the hunting lands to the north." She gave the queen a frustrated look. Was the woman that dense?
"Ah." Gabrielle acknowledged. "I see. Well, you know, I think I’d like to try sending a negotiation team to the Centaurs first. Making a common border agreement with them seems to be a lot less trouble to me than going out and fighting them. Don’t you think?" She smiled at Arella, meeting the tall redhead’s direct stare with one of her own. After a long moment, she turned to Ephiny. "Do you have someone to lead a party over there?"
"Mmm" Ephiny considered, pursing her lips. "Yes. I do." She jerked her chin at Granella, who was leaning against the far wall support. "Assemble a small group, six or seven, to leave tomorrow dawn." The slim Amazon nodded in understanding, and slid out of the room. "All right, that’s all the issues on the table this morning." Ephiny leaned back and stretched a kink out of her neck. It as going well, better than she had expected, actually, even with Arella’s consistent opposition. She looked up as Solari reentered, moving gracefully up to the council table and setting a pitcher of cold tea on the table along with brace of glasses. Ephiny smiled at her. "Thanks." she muttered, selecting a glass and pouring it half full. "Here." She offered, handing the cup to Gabrielle. "Talking all morning makes me thirsty. I can’t imagine how you feel."
Gabrielle accepted the cup, and sat back in her chair, scanning the room as she sipped the cool drink. The tension in the room was making her shoulders ache, though they were making progress. She ignored Arella’s undisguised disgruntled stare, and glanced out the window instead. The expressions in the room ranged from hopeful, to skeptical, to outright adversarial - but one thing they had in common was their focus on her. Knowing they were, knowing they were all looking to her to solve their problems left the bard feeling very isolated. Even Ephiny, she mused, wouldn’t understand because of course, she was an Amazon. I’m not. And they think I have this magical cure for all their problems. This wasn’t unusual, after all, isn’t that what she and Xena did, all the time? But...she usually wasn’t the focus of attention. It’s scary. I’m not really sure I like it. And suddenly, from the inside, she got a good sense of what Xena went through, almost every day. Gods... how does she do it?
The bard lost herself in thought for a moment, considering. It was true - whenever they walked into a situation, everyone’s hopes, expectations...were dropped on a pair of certainly broad, but very human shoulders. If she closed her eyes, she could see Xena’s expression - that little furrow in her brow, the concentrated look, the subtle squaring of her body and a deep breath, as she took in the circumstances, delved into her knowledge and experience, and tried to come up with an answer. And when the situation’s bad, where’s the first place I look? How much pressure can one person stand up under? Gods... I never realized. How many times have I told her I was counting on her to come up with an answer to a question that had no answers? And...she does. She never puts the responsibility off on anyone else. And even realizing that, and knowing this is my job... and my responsibility, and not hers.. I still...still wish she was here. I wish I could open my eyes, and see her leaning against the doorway, rolling her eyes at the Amazons, and giving me that look.
"Gabrielle" Ephiny’s low voice interrupted her thoughts. She opened her eyes and met the concerned Amazon’s gaze. "Are you all right?" Ephiny continued, putting a gentle hand on her knee. "You have the oddest look on your face."
"No, I’m fine." Gabrielle smiled wryly. "I was just thinking, that’s all." She gave Ephiny a wink. "That’s what you hired me for, right?" She took another sip of tea, and tried to pretend a nonchalance she wasn’t really feeling. "So, what’s next on the agenda?"
Ephiny propped her elbow on the table, and gave the bard a long look. "Well, lunch, actually." she admitted, chuckling. "and the Elder’s Council wants to talk to you right after." she shrugged. "and after that, maybe we can work off some tension with a little sparring?"
Gabrielle nodded amiably. "OK - that sounds great." She stood up, and started around the table, sliding to one side as Arella attempted to close in on her. "Excuse me." she gave Arella a smile. "No hard feelings, right?" Letting her eyes meet Arella’s shadowed gray ones.
"None" Arella answered, drawing the word out. "But I can see you and I could do with some conversation on some issues." She casually crossed her arms over her chest. "Would you have some time, say over dinner, to talk?" Keeping her voice deliberately light, and unthreatening. Come on, little queen. Maybe we can find a common ground. Talk to me.
Gabrielle’s mind raced, though she maintained a politely thoughtful expression. Should I? Maybe she can be reasoned with after all...it might be worth a try. "Sure." she answered, letting her smile linger. "That would be nice."
"Tonight, then." Arella responded, and gave her sort of a nod before she turned and left the Council chamber, joined at the door by two of her closer cronies.
Now, Ephiny comes over, and says, That’s not a good idea, Gabrielle. The bard predicted to herself.
"That’s not a good idea." Ephiny said, giving Gabrielle a warning look, surprised at the sudden suppressed grin that fleetingly crossed the queen’s face. "I think you’re playing with fire, here." What was she thinking of? Surely she could see what Arella was up to...
"Ephiny, please relax." Gabrielle answered, with a touch of annoyance. "First off, I can take care of myself. Second, maybe she has some good ideas… how am I supposed to know if I don’t listen to her? Third," And she lowered her voice and put her head closer to Ephiny. "I’m not as naive as you think I am."
Shaking her head, she ushered Ephiny out the door, and towards the dining hall. "Come on. I’m hungry." But she wasn’t, really. Strange...I am, and I’m not, or I am, but...Gods, Gabrielle, just go eat lunch. Which was fairly bland, and tended to cooked grains. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t very interesting. Gabrielle plowed through the stuff, though, having little choice. Well, I could just go out to the stream and catch myself a fish, I guess. Yeah, right. Some great impression there.
The Elder’s meeting was interesting, though, and Gabrielle liked the opportunity to talk to some of the retired Amazons, whose memory stretched back before her birth. She liked the olders, and had a feeling they liked her too. She was smiling as she walked out, and spotted Ephiny and Eponin talking near the sparring ground. Oh yeah. Staff practice. Almost forgot. With a casual wave at them, she changed her direction to her quarters, to pick up her staff and drop off her meeting notes. Ephiny crossed the middle ground and joined her at the door.
"Hi." The Amazon greeted her briefly. "Getting your staff?"
"Yeah." Gabrielle replied, putting her notes down, and reaching for the smooth wood, which came to her hand with a familiar feel that always kind of surprised her. I never thought I’d get used to carrying this. I guess you can get used to anything.
"Have you been getting in some practice?" Ephiny asked, giving her an amused look. "Eponin isn’t going to be gentle with you." She glanced at the bard, taking in the look of almost mischief in her mist green eyes. Noticing the added muscle in the arms and shoulders. Oh, I bet she has...too...and she’s got some sparring partner. "Hmm?" she prodded, with a smile.
Gabrielle let a grin form on her lips. "Oh, a little." she assured the Amazon blithely. "You know, here and there. I get to use it for real sometimes." She hefted the staff, and motioned Ephiny to go ahead of her. "Come on - I know Eponin hates to be kept waiting." They walked across the middle ground, towards where Eponin was waiting, leaning casually on her own staff. A few other Amazons were scattered around, but Gabrielle was aware of their interested attention. So... this is a show, huh? She felt a seldom experienced jolt of anticipation start in the pit of her stomach.
Her staff proficiency was something she was acquiring to keep her alive, and to gods... prevent Xena from having to go crazy worrying about her in a scuffle, but she didn’t have the joy in battle that Xena did, and she didn’t even understand where that emotion came from. But she was getting better - Xena said so, and as much as the warrior humored her in a lot of things, in this... this..., Xena wouldn’t lie or exaggerate. Not when her life could depend on it, something Xena took with very deadly seriousness. "Hi, Eponin." she smiled, as they came abreast of the older Amazon. "Thanks for taking the time to do a little practice with me. Just like old times."
Eponin studied her. "I hope you’ve been keeping up your skills, your majesty." she allowed a small smile to cross her face. "Shall we?" she motioned to a clear area, and glanced around to make sure there wasn’t anyone too close.
They faced off, and Eponin wasted no time, but closed in with her, and probed her defenses with several testing thrusts. Which she parried, feeling her body settle into a familiar rhythm as she responded to the attacks with practiced ease. The smack of Eponin’s staff against hers felt...light, she was surprised to notice, and lacked the sting she was used to. Experimentally, she moved forward a little, and threw in a double parry she often used with little effect against Xena.
Eponin’s face was a study in surprise as her staff went flying out of her hands, and Ephiny didn’t bother to disguise her bemused amazement. Whoa! Check that out! Gabrielle waited for Eponin to retrieve her weapon, then, feeling a little irritated at the Amazons surprise at her competence, went on the attack, letting her blows fly with a grim satisfaction. Now Eponin’s face was serious as well, and the Amazon started using far more effort in her strokes, trying in earnest to get through the bard’s defenses and disarm her.
Gabrielle was having none of it. Condescend to me, will you? Act like I’m a clueless child, will you? OK.. take that. Smack. Oh, and Xena taught me this, too. Smack. The Amazon’s face grew angry. Whoops, that must have stung. Gabrielle grinned. Eponin’s efforts doubled, and her breathing grew a touch strained. She grimly drove for Gabrielle’s body, slamming the staff against the bard’s with stunning power. But Gabrielle found her blocks holding, her muscles used to turning back a far stronger effort, and she thrust the Amazon back, knocking her off balance and leaving her open to a backhanded sweep, one of her favorite moves. Eponin’s staff went flying again, and this time, Gabrielle curled an arm around her own weapon, and leaned against it, with a smug feeling of satisfaction. In her peripheral vision, she saw several dozen watching Amazons, ringed loosely around them. Good. Let them take me seriously. I’m no warrior, but I’m sure not the clumsy kid I was the last time I stood on this practice ground.
"My compliments, your majesty." Eponin said, stiffly, still breathing hard. "It seems you have been practicing, indeed."
Gabrielle shrugged nonchalantly. "Thanks. I do get to use it a lot, you know. We run into trouble...all the time." She shrugged. "And I have a pretty good sparring partner." As she said this, an irrepressible grin crept onto her face. "Even if she only goes half speed, and I end up getting dumped on my rear most of the time."
Eponin nodded. "I should have remembered. But I didn’t think Xena would waste her time with a staff." Her eyes flicked to Ephiny, who shrugged.
Gabrielle cocked her head in puzzlement. "You have some really strange ideas about her, you know that? She’s just a person... she’s funny, and warm, and...a good teacher.." she paused, and smiled. "and a good friend." she finished quietly. "And she uses anything she can get her hands on as a weapon. Believe me." She chuckled, then swung her staff down to her side. "Should we finish?"
Ephiny took a turn at her, then Solari, and finally Granella, who grinned as she asked Gabrielle to show her the backhanded sweep. The Amazons now treated her just a little differently, which Gabrielle found kind of funny. They bring me here because I’m a peacemaker. And they don’t respect me until I can beat them up. Something’s not right here. But she enjoyed herself, and it was a relief to work off some of the tension that had been building in her all day. She stretched as she and Ephiny walked back towards her quarters side by side. "Wow...that took the kinks out." she said, half laughing, to the Amazon.
Ephiny gave her a glance. "You can say that again." She bumped the bard lightly with an elbow. "You certainly had fun with us." she laughed a little. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you’d gotten that good? I feel like an idiot."
"Well.." Gabrielle hesitated, then spread her hands out. "It’s kind of hard to judge, Ephiny... you forget who I have to measure myself against." She felt that grin that sort of just came out of her when she thought about Xena appear. I can’t help doing that, lately.
Ephiny ducked her head in acknowledgment. "OK.. good point." she admitted. Wondering if Gabrielle knew just how her face lit up when she was talking about her warrior partner. "She’s done quite a job with you." More than you know, more than with that staff, my bardic friend.
"Time to wash up and get ready for dinner." the bard mused. "I know... I know... I’ll be careful." She gave Ephiny a look. "Wish me luck."
Ephiny sighed. "All right. But I’m going to have someone outside, not far away. By the gods, Gabrielle, you yell if you need something." She touched Gabrielle’s arm in farewell, and changed direction towards her own quarters.
Gabrielle shook her head, and continued into the hut, carefully putting the staff in a secure place near her desk, and skinning out of her leathers. She grabbed a linen wrap, and went to the wash area, which was fairly empty at this time of the afternoon. The late sunlight dropped lazily through the lattice windows, and dusted distorted squares of light on the mat covered floor, as Gabrielle claimed a tub, and filled it with water heated in the ever present fireplace. The bathing room backed onto the smithy forge, an economical use of heat, she’d always thought. With a groan, she settled into the water, wincing at a strained muscle in her shoulder.
Gods, that’s painful. A plaintive thought. if.. Xena were here, I could beg for a rubdown. She just knows exactly where it hurts. And she’s got the nicest, warmest hands...she sighed. Gabrielle, just don’t go there. You chose to do this, so just get used to it. Moodily, she finished washing up, and drained the tub, wrapping the linen around her and trudging back to her quarters. What in Hades is wrong with me? Here I am, taking charge of an entire nation of people, and when I should be thinking about what to do to solve their problems, I end up thinking about...she stopped in front of the desk, and picked up the piece of amber resting there. And smiled, and let her shoulders drop in amused defeat. I end up thinking about being in love. Because I am. And it’s like...standing under a waterfall, on a sunny spring morning it feels so good…For a moment, she let that thought run, hugging the linen wrap to her, and feeling an incredulous grin stretch her face from ear to ear. Then she laughed, and got dressed, and was composed and ready when the knock came at her doorpost, and Arella was there.
"Are you telling me, " Arella later said, pouring her a second cup of wine, after dinner was complete. "that there’s always a peaceful solution to any problem?"
Gabrielle shrugged. "I’d like to say yes, but...I’ve traveled with Xena for two years.." She cast a glance at her guest, and didn’t touch the wine glass. Oh no... learned my lesson there, thanks. One’s my limit. "Sometimes, you don’t have a choice. But I’d like to think we can work on situations so that we always do have a choice. " Her voice was calm and reasonable.
"But you agree that sometimes violence is unavoidable." Arella pursued, leaning across the small table. Knowing by now that Gabrielle would not back off from her.
"Unavoidable, yes. Desirable, no." the bard answered, leaning on one elbow, and regarding Arella.
"Desirable." Arella repeated, letting her eyes wander over her dinner partner. "That depends." Her gray eyes traced the exposed collarbone of the woman facing her, and stopped on the necklace winking in the candlelight. "That’s beautiful." she murmured, reaching over and laying a fingertip on the sea green stone.
Gabrielle managed not to twitch at the touch, and kept her voice level and unconcerned. "Thanks."
Arella tilted her russet head, and regarded the eyes across from her. "Good match for your eyes, your majesty." She raised an eyebrow. "That must have been a tough find. It’s an unusual color."
The bard felt her heart begin to pound in alarm. This was more aggression than she’d counted on... should she yell for the guard? How dumb would that sound. A thought occurred to her, which made her lips twitch in a reluctant grin. "That’s what people tell me." She answered, giving Arella a mild look. "But Xena managed somehow. She surprised me with it not long ago." She let her gaze drop to the table, and laughed a little. A glance back up at Arella, whose expression was now a good deal more reserved. OK, Xena. I owe your reputation one. We’ll settle up later.
"But I think we should approach violence as a second option, especially with the centaurs. They’re neighbors - doesn’t it seem better to you if we can make peace with them?"
Arella leaned back against her chair, and cupped her chin in her hand. "I don’t know, Gabrielle." Yes I do, but you can’t hear me. "We have such a long history of fighting with them. How could they trust us?" She shrugged. "We’re too different to be allies."
Gabrielle surprised her by laughing. "Oh, that’s not true at all. You’d be surprised at how much we all have in common, when you get right down to it. We just left a city where the residents found some new allies in a race of half men, half lions that lived nearby." She enjoyed the look of disbelief on the Amazon’s face. "It’s true.. I was there... I saw it. I know them." She stood, and stretched, wincing as she stressed her shoulder. "So, anything is possible. But we’re not going to decide this tonight. Though, " the bard stared at Arella, seriously. "I do appreciate your viewpoint."
Arella also stood, and nodded quietly. "We’ll have to discuss this further." she said, softly, capturing Gabrielle’s eyes with her own. And finding unexpected compassion there. "Good night." she finished, and turned to leave. Gabrielle walked around the table and escorted her to the door, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder as they reached the threshold. Feeling the slight flinch at the contact. "Thanks for joining me for dinner." She said, cheerfully. "Have a good night."
The tall Amazon paused, and glanced down at her, a thoughtful expression on her shadowed face. "You too, Gabrielle." And smiled. And brushed by her to clear the door, making the most of the contact.
Sighing, the bard crossed back over to her desk, and pulled out her diary, spending several minutes writing with absorption. So, I had a visit from the Enemy tonight, Xena. She thinks the only way to do things is with violence. We don’t know anything about that, right? Right. She’s...really intense. And I think she wants something from me... something I know I can’t give her. I’m not sure what to do about that - I tried to take your advice and warn her off - but I don’t think she cares. That’s scary. We’ll have to see what happens. Hey - you’d have been proud of me today - I got to beat up some Amazons at staff practice. Wish you could have seen it. Yeah, I do wish that. It’s silly, I know. I’ve only been here two days. But a tiny part of me is always wondering what you’re doing, and where you are, and I find myself missing just having you around. I hope you’re doing OK, and not getting into too much trouble.
Finally, she finished, and closed the diary, and changed into her now favorite shirt, and climbed into bed. And stared at the wooden beams holding up the ceiling. And thought about what Xena could be doing, three days away from here, under the same stars, hearing the same fitful wind outside. She chuckled a little. Sleeping, probably, was what she was doing. With a shake of her head, Gabrielle joined her.
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