In light of what has gone before
(Come as you
are)
By
Bronwyn of Llewelynn
Divide and council
At the far end of the conference hall of the Greek Amazon village, five
Amazons were arguing by candlelight until deep in the night. The rough but
sturdy comfort of the hall holds five chaotically chattering Amazons.
“Ladies please. We are talking in circles here. Let’s walk it through
from the top once more so we are all clear on what we think.” Gabrielle eyed
her sisters’ faces one by one. She was sensing that her subjects and friends
were not all together in consensus about how to deal with Velasca’s loyalists.
She wasn’t quite sure what to do herself. “If we can’t reach an agreement
on what tactics to follow, how are we supposed to keep the nation united?” What
would Xena do?
“Good point my Queen,” Solari agreed. “But how will it come across
when Ephiny takes her leave in the middle of it all? Won’t it look strange
when she’s not here for Summer Solstice, among other events?” The Amazon’s
voice was hard and demanding as she gave the Regent a nudge with her boot, under
the cypress long-table.
Ephiny opened her mouth to speak and closed it again. The frown on her
forehead deepened. I think I’ll wake these ladies up after they’ve all
said their two dinars… again. Gods I wish Melosa was here. This
‘miscussion’ is going nowhere.
“I don’t think we’ve decided on that question yet,” Eponin said
in a slightly bored tone, picking at the stitches of her worn scabbard.
Looking at Eponin, Ephiny’s face flushed red with anger and her
clenching fists traveled up to rest on her hips. Hey, I expected more of you.
Lizzeah stood, slamming her hand on the table. “That’s obviously out
of the question. The Regent is needed here now more than ever and would never
desert her Queen and sisters at a time like this.” She stated her claim
loudly, gazing at her oldest and best friend grimly before hiding her face
behind thick, long, black hair.
“Mind your tone and place woman,” Gabrielle hissed at the Mistress of
Ceremonies. “Let Ephiny speak her mind before you make it up for her.”
Queen and Mistress stared at each other and the tension in the hall grew
to an almost tangible level. Lizzeah sat down when she saw that Ephiny was on
the brink of exploding and her Queen wasn’t far from reaching boiling point
either.
“Just sit down the lot of you and I will make matters very clear for
everyone,” Ephiny said and only managed to keep the anger out of her voice by
breathing deeply and controlled. “Queen Gabrielle.” The curly blonde focused
on her friend’s gentle but worried face and continued. “ I will first go and
fetch some documents from my quarters. I need them to clarify a few laws that
will back up a proposal we could vote on, as this Council is set up to do.”
Ephiny paused for a moment, looking at her sisters, one pair of claiming eyes
after another. “If I may speak freely, the way we are approaching the
situation is far too personal.”
“Agreed” The Bard nodded and sat down with a sigh. ”While you’re
gone, the rest of us have some time to temper those personal emotions and think
more clearly.” The Queen nodded at Ephiny, who immediately set off towards the
door.
Astral sojourn
“Wake up, Rhiannon.” A sharp slap of skin on skin followed the
elf’s crying plea.
“Please, wake up. I can’t do this alone. We need to pay someone a
visit lass.” The Ancient was leaning over the unconscious woman and stroked
her face. She finished making a bed of fern leaves at the edge of the stream and
now wondered how to get the warrior there. The first task had already cost her
more energy than she could afford to lose and she hated hurting the plants.
“I suppose the cause is just.” She said to the surrounding trees and
cringed despite herself.
Rhiannon stirred and mumbled something incomprehensible. Her body
shivered as one of her arms moved to block the elf’s hand before it hit her
cheek a second time.
“Good girl, come back to me. That’s it.” The elf cupped a few large
leaves filled with water close to the Celt’s lips as the woman came round.
Rhiannon drank eagerly while holding on to the elf’s arm for balance.
It felt like the ground could collapse from under her at any time and her head
ached as if an ox and cart had run her over.
“You’re still here?” Rhiannon croaked.
“Of course I am silly,” The elf said, smiling and sniffing back a few
tears. “I need you. Where did you go anyway?” Green fingers twirled
with the Celt’s red, sweat- soaked braids and green eyes met.
Rhiannon rolled her head and tried to move a little. Leaning on her
elbows, she took a deep breath and another swig of water from the stream.
Splashing the remainder of water over her face and unfastening the pin of her
cloak she said, “This passing out thing is becoming annoying.”
The confused and drained look on the elf’s face told Rhiannon that time
was running out. The elf could not sustain herself much longer. With a moan she
sat up and took the ancient’s hands in hers.
“You know where I was but I’ll tell you.” Rhiannon took a deep
breath, stretched her neck one more time and continued. “I went to Avalon,
Erie, Atlantis, Lemuria, Mother’s house and all these places more than once
and not in the same order or this time space.” A shaky sigh escaped the
woman’s mouth. “I can remember again, but I’m scared.” The last two
words came out in a hoarse whisper, as if she was afraid to admit it even to
herself.
“I know you are lass. So am I, but I have to take you… somewhere.”
Unable to control her body and suppress similar emotions, the elf threw herself
into the Celt’s arms shivering and hid her tears. “I’m nothing without
you. Don’t leave me.”
Rhiannon chuckled blandly and cleared her throat. “Well, aren’t we
the tuff dark-elf and seasoned warrior all of a sudden. We know who we are now,
but not what we are about to become. I’m back to square one.” Rhiannon
buried her face in the elf’s hair and caressed the creature’s back in
sympathy. “Passing out doesn’t seem so bad anymore.”
Rhiannon pushed herself and the elf into a sitting position, cupped a
hand under the ancient’s chin and whispered,
“I need you too, lass.” Putting on a brave smile, the redhead asked,
“ Now, where are we going?” Ceridwen save me for I think I already know.
“You’re not going to like this,” The elf replied, wiping the tears
from her face with a sleeve.
“Hey, I recognize the pattern, lass, so don’t feel bad.” A bitter
laugh interrupted the calm trickling sound of the stream. “It’s got to
happen if I like it or not, so tell me.”
The elf took a deep breath and uttered, “Amazonia.” Closing her eyes,
she waited for a reaction.
The Celt’s jaw dropped as she sucked air in shallow pants and her stare
went, stone cold and right through the elf.
After waiting almost forever for the Celt to react, move, or just say
something, the elf cautiously opened one eye and took a chance by saying,
“Ephiny.” She better not start at me for saying her cutie’s name.
I’ve got to get through to Rhi some how.
Rhiannon heard the elf say the Amazon’s name but couldn’t move. All
she saw were the trees dancing around them and the image of Ephiny projected on
the ever-moving green canopy. A smile lit up her face and a surge of energy
emerging from her heart, filled her body slowly. The warm tingling sensation
spread out over her like a thick, fuzzy blanket.
At the same time the elf was struggling to stay conscious while she
crawled closer to Rhiannon. “Don’t
leave yet. You need me there with you.” Shaking the Celt’s shoulder didn’t
break the trance. Taking a deep breath and summoning all the power she had left,
the elf struck Rhiannon in the face once again and yelled, “Stop.”
A sharp sting to the left side of her face brought the redhead back to
the moment. Rhiannon cradled her jaw and yelped. “This is getting to be a
habit.” She laughed through teary eyes but snapped out of her daze when she
saw the worsened shape the elf was in.
“Come with me.” Rhiannon helped the elf to her feet and supported her
the few steps down to the very edge of the stream. “Dangle your feet in the
water and ground yourself. The Goddess will strengthen our bond to this place so
we come back safely.” When I decide to. “If we travel following the
waters, she will guide us for sure. I mean… we’ve never been further than
Britannia before so see this as a safety n-” Rhiannon sat down next to the elf
with a thump and had to catch her breath before she could utter another word.
The cool water penetrated her boots eventually and calmed her nerves some.
Astral traveling was not her favorite way to journey but it made sense.
Everything was starting to make sense now.
She was an elfling, an Ancient both by her mother and father and would
become whole the moment she recognized that fact with her heart, body and mind
unconditionally. Her soul already knew that but remained ignored until now. The
creature sitting next to her would become part of her again. That is what the
elf wanted all along too.
Rhiannon had seen her pasts during many feverish dreams and connected the
images with the sacred knowledge she was taught at Avalon. Slowly she realized
that hiding who she really was, had been an elaborate plan from the day she was
born, fit to suit the needs of everybody but herself. The fact that this plan
was failing and setting off all kinds of changes in and around her world was
more likely the way of the Goddess. The rest was just monumental prejudice and
the blatant fear of mortals. Including her own.
“Look at me love.” Rhiannon claimed the elf’s attention with soft
words, “I need to pay a visit to my one true anchor in this universe. It’s
time we stopped talking to, uh, ourselves and started putting matters into
capable hands. Mine preferably.”
Class is in
The sun was climbing over the rouge colored clouds of a damp and misty
morning and warming the earth for another day of productivity and grace. Birds
sang merrily and enhanced the tranquil, uplifting ambiance of the Dream Stone.
Gray squirrels darted to and fro over a bouncy moss carpet that spread out
between the old, woody souls of the forest. A soft, sweet scented breeze
caressed anything airborne and slowly drove a lingering mist bank away from
ground level over to one of the many streams. There it eventually dissolved back
into its source.
The beauty of the ancient, mystic surrounding was completely lost on
Xena. Sitting against the trunk of an aged oak, the Warrior brooded about her
predicament. She ran through the variety of landscapes with the mind-frame of a
prisoner, plotting her get-away. After candle marks of running through forest,
marsh, open fields and more forests, Xena realized that to this place came no
end. Calling out the Celt’s name over and over didn’t do much more than give
her a sore throat. She sat herself down to think and catch her equilibrium.
“By the Gods, this place is like nothing I have ever seen. Think woman,
what do you need to do first besides eat?”
Xena asked herself, rubbing her fiercely grumbling belly. “How am I
supposed to play along with Eanfled’s game if nothing happens for… for days,
for all I know?” Xena said out loud. Resting her back against the tree again
she closed her eyes for a moment to think.
-Swat-
Jumping to her feet a blink after a small lump of mud landed on her
thigh, Xena looked up with eyes cold as ice.
“What the--
Another helping of mud found it’s way successfully to Xena’s arm,
followed by a salvo of nuts on direct route towards the Warrior’s head and
torso.
Xena covered her face with her arms and kept looking up through the
falling objects to see who or what was aiming at her. Finally something
happens.
She picked up high-pitched giggles, coming from somewhere between the
thick leaf coat of the oak tree she was sitting under. Her grin turned slightly
feral and her entire body tensed. She pushed off the ground and somersaulted
vertically, landing on a sturdy branch, half way up the trunk.
Crouched on the branch like a panther, the raven-haired Warrior listened
with her head cocked to one side. The giggling has stopped but there was
definitely something up there.
“Faren, Lucar and Siobhan, get back to your seats… RIGHT NOW. ” An
impatient and annoyed, boyish voice rang through the canopy. The delicate
pitter-patter of feet scurrying over wood could be heard. Then all was silent
again.
“Yes, Siobhan?”
“Master, there’s a woman out there on the first branch. We saw her
just then, honest.” The timid voice of a girl child replied.
“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see what she will do, won’t we,
children?”
The male voice sounded very young to Xena. Eanfled’s voice was like
that too.
The Warrior got comfortable on her perch and decided to find out where
this discovery of life would lead her. There was no sense of danger and she was
close to getting frustrated before becoming a playful target. Frustration would
get her into trouble; she knew that all too well.
“But Master, she can’t just sit there all day. What if she gets
hungry, or thirsty, master?” Siobhan’s voice shrieked with worry. “And
what- what if she falls and gets hurt? Oh Master, we must do something to
help.”
“Why do you think she is here lass?” Her Master asked.
“Master, Master.” A thumping sound accompanied a boy’s plea for
attention.
“Yes Faren, what is it?”
“She won’t fall because she just flew up the tree. She can do magick
too, I bet.”
The boy‘s excited tone spurred Lucar to join in on the debate.
“Yeah, she might even be a Fawn. Her hair is very dark and she’s sooo
tall.”
The master chuckled at his pupil’s vivid imagination. “Alright Lucar,
calm down. You too Faren. So sit down and stop pulling at Siobhan's wing tips.
All settled down again.
“You can climb up now, Hero,” The Master called out.
Xena’s grin grew wider as she carefully made her way higher into the
oak tree.
Brach by branch the Warrior climbed her way up, making sure she didn’t
catch her skin on the sharper twigs, wedging her fingers in the cracks of the
bark for a good grip.
Resting on the tree’s center fork, hidden from sight by layer upon
layer of leaves, rested a small wooden platform, big enough to hold a small
class of young elves and their teacher, Eanfled. The three youngsters’ eyes
almost popped out of their heads when the Warrior’s head broke clear of the
foliage and appeared very close to their benches.
Xena’s heart almost melted at the sight of their tiny green faces and
little leafy outfits. She levered herself onto a branch, pulling her weight up
on her elbows. She stopped an arm length away from the platform and got
comfortable. Winking at the elven children, she hoped to reassure them that she
was no danger to them.
Eanfled was dressed in similar attire as his pupils and this time round
seemed more his size. Five foot something of dark-elf was standing with his arms
folded across his chest, an amused smile on his face. His sinewy body was
covered by a tight fitting bodysuit made of fallen leaves in all shades of
brown. His bow and arrow stood leaning against a stool behind him.
“Hi kids. Very nice tree-school you’ve got here.” The raven-haired
woman waved and then focused on Eanfled’s face.
“So, what’s up, teach?” Xena pulled up a knee and hugged it,
resting her chin on her arm.
After unfolding his arms and rubbing over his chest a few times the
Ancient spoke. “We were exploring the boundaries of perception, Hero. You are
very welcome to join in, right children.”
In unison the children yelled yes. They flew over to the Warrior together
and pulled her onto the platform, cheering enthusiastically. Eanfled stood by
and flung his long, bluish black hair back with an almost feminine gesture.
As one
Chanting herself into a deep trance with an unconscious elf leaning
heavily on her back, Rhiannon prepared for the journey ahead.
At first, nothing more than a faint green glow surrounded the two
forms sitting back to back on a huge, mossy log sticking out of the
dead calm stream.
Rhiannon felt the elf lose consciousness during their first attempt
to synchronize heartbeats and decided to concentrate on herself.
We are after all the same being. Eanfled created the illusion of my
split person, She slowly brought her hands together in front of her heart
with her slender fingers pointing down. Their attempt to ground
themselves
in the stream had succeeded to Rhiannon's relief, because the elf didn't
fall
from the log when she let go.
Slowly but surely, the world around Rhiannon faded and all went dark
before her eyes. She filled her lungs with deep long breaths.
She knew that with each inhalation, the grounding cord of energy that
exited from her tailbone and went down into the stream grew stronger.
So did her connection with Gaia and the inner waters that would bring her
back.
A slow and deep thudding sensation coming from her back ensured
Rhiannon that the elf was alive and slipping into the joint trance
with her. Eventually their two energy cords joined as one. Vibrations
starting outside her body and with every inward breath traveled up her
spine. The rising energy felt as though ants crawled through her veins
carrying little burning torches. This bittersweet torture was
eventually replaced by a warm, almost orgasmic sensation. It filled
her entire pulsing body and her aura as fast as lightning striking home.
Her vision grew clear again after the final impact, and she saw that
everything in the universe was one and the same- all part of the same
source and matter. What usually looked like individual objects or
beings lost their demarcation and melted into a brew of color,
vibration and sound.
Rhiannon was now ready to ply reality to a higher will. Her senses
were sharp and her mind still.
The green glow had grown stronger while the Celt prepared for travel.
The forest immediately around the two women was dead quiet. Even the
wind had died down. The flat surface of the stream stirred as a spray of silvery
mist
emerged from between the trance-bound Ancients, covering them
from sight.
Rhiannon shivered as she felt the material part of her body slowly
peel away- like a child casually plucking the petals from a flower,
one by one-- and be replaced again without its weight or former
preconditions. Once she could feel her whole body again, the sense of
orgasm grew to a peek and images of her past; present and future
flicked past her mind’s eye, bringing linear time full circle. Pathways
to the many dimensions were now open and waiting for her.
After a while, one single being floated gently up from the silver
mist. A slight pulse of her majestic, silver-gray wings lifted her
into the air and she slowly dissolved like honey in hot water. The
only reflections left were that of the sun and the faint climbing sickle
of the moon.
and I will come to you my love
with the passing of the days
and I will set you free each time
your heart is bound in chains
Now it was all fine and dandy that I wanted to reunite with Ephiny and
finally woke up to the how and when; did that wish coincide with the patterns of
life, the will of the Goddess if you like? Tricky question that, even for a
(rebellious) priestess of Avalon.
If I had known how much easier it would be to answer such questions with
the full acknowledgement of my elven heritage sooner in life, I may have never
known Ephiny. Instead of the angry, vengeance-seeking person I was surely
becoming, embarking on an astral voyage- I became a thankful and peaceful
elfling setting off to fulfill a promise made, soul-to-soul, many ages ago.
Finding out about my old, new self would all be part of the journey. Knowing if
my wish coincided with the Lady’s…well why wouldn’t it, for all is on,
right?! For those who doubted that… any false move and it repeats on me times
three. Or as a dark-elf would say, “Mi nthalay sildamna.”
The visitor
Ephiny took her time reaching the royal hut. Listening to everyone’s
viewpoint tired her and the short walk did nothing to relieve some of the pent
up nervous energy. I really need a rest before sanity leaves me all together
or I beat up the entire tribe.
She remembered how she acted after Phantes got himself killed. Her moods then were nothing compared to how confused and angry she felt now. Lighting a few candle stumps as she entered her dwellings helped make the darker memories ebb away, to the Regent’s relief.
“Okay, to the archives Eph.” She reminded herself why she was on her
way to the study and kicked a stool to kindling, which was unfortunate to be
standing directly in her way and opened one of the many scroll chests. “What
point was I trying to make to the Council?” A deep sigh followed her question,
while a few scrolls received flying lessons over her shoulder and the candles
blew out.
“Hades,” Ephiny cursed under her breath.
“Nope. Try again”
Dropping the lid of the chest, startled by the unexpected reply, Ephiny
immediately unsheathed her sword and turned, her face flushed and eyes flinging
poisoned arrows into the dark. “Show yourself.”
“If you keep that blade pointed at me lass, I’ll be staying right
here, thanks,” A gentle, teasing voice, thick with accent answered.
Ephiny stabbed the sword through the lid of the chest with one hand,
slapped herself up side the head with the other and yelled, “See, I’m going
mad. I’m definitely going Callisto; paranoid and pathetic.” Her suppressed
chuckle grew into drawn out hysterical laughter.
Rhiannon’s idea was to pleasantly surprise Ephiny, but she stepped from
behind the study door fast when the Amazon’s fragile emotional state became
apparent. The redhead saw her trembling and yelling incoherently until the
Amazon exploded into a sardonic fit.
“Ephiny, it’s me. Calm down lass.” Focusing most of her energy on
staying solid, the Celt slowly approached the love of her life and hoped she
could calm her down.
From within the thick haze of her confusion, the Regent felt someone
cupping her cheeks and stroking her temples tenderly and the laughing stopped. By
the Gods, that was me laughing like a Bacchae and she’s really h-
Ephiny’s inner chaos subsided enough, letting herself melt into the
embrace of the one she longed to feel and touch in more ways than in her dreams.
In a reflex, she grabbed hold of the Elfling’s behind and squeezed to make
sure she was truly there. In that case…
Now the Regent wouldn’t be the Regent if she and Rhiannon hadn’t
ended up on the floor after a crashing tour through the study, kissing each
other senseless, until both women found it almost impossible not to go any
further.
Rhiannon reined in her raging want for more skin contact and broke away
panting hard. Sweet mother of Love, I want this woman so bad. Emerald
fingers tangled in the Amazon’s hair and Rhiannon pulled the trembling
woman’s head to her heart. Tears seeped from under closed lids.
As she slowly came back down to earth, the tempo of Ephiny’s breath and
heartbeat matched her loves’. I don’t know how she got here but
everlasting Elysia, I’m so glad she did.
Like a mild summer rain licking at parched earth, conscious thought took
over again and Rhiannon stirred the comforting silence first, bringing them both
back to the here and now. Nuzzling through blonde curls she took a deep breath
and inhaled the Amazon’s smoky scent. “I have to go soon, my love.”
Holding onto the Elfling for dear life, trying to block her words out by
burying her face in red locks and braids, Ephiny whispered, “No.”
“I wish it were different Eph, but I’m here to tell you that Xena and
I are well and determined to get back soon.” Knowing she wasn’t completely
sure about the ‘soon’ part, Rhiannon pulled the Regent’s arms from around
her waist and tried to make eye contact while she pulled both herself and Ephiny
up. Hello in there. Notice anything…different perhaps?
Forest brown eyes veiled by tears looked back at Rhiannon reluctantly.
Ephiny’s face betrayed every emotion rioting through her body and mind, but
she said nothing and just stood there.
The Celt felt her heart breaking at the sight of her love hurting, but it
mended instantly at the realization that what she shared with the Amazon went
way beyond looks and pulled her in for another embrace. “I love you.” She
breathed into Ephiny’s ear. So this is what home feels like. “I
really wish we had more time.”
Her voice failed her terribly, so the Regent just coiled a hand around
Rhiannon’s neck and kissed her Elfling long and tenderly. She poured every
confusing and earthshaking feeling she had for this woman into the kiss. Her
free hand found a way under her love’s leathers and was circling over
Rhiannon’s back, running into curves she hadn’t felt there before. Not that
Ephiny had very much experience to compare with, in the elfling department.
Licking her way down Rhiannon’s jaw line and neck made the eager recipient of
her blood quickening attention shudder and retreat.
“Wow there, Amazon.” Taking a step back and leaning against the wall
to get her breath back and let her blood cool, Rhiannon held her eager Amazon at
arm length. “Not so fast, lass. You’ll drain me to oblivion before long.
This is the astral representation of my body. A touch of magick and your love is
keeping me here, lass.”
“Hmm, right, and you promise me to come back with the whole kit,
intact?” A slightly more relaxed Amazon smiled at the redhead and licked her
lips, in approval. “You are looking better every time I see you.”
“You’re a sight for sore eyes yourself.” Rhiannon replied and
chuckled. What’s she going to think when I show up again with the wings
visible and my skin almost black?
“Do you really have to go tonight?” A hesitant voice implored while
trembling fingers traced the Elfling’s wing-shaped ears, her eyebrows, nose
and soft green lips.
Letting one of Ephiny’s fingers briefly slip into her mouth and suck on
the tip, against better judgment, sent a heat spreading like wildfire through
both of them. Before the blonde’s hands got any more adventurous ideas,
Rhiannon started to say what she felt needed to be said and slowly let her body
dissolve again.
“Baby, please listen to me.” Two fingers silenced the Regent’s
protest about being pulled into the Elfling’s arms backwards. “Velasca is
permanent history now.” Leather and feathers mashed together and Rhiannon’s
grip tightened as Ephiny attempted to turn and face her. “I will come back as
soon as I can. I plan to never leave you again after this mess is over. Be sure
to tell the Bard her Warrior is working hard to get back here too. And never
forget that I love you, Ephiny.”
Warm wet lips descended on the Regent’s neck and her hairs stood on end
when Rhiannon’s breath whispered across her skin, “Goodbye for now, my
love.”
In a slight panic, Ephiny turned with all her might and launched herself
into a full spin only then realizing the Elfling was already gone.
“I love you, come back soon,” she cried. She listened to the lonely
echo and hoped that it reached Rhiannon, wherever she had gone.
Determined, although still physically numb from her visitor’s
distracting presence, Ephiny plowed through the archive and vowed she’d have
the mess on this side of the world fixed before her love came back.
“Now that I know Velasca is dead, done and dog’s dinner for real,
it’s become an entirely different horseshoe game.”
The collection of thoughts that started to resemble something of a plan
made Ephiny’s mood and posture lift. With a confident stride and an arm full
of scrolls, she made her way back to the conference hall, only making one detour
to see the healer’s apprentice.
It’s not so much the how
Listening to Eanfled’s teachings about… well… whatever he was
teaching, Xena concluded fast that it was about as fascinating as watching grass
grow.
So far, he sounded like Hephaestus or Asclepius, trying to explain their
trade to a moron so that they looked smart. And the kids are smart because
they DO understand! A flustered
huff escaped her mouth.
“I think it’s time we did something to make it easier on Xena, hey
kids?”
Eanfled laughed and snapped his fingers.
Xena, who was sure she was sitting up a tree just a heartbeat before-
wondering why that elf always had to make her thoughts public-- found herself
standing at the edge of a cliff, looking over a small village with Siobhan by
her side. A fairly doable drop down from her position, a band of ten,
up-to-no-good, ruffians walked the dusty road into the vaguely familiar village.
The Warrior felt a light tap on her left shoulder, the same time her skin
started to crawl in an unpleasant way. “And what could you possibly want from
me now, Ares?” Xena asked as she kept facing the village and pulled the elf
behind her.
The God of War could have sworn he felt an icy breeze ruffle his curly,
black mane as the frozen stare of his pet fixed on him in slow motion. “It’s
good to see you too, Xena.” Arrogant laughter filled the air.
‘How about we join those sorry excuses for soldiers down there and lead
them to glory- together? It’s not like you have much else to do… here,
besides baby-sit…
That.” Ares poked a tongue out at Siobhan and waved his bulky arms at
their barren surroundings, giggling at Xena’s “bored close to dying”
expression. “I know you are close to snapping in this fuzzy forest full of
idiot little flies.”
“Go tease Daddy will you, Ares.” Xena hissed at the god through her
teeth, grabbed onto the little elf first, then dropped from the edge of the
cliff and rolled over to break her fall and protect the girl. Siobhan caught on
to the Warrior’s idea fast and hid herself in a bush while she watched Xena
sprint in the direction of the thugs.
A well-known war cry sounded across the valley where the village nestled.
The Warrior picked up speed to vault over the group of men and land in front of
their surprised leader. With one knock to his face, the entire huddle of men
bowled over backwards.
“Make the kill, Xena. Take his army and lead them like the true vessel
of destruction you were shaped to be. I can smell your blood-lust from here,
Warrior of mine.” Ares’ deep, annoying voice panted in her ear as she stood
over the leader, her blade up, hanging, waiting for her to follow through on
what started out as a reflex move to save a village and kill the villain. It was
a village that could have easily been Amphipolis. The villain was still a young
man.
“If you want this to have
a bloody ending, go ahead and run yourself through my blade. It’s your
funeral.” Xena spoke as calmly as she could to the man in the dirt, under her
sword. Focus woman, talk first, and kill later if it becomes a necessary last
resort. Ares has no control over me here or anywhere.
Ares and the thugs and the village dissolved the moment Xena thought of
her situation clearly. Instead of hanging over a bloody-nosed fool, she stood at
the ragged edge of a collapsed bridge staring down a very deep ravine.
Gasping, Xena staggered backwards and clung to the splintery railing,
closing her eyes as soon as she found her balance. “That was close.” She
panted and replaced her sword.
“So you finally made it huh?” A pompous, throaty voice bounced at her
from the ravine walls and died at the end of its echo.
That’s it! I’m going home. NOW! Xena
snapped her eyes open, to find Julius Caesar standing on the other half of the
crumbled bridge, only a temptingly manageable leap away from her.
“For the Gods sakes, Eanfled, the theme is wearing out fast.”
Blue eyes rolled and the Warrior looked around, feeling insulted and
confused. The only things around her were the ravine, a smashed bridge and then
nothing. Well, except for big, bad Caesar over there. I’m not falling for
an easy kill. I’m not going to kill, period. I’m here to find someone…
aren’t I?
“Well hello there, little ones.” Caesar squatted so he was at eye
level with his guests. “What an unexpected surprise. Look Xena, we have
company.”
The hatred Xena felt for the first Caesar of Rome, the wrenching knot she
kept buried deep down inside for her Bard and maybe eventually for her own
redemption, pulled tighter still.
At first, Caesar kept his so-called guests at sword point. Lucar and
Faren shrieked as his thick arm eventually enclosed them and held the both of
them closer to the edge of his side of the bridge. “Join us in this divine
leap to freedom, Xena. What have we got to lose up here? There’s gold of the purest kind down there.” The Roman
pouted and kissed the tops of the little elven heads. “Aren’t they cute?”
“Xena, help us.” Lucar screamed before a large hand slamming down
hard on his mouth, muffled his cry.
“Don’t you dare hurt them, you piece of sh—“
A soft tap on her thigh and a crying child’s voice shook Xena back from
the edge of going completely Conqueror on Caesar. “Don’t leave me alone
here, Xena.”
The Warrior cringed and sank to her knees, gently pulling a frightened
and sobbing Siobhan to her. Over the elf’s head she kept an eye on the Roman.
He in turn watched her comfort the girl and felt his guests get restless and
angry in his arms. Another step closer to the edge settled them down fast
enough.
“Siobhan, do you know how to get out of this place?” A desperate
Warrior asked the elf gently. Are you even real? Ares and Caesar hopefully
aren’t, but I can’t be sure about you three. Would Eanfled be that sick? Is
the elf posing as Caesar?
The child gasped and cried astonished, “Why do you want to leave?
Don’t leave me here, Xena.”
“Oh, to Hades with it.” Xena growled and stood, letting go of the
elf. “It’s always just the old me in new clothes every time I get even close
to doing something good. There’s no point in killing you or not killing
you.”
Siobhan covered her ears against the thundering echo of Xena’s voice,
rolling off the ravine face.
“I always do everything you’ve done much better.” One more step and
Caesar would take the elves over the deep end with him. “And you can’t stand
that.” A grin appeared on his boyish, over confident face.
“Ya know something, Julius?” The raven-haired warrior rubbed her chin
for a moment and poured on the sarcasm. “You are so right, it’s giving me
the shivers. Now go away already. Jump if you must but leave the elves alone or
I will come over there and rearrange your face.” Her tone was cold and thick
with hatred.
“XENA,” yelled Siobhan, “You don’t understand anything do you?”
The frustrated, teary elf was almost out of breath. “Sit down and listen to me.” Pointing at her brothers she
added, “They aren’t going anywhere as long as you stay here with me.”
A baffled Warrior knelt down on one knee and took one of Siobhan’s
hands in hers.
“I don’t understand. What is real and what isn’t? I don’t know
your world.”
“Only you know it as my world, Xena.” The elven child cupped Xena’s
chin and smiled at the confused Hero, who looked so small, it almost hurt to
see. “What is Caesar so right about?”
“He’s right about being better than me at everything I once was.”
After clearing her throat, Xena supplemented with a dry laugh, “I can’t
stand it and hate him for it. I’m having a very hard time letting go of that
hate.” A hand smashed down on the bridge deck with a thump. “There. I said
it. Happy now, Eanfled?”
“Do you want to let it go, Xena, or does the hate still serve a
purpose?” Caesar joined in on the analysis.
Ignoring him, Xena searched the face of the young elf, wise beyond her
looks. “How did you get so smart, kid?”
“Oh, being thirty-five summers does help.” Siobhan giggled in
response.
“I suppose you’ve figured out who he is to me already?” Xena
casually pointed a finger at the Roman and frowned in irritation when
Siobhan’s expression stayed neutral. “Let me help you then.” She
volunteered. “I became a victim after falling for his bigger-than-life
ambitions and way too perfect charm.” As soon as Siobhan’s words sunk in,
Xena’s head snapped back to the youngster. “Did you just say thirty-f—
Like a sheet of beeswax in front of an open fire, Caesar and the bridge
and the elves melted away.
This turn of events left Xena kneeling in-between Lila and Hecuba, who
were in turn defending the Warrior to Gabrielle’s livid father. Oh boy!
“Playing
bed-warmer for a warrior that balances between being a hero and a murderous
she-demon isn’t what I would call a sane decision. That bitch has poisoned our
little girl,” Herotodus yelled and shook his fists at the kneeling Warrior.
Before the
furious man could lash out at his child to get to Xena, Hecuba shielded Lila
with her body and dared him with a cold stare.
Herotodus’
left arm rose, and he aimed to slap the back of his hand across Hecuba’s face.
“Not while
I’m around you don’t,” Xena shot up and caught the man’s hand before he
could do any damage, all but snapping his wrist like a twig.
“XENA.”
The Warrior
winced at the sound of her lover’s voice and let Herotodus’ hand go like she
would drop the stiff corpse of a rat.
Gabrielle stood
in the doorway of her parental home, Siobhan hanging onto the rim of her skirt.
“What are you doing?” The Bard whispered.
“You are
doing it again, Xena.” The elf child said disappointedly.
Xena took a few
steps back and leaned against the table breathing heavily.
The other
occupants of the room jumped headlong into another statement and counter
statement match about the Warrior and how bad she was for the Bard. Even
Gabrielle ended up trapped in the cycle of abuse, when all she did was try to
clarify all sides of the story. Nobody seemed to notice Xena anymore.
Siobhan walked
over to Xena gingerly and slid her small hand in one of the Warrior’s much
larger ones. “Now what do we do?”
“What would
you do, Siobhan?” Xena asked her wise little friend, completely in the dark
when it came to overprotective, and in this case, violent, parents-in-law.
“Probably the
same as you,” came the elf’s reply, accompanied by a giggle when she saw
Xena’s face.
“Oh sure you
would. I’m sure you’d attack them and bury them ten feet under… alive…
and… ravish their daughter on the still warm earth afterwards.” An almost
feral sneer strained Xena’s face as she cased up the child and let go of the
small hand like it was on fire.
“Scary
warrior, oh my. You covet the guilt that much then, Hero?” Siobhan snapped her fingers and disappeared while Eanfled
laughed until he cried from the pain in his stomach, materializing where the
child was a moment ago. “As long as you live for the guilt, Xena, this place
is your home. And by the looks of you… that’s going to be for a long, long
time.”
Xena sat there
with a look of horror on her face, her insides wrenched together by the
emotional ride she’d been taken on by that sadistic dark-elf and his minions.
She was still no closer to finding Rhiannon.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?” Xena howled, running wit her arms
stretched straight for the dark-elf’s throat.
Five is company
“Good evening, my Queen.” Deverra,
the village healer and fifth member of the Council, bowed slightly for Gabrielle
and repeated the gesture for Ephiny. “My Regent. I received urgent word from
Letha that Council is in session and ended my retreat to assist you, pray the
Gods I am on time.”
“Yes Deverra, thank you. Your opinion is much valued and needed.
Especially at this point.” Ephiny embraced her old friend and pulled up an
extra chair for the elderly woman. “Please sit down with us. We are not able
to reach any kind of consensus yet.”
The healer took her time to greet the council members and get
comfortable. She reached for the parchments that were spread out over the table
and studied the Queen’s neat scribing. Stray wiry, gray locks fell over her
timeworn face as she nodded a few times and eventually asked, “So the question
is, may the Regent go on a retreat while the Nation is struggling with loyalty
issues and the Queen is present and active?”
“That is correct,” Ephiny replied and felt the calming effect of the
healers presence work wonders on her debate-weary sisters, who were doing their
very best not to argue over everything- and failing miserably.
Deverra folded her hands in her lap and got comfortable. Her expression
gave away her amusement. “Tell me then, why do you search the archives when it
is in your hearts you will find an answer?”
All the Amazons sat back in their seats and eyed one and other, thinking
what no one was able to put into words. Even if someone could, no one
volunteered to speak her mind.
Deverra sat forward in her chair and neatly rolled up all the scrolls
while she spoke.
“Sisters, in the history of the Amazons, the one constant has been that
there is no constant besides battle. The Amazons are a variety of tribes that
are united because they hold the freedom of a woman sacred. The practice of this
freedom is not a given in the known world, so we make appeals to various gods
for assistance and form communities for safety. Among ourselves, we debate and
battle about the best way to protect each other and our future. Do you follow me
so far?”
“You are saying we all have the same goal but not the same
intentions.” Gabrielle thought out loud, processing what the healer had just
said, her glassy gaze fixed on the table.
“Exactly, my Queen.” Deverra gave the Bard a warm smile.
“And we are all scared of change, although change is the only true
certainty in life.” A flush on the Bard’s face told the healer that the most
competent, peace- loving Queen this tribe had ever known, since her late
daughter Melosa, was awakening to an inner strength. She edged her along just a
little more. “That’s right. Now place that picture on your problem and tell
me what you see, Your Highness.”
Lizzeah was listening with great indifference to the old woman and
wondered how much longer she would be able to keep quiet. Her hands fidgeted
aimlessly with a piece of leather binding while her legs jittered under the
table. The old bag will get tired soon and we can get back to debating
tactics. And look at the rest of these sheep; my gods are they sellouts or what?
Hades, this is the local council of five. Wait till the High Council of Queens
hears of this!
Her attention wandered to Ephiny, who, in her opinion, was dishonoring
herself like a personal slave to a master- serving Deverra water and fetching
her a pile of straw to soften the seat.
Solari noticed Lizzeah’s growing agitation and didn’t wait for the
woman to act on it.
Lizzeah jumped in her seat when Solari’s arm landed firmly around her
shoulders and squeezed. She answered the Amazon’s warning look with a smirk
and paid attention to the Queen again. What’s that little girl doing on the
throne anyway?
Gabrielle was explaining her view on battle and leading the Amazons with
great enthusiasm.
“If I were to address the Nation on loyalty, I would only ask those who
want to live here under my leadership freely to follow the rules and regulations
we have democratically voted on and accepted. Those who do not are free to leave
and do as they please elsewhere in peace, or will be removed with force. I do
not want to war over the Mask or my place on the High Council for that matter. I
will, however, defend this Nation from those who wish to harm her with all
the skills at my disposal.” And a few pointers here and there from Xena no
doubt, but why rock the boat now and mention her?
The Bard stood up and paused for dramatic effect, a little baffled by her
own words, for she knew this declaration was worth more than any symbolic item
of power changing hands. For the first time, Gabrielle knew where and how to
start her reign and maybe make a difference, like she always dreamed of after
receiving the right of cast.
“I will appoint and train an official scribe, who will record any laws
and agreements that the Regent or I have issued after a debate and vote. Waiting
for me to visit and update scrolls that only a handful of Amazons can read is
unproductive. I will ask for a vote on opening a school for any who wants to
attend after we have cleared up present problems.” Okay, getting ahead of
yourself there, Bard.
The only Amazon that wasn’t smiling, voting yes and being openly
enthusiastic about Gabrielle’s declaration was Lizzeah. She cleared her throat
and shifted back in her chair when many questioning eyes fell on her. “Your
proposal sounds pretty sweet to me, my Queen, all except for the fact that you
forget how deep god worship runs in the veins of many Amazons. In which case it
all sounds rather naïve, don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” Gabrielle retorted and walked to the head of the table
keeping eye contact with Lizzeah. “Maybe not. Amazons have battled their way
to freedom and battled some more to protect that.” The blonde ran a hand
through her hair. “What if reaching for arms has become a habit, where before
it was the only means of survival? Gods or no gods.”
“Zeus woman, and what if you are an Amazon that still worships Ares or
Velasca? They surely kill and wage war for the sake of it. Do you want to sit
down over a port and discuss with them?” The Mistress of Ceremony was now
getting close to defending her own trade and huffed, “Eponin, enlighten the
Queen. Tell her the last time Melosa and Ephiny tried that.” My posse
won’t take this lying down, that’s for sure.
Eponin growled at Lizzeah, folded her arms over her chest and stated,
“The Queen wasn’t finished and you are missing the point Lizz.”
“Thank you sister.” The Bard took over again, ignoring Solari and
Lizzeah’s little catfight.
“There are two ways to unite the tribe, with or without the Regent
present. I could rule by instilling fear and creating violent laws or by earning
trust and creating common ground for learning. I chose the latter, if that
wasn’t obvious already.” Standing with her hands on her hips, Gabrielle
asked in a determined voice, “Does the Council accept?”
Five hands raised and the Council applauded all except for Lizzeah.
A sigh of relief escaped the Bard’s mouth. “Now, who wants to break
the news to the Velasca loyalists?” Chuckling from the pent up tension and the
look of contempt on Lizzeah’s face she added hastily, “Kidding. I will
inform all Amazon’s of their rights and privileges during the next public
gathering. I expect you all to explain the ramifications to your own clans. That
way it will spread to all layers of the Nation. Protests and new ideas can be
made public through Council members as well and they will be brought before me
in cases of national importance or when a council member needs assistance.”
“If you still rely on the fact that your Council members are chosen by
the clans, meaning they represent and protect the voice of all the clans,
you‘ve got another cartload of trouble coming.” Lizzeah flung at her Queen
and stormed out of the hall, smashing the door closed behind her.
Eponin blocked Gabrielle’s attempt at running after the furious Amazon
as she signaled Solari, who in tern pulled Ephiny to her feet and nudged her
towards the door.
“The Regent will talk to Lizzeah, my Queen. She knows her mind, don’t
you, Eph?” Solari made it impossible to get out of this one by escorting the
reluctant Amazon all the way outside.
“Make sure you have it out with her Eph. You are the only thing she
feels she has left to lose,” Deverra reminded the Regent on her way out. “
Surely you knew this was coming, dear.”
Shadows over Beltaine
The sound of a table splintering under the weight of a broad sword
startled the young priestess making up the bed. She braced herself for one of
Boadecia’s famous rants and hid behind a chest, out of the Queen’s line of
sight.
“Andraste, grant me patience.” Another crash and the Leader of Celts
flew out the door of the guest hut, raced through a small crowd of priestesses
and into her daughter’s building.
“Vivian, what in The Morrigan’s name are you playing at?” Boadecia
kicked her way into the room where her daughter was prancing around before her
maidens and slammed a piece of parchment in front of the young woman.
“Mother, don’t be like that.” Vivian slapped Boadecia on her wrist
playfully and dismissed the girls with a wave. “I just made some changes to
the guest list for Beltaine, as you can see. I want Nimue here to assist me and
I don’t care what you think of her. The invites were sent out moons ago.”
“I don’t like this one bit but explain to me why, Viv, why send
invitations to only a handful of royals, when they are all welcome on Avalon by
the full moon of Beltaine?” Boadecia
frowned and read the list once more. “You’ve made very significant changes
and must have a reason that goes beyond your friend Nimue’s presence. Will you
let me in on it so I can lead my men with eyes open? Traveling druids and
priestesses are a major security risk these days. Governor Paulinius has twelve
legions stationed close by and doesn’t need much of a reason to attack. I
could have warned my brother of the changes if you had spoken of this to me.” Donnal
is going to spit fire if he finds out he wasn’t at least informed that all the
High Priestesses of the Goddess are together on Avalon. I wonder whom the
priestesses have chosen to be the stag? For the sake of Britain, let it be a
Celt!
Vivian giggled when she saw her mother’s’ depressed reaction to the
changes and poured two drinks. “Trusting me has never been your strong suit,
Mother. Rhiannon, used up my portion, but you will have to do it anyway. I am
after all the High Priestess and you are not by far a High Queen.” The redhead
faced Boadecia and handed her one of the horns filled with herbed mead.
“Cheers, Mother, to the birth of a united country, both spiritual and
regal.” Good thing you are bound by blood ties and cannot repeat anything I
say outside these walls.
“There isn’t going to be any grand ceremony on Mona and your copy of
the list is an old draft. All the High Priestesses will be here, yes. The people
of Vernemeton, Orkney and Mona will celebrate Beltaine at home. They’ve all
sent one representative each and they are already here so relax. Take your
worries about Rhiannon out by checking on Gwydion or something like that.”
Vivian slammed her horn on the table and smirked at Boadecia.
“Mind your tongue, lass. I can still appoint my younger sisters
Caillean or Lhiannon to the post as Guardian of the Sacred Rites of Avalon.”
Boadecia raised her drink less enthusiastically and spat out the first swig of
warm mead. “May I live to see the day all the clans of this land unite.” So
I can get life back on track and lead a country, instead of arguing with druids
and priestesses about things I don’t want to know.
After her explosion, Boadecia went looking for The Taliesin. She wasn’t
sure what to make of her daughter’s much-too-casual attitude and needed
distraction from her growing worries fast. She found the Arch Druid and First
Bard on the other side of the island, working on documents with his apprentice,
and maybe, future successor, an adolescent lad named Merlin. Women were normally
not allowed anywhere near the druids’ inner sanctum, but the Celt had special
privileges.
When the druid saw his Queen enter, he shooed Merlin out of the room with
his staff and held out an arm for Boadecia. “My dear Lady, how may I assist
you?”
“Any word on Rhiannon or Xena? Are you sure the Warrior caught up with
my lass on time?” A very worried mother implored and sat down next to the
druid at his orderly desk.
The Taliesin placed his sinewy hand on that of the frustrated Celt and
patted it gently while he smiled sympathetically. “I’m worried too. Xena’s
with her on the Dream Stone. She would be poking her nose around here if she
weren’t, by now. It’s not Eanfled’s unpredictable nature, but the violent
tendencies of the Warrior that unsettles me most. If anything happens to
Rhiannon and she doesn’t make it back for Beltaine, I hold Xena
responsible.”
“I should never have let her interfere, Gwydion.” Boadecia winced at
the thought of Xena doing any more damage to her family. “If there’s anybody
to blame, it’s me. Now Vivian is getting ready for the pre-initiation wake,
she doesn’t seem to care about her sister at all.” Boadecia swallowed hard,
gazing sadly into her friend’s sympathetic eyes.
“Would you like some chamomile tea to calm the nerves, dear?” The
druid asked. “It can’t be easy, dealing with so many personal blows in a
short time, even for a great leader like yourself.”
“No, no. You have much work to do. I will tend to some correspondence
of my own, old friend.” The Celt rejected the kind offer with a thankful smile
and pushed her tired body up from its comfortable seat sighing. “The Romans
aren’t off my land yet so there’s no rest for the wicked.”
“Send that lad back in here if you run into him outside. The blasted
boy has many lessons to catch up on.” Shaking his head, the untamable mess of
white, wiry hair danced around his mousy face. “Vivian brought him along one
day and said he was the latest big talent. I’m beginning to doubt if he is
druid material at all. Knowing Vivian, she was probably referring to his more
earthly talents.”
Old problem, new solution
Ephiny woke early after a rough night and decided she’d bring some
breakfast to her best friend and former, occasional lover. The communal baths
were still deserted at this candle mark of the morning so, she was presentable
and carrying her friend’s favorite fruit and nutbread pudding across the
village center in the pleasant calm within no time. Oh how I could get used
to this kind of peace and quiet.
Taking a few samples of the thick, goat’s milk cream, the Regent
wondered what it would take to help Lizzeah get past the obsession she had over
them one day joining happily ever after. Fatigue from a short night and deep
thought, made Ephiny completely miss the single file line of guards marching
behind her. She knocked on Lizzeah’s door, hoping she’d have more luck than
last night, when Lizzeah refused to see or talk to anyone after leaving the
Council like Mount Etna about to erupt.
There still came no answer after another few knocks on the door.
Ephiny’s patience was wearing pretty thin by the time all the cream was gone
and a naked, spotty pudding stared back at her from the bowl. “Now where would
the walking, raging stomach you were supposed to feed be and do I really want to
find her?”
“Why Ephiny, did someone spike the pudd or are your attempts to get
hold of Lizzeah that disturbing?” A sleepy Solari walked by with a dry grin,
slapping her Regent on the back amicably.
“One… she doesn’t want to be found,” Ephiny counted on her
fingers, glancing at a disappearing Solari from the corner of an eye. “Or
two… she won’t open the door. LIZZEAH.” She yelled and side kicked the
door hard. “Wanna stick around and see what she’ll do today, Sol?”
Solari yelled back, “Pass!”, and turned her head decisively, resuming
her journey towards the springs, mumbling to herself, “Nope, she’s your
problem for now, Sis. I just finished an extra night shift again thanks to her.
Good riddance, if you ask me.”
With one more kick, Lizzeah’s hut door flew open and crashed through
the cramped little hall. Ephiny shoved her way into the two joining rooms that
made up her friends living quarters and was not completely surprised to find
that Lizzeah was not there. Most of her private belongings were not there
either.
Ephiny dropped like a sack of turnips onto the bare cot as an old fear
gripped her heart tightly. Something bounced up from the cot as she landed. The
moment the Regent recognized the object as the talisman she had given her
friend- she leaped up from the bed and ran for the Queens hut like mad.
Gabrielle was standing in the conference hall with Eponin when Ephiny
sped by the open entrance. Hooking an arm around the nearest support column, she
made a U-turn running into hall, closing the door behind her. “Gabrielle, Ep,
Lizz is gone.” She panted and
came to a halt up against Eponin’s back.
Eponin didn’t even flinch but arched her eyebrows and steadied her
friend. “The stupid piss-ant also managed to persuade twenty-seven warriors to
leave with her.”
“So far that’s how many friends and family members have reported
someone missing since early this morning.” The Bard paced in a small circle,
staring at the floorboards with a deep frown knitting her brows together. “The
search party has also found no trace.”
Ephiny noticed the blue rims of a sleepless night around the Queen’s
eyes and Eponin only just managing to stifle a yawn. So leaving is no longer an option. Thanks Lizz.
“Why didn’t somebody wake me up?”
“Yeah, like having an exhausted Queen and Regent as a result
would help.” Gabrielle crashed on a stool and added gingerly, “Besides,
aren’t you officially on a retreat as of today? I should be logging you
as absent, not the Mistress of Ceremonies and her band of misguided rebels.”
“I don’t think you realize how dangerous Lizz can become when she’s
on one of her ‘I want what I want, and I want it now’ rages, Gabrielle,”
Ephiny explained to the Bard, who was still ignorant about her rocky past with
Lizzeah.
“I have three patrols out scouting for trouble in all directions and an
extra five shifts of guards working their butts off. What else would you suggest
we do?” The Bard threw her hands up and yawned.
“Make an enormous offering to Artemis and hope Lizz hasn’t aligned
with other outcast Amazons and tribes susceptible to her smooth talking.”
Ephiny sat down next to the Bard. “She’s a natural when it comes to leading
in ceremony and battle but so very lost when there’s nothing to fight for. She
can smell a twisted mind a league away but has no control over herself
sometimes. I really thought she was over it after the last episode, three
summers ago. She finally gave up and accepted Deverra’s help.”
“So now she is out there somewhere, believing Ephiny will fall for her
misplaced heroics, plotting her attack in the name of Velasca, for Hades
sake.” Eponin filled in the last blank and moaned, burying her head in her
large hands, muffling her comments. “And she’s already got twenty-seven
arrow happy, young Amazons at her beckon call. Aaargh”
Ephiny remembered something Rhiannon said and let out a sigh of relief.
“At least we only have to worry about Lizzeah’s next move. Thank the Gods
that pretender of a lunatic god Velasca is not around to accept her offerings.
Poor Lizz ‘d stand a snowball’s chance in Tartarus even if they were on the
same side.”
“Look at the bright side, Eph.” Eponin squatted in front of the
Regent and made eye contact. “At least our Chief deals with her problems the
same way each time her control on reality slips. She couldn’t help herself
since the day she was born. We can however."
“What do you mean, Sis?” Ephiny asked puzzled.
“It’s simple,” Eponin said. “Let her act out her twisted
fantasies all she wants, while we ignore her.”
“But-
The tall Amazon stood up again. She could tell from Ephiny’s tormented
face that the curly blonde was going to protest and she quickly continued.
“You will do nothing, Ephiny, and we will only defend the village if she has
the nerve to attack. Usually we stay out looking until we find her and she
revels in the attention. Because you once made the decision to give in to her
and did your best to discover if there were any romantic feelings you didn’t
know about, she’s come to expect you to at least go after her. You, on the
other hand, see her as a friend that grew up with you like a sister. Your
closeness is blinding you, Eph. Stop protecting her like a child.”
“Eponin is right.” Gabrielle came to the same conclusion after
hearing the full story and rested a hand on the Regent’s shoulder. “It’s
time to cut her lose, my friend.”
“So be it,” Ephiny hissed angrily, weighing the thought of dropping
all responsibility she carried for her oldest friend. A glazy, cold stare
shadowed the face of the Regent, as she remembered their history together.
“But may the Gods hold me back if Lizzeah comes anywhere near me because, this
time round I don’t think I can ignore my desire to belt her in the
face.”
The dark tone in Ephiny’s voice made Gabrielle’s neck hairs stand on
end. There’s more to this than they tell me. My strong but gentle Regent
feels trapped here?
“Now get out of my sight, Regent. You are relieved of your duties.
Lizzeah is now my responsibility. Let me know roughly where you plan to go
before you leave.” Queen Gabrielle ordered, before she got back to business
with a confidants that put Ephiny’s mind about the tribe’s safety somewhat
at ease.
I need to get away from here.
Everything is closing in on me. Gabrielle is a big girl and with Ep’ and
Solari’s help she’ll handle it just fine.
“Make sure you and Solari take good care of our Bard and Queen.” The
Regent saluted her sister and pointed at Eponin. “I appoint you as co-regent
until I return.”
Eponin placed a hand on her heart and saluted her Regent, as an Amazon
guard offering her life and services would. “You’ve got it Eph.”
Return to innocence
Over the reflection of a thin, pale moon, black flecks of decaying bark floated gently by, leaving tiny whirls in their wake. Every so often, a new piece of bark would join the row of sailors on the journey down stream. Rhiannon sat at the water’s edge, mesmerized by the sensations inside her new body and from s