Amazon Queen on Trial, An
Awakening XXIX
Frau Hunter Ash
(Aka Dana Cooper-Kjarr)
Gabrielle was saddened when she woke up to find Xena gone but felt like she could face anything, including the Council. The bard quickly dressed and stood in the center of the small cabin.
“Apollo, Cupid and Aphrodite,” she said quietly. “Thank you, my Father and my friends, for last night.”
The bard smiled as she heard a giggle in the air around her.
* * *
Xena sat upright with a jerk, reaching for Gabrielle and finding the other side of the bed empty. It took the warrior a moment to realize she was in the Queen’s cabin and alone in the bed. She glanced over and saw Yakut by the main fire adding tea leaves to a pot over the fire.
Yakut looked up and grinned.
Xena looked down and blushed as she grabbed for her leather shift, seeing her clothes and armor at the foot of the bed.
“You suddenly appeared in the bed about a candle-mark ago,” Yakut explained. “Your clothes and weapons with you. I guess your deities didn’t want you caught with your….uh…trousers down in the Isolation Cabin.”
“Keep it up, Yakut,” Xena threatened. The warrior looked down at the bandages wrapped around midway up her forearm and around her wrist.
“The cut was deep but is healing nicely,” Yakut shrugged. “The fang wounds were also deep but with your healing, should be almost gone by tonight. Those fang marks on your neck will show clearly though.”
Xena shrugged as she reached for her boots. “Gods, I need a bath,” she muttered. “I smell like sex and blood.”
Yakut tried to look nonchalant but lost it as she grinned at her friend.
“Well, I’m not sure how Gabrielle is going to hide the scratches on her back with that little top of hers either,” Xena grinned.
“The Council and everyone there will know you two were together last night,” Yakut complained.
“Or else we each had company,” Xena smirked.
“Not likely, the love between the two of you is legendary among the Amazons,” Karita smiled as she walked into the cabin. “I doubt anyone will say anything. The Council was busy with Aphrodite and the major decision and everyone else won’t know what to say.”
“Except that Xena has many skills,” Yakut laughed and Xena shook her head.
“I just hope the guards don’t get into trouble,” Xena growled. “Wasn’t their fault, I didn’t even have to sneak in.”
“Well, you two certainly weren’t quiet about it either!” Yakut grinned and ducked the boot Xena threw at her.
A guard knocked at the door and opened it.
“A decision has been reached, your presence is requested, Consort,” the guard said.
“Thank you, I’ll be right there,” Xena responded and the guard disappeared.
Yakut and Karita were no longer grinning and neither was Xena as Yakut handed the Consort her boot.
“Oh Gods,” Xena muttered, reaching for a wash basin.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena smiled softly when she walked up to her mate and took Gabrielle into her arms at the familiar table. Gabrielle held on tightly as the guard ignored them.
“Thank you for last night,” Gabrielle whispered.
“Thank you, even if I am walking a little funny,” Xena smirked and was pleased that Gabrielle managed to smile and blush a little.
“How’s the energy level, I practically drained you last night,” Gabrielle asked as Xena motioned for them both to sit down at the table.
“I’m okay,” Xena shrugged. “A little tired. Take a day to get that back, I think. Anyone say anything?”
“No, but the guards had a very heated discussion this morning when they saw my back, thanks,” Gabrielle smiled.
“Well, I’m also wearing fang marks everywhere,” Xena countered.
“Anyone sees one set of those marks and I’ll have their head,” Gabrielle threatened and laughed softly as Xena began to blush and shift in her chair slightly.
They both lost their smiles as the Council began walking out of the Meeting Hall towards the high tables.
Gabrielle glanced over and saw Eponi sitting at the other table with Hallvor standing behind the Regent. Neither would meet her eyes.
“Queen Gabrielle,” Revita said formally and Gabrielle stood and faced the Council. Xena stood a moment later, a hand on her mate’s shoulder.
Gabrielle was in her traditional Amazon Queen garb, the mask on the table in front of her, but minus weapons. Xena had chosen to dress in her customary warrior garb of leather, brass armor adornments, gauntlets and knee protectors. Sword and chakram in their traditional place.
Gabrielle and Xena caught a few surprised looks as the Council took in the love bruise on Gabrielle’s neck and the fang marks and bruising on Xena’s neck as well as the bandages on her forearm and wrist.
Xena kept her grin to herself as she heard the expected “many skills” comment from some of the spectators.
“Queen Gabrielle,” Meryl rose. “You have been found guilty of failing to fulfill a blood oath of vengeance to the Amazon Nation. As a Queen, this is a serious matter that calls for a death sentence. Because of the circumstances behind the oath and the incidents in Egypt, the Council agreed that a death sentence wasn’t appropriate in this case.”
Xena wasn’t surprised when Artemis appeared at the table next to Eponi and the warrior expected the goddesses enraged expression.
So did, apparently, the Council, because Meryl held up her hand, holding off any protests.
“Goddess Artemis,” the Celt said firmly. “You are a guest here, not the decision maker. You agreed to abide by our decisions in this matter.”
Artemis glared but nodded her acceptance.
“Queen Gabrielle’s has shown outstanding devotion and love to the Nation, not just to her tribe but to all the tribes she encountered, the Council agreed to consider this in our deliberations. Queen Gabrielle, for having been adopted into the Nation at a late age, has been a surprising Queen and is well respected among all the tribes and beloved by several,” the Celt continued.
“Queen Gabrielle has sacrificed herself on a Roman cross for her tribe,” Revita continued. “She has given all of her monies to secure land for her tribe to get them out of the Empire and out of Roman hands. She has nearly sacrificed her life and soul several times for tribes other than her own.”
“The decision we reached was not an easy one and is not agreed upon by all among this Council,” the Celt added. “Some tribes are threatening not to abide by the wishes of the Council. We urge them to do so and not risk civil war among the tribes. We hope we have reached a fair solution, even if it is harsh.”
Xena felt Gabrielle’s breathing quicken and squeezed her mate’s shoulder.
“It is the decision of the Council that Queen Gabrielle be stripped of her royal rank and privileges and that she be exiled from the Amazon Nation for a turn of 10 winters. Gabrielle of Germania is to have no contact with any Amazon from this day forth until her exile is complete and no Amazon is to have willing contact with her,” one of the Council members declared.
Xena wrapped her arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders, helping her mate stay on her feet.
“If she’s found on Amazon land?” Eponi demanded after Artemis whispered fiercely in the Regent’s ear.
“A fair warning will be given by the scouts or guards,” a Council member said. “If the warning is ignored, then the sentence is death for violating the exile.”
Gabrielle’s legs gave out and she collapsed into her seat as the spectators erupted into confusion, anger, disbelief, and some agreement behind her. Xena moved behind her mate protectively, a hand resting on her chakram.
“Gabrielle will relinquish the Queen’s Mask to Regent Eponi and the Black Forest Amazons will determine their rites of succession after this proceeding is done,” Meryl continued.
“Gabrielle,” Revita called and Gabrielle looked up at the Council as tears filled her eyes. “The decision was the only one we could reach once we rejected the death sentence and we fought the law speakers about a limitation on the exile. I, personally, am very sorry and will be there 10 winters from now to welcome you back into the Nation.”
Gabrielle got to her feet slowly.
“I-I thank the Council for their struggle and your attempt to be fair in this difficult matter,” she stammered. “I urge the Black Forest Amazons to work with Eponi to continue to build the tribe and know that I will always love all of you.”
Xena wrapped her arms around her mate as Gabrielle turned to her warrior, unable to hold the tears back.
The warrior looked over and glared at the Goddess of the Amazons.
“We declare this trial over,” Meryl said loudly. “Gabrielle of Germania has two candle-marks to leave Amazon territory.”
“The Northern tribes would be heard on this!” Otere shouted from the spectators and Xena was surprised, she hadn’t noticed the Queen’s absence among the Council earlier. Otere stepped between the two tables and faced the spectators.
“I am Otere of the Northern Siberian Amazons and I speak with permission of the representatives here and with the confidence of my tribe at home,” she yelled. “We cannot accept this decision! Take away her rank if you will but you’ll never tell us that Gabrielle is no longer an Amazon!”
“Queen Otere!” Meryl shouted. “Don’t push this! Everyone agreed to the trial, its possible consequences and the right of the Council to sit in judgment over the individual tribes.”
Otere’s face was red with anger and Gabrielle attempted to pull out of Xena’s arms but the warrior held firm.
“No, this is their decision, Little One,” Xena whispered.
“No, not for me! They can’t risk a war because of me,” Gabrielle protested.
“Yes, they can!” Xena growled. “Two pantheons of gods were willing to go to war over our child; your tribe is fighting for you. You may have been the Queen of the Black Forest but you’ve always been accepted with the Siberians more.”
“Gabrielle will continue to be considered our sister, welcome at our fires and will always have the right to call for help from any Siberian Amazon!” Otere shouted.
“And among my tribe!” another voice declared and a northern Germanic Amazon Queen stepped forward.
“Among us, as well,” a representative of a Baltic tribe stood up.
“Artemis! Stop this before the Nation is split apart!” Gabrielle pleaded but the goddess merely glared at her former Chosen. Gabrielle turned to the Council.
“Council members!” she shouted. “Please stop this! Don’t let the Nation be split among regional lines because of this!”
“What would you have us do, Gabrielle?” Revita asked. “Rescind our decision because a couple of tribes refuse to abide by the agreements they made when they came here?”
Gabrielle looked desperate.
“Damnit! Otere, don’t do this for me!” she shouted.
“It’s done and it’s our choice, Gabrielle,” Otere said firmly. “You gave everything for our tribe and we won’t turn away from you for this.”
Gabrielle looked around and saw the Amazons milling among the benches and could see the representatives and tribal members beginning to separate among regional lines.
“Xena, how do we stop this?” Gabrielle asked as the guards began to get nervous as the voices among the spectators became heated.
“I don’t know, honestly,” Xena admitted.
Xena could see Gabrielle’s mind working quickly around the problem and then her bard’s eyes widened and she turned to the Council.
“Queen’s Council!” Gabrielle shouted. “I request reconsideration on a point of the trial!”
Everyone was suddenly curious and the crowd quieted down.
“You asked at one point if Eponi wished to continue with the charges,” Gabrielle said quickly. “I put to you that you were asking the wrong person if they wished the charges to go forward.”
“I’m the one that brought the charge!” Eponi shouted, jumping to her feet.
“And I charge that you weren’t acting on your own!” Gabrielle snapped. “And I charge that you were not acting in the best interests of the Black Forest Amazons in bringing this charge. The evidence of that is what’s happening to this very group of our sisters!”
“Gabrielle, this should have been brought up before this,” Revita complained.
“Yes, and I apologize,” Gabrielle said calmly. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this.”
“Everyone shut up!” Meryl shouted. “Everyone sit down! This has not been a pleasant few days and we all want this over with! Gabrielle, explain yourself!”
“Artemis!” Gabrielle snapped. “Eponi wouldn’t have brought these charges without you pushing it. She knew I was coming to the tribe to give up my rank, you’re the one pushing the treason thing.”
“Everyone settle down,” Revita demanded. “Discussion!”
The Council moved out of the seats and gathered around.
“Gabrielle, do you know what you’re doing?” Xena asked as her mate sat back down.
“No, I’m playing it by ear here,” Gabrielle admitted. Xena’s eyes narrowed as she heard a giggle in her ear.
“Aphrodite?” she whispered.
“They’re here,” Gabrielle admitted. “They’ve been bending my damn ear off, all three of them arguing on what to do.”
“What are they suggesting?” Xena whispered.
“Apollo wants to zap the five of us out of here, Cupid wants to smack Artemis along side the head and Aphrodite is suggesting something about pissing Artemis off to pull everything together.”
“Is any of that helpful?” Xena asked.
“I’m not sure, we’ll see where this goes,” Gabrielle agreed.
The Council returned to their seats and one of the members remained standing.
“Queen Gabrielle, please explain what you are talking about, slowly,” the Council member requested.
“I believe that Artemis pressured Regent Eponi into bringing these charges and then pressured her into continuing the trial,” Gabrielle explained. “Pony, why did you call for an All-Thing trial when you knew I was going to resign my rank as Queen? Is this for the good of the tribe?”
Eponi stood up and frowned.
“Regent Eponi,” the Celt said firmly. “Did you have word that Queen Gabrielle was coming to resign her rank as Queen because of the incident in Egypt?”
Pony shifted on her feet.
“Yes, Gabrielle sent a messenger to the tribe when she returned from Egypt that she would return in Spring, that Antony was alive and she would resign as Queen,” Pony admitted.
“I submit that by leaving Antony alive I was doing what was best for the tribe,” Gabrielle said firmly.
“How so?” Revita questioned.
“If we had killed Antony, Cleopatra would have blamed Octavian,” Gabrielle tried to explain. “Cleopatra would have believed us assassins from Rome and would have continued the war with everything she had.”
“We left Antony alive, bruised, battered and afraid,” Xena added. “If we had killed him, Cleopatra never would have known he tried to rape me. By letting him live we were able to show Cleopatra what he is.”
“This is for the good of the Amazon Nation?” Revita asked.
“Octavian will be a hard but fair Emperor of the Roman Empire,” Xena said. “For a man and a Roman, he’s the best choice. If we had killed Antony, Cleopatra and Octavian would be fighting each other for years and the Empire would crumble, the Amazon tribes would be at the whim of any petty Roman official wanting power the way Antony got it, by wiping out the feared Amazons.”
The Council members were frowning as one.
“So, you admit that you knew you had failed in your oath and were going to resign your office as Queen?” the Celt asked.
“I also had additional reasons,” Gabrielle said calmly. “My Consort and I have been through a lot in the last few seasons, most of it bad. We have a new son and I want a more normal life. We want to settle down and I can’t devote the proper time to my tribe.”
“You wish to continue living outside the tribe?” one of the Council members asked.
“We have a son and my Consort’s heart is not Amazon,” Gabrielle admitted. “We would have to leave when he turns 10 full winters old anyway.”
Xena placed a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder and squeezed it.
“You are basically accusing the patron goddess of most Amazon tribes as acting against the good of the Nation?” Revita demanded.
“Yes, I am,” Gabrielle said firmly and faced Artemis. “Artemis, I’m begging you for the Nation, rescind the charges and let me resign as I planned.”
The Goddess of the Hunt faced the Council, as if she didn’t hear Gabrielle.
“I’ll
put it to you, then,” Meryl said calmly. “Goddess Artemis, do you think this
trial is for the good of the Nation?”
Xena
sighed when Artemis shoulders sagged.
“No,”
Artemis finally said. “I withdraw the
charges against Queen Gabrielle and will accept her honorable resignation.”
“Oh
thank the gods,” Gabrielle muttered as the crowd broke out into cheers.
“The
Council will confer for a moment,” Meryl declared and the Council gathered
behind the tables.
Gabrielle
sat down wearily and Xena put her arms around her mate.
“You
are amazing,” Xena whispered in her ear.
“Thanks,
I’ll admit I’m tired,” Gabrielle smiled and stood back up when the Council
returned to their chairs.
Meryl
stood. “Because the charge was brought
in proxy by a Regent and it has been rescinded by the Goddess making the
charge, the Council declares this mattered settled. The transference of the rank of Queen will be left to the Black
Forest tribe. Queen Gabrielle, this was
an impossible situation to judge and we hope that you will continue to work for
the better of the Nation without any malice towards any Amazon.”
“I
want to thank the Council for their willingness to look at everything,”
Gabrielle said formally. “I hold no
malice against any Amazon but reserve some anger for my patron Goddess.”
Revita
and several other Council members nodded in agreement.
“This
Council is closed,” Meryl said firmly.
Gabrielle
reached behind her and pulled out Xena’s side dagger and placed it in her own
belt. Placing her sais in their
familiar position on the outside of her boots.
“Gabrielle?”
Xena asked softly.
“Artemis
owes me some kind of explanation,” Gabrielle growled.
Xena
turned her mate to look at her as Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed with anger.
“Artemis
wanted you to be the instrument of her own revenge,” Xena said softly, watching
Artemis out of the corner of her eye as the goddess argued with Eponi. “Cleopatra played as many sexual games as
Antony, we just didn’t know it. Cleo
got Artemis into bed and Artemis let her guard down. Cleo then let Antony in bed with them without telling Artemis.”
“Oh
gods, no,” Gabrielle whimpered.
“Yes,
Artemis gave up part of her godhood during sex, apparently most of the gods
have to when they’re with a human,” Xena explained, keeping her voice low as
Yakut and Karita kept friends and well wishers back from the couple. “Antony took advantage and tormented her,
emotionally raping her and beating her with Cleo's blessing and taunting.”
Gabrielle
closed her eyes and let Xena pull her into an embrace.
“She
doesn’t want any of the Olympians to know,” Xena continued. “Artemis is feeling guilty and is afraid
she’ll lose the respect of the women warriors if they know she was beaten
physically and sexually humiliated by a mortal man.”
“That’s
why she took it personally and hard when I couldn’t kill him,” Gabrielle
muttered.
“Yes,
exactly,” Xena nodded.
Gabrielle
pulled out of Xena’s arms and turned towards Artemis.
“Your
gift is healing,” the bard heard a male voice whisper in her ear and nodded,
stepping forward slowly.
“Artemis!”
she snapped. “I was your Chosen for
years, face me and answer me! In private, if you please!”
Artemis
looked as if she was about to start throwing energy bolts at Gabrielle but the
smaller demi-god stood her ground as everyone went quiet around them, including
the Council members.
Artemis
glared for a moment and then both disappeared.
Xena
growled and kicked the chair over.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
glanced around and found she was in a small clearing next to a river facing
Artemis. On her hands were cestus; wide
leather thongs that were weighted with lead in the palm and across the
knuckles. Typically worn by boxers and
gladiators fighting hand to hand, Gabrielle was familiar with them.
Artemis
was wearing the same and no other weapons.
Gabrielle
shook her head sadly.
“Artemis,
don’t do this,” Gabrielle urged as Artemis began to circle her.
“You
failed me!” Artemis hissed and Gabrielle felt her own anger rising.
“And
you failed me, damnit!” Gabrielle snapped back and dodged a right fist heading
for her eyes. “How in Tartarus am I
supposed to fight you? You’re a Goddess!”
“Here
we’re on equal terms, just like when I was with Cleopatra and she betrayed me,”
Artemis shouted, lashing out at Gabrielle again.
The
bard didn’t move quickly enough and found herself on the ground rubbing her
jaw. Gabrielle threw her legs up,
catching Artemis in the stomach and carrying the Goddess over her head as
Artemis tried to jump on her.
Both
goddess and woman regained the feet, holding their fists up defensively.
“I
know what happened with Antony!” Gabrielle growled, sending her own fists out
in a pattern that rocked Artemis on her feet, nursing a bruised nose.
Artemis
surprised Gabrielle with a spinning kick that caught the bard along side her
head and knocked her to the grass. The
enraged Goddess followed through with a kick to Gabrielle’s ribs that sent the
bard onto her back. Gabrielle grabbed
Artemis’ foot and twisted it, sending Artemis to the grass with her.
“You
got hurt by a man!” Gabrielle shouted as she leaped to her feet. “Get over it!”
“I
had never been touched by a man!” Artemis shouted as she got to her feet.
“So
what?” Gabrielle growled. “How many
women have had it worse? I was raped and you weren’t there!”
Gabrielle
saw Artemis hesitate, her eyes confused.
“I
was your Chosen and you weren’t there, Artemis,” Gabrielle snapped, letting the
old wounds open up. She had never
really faced Artemis with it. Gabrielle
had asked the questions but hadn’t owned up to her anger about the past. Now it was hitting her and she was going to
bring it out now. “I don’t care if it
was part of my Fate! How do you think I felt, I called for Xena, I called for
Hercules, I called for you and none of you were there!”
“None
of us were allowed to interfere,” Artemis protested.
“Then
how in Tartarus am I supposed to know what happened to you? You didn’t tell me,
you didn’t talk to me,” Gabrielle countered.
“I could have helped you.”
“How?”
Artemis snapped.
“I’ve
been there! I lost count how many men were all over me in just one day,”
Gabrielle shouted, wiping away angry tears.
“That went on for days! Then that damned Bacchanalia in the Spirit
Land.”
“You
know I couldn’t help with that,” Artemis frowned, her anger fading.
“Knowing
it in my head and feeling it in my heart are two different things,” Gabrielle
explained. “I was with Bacchus!” she
shouted, ramming her fist in a tree.
“I
was there when I could after it,” Artemis protested.
“I
know,” Gabrielle said wearily. “Have
you thought about why Antony didn't rape you?"
"He
said that Cleopatra didn't need a poor substitute for a man and…and took her,
tormenting me with her pleasure. He said he couldn't even work up the physical
desire for me," Artemis whispered.
"Why
didn’t you zap Antony into pieces after he touched you?” Gabrielle asked.
Artemis
looked troubled and glanced away, refusing to meet Gabrielle’s eyes.
“I…I…I
don’t know,” Artemis admitted.
“You
were ashamed and feeling guilty and just wanted to get away from there,”
Gabrielle suggested.
Artemis
continued to frown.
“So
you wanted me to carry out your revenge without telling me and then took it out
on me when I couldn’t do it,” Gabrielle said bitterly. “Why didn’t you get mad at me about
Lycrissus?”
“What?”
Artemis asked, suddenly confused.
“The
owner of the gladiator school, one of my rapists and owner,” Gabrielle
explained. “Why didn’t you demand that
I take revenge on at least one of my rapists and slave owner? I am an Amazon
Queen and the men who raped me and the man who owned me are still alive. You
didn't demand I take their lives.”
“I
don’t know, I guess I thought you would handle that eventually,” Artemis said
slowly, no longer looking for openings to hit the bard.
Gabrielle
shook her head. “Look inside yourself,
Artemis. You didn’t think of demanding
it from me because you didn’t even think about it.”
“That’s
not fair and it is not true!” Artemis shouted in protest.
“Yes
it is,” Gabrielle argued, tears of anger and rage escaping from her eyes. “You’ve cared and ached for me when I was
hurt but you dismissed it once I was out of danger. Now that you know what it feels like, it means more to you.”
“You’re
saying I didn’t care until I went through it?” Artemis demanded, her eyes angry
and hurt.
“Yes,
to a point,” Gabrielle nodded, careful to keep Artemis’ hands in sight. “No one knows what it’s like except someone
who's been there. Artemis, you can’t
blame me for what Antony did to you and you can’t blame me for Cleopatra’s
betrayal. You just used Eponi almost as
badly as Cleo used you.”
Artemis
drew back to hit Gabrielle and the bard waited, not raising her hands to defend
herself. The goddess hesitated and
dropped her fist.
“Amazon
shouldn’t be fighting Amazon,” Gabrielle said softly. “You have to find another way to get past this.”
“Why
couldn’t you just kill him?” Artemis suddenly shouted, her hands clenched into
fists again.
“Why
couldn’t you?” Gabrielle countered.
“The same reason I haven’t faced Lycrassius, fear and guilt.”
“Fear?”
Artemis frowned.
“You
may be a goddess, Artemis, but you were a woman then and you were hurt in the
worst possible way,” Gabrielle said gently.
“You were afraid of feeling that helpless again if you faced him.”
Artemis
closed her eyes in anger as her body shook.
Gabrielle waited patiently, her own anger just below the surface. Just the thought of Lycrassius and all the
others who had raped her was enough to bring on an almost berserk fury that she
was fighting against.
The
question would be if one of them would snap or work past it.
Artemis
snapped with a scream, launching herself at Gabrielle as the bard slipped
mentally into Dancer, the gladiator and Champion of Rome.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena
paced restlessly by the main fire of the village while Yakut and Karita talked
with Otere and some of the other Northern Amazons from neighboring tribes. The warrior noticed Hallvor and Eponi
arguing on the edge of the village and neither looked happy.
Several
Amazons yelped in surprise when Gabrielle appeared out of nowhere in front of
Xena. They tried to look nonchalant but
everyone was looking at the Amazon Queen with a mixture of curiosity and
apprehension. Most of them hadn’t even
seen a goddess or god and it seemed that Xena and Gabrielle dealt with deities
all the time.
Xena
quickly checked her mate over visually, taking in the bard’s tear streaked
face, bruised, battered and bloody body and that her mate looked very
tired.
Gabrielle
was able to stand but Xena could tell her mate was hurting.
The
warrior sighed and opened her arms.
“We
seem to be hugging a lot the last few days,” Gabrielle muttered.
“I’m
not complaining,” Xena grinned as Gabrielle pulled back and they walked over
toward Yakut and the others. “What
happened?”
“Artemis
and I are fine,” Gabrielle said softly.
“We yelled, we argued, we threw a few punches, I threw some verbal ones
and then she broke down. She let the
rage hit and I guess some of my old wounds came to the surface and we went off
on each other. I became Dancer and she
went berserk. We finally couldn’t hit
each other any more. Artemis finally
talked about what happened. Artemis
knew I understood and she finally understood some of my pain.”
“What
do you mean?”
“I
yelled at her for leaving me in the hands of the Romans, fate or not, and she’s
finally understanding the pain I went through,” Gabrielle attempted to shrug.
“And
then?” Xena asked.
“We
held each other and cried until we were sick from crying so much. I think women who have been abused will find
Artemis a little more understanding now.
She was like a child going through their first real heartache."
"The
Olympians are a lot like children, with that much power and people worshipping
them, they can be mostly spoiled brats," Xena agreed.
"Now
this young teenage girl has gone through her first major trauma,"
Gabrielle nodded. "I think she'll
be okay. Aphrodite and Cupid showed up,
wrapped their arms around her and disappeared after I healed her some."
"You
did what?" Xena asked with a frown.
"I
healed her somewhat,” Gabrielle said softly.
“Her emotions are so much more out of control because of the god thing.
Cupid and Dite were letting her know that she's not alone and is loved, what
every survivor needs.”
“You
didn’t have any energy to spare, though.”
“Thanks
for noticing,” Gabrielle smiled as her head dropped back and Xena grabbed her
mate.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
was surprised to open her eyes and see Eponi sitting next to her bed and not
Xena, Yakut, Karita, Hercules, or anyone else.
“Pony?”
she asked as she sat up slowly.
“You’ve
been asleep most of the afternoon,” Pony said calmly. “Kinda reminds me of when I found you in that village suffering
from the poisoned grain.”
Gabrielle
smiled. “Yeah, you were intent on
challenging me and killing me. Want a second shot?”
“No,”
Pony smiled a sad smile. “I was wrong,
Gabrielle. I shouldn’t have let Artemis
push me into this. The Black Forest Amazons won’t accept your resignation for
this either. They agree that I can be
Queen in your absence but you will always remain a Queen to the Nation. That’s
the decision of the Black Forest Amazons, Gabrielle.”
“Thank
you, Pony,” Gabrielle said gratefully.
“Artemis
made a public apology to the Nation and to you,” Pony continued. “She told me privately why she went a little
insane. I’m still angry that you didn’t kill Antony even if I understand a
little of it. I saw Ephiny, Solari and
the others crucified.”
“I
was crucified for all of you, Pony,” Gabrielle pointed out, her voice a little
harder. “What happened to Artemis will
drive most any woman, human or goddess, a little insane. I’ve been there too,” Gabrielle said. “Where’s Xena?”
“With
Hercules, Iolaus and Asher,” Pony answered softly, handing Gabrielle a cup of
fresh spring water. “Xena’s bringing
Asher over now.”
“I’m
tired of it all, Pony,” Gabrielle admitted, lying back on the bed.
“What
happened between you and Artemis, she wouldn't give details?” Pony asked.
“She
was hurting from what Antony did to her and didn’t know how to let it out and
deal with it,” Gabrielle tried to explain.
“I used some of my god inherited gift of healing to help ease her pain
and let her know that she's not alone and doesn't have to go through this by
herself. Unfortunately, it takes a bit
out of me.”
“Well,
Xena said to make sure you were to stay in bed if you woke up before she got
back,” Pony said.
“No
risk there, I’m feeling weak as a newborn pup,” Gabrielle admitted.
“Gabrielle….”
“No,
Pony,” Gabrielle said wearily. “No more
apologies.”
“I
failed the tribe as Regent and I failed my mate’s trust in me,” Pony admitted
softly.
Gabrielle
opened her eyes and frowned at Pony’s pained expression.
“Hallvor
is leaving me and the tribe and some of the other Amazons are questioning my
leadership abilities,” Pony admitted.
“We’ll
deal with the tribe,” Gabrielle muttered.
“I still have faith in you, Pony.
You’re stubborn but you’ll be a good leader. As for Hallvor, she feels she owes us a blood debt.”
“Vikings
can be rather thick-headed,” Pony agreed.
“She’s leaving me though.”
“I’m
sorry, Eponi,” Gabrielle said softly and the Regent wiped away her tears.
“We’ve
all got a lot of healing to do,” Pony admitted. "She's heading north with
the Siberian Amazons."
“Your
job will be to mend the tribe, mine is to go home with my family and raise my
son,” Gabrielle said firmly.
“Think
you can stay out of it for awhile?” Pony questioned.
“I
hope so, Pony,” Gabrielle said sincerely.
“I really hope so. Xena and I
hit a couple of bad spots and it’s taken some time to get close again. Asher is a handful and a delight. There are times I want to strangle him and then
hug him in the next moment.”
Eponi
laughed. “You sound like a normal mom,”
she smiled for the first time since Gabrielle’s return.
“That’s
what I want for awhile,” Gabrielle nodded.
Pony
got up to order food brought from the nearest Amazon and Gabrielle felt a warm
breeze pass over her forehead.
“Thank
you, Father, Cupid and ‘Dite,” she whispered and felt a gentle kiss on her
cheek from someone unseen.
To be continued in "Way of the Valkryie, An Awakening XXX"