XWP - Amazon Bonding - Awakenings 3 (final)

Amazon Bonding, An Awakening III

by Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

frost29@post.com

Disclaimers:  Once again, let us recite the bard classic statement: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc etc etc. This story is written for entertainment purposes, not for money, and no copyright infringement is intended. 

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: Yup. This story contains a loving and sexual relationship between consenting adults of the same gender. Rating: R

Violence: Hmmm, very little. Probably even less than your usual TV episode.

Storyline: This is the third story in my Awakening set. As I said before, I didn’t intend on writing sequels but it worked out that way and who knows where these will end up. I hope that each story stands on it’s own but you might want to read "Discovery, An Awakening II" before this one.

# # # #

The war party moved quickly through the countryside, spurred on by the enraged and desperate warrior leading them on her beloved Argo.  With Amazons and the Warrior Princess tracking them, the Romans were quickly overtaken.

“Let me approach them, Xena. I can order them to turn over the antidote.” Brutus pleaded.

“No, how do I know that you won’t destroy it?” Xena said flatly, watching the Romans moving up and down a river, looking for a suitable place to pass with their horses.  On the rocky cliff overhead Amazons and warrior watched.

“I swear I won’t. Something I didn’t tell you,” Xena looked at him with narrowed eyes.  “I thought this would be an easy assignment.  One of the soldiers we left behind with the Amazons is my son. If I fail, his life and mine are both forfeit.”

“Your son?”

“Yes, I swear it by all the Gods.”

“All right, you have five minutes.  Alcyonia, give him his sword.” Xena instructed one of the Amazon warriors.

“Brutus,” the Roman turned to look at Xena.  “If you fail, I’ll personally castrate both of you.”

The Roman turned pale but nodded his understanding.

In moments he was riding up to his men.  Xena couldn’t hear the conversation but she was watching closely.  At her signal Amazon archers had taken up positions on the cliff overlooking the Romans, ready to unleash their famed deadly arrows.

Xena watched, chakram in hand as Brutus appeared to argue with the men.  The sound of shouting reaching the warrior’s ears.  Finally one of the men shouted something and drew his sword and the others followed.  Brutus pulled his own sword and ran the first soldier through and the other two fell with arrows in their chests and throats. The fourth one dropped his sword and held up his hands in surrender.

Xena ran to Argo and quickly sped down the trail to find Brutus ripping the saddlebags off the Roman horses and spilling the contents onto the ground.  Xena leaped off Argo with chakram at hand.  The Roman looked up, frowning.

“Bastards wouldn’t go back on Caesar’s orders.  It’s got to be here!”

Xena joined in the search as the Amazons and Hercules rode up.  Brutus let out a shout and held up a flask.  He grinned and handed it to the warrior.

“Hercules, make sure they get back to the village.  I’m going to move fast.”

“You got it.”

Xena was grateful that the border guards and scouts let her fly past without challenge.  She had answered the bird and animal calls with her own and didn’t slow Argo’s flight any.  The noises managed to beat her into the village and she found the way clear for her all the way to the healer’s hut with armed Amazons lining the road and yard.  Ephiny and Iolaus stood at the door with swords drawn.  Xena leaped off Argo and dashed through the door as Iolaus held it open.

The healer quickly moved forward and opened the flask, with a satisfied look she began pouring the herb into her mixing bowl.  “This is it, warrior.  Just pray we’re in time.  She’s very weak, it’s been hours.”

Xena was very aware of how long it had been and how fast poison could work.  Torches were already being lit in the village.  She quickly moved to Gabrielle’s side across from Hecuba and Lila.  Cyrene and Solan kept vigil off to the side.

“She’s been unconscious since you left.” Hecuba said softly. 

“The pain?” Xena asked, tears flowing down her face as she stroked her bard’s forehead.  The bard’s face was drawn and pinched with pain and her muscles continually twitched and spasmed.

“Worse. She finally stopped screaming half a candlemark ago.” Lila answered with a sob, burying her head in her mother’s shoulder.  Cyrene walked up behind her daughter and placed her hands on the warrior’s shoulders.

“Screaming?” Xena whispered.

“Yes, the pain has been bad.” Cyrene answered softly.

“Gabrielle!”

The healer moved around the warrior and with the help of Hecuba, pried the bard’s jaws open and forced the unconscious woman to swallow.  “We can only wait. The damage may be too much for her.”

“No! Gabrielle, listen to me! You fight back! I’m not going to lose you now!” Xena growled through gritted teeth and sat down on the stool next to her lover.

Ephiny entered the hut and took in the scene.  “Did she get it?” she asked the healer.

“Yes, we can only wait and see if it was in time.  Our Queen is very ill.”

“All right.  I’m sending the delegates on their way. I’ll tell them the son of bacchae have been caught and are dead.  I’ll send runners out once we know the outcome.”  Ephiny tried not to choke on the last words and stumbled out of the hut.

After some convincing the healer finally got the two families to go and eat something while Xena watched over her lover.  The healer knew better than to insist that Xena leave Gabrielle’s side and didn’t even try.  She helped the warrior keep cool cloths on the Queen’s forehead and wrists and helped the warrior hold her mate down when the pain racked her body once more.  Xena whimpered, each time the bard was getting weaker and weaker.

Xena felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.  She turned to the healer.  “Can you get me some bread and water, please?”

The healer was surprised but pleased, she hadn’t expected the warrior to even think of eating or drinking. 

Once the healer was out of the hut Xena stood up and drew her sword.

“Ares!” she hissed.

“I hate how you can do that!” he said as he appeared.

“Come to gloat?” she demanded, sword at his neck.  The War God merely ignored the sword.

“No, not at all.” he moved the point away and moved closer to his once Chosen.  “Look, I’m sorry about last night. I was upset.”

“What do you want!?” she demanded again, sheathing her sword.

“You,” he answered simply as she turned back to Gabrielle’s side.

“What else is new?” she asked in a tired voice.  The bard whimpered and gritted her teeth again.  Ares watched with disinterest as waves of pain ran through the small woman’s body.

“Always, of course. Look, I can heal her.”

“What price?”

“The usual deal.” Ares shrugged.

“I come back to you like before.  Total Warlord.” Xena said simply.

“Yup, you bet. What do you say? We can leave her here with the Amazons and go back to how it was.”

“Ares,” Xena held up her bandaged hand.  “We’re blood bonded, if I go back to my war ways she’ll die and then I’ll die.”

“Remember, you convinced the Furies that you and I are blood. Come back, all ready! You know I’ll win in the end.  The fight is in your blood. You can’t deny that your blood sings every time you go into battle or a fight.  That after a good fight you’re so turned on that you can’t stand it. Come back.”  He moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. 

Xena shrugged them off.  “No, Ares.  I don’t care if you are my father or not, Gabrielle is my life.”

“Does she answer that call of the blood after the fight? Can she understand the fury in your blood?  Can she answer it? Only a warrior knows what it feels like.” he purred in her ear.

“You’d be surprised,” Xena managed to grin. “At what Gabrielle can do, in more ways than one.”

“Humph!” Ares snorted and moved to the end of the cot.  “If you are my daughter then take your rightful place at my side and become the Goddess of War!” he insisted.

“Isn’t that position all ready taken?”

“Athena, who cares.  She can go back to her weaving, she’s not the warrior you are!” he insisted.

“No, just leave.” Xena ran a tired hand over her face.

“Okay, I’ll just wait till the irritating little wench is gone, then you’ll be back.” Ares said smugly.

“Ares,” Xena’s voice stopped him from disappearing. “Know this, if she crosses over that I’ll follow her.” Xena’s eyes met the War Gods.

“No, you can’t do that!” he demanded.

“Yes, I can. She’s the other half of my soul and I won’t lose her.”

“You can’t mean that!”

“Yes, I do.  Now leave, all ready.” Xena turned her eyes back to her lover.  Without looking she knew that Ares was gone and she was alone with Gabrielle.  Xena finally let herself break down in tears as she felt how rapid and shallow the bard’s breathing was.  “Gabrielle, I hope you can hear me,” she whispered.  “Don’t leave me, please! I can’t live without you!”  Xena checked her armor and sighed to herself after feeling the dagger between her breasts.

“Hey,” a harsh voice whispered.

Xena looked up, tears of joy beginning to fall instead of terrified ones.  Green eyes met blue ones and Xena quickly grabbed the bard’s hand and held it.

“Gabrielle!” Xena grabbed a cup and moved behind the bard to help her sit up and take a drink.  The smaller woman couldn’t even raise her hands to help. “Shhh, little one, drink slowly.” Xena instructed.

Gabrielle leaned back into her warrior.  “What happened?” she whispered.

The healer walked through the door and took in the sight of her Queen in the arms of her Consort with eyes open and broke into a grin.  She quickly put the bread and wine down and ran back outside.  Xena smiled when they heard a cheer outside.  The healer quickly came back in and with experienced hands, began examining the bard.

After a moment she stepped back and looked at Gabrielle’s tired face.

“Well?” the warrior demanded, holding her arms around her lover.

“It’ll be a few days before we know if there’s permanent damage or not,” the healer warned.

“I’ll be fine,” Gabrielle insisted, her head starting to fall forward.

“Gabrielle?”

“It’s all right, Consort,” the healer reassured her.  “She’ll sleep a lot for the next few days.  It’s the body’s way of healing.”

Suddenly the room was filled with happy relatives, Amazons, and friends, all shedding tears of joy while the bard smiled a very tired smile.

After a few minutes the healer ran all of them out when Gabrielle’s head fell forward onto Xena’s arms and didn’t’ raise back up.  She motioned for the warrior to lay the bard back down on the cot.

Xena crossed over to the healer’s table.  “Well?”

“She’s very weak. We’ll know probably tomorrow if there’s muscle damage.  It may be a few days before we know if there’s problems with her stomach or nervous system,” the healer warned.

“She’s alive, that’s what counts right now.”

“Yes, and everyone is waiting outside. Hercules brought in the Roman and the prisoner.”

“You’ll stay with her for a few minutes?”

“Of course, she’s my Queen.”

Xena found Brutus and the other three Romans sitting at one of the tables, surrounded by Amazons.  Brutus looked tired but pleased when the warrior approached them and sat down opposite of him.  Xena knew the assassin was in the prisoner hut.

“I heard she’s alive.  Thank you!”

“Thank you for your help.” the warrior acknowledged.  “Ephiny agrees to let you go back to Rome.  I don’t believe you had anything to do with it or you would have run with the others.”

“Thank you.”

“What will you tell Caesar?” the warrior asked. Xena noticed that he didn’t ask about the proposed fate of the other Roman.

“That someone attempted to poison the Queen of the Amazons but they failed and I haven’t heard from his men.”

“It’s dangerous going up against Caesar’s wishes,” Xena mentioned.

“I know, that’s why I prefer to count him as my friend rather than my enemy.  It’s either let the Amazons kill us for being Roman or tell Caesar the truth and let him kill us, my son included.  I don’t think I like either of those options.  My son and these two will keep quiet because they know what will happen if they don’t.  A cross is not where I want to end up for me or my son.”

“You should probably leave soon.  I know it’s dark but the Amazons aren’t happy with any outsiders right now.  It probably wouldn’t turn out well if one of your men even looked cross-eyed at one of them.” Xena suggested.

“You’re right, of course.  Will you walk me to our horses?”

Xena was surprised but agreed.  Brutus fell into step with her.

“Thank you for giving me the chance to save my son and my men.” he said simply.

“It was a way to save Gabrielle.”

“I know, but it also saved my son too. Your identity as Consort to the Queen is safe with me, warrior.  It was before she was poisoned.” Brutus grinned.

Xena’s eyes narrowed.  “What do you mean?”

“I recognized you in the ritual and figured the only one who could grab your heart enough for a bonding ceremony like this would be Gabrielle.” Brutus shrugged.

“How did you recognize us? Even our hair was covered.” Xena was curious.

“Nice bruise on your neck, Xena.  Also, I noticed your bandaged hand at breakfast.”

“Oh son of a bacchae!” she complained and he laughed as he took his reins and mounted his horse.

“I swear by the gods that no one will know that Gabrielle is the Queen of the Amazons and that you two are bonded.”

“Thank you, Brutus.  It could be used as political power.”

“Yes,” he agreed.  “but I hate politics and I like Gabrielle and respect you.”

“Goodbye, Brutus.  I hope we don’t have to cross swords in the future.”

“So do I, warrior.”

When Xena returned to the hut she found Hercules and Iolaus walking out the door.  She hugged both of them tightly.

“Thank you both for being here.”

“Any time.” Iolaus offered and Hercules nodded.

“We’re going to get something to eat and some sleep. Things should be quiet tonight.  All the delegates have left and Ares hasn’t shown up and the Romans are gone.” Hercules said.

“Ares did show up.” Xena said simply.

“What? What did he want?” Hercules demanded.

“The usual, me.”  Xena smiled and shrugged. “He offered to save Gabrielle if I would come back to him.  He was using the moment because just after I turned him down she woke up.  I think he knew she was going to get better and was seizing the moment to try and get to swear I was his again.”

“I’ll kill him one of these days, Father’s wishes or not.” Hercules grumbled.

Xena hugged him again. “Thanks, you might have to stand in line for that one.”

She moved past him to enter the hut and found Ephiny and both families.  She moved into the room and gave Solan a big hug and then her mother.  Xena turned to the healer.

“She’s sleeping, not unconscious. You need some sleep too.”

“I’ll stay with her.” Xena insisted.

“I figured that, but at least take off the armor and crawl into bed with her and sleep!” the healer said in frustration.  Xena grinned a tired smile and Ephiny laughed for the first time in two days.

“She’s right, Xena. I’ll see to your families. Warriors will watch the hut outside.”

Xena quickly hugged everyone and then struggled out of her armor.  With a heavy sigh she settled down into the familiar position behind the bard and slipped her arms around Gabrielle.

The warrior was pleased when the bard sighed in her sleep and snuggled into Xena’s arms.  She was asleep in moments. 

Xena knew the recovery would be long and hard for the bard but had no doubt of the bard’s inner strength.

Xena also knew that she would be there every step of the way.

 

See what happens next in "Healing, An Awakening IV"

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Note: I want to thank whoever invented the Internet. In researching ancient Greek wedding traditions, modern traditions and pagan handfasting rituals, my time was cut down from over a week in a library to two days on the net. I also want to thank the thousands of people who put information out there for us to find and use.
Another note: I also want to encourage the use of libraries, they are still essential, even in the day of the internet. Nothing beats a good book in your hands and nothing has fed this bard growing up more than a good story.

Hope you enjoy my stuff. Let me know what you think.
Hunter Ash

Dark are the Shadows
Ms. Hunter Ash

frost29@post.com
ripperbard7@yahoo.com

A BTVS/Dark Shadows crossover

Rating: PG13
Pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Giles/Angelique, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, Julia/Thomas, Barnabas/Roxanne

##  # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas stepped into the Old House a half hour after David had left him at the Collins crypt.

“It's Barnabas,” he called. He smiled as he walked into the living room. “Sorry about that, I talked with Quentin about Nicholas being gone and the dangers out there.”

“No problem,” David said. “I told them about seeing Sarah at the crypt.”

“She was just as David described her,” Barnabas said.

“Julia was telling us that she thinks Quentin is taken with someone in California,” Maggie said, turning the conversation.

“Yes, Dawn's sister,” Barnabas said. “I think it could be serious but it wouldn't be easy. She hunts vampires and it's a dangerous occupation and he's an immortal.”

“Can't she just quit?” Joe asked.

“No, that's her... her curse or calling, whichever you want to look at it,” Julia said.

“Ouch,” Joe muttered. “Seems like everyone in the Collins family has it rough when it comes to romance.”

“And Jennings and Haskell families,” Amy added.

Maggie nodded in agreement and kissed Joe's cheek.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy opened the door to the tomb with Oz' cell and hesitated. She sighed when she saw the inner door open slightly and a crossbow arrow appear.

“It's me,” Buffy said. “Our school mascot was a razorback pig.”

Xander opened the door and smiled as he lowered the crossbow. “Hope you have a handcuff key. Giles is getting really irritable.”

“I do,” Buffy said. “Why didn't Willow open the cuffs with magic?”

“Apparently there's anti-magic or something on them,” Xander said as he closed the inner door behind them.

Buffy looked down and saw Giles sitting on the cot inside the cell, leaning into Angelique's arms. Everyone else was sitting in camp chairs or fixing dinner on a camp stove.

“I snuck back into the mansion and grabbed everyone's cell phones and more weapons,” she said as she and Xander walked down the stairs to the lower level. “I also called LA and Cordelia and Angel are going to pick Dawn up and drive her over here.”

“Good,” Willow said. “What are we going to do about the Initiative? They know Giles is kinda not totally human now.”

The Slayer glanced at her Watcher and nodded. He was still obviously agitated to the point where his newly discovered fangs wouldn't recede.

Buffy stepped into the cell and handed Angelique the universal key to police handcuffs. “How are you feeling? Did they hurt you beyond a bloody nose?”

“No, but you've been bleeding,” he noted as he pulled his hands out from behind his back. “That's better.”

Buffy looked down at her side and shrugged. “Barely a scratch.”

“How do we handle the Initiative?” Xander asked.

“One possible solution would be to call the Council,” Giles said. “And try and bluff our way through. To tell them Willow thought we were under a home invasion or something and threw a spell at me to make me seem dangerous or frightening. It probably won't hold up but it might buy us some time.”

“What happens if they find out that you're kinda a vampire and will become one when you die?” Tara asked.

“They wouldn't see it as a positive even with a soul intact,” Giles said. “They'd see it as a threat to the Slayer.”

“And they'd work to eliminate the threat,” Buffy ventured and Giles nodded.

“It'll buy us time,” Buffy said after a moment. “Get them to call off the Initiative and when they tell us that the soldiers swear that you're a vampire we'll get on one of those video call things and show them you out and about in the daylight and holding a cross.”

“And that the soldiers were looking for vampires and didn't want to admit they made a mistake,” Willow added.

“They were looking for Angel because he helped us with the Leviathans and we made them promise not to stake or capture him,” Xander added.

“That should work for awhile,” Buffy said with a nod.

“And when it doesn't I can get him away with no trace on a private airplane,” Angelique offered.

“They'd insist that Buffy have a new Watcher and put me on a wanted list and send strike teams,” Giles said wearily.

“Then we'll convince them that you aren't a vampire,” Buffy said. “First have them get the Initiative to back off.”

“I'll call when the office opens in a couple of hours.”

# # # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Well, we're going to head home,” Joe said as he and Maggie stood up. “We'll see everyone tomorrow night.”

“And we'll promise not to keep you up as late,” Julia said with a small laugh.

“And we're going to head back up the hill,” Carolyn said. “I have to get up early and it's past Elizabeth's bedtime.”

“I brought my car down after following Sarah to the family crypt,” David said. “I'll drive the girls up.”

“Roxanne and I can walk, it's a lovely evening,” Barnabas said.

Julia and Thomas walked everyone to the door where Barnabas kissed her cheek.

“Thomas has started work on the cottage,” Julia told Barnabas and Roxanne.

“Thank you,” Barnabas said.

“What...what did Sarah say?” Julia asked softly.

“That I've changed and she's happy with that,” Barnabas said. “She won't rest, however. She said the family and I will need her and then she was gone.”

“What on earth?”

“I don't know,” Barnabas said. “Rest well, you two.”

The vampire was surprised to see Maggie standing beside her car while Joe sat inside.

“Give me a moment, darling,” Barnabas said to Roxanne and she nodded and moved to the tree line to wait for him. Barnabas started towards Maggie and she met him halfway across the parking area. “Maggie?”

“Are you all right? I mean, I get the feeling that you haven't seen Sarah very often,” Maggie asked.

Barnabas wasn't sure how to respond.

“I remember Sarah but it's very distant, like in a dream,” Maggie said. “She comforted me during nightmares. I don't remember who or what caused those nightmares and I never will.”

“Maggie...I'm beyond sorry,” Barnabas said softly. “I suppose isolation of one hundred and thirty years would drive someone insane, theoretically, I mean.”

“Josette also appeared to me during those nightmares,” Maggie said. “Thomas and Julia told us how she appeared to Julia and Willie when you were in danger. She protected you.... I mean, if she did that for someone who had once been insane, that must mean they had changed. If that's what could have happened.”

Barnabas smiled and raised her hand to his lips. “You are a remarkable woman, Mrs. Haskell.”

“Good night, Barnabas.”

The vampire walked over to Roxanne as Maggie got into the car and Joe waved as they drove off.

“Are you all right?” Roxanne asked.

“Yes, come on, I'll tell you about as we walk,” Barnabas suggested. “My sister Sarah....”

# # ##

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy felt her phone vibrating and sat up on the air mattress she had been napping on. A quick glance around told her most everyone was asleep except Tara, Angelique and Quentin. Buffy checked the text message and went up the stairs to where Quentin was keeping watch on the upper landing.

“Dawn, Cordelia and Angel are outside,” she said softly. “They didn't want to alarm everyone.”

“Good idea,” he said.

Buffy opened the inner door and crossed to the outer one and opened it cautiously and looked around.

Angel stepped out from the shadows of a tree and Buffy nodded. Cordelia and Dawn trotted over and rushed inside the tomb followed by Angel.

Buffy shut the outer door and hugged Dawn. “Hey, runt.”

“Hey, what's going on? Angel said there'd been trouble? Is it Glory?”

“No, the Initiative this time,” Buffy said. “Come on, I'll explain and we'll head over to the hospital. Thanks for bringing her over, guys.”

“No trouble,” Cordelia said.

Ten minutes later Angel and Cordelia glanced over at the cell where Giles slept with his head in Angelique's lap.

“He's not human?” Cordelia asked, her voice almost a whisper.

“Not really,” Buffy said. “We're hoping the Council will get the Initiative to back off and then we'll work on convincing them that he's not a vampire. If not... he'll have to disappear.”

“That won't help you here,” Angel said with a frown.

“Yeah, I know,” Buffy agreed. “Dawn and I should get to the hospital.”

“We'll drop you off,” Cordelia offered. “We're heading back. There's a case that might break wide open at any minute.”

“We appreciate the help, really,” Buffy said. “Tara, we're going to the hospital. Tell everyone I'll call when Mom gets out of surgery.”

“Okay, give her a hug from all of us,” Tara said.

“You got it.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Maggie knows it was you that tormented her all those years ago,” Roxanne said thoughtfully as they lay on an air mattress.

“She does and forgives me,” Barnabas said. “That's how I read it. She knows I've changed.”

“I like the changes,” Roxanne whispered and kissed him.

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy tried to calm her near panic as hospital staff entered her mother's room with a gurney and helped Joyce from her bed onto the gurney. Joyce reached out and squeezed Dawn's hand and then Buffy's.

“I'll be fine, girls,” Joyce said with a small smile. “I love you both.”

“We love you, Mom,” Buffy managed to say. “We'll be waiting here.”

The two girls watched their mother being wheeled to an elevator and returned her wave as the doors closed. They stood frozen for several moments.

“Come on, runt,” Buffy said softly. “Let's start waiting. We'll call everyone.”

“Will Giles get to stay?” Dawn asked as they walked to the surgical waiting room.

“He has to,” Buffy said. “There's no other option. Let's call Willow and let her know Mom's in surgery.”

“Okay.”

Buffy sighed and pulled her phone out and dialed Willow's number.

“Hello, Buffy?”

The Slayer put the call on speaker. “Hey, Will, Mom just went into surgery so now we wait.”

“Okay, we'll be sending good vibes,” Willow responded.

“How's Giles?”

“I think the last two weeks caught up with him,” Willow said softly. “He fell asleep before sunrise and he might sleep more than a couple of hours. He's... he's really stressed, Buff.”

“He held it together long enough to call the Council, thank God,” Buffy commented. “Do you have his phone?”

“Yeah, if they call I'll talk to them,” Willow promised.

“Tell them to call me,” Buffy suggested. “I'll tell them that I need him here to fight Glory.”

“Okay, let us know when she gets out of surgery,” Willow said.

“Right away,” Buffy promised and closed his phone.

“We can't lose Giles,” Dawn said softly. “Not now!”

“I know, I know.”

# # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Is Dawn coming back?” Elizabeth asked Amy as her grandmother fixed lunch.

“I hope so,” Amy said. “Are you excited to start school again?”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth said. “And I promise I won't tell anyone about Barnabas, Julia or Roxanne.”

“Good,” Amy said. “I know it'll be tempting but people wouldn't understand and would want to hurt them.”

“Why?”

“Because people wouldn't understand or believe that they don't hurt people,” Amy said. “People would be afraid of them and when people are afraid they try and destroy what they're afraid of.”

“That's dumb.”

“It is in most cases,” Amy agreed.

“After lunch can I play outside?”

“Yes, but stay away from the old greenhouse,” Amy said. “It was dangerous when David was a boy, it has only gotten worse.”

“Okay, I went down there with Willie once, he wanted to walk around,” Elizabeth said. “It was all dirty and there was broken glass and rust and stuff. Yucky.”

Amy nodded. “Yeah, very yucky. Oh, Dawn called a little bit ago. Her mother has gone into surgery and they'll let us know how she does.”

“Okay, she's really nice,” Elizabeth said. “I'll think positive vibes and stuff.”

Amy laughed. “You've been listening to your cousin Carolyn!”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Hey, Will,” Buffy said into her phone.

“Buffy, what's up?” Willow asked anxiously.

“Mom's out of surgery and they think they got it all,” Buffy informed the witch.

“Oh thank the goddess!” Willow whispered. “How are you holding up?”

“I'm okay,” Buffy said. “Just kinda tired. Dawn got some sleep but not much. She's talking with that intern named Ben.”

“I think I remember him,” Willow said. “kinda cute and he watched you a lot.”

“Until he saw me with Quentin,” Buffy said.

“Yeah, well, Quentin would make anyone think twice!” Willow commented. “He's so damn tall and there's an air of....confidence and strength.”

“I'd agree with that,” Buffy said. “How's Giles?”

“We're about to go to the shop,” Willow said. “He wants to check on things and lend Anya a hand. She's been doing everything for awhile now. He wants her to know she's appreciated.”

“Oh cool, do you know how it went with the Council?”

“He said they weren't happy but they're going to get the Initiative to back off and call Giles later,” Willow said. “He offered to prove he's not a vampire and he said Travers seemed to calm down a little. We can only see how things go, I guess. He said he's going to stay out of sight as much as possible.”

“That's probably a good idea,” Buffy said. “I'd hate for them to pick him up and claim they didn't get the memo. Once they can prove he's not totally human the Council would probably let them keep him.”

“Yeah,” Willow agreed. “We'll come up and see your mom after the shop closes.”

“Cool,” Buffy said. “Is Quentin going to watch over our two vampires?”

“Yeah, he said I need to get out of the house,” Willow said. “We'll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Okay, call if anything comes up.”

# # # #

“I can't figure out how to fight Glory!” Willow complained. “We should get Dawn out of the state ASAP.”

Giles sighed and nodded. He walked over to the rear door. “I know it all seems bleak now, but as they say, this too...”

The Watcher flung the door open and one of Glory's demons fell into the room.

“Shall pass,” Giles finished his sentence.

In a moment he grabbed the demon by the ear and dragged him into the main part of the shop and threw the creature into a chair. Willow and Anya followed.

“Now, what do we have here?” Giles asked.

“He's one of those things that work for Glory!” Anya exclaimed.

“Yes, how helpful,” Giles commented.

“I do indeed work for the god,” the troll-like demon admitted. “Let me go if you do not wish to incur her anger.”

“Well, she's not here,” Giles pointed out. “What a marvelous opportunity for you and me to talk.”

“I will not betray Glorificus!” the demon declared. “I will never talk, no matter what heinous torture....”

“Actually, you're talking quite a lot,” Giles responded. “Just not about the right things. Tell us why you're here.”

“No words shall pass my lips that will bring peril to Glorificus!”

Without taking his eyes off the demon he pointed to behind the counter. “Girls, get that twine that's on the counter, let's tie him up.”

The Watcher quickly restrained the demon in the chair. “Girls, check and ensure there's no one else back there and that the door is locked.”

Anya and Willow went into the back room and glanced outside the back door.

“No! No! I'll tell you!” they heard the demon yell and rushed back into the main room and found Giles standing behind the demon looking very calm.

“Anything! Please, whatever you want! Just, I'll... anything!”

“What happened?” Anya asked.

“He changed his mind,” Giles answered.

“I'm supposed to watch,” the demon said. “We're watching the Slayer's people. Our glorious god thinks she knows the key.”

Willow and Anya looked stunned and Willow dashed after Giles as he ran out the front door.

Anya looked at the demon and crossed her arms.

# # # #

Buffy smiled as she approached her younger sister and Dr. Ben in the hall of the hospital. They had both visited with their mom after she had gotten out of Recovery. Joyce had drifted off to sleep within minutes and Buffy had assured her sister that was normal.

“Hey, guys,” Buffy said and moved out of the way as a gurney started past them with a man strapped down and struggling lightly.

“Look at the green! Beautiful green energy!” the man shouted.

“Excuse me, ladies,” Ben muttered.

Buffy grabbed Dawn and turned her to look at the Slayer. “Hold it together. No one else is around. We'll get you back to Maine tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Hi, girls!”

Buffy turned and found Glory standing in the hallway and the hell-god was smiling widely.

Buffy whirled and grabbed Dawn's hand and began running with the teen. They could hear Glory laughing as they started down the stairs at a break-neck speed. Buffy let Dawn pass her as they heard the door above open.

“Keep going! Get to Barnabas and Carolyn or Angel if anything happens!”

“Don't let it happen or I'll kick your ass,” Dawn responded as they ran.

Dawn pulled the door open and dashed for the exit of the hospital with Buffy behind her.

“Keep going! Giles has your Jeep!” they heard Willow yell. Buffy glanced behind her and saw the witch waiting near the entrance.

Dawn fell to her knees as they reached the parking lot. Buffy pulled Dawn to her feet and picked Dawn up in her arms as the familiar Jeep skidded to a stop by them. She dropped Dawn into the passenger seat and she jumped into the back.

The trio looked over at the entrance and saw Willow gesture and Glory stopped, her expression reflecting irritation. She backhanded Willow into a wall and saw the Jeep.

Before Giles got five feet Glory was in front of the Jeep with a smile.

“Don't stop!” Dawn yelled.

“She'll just destroy the Jeep,” Giles said as he shifted into reverse and hesitated.

“Any last words, mini-slayer?” Glory asked as she walked around the Jeep.

“Yeah, just one,” Buffy said. “Truck.”

As Glory started to look to her right something pulled her directly into the path of the large vehicle.

Giles took off across a grassy meridian and Willow jumped into the back with Buffy.

“Go!” she yelled.

Witch, Slayer and teen looked back and saw Glory getting up from where she had landed on a car in the parking lot.

They saw her stop and her body jerked.

Giles made a turn around a building.

“No! Not now, you idiot! Let go....” Glory yelled.

“Of my body,” Ben finished. He looked down at the dress he was wearing. “Oh god.”

XWP - Awakenings 3 - 07/16/2020

Amazon Bonding, An Awakening III

by Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

frost29@post.com

Disclaimers:  Once again, let us recite the bard classic statement: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc etc etc. This story is written for entertainment purposes, not for money, and no copyright infringement is intended. 

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: Yup. This story contains a loving and sexual relationship between consenting adults of the same gender. Rating: R

Violence: Hmmm, very little. Probably even less than your usual TV episode.

Storyline: This is the third story in my Awakening set. As I said before, I didn’t intend on writing sequels but it worked out that way and who knows where these will end up. I hope that each story stands on it’s own but you might want to read "Discovery, An Awakening II" before this one.

# # #

# # #

A candlemark later and Gabrielle was in clean clothes and sitting with Ephiny while she and several Amazon elders ran down a list of visiting delegates and small details about them.  After another candlemark the bard found herself rubbing her eyes and neck, lack of sleep and politics were giving her a headache.  She glanced over and saw Iolaus nodding off in the corner, almost about to fall off his stool.

She reached out and threw an unlit candle at him and tried to keep from laughing as he fell off the stool backwards, hit his head in the corner and slid down the wall.  The Kumbada looked up at his responsibility and grinned.

“Go on, get out of here.  Ephiny and I will be talking for a bit longer.” Gabrielle ordered and the man quickly scurried out of the hut, his escort right behind him.

Ephiny grinned along with her Queen and elders.  She had to admit that Hercules and Iolaus were good friends to the Queen and her Champion and Ephiny had to like them for that.

“Ephiny, remind our escorts that they should be like shadows, I want the delegates to be comfortable.  The more comfortable someone is the more they talk,” the bard grinned.

“Yes, my Queen,” Ephiny grinned back.  Over the seasons of being Queen, even an absent Queen, Gabrielle had impressed the life long Amazon.  At first Ephiny had resisted the small woman, she hadn’t been trained as an Amazon, she wasn’t Amazon royalty and here the outsider was her Queen.  Ephiny had come to respect Xena as a warrior and Gabrielle as an intelligent young woman who was up to the challenge of the office of Queen.  Ephiny pitted anyone who underestimated her Queen on any level.        

“Did Rome send a delegation?” Gabrielle asked, almost holding her breath.

“Yes, my Queen.  A squad of Praetorian guards, led by Brutus of Rome,” one of the elders answered.

“Thank the gods that Caesar didn’t decide to come,” Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief.  Just the sight of a Roman uniform would probably send her warrior reaching for her weapons, the bard knew.

That was one point Gabrielle didn’t think she’d ever get Xena to let up on, the warrior’s hatred for Caesar.  The bard knew that the Roman had betrayed Xena’s trust, love (or was it lust) and had the warrior crucified and her legs broken on a cross.  Gabrielle knew that was something Xena wasn’t likely to get over until Caesar was dead and she knew the warrior was hoping it would be at her hand.

“Ephiny, have someone keep an eye on them. Xena’s not known for rational thinking when it comes to Romans.”

“Yes, my Queen,” The Regent called an attendant over and whispered to the young girl who was off out the door with a dash.

“I take it Xena doesn’t care for Caesar?” one of the elders asked with a smile.

“No, if Caesar were here we’d have to tie her to a bed to keep her from wringing his neck,” Gabrielle smiled back.

Xena had reluctantly separated from her mate for the first part of the morning.  All the warrior had to do for the morning was bathe and get dressed for the long day in front of them.  Gabrielle, on the other hand, had to bathe, get dressed and once again go over with Ephiny, and some of the Amazons versed in politics, which delegates were coming and little details about their dealings with the Amazons and with each other. 

Xena grinned, hopefully Ephiny would take pity on her little bard and have something brought in for the Amazon Queen to eat while studying the politics and politicians.  Xena felt the bruise at her neck and felt herself blushing remembering exactly how she had gotten that bruise that night and why the little bard had missed breakfast, a rarity, indeed.

Xena’s thoughts were abruptly shattered into stunned silence when a Roman stepped in front of her.  His Amazon guard on alert, watching his every movement.

“Brutus?” she whispered, hand instinctively reaching for her chakram.  The Roman held up his hands to show he was unarmed.

“Easy, Xena. I’m a guest here,” he smiled and pointed to his escort who also had her hand on her sword.  “They don’t let us have weapons here, remember?”

“I didn’t know who they were sending from Rome or if anyone would even come to the wedding,” Xena commented simply.  The Roman fell into step beside her and his escort behind them.

“I got the lucky duty. I’m here with a small Cohort of Praetorian Guards from Caesar,” he grinned at her expression and the darkening of her eyes.  “I see his name still gets a reaction out of you.”

“Caesar.....” the warrior began in a low growl.

“Pax, Xena.  I didn’t come to trade insults or threats about Caesar. I’m here to offer Rome’s official congratulations on the Amazon Queen’s wedding,” he continued as they entered the eating hut and followed her along the food table.  A quick look around told Xena that several delegates and their parties had arrived all ready and were sitting around, eating and eyeing each other.  The energy in the place was stifling.  Not actually wishing to leave Brutus, Xena led them to a table near some of her favorite Amazon warriors.

“Tell me, warrior.  Do you know the Queen?” Brutus asked as he bit into one of the celebration cakes being offered.

“Yes, I’ve known her for some time.  I’m good friends with a large number of this tribe,” Xena answered carefully and Brutus merely acknowledge with a nod.

“Why do they keep her identity a secret?”

Normally Xena would suspect that the Roman was trying to get information out of her but she knew that almost every delegate in the room would be asking that question sometime during the next few hours. 

“The Amazons adopted that policy awhile back.  Sometimes the Queen moves and travels outside the territory and it makes it easier and safer if no one knows who she is,” Xena answered, biting into her own food, careful to seem unconcerned about the questioning.

“But you know her,” Brutus observed.

“Brutus,” Xena warned, eyes flashing.

The Roman laughed.  “No, I’m not asking you to tell, warrior. Just baiting you. I personally hate these functions.  Everyone tripping over themselves to be noticed and out intrigue each other.  I hate politics.”

“I thought Rome was politics,” Xena smiled and the Roman shrugged.

“Comes with the territory,” he agreed.  He looked around and then back to the warrior.  “Where’s your friend, Gabrielle?”

“She’s around, why?”

“I’d like to see her,” Brutus shrugged when he noticed Xena’s questioning look.  “She’s nice and it’s not often we get to meet nice people, don’t you agree?”

Xena had to laugh at that in agreement.

“She’s so unusual,” he continued.  “She travels with you and yet she’s.... hmmm, what words to use?”

“She’s like the light of the sun compared to the darkness we live in?” Xena offered and was actually pleased when the Roman grinned.

“Exactly! Now don’t get pushed out of shape, warrior.  I know how protective you are of her, I mean no harm to her.”

“I think I believe you, Brutus,” Xena countered.  “Because if you did, you wouldn’t live long.”

“I know that. What is she up to?”

“She’s helping with the preparations.  Gabrielle was adopted into the tribe a couple of seasons ago.”

“Really?! The Amazons don’t take in adult females often,” he whistled.  “Tell me, do you know if the Amazon Queen is marrying a man or woman?” he changed the subject.

“Female.”

“Thought so, then it’s probably not a political marriage,” he nodded to himself.

“No politics involved at all,” Xena smiled.

“Good, that answers one of the questions that everyone coming today will have. You know how these damned petty tyrants get,” he complained, waving his hand around to indicate the majority of the room.  “Afraid that one might marry into a more powerful family, everyone has been buzzing about this all morning.  Since no outsiders know who the Queen is they have no idea who she’s marrying.  They’re all afraid that the wedding couple will come out and they’ll find one of their worst enemies is marrying into a very small but powerful nation.”

“Can’t they figure that out by noting who’s here and who isn’t?” she grinned.

“Nope, some have only sent delegates, others are here themselves, but not talking.  To them, it could be any of them. I’m the only one not in consideration!” he grinned.

“Why is that?”

“You know Caesar would never let me marry someone that powerful and you know damned well that he’d never marry an Amazon. You scare him enough, as it is.”

Xena’s eyes flashed again.  “Good, let’s keep it that way.”

Brutus laughed.  “He may be my friend but I have the feeling that you two will settle this one day and I don’t think I want to be around when you do.”

“Is Caesar anyone’s friend?” Xena countered.

Brutus lost his smile and held up his hand. “Xena, let’s not get into this, please. I was enjoying breakfast.”

Xena allowed her eyes to soften.  “You’re right, Brutus. Pax,” the warrior stood up to go and Brutus held up his hand again.

“Xena, you’re well known here.  Can you do something about this damned shadow of mine.  Gives me the creeps to have someone half a step away from plunging a dagger in my back and I’m unarmed.  I’m not here to hurt anyone,” Brutus complained.

“Sorry, Brutus,” Xena grinned, rising to her feet.  “Even Hercules gets an escort.”

“You don’t,” he grumbled.

“I’m female,” she grinned even wider.

“Why do I get the feeling that you’d be more of a danger to their, uh, feminine natures than I would?”

Xena felt a blush coming to her face and was considering throwing the Roman through the wall.  He grinned and then laughed.  “Nice bruise, warrior,” and he rose himself to take his dishes to the cleaning room.

Xena felt the blush complete itself and willed herself not to touch the bruise on her neck that she knew he was talking about.  Xena knew that it would be obvious to anyone seeing her that day how she had spent the night.  She found herself almost uttering a prayer that no one would figure out with whom she had spent the night with outside of the Amazons and her family. 

After another candlemark Gabrielle called a halt to the session.  She knew she had absorbed about all the information she could at that point.  Ephiny grinned as the elders left and pointed to a cot alongside one of the walls.

“Grab some rest, I’m going to find out what the delegates have been talking about and send you some food.  Seems my Queen missed breakfast this morning,” Ephiny teased.

Gabrielle smiled in return and rubbed her eyes, looking at the cot longingly.

“Go on, I’ll be back in half a candlemark, you can get some energy back before dressing for the ceremony.”

Gabrielle sank onto the cot with a sigh and was asleep instantly.

Xena suddenly felt tired.  When she was a Warlord she was accustomed to everyone around her being a threat and being threatened.  It came with the territory, as Brutus had said.  Trusting no one was the best advice anyone could give a Warlord.  Xena’s eyes narrowed in thought as she carried her dishes to the cleaning room.  She didn’t even notice the kitchen help thank her for carrying the dishes in. 

Xena remembered when she had trusted someone in those days.  She had ended up on a cross.  She especially remembered Caesar’s face and voice when he had ordered her legs broken and then left her to die.  It had taken years for her to trust anyone. 

Xena, still deep in her memories, walked across the common yard towards the bathing hut.  The first person she had ever really trusted after that was Gabrielle.  With a smile the warrior remembered how she had fought against that, too, and how she had fought against her feelings about the little bard.

“Xena!”

The warrior’s head came up at the voice and smiled when she saw Ephiny heading her way.  The Regent looked tired and hurried. 

“Glad I found you.  You were with Brutus, what did he ask?” Ephiny got right to the point.

“Basically, if I knew who the Queen was, who she was marrying and if I’d tell him,” Xena grinned.  “The other stuff was how terrific Gabrielle is and Caesar is his friend.”

Ephiny almost dropped her mouth open.  “He talked about Gabrielle and you let him live?”

“Must be getting soft,” Xena agreed with a smile. “Everyone is interested in the identity of the Queen, of course.  They’re also dying to know whom she is marrying.  Seems the delegates are all afraid it’s a political marriage and one of them might end up with more power than the others through marriage.”

Ephiny nodded.  “That’s what our escorts have been reporting.  We’ve caught two delegate members trying to give their escorts the slip and spy on the wedding hut.  Fortunately, they were caught and our Queen isn’t there right now.”

Xena noticed how they were both using the title and not the name of the Amazon Queen while in the open.  The warrior had the feeling that they would be doing that for the rest of the day.

Ephiny shook her head. “I’ll be glad when this part of it is over.  I hate having all these people here!” she growled.

“Especially the men?” Xena teased and Ephiny glared at her.

“What did you tell Brutus?”

“The truth.  I know who the Queen is and who she’s marrying, and that I wasn’t going to tell him.  I did tell him that it wasn’t a political marriage, it was to a female and no power was involved,” Xena answered, continuing along with Ephiny towards the bathing hut.

“Good, let’s hope they all figure that out soon enough. Go bathe and get dressed.  Stay close to the main huts and I’ll send for you when it’s time to get ready for the wedding ceremony and reception,” Ephiny started to move away.

“Ephiny, how in Hades are you going to keep the Queen’s identity a secret? She’s not exactly unknown to some of the delegates.”

“The wedding couple will both be in ceremonial clothing, masked and neither of them are going to say a word,” Ephiny grinned.

“The Queen not say a word? I want to see you pull that one off!”

Ephiny laughed and trotted away.

Xena found Hercules and Iolaus sparring with some of the Amazon warriors in the training yard and stopped to watch.  The warrior was pleased with the Amazons, they had actually worked up a sweat on the demi-god. Iolaus was breathing very hard and looked like he had been on the wrong end of several blows.

The smaller man spotted Xena and held up his hand to stop the session for himself.  With a warrior’s handshake to his sparring mates, he grinned and walked over to Xena, leaning against the fence, watching Hercules with her.

“Hey,” he said simply.

“Hey, how’s the Queen?”

“Got a headache, I think. She took mercy on me and let me out of that damned hut. We’re about to go clean up, it’s getting about time for the royal stuff.”

“Yup. You looked good out there,” she commented.

“Yeah, sitting on my tail, mostly,” he laughed.  “These warriors are good.”

“Yes, they are.  Let’s hope it stays peaceful today.”

“No sign of Ares, Caesar stayed home, might work out,” Iolaus grinned.

Xena spotted a runner signaling to her and quickly hugged the small man over the fence.  “Got to run, I think the Queen would like to see me.”

“See ya around the tables.”

Gabrielle became aware of the body next to her, lightly running a finger up her thigh and under her skirt.  The smell of leather was reassuring to the bard and she snuggled into the arm under her. 

A frown crossed the bard’s face just as a hand reached her sex.  Gabrielle opened her eyes.

“Ares!” without a thought she shoved the god right off the cot, dropping him on his tailbone next to the bed.  She quickly swung upright and, again without thinking, tackled the warrior, hitting him up each side of his head while he threw up his forearms to block her blows.  He finally grabbed her arms and threw her back onto the cot and stood up, holding up a warning hand to keep her sitting down.

“Hey, can’t blame a guy for trying!” he protested.

Gabrielle could feel that her face was an extreme shade of red.  “What do you want?!” she hissed, regretting that her staff was by the door, all the way across the room.

“Just a friendly discussion,” he smiled, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.  Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“What do you want all ready?”

“What would make you happy?” Ares asked, sitting down on the edge of the table.

“What?” Gabrielle looked puzzled.

“What would it take to make you leave Xena?”

“Oh gods, you have got to be kidding! When will you ever give up?” she demanded.

“Never and I have a long life ahead of me. Why don’t you give up? You know the darkness in her is mine and that she’ll eventually go back to it.”

“Never! Why don’t you just leave before Hercules adds some more bruises?” Gabrielle snapped.

“Careful, or I’ll add some more to yours,” he hissed.

“Try it!” the bard tensed her muscles for a spring, not intending on being surprised again.  “Artemis is probably really pissed at you right now.”

“She’s always pissed at me. I’m not giving up, you know,” Gabrielle blinked, staring at where he had been.

“Oh gods, why can’t that god get a life other than us?” she muttered.

Within minutes, Xena found herself in her mate’s arms, losing herself and her surroundings totally.  The two finally broke apart when Ephiny coughed to get their attention.

“Sorry, you two, but you need to get dressed,” Xena grinned and noticed her bard blushing.  “Your families are already dressed and, to keep everyone safe, both mothers and Lila are in masks and Amazon clothing.  No outsiders will know they aren’t Amazons.  Solan is with Hercules and Iolaus and no outsider knows who or where he comes from.”

“Thank you, Ephiny,” Xena said simply.

“Get dressed and I’ll send an escort for you both.  Remember, Hercules and Iolaus will do the speaking for both of you.  Too many people know the two of you throughout Greece, and several kingdoms outside of that.  It wouldn’t be hard to figure out who the small blond and a tall dark haired warrior getting married are if they hear your voices or if you wear your traditional weapons.”

Xena reluctantly stepped out of her mates’ arms and loosened her chakram and handed it to Ephiny and then her sword.

“Brutus knows I’m here and I’m sure several other delegates also recognized me, won’t they miss me and put things together?” Xena asked.

“I’m going to have one my tall warriors dressed in your armor and your weapons with a mask and cloak on.  Hopefully, they’ll figure it’s you. We’ll keep her away from most everyone, especially the delegates.”

Xena frowned at the sight of her weapons moving away from her, but sighed and began tugging at her armor. 

“Let me do that, my warrior,” Gabrielle grinned, and began the familiar task of helping Xena out of her leather armor.  She reached up and kissed the back of the warrior’s neck, and probably would have kissed more and longer if Ephiny hadn’t growled.

Gabrielle hurried, with a blush that only matched Xena’s.

“You two!” Ephiny complained with a smile. 

Xena hated royal functions.  It was one thing that she had liked about being a Warlord. She could do away with all the fluff stuff and get right to business when she wanted to.  Now, she felt trapped, and she was sure that Gabrielle probably felt the same.

They had been brought in from opposite sides of the yard by armed escorts, knelt before Ephiny at the altar, and had suffered through the speech required of the Regent.  Ephiny had spoiled everyone’s suspense, by stating that the wedding couple’s identity would not be revealed to the outside world.  Xena had resisted jumping to her feet instinctively at the rumbling of the crowd.  Ephiny had insisted on silence, stating that the protection of their Queen was more important than anything else.

To help relieve the situation, Ephiny had stated that the marriage was a love bonding and not a political one.  Knowing that most of the delegates and royalty in the crowd probably wouldn’t know a loving relationship if it bit them, she emphasized that this was a wedding and not a political battleground. 

Most of the grumbling settled down when it was announced that the wedding couple would not be exchanging lands or political/royal offices.  They were told, the Queen’s mate, who was already her Chosen Champion, was becoming her Consort.  Ephiny explained that this role had privilege, but no political power, in the Amazon nation.

By this point Xena was getting quite tired of kneeling.  Her hand reached out and found Gabrielle’s hand seeking hers as well.  She leaned her head over onto the bard’s for a moment in reassurance.  She knew Gabrielle couldn’t see her attempt to smile because of the mask but trusted that her mate could feel the love pouring from her.  The bard squeezed her hand in return.

Xena had been impressed with their ceremonial clothing.  The feather and leather masks effectively covered the entire face, even the eyes were difficult to see and the feathers continued over the head and down the back, hiding even the hair.

Xena had been concerned about her height and noticeable black hair.  She was easily recognized, especially since a large number of the outsiders had seen her before.  She was a little more reassured when she knew that the only thing really noticeable about her was her height.  Even her manner of walk wasn’t totally unusual among the nation of warrior women.

Ephiny then turned to the couple and raised her hands over their heads.  The Shamaness approached and walked around the couple, carrying a bowl of smoldering incense and spread the smoke over them.  Then she sprinkled several drops of spring water over them.  Then she disappeared back into the trees.

Ephiny motioned the two Kumbadas forward and Hercules stepped next to Xena and Iolaus next to Gabrielle.  Together the men reached out and grabbed the crowns off the altar and placed them on the heads of the wedding couple and then exchanged them three times before leaving them.  Then the two men helped the women to their feet.

Both Xena and Gabrielle drew their ceremonial swords and handed them to their Kumbadas.  Hercules and Iolaus held the swords up to Ephiny and then turned to the crowd and held them aloft.

“These sword represent the power of the warrior and the spirit of our tribe members.  Together this couple have expressed the desire to enter into a bonding,” Ephiny spoke ritually.

Hercules stepped in front of Xena and knelt before Gabrielle, holding the sword aloft over his head in his hands and bowed his head.

“It is the wish of your Champion, Queen of the Amazons, to be wed to you and become your Consort.  She pledges her life, her heart, her soul and her love to you.  To symbolize this, she offers you her sword,” he spoke loudly.

The Queen leaned forward and took the sword from his hands and held it aloft, over her head.

“The Queen accepts this token of love, this pledge of loyalty, honor and trust,” Iolaus spoke and Gabrielle sheathed the sword at her own belt.  Hercules stood and moved back beside Xena. 

Iolaus stepped in front of Xena and repeated Hercules’ movement.  “Healer, Shaman and warrior, it is the wish of the Queen of the Amazons to become your mate and to take you as Consort.  She pledges her life, her heart, her soul and her love to you.  To symbolize this, she offers you her sword,” he also spoke loudly.

Xena leaned forward, took the sword from his hands, and held it aloft, over her head.

“The Consort accepts this token of love, this pledge of loyalty, honor and trust,” Hercules spoke and Xena sheathed the sword at her own belt.  Iolaus stood and moved back beside Gabrielle.

Xena again was impressed with Ephiny’s planning.  By using the titles of ‘healer’ and ‘shaman’ before her traditional one of ‘warrior,’ the Regent was hoping that it would be more difficult for the outsiders to identify the Warrior Princess.  Not many knew her roles in life as healer and shaman.

Xena found herself holding her breath for a moment when Ephiny invoked and sacrificed to the gods, wondering if they were going to make a second appearance.  She finally began breathing when it was apparent that they weren’t.  Gabrielle grabbed and squeezed the warrior’s hand again.  Xena grinned under the mask, knowing the bard was thinking the same thing.  The night before had been exciting enough with a large number of the Gods and Goddesses showing up to personally bless the marriage of the bard and warrior.  And then Ares had shown up later to protest the bonding.

Xena reflected that not many of them had slept much.

As Ephiny chanted her prayers Xena found her thoughts drifting to the night before.  Ares getting pounded into the trees by Hercules, Solan admitting he knew that Xena was his mother, and then the bliss of her lover’s arms.  It had been quite a night.

Finally the prayers were over and the couple held up their arms to show their bonding bracelets to the crowd.

“Last night, this couple was joined in a bonding ceremony of the Amazons and were blessed by the gods. Let it be known, that our Queen has taken a Consort.”

The Amazons let out a shout of celebration and the other members of the crowd began clapping.  Hercules and Iolaus escorted the two women to the wedding table, leading them around it three times and then sat on either side of the couple.  Solan had looked to Cyrene for an explanation of the table thing but she merely shrugged.

“Another three thing,” he whispered to himself.

For the next candlemark the couple shook hands with each delegate and their party members, accepting their congratulations.  Hercules and Iolaus voicing their acceptance.

Finally everyone was allowed to begin eating.  Then came the toasting and it seemed to the wedding couple that every single person, especially the delegates, had to get a toast in and didn’t want to be outdone by the others. 

Both Xena and Gabrielle were actually grateful after awhile for the masks, it hid their boredom, frustration, and finally their weariness.

After the toasting and the meal the wedding party was delighted when the Amazon drummers and singers took up the pace and a large number of Amazons leaped into the center of the yard and began dancing and leaping about.  Traditional Greek dances were also included and quite a number of the delegates joined in the celebration.  Then the area cleared and the wedding couple stood up, escorted by their Kumbada to the dance area.  The drummers took up a beat that was akin to a heartbeat and which both women found very erotic and inticing.  The Kumbada bowed and moved away from the couple as they began their courtship dance.

Xena wasn’t much for public dancing but she knew her little bard delighted in it.  The warrior found this dance different.  She wasn’t sure if it was wine she had been drinking, the sensual beat or the masks hiding their identities and lending an air of anonymity, but she was enjoying the dance.  Gabrielle was obviously enjoying it as well and Xena found herself totally flushed with a heat that began in her loins and quickly traveled throughout her body as the Queen moved in close to her mate, bodies almost touching and then moved away, moving to the beat.  Xena almost groaned in response.      

Xena found her body responding and matching Gabrielle’s moves until they moved as one, each dancing and teasing, drawing the other into the other’s space and world.  Gabrielle spun around and fell back, letting her lover’s arms wrap around her, catching her and protecting her.  Their bodies continued moving with the beat and Xena suddenly wished they didn’t have the masks on, she wanted to nuzzle Gabrielle’s reddish blond hair and nibble at her neck very badly right then.  By the way Gabrielle’s head arched back into her lover’s breasts, the warrior knew the Queen was wishing the same thing.  So did everyone else.

Xena resisted the urge to move her hands in either direction over the bard’s body but it was a challenge.  Then Gabrielle grabbed one of her hands and spun out of the warrior’s arms and then back into them, holding her lover close as the drums slowed to a stop.  The two women held each other for what seemed an eternity, each looking deep in the other’s eyes through the masks.

Cheers, howls and whistles from the Amazons and guests brought the couple back to reality and they bowed to everyone, acknowledging the end of the dance.

The crowd began filling the dance area again as the couple started moving back towards the feast table.  Several delegates and Amazons stopping them along the way to congratulate them again and wish them the best.  Xena grinned under the mask, somehow Gabrielle hadn’t spoken a word yet.

Xena was surprised when Gabrielle, still holding her hand, stopped before they reached the table.  Xena turned and suddenly wished she could see the bard’s face.  The smaller woman was standing near the table and Xena couldn’t see Gabrielle’s eyes because of the mask.  She was about to break her silence when Gabrielle crumbled to the ground.

Brutus, standing very near the couple, started to rush and bend over the fallen woman when a voice stopped him.

“Touch her and die,” the taller of the wedding couple threatened.

“Everyone stand still or die where you stand!” a shout went up over the beginning commotion.

Xena, bending next to Gabrielle, looked up and saw Ephiny standing on the feast table, sword in hand.  Xena glanced around and saw the area ringed with Amazon archers, each with arrow ready.

“Consort, your Queen to the healer’s hut!” Ephiny ordered as Xena gathered the small woman in her arms.  She quickly moved through the parting crowd with Hercules and Iolaus following, swords drawn.

Once in the healer’s hut Xena quickly tore her mask off and removed Gabrielle’s.  She hissed when she saw the bard’s face. 

Gabrielle was covered in sweat but was deadly pale and cool to the touch.  Xena’s face showed her terror as the healer entered the hut, followed by Ephiny.  Together the healer and warrior examined the unconscious Queen while the Regent looked on, a look of concern and fury on her face.

Gabrielle’s eyes fluttered open but seemed unfocused. “Xena?”

“I’m here, Gabrielle. Can you tell us what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. Everything started spinning and then went black. Everything’s fuzzy.” Gabrielle closed her eyes again.

“Gabrielle! Stay with me!” Xena begged, rubbing the bard’s hand.

Gabrielle opened her eyes again but was having trouble keeping them open.

The healer reached out and touched the warrior and motioned for Ephiny to move closer.  She held up the bard’s hand so they could both see a slight scratch across the back of the bard’s hand, red streaks beginning up the woman’s arm.

“Poison.” she announced simply.

“What kind? Can you tell?” Xena asked, turning back to find Gabrielle had closed her eyes again.

“No, not yet. Think, both of you, who had contact with her?”

“Oh Tartarus!” Ephiny cursed, “Everyone! They all shook your hands!”

“Ephiny, get back there and have everyone searched, there must be a needle in a glove or something.”

“Right. They won’t be happy and this might just cause a war but I’m going to find that son of a bacchae!” Ephiny was out the door in a flash.  Xena caught a glimpse of Hercules, Iolaus and several Amazon warriors standing outside the hut, weapons drawn.

The warrior wasn’t surprised when both families came barging into the hut.  Hercules closed the door behind them.

“Xena?” Hecuba pleaded as she knelt beside her daughter.

“We don’t know. We think she was poisoned.”

“No,” the mother whispered, stroking the bard’s forehead.

“Mom?” Gabrielle whispered and managed to open her eyes.

“I’m here, so is Lila.” Hecuba tried to smile.

“Xena,” Gabrielle attempted to sit up but the warrior held her back down.

“I’m here, my love.”

“Is the healer here?” Gabrielle whispered, trying to keep her eyes open.

“Yes,” the warrior answered.

“It’s beginning to hurt. It feels like my veins are on fire, spreading to every muscle.  The stomach is starting to hurt too,” the bard described.  Xena looked to the healer who shook her head.

“I don’t know yet.  We need to know what they used or if they have the antidote with them.”

Xena’s eyes narrowed.  “Hercules!” she called.

The demi-god opened the door.  “Find out if Ephiny has found anything.  Poison!”

He was gone without a word.

Xena cried out as Gabrielle’s body suddenly arched, pain racking her face.  Her fists grabbed the blanket under her and she whimpered with pain, biting down hard on her lip.  After a moment it passed and she collapsed back onto the cot.

“Warrior, something that attacks the nerves and muscles. I don’t have an antidote here.  You’re looking for something foreign to this region,” the healer told Xena.

“It’ll take time for everyone to be searched.  Hecuba, stay with her.  I’m going to see if I can find some answers.” Xena knew she didn’t have to instruct the mother to stay by her daughter.  Hecuba’s jaw took on that familiar stubbornness that Xena knew from her mate and the woman nodded. 

“Xena, your mask, your identity.” the healer pointed out.

Xena stopped and thought for a moment.  “Damn! As Xena I could probably terrify some answers out of someone but that might lead to more danger later.”

“The danger is now, Xena.” Hecuba said softly.

“Yes,” Xena agreed and stepped out of the hut without her mask on and trotted to the reception area.  On the way she spotted her double and quickly grabbed the Amazon.  “My weapons,” she instructed and the woman quickly surrendered them to the tall warrior.

Xena began strapping her sword on as she continued towards the delegates, surrounded by Amazons and being methodically searched by them before being allowed to return to the shade of the trees.

Xena ran up and joined Ephiny who took in Xena’s weapons and lack of mask quickly and then nodded in understanding.

Xena jumped up on the feast table and heard several gasps of recognition as the crowd took in her wedding clothes and her identity.

“Most of you know me. For those who haven’t seen me before, I’m Xena and I’m really pissed off.”  Everyone went quiet.  “My mate has been poisoned and I want the antidote and I want it now. My mate is also the Queen of the Amazons, so you also have them to deal with.  If you give up the antidote or the name of the poison now, you’ll have three hours head start before they come after you.  If not, then not even the gods will save you from me or them.” she said simply and waited.

Both she and Ephiny watched the crowd shift uneasily, each looking at each other but not wanting to meet each other’s eyes.  Xena’s eyes narrowed.  “Ephiny, start with the ones who would have the most to gain by a war with the Amazons and work from there.  Did anyone leave the area or the territory just after the wedding?”

“I’ll find out.” Ephiny promised and moved away.  Hercules caught up with Xena as she jumped down from the table. 

“So far nothing.” he said simply.

“How good are they searching?” Xena asked, watching the delegates try to move away from her.

Hercules grinned a grim smile. “Not even a gem smuggler could get past them.”

A runner approached the warrior and went to one knee.  “Consort, Regent Ephiny says that four members of the Roman party left immediately after the receiving.”

“Brutus!” Xena yelled loudly and everyone and everything went quiet.  The crowd parted and left the Roman and three of his men standing in the center of the yard.

Brutus raised his chin in defiance as the warrior and Hercules approached.  Xena saw Ephiny running from another direction towards them.  With a growl she lifted the Roman off his feet.

“What did you use?” she demanded.

“Not my doing, warrior!” he said through gritted teeth.

“Brutus, four of your men are on the run and the Queen is poisoned, what am I supposed to think?” the warrior dropped him and knocked his feet out from under him.  His three men started to move forward in a protective stance when they found several Amazon warriors had swords at their throats.  The men held still.

“Tell me, damnit!”

“I didn’t do it!” he insisted.

“Hercules, bring him! Amazons, hold them!” the Consort instructed and began moving quickly towards the Healer’s hut. 

Inside the hut Xena found her armor on a chair and Hecuba in a chair next to the bard.  The healer was mixing herbs in a mortar bowl.  She shook her head discouragingly.

Hercules dragged a reluctant Brutus through the door with Ephiny right behind them.  The Roman went pale when he saw the Queen of the Amazons on the cot, thrashing and sweating in pain. 

“Gabrielle?” he whispered.

“Yes,” Xena answered. “Now what poison did you use?”

“Xena, I swear to all the gods, I had nothing to do with this!” Hercules grabbed him by the collar and lifted the Roman off his feet again.  “You know I would never harm Gabrielle!”

“You didn’t know it was her when she was poisoned!” Xena shouted back.

“I do now and I still swear that I didn’t do it!”

“Who are the men that ran?” Xena demanded.

“They were personally assigned to me by Caesar.”

Xena’s eyes narrowed and began flashing.  “Caesar?”

“Yes, Xena, I swear I didn’t know!”

“Put him down, Hercules.” the demi-god obeyed, still holding onto the Roman’s collar.  “Do you have any idea what I am going to do to you if Gabrielle dies?” Xena whispered, coming in close to him.

“Xena, I didn’t know and I didn’t have a hand in this.” he pleaded.

“Which direction would they go?” she demanded.

“Not towards Rome. Caesar said something about Egypt to one of them.” Brutus answered.

“If you’re lying to me or if you’re wrong, I’ll turn you over to the Amazons.  Gabrielle is their Queen, do you think they’ll be gentle with you?” Xena promised.

“Xena, let me ride with you.  I can approach them and get the antidote or the name of the poison before you could.”

“No, you’ll slip away the first chance you get.” Xena shook her head and removed her tunic, turning her back to the Roman and grabbing her leather shift.  She quickly began putting on her familiar armor.

“No, I swear I won’t. I want to save Gabrielle, you know I do.”

“You’re also a Roman and Rome comes first.  Caesar has decided that the Queen of the Amazons would be a better ally if she’s dead.  You serve Caesar.”

“I serve Rome first and I don’t agree with this move. Let me help!”

“Xena, we must move!” Ephiny insisted.

“All right, but no weapons.”

Xena quickly went over to her mate’s side and fought back tears as the bard’s body once again arched in unbearable pain.  When she collapsed again on the cot the healer shook her head. 

“These herbs may slow it down but you must hurry, her body is being torn apart. She’s all ready lost all of her stomach contents and she can’t take much more of the pain.”

“Hecuba, I’ll most as fast as I can!” Xena promised, looking in the tear filled eyes of the mother and Lila.

“I know, Xena. I’ll pray.”