Daughter of the Warrior Queen
PROLOGUE
Sorry it's short! I promise, the chaps will get longer as the story progresses. I am going to dedicate each chapter to one of the actors of Xena and those who answer my questions and Xena riddles correctly. I'll also include hint questions, which have the same answer as the big question itself. If you think you know the answer, PM me and I'll let you know if you're right. If you are, I'll congratulate you and dedicate a chapter to you.
First question: who is the mother of my character? (hint question: who is the Warrior Queen?) This one is tricky, and only those who are really, really Xena-smart will know it.
The sun beat down on the rolling fields of Thessaly as the woman leaned against the stone of the Mountains. A chakram rested in her lap, the golden light reflecting off the steel surface. The ring was inlaid with green gems that cast a green light on the woman's slightly tan face. The day was bright, but, to her, it was dark.
--
"Come one, Argo," Xena tugged on the reins of the golden mare. She neighed softly and pulled on the reins herself. Xena smiled and stopped. "Gabrielle, Joxer! We'll stop here for a rest." Gabrielle, grateful to get off her feet for a while, sat down and leaned against a tree.
"You sure, Xena?" Joxer patted his stomach. "'Cause you know, I could go on all day." Xena shook her head as she untied the strap that held Eve's carrier to her back.
"Yes, I'm sure," She answered, sitting on a rock and undoing the straps of her leather dress and armor. "Besides, it's Eve's feeding time." Joxer collapsed on to a soft patch of grass and was asleep in minutes. So much for going on all day, Xena thought as her daughter suckled greedily. A twig breaking caught her ear.
"Why, Xena," A voice said next to her ear. "What are you doing here?" A fist shot up, whacking the person in the face. Still holding Eve, Xena stood and whipped around.
"Ares!" She yelled.
"You rang?" Ares said, his hand covering his bruised nose. His eyes drifted down to her chest, and there they remained.
"What are you doing here?" Xena asked, oblivious in her rage.
"Enjoying the view," Ares answered. Xena gasped and immediately pulled up and re-did her dress and armor. Eve started crying at being denied her nutrients. Xena bounced her in her arms.
"Shhhh, shhhhh," She cooed. "Shhhhh, sweetheart." Ares smiled.
"You would be a great mother," He said. "To my child." Xena snorted in disgust.
"Didn't we already talk about this?" She snarled. "I'm not bearing any child of yours!" Ares shook his handsome head, the cross-earing shaking.
"I'm disappointed, Xena," He said. "I thought you wanted to help people." Gabrielle, waking up, leaped to her feet, her Sai knives out of her boots. She dashed forward, but Xena held out an arm to stop her.
"Don't, Gabrielle," She warned the blond. Gabrielle glared for a moment at Xena before turning back to Ares.
"What do you want, Ares?" She snarled. Ares sucked his teeth in disappointment.
"Now, Gabrielle," He said. "Must I always want something? Can I not just visit you two...or four?" Joxer snored loudly, still asleep, and Eve was crying, pawing at her mother. Xena bounced the baby in her arms, shushing her.
"Get out of here, Ares," She said. Ares took a step toward her.
"Now, Xena," He whined. In a flash, Xena had her chakram out and ready.
"I had three hours of sleep last night," She said, her blue eyes burning. "And you're putting me in a bad mood. Now back off!" She threw the chakram, but Ares disappeared with a sad sigh before it hit him. The weapon bounced off a tree before shooting back in to Xena's hand.
"Wake up Joxer," Xena instructed Gabrielle. "Ready your horse. We're leaving."
--
The mouth of the cavern was huge, with five openings around it, and each opening led to a tunnel, which, in turn, grew into a complicated series of tunnels. Some led to caverns used for storage or for barracks. Some led to more tunnels. This was her keep. Fifty men, twenty women. All under her command. None could stand in her way. Seven villages, looted and now under her control. A stocky, red-haired woman stood beside her.
"Tell me, Athanasia, what you think of our success," The woman looked down at her friend. She was tall, taller than some of her men.
"Our success? Moiro, it is your success," Athanasia responded. "I have only followed you, given you my service when you needed it." Moiro laughed.
"You are much more than that," She said. "You are a good friend." A gust of wind burst across the Thessalian fields, and Moiro's long blond hair whipped across her face.
"I saw a beautiful village today," Athanasia said. "It lay in valley, between two awesome mountains. Flowers grew in every possible place. It is ripe for the looting." Moiro smiled.
"Ready the men and women," She said. "We ride." Athanasia shared her smile. That village would go down in fire and blood today. Her Commander would see to that