Chapter 10
Zoe's POV
Mama stood and announced that Reina had won, Larisa looked mad, but she accepted it, at least she pretended to, inside she was angry, she felt like it was everyone else's fault but hers. I hope she doesn't do something stupid. Mama keeps giving her all these chances, but she keeps using them up, everyone knows that once her review is held, everything she does from the time of the Dog bite, to that day will be added up, either in her favor or not in her favor, basically she's on probation, and house arrest I guess. Mama started adding a few small chores here and there so she could prove herself, and she wouldn't get so bored and hurt people, but I don't think it's working. She gives me a really bad feeling, I can't quite put my finger on it. After the ceremony we walked to dinner I was getting tired and I wasn't really hungry but I knew I had to eat. But first I pulled Mommy aside because I needed to tell one of them about Larisa, but Mama was busy being Queen.
"Mommy, I got to talk to you…."
"What is it Little one."
"I have a bad feeling about Larisa….She blames other for her mistakes not even just a little but a lot, she's angry and can't see it's her own actions that put her in this situation, and she really only cares about herself…I mean she doesn't go out of her way to be mean and cruel but she doesn't care enough about other people to stop herself from being mean and cruel and she doesn't actually care all that much if she is, and if she hurts someone else by being mean and cruel, oh well…."
Xena's POV
"Alright little one, I'll take care of it. Now let's go eat." I said quietly and softly although inside I was terrified. A woman like that could easily lash out at those around her but partially the people she blamed, which could be Gabrielle, Reina, Eris or even Zoe. Zoe was the one that set things in motion, and Gabrielle is the one that made the hard choices, I could see her blaming them, and lashing out. I really didn't want things to go that way.
"I have to use the latrine first…." I stood where I was while Zoe went to relieve herself. Inside I was terrified, thinking of all the horrible things that could happen, when Gabrielle came back, to see where we went. I pointed to the Latrine and then told her everything that Zoe told me, her eyes told me she realized the danger. And I know she knows what is at stake.
"I am giving her every chance to redeem herself Xena…I've even given her a list of projects around the village she can help with during her confinement so she can get out of her hut more a little more and feel like she's contributing….and yet….."
"I know…."
Zoe's POV
After I used the Latrine and washed up, I sat at the table and ate my stew, I felt better for sharing, the stew as always tasted, different than the stew back home, but still kind of good. I did like it. Even If it was a little bland. But I knew spices were like mega expensive here, so I didn't bother asking or even hoping for them. I also knew tomatoes and a lot of my favorite foods either didn't grow in this part of the world, or wasn't invented yet. Like Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Popped Sweet Potato chips, Pop rocks, Twizzlers, Lucky Charms, and Cool Ranch Doritos. I could actually get them to make me Popped Sweet Potato chips, but the rest was a lost cause. Huh, that's an idea. I mean, the cook, at the inn did teach me how to make them.
"What are you thinking about Little one?" Mommy asked.
"A recipe for Sweet potatoes, it would go well with the sandwiches." I said scheming in my head. They wouldn't stay fresh very long, and we couldn't waste the potatoes so we couldn't do it very often, no matter how big a hit they were. Eventually I felt my eyes getting heavy.
Gabrielle's POV
"Xena…." I said with a chuckle pointing to Zoe. Xena, Ephiny, Eponin and Lila all looked.
Xena smiled, then said. "Well, its been a long day….and she did manage to finish her meal. I'm done myself, perhaps, I should get her to bed." Zoe put her head on Xena's shoulder. "Come on Little one, it's time for bed."
'I'm already in bed…." She mumbled, just loud enough for the table to hear, We all chuckled and the moment Xena left we burst out laughing. When we calmed down I told them about my conversation with Xena, and Xena's conversation with Zoe, about Larisa.
"I'm sad to say it doesn't surprise me…..and we can't do anything on the feeling of a child, but we can take precautions."
Xena's POV
I carried Zoe back to the hut, changed her into her sleep shift and tucked her into bed, She turned onto her Belly immediately, and I heard her half asleep, whining mumble "Stay Mommy, sing….."
I sat next to her and sang as I rubbed circles on her back. Soon she was completely asleep. And my thoughts turned back to Larisa and whatever trouble she was going to cause.
Gabrielle's POV
Eponin and Ephiny and I discussed Larisa informally, technically speaking there wasn't much we could do, unless she did something truly aggressive or dangerous because everything was being counted toward her review good and bad. So until that review she was in a type of midpoint, more at a crossroads only she could decide what direction she went in. We all knew chances are this wouldn't end well, but we all were secretly hoping for the best possible outcome for Larisa to swallow her pride and act like a responsible adult for once instead of how she usually acts. She has two weeks to prove she isn't a pompous ass with a need to control everything who has no concern for anyone but herself. Which would be difficult because that is exactly what she is. I really can't believe no one saw it until recently. When I return to our hut, Xena is sharpening her sword, this never bodes well.
"Xena I know something is wrong, is it What Zoe told you?" She nodded.
"I can't lose her, Gabrielle….you and her, you're my heart I can't live without either one of you….."
"And you won't have to, not for a long time….Eponin has arranged for Royal guards, these guards will remain hidden unless they're needed, they'll protect her…."
"Larisa may be bested by Reina, but she's underhanded, and she fights dirty when she can get away with it, she couldn't today, but when she goes after Zoe she will stop at nothing, she won't let the Amazon code of honor stop her, it might have in the past, but it won't anymore, before when she had her status she cared enough about maintaining her secret to follow it just enough that people wouldn't get suspicious, but she doesn't have to worry about that now."
"I thought of that, when she leaves the hut she'll get two of her own, when she's here, two will be added, the two that guard me at night, like mine hers will be from the elite. But hers will also have worked with Larisa and will knows what to expect." She nodded the elite, the name for the extremely adaptable pool of warriors who could do absolutely anything needed of them, they usually had day to day jobs, when not needed for something specific, most Amazon warriors were never at their level, I was but only Xena knew that, because she was the one who made sure I was. After I became an Amazon she made sure of it.
"I should guard her myself."
"I'd expect nothing less." Is all I say, true be told. I knew at some point she'd either offer or just do It and Larisa no matter how underhanded or skilled she is, would ever be a match for her, no mortal is.
Zoe's POV
I woke up Mama like I usually do. And she started tickling me, hard and fast and I had trouble breathing. Mommy was in the doorway.
"Can anyone join in?" Mommy said.
"Mommy…..stop her….please….save me…." Mama then stopped, grabbed me, pulled me into her lap, and gave me a big hug. "Mama why do you always tickle me?"
"Why do you always jump on my belly, to wake me up?"
"Don't know….just do, I like it. Do want me to stop?"
"No." She hugged me tighter. "Do you want me too?"
I thought about it. "No….well I do sometimes when you're tickling me, but I think I'd miss it if you stopped."
"I'd miss it too sweet girl…."
"Little one, it's time to get washed and dressed…..now it's getting colder, So I put some warmer clothes in your room for you to wear."
"Where'd you get 'em?"
"We measured you for the clothes you wore to the ceremony remember….the tailor just made the rest for you to wear."
"It's not that cold." And it wasn't, by this time, less than a month until the Winter Solstice it would freezing cold in Connecticut, there might even be snow, and there would be some black ice. It wasn't that cold here yet, it was more like mid-October weather, then late November, at least I think it would be late November, Winter Solstice in my time was December 21st, if it's three weeks away, that one make it late November or early December, but they have different months here, and they don't line up, and it's all based on the moon, not on a planned out schedule.
"Its cold enough that you need warmer clothes…." Mama said as she placed me down on the floor, and gave me a swat that wasn't hard but hard enough to sting slightly "Now, go."
I got dressed and we went to breakfast, then I went to school Marilee was there and this time she was teaching us math again, It's so hard for me to figure out Greek numbers, I'm getting better, but I still rather do it in my head. Marilee and I have been getting along a lot better since I apologized and she's not so bad. She was just too inexperienced to be thrown in the deep end, and I was wrong to mess with her.
"Zoe, you're getting better, most of these are right." She pointed to one problem I had written out. "But this one is wrong now I know you know the answer, so try writing it again, okay?"
I nodded. "Yes, Teacher."
It was customary in Amazon culture to call people by their titles in certain situations, Queen, Regent, Weapons Master, teacher. It's not always, a lot of Amazons have don't have titles like that, unless the person is really old, you can get away with Yes, Warrior, or Yes Sister, as a basic reply, if the person is older and authority over you, Yes Mother, and Yes sister is the equivalent of Yes, Ma'am, unless you're talking to an elder, than its Yes, Elder, but even with the elders, Yes Mother would work. After our morning classes we had lunch, Mama wasn't there, neither was Mommy, so I sat with my friends, then we had staff training. Most Amazons start out with a staff, and then pick another weapon, like a sword, of the Chobos, but it's made sure that all Amazons know the staff, and Archery. I'm already an Amazing archer, and Pretty good with a staff. Amazons have to be at least 12, before they learn another weapon besides the staff, and the bow and arrow, they start you on those as soon as you're big and strong enough to control the arrows properly. Diana had special arrows for me. The staff training was done by a 16 season old named Candace. I think everyone was a bit surprised when I beat her. Of course I could have beat her without my staff, Diana taught me every martial art in existence in 2013 from Karate and Krav Maga, to plain old street fighting. First I dodged a few basic moves on her part, then I countered one, using her strength against her causing her to go down but she was up a minute later, then I countered another one causing her to stumble, which allowed me to use my staff to hit her instep, then I swept her legs out from under her, half a candle mark later. She had landed on her back, or butt 12 times, and me only once. But had still been friendly, I hadn't brought my A game, because this wasn't a life or death situation, and because honestly I don't think she could take it. I brought my A game with Aunt Eponin that time, and if I ever sparred with Mama or Mommy I'm sure I would that then. I always did with Diana. But I don't want to hurt Candace. She seems nice enough a little patronizing. That's the word right that's what Aunt Eponin called it, that time, but I honestly don't think Candace means anything by it, and it's not as if I'm not putting her in her place. After awhile she kicked it up a notch, She hit my eye and it was starting to swell, and she split my lip, She also had me in a hold, and was breathing down my neck, so I used my staff to hit her instep, then to hit her solar plexus which is a bundle of nerves in the abdomen she was on the floor having trouble breathing within seconds.
"Candace are you okay, I'm So sorry….."
"Don't be, Little One. She had been beaten and she took a cheap shot at you, you did what you had to do to neutralize the threat in the most effective manner. You should be proud." It was Mommy, She came out of nowhere and her hand was on my shoulder.
"I'm still sorry, She got hurt Mommy, and I'm sorry I did the hurting, even if she made me do it, where'd you come from anyway?"
"Your lip is bleeding and you're going to get a black eye. They both need to be treated immediately, Let me take care of them, Eponin can you take care of Candice she's most likely just has the wind knocked out of her, she should be fine in a few minutes, but if she's not, take her to healer just in case."
"Of course." Aunt Eponin said. "I will also be having a conversation with her mother I gave her the responsibility of teaching the younger girls thinking she was ready apparently she wasn't, if she was, she wouldn't have reacted that way. Now some of the fault was mine, thinking she was mature enough to handle the responsibility, but most of it is hers for thinking that was an appropriate response to Zoe's abilities.
After that Mommy walked me back to the hut and washed my face, and treated my eye with some stuff and my split lip. Then when I stood she gave me three slightly stinging swats to my bottom before I could protect myself I started to rub the sting away "Ow! What did you do that for?"
"I know you inherited my stubborn pride, but you're still little and shouldn't have let her attack you like that, Aunt Eponin was on the other side of the field you were in, she may not have been close enough to see, but she was close enough to hear, you should have called for her, I am proud of you for neutralizing the treat without truly hurting her, but it shouldn't have come to that in the first place."
I raised an eyebrow like she would have. "You wouldn't have called her."
"I would have beaten her senseless, And my Mommy would have given me much worse than those three light swats, She would have lit my little backside on fire with her wooden spoon. I just gave you a gentle reminder, now we have the afternoon free you want to do something?"
"Can we make a kite?"
"Of course, I saw a few when I was in Chin, I may the only person here who knows how to make one."
"Cool."
"Are you cold?"
"No, Cool, is an expression, of…I'm not exactly sure of what people just say it."
"well, try not to say here, people will get confused."
Xena's POV
I enjoyed my time with Zoe this afternoon. Building a kite was fun, we both had fun. I barely thought about Larisa, given her threat to our child and possibly to Gabrielle that was a rare treat to be to distracted and wrapped up in the joy of what I was doing to not think of the threat. I still was vigilant of course, and I did think of her, but not all the time, not every second.
Zoe's POV
I really like my new kite, I can't believe I didn't get to fly it, but the fact that Mommy spent all day making it with me, that was the real gift, speaking of gifts. It's almost solstice and I've been working on presents. But they're a secret, I made them, we're having dinner at our hut with our family. Not as the Queen and her champion, but as Gabrielle and Xena, and Zoe.
"Morning Mama." I say
"Morning, Sweet girl…." Then she started tickling me. and I start laughing. A few hours later, I notice the people following me, I can't believe I never noticed them before, but thinking back they've been there about a week. It's getting colder. I think the cold is getting to my head and making me not think clearly. Either that or Candice hit me harder than I thought because they were there that day. My black eye and split lip is gone. But people are still there. I think they're there 'cause of Larisa. But no one will say anything. So neither do I. I can play that game too, but mostly if they didn't tell me for a reason I got to think it was a pretty good one. They didn't want to worry me, or scare me or something. Seems like a good reason to me. I don't want to worry them, by making them think I'm scared. I figure they got it covered.
Gabrielle's POV
Today's the Review. Larisa's is released from her confinement as I have no legal grounds to keep her. As much as I would like to, She requested a duty assignment as a hunter. I granted it. Again I have no legal grounds to deny her request. Since the fight she's been a model citizen. My daughter having a feeling is not admissible as much as I'd like to count it against her I can't. She thanks me, respectfully bows and salutes I return the gesture and she leaves. I am still terrified she is going to try something. There's little doubt in my mind she's going to try something but I don't know where or when and I have no proof. I cannot treat her unfairly. Even if my daughter isn't the only one with a really bad feeling.
Zoe's POV
Winter Solstice is fast approaching, it is getting real close, and I am working real hard on the presents, whatever I can't do on my own, I'm getting help from Mommy, or Mama. I think they're really surprised at my skills. I think Mommy especially is surprised that I too have many skills. I wish I could send a present to Grandma, but I can't. Messengers can't travel in the really cold, cold weather. I never though I'd appreciate the U.S. Postal service. Well, I guess they could but Mama, won't hire them, in the really cold weather. I already made gifts for Mama, Mommy, Aunt Ephiny, Xenon, I have a gift for Aunt Lila, and I'm making a gift for Aunt Eponin, and Aphrodite and Artemis. I know I don't have to make one for Aphrodite but she's the one who insisted I be born, and well Artemis I have made a gift for Diana every year I can remember so it just seems right. I already made small things for Callie, Alisha, and Taryn. Origami animals out of scrap Parchment, I did the same for Xenon.
Gabrielle's POV:
It is Winter Solstice as Queen I have to preside over the ceremony, for most of the day, there will be music, and gifts, until sundown I will be the Queen. At Sundown I will get to be Gabrielle again, when Xena and I will have a small get together in our hut with family and friends. I watch Zoe give her friends gives, she had crafted moving animals out of parchment for Taryn, Callie, Alisha, and even Xenon. A Butterfly for Alisha, an frog Callie, a shark Taryn, and a centaur Xenon. I'm not sure how she did it. But they all look sturdy enough and they are to be treasured. They each only move slightly, the butterfly flaps its wings, the frog hops, the shark swims, and the centaur gallops. They all looked happy, with their presents, but honestly I think Xenon looked the happiest.
Zoe's POV
"Thank You, Zoe." Xenon said.
"Your welcome, it's not as big deal, I learned a long time ago how to hold parchment into things…..and It was just scrap parchment it wasn't good for anything else…."
"It still meant a lot…." He said.
"I have a second gift, but you can't show your mom, because I made the exact same one for her, and I'm give it to her tonight." I handed him an 8x10, ink and charcoal on charcoal of Phantes. "It's of your dad…..please give your word you won't say anything until I give her, her copy."
"You have my word, how did you…."
"I saw it in my mind's eye, I figured you both deserved it, and it was in my power to give it to you, you're like my brother Xenon, or at least the closet thing I have. I have a big brother Solan but he's on the other side, you can be his stand in if you want, not his replacement, I never met him, but no one can replace him, but you can stand in for him if you want, on this side, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind, I can be Solan's stand in….I would be honored." He smiled. I would be proud to act as your big brother, it's a position I will take very seriously." I looked at him strangely bit nodded. Whatever that means.
Xena's POV
Xenon came up to me, he smiled. "Zoe, told me she thinks of me as her brother, I want you to know I take that position very seriously, I will protect her, if I need to."
"You don't have to, Xenon, I'd rather you be a little boy as long as you can, and so would your mother…."
"It still means a lot to me that she thinks of me that way."
"I'm sure it does."
"She made me a very nice present." He showed me, a small parchment centaur that moved and galloped. "Very nice…." I turned to Ephiny. "What do you think about this?"
"I'm honored that she thinks of my son as her brother….though I'm not sure she knows what it means, in centaur culture….but that's okay, I'm alright with that."
Gabrielle's POV
The Queen part of my job is over, and now I'm plain old Gabrielle again. I am celebrating with friends and family. With Xena, my dearest friend, and our daughter, with Eponin, who is Xena's cousin , with Ephiny who is my regent, with my sister, Lila, with Taryn who is Eponin's ward. I cannot believe we have only known our daughter for three full moons it feels like we have known her for her entire life, for her entire 8 full seasons. I don't think Zoe realizes that there are gifts for her, she seems too wrapped up in the gifts she's made for others. I hear Ephiny talking with Zoe.
"Xenon was truly touched by the centaur you gave him, and what you said to him Zoe…."
"I meant what I said….but I don't see why what I made was so special…."
"Which makes it much more special…."
"I made you something too." She hands her a small package wrapped in a cloth. Ephiny unwraps and gasps I know what it is and search for the bittersweet look on her face. It's a pair of ink and charcoal drawings of her husband Phantes and of Terreis, the Amazon who's right of caste I took when I became Princess.
"How did you know?"
"I saw them in my mind's eye…." She hugged her with great force.
"Thank you…."
"When I drew them, Mama said you would react this way."
"Did she now?"
"Uh-huh."
"I already gave one drawing of Phantes to Xenon, I made him give his word not to tell you until I gave you yours. I know it was a little underhanded, but I needed to give you yours….."
"Thank you, this means so much to me."
"I know that."
"Excuse me." She left the hut.
"To collect herself." I say.
She nodded. "Who's next?"
"Why don't you give your Mama her gift?" Xena said smugly. I didn't like that tone or that look in her eye.
Zoe nodded. "Okay…." She took out a small wooden box, and handed it to me, I opened it, three feather quills, and a new clay ink well was inside. "I made them myself, Mommy only told me what to do she didn't actually do anything…."
"They're beautiful, are these Eagle feathers….."
"Yeah, well Mommy did help me get those..."
"Thank You, Sweet girl…." I hugged her tight.
Zoe's POV
Next came Aunt Lila, I gave her a Magnifying glass I happened to have on me when I showed up. I didn't even realize until a few weeks later. She asked. "What is it?"
"It's a magnifying glass, well it's actually made of plastic, anartificial substance when you look into the lens it will make things bigger, I thought it would help you diagnose things…..if you could get a better look at them. it folds up nice and neat you can keep it in a drawer or your pocket."
"Thank you." she seemed truly touched. "Okay, Mommy's turn….."
"I pulled out an Ink and charcoal drawing of her brother Lyceus and one of her grandparents. She smiled.
"Thank you Little one….." She smiled. She kissed my forehead.
"That only leaves Aunt Eponin….." I hand her a box, Mommy helped me make it. "Mommy helped me, but I did most of the work.
"New Bracers." Aunt Eponin said. "Thank you, Zoe."
It really was too bad, I didn't get to get Mommy and Mama together just yet, maybe soon, well at least by spring, hopefully this whole thing with Larisa will be over soon. And I'll be left on my own more.
Gabrielle's POV
All our Suspicions have been confirmed it had been two weeks since Solstice, and no one has been hide nor hair of Larisa, since her review, one month ago. We hadn't been suspicious, hunters are lost on hunting trips, after one month we went to clean out her hunt to find that it more or less cleaned out, Amazons in general don't have many possessions, at heart they're still nomadic no matter how many generations they've been in one place. We were all scared for Reina, Myself, Eris, and Zoe. There are really only three possibilities one she took all her possessions and really did disappear on the hunting trip, two she decided that there was nothing left for her here and simply took off which is the option I'm hoping for but the least likely because there would be no need for the pretense if she wanted to leave after her review she just had to ask, the third was, the most horrifying possibility She packed up and left because was going after my little girl. I hated the thought of her going after Zoe, it made my blood boil. I never once felt this kind of anger not even when Perdicas was killed.