Back from my holidays!
Thank you for all the reviews, they are appreciated. A nice big chunk to get us on our way!
Enjoy!
THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER. I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES UPLOADING. THERE ARE MORE CHAPTERS, WHETHER IT STATES IT IS COMPLETED OR NOT. SORRY.
Xena withdrew her sword from her opponent's stomach and looked up. The fighting was still fierce and both sides had suffered many casualties. However to Xena's trained eyes it would appear the amazons were more than holding their own. In fact Xena would even say the amazons had the edge slightly. She moved closer to where Epinon and Ephiny were fighting close to each other.
An enemy soldier approached and after parrying swords several times, she struck him with the hilt of her sword. She shivered as she remembered that this was another one of the visions that Alti had shown her, and for a moment felt a wave of panic as she remembered the final one. She was brought out of her ruminations by the sound of a loud horn blaring. Several people jumped, and within moments the enemy army retreated back about fifty yards. The amazons looked around in surprise and then at Xena, who was joined by Ephiny and Epinon.
"What the-"said Epinon, her voice trailing off. "Xena?" she added.
Xena kept her eyes fixed on the adversary army. They were facing the amazons but were drinking and eating and small groups appeared to be talking. Tactics, Xena assumed.
"I think," she said slowly and quietly, "they are preparing for a long one."
Ephiny sighed. "I did wonder."
"Probably the only way they think they can win," suggested Epinon. "Wear us down. We are about equal."
"Agreed," said Xena and she took the waterskin that Amarice offered her. "But still," she frowned, "doesn't make that much sense."
Ephiny shrugged her shoulders, and then shouted, "Get a drink, replace your weapons, and be ready in a moment."
There were shouts of assent back to her. Xena gave her the waterskin and turned her attention back to the army. And waited for the next battle.
Aella and Solari looked at each other in disbelief. Solari had stilled, one hand lay on Gabrielle's stomach and the other just lay on her neck.
Aella shook her head violently. "No, no, no," she said, her voice laced with anger.
She shuffled backwards, the pain in her side forgotten and laid Gabrielle's head on the ground.
"You did it once, do it again," she shouted at Gabrielle and lowered her face onto Gabrielle's and blew into her mouth twice. "Breath damn you, breath," she yelled.
"What are you doing?" said Solari sharply, as Aella struck Gabrielle's chest with her fist. She caught Aella's hand and her friend turned to face her.
"Something Eph said. It was how Xena saved Gabrielle in Thessaly."
Solari let go of her hand. "Yes! I remember Hippocrates saying something about it. What do you want me to do?"
Aella struck Gabrielle again. "Do this after I blow in her again," said Aella, and did just that.
Solari struck Gabrielle twice, and Aella breathed in her again and Solari repeated the motion. To their joy they saw Gabrielle's chest rise slightly. Aella felt Gabrielle's neck again and smiled widely.
"Thank the Gods," she said.
"And you," said Solari and twisted around. "Joxer, fantastic," she added as she spotted the healer.
"Joxer!" she yelled and motioned with her arm.
Joxer ran to her side and dropped to his knees. His eyes widened as he saw Gabrielle and the extent of her injuries.
"Oh no," he said with a groan.
"Herc, I need you," he twisted his body and yelled. He put his hand in his bag and brought out a handful of rags. He then pressed them down onto Gabrielle's wound.
Hercules jogged to them and when he saw Gabrielle the shock was evident on his face.
"I need to get her to the medical hut," said Joxer, simply.
Hercules nodded and knelt down and slid his arms under her, and lifting her up in a fluid movement. Joxer walked along side them his hands pushing down on the rags.
Solari jumped up and helped to hoist Aella up. They exchanged a grim smile and then looked around the village. There were several bodies lying on the ground and with a pang, Solari knew some were Amazons. Aella tapped her on the arm and they walked to where Asteria was tending Anippe. The elder was grimacing as Asteria tried to stem the bleeding from her wounds.
"The Queen?" asked Anippe.
"Alive. Just," said Aella quietly. Her eyes were drawn to the lifeless body of Agamede lying a few feet away.
"I'm sorry about Agamede," she added.
Anippe coughed and grimaced. "She went out fighting like the true Amazon legend she was. Look at her face-contentment." They looked at Agamede's features and sighed.
"Its how we wanted to go," Anippe said and her eyes closed. Asteria looked up and shook her head. She carefully laid the elder down and stood up next to Solari and Aella.
"How many?" asked Aella?
"Not sure yet," said Asteria. "What next?"
Tyldus and Iolaus joined them before either Solari or Aella could speak. The blonde hunter gave them both a warm hug. "I know about Gabrielle and Lyceus," he said in an anguished voice.
"We are at your disposal," said Tyldus.
"How did you know to come?" asked Asteria.
"Joxer," said the centaur, simply. "He was at home, and saw them go past. He was pretty sure they weren't a welcoming committee."
"Remind me to thank him," said Solari. There was a long silence before Solari spoke again. "The battle is a rouse. To ensure they got Lyceus easier," Solari stumbled over the baby's name.
"Do you know who it was?" said Hercules as he joined the group. He placed his hand comfortingly on Iolaus' shoulder. "Dax and Theo are assisting Joxer."
"Claudine, Lindos and some of the Amazons we banished in the incident with Alti," said Aella.
Iolaus shuddered when he heard the names, and Hercules pulled him closer.
"By the gods," said Tyldus. "We need to go after them."
There were nods all around. "We also need to stop the phoney battle," said Solari. "And treat wounds and clean up here."
"Well we can help with the fighting," said Tyldus. "I am sure with reinforcements we can-"
"I have a better idea that will stop the battle even quicker," said Hercules. "The army were mercenaries right?"
The amazons nodded.
Hercules smiled broadly. "Just need to swing by the centaur camp and pick something up and then we can head to the battle."
"I'll show you a short cut," said Aella.
"Aella, you can't, you are injured," exclaimed Solari.
"I have to," said Aella. "Besides Xena need to know what has happened."
Solari shut her eyes, and nodded. "Asteria clean and dress Miss Blockhead's wounds before she goes." Aella smiled at her friend and took her hand and grasped it.
"Ok but we'll send about half with you. Just in case. The rest of us will stay here and help."
"Thank you Tyldus, this place is a disaster area, we'll need the help" said Aella gratefully, and she and Asteria walked to the healer's hut.
"You need to get cleaned up too," said Iolaus to Solari. The Amazon was lost in thought.
"Sorry, what?" she said.
"Get cleaned up, "said Iolaus.
"We need to track them. So when we get the army back they can follow and get Lyceus back." She looked at Iolaus and he gave a slight nod.
"Solari you are not thinking-"
"Yes," the dark haired Amazon said. "I am the best scout here, even with my sight problems." She paused and looked at the ground. "I have to do something."
Iolaus and Hercules exchanged a glance. "Ok you two go, but get that wound seen to first, and prepare carefully."
"I'll remain here," said Tyldus, "and direct things here." The centaur blushed. "I didn't mean I should take charge." He became flustered much to Solari's amusement.
"Thank you Tyldus. That is perfect; we can do with your organisational skills here. I just want to check on everything before I go…and Gabrielle," she added.
"Come on, we'll come too, "said Hercules and took the Amazon's arm and headed towards the healer's hut.
Solari gave an unhappy sigh as she entered the hut. It was a frantic hive of activity as injured amazons were being carried and helped in. She saw Aella being tended by Asteria who had finished binding her wound. Solari approached her and they clasped each other's hand.
"We lost six," said Aella simply "Gabrielle's the worse of the injured."
"Any kids?" asked Solari.
Aella shook her head and puffed out her cheeks. "No thank the Gods. It was mainly the elders." She looked rueful, "Their last hurrah."
Solari withdrew her hand and then gave her friend a hug. "Take care of yourself, Aella."
"What are you doing?" said Aella her eyes narrowing, recognising the note of farewell from Solari.
Iolaus approached carrying supplies to treat Solari's arrow wound. "We're tracking Lyceus."
Aella looked at Solari for a long time and nodded, knowing that not only was her friend stubborn but she was the best tracker within the village at present.
"Iolaus, just wait a moment, I want to see Gabrielle first," said Solari.
The blonde man nodded and Aella also rose with Solari's assistance. The three of them approached the bed where Gabrielle was being tended to by Joxer and Dax and Hercules was standing watching silently from a few feet away. They stood by him and watched Dax desperately trying to stem the flow of blood and Joxer suture the layers of flesh.
Joxer glanced up, and they could see the concern written all over it.
"Joxer?" asked Hercules quietly.
"I'm doing my best," he said defensively, looking downwards again.
"We know," said Solari, soothingly.
Joxer took a deep breath in. "I am surprised she's lasted this long," he said.
Hercules and Iolaus exchanged a look of panic.
"She didn't," said Solari. "She died. Aella brought her back, like Xena did in Thessaly".
Joxer looked at Aella, as did the other men. "Thank you," said the healer in a choked voice. "I just want to keep her alive until Piri arrives."
"Don't sell yourself short, Joxer, you have done a fine job," said Dax, his voice booming so the whole hut could hear.
There were murmurs of assent and Joxer's ears went red as he carried on his work.
Solari swallowed and stepped forwards and turned to face away from where Joxer and Dax were working towards Gabrielle. She stroked Gabrielle's hair. "I will do everything I can to get your son back," she said hoarsely. "Keep fighting Gab, please." As she stepped backwards, Aella joined her.
"Xena will be here soon, so you had better be up and fit, my Queen, or she'll kick butt." The smile quickly fell from her face, and she squeezed Gabrielle's hand. "Stay with us."
Both Amazons turned to go-Aella shuffled towards the door and Solari walked to a vacant chair and slumped into it. Within moments she was joined by Iolaus, and he started to dress her wound without a word. It was only when he felt a splash of water on his arm that he realised Solari was crying silently. Once he had cleaned and bound her wound he wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug.
Aella tried to focus on anything else but the pain she was feeling. Despite the foul-tasting mixture Joxer had forced her to drink and Hercules careful manoeuvring of the horse they were on, Aella bit down continuously on her lip to stop the cry of pain. Piri had given her a stern lecture before Aella could explain exactly what had occurred. Once she knew what the situation was, the healer still rebuked Aella mildly, but Aella did not argue. The healer was obviously shocked by the events, and her and her team, aided by several men and centaurs, started to pack up and move towards the Amazon village.
Aella and her group were now approaching the battle. As ideas go, Hercules' one was a good one to cease the fighting. If it didn't work, Aella truly hoped that the mercenaries seeing the fresh and angry centaurs and men would think twice about continuing on with the battle. Aella also had little doubt that when the amazons heard about the shocking events in the village they would be invigorated.
Xena was parrying with an opponent when she heard the approach of more horses. And centaurs, she thought, although could not be sure until she turned around to check. Realising her opponent was tiring, she tempted him into a lunge and as he left his right side exposed, she kicked it hard. The man fell back, and another kick, this time to the head, rendered him unconscious. A quick look left and right ensured that she was in no immediate danger and so she stepped backwards and turned around.
She was truly stunned with what she saw. Aella was being assisted off a horse by Hercules and there were tens of centaurs and men standing waiting with weapons at the ready. She was not the only one that noticed; several of the opponents were watching warily and the fighting lost it's urgency as amazons and mercenaries alike looked around bewildered at the newest arrivals.
Xena caught sight of Ephiny as Amarice tapped her on the shoulder and pointed towards Aella. The regent turned and looked and her face went from surprise, to anger in a matter of seconds and she started to stride towards her partner, her face a picture of uncontained fury. Xena looked at Epinon who was behind Ephiny, and the weapons master shrugged her shoulders. Xena walked and joined Epinon and there was a surprising hush over the battlefield. The mercenaries had stepped backwards, taking their wounded, but keeping their eyes fixed on the new arrivals. The hush was broken by Ephiny's angry shouts.
"What in Artemis name are you doing here?" She was now standing a few feet from Aella who was looking very pale and was supported by Hercules.
"And what are centaurs doing here?"
Aella closed her eyes and concentrated on regulating her breathing. She felt Hercules squeeze her shoulder and opened her eyes and looked at his concerned face. He reached in to the saddle bag and pulled out a handful of coin, and moved forward. Ephiny's expression softened and she moved next to Aella and helped to support her.
"Oh Eph," she said in a tone laced in pain. She did not say anything more, but concentrated on Hercules.
"We know why you are here," said the Demi-God in a loud voice. "You have achieved your goal," he added bitterly. There were murmurs of surprise from the Amazons and of excitement and triumph from the mercenaries' leaders. "Now finish your fighting, leave the land."
"NO!" came a shout. "We were promised the bitches land."
"You have two choices," said Hercules over the chatter. "One, you can continue fighting but now you will fight us too. Your argument is with the centaur village as allies of the amazons."
"OR!" a man shouted.
Hercules smiled, and hoped that the sight of many centaurs and men primed for battle would make the mercenaries prefer the second option.
"My brother is King Iphicles. I have gold from him. Leave the land now, and I will distribute this to you all fairly." He threw the handful of coins towards the mercenaries and they scrambled around to pick up the gold coins.
While this was happening Xena turned to face Hercules and Aella. Aella was now sitting on the ground, pale faced, with Ephiny sitting next to her with one arm around her back supporting the heavy breathing Amazon and the other holding a waterskin out for her.
"What is going on?" growled Xena to Hercules.
The Demi-God held out his hand in a quietening gesture and turned his attention towards the opposing army.
"Well?" he shouted.
"Gold seems good," said one of the men.
"We were promised a great deal," said a man who stepped forward and appeared to be in cleaner, smarter clothes.
Hercules guessed he was one of the generals, and this was confirmed when one of the men shouted, "You might have been, but we have only seen a little coin so far." He bit into the golden coin he held in his hand. "Besides this is here and now. We have been promised the other stuff-you reckon we will get it?"
There were murmurs of agreement again from most of the men, although there were a few dissenting voices.
"What about the land?" cried one?
"I want to beat those freaks, show them women shouldn't be fighting," shouted another.
Some of the amazons started forward, angered at this, but Epinon said, "Amazons, hold your ground." They stopped and merely stared at the army.
Vasilius stepped forward and stood next to Hercules, his tail stilled as he spoke. "Of course you could fight on, but could you beat the Amazons and us?" he said and shrugged his shoulders and looked thoughtful. "Then of course you would have to deal with us as neighbours-knowing what you did and why you did it, the fact you have killed many of our friends and family." He smiled and then clapped his hands together loudly. "Still up for it?"
"What did they do?" asked Ephiny to Aella.
Aella merely shook her head and tried to hold back the tears of pain, anger and frustration.
The man who bit the coin stepped forward. "I want to take the coin. Better to leave with my life-"he said know more as an arrow tore through his back sending him forward onto the ground. Within the seconds the archer too lay dead on the ground, stabbed by one of his own army members.
"THIS ENDS NOW!" shouted Hercules, now irritated. "Take the coin or prepare to fight." The centaurs moved menacingly closer.
The general sighed, and turned to face his army. "We have achieved what we set out to do. We will get paid, maybe twice. Anyone who wants to stay and fight may, but I am not one of them."
Several men stepped forward immediately and as the numbers grew, and the more reluctant ones realised just how out numbered they would be, they stepped forward until they were all agreed.
"Finally," said Hercules, and exhaled a long breath. He turned to Ephiny. I would suggest that the men and centaurs escort them off your land as well as whomever you can spare."
Ephiny looked at Epinon who nodded. "Sounds good. We can leave a heavy presence there, just in case. Pony, will you-"
Vassilus interrupted her. "You both may be needed at the village," he said, and looked at Hercules suddenly embarrassed at his interruption and boldness.
Xena, Epinon and Ephiny all turned to look at him with questioning eyes.
Hercules merely nodded.
A slightly shocked Epinon frowned and then turned away. She spoke to several amazons and within moments a squad had been assembled. Hercules passed the bags over to Vassilus and Sotiros and within moments the army were trudging away followed by the large contingent of amazons, men and centaurs.
"Now," said Xena her voice icy, "tell us what has been going on."
Hercules suddenly looked very weary and he ran his hand through his hair. Aella started to push herself up, and aided by Ephiny and Epinon she joined Hercules.
"OK?" he asked her.
She nodded and then inhaled deeply. "This fight, this battle it is a diversion."
"What?" said Epinon? "Who? Why?"
Aella smiled weakly and spoke slowly, her discomfort evident to all around her. "This battle drew most of the fighting force away from the village," she looked straight at Xena, who was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. All the things started to fall into place.
"So that's what the breaks were for-wasting more time. And why they didn't advance-the longer we took to get here the better." Xena looked at Hercules and then Aella. "What did they want from the village?"
Aella's face crumbled for a moment before she regained her composure. Xena's heart started to race and her mouth went dry.
"Not what, who," said Aella, and turned to face Xena with tears rolling down her face. "Lyceus."
Xena stared at Aella while the implications hit her. Her jaw tightened and she clenched her fists tightly. Her head swam with images of Lyceus, but she tried to focus on Aella.
"Who did all this?" whispered Ephiny appalled.
"Lindos and Claudine," said Hercules. "They took him."
Xena felt her legs wobble but her quick reflexes saved her from falling. She wanted to scream but her mouth was too dry even to utter a single word. She vaguely heard Epinon curse loudly and then her name was being repeated. She focussed on a concerned looking Hercules.
"Gabrielle was injured defending-"
Xena never heard what else Hercules said as she bolted towards where Lucinda was tending the horses. She snatched Argo's reins and pulled her away from the other horses. She mounted Argo with a flying leap and dug her heels into the palomino encouraging the horse to hasten towards the Amazon village as fast as they could.
Epinon watched Xena depart and resisted the urge to run straight after her. She turned and stared at Aella. There was one question burning in her mind.
"Solari?"
Aella swallowed. "An arrow wound to her arm, but she's fine." She exchanged a glance with Hercules. "She and Iolaus are tracking Lindos."
Epinon cursed loudly, and then launched in to an angry tirade, "Of all the stupid things. AELLA! What were you thinking of letting her go? For the love of-"
"Epinon." The name was said as a rebuke, and Epinon stopped and looked at Aella. She looked so drained and despondent and her eyes were full of pain. She was leaning heavily on Hercules and Ephiny and was in obvious discomfort. Epinon felt chastised by her reaction-it had obviously been a horrifying experience at the village, and Aella had ridden in pain to break the sickening news of what had happened to them all.
"Sorry," she said and lowered her head.
"Solari offered," said Hercules. "You should be proud of her Epinon."
"I am," said Epinon and smiled weakly.
"What about Gabrielle?" asked Ephiny, concerned about her dear friend?
Aella closed her eyes and sighed.
"Not good, she was run through."
There were gasps from everyone who heard.
"Is she-"began Amarice?
"Still alive. Just." Said Hercules. He gave Aella a sly look. "Aella and Solari saved her life. She died, they brought her back."
Ephiny clutched Aella's shoulder with tears in her eyes. "We need to re-group."
Hercules nodded. "We need to get back to the village, and then chase those bastards down."
It was so unlike the Demi-God to show such levels of anger, that the amazons realised the depth of his rage.
"Let's get going," said Epinon and the amazons began to clear the battlefield
