The usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter Twelve
The group had been on the road for almost a week with no major problems and Xena was grateful for the good weather and good humor that still accompanied them. Ephiny finally relaxed enough to allow Gabrielle and Xena some sparring time and Xena was actually going to do some sword drills with the Amazons when they camped for the evening.
Grabbing her staff and making sure her sword was secured to her back, Xena ran to meet Gabrielle and the Amazons near the stream by their current camp.
"Okay you two, I want you to go all out today," Ephiny commanded as Xena and Gabrielle started their familiar circling.
Smiling, Xena took the initiative and attacked first. Gabrielle easily blocked the move and countered with one of her own. Soon staffs were moving so quickly their movements were reduced to a fast blur. Finally, Xena managed to get Gabrielle to go down by flipping over her and sweeping the staff under the pint-sized bard before Gabrielle could jump over the weapon.
Taking Xena's hand up Gabrielle grinned. "Nice one warrior, shall we go again?"
"Sure." Xena answered as they started to circle once again. Noticing her mother watching them, Xena's eyebrow went up, but she continued to focus on the bard as once again staffs became a blur, this time however, Gabrielle managed to knock Xena off balance with a jab to her stomach.
"Enough!" Ephiny shouted as the girls began to circle again. "I said enough!"
"Oh come on Ephiny, we're just getting warmed up," Gabrielle complained.
"Yeah, we have at least another match in us." Xena agreed as she and Gabrielle continued to circle.
"If you want to keep those staffs I'd suggest you go get cooled off and ready to move," Ephiny directed quietly.
Stopping, Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other and nodded to Ephiny. "Kill joy," Xena muttered as she watched her mother move to talk to Ephiny.
"Xena, come on!" Gabrielle encouraged taking her hand and leading tugging it.
"Hold on, what do you suppose Mother wants with Ephiny?" Watching the two adults carefully, Xena couldn't figure out why Cyrene was gingerly touching Ephiny's staff and smiling. They were up to something and whatever it was couldn't be good.
"I have no idea what your mother and Ephiny are discussing, I'm sure we'll find out later. Let's go," Gabrielle said tugging Xena's hand once more.
"Fine, I'm coming," Xena relented as she allowed Gabrielle to lead her back to their bedrolls to finish getting ready for the day.
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They had only been traveling a candle mark when Xena pulled Argo to a stop. "Mother, get to the side of the road. Everyone get ready!" She listened again. "About five riders coming hard." Moving Argo to the side of the road, near her mother and Gabrielle, Xena readied her staff and made sure her sword was ready as well.
"Xena, remember to stay back. Ep and I will handle this," Ephiny directed as Xena nodded.
"I'll try."
"You'll do more than try Xena, you'll do." Ephiny stopped talking as the five riders came to a halt in front of the women.
"Is there something we can help you with?" Eponin asked as the lead rider approached them.
"Yeah, how about all your money and valuables, your weapons and that pretty girl right there," he said pointing to Ephiny.
"Sorry, she's taken," Eponin replied drawing her sword and watching Ephiny do the same.
"Oh look guys, the girls are going to fight." Hearing another sword being drawn the man burst into laughter. "Oh is itty bitty gonna fight too?"
Xena grinned. "You'll find out won't you big fellow?" she drawled waiting for the idiots to attack. Focused on the impending battle, Ephiny's warnings were quickly forgotten.
"Attack!" the man in front yelled and the rest of the riders charged.
Heart pounding Xena flipped from Argo onto the lead raider's horse landing behind him. Tapping him on the shoulder she punched him across the jaw with the hilt of her sword, and watched as he fell to the ground. Flipping off the horse she sent him head on into the remaining raider's path and grinned as three of the four men were unseated. Xena knew that the Amazons were used to fighting on the ground and was pleased to see them dismount and easily take care of the men on the ground.
The last raider charged toward Xena. Using her sword she sliced at his leg, causing him to scream as she made contact. Watching the blood flow from the wound she knew she'd hit an artery and he'd be dead shortly. Not a nice way to die, but he wouldn't suffer much.
Wiping her blade on the trousers of one of the dispatched riders she was taken aback when Ephiny's voice cut the silence. "Xena, give me your sword now." The Amazons eyes were blazing and Xena raised one eyebrow in question.
Ephiny put her hand out and waiting tapping her foot. "Don't make me try and take it from you Xena. I don't want either of us to get hurt."
"Okay, okay, don't get your feathers in a knot," Xena said slowly giving her weapon to the Amazon.
"Eponin make sure Cyrene and Gabrielle are okay and take Xena's sword and clean it," she directed pulling the little warrior by the arm toward a row of trees on the other side of the road.
Turning Xena looked at Ephiny. "Shouldn't we be helping Eponin move the bodies out of the road?"
"She'll be just fine until I can help her. You and I need to talk." Sitting on a large rock, Ephiny turned Xena toward her and pointed. "You want to tell me what that was about, Xena?"
"What, what was about Ephiny?"
"Oh I don't know, getting directly involved in fight, using a weapon you weren't supposed to draw. What the Hades were you thinking?"
Comprehension finally dawned in Xena's eyes. "Oh Eph, I…"
"Yes, you did and you need to explain because you are in so much trouble right now even I can't believe it."
"I just reacted. All I could think about, feel was the fight. My instincts took over, Ephiny."
"Well those instincts could have gotten you killed."
"Those instincts managed to unseat four riders and let you battle on the ground where you're more comfortable," Xena argued.
"That wasn't your call to make, Xena!" Ephiny rubbed her face with her hands. "We went over this. You and I were clear on this Xena. You are not to fight unless absolutely necessary and in this case you know as well as I do it wasn't necessary. You left Gabrielle and Cyrene unprotected as well."
"Gabrielle can take care of herself and my mother," the little warrior protested.
"That may be but you broke your promise to me Xena. Don't you remember before we left Amphipolis? You promised you'd not fight unless our lives were in danger and you know as well as I do Eponin and I were not overmatched."
"So what now? You gonna punish me?" Xena challenged as she crossed her arms defiantly across her chest.
"Yes, Xena I am, but not right now. Go get in the cart and stay there until I say otherwise. We'll discuss this more after we've both calmed down."
"No. I want to do this now."
"You don't get to control this, Xena. Please go get into the cart, don't make me carry you there." Ephiny's voice was soft but Xena could hear the anger below the surface.
Feeling the anger start to bubble within herself, she did the only thing she could rationally justify; she obeyed. Turning, she ran to the cart, and hopped inside without a word to anyone.
Standing up Ephiny walked towards Eponin to help her clear the trash from the road.
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Xena had spent the remainder of the day riding in the cart and watching Ephiny closely. The Amazon had not said one more word to her, nor had even looked in her direction. The non-confrontation made Xena nervous as she continually was wondering what the regent was thinking. The rest of the afternoon wasn't any better as she watched with some unease as Ephiny led Cyrene away from the group at lunch for a private conversation. The little warrior was so unnerved about it even Gabrielle couldn't get Xena out of her mood. Finally, noticing a familiar landmark, Xena decided to call out, "Ephiny, there's a cave about a quarter candle mark up the road. It'd be a good place to stop for the night."
The Amazon nodded in acknowledgement but didn't turn to look at the warrior. Xena waited in the back of the cave watching everyone get the camp ready for the evening. She wondered what was going on, but knew enough to let Ephiny have her space. Amazon pride and all that, she figured. Still, she wished the woman would get on with her punishment. This waiting was testing even her.
Gabrielle had wandered over to sit by Xena. "Want to talk about it?" she asked.
"Nope. I'm just waiting for Ephiny to decide what to do with me for breaking her precious rules."
"Xena do you realize you scared the wits out of your mother today?" The bard spoke softly but firmly. "For all intense purposes she saw her six year old daughter go head to head with grown men, one of whom she killed."
Xena looked into Gabrielle's eyes quickly before staring back at the campfire her mother was cooking over. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Of course not because you don't think when you fight like that. You just are." Gabrielle laid her hand on Xena's arm. "You need to control that side of you better now, Xena. We all got lucky today, we might not tomorrow."
Gabrielle stood and rejoined Cyrene with a hug and a smile while Xena hugged her knees to her chest. Damn it, she knew the bard was right. Why hadn't she listened? Was she really that undisciplined that she couldn't control her urge for battle unless it really mattered?
Sighing, Xena stood up and slowly approached the cook fire. "Um, Mom, could I talk to you please?"
Looking at her daughter Cyrene nodded and sat down on her bedrolls. "What is it Xena?" she asked as Xena slowly sat down next to her.
"I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for today." Blue eyes looked into blue. "I didn't mean to scare you, Mom, but I wasn't thinking. I was just reacting to the battle. I'll try to do better next time."
Opening her arms Cyrene kissed the top of Xena's head as the girl fell into her embrace. "Oh little one, I know it's hard for you. Thank you for the apology, but I am okay."
Watching Xena from her own bedroll, Ephiny stopped sharpening her sword and put it back in its sheath. Standing up she walked over to the warrior and her mother. Putting out her hand she made eye contact and nodded to Xena.
Xena accepted one last hug from her mother before standing up and taking Ephiny's offered hand. As Ephiny led her toward the back of the cave Xena felt her stomach tighten.
Sitting down cross legged, Ephiny motioned for Xena to do the same. She then sat and looked at the girl in complete silence for a while longer. Noticing Xena shifting just a slight bit, Ephiny smiled inwardly before breaking the silence. "So what have you learned today Xena?" she asked quietly.
Starting slightly at the sound of Ephiny's voice Xena sighed and started talking quietly to the Amazon, making sure to apologize for breaking her promise and taking full responsibility for scaring her mother as well. "I'm sorry Ephiny. I know why you made me promise. I just wish I could have followed my word this time. I promise you, I will do better next time."
Ephiny nodded. "I'm sure you will Xena. Now what do you think I should do for the rest of your punishment?"
"The rest of my punishment?" Comprehension dawned on Xena's face. "The silent bit was part of the punishment wasn't it? Amazons," she said with a grin.
"So what should I do with you next Xena?" Ephiny pushed hoping Xena would know where to go with the directive.
Tugging at her boot lace Xena avoided looking at the Amazon. "I guess whatever you want. I'm not in charge right now, am I?"
"No you're not." Placing her fingers under Xena's chin, Ephiny moved her so she could see into her eyes. "You aren't in charge when it comes to this Xena and I can only imagine how hard that is for you to accept."
Xena tried to look away but Ephiny held her gaze firmly. "You're off Argo for two days. You may walk or ride in the cart, but you will not ride by yourself. No sword for one full week and you will be confined to your bedroll when we camp for three days."
"I thought…" Xena trailed off.
"You thought I'd just tan your hide and get it over with?" Ephiny grinned. "Nope, I'm much more evil than that."
Xena gave a small smile. "So I've noticed, been taking lessons from your queen?"
Laughing Ephiny ruffled Xena's hair before awkwardly pulling her into a brief hug.
"Warriors," Gabrielle commented from across the room after watching the exchange.
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The first day of her punishment was barely started and Xena was already driving everyone mad. Ephiny had finally made her stay in the cart after she driven everyone nuts with her constant jumping in and out of the cart.
Lunch was another fun event as Ephiny made Xena stay next to her mother while they ate, and then allowed only a brief sparring session with Gabrielle to let off extra energy. When they caught her making mud balls to throw at them, Ephiny wondered if this grounding had been as good an idea as it seemed at the time.
"Uh, Eph?"
"Yeah, Ep?"
"Tell me again why you just didn't tan her hide and get it over with?" The Amazon asked as she felt another mud ball hit her on the head.
"Because this punishment will be a lot harder for Xena and more meaningful if she has to think it out for a few days," the regent stated.
"Did you get that out of some parenting for dumb Amazons scroll?" Her partner asked.
"No!" Ephiny sighed. "I talked to Cyrene for some advice and I did what I thought was best," she answered as she picked another mud ball out of her curls. "Where in Hades is she hiding them? I swear I took them all!"
Turning her horse around Ephiny headed toward the cart. Xena's eyes grew wide at the look on the Amazons face and quickly dumped all mud balls over the side of the cart. Motioning for Cyrene to stop, Ephiny pulled up her horse and put out her arm to Xena. "Get up here with me Warrior Princess," she ordered. Pulling the girl in front of her on the saddle, Ephiny returned to her place beside Eponin as they continued their journey.
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Xena was trying to get comfortable on her bed roll and finding it impossible. Her mother and Ephiny had disappeared almost half a candle mark ago and Eponin was playing tag with Gabrielle. Watching Gabrielle play was torture for the little warrior and she started picking the grass around her bedroll. Deciding a change was in order she stood up and did a backflip.
"Xena, stay on your bedroll," Eponin called as she tagged Gabrielle.
"I am." Xena called back as she did another flip landing again on the bedroll.
"Xena, stop stepping on the bedroll, we sleep there," Gabrielle yelled as Xena's boots dug into the fur before launching herself into the air.
Landing with a soft thump Xena smiled and did it a few more times. Finally, Gabrielle stopped the game with Eponin to come and sit with Xena. "Would you stop that?" she asked. "Our bedroll is going to be all dirty."
"It's fine," Xena replied. "Besides, I'm bored," she pouted.
Gabrielle sighed. She had really been enjoying her game of tag, but maybe a change was in order. "Want to play a game with me?"
Xena's eyes lit up. "Sure, what did you have in mind?"
"I don't know. What can you play from your bedroll?"
"Who am I?"
"We played that this afternoon. How about ten questions?"
"Nah, that's no fun. I know-let's play healer," Xena grinned.
"You want to play healer? What do we do pretend to get sick or hurt and have the healer fix us?" Gabrielle returned with a grin.
"That's exactly how you play, with a few modifications," Xena answered a twinkle in her eye.
"Xena I don't think this is a good idea," the bard protested. "Come on everyone can see us if they want to," she whispered fiercely.
"Come on Gabrielle, you have an arrow wound right there," she pressed on the girl's upper ribcage. "How am I supposed to look at it if you keep this on?" She tugged at the bard's tunic.
"Come on, you never minded me seeing you topless before," Xena quipped. "And it's not like you have anything to show now," she added sadly.
"Well, it's a lot more fun playing healer when I do have something to show," Gabrielle winked at her friend. "Besides, what is your mom going to think if she finds us?"
"That we're a couple of kids playing healer?" Xena's blue eyes twinkled.
"Sure Xena. That's exactly what she'll think." Gabrielle rolled her eyes.
"Please Gabrielle, please," the warrior pleaded.
"Oh okay, if it'll keep you out of trouble." Quickly removing her tunic, Gabrielle lay back down on the bedroll while Xena continued with the examination.
"What in Hades is going on here!" Cyrene's voice cut through the camp as she found Xena 'healing' Gabrielle's almost nude body.
"We're playing healer." Gabrielle answered quietly blushing ten shades of red. "Is there something wrong with that?" she asked innocently as she could.
Cyrene took a deep breath. "Of course not dear, get your clothes on and go help Ephiny with the soup seasonings.
"Okay." Hurrying to get dressed Gabrielle slapped the warrior princess on the arm before she rushed over to the Amazon who was shaking her head at all of Cyrene's spices.
Sitting on the bedroll next to her daughter Cyrene grinned at her. "Were you a bit bored little one?"
"Yeah." Xena slapped her hands on her legs. "I was, besides Gabrielle had never played healer before."
"She'd never played healer before are you sure?"
"Well, she hadn't played it like that before," Xena grinned. "We were having fun until you stopped us." She winked at her mother.
"Xena!" Her mother started.
"What? I'm merely a small, bored child what could I be thinking?" Grinning at her mother she sighed. "So where did you and Ephiny go earlier?"
"I was helping her with her snares."
"You were helping with snares?"
"Don't look at me as if I've grown another head Xena. I do know how to set a snare and a according to Ephiny I'd make any Amazon proud with them." Shaking her head she stood up. "I'd better get over there before the stew is ruined."
Watching her mother walk away, Xena wondered how on earth her mother had learned to set snares worthy of Amazon praise.
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Dinner was over and Xena was once again on her bedroll. She was supposed to be lying there falling asleep but had too much energy for that. Turning over she decided to bother Gabrielle, but found the bard already asleep. "Traitor," she muttered as she slowly started to slip off the bedroll. Maybe nobody would notice and she could go for a quick run.
"Xena, get your little butt back in that bedroll and don't move again." Ephiny's voice came from near to the campfire.
"I have to use the bushes."
"You've already used the bushes."
"I'm thirsty."
"You've already had a drink."
"I'm bored."
"Go to sleep."
Sighing Xena turned over again and allowed her breathing to even out. Maybe if they thought she was asleep they'd let their guard down and she could escape.
"So, Cyrene where did you learn to make a snare like that?"
Xena's ears pricked up as she heard the question.
"My mother taught me that."
"Your mother set a pretty mean snare." Ephiny was impressed.
"Thank you. She loved to take me camping when I was a child. My father hated it. He loved the farm and never did enjoy camping," she smiled as she reminisced. "My mother however, loved it. Every summer she would take me out alone for a week. We set up camp, hunted, and slept under the stars. I enjoyed it immensely."
"I wondered where you'd learned to set up such an efficient camp." Eponin said. "I'm surprised Xena never told us," she added.
"Oh Xena has no idea." Cyrene's voice was wistful. "She never was much for talking and I was so busy running the inn alone. Well, somehow I never told her much about my childhood, I had assumed my parents did that when the children visited her and my father every summer."
"So how's the training going?" Eponin asked.
"Shush, you want Xena to hear?" Ephiny admonished her friend.
"She's asleep don't worry. So how's it going?"
Ephiny smiled. "This one wields a staff pretty well. Almost like she's done it before," Ephiny prodded.
Chuckling Cyrene ducked her head. "I can't get anything past you can I Amazon?"
"Nope."
"I was trained in the staff when I was much younger. It's a fine weapon and I think if I'm to be out here with you I just need to brush up on it so I won't be a liability."
"Where did you learn to use the staff in the first place?"
"Oh here and there, you know how it is," Cyrene teased.
"Please Cyrene you hold the staff like an experienced fighter," Ephiny's voice was proud.
"My mother and grandmother taught me the staff. My grandmother gave me my first staff when I was about four or five. Lessons started shortly thereafter."
"Why did you stop?"
"Oh I met Atrius, fell in love, and got married." She sighed. "I guess I got busy raising a family. Then after Atrius was gone, I was too worried about raising three young children alone to tend to staff training."
"Why didn't you return to your grandmother's tribe?" Ephiny asked quietly.
Cyrene looked at her surprised. "How did you know? Even Xena doesn't know that my grandmother was an Amazon."
"That's only because you never told her. If she'd seen you spar and set those snares she would have put it together too." Ephiny answered. "So why didn't you go back to your grandmother's tribe?"
Cyrene shrugged. "I had two young sons and I couldn't imagine leaving them anywhere. Instead I ran the inn and raised them, not too badly either. Until Cortese came," she said quietly. "Okay, enough of this walk down memory lane. Ephiny, tomorrow evening I want to hear all about you." She smiled at the Amazon.
"You've got a deal."
"What tribe Cyrene?" Eponin's question hung in the air.
Looking at the weapon's master Cyrene waited for a few moments. "Your tribe, my grandmother was a member of your tribe."
"What was her name?"
"Eponin what does it matter?" Cyrene asked.
"It matters to me, please Cyrene." She answered.
"Elorah."
Eponin looked at Cyrene long and hard. "She had a sister named Lysandra didn't she?"
Cyrene nodded. "The little sister she left behind."
"My great-grandmother." Eponin whispered. "Welcome home, Cyrene."
Smiling ruefully at the Amazon Cyrene nodded. "Any other questions for me Eponin, now that you know my secret."
Bowing her head, the Amazon nodded, but didn't look into the woman's face. "You visited once didn't you? When you were a very young girl. My mother used to talk about it. How her cousin from outside had visited and almost stayed."
Cyrene nodded. "I was around 8 or 9 summers. My grandmother wanted to see her sister again and asked my mother if I could join her. I was amazed when my mother agreed." She smiled at the memory. "I was so excited to be visiting the Amazons and when we got to my aunt's it was wonderful. I was welcomed with open arms as was my grandmother."
"Obviously you didn't stay."
"No, I spent most of my summer with the Amazons that year. I had the best time of my life." She sighed. "I was asked by my aunt to stay and take my grandmother's place in the tribe, but I couldn't leave my other family. Leaving Lysandra was one of the hardest days of my young life. Leaving your mother was like leaving a sister Eponin."
Eponin nodded. "I know. She felt the same way. She told me you were her lost sister." The Amazon smiled. "Well after we get this thing sorted with Xena and Gabrielle you're coming back to the village with us. My mother will kill me if I don't bring you back."
Smiling Cyrene nodded. "I'd like that." Standing she rubbed her hands on her apron. "Okay ladies time for all of us to get to bed. If I know that one," she nodded toward Xena, "She'll be up before we're even thinking of it."
Xena finally closed her eyes thinking deeply. Why had her mother never told her all of this? Feeling like she didn't know her mother at all Xena finally fell into a fitful sleep.
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