Usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 21
Ephiny and Eponin slowly entered the room to find Gabrielle at the table writing and Xena lying next to Cyrene on the bed. Both were asleep and Ephiny shook her head in amazement.
"That must have been some talk," she said as she and Eponin removed their coats and sat at the table with Gabrielle.
The girl stopped her writing and looked up. "It was." She smiled as she looked toward the bed. "Oh and Ephiny, don't ever do something that dumb again or I might have to make Eponin regent."
"Oh no," the weapons master shook her head. "I am not that dumb to accept it. Nope, Ephiny's the Amazon one feather short of a head dress. She can keep being regent."
"Gee thanks, Ep," the regent smiled at her partner then looked seriously at Gabrielle. "So what should I do with the two of you?" she asked nodding her head toward Xena.
"What do you mean, Eph?"
"Let's see, running off and not telling us where you were going, Xena attacking Eponin, both of you having a major attitude lately."
Gabrielle began to chew the end of her quill. "Let's see Ephiny, how about, I told Eponin to back off and she didn't. You know Xena really could have hurt Ep. She may be in the body of a six year old, but she's still Xena. Also, Xena and I needed to meet with the kids and having an adult around would have screwed that up, and I needed to support Xena in how she was feeling. She was in a bad place Ephiny and I had to look out for her."
"She makes a good argument, Ephiny," Eponin said as she shrugged her shoulders when Ephiny's brown eyes blazed at her. "Well she does."
All heads turned as twin chuckling came from the bed. "Nice support for your regent there, Ep," Xena said as she opened her eyes and slowly sat up. "Don't you agree mom?"
"Oh yes, Eponin is always so supportive." The woman had opened her eyes and gingerly sat grimacing as she did so. "Gabrielle you may have a valid argument, but you and Xena did break the rules."
Turning to Xena she continued, "And you, young lady, should know better than to man handle your friends." Holding up her hands to stop Xena's response she nodded. "I understand your state of mind Xena, but you still know it was wrong."
Putting her arm around her daughter, she motioned for Gabrielle to join her on the bed. After Gabrielle had sat on the other side of her, Cyrene's arm went around her as well, "So dear heart, what do you think Ephiny should do?"
"About what?" Gabrielle asked quietly feeling as though she really were six.
Cyrene smiled gently. "Gabrielle." The tone in her voice made Gabrielle lean into the woman more.
"Toast my tail feathers?" she questioned. "But she can't do that to Xena, she could really hurt her."
Ephiny nodded as she knelt in front of the bed. "I agree and it's not really fair to toast your tail feathers and not Xena's." The Amazon stood and looked at Eponin.
"You're on your own Regent," the weapons master answered.
"Thanks Eponin, remind me of this when we have kids okay?"
Standing quickly the weapons master knocked over her chair. "When we have kids, Ephiny is there something you need to tell me?"
Seeing an opening Xena took it. "Yeah Eph, is there something you need to tell Ep? Should we be expecting a little Amazon in another seven to 8 months?"
Gabrielle giggled. "Oh a mini-regent and weapons master, how cute. Xena we need to get some baby leathers and you can make her a rattle that looks like a wooden spoon."
Eponin still had a look of shock on her face when Ephiny started to chuckle.
"No you big feather head, I'm not pregnant, yet," she winked at the weapons master who blushed. "I guess we'll talk later."
"As for the two of you," she pointed at Xena and Gabrielle, "separate corners right now."
Slowly standing the girls looked up at the regent.
"Geesh you'd think she was pregnant what with these moods of hers." Gabrielle mumbled feeling a hard swat to her backside moments later.
"We don't need a running commentary Gabrielle." Ephiny instructed as Xena and Gabrielle finally placed themselves nose first in separate corners of the room.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD****XENA***BARD****XENA***
The girls had been in their corners for only a few moments when a knock at the door interrupted them.
"I'll get it," Xena volunteered starting to move.
"Stay right there, Xena, I'll get it," Ephiny responded opening the door to find Liliana there, an embarrassed look on her face.
"Hi Liliana, how can we help you?" Ephiny smiled at the woman.
"Well actually could I speak to your mother?"
"Sure, come on in."
Slowly entering Liliana noticed Gabrielle and Xena already in corners and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this message wouldn't be so bad after all.
Standing Cyrene motioned for Liliana to sit at the table, but the woman shook her head.
"Thank you but I can't stay long. I just came to let you know that another patron was concerned when he saw your daughters on the stairs earlier."
Puzzled Cyrene looked toward Ephiny and Eponin. They looked as confused as she felt. "Go on, Liliana."
"Well, he was concerned because of what he heard and saw Gabrielle doing. He didn't think it right that those words should be coming out of someone so young, and the fact that her sisters weren't trying to stop her from pacing the steps and swearing, well, he came to me," she finished in a rush.
"What do you mean, Liliana?" Cyrene's voice was low and she noticed the Amazons suddenly looking nervous.
"Well, a little while ago, the girls were out on the steps and from what he saw, Gabrielle seemed to be throwing a bit of a tantrum, muttering curses and pacing up and down the steps as Ephiny and Eponin watched her do it," Liliana smiled wanly at the Amazons who were embarrassed enough to blush.
"Girls?"
Hearing chuckling from the corner, Cyrene took a step in that direction. "Xena, that's enough, no laughing at your sisters."
She turned her attention to Ephiny and Eponin. "Well, care to tell me what was going on?"
"Well, see, it's like…." Ephiny trailed off and looked at Eponin who suddenly found the tops of her boots very interesting.
"I'm sorry Cyrene, but I felt I should come tell you," Liliana apologized as she quickly left the room.
"Well?" Cyrene raised an eyebrow and waited.
"Gabrielle found out about the sword."
"Yeah, Eph broke her," Eponin supplied as she felt a hard jab from Ephiny's elbow into her ribs.
"I see, and you didn't feel the need to tell me this?"
"You were kind of busy with Xena and we went to check the horses, so there wasn't really time to tell you," Ephiny supplied.
"Are we in trouble?" Eponin asked quietly.
"Yeah, want me to go get a wooden spoon?" Xena snickered from the corner.
"Xena, stop teasing unless you want me to get that spoon for you, and no you aren't in trouble. Although, Gabrielle come here please," Cyrene called.
Turning from the corner Gabrielle slowly made her way to the woman. Putting her fingers under her chin, Cyrene pushed her head up until they made eye contact. "Do me a favor, dear heart, next time, try not to be quite so creative with your choice of words. After all, not everyone appreciates a bard the way we do."
Smiling Gabrielle nodded and then frowned as Cyrene guided her back to the corner before returning to her bed and once again sitting gingerly on it.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD****XENA***BARD****XENA***
Heading down to dinner that evening was a quiet affair, Cyrene had chosen to stay in the bedroom and Xena was pointedly not talking to Ephiny or Eponin. Gabrielle uncharacteristically was also being quiet and had said nothing on the way downstairs or as they sat at the table.
They were halfway through their quiet meal when Xena and Gabrielle noticed Teddy slowly walking toward them. "Pst, pst," she whispered motioning for them to follow.
Sliding off her chair, Xena was stopped by Ephiny's hand. "Just where do you think you're going?"
"To talk to Teddy, now let me go, Ephiny," Xena answered as Gabrielle also slipped off her chair, only to be grabbed by Eponin.
"You can talk to her after you finish eating," Ephiny directed pointing at Xena's plate.
"I can talk to her now, it won't take long," Xena answered wrenching her wrist free of the Amazon's grip.
"Xena, stop right there. I said sit down and finish, and that is just what you are going to do."
Looking into the regent's brown eyes Xena huffed. "You're not my mother, Ephiny, and Gabrielle and I are going to talk to Teddy."
The little warrior flipped away before the Amazon could catch her and Gabrielle bit Eponin hard enough to make her release her grip before running after Xena.
"She bit me. The Queen bit me!" Eponin showed the small teeth marks to Ephiny.
"I'll take care of her when she comes back, Ep."
"Oh no," the weapons master looked at Ephiny seriously. "This time, it's my turn to take care of her royal backside."
Teddy's eyes were big when Xena and Gabrielle finally reached her and followed her into the kitchen. "Gabrielle, you bit your sister."
The bard shrugged. "Don't worry about it, she'll never do anything about it," she said with confidence.
"What did you need Teddy?" Xena asked trying to be patient.
"Here," Handing Xena a folded parchment she explained. "Petr dropped it off when he delivered eggs earlier. He said they had a lot of work tomorrow and he wanted you to have this in case he and Ana couldn't make it to play tomorrow."
Opening the parchment Xena read it quickly and handed it to Gabrielle.
"What does it say?" Teddy asked.
"Petr says that the Seer and the Oracle have combined and are awaiting the return of the statue at the temple in Rodopi. Apparently there are a lot of people trying to find it and not all of them are trustworthy."
"This just made our job a lot harder didn't it Xena?" Gabrielle asked.
"Maybe, we'll know more as we travel. Come on we'd better get back to dinner and deal with Ephiny and Eponin." Xena looked at Gabrielle. "I still can't believe you bit Eponin, she's going to kill you."
"Right, Xena this is Eponin we're talking about, she'll probably lecture me and tell me not to do it again. Not like I'm dumb enough to bite Ephiny."
Shrugging her shoulders Xena lead the way back to the table. "Thanks Teddy." She waved at the girl before she and Gabrielle disappeared into the dining area once again.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
"Let go of me Eponin! Ouch, let go!" Gabrielle was still yelling as Eponin entered the bedroom tugging the little bard's ear as she brought her along.
"Put on your sleeping shift and find a corner Gabrielle," the weapons master directed finally releasing the girl's ear.
Rubbing her ear furiously, Gabrielle glared at Eponin and slowly walked toward her bed. She retrieved her sleeping shift, but sat on the bed and crossed her arms rather than putting it on.
Grumbling, Eponin wasted no time and in a move that surprised the little queen, lifted her up and quickly undressed her pulling the shift over her head and depositing her in a corner with a swift smack to her backside.
"Hey!" the girl protested as Cyrene watched wide-eyed.
"Eponin, what on earth did the child do?" Cyrene asked.
"I am not a child!" Gabrielle yelled from the corner howling when Eponin placed two additional hard swats to her backside.
"Quiet, Gabrielle," she instructed as the girl's hands flew to rub the sting from her bottom.
"She bit, Eponin," Xena answered as she slowly entered the room with Ephiny. Seeing the look on her mother's face Xena suppressed a small smirk.
"Xena, sleeping shift then you can find a corner as well," Ephiny directed as Xena turned towards her and glared saluting as she headed to her bed.
"Yes Regent, I live to serve," Xena answered yelping as a quick and light swat to her backside was enough to start a dull throb there again. Scowling Xena quickly changed into her sleeping shift and padded to the closest corner.
"What did that one do?" Cyrene asked quietly.
"Left the table without permission, was rude all evening, and decided to talk back when given instructions," Ephiny answered.
Chuckling Cyrene stood and placed a pillow on a chair at the table. Sitting slowly she uncovered the plate Ephiny had brought to the room and shook her head. "Well I must say there is never a dull moment around here."
Eponin sat next to Cyrene. "Cyrene, could I borrow your wooden spoon?"
"What?" The shout came from Gabrielle who turned and stormed over to the Amazon. "What in Tartarus are you talking about, you can't spank me."
Eponin merely grinned as Cyrene pointed to a bag and nodded. Rising Eponin easily found the spoon in the bag and sat next to Cyrene again with the spoon on the table in front of her. "Yes, Gabrielle I can, and I will spank you. You bit me, my queen, what did you think I was going to do?"
"Nothing," Xena answered from her corner before she could stop herself.
"What?" Ephiny's eyes grew big as she sat down and pulled Gabrielle in front of her. "What did Xena mean, Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle sighed and began playing with the hem of her shift. "I just didn't think Eponin would do anything is all. I mean she can't spank me can she? She's not the regent."
Ephiny smiled. "Because physical harm was done, the regent can defer discipline to the injured party, in this case that would be Eponin," she looked at the weapons master and winked. "And Eponin has agreed to handle the discipline in this case. So the answer to your question is yes, she can spank you if that's what she feels is needed for biting her."
Standing, Cyrene picked up a towel and a bar of soap from her bag. "Come on Ephiny, I think Xena needs a bath tonight."
Turning from the corner Xena glared. "I don't need a bath."
Taking her daughter by the hand, Cyrene began walking toward the door followed quickly by Ephiny. "I say you do, now come on."
"No!" Gabrielle screeched and ran towards Xena as Cyrene opened the door. She tried to grab Xena's hand, but was unsuccessful instead running into the hallway and down the stairs as fast as she could.
Eponin raced after her wayward queen and was stopped by a small foot tripping her. Xena smirked and started to whistle as Ephiny began pulling her into the bathing room.
Standing, Eponin looked hard at Xena. "You are next, little warrior," she huffed as she resumed her course down the stairs cursing under her breath about warriors and staff injuries.
Shaking her head, Cyrene entered the bathing room behind a still whistling Xena and a flushed Ephiny. Locking the door for good measure she narrowed her eyes at her daughter, "No, never a dull moment," she whispered as Ephiny began the water for Xena's bath.
Stopping short as she entered the dining area Eponin found all eyes focused on an empty table by the front of the room. Gabrielle began waving at Eponin and teasing her with a finger to come and catch her. She then did a small dance on the table before putting her fingers in her ears and sticking out her tongue at Eponin. Eponin headed towards her causing Gabrielle to jump down and head towards the front door. Anticipating her movements, Eponin blocked her way as Gabrielle ducked under a table and tried to make it into the kitchen. Gaining on the girl, Eponin grimaced as a bowl of stew hit her and dripped down her side. She was going to kill the queen and there wouldn't be an elder alive that would convict her after they heard the story.
Hearing a scream, she saw the man who had passed them on the stairs earlier in the day covered in his soup Gabrielle giggling as she jumped off his table and toward the back door of the inn. Apologizing quickly, Eponin followed in close pursuit thrilled when Danail grabbed the little bard and stopped her running. Reaching the girl, Eponin grabbed her and put her over her shoulder like a sack of flour. "I am so sorry, Danail. We'll help clean up or pay for any damages she caused tonight."
"May I ask what caused this?"
"She's in trouble for biting me and doesn't like the idea of being punished," Eponin answered giving Gabrielle a hard swat as the girl kicked her.
Smiling softly Danail nodded. "I do understand, do not worry about tonight, just take care of this little one," he winked as Eponin nodded and carried the squirming queen back up the stairs to their room.
Entering the bedroom, Eponin locked the door and sat Gabrielle down on her bed. She quickly changed out of her stew covered clothing into clean ones and picked up the wooden spoon from the table.
"Come on Ep, we're friends right? I mean you were just teasing about spanking me weren't you?" Gabrielle whined as the Amazon advanced.
"Too little too late, my queen," Eponin responded quickly picking the girl up and sitting on the bed herself. Placing Gabrielle on the floor in front of her, she used two fingers to tilt the girl's chin until she was looking her in the eyes. "Gabrielle, I have had enough of the disrespect from you and Xena. I have tried to be a good sport during all this. I have tried to remain friends, rather than another parent to you both. But this is too much, I will no longer be your scapegoat or the Amazon you poke fun at because I wasn't dumb enough to volunteer to be regent."
"Ep, it's not like that. I mean, I didn't think you'd…."
"That's right Gabrielle, you didn't think. You've been acting like a spoiled royal brat towards me for far too long and it stops now. If spanking you is the only way to get you to understand that and to show me some respect then that is what is going to happen." Pulling the girl over her lap, Eponin lifted her shift and quickly bared her bottom.
***XENA***BARD***XENA**BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
Hearing wails and cries from across the hall Xena stood in the tub and tried to bolt for the door. Being quickly caught by Ephiny she struggled as the Amazon began to dry her off, her eyes scanning the room for another way to escape.
Standing in front of the door, Cyrene stared hard at her daughter. "This is between them Xena, you will stay here with us until we are ready to go back."
"She has no right," Xena protested.
"No right?" Ephiny turned the girl towards her lowering the shift over her head. "The way you and Gabrielle have been treating Eponin, I'd say she has every right, Xena."
"And don't be too surprised if you're next," Cyrene stated. "I certainly won't stand in her way."
"And neither will I," Ephiny added.
Looking at them both in disbelief Xena scowled and said nothing as Cyrene took her hand and led her back to the now quiet bedroom.
Trying the door, the woman found it locked and knocked lightly. Eponin answered it quickly and taking Xena by the hand, led her from the room back toward the bathing room without a word.
Finding Gabrielle crying on her bed, Cyrene sat next to the girl and pulled her gently into her arms. Gabrielle began to sob harder as she felt Cyrene hug her and after what seemed forever finally calmed down enough to have only the occasional hiccup remain.
Entering the bathing room Eponin locked the door and sat on the one straight backed chair in the room. Looking hard at Xena, she was surprised when the girl spoke before her.
"Eponin, I'm sorry," Xena started. "You're my friend and I've treated you like you aren't. You've just been so easy going and fun to be around and this has been so hard, I guess I didn't think how my behavior would hurt you."
Stunned Eponin nodded. "Thank you. Xena, and yeah, it's tough when a friend decides to disrespect you just for fun."
Wincing Xena looked at the floor and waited for the Amazon to make her point.
Suddenly finding herself over Eponin's lap Xena tensed waiting for the first swat to her already tender backside. Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, a half-hearted swat landed and Xena found herself on her feet looking at her friend.
"I can't do it this way, Xena," Eponin stood and took the girl's hand. "Let's go, we're getting staffs and heading to the barn, we're going to solve this like the warriors we are."
Grinning Xena nodded as they entered the room to find Gabrielle still crying into Cyrene's shoulder. Grabbing their staffs and coats they left quickly.
"What was that about?" Cyrene asked Ephiny.
The Amazon shrugged, "My guess is they're going to spar until they've worked out their issues."
Eponin and Xena were breathing hard as they circled one last time. There was a big space in Danail's private barn and they had put it to good use. Both coats had been discarded over a hay bale and both had bits of straw in their hair as well as dirt on their backsides from landing on the barn floor.
"Okay, warrior, you are going down this time," Eponin taunted as Xena smirked.
"Right, you're the one that's going to eat dirt, Amazon," Xena answered as she jumped over Eponin's staff and delivered her own blow to the weapons master's back.
Staffs flew again as Xena and Eponin went all out, finally stopping in exhaustion as Eponin hit the ground one last time. Grinning, Xena put out her hand and Eponin gladly took it, pulling the girl down to her.
"Okay, enough, I say we settled this, don't you Xena?"
Xena stood and rubbed her backside, "By the gods, Eponin, I think that last tug hurt more than the few strikes you managed to get on my backside."
Standing the Amazon grinned. "Well, I try."
Grabbing their coats, Xena tossed Eponin hers. "We'd better go, I'd say we both need a bath after this workout."
"What, you don't think the others will appreciate the scent of worn out warrior?"
Laughing Xena headed into the cold night with Eponin's arm around her shoulders.