Chapter 52 – Setting the Stage

The afternoon sun was beaming and Ares was focused on the movement below. The lines were shifting and the troops seemed to be stiffening in their resolve. Naida approached him studying him as he surveyed the scene below.

"She's coming," he said.

"How can you be sure?"

Ares tilted his head from side to side cracking his neck, stretched his back and turned to the woman. "I have been fighting wars longer than Phoenicia has existed. She is coming." He began to walk back toward the camp. "Prepare our troops. You will need to lead the head of the advance."

The warrior looked at the god, "And where will you be?"

"I will search out Anath. Without the goddess they will have little to stay and fight for. Surprise is my asset. She cannot know that I am coming."

"How will you find her?" the warrior asked. "Look at their lines – she could be anywhere."

"She will be in the temple."

The warrior was unconvinced, "How could you…"

Ares interrupted the woman, "She is coming to call on her brother… I want to reach her before she does."

The warrior took a deep breath and headed for the contingent of archers that lined the back of the encampment.

"Come on," Ares whispered. "I'm waiting…"

Xena and Gabrielle headed back toward the hut so that Gabrielle could change into Amazon attire. Eve met them half way with Gabriel in tow.

"Gabriel," the warrior said, "Want to take a walk to the river?"

"Are we fishing?"

"Well, you could show me how you caught those big fish the other night."

"Just like you taught me!"

Gabrielle laughed, "Just make sure she doesn't teach you some of her other tricks."

Xena glared playfully at the bard.

"What tricks?" Gabriel asked with excitement.

Eve shook her head as Gabrielle bent over to the boy, "You just keep those fish in your hands," she whispered. Eve laughed out loud.

"Are you coming?" Gabriel asked his mother and the bard.

"Not this time," Eve answered, "I am going to help Auntie Gabrielle get ready."

His lips curled for a moment. But then he looked at the warrior who had her eyebrow raised at him and he shrugged pulling her hand with a forceful jerk to head toward their destination.

Eve shook her head again. "Oh boy…"

Gabrielle gave a slight chuckle. "That may be more dangerous than an Amazon challenge," the bard joked.

As they entered the hut Gabrielle turned to the messenger, "Eve… I need to talk to you about something."

Eve smiled and reached for the bard's hand. "No… you don't. Lysandra will make a fine queen one day."

Gabrielle's eyebrows met as her gaze narrowed. She sat down beside her daughter and took a deep breath. "Eve…"

"You don't need to explain…that is not my path."

"No…I know that… but listen… if anything happens… to me… to Xena.."

Eve shuddered, "I don't…."

"Listen….Eve… someday it will… you and I both know that. We have lived it…Lysandra needs guidance… even now."

Eve took Gabrielle's hand, "Don't worry… As much as you are my mother… Lysandra will always be my sister."

Gabrielle smiled and rose to her feet. She looked squarely at the woman before her. "You are so much like your mother."

"Which one?" Eve laughed soliciting a laugh from the bard.

"Mmm…I do see her in you every day, Eve."

The messenger touched the bard's hand, "Let's get you ready."

Gabrielle nodded her agreement.

The lines below broke slightly and Ares felt the hairs on his arm stand up. He turned back and looked for Naida. The warrior caught his expression and turned to the troops, raising her hand in the air and signaling that the time was at hand. She walked toward the God of War as he walked toward her. "Now?" she asked for clarification.

"On my signal," Ares answered. "When you see my gauntlet reflect from behind their lines…move." He began to turn from the warrior and stopped when he felt her hand on his arm.

"I will meet you here."

The God of War's expression tightened and then softened. He placed his hand over hers. "You return to your village," he said.

"What about…"

The God smiled now, "I have other business….You are a fine leader Naida…you possess something that I never did… patience." He released his grip and turned away. In an instant he was gone.

Gabrielle stood ready as Xena approached with Gabriel holding a fairly good sized trout. The Amazon Queen's eyes were fixed on the boy as he held up his trophy. "I see you held onto it," Gabrielle smiled. Inside she was quivering, but to the rest of the world she was the picture of confidence.

Gabriel beamed as Eve took his hand, "Let's go get that ready… maybe we can have it for dinner." She turned to her parents and smiled.

Gabriel looked at Gabrielle. He cocked his young head to the side and studied her for a moment. Then he took her hand and pulled her to him, "I will see you for dinner, Auntie."

Gabrielle smiled, "Yes, Gabriel…you will," she squeezed him and smiled at his mother. Xena stood just behind Gabrielle watching as Eve led the boy away.

"He is so much like his grandmother," the warrior offered.

"Which one?" Gabrielle laughed still watching the pair as Gabriel pulled at his mother.

Xena poked her tongue at her cheek and then answered, "You amaze me every day," the warrior said as the bard turned toward her.

Gabrielle smiled and took the warrior's hand. "Let's go," she said softly. The warrior smiled solemnly as they made their way to the village center.

Naida looked on; scanning behind the lines for Ares signal. Ares was moving about in concealment behind a wide band of archers and swordswomen. He watched the temple closely and then he saw it; the figure moving toward the temple deliberately. He moved toward a small break in the line and revealed himself so that his gauntlet could pick up the sunlight and then concealed himself again immediately. Naida have her signal and the rapid advancement of Ares army began its trample of the ground below.

Ares watched the goddess pace the temple looking above her and taking in the grandeur of offerings and artwork that adorned the building. It felt more like a palace than a temple, the God of War thought to himself. The goddess stopped before a wide pedestal and fondled a silver bowl. Ares maneuvered himself directly behind her as the noise of the impending battle outside broke forth.

"Well… not what you expected, I gather," he whispered in her ear as she turned and jumped backward.

A deranged laugh broke the quiet of the temple and Ares revealed himself.

Anath was taken back and struck out with a blast of energy directed squarely at the God of War's chest, but he reacted quickly and deflected her meager attack with his gauntlet. "Tisk… tisk… now is that any way to greet a fellow God."

Anath's anger showed plainly. "And another God of War… at that," he continued. "MMMM… my father taught me more hospitality than that," he continued as he circled the temple and lifted an apple from an offering tray taking a bite of it.

"Who are you?"

The God of War placed his free hand over his chest mocking a sense of deep hurt at the goddess's slight. "Who am I? ….. Oh my dear…. Dear Anath… I have been waging wars longer than your people have had Gods to worship."

He moved toward her and she spoke harshly, "Ares… what do you want?"

"Oh… there are many things I want," he said tracing the offerings that lie about the temple with his fingertips. "From you?" he laughed. "You made a mistake…"

"I don't think so," the goddess answered watching him carefully.

"No… no … you wouldn't think so… you pissed off the Amazon Queen… mmmm… mistake."

The goddess scoffed at his assertion, "Were it not for the Warrior Princess the Amazon Queen you so warmly refer to would be dead."

Ares chuckled and looked up at his Phoenician counterpart, "Ohhhh… you are just a child… I thought as you once… foolish child… Xena.. Xena will prevail…. She always prevails… even in death."

The goddess was becoming distracted by the commotion outside and Ares could see her tension rising.

"Oh…." He smirked, "That?... Don't worry about that…. That would be my army kicking your ass all over Phoenicia…"

The goddess became enraged and threw another bolt of energy toward the God of War but Ares simply ducked and avoided her assault.

"You really should stop doing that," he said flatly. "I am giving you some sound advice…..walk away… walk away from this…"

Anath looked at him with disdain, "Why would I do that?"

"Well… if you don't… I'll have to kill you… That's a pretty good reason."

The goddess laughed now. "Kill me? We both know that will not happen."

"Ohhh… do we? Walk away, Anath… as a fellow God of War I am giving you this chance…you are being used…"

"And you're not? What is this about, God of War? That bitch warrior you have been pining over all these years?'

Ares took a deep breath and released a loud sigh, "Oh… mmm… she certainly can be a bitch… ah… yes.. but no, no… this is not about Xena…Listen to me… you have no idea what you are into here…you cannot win… not against them….and not against me."

Anath moved slowly closer to Ares. "You will never give up your immortality to kill me… and we both know that is the only way…"

Ares set down his apple core. He shook his head, "I did warn you," he fired off a blast of blue energy knocking the goddess backward, "And you really don't know me very well...mortality doesn't scare me."

The entire tribe was assembled in the center of the village as Xena and Gabrielle made their way toward the platform where Varia and Cynara stood. The Amazon Queen kept a firm grip on the warrior's hand. It kept her steady now. Xena walked ahead onto the platform and reach out to pull Gabrielle up from the steep stairs. The Amazon Queen stopped at the edge of the platform and took a moment to search the blue eyes before her. There she would find assurance, comfort, strength… home. The warrior tightened her lips and looked deeply into her lover's eyes. She held the queen's hand firmly and led her to the center of the platform. Varia and Cynara acknowledged Queen Gabrielle's arrival with the traditional sign of Amazon respect. Gabrielle was the senior queen and the respect and love that she commanded from the women in the tribe remained unparalleled. Gabrielle let go of Xena who moved to the back of the platform and returned the sign to her fellow queens before offering it to the tribe as a whole. The tribe erupted in shouts of excitement at the queen's gesture.

Gabrielle quieted them and moved forward to speak. The council of elders positioned at the front and right of the platform, watching closely.

"Amazon Sisters," Gabrielle began, "For many years I have traveled within this sisterhood. I have seen our nation grow, our nation fight, our nation struggle… Or villages, our sisters have been my family…they offered me shelter, acceptance… the opportunity to grow… they offered me love…and most of all.. an enduring trust. Today I stand before you with a heavy heart….knowing… knowing that in our midst stand women that claim our sisterhood as their own…. But they are not truly amazons. Their loyalty lies with the gods of a distant land."

Gasps erupted from the tribe as they began to search one another.

"Lies…" a voice erupted from below.

Gabrielle did not change her position nor did she shift her gaze. Calmly she continued, "I have been aware of this presence since the attack was made on my grandson and I was wounded….But… after our interrogations I am certain that there remains a presence among us...sisters who hide their truth and a sister who dares to lead them from within our family."

Cynara shifted her weight and answered the accusation with one of her own, "Where is Lysandra then?" the young queen asked.

Gabrielle struggled to conceal a reaction to the dagger that she felt pierce her chest with those words. The answer was now clear. Cynara's statement was all the evidence the Amazon Queen needed. Xena looked on intently. She was certain that no one else would have noticed the momentary change in Gabrielle's posture, but to the warrior it was unmistakable. Gabrielle was now convinced that Cynara was involved and possibly complicit in the very attack that was engineered against Eve and Gabriel. The warrior felt her heart sink at the knowledge of how deeply this would hurt the bard.

Varia looked at Cynara. She expected a reaction; but to make an accusation against Lysandra? Gabrielle turned slowly toward the young queen as the tribe watched. Gradually and deliberately she walked toward Cynara now, the betrayal in her heart shown plainly in her eyes as they fixed on Cynara's.

"Lysandra is on route back to us as we speak, Queen Cynara. She left at my direction with Queen Varia's knowledge after she discovered two of these supposed sisters lurking behind the prison hut while Xena and I interrogated my attacker. As you know…. Queen Cynara…. Xena and I had planned to spare the attacker and attempt to use her knowledge without the consultation of the elders…..had Lysandra not found these women….it is likely that one of us would have been injured or worse. Unfortunately, my assailant did not survive and FORTUNATELY… Queen Varia and Lysandra were able to disarm and capture these women. They are already in the south….held by my friends and being interrogated by my son-in-law now."

"You have no proof of that – why send Lysandra away if not to hide something?" Cynara yelled in her own defense.

The tribe was growing skeptical of the young queen's claims and the tension mounting was palpable.

Gabrielle moved past Varia and stood toe to toe now with Cynara. She spoke in a hush directly in the young queen's ear now, "You disappoint me, Cyanara…. I loved you as a sister… you attacked my family…my daughters… my grandson…I cannot help you now." The Queen turned back to the tribe.

"Queen Cynara has levied a charge against Lysandra and I believe that is to deflect her own guilt," Gabrielle looked out among the tribe and saw Lysandra approaching slowly from the left near the stables. "Lysandra… Lysandra has been known to me for many years… and here before you I declare that she is as much my daughter as Eve…my rite of caste….to call her loyalty into question is also to call into question my own."

Varia stepped forward now and faced the tribe, "Queen Gabrielle's loyalty is above all question."

The tribe roared its approval as Varia continued, "You," she turned to Cynara, "Are no Amazon Queen." Varia turned back to the tribe and looked to the elders, "I issue a challenge to the throne and the rights of Queen to Cynara, Queen of the Southern Amazons."

The eldest stepped forward and answered the request, "The challenge is valid and the challenge is recognized. A fight to the death for the throne and leadership of the Southern Amazons will take place at sunset…in the light of the full moon – here."

The tribe erupted as Varia made her way back to Cynara, "You had your chance," Varia whispered.