Usual disclaimers apply.
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Chapter 14
"Artemis?" Gabrielle stopped midstride on her way to the healer's hut.
"I must speak with you, Gabrielle."
The bard nodded and turned to Eponin and Solari, "Go check on Tabitha, I will be there as soon as Artemis and I have spoken."
"With all due respect to the goddess," Eponin began, "I do not feel comfortable leaving you unescorted."
A smile tugged at Artemis' lips. "I will make sure your queen is returned to you safely, Eponin."
"I mean no disrespect…" the warrior trailed off when Artemis held up her hand.
"None has been taken, weapons master. I am glad your queen has such dedicated protectors."
Nodding to Artemis and then Gabrielle, Eponin and Solari made their way to the healer's hut while Gabrielle and Artemis moved to stand under the shade of a large tree and away from prying eyes.
"Artemis, what is going on?" Gabrielle finally asked.
"Xena summoned me and asked what I knew about mortals currying favor with the gods if they take Samina."
"How did she know?"
"It seems as if my brother paid her a visit."
"Ares? Why would he visit her?" Gabrielle asked in confusion.
"Because your eldest daughter called him out, Gabrielle. She demanded to know what he knew of the men who came after her. Ares was letting Xena know what happened."
"Self-preservation," Gabrielle scoffed.
"Yes."
"I need to speak with Sam."
"As do I," Artemis stepped forward and put a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I know you are her mother, but I am bound to protect her, and to help guide her. I want her to know of my displeasure as well in doing something so dangerous."
Taking a deep breath Gabrielle finally nodded, "Of course, but I ask that we speak with her together. I will allow Xena to handle a more hands on punishment when we get home, but I will deal with her thought process."
Artemis smiled knowingly. "I am sure that you will, Gabrielle. Now, shall we go and talk to your child?"
Gabrielle nodded and led the goddess towards the practice arena. "She's working out some of her feelings sparring."
"Just like her mother," Artemis quipped.
Gabrielle smiled at the goddess, "In more ways than one."
Reaching the practice arena Gabrielle and Artemis stopped to watch the action in the ring. Sam was using her staff to take on two attackers at once and by the looks of the younger warriors around the ring and holding onto the fence she had gone through almost the entire group of her peers as well as some older junior warriors.
Artemis chuckled as Sam taunted her opponents and then planted the staff in the ground only to kick at them as she held onto it before flipping over their bodies and landing on the other side. "Which one of you taught her that?"
Gabrielle blushed slightly, "Both of us actually. Planting the staff and kicking is me. Going in a circle and flipping is all Xena."
Artemis nodded and looked at the junior warriors still facing Sam. Most had looks of pure terror on their faces or false bravado. Deciding to make her point to Sam as an Amazon warrior, Artemis stepped forward and into the ring.
"Hey, watch out!" I yelled before noticing who had entered the ring.
Stopping, she held up her hands to her opponents. "The match is over."
"Thank the gods," one of the girls mumbled.
"Actually you can thank Artemis yourself," I quipped moving to the goddess. "To what do I owe this visit, Artemis?" The crowd stilled and became completely quiet when they heard what I said.
"I wish to discuss a matter of calling a certain god out."
"Oh," I ducked her head and looked at my boots. "I take it you aren't happy with my choice?"
"Look at me, Samina." My head shot up in seconds and I locked eyes with the goddess. "You know not to do something so foolish," she admonished so quietly that I knew I was the only one hearing her words.
"I can hold my own with Ares," I protested. "After all I can kill or injure gods now."
"I am aware of that, Samina." Artemis was still speaking softly and I watched as a staff appeared in her hands. "You and I are going to spare, Samina. Then we shall see who has the upper hand with the gods."
"You know I'm good with this weapon." I smirked. "And as I've said, I can hurt gods."
Artemis smiled at me, "I am aware. Begin!"
The first strike came from nowhere and I quickly blocked it. Artemis continued her assault and I focused on stopping the blows as quickly as they came at me. Finally flipping out of her reach I tried to regroup before she attacked again. Getting a strike on me I felt the anger bubble inside me and channeling it I began to act only on instinct.
The match continued with me going all out and Artemis barely reacting at times. My bouts with my mothers had helped my stamina but I was being hit more and more often and even the anger I released wasn't helping anymore. Finally I felt the last strike to my backside that I was able to take. I rolled with the strike and stood placing my staff across my arms.
"I concede, Artemis." Bowing my head cheers rang up around me and I looked around confused. I had lost the match why was there cheering?"
"Way to hold your own, Sam!" a voice yelled.
"Nice one, Junior. You're still standing!" Rory's voice rang out and I shook my head as Artemis walked towards me.
"You are a formidable opponent for one so young, but you are not a warrior yet, Samina. Do not forget that you have much to learn and I do not appreciate cockiness and overconfidence in my leaders. Never intentionally do something that dangerous again. I do not wish to lose you, Samina. Do you understand?"
I nodded and gave a wry smile, "I understand and I am sorry for my lapse in judgment."
"You are young and it is expected. Also expected are the punishments your mothers will have for you. Accept them and learn from them, Samina. I do not wish to have this conversation again."
Artemis was gone before I could nod and I slowly limped towards my mother. "I think I need some aspirin," I smiled at her and she nodded at me.
"At least a warm soak with some healing salts in it and a rubdown. Let's go check on the damage. I imagine riding might be a bit painful for a while."
"Probably."
I linked elbows with Mom and was glad the crowd allowed us through. "I deserved that, didn't I?"
"Oh yeah, Sammy. That and so much more."
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Artemis was pacing in her quarters on Olympus when her sister materialized. "Arte, why the sad face?"
"Samina."
"My little warrior bard? What could she have done that has caused you to want to wear a hole in the floor?"
"Summoned Ares."
"She what?" Aphrodite's usually happy demeanor was replaced by one of an angry goddess.
"What was she thinking?" The blonde stood in front of her sister and stopped the redhead's pacing.
"That she wanted answers and Ares was the one to give them to her." Artemis grabbed Aphrodite's arm. "Sit and I will explain to you."
Waving her arm two overstuffed chairs appeared and Aphrodite sank into one and waited for Artemis. "Okay, Arte, spill and I mean pronto. I so need to go and chat with my little warrior bard."
"Well, it began when Xena called to me…." Artemis began.
The more Artemis spoke the more upset Aphrodite became. She hated to do serious, in fact, she avoided serious as much as possible. The fact that her little warrior bard had placed herself in such danger without a thought was causing the goddess of love to have more serious thoughts in twenty minutes then she'd had in a millennia. Oh, she so needed to go and straighten her chosen out. She could do serious if she had to.
Noticing that her sister had finally finished her story Aphrodite sighed. "Any idea who's behind the attempt on Sam?"
Shaking her head slowly Artemis took Aphrodite's hands in hers, "I know you are as upset as I was, Dite. I promised Xena that I would have more answers for her soon but I don't know if that is possible."
"No word from anyone on who may be behind it?"
"None, and you know that Ares would be crowing about it."
Aphrodite smirked, "Not even Ares is dumb enough to try and hurt one of Xena's children. Whomever did this isn't too bright."
"Agreed, so what are you planning to do now, Dite?"
"I plan on talking to my chosen and letting her know that her favorite goddess mother can do serious if she has to." Standing Aphrodite smiled at Artemis. "Thanks, Sis." Snapping her fingers Aphrodite headed to her chosen not sure if she was going to hug her or spank the stuffing out of her when she saw her.
Gabrielle looked up from her spot on the couch in the queen's guest quarters when she smelled the roses and sensed another presence. Sam was lying on the couch with her head in Gabrielle's lap asleep and the bard was running her fingers through the still damp dark tresses.
"Aphrodite?"
The goddess was quiet as her blue eyes focused on the child asleep in Gabrielle's lap. "What is it with you Amazons and no creature comforts?"
Snapping her fingers a large plush chair appeared and the goddess sank into it while she watched Gabrielle's fingers stroking Sam's hair for a while. Finally speaking her voice was quiet. "I came here to let her know how this awesome goddess mother feels about her choice in calling out my big brother. Just because he has a soft spot for Xena doesn't mean he's safe."
Gabrielle nodded. "Sam seems to forget that sometimes. I think she looks and him and sometimes sees only her uncle from the future. We've warned her so many times that this Ares is not her Ares. And it looks as if we'll be talking with her about it yet again."
Aphrodite smiled. "I have no doubt of that. The same way I'm sure she'll be feeling Arte's displeasure for a few days. I told Artemis I'd get some more answers for you before she goes back to talk to the warrior babe. But looking at my little warrior bard like this, I think I'll just help zap you home when you're ready."
"You don't have to do that Aphrodite." Gabrielle's voice was soft.
"I know, but I want to." The goddess moved to the couch and rubbed her hand down Sam's face before kissing the birthmark on her temple. "I need to do this to keep you all safe. Don't think I didn't hear about that awful man after our healer warrior."
"Zivah? You knew about her uncle?"
"He's no longer a concern of yours. And will never be a concern again."
"What did you do?" Gabrielle asked as the goddess sat down once more.
"You don't want to know." Aphrodite was quiet and Gabrielle watched as the goddess shifted a bit.
"Aphrodite, what's going on? I thought you didn't do serious."
"You are so right, sweet pea. I usually don't, but this is more than me just needing to be serious. This is me worried. Whomever has decided to spread the lie about currying favor for kidnapping my little warrior bard is playing a dangerous game. I don't want my favorite mortal family to get in the middle of this posturing on Olympus."
"I wish it hadn't come to this," Gabrielle brushed the bangs back from her daughter's face. "She is so much like Xena in how she thought to call out Ares, go straight to the problem and find a solution. And yet so much like me in that she called out Ares without even thinking of the repercussions or how dangerous it truly would have been if he'd chosen to play with her."
"She truly is her mothers' daughter, Gabrielle. And she's my chosen for a reason." Holding up her hand Aphrodite gave a smile to the bard, "In time, sweet pea, in time you will know the reason for it. Just know I will do everything I can to keep her protected."
"I know that you will and Xena and I are grateful to you for that as well as Artemis."
"I still need to talk to my little warrior bard though," Aphrodite sighed. "Just holler when you're ready to get snapped back to the village and the warrior babe. I'll be there before you can say spa day. I can talk to my chosen then."
Gabrielle smiled wryly at the goddess, "I will."
"Toodles," waving her fingers the goddess disappeared in a haze of pink stars while leaving behind the scent of rose petals and a large over stuffed pink arm chair.
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