Chapter 10
Early the following morning they were preparing to go with Eve to "gather" the women and bring them to the village. An old wagon had been found in the back of the stables, which had somehow been left untouched during the attack. It was decided that Sara would join them so she volunteered to drive the wagon out and back. There were several different supplies loaded in the back, all necessary items for even the short trip ahead of them. From what Eve had told Varia, there were a few older women who would benefit from an easier ride home.
"Their camp is only about a day's ride from here." Eve mentioned as she readied her own horse, "We should be back here no later than the evening meal tomorrow."
Xena listened while saddling Argo. She noticed Sofi watching from a distance and waved her over. "Hi little one!"
"Hi." She peered up at the large, golden colored horse. "She's pretty."
Xena smiled, "Thank you. Have you ever ridden on a horse before?"
Sofi slowly shook her head back and forth. "Noooo."
"Argo's pretty gentle, especially when she has a young rider on her back." Xena lifted the girl up so that the two could be face to face. Argo nickered and huffed, blowing Sofi's hair from her face. As if to say that she understood that the girl was nervous.
"You're not leaving me here?"
Xena smiled and shook her head, "No Sof, you're going with us."
"Okay." Sofi returned the shy smile, petting Argo's nose.
A short time later, Xena sat in the saddle with Sofi in front of her. She looked over their group, "Are we ready ladies?"
A chorus of 'aye Xena' and 'yes' rang out and with that, they all moved forward towards the edge of the Amazon territory. From that point on, Eve led the way toward the group of women and girls.
I was enjoying the view from where I sat in front of Xena, paying attention to our surroundings provided some distraction from being uncomfortable. This whole riding a horse thing is not easy. I tried not to squirm too much but it was getting more and more difficult to keep still. I wonder when we're going to stop.
As if Xena heard my thoughts, she spoke quietly, "How're you doing there, little one?"
"I'm okay."
"Are you sure?"
Seeing the raised eyebrow look she was giving me, I remembered Ephiny's words of advice when it came to Xena and decided against fibbing.
"I'm a little sore, I've never rode a horse before." I shrugged. "But it's okay, I'll be fine."
"Uh huh," Xena grinned and shook her head before letting out a low whistle; effectively calling everyone to a halt. "Let's stop here to water the horses and take a short break."
I waited for Xena to dismount before she reached up for me, "Do ya think that maybe I could learn to ride?"
"If that's something you wanted, I don't see why not."
"Yay!" I smiled up at the tall warrior who looked so much like my own mother and grandmother. The more I thought about it and studied this woman, the more I realized that the resemblance was amazing. Maybe one day I'll figure out what it is but for now...it's okay. Looking around, I saw Gabrielle standing with Eve in the shade of a tree. I know that Solan said Eve was his sister but - My thoughts were interrupted by a gentle nudge from Xena.
"Go cool off in the shade for a little bit, we'll be riding again soon." She gave me another encouraging push. "Gabrielle has the water skin, you need to drink some too."
"What about you?" Warriors need water too, right?
We waited for the horses to drink their fill from the stream and set back out on the road. It had been a quiet morning, the silence only broken by the low conversations between the Amazon's.
"So, my little one," Xena's voice startled me from my thoughts. I tried not to jump.
"Since this is all new to you; I think it's a good idea to tell you what the rules are while we are out on the road."
Hmmmm..."What kind of rules?"
"Well, this world is nothing like the one you're used to."
I didn't even think about the next words that I blurted out, "No duh!"
There was silence for a moment, then I watched as a single eyebrow rose above the other. "Excuse me?"
Uh oh… "I'm sorry!"
"Uh huh," She nodded. "I'll let that one slide."
I swallowed and hoped the sudden flush I felt in my face and ears didn't show. That'd be embarrassing.
"Anyway…" She drawled and poked me in the ribs, making me giggle. "The rules are simple. If I tell you to get in a tree - stay there! And do it without asking why. Hesitating will only put us all in more danger."
"Danger? From what?"
"Any number of things, little one. From bandits to wild animals to start with."
I could tell that she didn't want to scare me but be honest at the same time.
"Can ya do that for me?" She asked, "Or anyone else who tells you to, for that matter."
"Sure Xena," I nodded. "I can do that."
She gave me a gentle squeeze. "That's a good girl."
We were quiet for a while as we continued moving along, then a thought came to mind. "What about other rules?"
She thought about that for a few moments. "Well, for starters, you're responsible for your own belongings, stay where we can see you - unless it's to use the bushes. Mind your manners, I'm sure you've been taught those."
"Yeahhhhh," I nodded. "What else?"
She ruffled my hair, "Other than doing as you're told, let's just start with those. Okay?"
"Sure!"
The Amazon party made it to the encampment without any issues, which surprised the warrior. She recalled the situation that Varia had mentioned a short time ago, they were still in negotiations with the surrounding villages but things were settling down on that front. Only thing left to take care of was the 'army'.
The group of women were glad to see that Eve had returned as promised. Their appointed leader came forward as they approached.
"Eve," She began as they clasped arms. "It's good to see you."
"You as well, Sorsha." Eve smiled. "I brought my family and the Amazon Leaders, as promised."
I grew restless and bored of listening to the adults discuss plans for heading back to Amazon lands in the morning. I couldn't help but fidget with the loose strings on my pants and move from foot to foot, my feet were starting to hurt. Gabrielle noticed and gave me a look, she whispered my name in warning.
"Sorry." I mouthed back to her. I tried to stand still but after a while I was back to tapping my toes in the dirt. Xena whispered in my ear and sent me to collect firewood with a swat.
Yikes! Remembering to stay in eyesight, I walked across the clearing and started picking through the leaves and brush. Gabrielle came over a little bit later and sat down on a log,"Hi there little one."
"Hi."
She pulled me close and sat me on her lap, "I'm sorry I had to be stern with you earlier."
"It's okay," I whispered. "Sometimes I have a hard time sittin' still."
"Well, you're little and we understand that." She smiled. "Eventually you will have to sit in on meetings, much like that one, as your Amazon duties begin."
What? Amazon duties?! "Like what?"
"Well, at some point, you'll become a leader of this tribe." She brushed the hair off my face. "But that won't be for a long while yet. So don't worry. Xena and I will make sure you are ready."
Is that why I was brought here? To be a leader for these people? I wondered.
"Now, while we get the fires going, why don't you gather all the children and I'll tell stories while we all eat?"
I grinned, "Okay!"
Later that night, by their own little fire, Xena sat there completely lost in her own thoughts. Watching the child - her child - sleep quietly nearby. She recalled talking with Sofi all afternoon. Who said warriors don't chat? She chuckled to herself, then stopped abruptly. When did I begin to think of her as 'mine'?
Gabrielle plopped down next to her warrior. "Hi Xe."
"Hi yourself," Xena leaned against her partner.
Noting the pensive look in the blue eyes, "A dinar for your thoughts?"
"Not worth that much," she shook her head. "But I'll tell ya anyway."
Gabrielle's arm snaked its way across her Warrior's back, settling along her hips. Happy to listen to whatever the usually quiet and stoic woman beside her had to say.
"I don't know when but I realized that I've begun to think of Sofi as mine, as ours."
"Well, in a way, Xe, she is ours." The bard began. "Aphrodite said as much."
"She did….damn meddling gods." She grumbled good naturedly. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs. It was then that she heard whimpering from across the fire, it only took a moment to realize who it was coming from.
The pair waited to see if Sofi would calm on her own but after a few moments her cries only increased as she began to thrash around in her sleep. It became clear that the poor girl was having a nightmare.
Xena got up from her seat and knelt down next to the child, she whispered softly as she gently shook her shoulder. Sofi startled awake, gasping for breath.
"Shhhh….relax, little one. It's only me." Xena's heart broke for the child in front of her as Sofi's eyes filled with tears. "C'mon, let's go sit by the fire."
The girl clung to the warrior so tightly that Xena had no choice but to sit with the girl in her lap. She would deny it if anyone ever asked, but the warrior didn't mind too much.
"Hush now, my little one…" she sang softly, gently rocking back and forth. "Please don't you cry…"
Eve had been on her way over to sit with her family when she overheard the low singing. Taking a seat on the other side of her mother, she murmured quietly, "Seems I have a vague memory of you singing that same song to me…"
The warrior's blue eyes gazed off into the distance for a few moments before settling on the blue orbs that mirrored her own, "You were so very little."
"It's okay, Mom." Eve whispered. "I've made peace with it."
Eve gazed at Sofi with a gentle look, wanting to change the subject to spare her mother from the self-recriminations, "She's all worn out from today's trip huh?"
Understanding what Eve had left unspoken, she nodded. "Yeah, I don't think she's ever experienced a journey like this before."
