As they exited the palace and headed towards the gardens, no words were actually spoken between the two rivals. They just walked casually- shoulder to shoulder- for a few long, uncomfortable minutes – their blank gazes firmly fixed to a far away point on the horizon as if an invisible battle was already taking place in some remote location only the two of them knew about and that would have been impossible to perceive for the rest of the mortals, anyway.
"So…what other passions do you have besides war and warfare, Xena?" the Queen finally broke the silence, giving her a quizzical look and actually managing to feign interest in the information.
" Knitting…I always do it in my spare time. I have an entire collection of sweaters and scarfs back in Greece. "she made sure to reply on the same honeyed tone the redheaded hottie had just used with her. " I've even knitted a blanket for my horse…" she added, not in the least concerned that the Queen might feel offended by her attitude.
Instead of appearing in any way insulted by her irony though, Amytis burst into a heartfelt laughter that definitely took the Chosen of War by surprise…She had put as much disdain as she possibly could in that line, and yet, it seemed like the soulless bitch didn't seem to mind….
"You have a great sense of humour- dark and dirty just like Ares. You two are a lot like each other" she commented, and almost immediately, Xena's expression turned from surprise to shock- not necessarily because of the strikingly kind remark her host had articulated, but more like because of the super large tiger that had jumped from the bushes right in the center of the alley. Way before the Warrior Princess even had the chance to blink, the imposing animal came running towards them.
In a split second, as time stopped flowing and everything around them froze, Xena wished she had brought her blade with her, analyzed the situation, got ready to face this totally unexpected threat and came up with a temporary backup plan – her sapphire eyes having already spotted a couple of high enough trees in which she could climb the second the situation became too tough for her to handle.
"Amyra! Hey there! Did you miss me, baby?! " the Queen's affectionate exclamation suddenly set everything in motion again, breaking her focus.
Next thing she knew, the redheaded beauty was fearlessly petting the tiger- that in the presence of its mistress appeared to behave more like a large cat than a beast. "Don't worry, Xena..." Amytis tried to calm down her guest, chuckling softly at just how tense her body had become in the face of danger . "…. unlike me, Amyra has been tamed from her birth. She won't bite, will you girl?! " she playfully inquired, her eyes firmly fixed on the deadly meat-eater who was now rubbing itself against her legs.
The Warrior Princess just arched an eyebrow at the woman's remark. So… she considered herself a predator ….That was just great! A good hunt always excited her!
"You can touch her if you want to. She has the fluffiest fur you could ever imagine…very soft." she invited, only to be met by a set of piercing disapproving eyes.
" Suit yourself…." the Queen simply continued, bending a bit and kissing the tiger's cold, wet nose, giggling happily when the large feline purred at the gesture.
"Are animals your passion?" the Chosen of War just had to ask, partly curious about the answer.
"Animals and flowers" she replied in that charming tone that had drawn Xena's attention starting with the very first moment she met her, one that made her appear to be the most vulnerable but adorable woman to have ever walked this earth. " Run along now, baby! Go play with the others!" she sweetly ordered the tiger, brushing her fingers deep into its thick fur one last time before- as if having actually understood the meaning of her words- faster than an arrow, the animal disappeared from sight as if it had never even been there.
"So that's why these gardens are so amazing…!" Xena complimented- an honest remark, given that no one in their righteous mind would have been as false as to deny that the surrounding landscape was of a breathtaking splendor.
" Why, thank you. I tried to recreate as much of my homeland as possible when I married Nabucco. I used to miss my lands terribly – still do, sometimes- and this horrible, dry place – one of the most depressing I have seen in all my life- hasn't particularly made it easy for me…I did my best…"
" You sure did…" Xena courteously agreed, gently caressing the light orange petals of a lily as she walked by it.
" There is always something I change though, every year. It keeps most of the slaves busy and out of my hair. Nabucco stubbornly insists to always have a bunch of them following me around wherever I go- despite the fact that the idea alone drives me crazy, not to mention their despicable presence." she stated, making a face as the words rolled off her tongue.
" He loves you. He's probably worried about your safety…."
" I'm immortal…" she casually specified- as if it were the most natural thing in the world- a barely perceptible but yet present frown darkening her flawless features when she read no reaction on her rival's face….So, Ares had told her….
" Immortals too can be killed. I'm sure the King is well aware of that…" the Warrior Princess made sure to remind her, sounding a bit more threatening than she had initially intended.
" Many have contemplated the perspective along the years….few have tried it….none of them is still alive…." the redheaded arrogantly retorted, smirking derisively at this ridiculous mortal who actually thought she could outsmart her.
" Are you a good fighter?" Xena subtly challenged, hoping to finally get the chance to wipe the entire garden with her. Oh, she was definitely going to teach this cocky slut a lesson about the value of modesty….one that she would remember for the rest of eternity if she was keen on living that long!
" No. " came the blunt reply that left her speechless for a few moments. " I happen to think that the use of physical strength is for brutes. " the Queen added, her smile only widening even more, much to the Warrior Princess' consternation…." But I do have a few tricks up my sleeve…."
" Oh really? Would those tricks match a sharp enough blade?" Xena sneered, rolling her eyes at the woman's naivety. She was obviously delusional.
" I don't know….why don't we find out, Chosen of War? Let's see if you're as good as Ares claims you are...."
" Trust me, there's nothing I would like more. I'm afraid it wouldn't be a fair fight though…."
"Good- cause playing fair was the last thing I had in mind.." she cunningly provoked, signaling to a slave to bring her rival a sword.
Before she knew it, Xena's fingers were tightly clenched around the grip of the marvelously hand crafted weapon, a flash of murderous rage shining on the glassy surface of her mesmerizing azure moons.
" Come on. Give me your best shot…!" the Queen casually invited, barely stifling a laugh, and for a split second, the Warrior Princess couldn't help thinking if the Olympian had been completely honest about his ex lover's abilities….He had clearly mentioned that she was not a Goddess, just an immortal- which pretty much meant no godly powers, so thus, she couldn't have been an actual threat….What was wrong with that picture then? Did she have a death wish or something?! Or…was she trying to frame her?! ….To cleverly portray the traumatized victim and accuse her of an assault of some kind?!
Patiently waiting for her adversary to charge and quickly noticing her hesitation, Amytis felt the need to intervene…
" You're thinking too much…. overly analyzing the situation...And though, I'm almost certain Ares told you that sometimes, in the heat of the battle, the only right thing to do is act…."
That was the last drop! Not only that silly, superior grin annoyed the Tartarus out of Xena, but for that Babylonian bitch to actually have the nerve to quote her patron God and to try to teach her – out of all people- a thing or two about strategy and warfare, that was too much!
With a piercing enough war cry to make all eyes in their immediate vicinity focus on the little show they were lively staging, Xena suddenly flipped into the air, ready to slash this irritating woman to pieces, only to realize, when she was about five yards from the ground, that she was…stuck there….floating, while from the ground, the highly amused Queen was slowly waving her hands in the direction she wanted the Warrior Princess to follow…..Much to her desperation, unable to do anything to resist the energetic wave that was now dragging her forcefully towards her left, Xena fought vainly against the magic that gradually transported her right above a massive water fountain, and, as soon as she had reached the center of it, with a discreet sign of her finger, the Amytis let her fall, splashing everything around her.
To make matters even worse, as fury reached impossible heights throughout each and every cell of her soaking wet form, the dark haired Warrior discovered that the blade she had been tightly holding all this time, had turned into nothing more and nothing less than a black velvety rose, identical with the ones that her patron god always gave her…..
" My favorite …" the Queen explained, gazing wistfully at the unique flower her rival was now clutching, a melancholic smile softening her features. " The first time Ares offered me one, I was absolutely amazed by its unearthly beauty…." she confessed, and though up to that moment, ever since Lyceus had died, Xena could swear that nothing had managed to actually hurt her any more, that very second she felt as if something had crushed her heart….
As she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out- she didn't really know what in Tartarus she could have said anyway- and, as Amytis closed in the distance between them and graciously offered a hand to help her out of the fountain, she mechanically took it, the pain in her eyes being way too intense to even bother to dissimulate it.
A wave of the Queen's hand later, and the Warrior Princess was perfectly dry again.
" I guess you really were serious when you said that you had no intention to play fair….I had no idea that you were a Goddess…." she remarked once she finally found her voice.
"I'm no Goddess…" the Queen replied, arching a patronizing eyebrow at her."... nor I desire to be, though the offer has been made…I'm a witch…..Oh, and Xena….only fools play fair. "
DON'T DESPAIR NOW ROMANTIC READERS:))) THE WRITER HAS A ROMANTIC PLAN :))