Disclaimers :This is my story
PART2
Amazon Story
I awoke in the late afternoon with a shaking of my shoulder, peeling heavy lids back from tired eyes I looked to the form of Queen Vashti. I felt her hand press against my burning skin its cool texture clearing a bit of the cotton from my mind. "Where?" Try as I might I could not clear my vision. Her form remained blurred and unclear. "Clenara bring me some water she is burning up." I could hear the Princess moving to my left, she shuffled to the task, I felt a moment of satisfaction as I could remember causing her new lameness. "Thank you Goddess Artemis." The knowledge of my victory not only for myself but also for my patron Goddess helped me endure the pain and fire that attacked me though I lay still. "She is sick with fever.." Was that a thought of inspiration? I moaned as Vashti's hands began to unbind my aching ribs. "Hold her still so I can check her wounds." Was it not my head that was more addled than my body? I couldn't remember. Arms enveloped me and held me still in my weak protestation. I settled to the fact that pain would have me for its time, for it would never do me in. I was not so sick that I had forgotten my recent adventure in life. A smile crept over me and warmed parts of me that sickness and pain never could.
"She is not getting any better." Clenara leaned over the small frail form of the girl child. Her skin was flushed by the sickness that had caught her through the night. "We need to take her to the tribe my Love. There Marra can cleans her body and purify her of this fever." I watched the play of emotion on my Queens features. Her dark eyes shifting over the small girl child. Did we not even know her name? She placed another wet compress of the flushed neck of the child. "Vashti?" She carried that burdened worried look she got when one of her women were injured. Kneeling beside her I placed an arm across her shoulders. She leaned into me and seemed to deflate. "It has been long hours since she fell asleep, Clenara .. I believe we should not move her. Go now love. Take the horse and ride with Artemis's blessing. Bring Marra to us with the herbs she will need. Tell her there is much body harm to a youth. Go now hurry, it seems to cruel to loose her in like manner after she fought so valiantly. Go my love! Save our child!" I looked at her a moment startled at the turn of events. "Our child?" I asked to stunned to move from her side. She pushed against me to get me moving. "Yes! Our child! None other shall have such a spirit in their hut. Go now!" Looking upon the pain expression of her beautiful face I pushed myself to my feet cussing the sucker shot the girl child had gotten in on my knee. With some trouble I mounted the horse we had shared and was now on my way towards the village half a days ride away from our small camp.
As Clenara rode off I wondered if I would be able to keep the girl child alive for the duration of her travels. "Goddess she is so hot." Looking at her laying there on the blankets I imagined her as to be of my own body. Would I allow my own daughter to be pummeled by my lover even if she had knocked her into the water on purpose? I know already the answer. Why am I being tormented? I wondered as guilt rose its ugly head in my heart. "You are yet young even in human years." The sudden voice startled me. Turning I found my Goddess standing dressed in her hunters leathers. I fell to my face before her. "Artemis!" "Arise Vashti you have not angered me. I have come bearing words of advice for you and the child which pleases me so." Looking upon her radiance I arose to stand before her. "Your love for your Princess is very strong. When the child decided to join you I instructed her on the ways of getting your attention. Because you saw unfit to otherwise look upon her. She has and still is paying for striking your Princess. But I have come to tell you as you await the return of Clenara and Marra, if you want this child to remain alive you should place her in the water. Her fever is very high and she will perish shall she remain at such a high temperature." As soon as she had come she was once again gone. Her brilliance left me dazed for a heartbeat. At first I thought she awoke. Her sudden jerk in my arms and thrashing appeared almost coherent, once her fevered body hit the cool waters of the Delback. She gasped as it ran over her and then engulfed her to her neck. Her small hands clutched my arms in a painful grip of fear. When she settled in the cool waters she sighed for the relief it brought her. Devine intervention had bought us the time needed for Marra and Clenara to arrive. Though it was some time before they got there I knew there was more interest in her than just I.
Marra arrived late into the night, Clenara guiding her way. The two of them had traveled at an exhausting clip to cut down travel time. Our stalwart motherly looking healer now appeared irritated and more than a little harassed. "Bring her out of the water before she catches her death!"
When I came in contact with the girl I was surprised at the heat that emitted from her small body. "Surly she has grown hotter now than she had been before!" "Actually she had been much warmer then she is now." "Ye Gods!" Seeing the Princess ride into the camp alone at such a harried pace I had thought the worst had happened. When she dismounted and collapsed before me I knew something was not right with the two. She spoke quickly of a battle between her and another. She did not mention who it was. The hit to her knee had lamed her, but not stopped her from coming to the aid and the wishes of our Queen. I gathered my things quickly and we were back on our way to their hide away. "Did you just find the child?!" She only urged her fresh mount on faster worried about leaving Vashti alone so long.
Now that I am here and see the child and her extensive wounds I know it was this little frail looking creature that gave the Princess the lameness of her knee. I could only guess at the context of them both. What had caused the little thing to attack Clenara? What had caused Clenara to beat the child senseless? Why now was she asked to save the child if the purpose was to kill her in the first place? She felt so hot to touch.. "How long has she been like this?" While I worked Clenara and Vashti filled me in on the details. "When we awoke we found her this way. Not this hot yet but her fever was climbing. She has slept most of the day. I awoke her earlier to be sure she would arise. I was worried of her fever consuming her, I asked for the help of Artemis. She came to me and warned me of the child's inner heat. With the guidance to put the girl child in the river she left. After her first reaction we have been in the river with little change." I crushed some willow bark, rose hips, and linden flowers together. Grinding them in a bowl till they were fine. "Clenara bring some water from the river and set it to boil. We will need some for a tea, it will help with the fever." The time passed in quiet conversation as if our voices would wake the fever induced sleep of the girl child. I sometimes found myself watching the actions of Vashti and Clenara as they spoke of the girl child. They seemed set on mixed emotions of distaste, dislike, loyalty, honor.. To figure out what had made such a vast mix of emotions I would have to know what had transpired between the three of them. However none of them were forthcoming with information. The princess found a place to sit close to the fire and across from her lover and the child. Her dark eyes watching the child with out really seeing her. Vashti yawned as I poured the hot water into the bowl to let it steep the herbs. "My Queen I will stay with the child. You and the Princess could rest." A look passed between the two, a truce of sorts. I smiled as they hobbled over to their sleeping furs and lay down with more than a little protestation of hard ground. A giggle from one or the other and a jest of getting old. The tension drained away as they fell into Morpheous world of sleep. My night was not so blissful. I remained awake to care for the girl, her fever eating away at the tiny reserves of body fat and soon into muscle. Keeping her wrapped and warm near the fire and kept liquid going into her system every other candle mark and with her sweating so much I was sure she would pull through. She would be much frailer than before and weak but she would survive her ordeal. I would have to talk to Clenara about the goodness of keeping her weapon's clean. Especially if she were to make a habit of beating the child senseless. Who knew the reason for their choice to keep her alive? Perhaps the fact that Artemis had appeared to Vashti on behalf of the child was one clue. We could not know what was ahead of us only what we were doing or had done. Now all we could do was wait, wait to see what was so special about this one. Or wait to see what her outcome in life would turn out to be.
Predawn surrounded the small camp I found myself in. I must have made some noise because a figure I did not know leaned over me looking down into my face. I jerked reflexively as their hand came towards my face. "Easy now child." I heard softly spoke to me in a motherly tone. I could not remember when I had heard such a blessed thing in my life. I never knew my own mother, never remembered her touch, her voice. Tears came to my eyes and raced down my cheeks. "Who are you?" I asked through the lump in my throat. She smiled for reasons I could only guess at. I groaned when my attempt to sit up failed. "I am Marra a healer. Would you like something to drink?" With a nod I was helped to sit up leaning with my back against her ample chest. She smelled of sage and fire, a soothing calmness swept through me as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder and with care helped me drink some tea. "Eww!" Her soft laugh danced around us as she pulled the cup from my lips. "You must drink it all, otherwise your fever will come back and if it does, it shall be worse than before." A few more bitter drinks of the tonic and I was allowed to rest against her. It was a chore to just lift my own head. I felt so weak, surly this is what the Queen had seen in me before. "Fear not child, let not those thoughts plague you any further." I looked around but could not see far into my surroundings. The voice I knew well, my Goddess spoke to me often. Always with words of advice and warning. "Thank you." "Think nothing of it." My thoughts came back to the world of flesh and bone and Ye Gods pain! I was very aware of every slice the Princess had gotten in on me at that moment. With a groan I simply let my head fall forward and once again let the dark Dream God claim me.
Part 3 has not been started yet. Ideas have been gathered. Don't forget to feed the Bards. Please read and Review.
I awoke in the late afternoon with a shaking of my shoulder, peeling heavy lids back from tired eyes I looked to the form of Queen Vashti. I felt her hand press against my burning skin its cool texture clearing a bit of the cotton from my mind. "Where?" Try as I might I could not clear my vision. Her form remained blurred and unclear. "Clenara bring me some water she is burning up." I could hear the Princess moving to my left, she shuffled to the task, I felt a moment of satisfaction as I could remember causing her new lameness. "Thank you Goddess Artemis." The knowledge of my victory not only for myself but also for my patron Goddess helped me endure the pain and fire that attacked me though I lay still. "She is sick with fever.." Was that a thought of inspiration? I moaned as Vashti's hands began to unbind my aching ribs. "Hold her still so I can check her wounds." Was it not my head that was more addled than my body? I couldn't remember. Arms enveloped me and held me still in my weak protestation. I settled to the fact that pain would have me for its time, for it would never do me in. I was not so sick that I had forgotten my recent adventure in life. A smile crept over me and warmed parts of me that sickness and pain never could.
"She is not getting any better." Clenara leaned over the small frail form of the girl child. Her skin was flushed by the sickness that had caught her through the night. "We need to take her to the tribe my Love. There Marra can cleans her body and purify her of this fever." I watched the play of emotion on my Queens features. Her dark eyes shifting over the small girl child. Did we not even know her name? She placed another wet compress of the flushed neck of the child. "Vashti?" She carried that burdened worried look she got when one of her women were injured. Kneeling beside her I placed an arm across her shoulders. She leaned into me and seemed to deflate. "It has been long hours since she fell asleep, Clenara .. I believe we should not move her. Go now love. Take the horse and ride with Artemis's blessing. Bring Marra to us with the herbs she will need. Tell her there is much body harm to a youth. Go now hurry, it seems to cruel to loose her in like manner after she fought so valiantly. Go my love! Save our child!" I looked at her a moment startled at the turn of events. "Our child?" I asked to stunned to move from her side. She pushed against me to get me moving. "Yes! Our child! None other shall have such a spirit in their hut. Go now!" Looking upon the pain expression of her beautiful face I pushed myself to my feet cussing the sucker shot the girl child had gotten in on my knee. With some trouble I mounted the horse we had shared and was now on my way towards the village half a days ride away from our small camp.
As Clenara rode off I wondered if I would be able to keep the girl child alive for the duration of her travels. "Goddess she is so hot." Looking at her laying there on the blankets I imagined her as to be of my own body. Would I allow my own daughter to be pummeled by my lover even if she had knocked her into the water on purpose? I know already the answer. Why am I being tormented? I wondered as guilt rose its ugly head in my heart. "You are yet young even in human years." The sudden voice startled me. Turning I found my Goddess standing dressed in her hunters leathers. I fell to my face before her. "Artemis!" "Arise Vashti you have not angered me. I have come bearing words of advice for you and the child which pleases me so." Looking upon her radiance I arose to stand before her. "Your love for your Princess is very strong. When the child decided to join you I instructed her on the ways of getting your attention. Because you saw unfit to otherwise look upon her. She has and still is paying for striking your Princess. But I have come to tell you as you await the return of Clenara and Marra, if you want this child to remain alive you should place her in the water. Her fever is very high and she will perish shall she remain at such a high temperature." As soon as she had come she was once again gone. Her brilliance left me dazed for a heartbeat. At first I thought she awoke. Her sudden jerk in my arms and thrashing appeared almost coherent, once her fevered body hit the cool waters of the Delback. She gasped as it ran over her and then engulfed her to her neck. Her small hands clutched my arms in a painful grip of fear. When she settled in the cool waters she sighed for the relief it brought her. Devine intervention had bought us the time needed for Marra and Clenara to arrive. Though it was some time before they got there I knew there was more interest in her than just I.
Marra arrived late into the night, Clenara guiding her way. The two of them had traveled at an exhausting clip to cut down travel time. Our stalwart motherly looking healer now appeared irritated and more than a little harassed. "Bring her out of the water before she catches her death!"
When I came in contact with the girl I was surprised at the heat that emitted from her small body. "Surly she has grown hotter now than she had been before!" "Actually she had been much warmer then she is now." "Ye Gods!" Seeing the Princess ride into the camp alone at such a harried pace I had thought the worst had happened. When she dismounted and collapsed before me I knew something was not right with the two. She spoke quickly of a battle between her and another. She did not mention who it was. The hit to her knee had lamed her, but not stopped her from coming to the aid and the wishes of our Queen. I gathered my things quickly and we were back on our way to their hide away. "Did you just find the child?!" She only urged her fresh mount on faster worried about leaving Vashti alone so long.
Now that I am here and see the child and her extensive wounds I know it was this little frail looking creature that gave the Princess the lameness of her knee. I could only guess at the context of them both. What had caused the little thing to attack Clenara? What had caused Clenara to beat the child senseless? Why now was she asked to save the child if the purpose was to kill her in the first place? She felt so hot to touch.. "How long has she been like this?" While I worked Clenara and Vashti filled me in on the details. "When we awoke we found her this way. Not this hot yet but her fever was climbing. She has slept most of the day. I awoke her earlier to be sure she would arise. I was worried of her fever consuming her, I asked for the help of Artemis. She came to me and warned me of the child's inner heat. With the guidance to put the girl child in the river she left. After her first reaction we have been in the river with little change." I crushed some willow bark, rose hips, and linden flowers together. Grinding them in a bowl till they were fine. "Clenara bring some water from the river and set it to boil. We will need some for a tea, it will help with the fever." The time passed in quiet conversation as if our voices would wake the fever induced sleep of the girl child. I sometimes found myself watching the actions of Vashti and Clenara as they spoke of the girl child. They seemed set on mixed emotions of distaste, dislike, loyalty, honor.. To figure out what had made such a vast mix of emotions I would have to know what had transpired between the three of them. However none of them were forthcoming with information. The princess found a place to sit close to the fire and across from her lover and the child. Her dark eyes watching the child with out really seeing her. Vashti yawned as I poured the hot water into the bowl to let it steep the herbs. "My Queen I will stay with the child. You and the Princess could rest." A look passed between the two, a truce of sorts. I smiled as they hobbled over to their sleeping furs and lay down with more than a little protestation of hard ground. A giggle from one or the other and a jest of getting old. The tension drained away as they fell into Morpheous world of sleep. My night was not so blissful. I remained awake to care for the girl, her fever eating away at the tiny reserves of body fat and soon into muscle. Keeping her wrapped and warm near the fire and kept liquid going into her system every other candle mark and with her sweating so much I was sure she would pull through. She would be much frailer than before and weak but she would survive her ordeal. I would have to talk to Clenara about the goodness of keeping her weapon's clean. Especially if she were to make a habit of beating the child senseless. Who knew the reason for their choice to keep her alive? Perhaps the fact that Artemis had appeared to Vashti on behalf of the child was one clue. We could not know what was ahead of us only what we were doing or had done. Now all we could do was wait, wait to see what was so special about this one. Or wait to see what her outcome in life would turn out to be.
Predawn surrounded the small camp I found myself in. I must have made some noise because a figure I did not know leaned over me looking down into my face. I jerked reflexively as their hand came towards my face. "Easy now child." I heard softly spoke to me in a motherly tone. I could not remember when I had heard such a blessed thing in my life. I never knew my own mother, never remembered her touch, her voice. Tears came to my eyes and raced down my cheeks. "Who are you?" I asked through the lump in my throat. She smiled for reasons I could only guess at. I groaned when my attempt to sit up failed. "I am Marra a healer. Would you like something to drink?" With a nod I was helped to sit up leaning with my back against her ample chest. She smelled of sage and fire, a soothing calmness swept through me as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder and with care helped me drink some tea. "Eww!" Her soft laugh danced around us as she pulled the cup from my lips. "You must drink it all, otherwise your fever will come back and if it does, it shall be worse than before." A few more bitter drinks of the tonic and I was allowed to rest against her. It was a chore to just lift my own head. I felt so weak, surly this is what the Queen had seen in me before. "Fear not child, let not those thoughts plague you any further." I looked around but could not see far into my surroundings. The voice I knew well, my Goddess spoke to me often. Always with words of advice and warning. "Thank you." "Think nothing of it." My thoughts came back to the world of flesh and bone and Ye Gods pain! I was very aware of every slice the Princess had gotten in on me at that moment. With a groan I simply let my head fall forward and once again let the dark Dream God claim me.
Part 3 has not been started yet. Ideas have been gathered. Don't forget to feed the Bards. Please read and Review.