Chapter XIV

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Soon, it was time for all to leave. Twanky's troupe had Iphicles' castle housekeeping staff to help them pack. Various porters and servants bustled back and forth with trunks and props. Even Cupid was overseeing the process, under Twanky's watchful eye.

"Yes, do be careful with that," Twanky exclaimed, as a porter heaved a large trunk. "My whole life is in there."

Zara helped the rest of her Amazon sisters to pack their horses. Hercules, Iolaus, Kull and even Iphicles were also doing their part, lending their collective muscle toward securing shields and rigging the statue and the big drum and other musical instruments for transport. The job was easier than the initial transport to Iphicles' castle. Hercules simply would hold a large item in midair, as everyone else put litters and wheeled carts under and around it.

"Can we take him back home?" Rena proposed, waving a thumb in Herk's direction. "He can help unload, too!"

Iphicles laughed. "No; he, Iolaus and Aeolusia are doing some work for me and your Queen. But what little of their own they had to pack is ready, so they figured they could give you a lot of help." Then he added, "But, they will have to return Lulu, so maybe if you wait, Hercules can help unpack." He winked at his brother. "He needs the exercise."

"Very funny." Herk grunted, as he was still holding the statue and giving directions. "Litha, you need to put the brace on the other side, it will hold better." He nodded as she repositioned it. "Thank you."

Since Zara had come to the castle primarily on foot, she didn't have transportation, and it followed that all of her sisters wanted her to ride double with them. They vigorously debated who would get the honor.

"All right," Zara replied, after hearing a few impassioned pleas. "I think we can decide this fairly. Whoever gives the most help, without complaint or argument, that's the person I ride home with."

"Sorry, heading in the opposite direction," Hercules responded, as he simultaneously loaded two heavy trunks onto a waiting wagon. "Go with the second most helpful."

Zara laughed. "Fair enough. Let's see who it shall be."

With everyone trying to "win," the Amazons were packed in record time. And, as both Mithra and Litha were equally helpful in Zara's opinion, she ended up flipping a dinar to decide.

"Yes! Me!" yelled Mithra, but seeing Litha's dejected look, she compromised, "We can switch at the 'halfway' mark. Then we both can do it."

Zara smiled her approval. Sometimes, it was good to see her sisters making a real effort to share, without being ordered to do so. Kull, who had actually been more helpful than either girl, had removed himself from the competition. "Amazons only," he had announced. He mounted his waiting horse, and then handed Zara a parchment scroll.

"What's this?" she asked, puzzled.

"The directions to Valusia, and the king's guarantee of Safe Passage," he answered. "And a map, of course."

Cupid suddenly appeared at The Widow Twanky's side, giving her a start as she had been focused on doing a final "head count" of her twenty youngsters and herding them into the line of waiting coaches. Since they were used to being 'on the road,' each dancer had a particular coach they preferred. And, since most were accomplished drivers, only six carriages were necessary, although one was strictly for the luggage, stage props and costumes. This was more a flat wagon with slatted sides, very similar to the hay wagon Zara and Cupid had crashed onto. As it wasn't designed for comfort, it carried a lone driver. Each conveyance had a team of two burly horses; prancing white steeds who were impatiently tossing their heads and snorting, creating clouds of vapor in the crisp air.

Cupid put an arm around the Widow for a squeeze, then excused himself. ""I--err, need to speak to Zara for a few minutes." And he vanished as quickly as he had materialized.

Twanky smiled sadly but with an air of resignation. "I wondered how long you would last. Goodbye, my golden love."

In a heartbeat Cupid appeared by Zara's elbow.

"Oh, hi!" Zara said, a little startled by the appearance. "Is Twanky all ready to go?"

Zara's Amazon sisters were still milling around her.

"Zara! I forgot something," Mithra stammered, "I need to go to my room one last time, the Queen wouldn't like it if we had to turn around and come back." She sensed Zara would like a moment alone with Cupid. "I'll be right back."

She ran off, dragging along Litha, who was staring at Cupid in wonder. "Come on, silly!"

Cupid fondly put his arms around Zara in an embrace. He kissed her cheek lightly, then she gazed up at him.

"I haven't seen much of you since yesterday," she said, levelly. She was careful to ward off any hints of jealousy that might try to sneak into her voice. 'Not like you have any reason to be jealous,' she told herself. 'But I would not hurt Twanky for the world, certainly not after yesterday. She's proven herself to me beyond the shadow of any doubt.'

"Well, uh, you know I love you and everything, but things with the Widow sort of..." He trailed off, hoping he wouldn't be obligated to explain.

"Not what you expected?" Zara teased.

"She's amazing," Cupid replied, and shook his head, a distant expression on his face. "Not at all what I expected." Then he stared into Zara's eyes. "You knew."

Zara laughed and gave him a big hug. She whispered into his ear, "Provides hope for all the women of the world. 'Old' doesn't equal 'undesirable.'" Looking across the courtyard, she spotted Twanky, who, seeing their embrace, looked even sadder than before. "Oh, dear, I think she's getting the wrong idea, she looks all mopey."

Cupid glanced over and his own face fell. "For the god of love, I'm sometimes so clueless. Come on, I can fix this."

With Zara in tow, Cupid walked towards Twanky. Her back was turned, as she was helping the last of her dancers into the carriage.

"Up you go, darling," Twanky was chirping brightly. Then, "OH, DEAR!" she shouted as a strong pair of arms scooped her up. Turning quickly, she discovered Cupid and beamed, though her always-expressive blue eyes belied the state of her heart.

"Say goodbye, Zara, I have to get my favorite 'Brit' into a wagon now." Cupid smiled warmly at the Amazon, before turning to bury his face against Twanky's neck. "Don't be sad," he murmured into the Widow's waiting ear. "It was just a friendly hug. I meant every word I said to you."

"And--" she said, suddenly exceedingly short of breath, "you'll follow me to Britannia?"

"You just try and keep me away!" His arms around her tightened and what was left of her breath was stolen entirely away in a scorching kiss...

As she watched, Zara smiled contentedly. "Much better," she murmured as she walked towards her waiting horse.

As the bright morning progressed toward midday, there was a hint of warmth on the breeze which suggested that the snow, very fluffy in quality, might not prove such a deterrent to travel after all and might in fact melt away soon. Nevertheless every person embarking on their respective journey was swathed in furs against the bite of the teasing wind. As King Iphicles and his staff, standing in a line, waved goodbye to their numerous guests, the Amazons--litters and burdens ready for their trip home--and Kull urged their horses in the direction of the distant neighboring castle.

"Come again," shouted Iphicles, "you know you are always welcome. No dresses next time, I promise!" He amended, "Well, maybe a leather dress, but it won't be pink."

Seated behind Mithra, on a chestnut mare, Zara glanced down, at the mention of the word 'pink.' "Oh! I'm still wearing his tunic and belt."

"YOU get to tell Her Majesty to go back," Mithra stated. "I'm not going to. I'm already in trouble!"

"For what?" Zara asked.

"Breakfast," Mithra replied. "I get to muck out the stable when we get back."

"I'll get the tunic washed and return it later," Zara said.

Meanwhile the six horse-drawn coaches were setting out on the last leg of the troupe's expedition that would take them back to Britannia.

"What are you doing in here, you naughty lad?" a surprised Twanky asked her visitor. "We won't be near home for quite a while."

"I reconsidered," replied a honeyed voice, as Cupid gave her a hug. "Never traveled by caravan before. Might be fun."

"Don't you have responsibilities, being 'god of love' and all?" Twanky inquired, as she settled into the embrace.

"Mom's handling it," Cupid explained. "She really wants those new temples."

"Well, we have a few shows to do on the way home and I run a tight ship, so to speak." Twanky began, but lost her train of thought as Cupid nibbled on her neck. "Oh, that's delightful," she murmured as he reached a sensitive spot. Then, remembering she was in the middle of a scold, continued whilst wagging a finger. "But, you know, I am a good deal older than you, so you should really mind your elders."

Cupid grinned. "Actually, if that rule was mandatory, then you'd be minding me. Mom would kill me if I told you how old I really am. Neither of us was in any real hurry for me to 'grow up,' so to speak."

"Why would she care if you told me?" Twanky asked, puzzled, but then actually thought about it. "OHH, not wise to upset yer Mum, so 'zip your lip.'"

"Okay, yeah," Cupid responded absently, moving to another sensitive place on her white skin. "My lips are busy anyway."

Hercules and Iolaus, with Aeolusia at the side of her blond hunter, and each with a pack slung over a shoulder, purposefully blazed a trail with high boots through the white expanse lying before them.

"So, Hercules," Lulu said brightly. "Care to estimate how long you think this 'job' will last?"

"We were halfway there," Herk said thoughtfully, "when we got the message my brother was a frog. SO we should be halfway back, by nightfall. Then two or three days after that." He shrugged. "Long enough."

Iolaus took LuLu's hand as they walked. "That should give us plenty of time for both business AND pleasure. I'm sorry I was difficult, and I am glad I get to spend more time with you; but you know I couldn't stand the thought of anything bad happening to you."

"Nothing will happen, Iolaus, stop worrying. Remember, everyone says worrying is MY department!" she laughed. "And I think you should apologize to Hercules, too."

When Iolaus drew away from her, he looked around, then behind him, where Hercules was following closely.

"Sorry, Herk," Iolaus said sheepishly, but there was a smile in his eyes that carried secrets no one could read so well as Hercules could.

Grinning back, the demigod said, "Hey, it's a win-win situation, I get my diplomat and you get your woman for an extra couple of days."

"But just remember, she's MY woman, Hercules. Ya know, Alcmene is right, you really ought to be thinking about finding yourself a wife and settling down..."

Hercules grabbed a handful of snow, wadded it into a ball and threw it at him. "You're always saying I act like a mother hen. Since when did you start?"

"Well, I AM a little older than you, and--hey! That's cold!" The snowball had hit Iolaus on the ear and was crumbling down his neck. "I'll teach you to give people frostbite!"

Soon a full-fledged snowball fight was under way among the trio. Shouts and laughter echoed off the trees, where clumps of snow occasionally plopped to the ground, perhaps from slight resulting vibrations, but more likely from the effects of the sun, which from a perfectly clear sky, beamed down in pale golden tints on the glittering wonderland, lighting the way of all the travelers toward further exciting adventures to come...

FINIS

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Cue the violins, trombones and drums, start rolling the credits...

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No frogs, crickets, Cupidian wings or dancers' feet were harmed during the making of this fanfiction. Discord, however, spent a humiliating period of time as a goat and got milked for all she was worth. ;-D