Disclaimer: I do not own Xena Warrior Princess

Author's Notes: Amarice is back! Feel free to give suggestions of Amazon-esque names you would like to see in this fic, cause it would greatly speed up my writing process not having to research decent sounding names. Or if you have any minor scenarios you would be interested in reading.

Sword Training

A young Amazon woman was walking through the the Telaquire village, head darting back and forth as she searched high and low for her young charge. What what Queen Chilapa think of her if she couldn't find one child? She got a late start learning the Amazon ways, but she was already a decent tracker before being initiated and yet this child evaded her with such ease. Walking near the roof of one of the huts, she was nearly past when she heard a holler and felt a drop down on to her shoulders, tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

"Gotcha, Amarice!" cried out the child after getting a secure grasp on her quarry.

Amarice rolled her eyes and glared over her shoulder at the young brunette. "Evie, you shouldn't jump from the top of huts," she said with an exasperated sigh. Adjusted the girl so her legs were around her waist more securely, Amarice began walking again.

"Why?"

"Why? Well...it's dangerous."

"Why?"

"Cause...you're tiny."

"I am not!" she pouted, tapping Amarice's chest pointedly.

"Yes you are. Compared to me and the other Amazons," Amarice explained. She held a finger up when Eve was about to interrupt her again, "And you shouldn't be jumping off roofs JUST yet. Wait until you're a little bigger okay? If you jump off and land wrong you could break a leg."

Eve frowned and buried her head in Amarice's fresh smelling hair. "Ohkay," she begrudgingly replied, then just as suddenly as her mood dropped, it lifted once more. "How was the yell?" she asked with a wide grin.

"It...needs some work. It's more like a...like a...Ayiyiyi not a Hiyah!"

"Oh..." Eve trailed off, thinking. Soon they were at the dining tent and Eve began to bounce excitedly on Amarice's back. "Food..." she mumbled to herself looking about to see what was on the menu today.

A few of the Amazons they passed waved at or greeted the young Amazon who happily replied. When Amarice stopped to collect a couple plates for them, Eve took it upon herself to inform the cooks that she took Amarice by surprise with an expert aerial attack earlier. They chuckled at the expense of the older girl who was blushing slightly at not sensing the child's presence before she descended on her.

"It was a lucky shot," Amarice tried saving face.

"Suuuure," said one of the cooks, patting the woman on the shoulder and ushering the pair on their way.

"Alright, off monkey-girl," Amarice said once they reached a table.

"Not a monkey. If I'm a monkey, we're all monkeys climbing in trees the way we do," Eve stated as she dug into her food.

"You eat like a monkey," Amarice muttered under her breath. She immediately felt a sharp tap to her head and turning around found it to be from Eponin, the weapons master and trainer. "Sorry," she said, bowing her head and focusing on her food.

"And how's our little warrior princess today?" Eponin asked as she sat opposite the pair.

"Good," Eve replied, reaching out for a piece of food from Amarice's plate only to be swatted. She stuck out her tongue at Amarice and took a sip of water instead. "Can I learn a weapon today?" she looked at Eponin was wide blue eyes, as startling as her mother's.

Eponin hesitated for a moment, glancing at Amarice who deftly shook her head. No way she would say no to this small child, and honestly she was more babysitter than caretaker anyways.

"Pleaaaase?" Eve added, batting her eyes at the older woman, showing off a brilliant smile.

The weapon's master gulped, her resolve melting away at the adorable look she was being served. Clearly a sweet talker since she could talk, she used her cuteness to her advantage at every possible turn. Before she could speak up a new voice joined their conversation. "I suppose sparing with practice weapons wouldn't be a bad idea,"

The table turned and found their queen standing by the table looking down fondly on Eve, who immediately hopped up on the bench and declared, "Really?"

"Really, that is if Eponin is amenable?" Chilapa said. Looking at Eponin, Eve was ecstatic with the answer and jumped up and down on the bench cheering for herself. Jumping down after a few moments she latched onto Chilapa's leg.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, little one."

The problem with training a five year old in the art of the sword is that there wasn't currently anyone her size in the village to train with. And the older girls weren't quite comfortable enough in being able to hold back to fight her carefully. So Eponin took it upon herself to do a few practice drills by herself on her knees to see how today's training with little Eve would go. She also cut down one of the leather clad torsos so it would be more Eve's height. Checking the time of day, she quickly went and grabbed some knee bracers so she could stay in the position longer. She knew as well as everyone else in the village how energetic and stubborn Eve was when it came to learning new things.

When Chilapa was teaching her to read, Eve wanted to read all day and night until she didn't have to ask questions about what certain words were. She was a very dedicated little girl. They expected no less of the daughter of Xena. What spooked Eponin were the instances she reminded her of Queen Gabrielle when they weren't even blood related. Somehow the blonde had affected Eve in the womb or as a small baby. How, she wasn't sure but it was incredible.

"I am READY!" Eve pronounced as she walked ahead of Amarice toward the training ground Eponin had chosen today. It was a small clearing in the forest with lots of soft grass for the girl to fall on safely and a small stream nearby to refill their water skins in. Eponin bit her lip as she took in Eve's appearance of faux haughtiness. Definitely Xena's kid.

"Alright, first we need to work on center of balance. Find a good spot on the ground with space all around you. Now, one leg forward, one back and bend just slightly at the knees. Make sure they're not locked alright? Bounce in that position a little okay?" Eponin explained.

Eve did as she was told with a determined expression. "Got it."

"Do you?" Eponin asked with a quirk of her eyebrow. Eve's face fell for a second and she glanced up at the Amazon.

"Do I?" she asked, suddenly unsure. Eponin walked over and tried to push the girl over to check her balance. Eve dug in her heels and glared at the ground. She wobbled for a second but rediscovered her balance.

"Good job. Now, footwork."

The morning went on and Amarice excused herself to help with perimeter check before collecting some bread and cheese for the pair of sparring Amazons, knowing Eve would absolutely refuse to stop until she got to hold a wooden sword in her hand. When she returned, Eve was flat on her back, chest heaving mightily.

"What happened?" Amarice queried amusedly.

"She was circling me and tried to tackle from behind. I dodged and she got a mouthful of grass and dirt," Eponin explained as emotionlessly as possible to spare the young girl's embarrassment.

"I almost had her!" Eve announced, sitting upright. "Oooh food!"

Amarice continued forward and sat down, undoing the fabric that held their midday meal. Eating in relative silence they enjoyed the soft sounds of the forest. Amarice was playing with her necklace absentmindedly.

"I forget to ask, what's that necklace?" Eve asked.

"This?" Amarice unlatched it and laid it out on her leg. "Your mother gave it to me. Each of the beads is for a different Amazon sister. This one is for me. And I added one for you," she explained, pointing at the respective beads. "I also added this slightly different looking one for your other mom," she added quietly. Xena wasn't an official Amazon but she was a part of Amarice's family and she deserved a place on the necklace, so to honor the fact she was different but apart, she used a soft round rock she found up North instead of a bead.

Eve was looking at the necklace with wide eyed awe, a reverence of sorts, small hands tracing over the leather of the band, the different colored beads and the small rock.

"I want you to have it, Evie."

She looked up swiftly. "What?"

"I want you to have this. It belonged to Queen Gabrielle and it should return to her daughter," Amarice said. Eve shook her head lightly, not sure if she should accept or insist Amarice keep it. She could tell it meant a lot to the young warrior, but also it was a big part of her history and her present. It was her moms and it was her Amazon family.

"I guess..." Eve finally said in a soft voice, watching as Amarice lifted it from her leg and placed it gently around Eve's neck and latched it. Eve held it in her hands for a few moments as a beautiful smile bloomed on her face. Then she tucked it under her tunic to keep it out of the way in the upcoming spar. "Swords!" she declared standing and holding her hand down to help Eponin up.

"Very well, little one."

An unknown figure watching the scene in the distance emitted a soft chuckle and said to themself 'Just like her mother...'