Alexandra, Three-Fourths Goddess.
Chapter three:
N/A: Still don't own anything but my OCs, and My own twisted ideas. I still like happy endings, and am messing with Xena/Herc-verse, History, and Mythology.
Xena's group and Mara that Junior Warrior have been gone three and half days, and other than noticing their absence not much has changed. I'm sitting in the dining hut. Having lunch with my friends, its wild Boar Stew with onions, carrots, and turnips. It's always Stew, I don't think Analia knows how to make anything else. I have so many recipes from the future, I could show her, that we eat at home, but Mama won't let me show her.
Xena sighed, they were stopped on the road, and Xena was rocking a shrieking Eve. Eve was cutting her first tooth, as of this morning, her gums were enflamed, and she had a fever. She didn't expect this for another month. She decided to breast feed to comfort her daughter. Even if she tried to chew on her.
Mara tied her horse to a post, and grabbed her satchel she packed light, like most amazons, and walked toward the inn. A handsome man, with short black hair, about her Mother's age, holding a hammer and nails approached her.
, "Can I help you?" He said.
"I'm Mara of the Telaquire Amazon Tribe, I have letters from Xena, Warrior Princess and Queen Gabrielle, for Cyrene of Amphipolis."
He nodded. "I'm Toris, Xena's older brother." They Held each other's forearms. "My Mother is at the Market. Stable your Horse, and I'll get you something to eat, she hasn't made noon meal yet, but there's some stew left over from last night, or some Porridge from this morning, or I'll just set some bread, meat and cheese."
Her Stomach growled. "I skipped morning meal I wanted to get here and I was so close, so a hot meal sounds good, if your mother's stew anything like my Mom's, it reheats really well."
He smiled. "It does, barns to the right. Go ahead."
By the time he had reheated the stew, Mara was inside the inn, with her satchel and her saddle bags, he handed her the bowl. She sat down gratefully. And began eating.
"Would you like some Wine, or cider?"
Amazons couldn't drink Ale, or Port until they were 18, at least they weren't supposed to, but like teenagers everywhere across the world, and across time they did things they weren't supposed to, even if they were allowed to drink cider at 16, and wine at 15, just like 15 year olds drank cider and 12 and 13 year olds drink wine. And while most Greeks watered down their wine, so it was mostly like fruit juice, Amazons didn't. But Mara was on a mission she couldn't drink, it was the rules. Adult Amazons were allowed to drink as long as they didn't become impaired, but underage Amazons weren't allowed to have any alcohol on missions, they didn't trust their judgment. Undercover missions being the exception, "Do you have fruit juice, or sweet cider?"
"Of course." He went to get her a tankard of sweet cider. And set it down next to her. Just as she was finishing her Stew Cyrene entered laden with packages.
"Here, Mother let me take those. Are you sure we can afford this?"
"It helps that I have help, and Gabrielle taught me some of her tricks last time she was here, I paid dinars less than what they asked for everything, I made the fishwife cry, she's such a loudmouth pain the bottom, and charges way too much it was nice to get a decent price for once."
"Mother this is Mara, she's from Gabrielle's tribe, she brought you letters, from Gabrielle, and Xena."
Mara was standing now. "Cyrene….I'm here on Behalf of Queen Gabrielle of the Telaquire Amazon tribe, and her betrothed Xena Warrior Princess."
Toris had left the room with the packages.
"Sit down, dear and finish your meal, the letters can wait." Mara sat down. "Now before we get to the letters are my girls safe."
"Well, I don't know everything, but I know the Gods aren't after them anymore. And they're getting bonded….everything else I know is rumors. I doubt you want to hear those."
"I don't." Mare finished her meal. And gave the two letters to Cyrene.
Cyrene opened Xena's first.
Dear Mother. We are safe. Artemis 10 year old daughter Alexandra came from over 2,000 years in the future, and since her grandfather is a descendent of Eve and her grandmother is Athena, the Gods realized how insane they were being, Alexandra explained it was a self-fulfilling prophecy and was only coming true because they made it come true by playing into it. Gabrielle and I are going to bonded on the full moon right before the Summer Solstice, I will be initiated into the tribe a full warrior, and Gabrielle's Wife and Consort, Gabrielle is going to adopt Eve as if she was born to her, and she is going to become Queen full time we're going to live here. Gabrielle is also Pregnant, a gift from Artemis. The baby is half me and half Gabrielle, she will give the new baby her rite of caste, so that Eve can concentrate on her destiny. We would really like you to come. Xena.
Then Cyrene opened Gabrielle's Letter.
Dear Mom, Xena and I are no longer in danger as I'm sure you heard from Xena, I'm also pregnant and I'm going to be a full time Queen, with one baby and one on the way it's time we settled down in one place. And if I'm going to settle down in one place, I have an obligation to the Telaquire nation. I have something to tell you Mom and I'm not sure how you're going to take it. There is Young warrior who just became a full warrior, she just turned 18 seasons her name is Kairos, she is Lyceus daughter, and her mother Irene was his lover shortly before he died. Irene's mother was an Amazon who married a man, but when Cortese came, and her husband was killed, she and Irene moved to the village. She died a few years later for a fever. Xena doesn't know yet. Also your cousin Elorah, the former Weapon's Master, wants to talk to you. Xena doesn't know your Grandmother was an Amazon. Or that she and Eponin are first cousins twice removed. I need to tell her it will affect the ceremony for one, and second she had a right to know. We want you to come to the ceremony, because we want you here, but you have some things that need to be settled, sooner rather than later. Gabrielle.
A/N: A little Math if you please. The Cortese Battle was 19 years ago, and Xena is 34, Lyceus would have been 33 and conceived Kairos when he was 14, 19 years earlier. Toris was 17, at the time and is 36 now. Gabrielle would be 22 or 23 now.
Cyrene was shocked Lyceus had a child he had only been 14 when he died. He hoped the woman wasn't older and took advantage, Irene she remembers her. Irene, her mother Aura, and her father Markus. She was the same age as Lyceus. She knew she should have talked to Lyceus about men and woman instead of letting Toris do it. But the talk with Toris had bene so awkward and uncomfortable, for both of them bordering on downright painful. She was going of course, and she was staying there, she was going to claim her place in the tribe. She was turning the Inn over to Toris.
"Mara, I need to make Preparations if I have grandchildren living in that village, I want to watch them grow up. So I'm moving there, I need to turn the inn over to my son."
Toris came into the room "You are?"
"If you run my inn into the ground, or ruin it in any way, the tanning I gave you when you kicked over that latrine will look like a single light swat."
He cringed. "Mom, I'm nearing forty don't you think I'm a little old to be spanked."
"You're never too old to get a good dose of my Wooden Spoon, Toris." She went to make plans.
In the Temple I was finally finished with the Owl House I had made for Cordelia. Mama had insisted I make it myself. I made it look like another branch even though it's much larger it just appears to look that way and attached into the Apple tree outside between the Dog house and my window. It's designed to keep her warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, and collect rain water for drinking water. I guess really do have Athena in me. As I was climbing down and got down to the ground. Yaya appeared.
"Very good, Moon Beam." "Unless someone has spent a great deal of time climbing or staring at this tree will know any difference.'
"Yaya, What are you doing here?"
"That's a fine way to greet your grandmother, Moon Beam."
"Hi Yaya, how are you." I gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek."
"Better." She gave me a light swat on the rear. "I see you completed a home for Cordelia, and made a home for her I would be proud of. You used what you inherited from me and you're Mother. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Yaya." I said. "Can I ask you a question Why are you not the Goddess of Knowledge, instead of Wisdom, It seems you're knowledgeable and Intelligent, than you are wise."
"The words used to be Interchangeable with no difference in meaning. And I'm sure you didn't mean to be rude."
"I saw the beauty Contest Episode of Hercules, and you fell for a self-fulfilling Prophecy. I don't mean to be rude just truthful, and I want to know."
Yaya chuckled. "I suppose you're right, You know any other grandmother would turn you over their knee for that kind of question but I want you to be inquisitive, Athena, Aphrodite and I were just playing with Iolous because we were bored we weren't really fighting over who was the prettiest. I'm not that vain. Neither is your mother, and Aphrodite is too secure in her belief that she's the most beautiful to agree to a contest for real. I'm not surprised when they wrote it into that TV Show of yours they twisted it."
"It was made primarily for teenage boys. Xena's show was for both Teenage girls and boys, for girls it had strong women and for boys it had women in skimpy outfits, violence, and lesbian subtext."
"What do you know about Lesbian subtext?"
"If My memories weren't so fuzzy I could tell you a lot about it."
"You're homosexual?"
"No I or rather big me never made a distinction between genders, for my lovers, it's the person not whether their sexual organs dangle or not. At least I think they were lovers, all the good parts have been edited out."
"Most Greeks think the same way, but believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman Amazons being the exception."
"Most women in point in time are treated like property, to be fought for and won, or bought and sold, even the goddesses in the mythology." I said.
"To be fair the Mortals added their own unique spin to the truth there, Moon Beam."
"Good to know."
Yaya chuckles.
Everyone on the road was relieved Eve was asleep, and they were able to move on for a while, only one of the guards Dessa had any experience with children, she had a 2 year old with her bond-mate and wife Daria the assistant Head of the stables, and Horseback riding teacher. They were making very nice headway, when they came across a group of men, well calling them men was generous blocking the road.
"We'll take your money, your horses, your goods, and your beautiful selves in that order!" The tallest one said. The Warriors had to keep themselves from rolling their eyes, and snickering.
"So do we attack them Weapons Master?" Dessa said "they're no older than our youngest junior warriors, what they really need is a good thrashing from their fathers for doing this not a sword wound."
"Disarm only, we'll take them back to their fathers." Eponin said. They disarmed the boys, and after a bit of an argument took them back to their fathers, who were furious with them their little village couldn't afford to lose travelers spending their money. They were offered a free night in their inn but they decided they had a ways to go before they stopped for the night. But Xena did buy some rags, and some herbs to mix with water, and soak the rags in for Eve to teeth on, she was whimpering again. She never realized how much she relied on Gabrielle.
Mara was helping Cyrene prepare for her departure, helping her pack and get the Inn in order. She helped her buy a cart and horse, because she knew how, her mother taught her, but Cyrene sure knew how to bargain. She got the horse, cart and leads for a combined 90 dinars, that's nothing, well not nothing it's a really good price. The Horse was a 5 year old tan horse named with a brown mane, answering to Apollo, they had named him after the Sun God. She thought her cousins the twins would get a kick out of that. They were his daughters, even if they never met him.
Meanwhile in the village, Artemis had arranged for that meeting to take place, and was informing Lyra. Since hunting was really only done at dusk and dawn, she was checking the snaring she set this morning, she caught some rabbits and birds, this would be noon meal. She would set some out in the afternoon and that would be evening meal. She didn't have time to go out and hunt for big game every day. But Atalia, often brought in game with the hunting classes, she took out. But soon they'd be going on a big trip to provide for the solstice, and the bonding/adoption ceremony. .
"Hello, Lyra." Artemis talked softly. As her Hunter was butchering some Rabbits.
"Hello, Lady Artemis."
"Just Artemis is fine, my brother would like to meet his daughters. I have agreed to house the meeting in my temple. Is tonight for evening meal agreeable for you?"
"Of course." She said. "Does he want to just meet me and the girls, or my sister, Helena, and my nieces Mara and Ella? My niece Mara is away right now, on a Mission for the Queen."
"I know." She didn't really know everything like Mortals thought but she did listen to the gossip, in the village. "And just you and your girls, and no need to bring any offerings you are my guests. You're also family."
Lyra smiled. And went back to work. It was always interesting being an Amazon.
I was walking home from school to the stables where out Horseback riding lesson was. Mama had moved my mount from our barn to the stables this morning so I could use my own horse, girls who had their own horses were expected to use them for Horseback riding lessons. First we were shown how to take care of them.
"That's very good, Ella, Alexandra, Sandra." Daria said.
"It's part of my chores." I said.
"Mine too." Ella said. Sandra just Nodded.
Ella smiled. "What's your horse's name?"
"Eos. Because she's gray like the dawn. She was a gift from Mama, but I only know the basics of riding just know how to stop and go faster, and to let go of the reins if the horse spooks, and I'm pretty clumsy at getting on and off."
Daria spoke "That's about what most of these girls except Ella Knows, Ella could probably teach this class. The nursery teaches about horses and the 7-9 year olds, have classes with Helena once a week. So don't feel as if you're behind. Now I want everyone to saddle ready their horses, we're just going to go for a quick ride around the village, and then we're going to brush them out and feed and water our mounts, and then you can go. Alexandra your mother has decided that she will transport your horse back and forth, so you go ahead and brush her out, and feed her at the end of the class."
"Yes, Ma'am." I said.
Cyrene and Mara were going to head out first thing in the morning since it was so late in the day, and they were enjoying a late lunch. The door opened. A Young Woman carrying a Satchel and a two year old entered.
"Hello, is Cyrene here or Xena maybe?'
"I'm Cyrene but I just turned the inn over to my son, I'm leaving town, and Xena's a few days from here."
"I'm Tara, a friend of Xena and Gabrielle's, they helped me once or twice, and helped me become the woman I am today. They said if I ever needed help and didn't know where to find them to come here."
"Who's this?"
"My son Andros."
"Why come here?"
"I had to leave my village, they barely tolerated and only because of my husband and father in law, my father-in-law died last and my husband three moons ago. Their attitudes about I can handle but I didn't want my son to grow up with that kind of hatred directed toward him so we left. I wasn't sure what to do. I've been out of the traveling life for a long time, and I don't know where to go."
"We'll talk to Toris, Dear." They did and he agreed to let her stay, and work for both room and board for both her and her son, as well as 5 dinars a week, and any tips she received.
I was dressed in a leather skirt, top, and boots, and my hair was done in its usual bun, with my hair sticks in it. I was setting the table. My iHome which was charmed to use celestial magic to play rather than electricity was playing George Gershwin. Which my Mama had a certain affinity for. Mama had made, Roasted Boar with Onion, and mushroom gravy and cut up roasted potatoes, turnips & carrots, fresh rolls, She had really outdid herself adapting future recipes to this time. Of course the rolls will be uses as a spoon, and a fork, and the meat will be precut before it's put on the table. It's why stew is the most common thing served, at meal times in the dining hut. Cooking utensils exist but eating ones don't really. Apparently the Gods have them though because Mama has a full set of forks, knives, spoons. For cooking, eating and serving. But she won't want to make her guests on comfortable so she won't use them.
I heard some music, and I turned, a God who was obviously Apollo was there, he was wearing Armor he smelled like a Sunny day.
"You must be Uncle Apollo.' I said.
"Yes, Alexandra, it's nice to meet you."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"Did you really curse Cassandra because she wouldn't have sex with you?"
He was taken back. "You're definitely, related to me and Athena." He chuckled. "No, every true Seer, or prophet, has some downside to their gift that was hers. But Mortals need explanations for things. And many fear us, and make us out to be unforgiving, selfish and dangerous. And Many of us are, Ares for example, Hera, and I admit most of don't look out for the people we're supposed to be protecting as much as we should be. And mortals have rough lives here."
"I noticed. Can we make it better?"
"You could. Hercules is."
"How many kids do you actually have?" I asked.
"Well, the twins, and Asclepius, Troilus, and Aristaeus, Cephisso, Apollonis, and Borysthenis, but I have a lot of granddaughters, and grandsons, as well, and of course there's a lot nieces, nephews and cousins."
"Well, our family is quite large, and in charge, and slightly crazy."
"Nothing slight about it, Alexandra, our family is madder than an old tanner."
A/N: Tanning like Hat Making in the old days used Mercury Which is toxic and effects cognitive function, and mental health when exposed to large amounts over time, which is what caused the tanners and hatters who worked for years to go mad. Which is where the saying Mad as a Hatter came from.
"In my time they would have said Bat shit crazy."
"colorful turn of phrase."
The bell outside the door rang, and I went to answer the door. Lux came with me. Lyra was beautiful with Strawberry blonde hair.
"Please come inside…..Mama is carving the roast boar, and Uncle Apollo is in the Parlor…." I lead them into Parlor."
"Lyra. You're looking Well…"
"I still have the bow you gave me, Apollo, it was a must thoughtful gift." She said.
"I cared for you, Lyra I did, but You were Mortal, I couldn't make a life with you and you were an Amazon…I couldn't even make you a consort, My sister would have killed me."
She nodded. "I know.'
Mama came in. "The food is ready…"
Everyone came into the kitchen, to eat. Mama served. "This is Delicious, Arte." Apollo said.
"Thank you, it's a recipe My future self send me back I just adapted it."
I thought about something. "Mama, can we give, Corrine and Danae, puppies?"
She smiled. Lyra asked Puppies. "My hounds are pregnant, It's a good idea, but I think I should give her grown dogs, instead, I'm going to give each twin, a hound for protection, my I'm sure you'll agree you don't want to wait, so I have female named Snow, and a male named Shadow from the same litter, born about three years ago, Snow is white and Shadow is a dark grey color. That's only if Lyra accepts."
"Of course, My lady." She said.
"Just Artemis remember, Shadow will go to Danae, and Snow will go to Corrine."
Apollo nodded. "Thank you, sister. Not to be outdone. I have a Lyre, and pan flute, for Danae, and a Bow and Never ending Quiver for all three girls."
"Three?" I asked.
"You too, niece. What kind of uncle would I be if I didn't bring presents when I visit."
I laughed. Mama brought Shadow and Snow here, and she gave both to their respective owners, of course snow as a name didn't have the same meaning as if did in my time since there's no snow white, but Mama just uses descriptors, to describe her hounds. When she isn't using letters. the visit ended and everyone went home, we cleaned up, and I was sent to wash up, and get ready for bed.
That Night, Xena and her group set up camp, and Xena had mixed up some herbs that had helped Eve Sleep, everyone else was just enjoying Dessa's cooking she was a fair hand at cooking on the road. She wasn't Gabrielle, by any means, but She wouldn't make it poison and inedible like most of them would. Eponin could make okay road food, hearty meals, that would feed everyone in the group, but they lacked taste, so Dessa was elected. And Xena could cook she fed herself for years before Gabrielle, so she doesn't know why she suddenly had a reputation as someone who could burn water, and screw up bread and cheese.
Early the next morning, Artemis was listening at her temple someone was praying to her, she went invisible and went to listen. It was Elorah the former weapons master, and Eponin mother, and Cyrene, Xena's Mother's cousin.
"Lady Artemis, please could you see fit to give me grandchildren. I'm not getting any younger, and my bones they ache. I want to see grandchildren before I die."
Artemis smiled. She had a plan.
Mara and Cyrene. Were finally on the road. And had made progress over the last two hours. In the opposite direction Xena's group was making more progress.
It was Lunch in the Amazon village, Wild Bird, and rabbit stew, with assorted vegetables. We had hunting class after lunch. I was looking forward to it. Mama said I would have a natural affinity to it. And when it came to archery so would the twins. Mama was out of the village for the day she had business to attend to. She'd be back by dinner.
Artemis knocked on her half-brother's door, and Hercules opened the door.
"Artemis what are you doing here? And Why did you knock?"
"Some things my future-self told me you need to know, Hercules. Please can I come in." He nodded.
"Please sit down."
'You get another chance with Serena, with her reincarnated Soul, and you have three children with her, but you're made mortal, and become very ill, almost die, but 17 years later, you're healthy and still alive, the process of becoming Mortal almost killed you and it was the deal you struck to get Sam, Serena's new life, back and allow her to live a full lifetime, when you found her again."
He nodded. "But I'm happy with her I have three children, I'm alive, she's alive and we're still together?"
"Yes…..."
"Then that's all that matters." He said smiling. "How long, do I have to wait?"
"Over 2,000 years, I'm Sorry Hercules."
"No, It gives me Hope, thank you for telling me Artemis."
At hunting class we were standing in front of Atalia, and were learning how to shoot at rabbits, this I already knew. So did the twins, but the others didn't really, but she was instructing us in the woods, and the twins and I kept getting rabbits, and the others kept missing, eventually getting some. Then it was time to learn to clean, and butcher the rabbits. And what we can do with the fur. And other parts. There were 20 rabbits in total, we took them to the kitchens and took the fur to the tailor's hut. Then we were sent to clean up.
The next day and half went by quickly, and Xena and her group showed up around Noon. The items began finding their way to the proper places, but not before, Gabrielle picked out a pair of Sais for herself, and a New Staff, just in case. Xena and Gabrielle picked out some Dinars for themselves, and some Wine, and Cider for their home, a good portion of Ink, Quills, and parchment, some firs, and other things, with the rest going to the village.
Gabrielle and Xena were setting the things up in their hut. "and she finally cut her tooth about an hour before we got the village."
"Gods, Xena that sounds awful."
"No one said being a mother was easy, but it's the hardest job, you can't ever live without My mother always said."
"My mother didn't. I always got the impression she didn't like me., My father did at times but it wasn't a warm relationship."
Changing the subject. "Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?"
"Of Been thinking of that, Diana, since Artemis provided us with her, unless you want a different name?"
Xena smiled. "No Diana is perfect."
Meanwhile The Weapons Master and the regent were having their own reunion. In the Queen's official hut. Which was very naughty, and dangerous since there was no lock, but the weapons hut was currently crawling with people counting weapons and Ephiny couldn't currently leave her post. Artemis stood there, and gifted them with twin girls, and with help from Apollo, one would be a great warrior, but the other would be a great Seer. She chose to make the Weapons Master Pregnant.
Meanwhile another few days passed, and Cyrene and Mara arrived, a few hours after noon, one cloudy day. Xena was summoned and Gabrielle came with her.
"Mother, why did you bring so much stuff?" Xena said.
"My grandmother was a member of this tribe, making me a rightful member. With My grandchildren here, I'm taking my rightful place here."
Ephiny nodded. "Of course Cyrene, there's actually a hut for the mother's the Queen, you can move in right away. And Mara, can stable your horse, and store your cart."
"The tribe can have my cart, but I'm keeping my horse his name is Apollo, Mara was kind enough to help me buy him though I bargained for him, and got a good price."
Gabrielle smiled. "Good for you."
Soon Cyrene was moved into the Mother of the Queen Hut. Which if it was a Modern New York city apartment would be called a 1 ½ bedroom, even if it didn't have toilets, but it did have a small kitchen, and a small bathing room. so did The Queen and Regent's Hut. Cyrene tried to think what Lyceus memento to give her granddaughter.
END CHAPTER THREE