Alexandra, Three-Fourths Goddess.
Chapter four
Author's Note: Previous chapter warnings hold true.
I've been here a couple weeks, Eponin still hasn't realized she's pregnant, Irene, and Kairos, eat at Gabrielle's table now. According to Mama because Kairos is Xena's late brother Lyceus daughter who he conceived at 14, during a time of war. But now was it was time for the ceremonies, Because Xena's Mom's a member of tribe already, the ceremony will go differently. She will swear her allegiance to Gabrielle and the tribe, but she will not need to be initiated since she is already technically a member. Mama and I were there dressed in our finest leathers. I had my boot daggers, throwing stars, and Yo-Yos, and my staff was at home. I had plenty of other weapons. The party went off without a hitch. We were into Hekatombaion. I was registering how hot it was, but it didn't seem to be bothering me, which I should have felt was strange but somehow I didn't. The Puppies were born now, but they needed to be with their mothers for 6 weeks before we could give them to people. It was now the Middle of Hekatombaion the July August month, in six weeks it would be the start of Boedromian the September October month, at the end of Boedromian was the Autumnal Equinox, and the start of autumn, as for the puppies. I've already named them all, either after physical attributes, or after relatives on Mom's side. There are a total of 15 puppies, 8 girls, and 7 boys. I had also mastered teleporting.
Eponin was really worried she was gaining weight and kept vomiting, she'd almost think she was pregnant, but she hadn't been with any men.
"You are Pregnant." Lady Artemis appeared. "Two girls. One will look like you, the other Ephiny the one who looks like Ephiny will be Seer, and the one like you a Great Warrior. Your Mother prayed for grandchildren, but the truth is, Xena and Gabrielle's second born, needs friends to support her when she ascends the throne."
"What will be her curse, every seer has one?"
"Her visions will come with pain and will be draining. And she will need to rest afterward. It will not be debilitating other than needing a small nap, and it will not put her in danger, or be life threatening, it will be a steady lifelong ailment, no better or no worse over time, but it will happen every time."
Eponin sighed. "I suppose that could be worse, but it is a definite disadvantage. I need to tell Ephiny…."
Meanwhile while this had been going on I teleported from my room, to the breakfast table after cleaning myself and redressing after chores. My Mom was not there, but the usual breakfast fair was, and I dug in. I washed the dishes and left those in drying in the rack Mama built to mimic the ones in the future. Then I and Lux walked to school. We met the twins, Shadow, and Snow outside, Addie met us.
"It's unfair that all of you have one of those and I don't."
"Mama already agreed to give you one, once their weened in 6 weeks. But you'll have to train them. Do you want a boy or a girl?"
"It doesn't matter. Me and My Aunt Violet can train her."
"The Outer Border guard."
"Night Captain thank you very much." She teased. "But even though she has a horrible schedule she always has time for me. She was almost an animal healer, but she really can't stand shoveling Horse Shit."
I shrugged. "Makes sense to me."
The twins nodded. I added. "So, Boy or girl."
"I guess, I'd want a boy."
"I think I have just the dog for you. His name is Bear."
"Sounds Good."
"I'm giving Evie a puppy too, Golden haired Puppy named Lyric. But mostly we're training them for elderly and disabled Amazons, I know they're not that many who are to the point where they'd need a companion dog, but there are other tribes.
Back in Amphipolis, Toris managing of the inn was going well, Tara was a breath of fresh air, and her son was adorable. She had learned the art of bargaining from Gabrielle, as well as the art of cooking from her father in law. It was nice to have someone to talk to, besides the guests.
Xena and Gabrielle have begun teaching Eve baby signs, and she is recognizing more and more. Moving, she rolled around for about a week, before moving to Crawling, and grabbing at small finger foods, and toys. Gabrielle's about a month six weeks pregnant and hadn't started showing yet. But was sick, and a whole of not hungry, it was disturbing to a lot of people, It was the beginning of Skirophorion, the last month of spring and the last month of the year, when she was impregnated and it's the middle of Hekatombaion, the first month of the year and the first Month of Summer. She doesn't like being pregnant in summer that's for sure, she's uncomfortable all the time, but at least when she gets to the late stage of her pregnancy it will be late winter, and then spring. Then Diana will be born. A month later, the twins will be born. Xena and Gabrielle are ready for the day and about to go to the Dining Hut, when there's a knock at the door.
"Yes." It was Mara. It was her turn to be messenger this week.
"Excuse me, My Queen there's a Glyphara, and Darnell, here to see you."
Gabrielle sighed. "Word gets around, let's see what they want."
"They met with the two, in the Queen's hut, Darnell was holding a Squirming 9 month old girl who looked a lot like Gabrielle's sister Lila. "Hello, Princess, Xena."
"It's Queen Gabrielle, now what we do for you?"
"It's what we can do for you, we were in Potidaea and ran into a local woman named Lila, her husband Lector was in debt, and owned money to some dangerous people, she felt she was in danger, but she felt couldn't leave, but she knew your tribe would take her daughter in,
By the afternoon, the truth as well as rumors about what was going on was circulating around the village. Being the daughters of Apollo the twins could tell what was the truth, so that gave me an idea, she teleported to Potidaea, and into Gabrielle's sister's Hut.
"What? Who are you?"
"I'm Artemis daughter Alexandra, look, I didn't exactly get permission to be here, I'm here to take you to Gabrielle, grab on." She does and I teleported her in front of Gabrielle in the Queen's Hut. She collapsed, Ephiny caught her.
Gabrielle shouted out. "Lila, is she alright?"
Ephiny nodded. "Just in shock, but I'll take her to the healer's anyway." She carried her away"
Xena cleared her throat. "What were you doing Young girl, you know you aren't supposed to leave the village without an adult, or without your mother's permission, and Lila had dangerous men after her and her husband you could have been hurt?"
Mama's voice suddenly appeared, as did the firm hand on my shoulder. "I'll take it from here Xena, this is a talk I need to have with my daughter in private. I'll be taking her home, and she'll be apologizing to Atalia tomorrow for missing her afternoon hunting class, and will submit to any punishment she wishes to mete out for the offense."
"But….." I was about to say.
"Alexandra…..' She said and we teleported back to the living room/parlor, in our private living quarters. "Alexandra, you're not a full God yet, you could have gotten seriously wounded, or worse killed. So even though I'm proud of you for putting yourself above someone in need you have to be punished."
"How?"
"How would future me would have handled it?"
"If I put myself in danger? Hand spanking, followed by one lick for every year of my life, with a hair brush or a wooden spoon, all bare bottomed. The few times it happened it made an impression, and she usually threw in an essay about how the absolute worst of whatever it was I did could have turned out."
"Then that's what's you're going to get." She made a straight back wooden chair appear in the middle of the room, and a thick wooden hard back brush appear in her hand. "Lower your leggings and under things, Alexandra.'
"Mama….."
"If you make me do it for you, it'll add to your punishment."
In the infirmary, Melinda was looking at Lila. "You're fine, Lila, and so is Sarah." After the infirmary, they finding a hut for Lila and Sarah.
I was sitting at the kitchen table who's padded leather chairs were doing nothing for my throbbing bottom. At least I was ten, the last time Diana had paddled me I was 19, and had gotten drunk off my ass at a college party when there was a series of drugged date rapes going on at Columbia. So not only did I have a hangover, and a beyond sore ass, I had to explain how my pseudo-Mom spanked me like a little kid to my roommate, luckily she was from Alabama and understood perfectly well, a parent taking a hairbrush to your butt for doing something stupid.
"Better get back to that essay, Moon Beam."
"I never should have mentioned it." I grumped
"You mentioned it because it would have been a lie of omission and if I would have found out, you would have gotten another paddling for lying. Amazons take lying very seriously Alexandra, and so do I."
"I know, Diana went total ape shit the few times I lied. Not that she lost control, but the punishments were pretty severe, Those were the worst spankings I got, until I was 19, and I got completely falling down drunk in an area where someone was drugging and raping women my age."
"Sounds like you deserved those punishments, Alexandra." My Mother said. "Write….."
She kissed me on the top of the head. I wondered how she would know if I lied. She called back. "I would know."
I completed the essay before bed.
The next day before class, my friends' wanted to see the damage to my backside, I didn't have to tell them I'd gotten spanked they just knew. I shrugged, and undid my leggings, and pulled down my underpants, and showed them there were was some bruising, and it was still pink, but otherwise it was fine. Diana couldn't bruise me in the past, or if she didn't I didn't know about it, I always felt better by morning no matter what she did to me, in a city like New York city, a upper middle class white girl, with bruises was going to get priority. So I never had bruises for teachers, classmates or coaches to see.
"Nice." Corrine said.
"You're lucky you aren't older, Amazon Law allows Junior Warriors to be punished with a strap." Addie said. "And Adult Amazons who commit larger offenses that are aren't big enough to deserve death or exile to be punished with a stripped arrow shaft."
"Well, we're lucky we're all still children then." I said pulling up my leggings and underwear. I was an adult once, girls, and there were times I missed being a kid, I didn't appreciate being a kid the first time around. There's a song from my time called you're going to miss this, it's all about how this time right here, you're going to miss it when it's gone, don't go wishing it away, because all too soon you'll be grown, and missing it."
Kalidas's voice made us jump. "She's right." We turned to see her." You should enjoy being children for as long as you can. I'm going to ring the bell any minute."
Meanwhile, The Queen, Consort, Regent, and weapons Master were seeing to it that a lovely 2 sleeping room hut was decorated, even if Alexandra would class it as 1 ½ bedroom. It was a cute little hut and perfect for her and Sarah. When asked when she wanted to do to contribute she asked to work with the tailor. Since she took in clothes back home. She didn't want to cook, she was good at it, but it wasn't her passion and as good as she was at farming she didn't want to be stuck doing that, again.
"Leda's never had an assistant before, I'm sure she'll be pleased." Eponin said. "She always complains everyone else gets help but her."
"Gabrielle, those men they would have let us keep the farm but would have taken everything else we owned and I'm pretty sure they were going to kill Lector, and take it out of me in trade as payment, it's why I send Sarah to you in case they wanted to sell her, My husband is most likely dead and our farm ransacked."
Xena nodded. "Most likely…."
Eponin spoke. "You'll have to go through some weapons and hunting classes, just enough so we know you can take care of yourself should the need arise."
'I need to thank that girl, Alexandra." Lila said.
Artemis appeared.
"I'm sure she'd like that, knowing her actions weren't for nothing seeing as last night she paid for putting herself in danger." the adults nodded solemnly.
"Is she okay?" Lila asked.
"She's fine, I just gave her a hand spanking, and then finished up with my hair brush no worse than most of the mothers in the village have done."
Eponin rubbed her behind. "I remember."
We were in weapons class, the combinations we were being taught were getting more intricate.
After weapons training, my friends and I went to the temple, there was small pond out back and we sat around it. I got the fishing gear and we all started fishing, Lara one of the border guards, started yelling.
"What are you girls doing, this is the temple's pond, that's Artemis' pond, you can't be fishing in it, I ought to switch all of you right here."
"I said they could." I said.
"And who are you to say so, kid." She said.
Mama appeared and put her hand on my shoulder. "My daughter, not only that it is forbidden to switch any child under the age of 18, Lara."
The woman seemed to shrink. "Lady Artemis I meant no disrespect I was trying to respect you really."
"You were using my name to bully children, Lara. Including my child, even if they had been rule breakers, there was a gentler way to tell them they're only children."
"What are you going to do to her Mama?" I asked her. "I know about the stories of you turning people into things." Lara paled.
"I'm not going to turn her into anything, I'm going to take her to Gabrielle and Ephiny. You girls stay here and fish, see if you catch enough for dinner."
"Yes, Mama."
She left me took Lara's shoulder and teleported away. Addie shrugged. "Weather's beautiful. Warm and sunny, the fish are biting, might as well do as she says."
We all nodded.
In the Queen's Hut, Ephiny and Gabrielle were going over some figures when Artemis appeared with a new Full Warrior Lara. Who had an attitude problem, She was a border guard and Nicerata, head of the Border guards had already mentioned how she wanted to knock some sense into her, but she it wouldn't help in the long run, if it did all the stubborn and close minded Amazons would be less of a problem.
Ephiny sighed. "Lady Artemis, what did she do?"
"She came upon my daughter, and her friends fishing in my pond, and threatened to switch them. She was downright mean spirited to them, when any other Amazon would have gently but firmly explained that Artemis pond was off limited and only swatted them if they didn't comply. Even if they did have permission to be there, let's assume for the sake of argument they didn't. There needs to be Consequences Gabrielle if she isn't punished sufficiently, she's going to spend the rest of her life as a Goat."
Lara paled again. Ephiny died. Gabrielle nodded. "Until you're evaluated and it's decided if you can be put back in your position report to Analia, and Cyrene in the kitchens. Artemis do you find this satisfactory."
Artemis nodded. "I trust Cyrene to teach her to act like a decent human being and do things the correct way. "All the Adult Women in Cyrene and Elorah's family are trust worthy at that."
Eponin spoke. "Thank, Lady Artemis."
Xena was not in the room, she's been roped into teaching the 16 and 17 year olds to streamline their fighting. Eve and Sarah were making friends in the nursery school, and Lila was enjoying working with her boss Leda.
Back at the pond, I had caught three fish myself, while the twins had each caught two, but Addie had us all beat with four.
"How'd you catch so many?"
"Mom and Aunt Violet take me fishing whenever they have the time, it's something I'm good at. Of course we only started going when I was 8, so I'm not as good as my Mom or Aunt Violet."
"What does your Aunt Violet do?" I ask.
"She's the night Captain of the outer Border guards, under Nicerata, but like my Mom she's a great Fisherwoman, and she almost became an animal healer."
"Why'd she take Night captain, I'm guessing not many people wanted it?" I asked.
"Because she's way head everything weapons, defense, leadership, she's good with people, and she can take and give orders, and people will listen to her, but she's only 22, if she wanted to get a leadership position when she was only 21 it had to be a night position she won't be eligible for a day leadership position until she's at least 26 or 27, unless gets bonded and she or bondmate gets pregnant then they'll offer the option."
"Makes sense." I said. "Do you girls want to keep fishing?" I asked. "Because we can clean these and go swimming or we can go inside and get a snack, and play with a few of the toys, the rest of the mortals don't have access to, because I brought them back with me….."
"That's very generous of you, Moon beam." Mama appears. "But you have another candle mark until you have to do your chores, I'll help you clean your fish, and then provide you and your friends with a snack but then it best they go home."
"Yes, Mama."
"Of Course, Lady Artemis.' Addie said
"Yes, Aunt Arte." Corrine and Danae said at the same time it wasn't often they did the freaky twin thing. Mama led us into the kitchen, she helped us clean our fish and then put the filets in baskets, and put them aside, and then had us sit at the table.
"Your choices are Fruit juice and spice cake, or fruit Sorbet."
"Sorbet, trust me you want the Sorbet." They agreed and we were treated to local fruit Sorbet. Soon it was finished and my friends had to go home. I went and changed into my grubby clothes, and my spare boots, and first I fed Mama's Dogs, and the puppies I gave them fresh water. I went to the stables/barn and shoveled for the second time today, I brushed, fed, and watered the horses, and fed, watered, and milked the goats. And left water for the chickens, then I went inside, Mama told me to take a bath and then change into my pajamas, I chose the dancing bear pajamas, then I joined her at the dinner table filet of dish, with gravy I remembered from childhood, and roasted potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, and fruit juice.
The next day it was pouring, it definitely would have had me complaining back in New York. But New Yorkers complain a lot about the weather in general, here they just make alternate plans and go with them. I woke up, did my chores as usual. Had my breakfast, My Mom insisted on Porridge today because of the chill in the air. At least it had fresh berries in it, and honey. I also got Hot chocolate with breakfast. I almost which I could share it with the tribe, but we shared it with the other gods, so they all have cacao and Coffee plants, and sugar cane. And several other foods, Mama had sent me with without me even knowing it. I went to Kalidas's class, Kalidas was teaching us the myth of Hades and Persephone.
I raised my hand. "Kalidas, I have something to say."
"Yes, Alexandra." She sighed.
"My mother actually told me Hades and Persephone were in love for a long time, and she ran away because it was the only way to get away from her controlling mother, and that the reason for winter was not because of Demeter' anger but because Persephone besides being Queen of the Underworld is the Goddess of Vegetation and everything dies when she's down there."
"See me after class, Alexandra." To Me, I just thought of all the teachers that said that, and Diana's reaction after my classmates had different reactions they felt bad, that usually meant a serious lecture or a more serious punishment than six licks with a paddle. Or she was bringing in your mother or guardian to deal with your behavior directly.
After class I looked at Kalidas. "You put me in an awkward position Alexandra, Any other student I would paddle for disrupting the class, but you only told the truth right?"
"Yes, Kalidas."
"We don't punish students or anyone for telling the truth here, being truthful is at the very core of our values, so, I'm giving you some lines, to be done by tomorrow, fill up this scroll." She hands it to me. "I'll be respectful when I tell the truth, and hand it in, in your neatest handwriting and have your mother sign the bottom, and I'll consider the matter closed."
I went to lunch and sat with my friends, Addie, Corrine, and Danae, the 11 and 12 year olds were sitting further down. It was Wild bird and Rabbit stew with Onions, carrots and turnips, probably gotten by one of the hunting classes
"So, what did Kalidas want?"
"I'm only in a little trouble since I was telling the truth, but I was disrespectful, I need to do a scroll and have Mama sign it, I'm not sure how Mama would react, Diana would probably sign me up for etiquette lessons which is a fate is worse than you can image. Some fancy stuck up woman in expensive clothes tells you how to behave, how to dress, how to dance, how to cross your legs, how to eat, so you'll fit in High Society, Is a really torturous punishment."
Addie nodded. "At least there are none of those classes here."
"True."
After lunch they tracked animals and each other with Atalia, then I decided it was best to go directly home. Mama was waiting for me. So was Elorah, the former Weapons' master.
"I spoke to your teacher Alexandra, she said you were disrespectful, because I always like to give you the benefit of the doubt, I'd like to believe that 2,000 years, and the society I raised you in was too different, and you didn't mean to be disrespectful you were unfamiliar with the customs."
"Some of it was that, some of it was I was answering as if I was still an adult, and not a child, adults don't like children, to answer them as if they're adults." I said with a shrug.
Mama laughed. "Well until further notice, instead of your afternoon chores, you'll be having lessons with Elorah."
"What about my chores?" I asked. Mama just answered they'd get done I keep forgetting she's a goddess. At least I didn't end up getting spanked or something. And etiquette classes for amazons aren't as bad as New York society ones. Even if Elorah can paddle and swat me when she wants. I wasn't learning anything I didn't already actually know, but with my attitude, I got a lot of swats.
Another Week passed the lessons with Elorah was over. I woke up like any day did my chores, and got ready for the day Mama checked on the puppies with me.
"You can give Lyric to Eve, but the other pups aren't ready yet." the puppies were finally ready to give out. Mom let me I brought the golden haired hound to Xena and Gabrielle's Hut and knocked. "Alexandra Come in…."
I did. "Hi, Xena." She swats me, as she closed the door. Then I remember, Gabrielle, Xena, and Cyrene were to be referred to as Aunt, I'm surprised she didn't make me call Elorah Aunt when she tutors me. "I mean Aunt Xena, this is Lyric, Eve's New Puppy. She's ready she had some initial training but the rest is up to you. We're still training some of these litters to go to the disabled and elderly Amazons of the tribe. And some of the younger Amazons who have a tendency to wander into trouble. Like Your Niece Kairos she has a tendency toward accident proneness….."
Xena nodded. "Her father was the same way." Xena remember fondly. "Gabrielle is just getting Eve dressed she'll be out in a minute."
I nodded. "Okay."
"How are you liking the village?"
"Good I made some friends, and I like school and other training."
"Good, how do you like living with a younger version of your Mother?"
"Well, when I was disrespectful in school she punished me the exact some way, she would have at home, She didn't even ask what She would have done like she when I went to get Lila."
"Well, when you went to get Lila you did something very dangerous she probably wanted another opinion, now put that pup down and let's see what she can do."
I put Lyric on the floor. Gabrielle who had a barely there baby bump and just looked like she had too much stew came out with Eve.
"What's this?"
"A gift from my mother, this is Lyric, she's one of her hounds, besides being a hunting dog, she'll live upwards of 30 years, she'll have a deep bond with Eve, be able to protect her from anything from Wild boars, and bandits to minotaur's, and will be able to adjust her strategy if the attacker is a five year old, she's also….." Lyric licks Eve on the face. "Very affectionate, and is smart enough to take orders."
Xena Nodded. "Thank You, Alexandra, and We'll thank your mother too."
Eve giggles. Gabrielle leans down. "Evie this is your Puppy Lyric."
"Ric…." Eve said.
I shrug. "Close enough, when I was little, and My Mama had me call her Diana I called her Di Di (Pronounced Die Die) anyway I should be getting to school. We're having a substitute today."
Gabrielle spoke. "Kalidas got caught in one of the 7 year old's traps and did something to her back, and sprained an ankle, she'll be okay, in a few days, unless the injury to her back is permanent, her sister Deitra, is running the class, she usually is the assistant archivist, she's not used to children so go easy on her." And with that I left for school, and met up with my friends.
END CHAPTER FOUR