Xena; warrior princess Chapter Four.
Previously on After the Dirty half dozen, Glaphyra and Darnelle had avoided capture by a Roman Auxiliary on the pier by swimming into the water and reaching the shores of a nearby beach. This chapter picks up where it left Glaphyra taking her friend Darnelle who was wounded off to find a physician so it would probably have a few characters from Season 1 and a romance might follow the two.
Again, I don't own Xena or the other characters.
It might not be much but I'm still working on it, so please have a read into it and enjoy it.
Chapter Four.
The Athenian Healing temple.
After a long run across the terrain of the countryside to the borderline of Athens for a couple of hours, Darnelle and Glaphyra bumped into Atalanta the Blacksmith who was just on her travels as well when she found Darnelle wounded.
So she helped Glaphyra to carry him towards the borderline of the Athens region.
As they went along, Atalanta and Glaphyra spoke of the times they spent with Darnelle.
Having found out that the female Blacksmith Atalanta had beaten him in arm wrestling, Glaphyra couldn't help but give a giggle at Atalanta's success.
Glaphyra spoke with Atalanta about what she did and how she became a slaver of men before she got arrested and recruited by Xena to defeat a wicked Warlord.
After a long walk across the country the three managed to find a temple where there was a group full of physicians and priests who were residing inside the halls of the temple, they were doing a practice in healing.
It was about two years since Xena came to the temple, In one early year the priest Galen had retired from his work for a quiet life.
At the day of his departure, he left his apprentices Democritus and Hippocrates in charge of the temple of healing which became a hospital.
Once Galen took his horse and rode off to the country for his quiet life, the two new priests spent their years gathering a new group of students who wished to learn healing. They then proceeded to make the changes for the insides of the temple during the whole of the year with the help of some new students.
Each of the students paid tribute to be enrolled in the study of medicine and healing. As the new physicians who had opened the healing temple for all who had needed their aid, the two young teachers had called for a new group to come to their new temple to become healers.
Soon after that their calling was heard on the first week, things began to change for the healing temple and its occupants.
After so many had heard their call for new students, the two young teachers soon found themselves teaching a new group of people in the arts and works of Healing in combat and helping other people in need.
They were the same work that Xena had taught the two of them.
During that period of years after the civil war between the Thessalians and the Mitoans had finally ended, their leaders and their people had managed to come to a compromise which would bring peace between the two nations as all had lost so many in those many battles at the cost of lives on both sides. Since then a new era of prosperity had come to the area, both armies and their own people had to live together and work together to keep the Romans at bay for a time.
Inside the Temple itself a group was doing reading sessions for another group of students.
As each of them were listening to the lecture of different types of medicine that Democritus was giving them.
Hippocrates also gave a lecture of healing wounds with stitching or using hot pokers to burn wounds after cleaning them.
Their lesson today was on how to heal the human body when one of them turned his head away from the lesson to look at the door.
He wound up seeing the two women carrying a wounded man by the arms outside, they were coming up towards the temple.
When the young physician stood up, he walked forward towards the three strangers before he looked down and saw an arrow stuck on Darnelle's back.
He turned back to head towards the other priests before he alerted the others. "Hippocrates, we've got a visitor. She is carrying a wounded man at her side, he seems to have an arrow stuck in his back." he said. Hearing this news, Hippocrates stepped forward to pass through the students.
As soon as Atalanta and Glaphyra approached the front entrance of the temple with Darnelle, the Thessalian guard and the Mitoan guard both stepped forward to ask the two travelers a question when Hippocrates stepped out of the Temple entrance, he spoke.
"Wait guards, that man is wounded. He needs help."
The guards turned to look at Hippocrates when he spoke.
"Bring them both inside, we need to take care of the man's wounds immediately."
As soon as the guards stepped back to let them pass, Glaphyra and Atalanta went up the steps.
Carrying Darnelle by the arms, the arrow's end was still sticking out but the blood patch on his back seemed to have stopped bleeding.
The three went up the stairs before they entered the doorway of temple.
Glaphyra, Darnelle and Atalanta walked passed the rows of students who watched them go through the rows.
They brought him towards the altar which was now used as an operating table for the surgeons to repair each of the seriously wounded patients.
Upon entering the temple, the new high priest Hippocrates stepped up to Darnelle's side before he stopped him and looked at the wound on his back.
He looked at Glaphyra before he asked her.
"How long has the arrow been stuck in his back, my Lady."
"The arrow has been in his back for about a couple of hours or so, but he's kept his shoulder still to keep himself from falling unconscious. I ha to keep my hand on his wound so he wont lose any blood from his body. Is there anything that can be done." Glaphyra responded said, whilst Hippocrates took a look at the wound on his back, seeing the arrow still inside he looked back up at him.
"Alright I'll take hold of him and I'll lay him down on the the table, your friend will have to lie on his side whilst I clean the wound and take the arrow out before it gets infected." Hippocrates spoke taking Glaphyra's place, he brought Darnelle over to the operating table.
Looking out to Democritus, Hippocrates spoke giving his instructions to him.
"Democritus get the students to bring me some hot water and bandages, and I will need some of the new small jars of herbal ointments to spread around the wound so i can pull out the arrow." As Hippocrates spoke his instructions he turned his head from the two to his standing students.
Some of the students themselves started getting busy, each of them started heading off and gathering the provisions needed whilst the others cleared the path to allow Darnelle to be carried to the table which they've cleared immediately.
Once Darnelle was laying on the table, he grunted in pain before he lost consciousness.
Hippocrates and his physicians then got started on their work on fixing Darnelle's wound whilst he was out cold for them to work.
Atalanta and Glaphyra stood back to watch their work when one of the student apprentices approached Glaphyra.
Glaphyra and Atalanta turned to see that the student was a girl. The female apprentice took Glaphyra towards one of their rooms at the corner of the temple to wait so they can let the physicians do their work.
As Glaphyra and the female apprentice were sitting in the room, a couple of boy students appeared from the other corner.
Atalanta decided to go into the room at the corner to keep Glaphyra company as they waited.
Each holding the pot of hot water by the handles, the students brought it to the corner along with the tools that might be needed for the procedure of removing the clothes to get to the wound. Whilst one of them brought an ointment to numb the wound enough so that Democritus can pull the arrow tip out from the spot on Darnelle's back, the other's turned away to let their teacher work his skills in removing the arrow.
When the work of healing was started, Democritus had to break the arrow stick in half, leaving a short tip for him to pull straight out.
Once it was done, Democritus stepped back to allow Hippocrates to perform the surgery upon the woman on the .
He drew a knife from his tool kit to make a cut on the back of Darnelle's clothes so they can get to work on the wound, the apprentice who was a teenage boy had the layers removed from his muscle torso.
Once the opening was clear Hippocrates opened a jar and took a small touch of ointment from the jar with his own two fingers before he brought it to Darnelle's back, applying the ointment carefully on the skin.
Whilst Hippocrates was performing his work, a couple of the apprentices was holding him down on the table encase their patient suddenly woke up and squirmed across the table, Hippocrates waited for at least half a minute whilst the apprentice watched on.
"Now, we wait for at least a half a minute or so before we can start removing the arrow from the back."
As soon as the time had come to remove the arrow shaft thirty seconds later, Hippocrates started to twist the arrow and he pulled it slowly from the back.
The base of the arrow slid slowly out from the skin of Darnelle's back like a root from the earth until he managed to lodge it out.
But as soon as the arrow's tip got yanked out of the skin on the back, Hippocrates placed the arrow tip into the hot water.
The apprentice had the wound cleaned up to prevent any infections from getting into the wound whilst Democritus did most of the lecture for the students to learn, Hippocrates got one of his healing potions. Taking a small sample from the bottle he passed it back to one of his students and applied it to Darnelle's back using it to stop the bleeding in his back before he started stitching up the wound together to seal it up.
Once it was stitched closed, Hippocrates then applied a clean patch of fabric upon the wound to stop the bleeding before tying a bandage on the wound.
Hippocrates and his apprentices waited for almost a couple of minutes into the wait when Darnelle had started to open up her eyes. The man started to moan a bit from waking up when he moved his head to look up at the ceiling.
Darnelle looked around to find that he was inside a temple of some sort.
He then spoke out one word. "Glaphyra." Inside the room at the corner, the warrior maiden Glaphyra was sitting down on the floor by one of the pillars.
The female Blacksmith Atalanta was waiting with her, the two spent the last days talking about their love lives and how life is short.
As Atalanta spoke about life, Glaphyra looked down with her head hanging.
She was thinking on how stupid it was for Darnelle to give his life for her, but Atalanta gave her some comfort saying that any man would do anything for the woman that they loved. Hearing this opinion, Glaphyra started to think on Darnelle's bravery with the female apprentice watching her from the distance when an apprentice had entered through the pathway, he looked down at the sitting maiden before he asked her. "My Lady, is your name Glaphyra?"
At the mention of her name Glaphyra brought her head up to look at the apprentice boy.
"Yes it is, but I'm not your lady at all. So what is it?" she asked the apprentice directly as Atalanta stood with her arms crossed.
"Your friend the big man has called out your name, he's alive." The apprentice answered.
Hearing the news, she stood herself up from the step.
Glaphyra walked out of the room before she went towards the table.
Approaching the table, Glaphyra walked around it to stand in front of Darnelle's face before she spoke to him in her voice.
"Darnelle, its Glaphyra speaking. I'm here as you have called me. How are you feeling?"
Stirring a bit from her dreamlike daze, Darnelle tried to move when he felt pain sting deep in his back.
He gasped and scrounged his face in a touch of agony. "Glaphyra, I don't mean to be a soft person but I was afraid I might not see your face again, especially after taking that arrow for you." Glaphyra gave a chuckle before Atalanta approached his side and she replied.
"Well it was a reckless move you pulled Darnelle, Glaphyra wanted to take the arrow for you but you did the brave thing and took her place."
"Darnelle you big lug, why did you take the arrow?" Glaphyra asked.
Darnelle drew a small grin at her and spoke. "Because I didn't want you to get hurt Glaphyra. I hated to lose a woman I really like."
"You couldn't lose a tracker even if you wanted to, but at least we are both safe for now. Encase you didn't notice you are lying inside the healing temple that I've managed to find before you were nearly close to collapsing on the steps and nearly died in my arms." Glaphyra explained to Darnelle who looked at her with his eyes widened before he asked.
"Oh, we're both in a Healing temple, huh? That's a pretty nice place for a healing temple."
Glaphyra nodded before Darnelle breathed a sigh and retorted.
"I really hate it when someone goes after me in a battle or tries to kill me, I was almost afraid that you'd be the one to die saving my life back on the beach."
Atalanta giggled at that remark. Glaphyra drew a grin before she explained. "Well that roman archer who appeared from the upper hills had almost made his name on you, he shot an arrow upon you, but when I stepped around in front of me you turned me around to take took the arrow in my place remember? You did a foolish act for me Darnelle. Although it was stupid of you, It was brave of you."
"I agree with Glaphyra, you're not too bad for a carpenter Darnelle." Atalanta complimented with a grin.
"I was almost sure that the arrow might hit my heart." Darnelle stated to Glaphyra.
"Your heart, Darnelle if I was afraid to lose anything else in this world it would be a good friend like you, I would be living with regret that I didn't save you like Gabrielle had lost her husband." Glaphyra spoke looking at Darnelle, he saw the pain in her face.
Sighing, Darnell then spoke. "He must have been a good man to die for Gabrielle. If I'd lost you Glaphyra, I probably wouldn't forgive myself just as you wouldn't. I have to admit to you, that is something in common that we have now."
Hearing that opinion, Glaphyra was beginning to hear the honesty in his voice as she listened to him carefully.
Even Atalanta became surprised at how much Glaphyra had meant for Darnelle the Carpenter.
"Thankfully you proved how forthright you can be, you saved my heart Darnelle." Glaphyra said, sharing her thoughts about him.
Darnelle's mind thought it out before he spoke a new thought he didn't know had existed. "I guess I hate to imagine you lying dead because of me and I... I guess a lot people do a lot of reckless things for those they care about or the people that they love."
Hearing him expressing her feelings for her from the big man on the table, Glaphyra looked away from Darnelle, who remained silent as he looked at her. He found himself listening to her. "Well at least you are alive and you still have your tough heart." said Glaphyra.
"Thanks Glaphyra, your kindness continues to be so unexpected." Darnelle said before he sat himself up when Glaphyra turned to face him and she spoke.
"That's very sweet of you to say Darnelle, speaking of that archer I got him."
"You got that archer on the hill?" asked Darnelle.
"Yes, its true Darnelle. Glaphyra told me of how she took him down and took some of his weapons." Atalanta spoke vouching for Glaphyra.
"It was so that we can use each of them when you have recovered from your wounds. I thought that they might be needed for sure." Glaphyra said with a small grin at Darnelle. He then spoke. "Well you're welcome to use them since you have saved me from dying on the beach."
Appreciating his generosity, Glaphyra started to marvel at his eyes.
"Darnelle, before you say anything else I just want to say thank you for shielding me from the arrow."
"I accept your gratitude and of course you have my gratitude for taking out that Archer, the man himself could have taken both of our heads for trophies if he was alive." Darnelle said in a chuckle but then showed an awkward look upon her face, dreading the thought.
Looking to change the subject, Glaphyra spoke out to Darnelle.
"You know Darnelle, I think you might have changed after all, and you used to be such a challenge. I would only wish that Gabrielle could see you here."
"Yes I believe that she would have loved to see me risk my life to save you." Darnelle replied looking away with a small grin at the thought.
Glaphyra drew a small grin at the shared thought, Darnelle then looked back at her as spoke to her. "Like that time when we fought with her and Xena in defeating Agathon, I'll just leave you to get some rest for the next day when you're ready to leave."
"Glaphyra, I believe it'll be at around dark on the next day before your friend here can be able to leave this temple. But we do have separate rooms for you both if you choose to stay here." Hippocrates said coming in from the next room to see how his new patient was doing today.
Glaphyra then went off to check their supplies whilst Darnelle had to endure the examination from Hippocrates.
Atalanta went off with her, looking to leave the temple anyways.
As soon as they were outside the temple, Atalanta spoke.
"Well I'm afraid this is where we must part ways Glaphyra."
"Really, so you're just going to leave me and Darnelle?" asked Glaphyra.
"As much as I like to stay I have to get back home, I have a few trades to make on the return journey and my village will need a blacksmith. Also I have family there who will miss me." said Atalanta. Glaphyra looked at her as if understanding her reason to leave so she spoke.
"I haven't seen my family in a long time and I'm not sure if Darnelle has any, he hasn't spoken of them at all."
"Well its because he left them to go his own way, but If they passed onto the next world I like to believe that they are watching over him." Atalanta paused for a moment before she spoke. "Its been a good time getting to know you Glaphyra, Darnelle should count himself lucky to have a warrior maiden like you on his side."
Glaphyra gave a chuckle at that remark. "Its been good to get to know you as well Atalanta, I almost wish I could go with you." she said.
Atalanta drew a small grin before replying to her. "Maybe if you're ever passing through my village you're welcome to come to my workshop for a visit. Goodbye Glaphyra have a safe journey."
"And the same to you Atalanta the Blacksmith." Glaphyra said to Atalanta as she gathered her things and then parted on her way.
Glaphyra watched at the athletic woman walked her own way across the path, leaving her alone at the temple of healing.
Without any need to linger on Glaphyra turned to the doorway of the Temple to head back inside.
Meanwhile in the northern part of Greece.
There was a Roman Camp that was set in a far off distance in the Thessalian regions, a hundred tents and a dozen high tents stood within the middle of the camp and there were almost thousands of Roman soldiers residing.
Among the Roman warriors who resided within the camps, was a roman General named Senecus Olivius Atticus, but Most of the army call him general Senecus.
Residing within the shelter of his his tent, Senecus was standing at the center where he was studying the landscape of the maps on his table; he was seeking two fugitives who had escaped the guards who were on patrol on the coast.
Although he didn't know where they might be, he was still determined to find out where they were hiding. was continuing his study on the maps when a Roman officer appeared from outside, saying to the guards that he has a message from Rome. Senecus looked up at the door before he spoke out. "Send him in."
The guard stepped aside allowing the messenger to enter the high tent before Senecus turned to face him, he saluted the messenger who then saluted back.
"Messenger, what news do you bring?" asked Senecus.
"General Senecus I bring the news is from the senate, you and your army are to be transferred further to the south of Greece to secure more land and to guard the estates for a few of our nobles, there has been reports of some escaped slaves so you are to seek out and capture these slaves for Rome." said the messenger.
Senecus nodded looking away from the messenger before he spoke.
"Tell the Senate that I will send soldiers and others to capture new slaves for trade. But I will be needing a few hundred more men and about a dozen horsemen for the raids on the vast villages and to secure the hold and power upon the cities of the whole of the countryside."
"Yes sir." The messenger said, saluting the commander before he turned to walk out through the entrance towards his horse. Once he was out of the tent, the messenger mounted upon his horse and then he rode it out of the camp whilst the Commander stepped outside the tent to watch him ride away in to the far off distance towards his destination.
Once the messenger was gone, General Senecus turned away and he called for a guard to call for a meeting to inform his lieutenants that they have received new orders from Rome. When the first guard went off, he called for the second guard to attention.
Upon coming up to the General Senecus and standing at attention, the general had him gather up group of Roman soldiers to send them out to find the renegade duo in the Greek regions outside the camp.
Later that day, General Senecus held the meeting with his lieutenants. He discussed the marching orders that he received from a messenger who had come to the camp earlier on in the daytime, one of the lieutenants spoke about what they were to do in the south of Greece they were to go.
General Magnus spoke of what he knows. "The Senate has asked for us to Seek out and recapture the lost slaves who have ran away from their owners, also some of us are to guard an estate in the south of Greece."
Some of the Lieutenants looked at him, paying close attention before General Senecus then started speaking about plans to leave on the morning of the next day.
The meeting last for almost an hour of the day with most of the soldiers in the company packing the wagons and gathering the weapons to pack them into the spare wagons and horses for their departure towards their next destination away from Rome.
That night as the lieutenants were off to perform their duties, one of the other officers who was a captain of the guard stood on his spot waiting to speak to the general who didn't notice him when he looked up. Seeing that the captain was waiting at attention, General Senecus spoke to him.
"Is there something that I can help you with soldier? you may speak up now." The captain then spoke.
"General Sir, I am Captain Magnus Remus and I stand at your attention to volunteer for the conquest of the two fugitives you were seeking."
"Very well then captain, but be warned. If you were to fail in your mission to find the fugitives then you will be forbidden to return to Rome ever." said General Senecus.
Back in The Athenian Healing temple.
A couple of days within the week later.
It was after a couple more days of resting in one of the healing rooms of the temple since the rains started coming down upon the temple and the whole area around it, Darnelle and Glaphyra had to reside in the separate rooms so as not to get on each other's nerves, but Darnelle had his right arm strapped to his chest since the arrow had struck his back.
It left him with only his good left arm to use and an apprentice to keep him in check much to Glaphyra's amusement.
As the days went on, Darnelle asked about what happened to Atalanta when Glaphyra told him that she had to leave for home as her family would be worried about her. Understanding her own need to go home, Darnelle looked down as he thought on it.
"Well I hope that she'll have a safe journey along the roads back to her village." said Darnelle.
"Don't tell me that you've fallen in love with her Darnelle." Glaphyra, starting to look jealous of Atalanta.
Darnelle gave a chuckle at that statement before he spoke. "It never would have worked Glaphyra."
"Why not?" asked Glaphyra.
"I would have lost a thousand arm wrestling matches with her. Also she was in love with someone else once, his name was Hercules." Darnelle answered.
"Oh, the Greek son of Zeus who travels across the world helping those in need whilst battling Hera." Glaphyra said to Darnelle.
"So you know of him." Darnelle said. Glaphyra drew a sly grin before she replied. "I heard a lot of things at sea, it was as if Poseidon told me the whole story."
That made Darnelle laugh, so Glaphyra laughed along with him.
They carried on with the subjects of their conversation whilst the rains went on until it became dry.
As soon as it game the time to leave for the road, the two started getting their belongings ready to leave the temple.
After having his wounds checked that morning before receiving the permission to leave the temple in peace, Darnelle and Glaphyra were no more glad to depart from the temple before any Roman patrols might appear from the horizon and come straight into the temple to look for them.
Inside her private room, Glaphyra was just putting most of her stuff into her bag.
As soon as she had finally filled up her sack and tied up the opening, Glaphyra had slung it onto her back before she took one last look at the room.
Seeing nothing left but the new sack filled with weapons nearby the doorway, she reached out to pick up her new weapons sack and stepped out of her room through the doorway and walked down the hallway towards Darnelle's room.
Inside his room, Darnelle was getting most of his stuff into his sack with an apprentice's help who held the sack open.
Once the sack was packed up, Darnelle thanked the apprentice who then closed up the sack when Glaphyra appeared at the doorway and knocked on it to announce her presence to him, Darnelle turned his head to see him standing outside the doorway.
"Are you ready to depart or would you like me to wait long?" Glaphyra asked Darnelle who drew a smile and replied.
"I was just about to sling my bag onto my good shoulder if you're ready to go as well. But may I ask to help you with your sack Glaphyra?" Darnelle asked her nicely.
As she looked at him, Glaphyra thought about his request before she drew a smirk at him, she spoke in a teasing tone in her voice. "Don't push your hopes Darnelle, you still have a wounded shoulder and the physician did order you not to take up heavy lifting until your shoulder is fully healed up unless you want him to knock you in the head."
"Oh alright Glaphyra, you have made your point." Darnelle said to Glaphyra.
Darnelle then turned back to his sack, the apprentice then slung it upon Darnelle's good shoulder.
Once the packing was all done, Glaphyra turned away to walk down the hall whilst Darnelle and the apprentice followed her across the hallway. He walked across the hall with the apprentice known as Orias at his side, the three of them took a couple of turns through the halls of the temple until he went up a stairway.
Coming up the stairs, they soon entered the main hall of the temple.
When Glaphyra saw Democritus at the table, she approached him as he turned to see Glaphyra come forward.
He asked her about Darnelle, Glaphyra answered saying that he is strong and well as he was. Democritus started telling her his advise about Darnelle's wound and how long it would take for it to heal before she would be able to use it again, and even advised that the apprentice Orias should go with them, to stay with the two until Darnelle was fully healed.
Seeing that this physician and priest was saying as the truth, Glaphyra objected to the advise for the apprentice to go with them, saying that she is capable of taking care of Darnelle but also said that he is wise as he was kind to her and to Darnelle.
Accepting her statement, Democritus gave a nod to her request to let her take care of him.
When she turned her head to the side, Glaphyra saw Darnelle appear from the hallway to meet her.
So she turned back to Democritus and drew a grin at her before she spoke.
"Thank you for your care and for healing my friend, Physician."
"Glaphyra my lady, it has been an honor to help a person in need even though he was one of a few people other than myself to have had the privilege of meeting Xena and her faithful companion and to join in on their adventures across the Greek regions. So you make sure that Darnelle can keep his arm in its sling and be sure that he doesn't over use it whilst its still healing. Do you hear me Darnelle? I can't help you again if its used again." said Democritus.
"Yes I do understand Democritus, and I promise that I won't use it too much but I'll let it recover. Besides Glaphyra will keep me in check for the weeks ahead." Darnelle remarked, Glaphyra looked at him with a squint in her eyes before she turned back to speak.
"Maybe the apprentice might be of some use to us in our journey."
"What for Glaphyra? he doesn't seem to be of a warrior type." asked Darnelle.
"No but his healing skills in muscle can bring in a little pain to remind you of your good deed." Glaphyra. "Ah, the things I would do for love." Darnelle remarked, Glaphyra chuckled on hearing the sound of the remark.
Within moments after the talk with Democritus, Glaphyra and Darnelle went on the road to make their own journey. Packing up his stuff in one of his sacks, Orias was now walking at their side as the three of them walked off from the temple to go on the road to cross over to the Mitoan territory.
They walked across the region side by side, making their way towards the next village where they can get work within the town. As they walked along the roadways, Glaphyra sat her eyes forward with her thoughts about what to do on the next day.
Darnelle had his eyes on the road ahead but then he found that a soft spot on his heart was starting to think more about Glaphyra, her spirit and her caring for him and how much he cares for her which made him feel a little weak on the walk but he tried not to pay too much on the matter and then kept on walking across the roads.
It was nearly a long hour of the day into the trek when they had to make a stop at the side of the road to make camp on a hidden part of the fields to avoid the sight of any travelers who might be either roman or in league with the Romans.
After a long trek across the country within the hour, the three soon came up to a pond before they each dropped their belongings on the clear grounds.
Glaphyra took up her bow and a pouch of arrows when Darnelle stepped forward and spoke.
"Do you mind if I go along on the hunt with you?"
"If you don't mind just staying behind me, you're welcome to join me on the search for any game along the forest." Glaphyra said to Darnelle, before she went off.
With a smirk on his face Darnelle followed after Glaphyra, leaving Orias to tend to the camp.
After a short moment the two warriors Glaphyra and Darnelle were walking side by side on the hunt for game, the two of them were alone when Glaphyra turned to look at Darnelle. "You know I have to admit, I have been thinking about you when you were gone. I did miss the part of you that I liked to challenge." she said.
Moving up close to Glaphyra, Darnelle spoke.
"Its actually strange, because I always liked to challenge you just to impress you Glaphyra."
"I guess we are both fools for a challenge." Glaphyra said to Darnelle, looking at his face.
"Not really, I think we're two people who enjoy the thrill that life brings." said Darnelle.
Glaphyra then turned her head away from Darnelle as he stood on the spot.
Darnelle watched her start to walk away from him, he drew a small grin.
He was about to follow her and say something further when she suddenly turned around to face him.
Darnelle had almost thought she was going to punch him in the face but instead, she jumped forward upon his muscle torso. As he stood surprised with his friend wrapping her arms around him, Glaphyra found herself meeting his lips with hers, Darnelle looked at her with a surprised look on his face as his long time friend had kissed him.
He kissed her back as he steadied himself to keep from falling down on his back like a clumsy child, Darnelle's mind began to float for a short while before Glaphyra withdrew from Darnelle.
That kiss left him dazed, he had not kissed her for a long time since he helped Xena and Gabrielle escape the dungeons.
But he stood still and unable to speak when Glaphyra started to speak first. "I thought that might be simple to show how much I like you too."
Hearing her words made Darnelle draw a small grin before he spoke. "I couldn't compare you to any other woman in this life since we first met through Xena."
It was then that Glaphyra had started to fully embrace her love for Darnelle that she drew a grin upon her face and then she kissed him again.
"I guess it is fair for me to say that I've fallen in love with you Darnelle." She said to Darnelle, who then nodded to her.
"Wow, its amazing to know that cos I did love you too, for so long since before you left. But don't you think that we should get on with the hunt?" asked Darnelle. With a new found sense of adventure, Glaphyra drew a small grin and she gave a laugh before she went running across the woods. Darnelle began following Glaphyra from behind as they went on to continue the hunt for the game within the forest.
In the North of Greece.
Having made sure that the legions was ready for the march earlier, General Senecus Olivius Atticus was on his mount as he took the lead towards the south of Greece.
He brought the army across the regions of the north heading on their mission in the South where the estates were stationed.
Although he knew that he had to comply with his orders from the emperor himself, General Senecus Olivius Atticus had still desired to go on this hunt for the two fugitives of the law and thus bring them back to Rome in chains or at least have their heads for that matter. But having remembered that he sent Magnus Remus and a group of forty eight roman warriors along with him, Senecus felt a little assured that his hunting group will be successful on their mission.
As he looked forward on the horizon Senecus continued his trek, leading the legions across the region.
The march across the open fields continued on for a few hours of the day until they stopped after a ten or twelve mile march and they decided to stop and rest themselves.
A few of the soldiers who were not sitting down, had kept themselves busy by dismantling the wagons from their horses to water them whilst another few were making steps to set up a camp for the evening. As soon as the rest had a rest of five minutes, the army had begun their preparations to set up camp.
The horsemen dismounted from their horse saddles and then fixed their reins on the nearby trees, some of them tied a rope to tie their reins to the rope so that their horses will stay in place whilst a couple of them went up ahead to scout out any unwanted intruders near their large camp.
After a short time into setting up their camp, the Legion didn't have any problem in the camp, they sent out parties to go hunting for food whilst others were sent to cut down some trees so that they can get some fires going for the night. Within the hour after they had settled down, the Roman Legions didn't receive any hostility from any tribes out there, so most of the Legions on the inner circle of the great camp were at ease.
As the sun began to set the sentries were changed with new sentries to guard the whole camp at night until dawn.
Now alone with his own thoughts in his high tent, Senecus was thinking of his career as a general.
Without much to do for the night, the general Senecus had decided to tun himself in so that he can get an early rise in the morning and perform his new duties for the glory of the empire in Rome. Whilst Senecus was resting, his lieutenant Magnus Remus and his group were still on the move during the afternoon and the evening as they were tracking down Darnelle and Glaphyra who were still a few steps ahead of their pursuers in the regions of Greece.
When his mind grew tired all of a sudden in the pursuit, Magnus and his group had stopped for camp.
They dropped their gear, half of them started digging a hole whilst the rest went to gather some fire wood to get a fire going before they would go out on a hunting trip for any game in the forests. As soon as the fires were started, each soldier of the camp had placed a few chopped pieces of wood on top to keep the fire burning whilst the other soldiers went on their hunting trips, grabbing their bows and arrows.
Some had grabbed their spears and javelins from the racks before they went off into the woods on the hunt for any big game in the area. By the time they got back with their catch of the day, the camp was all set for the night.
Back in the forest.
Glaphyra and Darnelle were still in the woods, carrying their weapons in their hunt for game across the trees and bushes when they came across a mountain lioness in the distance which was also roaming the woods on the hunt.
The lioness then turned its attention on Darnelle and Glaphyra, ready to chase after the two.
It started running towards the two who stood their ground before the lioness pounced forward, Glaphyra took used Darnelle's spear to ram the lioness through by the neck in mid air and then it fell to the side with the spear-tip still inside its fur and skin.
With the Lioness wounded, Glaphyra drew out her knife as she approached.
Standing at the back of the Lioness whilst it was twitching, she hovered over it and crouched down.
Glaphyra leaned her knee upon the Lioness' head before she plunged her knife into the side at the heart to end its life whilst Darnelle approached its front and then knelt down to withdraw the spear-tip from the neck. Once he pulled the tip out he looked up to Glaphyra with pride for her actions. "Glaphyra for a woman of skills, you never cease to amaze me."
"If that's one of the things you love about me then maybe you are truly different from the other men." Glaphyra shared her thoughts, whilst cleaning her dagger with a cloth before she sheathed it. Looking up at Darnelle, she spoke. "So now you can carry this big lioness back to camp and you can cook it up tonight."
"I'd be happy to if you would like to help me prepare it as a meal." Darnelle said, handing his spear over to Glaphyra before picking up the carcass from the ground. He and Glaphyra stood up with the Lioness on his shoulders.
"I'm just making sure that you won't have to make any mistakes and cause us to get sick." Glaphyra said in a sarcastic tone whilst she held the spear with one hand and walked back to camp with Darnelle at his side. After a while of walking and getting back to camp, they found that Orias has sat up the camp and got a fire going with some small branches of wood on the side as well as a pile of dry leaves as well.
Soon Darnelle and Glaphyra sat their task to preparing their lioness game for a meal for the three of them, Darnell took care in the preparation with Glaphyra's help whilst Orias kept the fire burning before the two sat to cooking their game on the fire.
It was after a while of cooking together with the healer priest at their camp.
As soon as their well done lioness was cooked the three sat down to a lovely feast together.
Darnelle and Glaphyra settled down by the fire to talk about their plans for the next day.
Orias was asleep in his furs which was to get to the next town and hopefully lose the Romans who were chasing them.
For one half of the hour they talked about going north west to hide out for the time until the Romans had decided to give up on their search for them, but Darnelle felt that it would not be so easy as he knew some things about the Romans which was that their leader might cross the countryside to find them in order to gain recognition from Rome itself.
So when Glaphyra asked where they should go, Darnelle paused before saying that he's not sure yet.
Glaphyra smirked knowing that Darnelle was ashamed to ask her but then he spoke saying that would be happy to take what recommendation she chooses which surprised Glaphyra. With his request for her recommendations, Glaphyra gave a nod to him.
After coming to an agreement, they then decided to get some rest for the night.
The next day.
After getting themselves up early and having a small breakfast together, the three had packed up their camping equipment and moved from their grounds to head further to the east and then south across the Greek Regions.
As the three were on the trek across the landscape, Glaphyra and Darnelle had locked eyes with each other from time to time, sharing small grins like they were in love with one another which was almost hard to keep hidden from their travelling companion Orias, who was pretending not to notice their exchange of glances the whole trip.
The trek lasted a long way into the day time.
It was not long until the three had suddenly come across the town in the distance.
The day was reaching high noon and there was nothing to stand in their way to gaining a room at the inn and possibly a chance to rest and gather supplies before they would have to leave to stay one step ahead of the Romans pursuing the party. The moment Darnelle and Glaphyra had entered the grounds, they had a look around at each of the houses along the pathway into the town itself. It was swarming with townsfolk who were getting along with their daily lives and their chores.
The three continued on along their own way side by side until they had come to the town's inn. When they came to the door, Glaphyra was the one to enter whilst Darnelle and Orias stood outside to keep watch for the time.
Looking around at the villagers and townspeople who were going along with their own lives, Darnelle had began to think back to his previous life as a carpenter and he had drew a small grin on the hope that maybe he might have a chance once he and Glaphyra are free from Roman's eyes.
It was after a short while of the day, Glaphyra had appeared from the doorway and approached Darnelle and Orias who turned to see them. "Alright Guys, we have been granted a room for the night. So let's get our stuff together and go inside."
Darnelle drew a grin at Glaphyra and then he followed her.
Orias followed the two along the path through the inn, going through the hallways in the west wing until they got to the door to the room where they would stay for the night. But only Orias had chosen to stay outside for the night as he wishes to find a temple to pray for a moment of his time in the village.
After some time of settling into the accommodation of their own respectable room, Glaphyra was resting on the bed whilst Darnelle was sitting by the fireplace.
He was thinking of some things about the future now that he had fallen for Glaphyra.
As he knew Glaphyra for so long, Darnelle wondered if there was a chance that he could settle down with her and start a family.
Although he didn't know Glaphyra more, Darnelle understood enough to see that she was always such an adventurer.
A part of him didn't want to take anything away from her. And it made him hesitant about talking to her about the possibility of settling down in this town and not running anymore.
As he lingered, he started to feel sleepy. But he didn't notice Glaphyra sit herself up from the bed to stand up.
Seeing him in the chair sitting by the fire, Glaphyra drew a small grin and she approached Darnelle.
When she was close to Darnelle, she could see that he was looking into the fire for a moment but was about to fall asleep in the chair peacefully and she didn't want to disturb him. Looking up at the fireplace and the surroundings of the room, Glaphyra had then began to realize that they couldn't run from the romans forever and that she was growing tired of it anyways. Upon coming up with a resolution to the problem at hand as she frowned with determination, Glaphyra looked at Darnelle once more. "You have saved my life Darnelle but I know now that you and I cannot run away any longer, so I'm choosing to end this chase with a way I believe you would do in my place. I hope you'll accept that I'm saving your life in return by leaving you here." she whispered to Darnelle.
After some time, Glaphyra went to get her armor on her body. She secretly gathered up her weapons and her belongings, including Darnelle's sword and spear.
With her weapons and armor gathered together, Glaphyra then silently snuck out of the room, leaving Darnelle alone in the room.
As soon as she was outside the inn, Glaphyra moved her way across from the inn towards one of the stables to take one of the horses from the blocks so that she can ride off to find the Roman legion and offer a match between her and their leading general in exchange for acquittal of all crimes she and Darnelle stand accused of.
She quietly moved along as the people were just busy with their chores.
They didn't pay much attention to her as she mode her way to the stable. Entering the stable of the town, she looked in each block to see which horse to choose when she found one that was strong and suitable for the ride.
Unlocking the block door, she went in and untied the horse reins before she led the horse by the reins.
After a few minutes of saddling the horse and getting it set for the journey, Glaphyra checked the back door to see if anyone was there and she brought the horse out through back of the stables while it was still clear. As soon as the horse was out, Glaphyra had mounted up.
She was about to make her ride away from the town when Orias had appeared on his own horse and then he approached her side as she looked forward. "Were you planning to leave without saying goodbye?" The priest asked Glaphyra who turned to look at the young priest approaching her.
"I have a matter to settle with our Roman pursuers which does not involve you Orias, I'm going to end this once and for all." Glaphyra said to Orias.
"The matter itself would require my words as no woman would be able to barter with the Romans who are seeking to take your head. And besides that, I felt that you might need the company for the journey ahead.
I can convince the romans to offer a match that might settle your affairs." Orias explained his usefulness to Glaphyra, who sat on the saddle thinking on his skills. Orias watched her for a short moment until she then answered.
"Be sure to keep up with me and if the arrangement can grant us freedom, then I will be in your debt."
With their agreement set for the day, Glaphyra and Orias then rode off into the distance to seek out the romans so that they can end the chase and win their freedom for good. As they rode on together they held on to the hope that a match will end this chase or at least another alternative might work for them.
That's the end of Chapter four, Chapter five will be in production as I will be doing some research and development for Xena; after the dirty dozen and it might have a few surprise characters in as well. So stay tuned and thanks for supporting my writing.
