Chapter 8: A new task
The streets were filled with the sounds of cheerful woman chattering about the celebration ahead. Mothers shooed their daughters away from stands as they spoke with merchants gossiping and bartering over goods. The sun began to set leaving trailed hues of red, orange, yellow and purple over the horizon.
In the palace Kim stormed into Shego's room, concern contorted her usually solemn features. Her sword bounced against her thigh as she trotted to where Shego lay on the floor. She was much paler than normal; a cold sweat beaded her body. Kim dropped to her side and turned her head to check her eyes. Shego shivered at the touch and recoiled.
"What happened?" Kim asked turning Shego's head back to face her. Shego's eyes widened in as she sat up abruptly and pushed Kim away from her.
"Don't touch me." She demanded, lifting herself off the floor. Kim frowned and climbed to her feet.
"I'm just trying to understand what happened. The oracle has never done that before, obviously there was something about you that made her do that. Now tell me what happened." She made a point to approach Shego and lock her gaze on the woman.
"Shit Princess, I don't know okay? It was intense, I thought she was going to sick the life out of me." Shego said. Fear flashed in her eyes and was soon replaced with a blissful gaze. "I don't know what happened, Kimmie, but I think we may run into her again."
Kim was confused. "Why do you say that?" Kim asked. Shego shrugged and spoke no farther on the subject. She only walked toward the bed and took a seat. Kim sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. Just then the queen burst through the door. Bana was close behind.
"I want to talk to you." She commanded in a fierce tone as she halted in front of Shego. Shego only stared at her and blinked. She made a sweeping motion with her arm toward the empty space next to her on the bed. The queen huffed. "I don't know what happened in there and I don't want to know. But I want you close to me from now on. You are going to be a part of my personal guard." Her tone was final and gave no room for argument. Bana's eyes widened in shock and horror.
"Majesty! that would not be very wise. She only appeared a month ago! How can we know to trust her?"
The queen glared at the captain for a long moment. "Captain, are you undermining my decision? Because, I distinctly remember your objection when I appointed the general as my personal guard. She has served me loyally for the past five years. Now if you truly think I am so incompetent in my decision making then why don't you go to the council with your complaint so they can appoint a new queen, one to your liking maybe?"
Bana shrank back and murmured "No majesty." She stood back and waited for Shego's response.
"What makes you think I'm going to say yes?" Shego asked defiantly. Kim and Bana both gasped at her openly. No one ever stood up to the queen like this.
The queen raised a brow. "Because I have exactly what you have been looking for."
Shego glanced at Kim. "So you're resorting to blackmail to get me?" Shego demanded as she stood. She and the queen stood nose to nose now. Bana rested her hand on the hilt of her sword. "I like you." Shego said with a smile.
The queen smiled in return. "And I you. So what is your answer?"
"Does our deal still stand?"
The queen nodded in agreement.
Shego shrugged. "As long as we're clear on that I'm fine. Looks like you got yourself a new body guard queenie."
The queen threw back her head and laughed. Kim shook her head at Shego's brave use of words. The queen turned to Bana now with a light smile. "Bana go and fit her with a uniform and sword. I won't have my personal guard running around unarmed and in robes!"
Bana grunted and motioned for Shego to follow her. Shego gave Kim a quick wink before following the captain out of the room.
In the barracks of the palace Bana impatiently called a guard toward them. "Go and find a uniform for her. The queen has made the goddess a part of her personal guard." The woman nodded and hurried off to do her task.
Shego raised a brow at the angry woman. "Damn Bana, who shit in your cheerios this morning?" Bana glared at her in confusion and disgust. "Okay wrong term, forgot I'm not in Kansas anymore, what is up with you. You're always so angry. Is there a stick permanently shoved up your ass were you just born like that?"
Bana reeled at the statement. "If you must know why I am so vexed I shall tell you. I was the queen's right hand. She turned to me for confirmation on every decision. Then that fiery woman strolled into our lives and all of a sudden I'm no more than a common servant. Now you fall out of the sky and I'm expected to believe you're a goddess because you have sickly complexion and abnormal powers? For all I know your just using some kind of sorcery or illusion. Now I'm no more than a bug to the queen. I will not tolerate it for long. Enjoy your position of power, because it won't last."
The guard returned with an armful of leather. "I'll be waiting outside." She grunted. The guard seemed to hold back a chill when Bana turned on a heel and left. Shego looked at the guard who seemed to shrink in fear at her sudden attention.
"I have no idea how to put these on. You mind giving me a hand?" Shego asked. The guard stiffened and nodded. She hastily helped Shego out of her robes and into the uniform. When the guard tightened Shego's boots she looked down at the uniform and held back a groan.
"How do I look?" She asked the guard when she stood to fasten her sword at her hip. The guard stiffened again and Shego rolled her eyes. She placed a calm hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'm not going to bite or anything. Not unless you have it coming so calm down." The woman seemed to loosen up and sighed.
"I thought you would be like the Captain. She is a very angry woman. You look fine…just like any other high ranking officer in the palace." The woman said with a smile.
"It's been a while since I wore a skirt this short." Shego commented as she watched the guard loosely fasten the sword to her hip.
"It makes running much easier. The top protects your heart and lungs, but it's still easy to breathe. It's the general's design; every guard has this design in their uniform." The woman said proudly.
"So what makes the high ranking stand out from the rest?" Shego asked.
The woman pulled Shego's sword out of its sheath to show her the silver inlaid on the hilt. "See the crescent moon and the star on the hilt? Only the high ranking soldiers and guards have this symbol on their sword. It's the queen's personal crest." She sheathed the sword and smiled. Shego nodded in understanding and allowed the woman to finish her work.
"So what's your name?" Shego asked when the woman stepped back to look her over.
"Ariel."
Shego nodded and patted the woman on the shoulder. "Well you been good company Ariel, maybe I'll see you in the future."
The woman chuckled and nodded. Shego walked out of the barracks and found a fuming Bana leaning against the wall. She pushed off and led Shego back to her room.
888
Night came and the streets were filled with woman. Soldiers strolled among the civilians with ease. Some stood and conversed in groups while young girls looked up at them admiringly asking numerous questions. The queen strolled through the crowd with Kim and Shego on either side of her. Woman would bow respectfully and drift out of their way to make a path; merchants smiled and greeted the queen whenever she would approach their stand.
"It shows trust and respect to walk amongst the citizens. They appreciate the fact their queen and come down and celebrate with them." The queen said to Shego as they made their way to the stage that had been built in the center of the town that surrounded the palace. They ascended the steps and stood by as the queen began to address her subjects. She raised a hand and the roar of the crowd died down.
"It is wonderful to see all of you so happy during this celebration! I am deeply honored to celebrate along with you all; we have achieved so much over this past year! I am happy to report that the oracle has foretold of a prosperous year!" The crowd erupted in a fit of cheers. The queen raised her hand again. "But as we all know it is always darkest before the dawn. The oracle has also foretold of turmoil and grief for us all. I advise you all to stay vigilant and remain strong during those hard times. We will see this through and live to see a bright new year!" The crowd exploded into cheers and celebration as the queen walked off stage.
"Why did you tell them that?" Shego asked her as they made their way through the crowd.
"They have a right to know the whole truth. I will not be made a liar so they can have a good celebration. A good queen will allow the truth to be told, no matter how bitter the truth is."
Shego took this into consideration and said no more. The celebration went on as if no bad news had been given at all. All the women danced, ate and drank without a care in the world. The queen had become a social butterfly talking and dance with everyone she could before the night had taken its toll on her. Kim and Shego celebrated right along with her but, still managed to keep a wary eye on the queen.
"I think we've had enough for tonight." The queen said. Kim and Shego nodded in agreement and followed her back to the palace. Once the queen was safely in her apartments and guards were posted outside, Shego began walking Kim to her room.
"Why did you take this job Shego?" Kim asked the burning question.
"What the personal guard gig?"
"Yes. Why do it?"
"Well, it's not like I'm not used to it. I mean I used to work for Drakken, guarding the queen is actually easier. At least she has something interesting to rant about and she can defend herself if need be. But I took the offer so I could stay close to ya Pumpkin." Shego said with a slight smile.
Kim laughed at the gesture and playfully bumped into her.
"So what's with Bana?" Shego asked suddenly.
Kim smirked and shook her head. "What do you mean? Lately or just in general?"
"General. She walks around like the whole world is out to get her and we're her number one enemies."
"Oh. Well, she's just mad because the queen isn't her puppet anymore." Kim said passively.
"So she's out to get us because the queen thinks for herself?"
"In a way yes. When the queen was elected she was only fourteen."
"Elected?"
"Yeah, the amazons don't really go for the whole monarchy deal. A council elects who will be the next queen. Bana was brought in as a tutor, if you will, to teach her all the politics and battle tactics she needed to know as a queen. In the end Bana saw that as an excuse to rule through her."
Kim stopped at her door and smiled happily. "I'll see you in the morning Princess." Shego said before turning to leave. Kim nodded and watched her retreat down the hall.
"If you want to know the whole story, talk to the queen." Kim stated before backing into her room. Shego made a mental note of this and continued walking.