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Part 3

Xena leaned against Argo, expression a little bored. She had been ready to leave nearly half a candlemark ago, but Gabrielle had seen something she was determined to buy before they had made it out of the village. The owner had proved intransigent, and the haggling had reached epic proportions before Xena had given up and led Argo out of town, hoping the stroll would give the bard enough time to finish. No doubt someone would write an appropriate lengthy poem in honour of her partner's skill and determination. Until then, Xena was seriously considering just grabbing her and tossing her over Argo's back next time. They'd be leagues away before Gabrielle had a chance to finish sputtering. Sleeping on the other side of the fire and eating cold jerkey for dinner was very nearly worth it, Xena reflected.

The sound of running feet slapping on the dirt road snapped Xena to attention, and she turned to see an Amazon, hauling full tilt towards her, gripping a wooden scroll tube in one hand. The woman had a solid, stocky build and a pugnacious jaw. First glances suggested she should have been a poor choice for a messenger, but her steady gait belied them. She was pushing faster than her regular pace, which gave Xena a niggling sense of worry. The Amazon was close enough now for Xena to tell her pack from the rest of her, and note the unusual strips of red leather marking the sleeves of her long sleeved leather jerkin, each marked with an alpha and omega.

"Message for Xena of Amphipolis, daughter of Admetus of Borysthemis." gasped the Amazon as soon as she was an armslength away. Xena frowned in confusion. Borysthemis? What the furk was that?

"A message? From who?" Xena asked, watching as the Amazon pulled off the top of the wooden tube and shook out the scroll.

"No idea, ma'am. I just run around like some freaked out chicken, handing them to whoever they're for." responded the Amazon.

"Ah hah." Xena smiled. "What are the letters for?"

"Hmm? Oh... I'm a member of the Queen's Own Messengers of Borysthemis. Those letters are part of her arms."

"Borysthemis?"

"Everybody else calls it Themiskyra." the Amazon grinned cheerfully, pulling a water bottle out of her pack. "That's just our capital though, not the whole region."

The warrior popped the seal on the scroll and began to unroll it. "What's your name?"

"Kirke, ma'am."

Xena tipped her head to one side. "What has my mother to do with the Queen of all Northern Amazonia?" It had been quite awhile since Xena had encountered her... and she had barely survived the experience. She had gotten into a fight with the ferocious Queen, and it had gone on until a bolt of lightning had whalloped the ground in between them and knocked them both senseless.

"Why, I'm surprised you don't know, ma'am... I mean, your mother, she's the Queen's mother, too... Admetus of Borysthemis... she is your mother, right? You look quite a lot like her, and the fruit falls right under the tree in her clan."

Xena stopped short in the act of bracing the scroll against Argo's saddle. "It's complicated... Kirke, right?"

"Right." Kirke beamed and took a long pull from the water bottle.

Turning her attention to the scroll, Xena found herself gazing at a sheet full of bold, capital letters written determinedly in blue-black ink.

"Hey kid,

I'm up to no good, and I need you to help me out.

On your way to Amphipolis, could you stop for a candlemark or so at the trade post upriver? A boat should have come and gone from there already, and left a fellow named Aster... like the Morning Star, to some folks, even though you and I both know it's just my sister wandering home... he's waiting for an escort to Amphipolis. I meant to do it myself, but something has come up.

Don't worry, you'll like him, and he's not the leering or rude type.... he's not a bozo either. 

Right. Need to run by my own house up North. I finally get to pull out those two joining bands I've had locked away these past few centuries.

Stay out of trouble.

Love Mets"

"Up to no good." Xena mumbled. "Damn, damn, damn... there's gonna be a riot." Looking over at Kirke. "Did you see a blonde woman, about so high, wearing a set of nice blue leathers on your way through the village?"

"Yes ma'am I did... arguing something fierce with some fellow with a ring in his nose."

Sounded like Gabrielle, all right. "Well, sounds like there's no end in sight yet... let's go back. The least I can do is buy you a good meal."

Kirke's eyes brightened. "Far be it from me to turn down such a generous offer."

"No, no, no... a thousand times no! What do I look like? A maniac? A lunatic? Nope, no Moon worshipping happening here. You cannot have this all but priceless thing for a price like that."

"Alright... if it's priceless, just give it to me!"

"What?!"

"Priceless... having no price..."

"No, no... what are you, some kind of bard? Get out of here, you can't have it!"

Gabrielle scowled in frustration. The tunic they were arguing over was perfect for Xena, a beautiful crimson number with silver buckles and points on the laces. Amazingly, it was nearly identical in cut although not decoration to Admetus' 'Sun tunic' as Cyrene had taken to calling it, it being the Goddess' red and gold number. Giving up on the tunic was not an option.

"Thirty dinars is a ridiculous price."

"This thing is unique!" the merchant snapped back, wriggling the tunic on the counter. The action began to draw the attention of bystanders.

"I'm not contesting that. Your problem is, do you see anyone else willing to buy it?" Gabrielle grinned triumphantly. She had him. The tunic had garnered curious looks, and that was all. Articles in red leather were not considered appropriate for regular wear in this part of the world... unless you planned on shocking the older inhabitants.

The merchant glared at her. "Twenty dinars."

"Ten,."

"Ten! Why I ought to call the guards! I..."

"Guards? What's going on?" Xena stepped out of the crowd,glaring at the merchant.

"Should take your ten dinars. Here." Thankfully a bystander bumped into Xena leading to a short scuffle, allowing Gabrielle to hand over the money and corral the tunic before Xena actually saw it.

"One garment down, two to go." the bard chortled happily. Catching up to the tall warrior, she asked,

"What are you doing here? I thought you were waiting out of town?"

"I got a message and we have to take a little sidetrip on the way home. Nothing major, just something Mets won't be able to do. The messenger looked starved so I bought her lunch."

"Really? Is she still there? I'd like to talk to her."

"Yup. I had a few questions for her myself."

Kirke leaned back in her seat, and allowed the two bowls of stew and three slices of bread settle comfortably. It had been a long run to catch Xena of Amphipolis, including a dash through the heavy forests to the North. A short cut, but a punishing one. She ran a fingertip along a wicked scratch from a wild rose bush she had collided with halfway though the trees, heavy with moss and vines as well as leaves and cones. Pulling over a pitcher of water, she debated with herself about having a mug of ale. Ale wasn't good for running, but...

A bag and parcel landed with a dull thwap on the table beside the pitcher, jerking Kirke's eyes upwards. Gabrielle and Xena sat down, leaving the Amazon only a moment to take in their presence before they began to debate the contents of Xena's message.

"Kirke, right?" Gabrielle asked, smiling at the Amazon.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay... what does Admetus mean, she's up to no good?"

"No idea ma'am, I just hand these things out." Kirke took a pull from her water mug. "I'm not allowed to read 'em."

Gabrielle sighed irritably. "Figures. Borysthemis?"

"Yes." Kirke turned her attention to a block of smooth, soft cheese. It looked imminently transportable, which meant the potential for something beyond berries and nuts for breakfast next morning.

"Am I queen there?"

The messenger's reply was an expression of utter bafflement. "You? Queen at Borysthemis? No." Kirke laughed softly. "No, no, no. Trust me, you're best suited for where you are."

Gabrielle's eyes blazed angrily. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Are you a priestess of Artemis?"

"No."

"You willing to drink blood at every full Moon ceremony?"

"Ummm..."

"Walk along the dark paths of Artemis' Forest in the darkest part of the night?"

"What?" Gabrielle and Xena asked in unision.

"Trust me, you got picked for the right job. Artemis herself lives openly among us. Makes life a bit more hair raising. She likes excitement."

The door shifted with a heavy squeal, and Artemis winced. The place was definitely needing some tender loving care. Cobwebs graced every corner and doorway, and the dust was so thick, Artemis left behind deep footprints in it. Someone, she wasn't sure who, had thrown several heavy blankets over a table, chair, and chest sitting in the hallway. Walking past them, she came to the bottom of a twisting stairway. Memories of her two eldest daughters running down the stairwell or sliding along its bannisters kept her there a moment. Then Artemis gave her head a shake, and continued up the stairs.

Curiously, her bow was exactly where she had left it all those years ago. Leaning against the wall, right by the door to her room. A quick stop at her own digs she had decided, after climbing out of the tomb, and waking up a little. Other questions had come up, and somehow Artemis had avoided going back to her house, leaving the bow where it was.

Pushing open the door to her room, Artemis walked past the desk, still cluttered with books and papers, the couch draped in dust and old pillows. Into a small inner room, with a wardrobe, a bunch of shelves, and a large bed made up with covers that were just identifiable as black through the dust. The Goddess sat on the bed a moment, gazing abstractedly out the window through a broken slat in the shutters. Standing up again, she opened the chest sitting by the end of the bed, and began rummaging through it.

"Gauntlets... no..." plunk.

"Gimpy crown I have to wear sometimes and now need to conveniently lose again... no..." clank.

"Old shirt, nasty green colour... nope. Ewww." stuffing it hurriedly into a gauntlet.

"Book on..." Artemis turned it around so she could read the spine. "Nuthatches. Wonder if Athena wants that back." she set it aside.

A pile of old clothes and tattered boots followed by various nick nacks and finished or broken puzzles tumbled onto the floor, along with several poorly fletched arrows. Finally Artemis' fingers collided with a smooth wooden box, which she pulled out hurriedly, shaking off dust and a bunch of tangled up twine. Hands actually shaking a little, she opened it.

Two rings the colour Moonlight and night sky winked out at her from a clean piece of battered linen. The larger one was plain at first glance, but proved to be etched with a swirling pattern like the turbulence in a stream. A deep blue sapphire had been carved flush to the ring's surface, marked with an alpha and an omega. It's smaller companion wasn't etched. Instead a tiny sun with rays racing out from all around it had been inlaid by steady, stubborn hands, also in dark blue sapphire. Artemis knew this, because she had watched the smith do the work, peering at the band in waning sunlight and full.

Pushing the pile of junk out of the way, Artemis stretched out on the bed, settling the box on its edge on her belly. She smiled happily, glad that finally, things were going to go as they should have, so long ago. Hard to believe it had been centuries, and it had all started with a tunic. A red leather tunic, with golden trim, of all things.

Deciding what to wear to the banquet was proving to be a serious problem. Xenoklea had proved to be a very inventive lover, and a determined one. More than a few of Artemis' tunics were suffering from bitten through laces or broken buckles. She had other tunics, but they were mostly the sort she wore around her workshop, or out sparring, or hunting. All a bit too rough for a big, fancy banquet. Admittedly, as a Goddess and the Queen's main squeeze, she could ignore all such considerations and wear an old fishing tunic. Artemis allowed herself to seriously consider the idea, then gave herself a mental slap. With her luck, she'd start a damn fashion trend.

Another option was to will up a tunic. Perching on the edge of the desk across from the clothes cabinet, she considered that. She began to chew on her fingernails as inspiration failed her, and a moment later she added pacing to her repertoire. A quarter candlemark of brain racking was no help at all, until a memory finally percolated to the surface. Dashing forward, she all but dove into the clothes cabinet, tossing aside tunics and trousers, leggings and miffed looking boots... until her hands bumped into a bundle wrapped in a rough chunk of hide. Flipping it over, she unwrapped the hide to reveal a gorgeous crimson tunic, trimmed in gold. Artemis gazed at it pensively as she smoothed it across her legs. Verdict?

"Perfect." she crooned in delight.

Knee length black suede boots and black trousers in place, the tunic snugged neatly across her shoulders and around her waist, Artemis strode up to Xenoklea's bedroom door. A few moments listening yielded the sound of whispering cloth and the jingling of one of the belt like pieces of jewelry the Queen was fond of. After a moment more, her voice drifted to the other side of the door as well.

Her voice faded out only to be replaced by a brassy declaration of, "Mushball!" Artemis jumped in surprise, straightening up hurriedly and fighting a blush back under her collar.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Not!"

"Are you kidding? You should have seen your face when I opened the door!" Xenoklea laughed merrily.

"Ohhhh." scowled Artemis, scuffing the toe of her boot on the ground.

"Hush, don't pout." Xenoklea kissed her lover soundly on her now protruding lower lip and pulled her into the room. "I love this tunic... red looks marvelous on you."

Artemis grinned. "Thank you. Good thing I look fine in red... somehow I think it's too late to change clothes."

Xenoklea hesitated by the small table they had eaten dinner together at nearly fourteen moons ago. She had something on it, and was clearly arguing with herself concerning it. At last she picked it up and turned to face Artemis. "It's been almost fourteen moons." she commented.

"Yes, it has." Artemis agreed, smiling. It was strange, but she had hardly noticed the time. So much of her restlessness and frustration had dissipated. Even her struggles with her sister had settled into a sort of low level refusal to give in.

"So I found a little something to show how I'm looking at this really cool thing we've put together." with that, Xenoklea pressed something into the palm of Artemis' hand, and stepped back, swallowing hard. She had no idea how Artemis would react to it, whether the Goddess would consider it a shackle or a gift.

The tall Goddess blinked in surprise, and then slowly opened her palm. A ring nestled in it, the deep blue sapphire winking just a little in the fading sunlight, which turned the silver of the band into a burnished gold. Her hand trembled.

"You... you..." her voice stayed stubbornly at a whisper, so she gave up trying to get it working properly and went on. "You want to be with me?" Just to spite her it seemed, her voice jumped up into a squeak on the last word.

"I want to staywith you." Xenoklea replied gently.

Artemis had been struck completely speechless, and for a few candlemarks, they forgot the banquet.

Actually, they didn't entirely forget the banquet. Artemis remembered it, and asked distractedly as she stroked Xenoklea's skin, "What are we gonna tell them when we get downstairs?"

"Nothin'..." drawled Xenoklea. "That's what I have a stoic, stubborn, kick ass weaponmaster turned castellan for. She'll make them start the toasts and speeches... and she'll make 'em like it." Rolling over she growled, "Now stop distracting yourself with them. Think about me instead."

And when push came to shove, Artemis had really had no problem with that.

The last rays of slanting evening sunlight warmed the back of Artemis' neck, and she curled up more tightly, curling a hand loosely around one of Xenoklea's thighs.

But somehow, her lover's skin didn't feel right, forcing Artemis to swim up into wakefulness, and realize she was clasping part of the sun warmed, dusty coverlet in one hand, the box settled neatly in front of her chest. "Oh, son of a bacchae!" Artemis burst out in disgust, as she realized it was late, she was full of dust from head to toe, and she had a kink in her neck. "I've gotta go, things to do." Grabbing the box and making a mental note to come back and clean up the rather nasty mess her house was in, she disappeared into the shadows, never noticing the small owl sitting on the windowsill, her quiet watchful companion during her impromptu nap on the bed.

It blurred and shifted after a few moments into Artemis' silvery eyed sister. "This time, my sister, all will go as it should have done so long ago. I too have plans for Ares." She lifted an ancient dagger out of the dust on Artemis' desk, tapping its hilt against her chin.

"Many, things."