Castlewarming Chapters 111-120
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 111
by Lyrical
" Look Sal, nice try but I know why I'm here." said Aphrodite as she walked
towards Cupid and Eeyoraus. "Now, mother," said Cupid, " You know..."
"Aphrodite," said Shamba," You really need to ..." "Please, Aphrodite
don't...." All of this was said in unison. As she approached Eeyoraus,
Cupid protectively placed himself between the two of them, when suddenly
Aphrodite froze. "Lyrical," she said. Everyone looked in the direction
Aphrodite was facing expecting to see their friend. There was no one there.
"Aphrodite," Lyrical said, " you really need to calm down and think. After
all, you are the goddess of Love, but you are acting like Ares, God of
War." Angel smiled when she saw Aphrodite and Kendaa asked," What is she
doing? She hasn't moved, and I don"t see anything stopping her." Angel
replied, " She is talking with Lyrical, via telepathy, and from the look on
Aphrodite's face I would say Lyrical is winning!" " Does this mean Lyrical
is awake?" asked WikeWike as she joined them. "Oh no," said Angel, " She is
doing this while she is still unconscious in "the meadows." Mean while
Lyrical was trying to calm Aphrodite down so she could reason with her.
"Look, dear sister, Cupid made a mistake years ago. He took responsibility
for what he did. Now you are trying to blame an innocent party, Eeyoraus,
for that mistake. Really, now don"t you think it"s a little late for that?
After all, you could really use Eeyoraus, if you think about it. How many
times have you said, " There is only one of me and everyone wants me to
attend to their needs first, I mean really!" Here is a golden opportunity
to get the help you so richly deserve." " Well, I really haven"t had much
time to myself lately, what with spring coming and everything. How can that
creature help me anyway. She is far from the goddess of Love." said
Aphrodite. Lyrical saw her opening and struck. "Listen to me, Eeyoraus has
a gift for matching one person with another. It is a trait only you could
have passed on to her. She can help get the people destined to be with one
another together, there by making your job a lot easier later." " Oh I see
what you mean, she said," If the right people are together from the start,
I won"t have as much to fix later. But what am I going to do about HER
attitude?" " Your the goddess of Love," cooed Lyrical," If your attitude is
one of sweetness and light, as if it ever isn't, then hers will be also. I
really think all she needs is a little training and some attention. You can
help her by your actions alone." " Well no duh, said Aphrodite, " She is
Cupids daughter and she"s been with mortals long enough. Your right, I'll
take her under my wing and teach her how to use this gift and maybe we can
at least tolerate each other."
" Who knows, you might even grow fond of each other," ventured Lyrical," I
mean after all, how could you not love Aphrodite." With that, Lyrical ended
her contact with Cupids mother. Aphrodite smiled at Cupid and said, "
Lyrical made a lot of sense and I"m going to give this daughter of yours
another chance. Eeyoraus, sweetie, I want you to come to my temple after
this ridicules war, skirmish, battle, what ever you call it, is over. I
want to help you harness the great gift you received, when you were born to
my son." Eeyoraus was about to start objecting when Cupid silenced her with
a look. Angel said, " Aphrodite, what a glorious opportunity. I"m sure
Eeyoraus will be delighted to start training with you won"t you dear
sister?" Eeyoraus looked from Cupid to Angel to Aphrodite and back to
Angel. " Oh, absolutely," she said, " I can hardly wait for this attack to
be over." "Good! Then I'll see you very soon, granddaughter." With those
words, she vanished in a golden light. At that moment, they heard horses
approaching and all were on alert. As the riders entered the camp, all
recognized the leader as King Iphicles . Eeyoraus took one look at him and
was lost in his eyes...
"Well, yeah, that"s a great little story, Gabrielle, but just what were you
planning on doing with this goon here?" Xena said as she walked around the
unconscious warrior who sagged between Auto and Joxer.
"We thought you might help us with that. That"s why we were going to our
camp," Gabrielle replied.
Xena looked at the straggly little group gathered around her and thought
how tired they all looked. "Maybe it would be better if we go back to the
Amazon's camp. I think it's closer."
Auto groaned, "You mean I gotta turn around and drag this guy all the way
back? Geesh!"
Xena gave Auto an exasperated look that seemed to say in one word 'Men!'
"Move out of the way, Auto!" she shortly remarked and took the warrior up
onto her shoulders. Turning back to the group, she asked, "Well, what are
you waiting for, tomorrow? Let's get going!" And with that, she started
walking up the path to the Amazon camp, carrying the warrior like it was
nothing.
Joxer looked at Xena with awe in his eyes. "She never ceases to amaze me."
Gabrielle laughed at this and then the tired, little group hurried to catch
up with the warrior princess.
As they progressed to the Amazons, Gabrielle filled Xena in on some of the
story. Maddie and Greenie filled Xena in on the rest of what had been going
on, that they knew of, since the castlewarming party had turned into three
missions of salvation. Autolycus and Joxer spoke up with some of their own
comments although Xena had a tendency to just shut them up with one of her
sharp sidelong glances. 'I'm out here with some warriors from local
villages and some men from Iphicles' army to drive the warlords out or
better yet to capture them and disperse the army, " Xena explained over her
shoulder at the end of the Amazons' tale. Maddie and Greenie sort of looked
at each other since Xena had said this without any comments on their story.
But Xena continued, "If you think your group is up to it, I still need your
help on this mission. Any help you, or any of your group can give me, would
be greatly appreciated. I'm expected the main force of Iphicles' army to
join up with me since I sent a messenger to him where I've been the last
few hours. But he had to leave some of his army near Corinth for defense
purposes. He may decide to split his force more say to get behind the
warlords once we have conferred and decided what the next course of action
is. "
"I say, let's take this goon with us and get to your camp and see who all
is there right now." She stood up and then turned to the Amazons and party
and said, "I think I'd like to hear more about the women who have joined
your band recently. " She gave her big wicked grin. "Iolaus kissing a
donkey … I'd like to have seen that."
So, they were off and not too far away strolled into the Amazons camp. They
showed up on the perimeter of the fire circle just as Aphrodite turned to
Salmoneus for his sales pitch. Then Aquillea saw the group first. To her
astonishment, there were her sisters Maddie, Greenie, Auto and Joxer and
Xena and Gabrielle. Xena let some big bruiser she was carrying fall to the
ground. Aquillea let out a little gasp and heads turned to see what she
saw. For moments, no one said anything. Everyone was so astonished to see
everyone else.
"Omigods, omigods, omigods," Arkie said softly. "That's XENA and
GABRIELLE."
Shamba poked her in the side and said sternly to her. "Don't you show any
fear of her. You have no reason to fear her. You have fought bravely beside
the Amazons and proved yourself. "
Arkie glanced at Shamba and knew immediately one of the reasons Shamba had
said that to her.
"You're kind of afraid of her yourself, aren't you?"
Shamba looked down at her feet and then met Arkie's' eyes and nodded.
(This is a continue from 98, will x-pln how Angel & Aphrodite got from the
meadow to the camp)
.......With that Aphrodite appeared.
"What do you want Ares? I'm busy. "What are you doing here anyway?" she
inquired.
"I need you to wake up Lyrical" Angel told her.
Aphrodite turned to face Angel & Lyrical. "She is unconscious so she can
heal...." she broke off to stare at Lyrical
"wait a minute! When I left, she was wounded, what happened?"
"My sister came here & healed her" Angel said.
Aphrodite looked skeptical, "Well, if she's really healed I'll wake her
up." Aphrodite was about to wake the unconscious Lyrical when she got a
strange look on her face. "She'll have to wait a little longer, I have to
go." In a flash, she was gone.
"Where'd she go?" Herc asked.
"Yeah, I've got better things to do than hang around here" Ares commented.
"I don't know, but I don't like it. I need both of you to stay with her
while I find out. Ares, call me if Aphrodite comes back before I do, ok?"
With that Angel also disappeared.
'shana was startled and proud when Aquillea had jumped in to challenge
Aphrodite. 'We were right to accept her as a sister,' she thought. But she
had also marveled at the absurdity of it. An injured Amazon confronting an
Olympian goddess in the company of her healthy sisters just wasn't going to
cut it. Iolaus, also less than thrilled with the idea, had jumped up after
his gal and 'shana had merely to give the unsuspecting woman a small shove
to propel her into the hunter's arms. Aquillea was determined to help her
newest sister-friend, but once Iolaus got hold of her he wasn't about to
let her go. She had no choice but to watch.
In hindsight, Aquillea too could see that her action had been a bit rash.
In the end the other Amazons had been able to diffuse the situation, at
least for the time being. Cupid's spitfire of a daughter under the tutelage
of Aphrodite? ' I'll pay big dinar to see that!' Aquillea thought with
amusement.
As the familial confrontation began to wind down, both Aquillea and Iolaus
began to relax just a bit. The Amazon then noticed groups of people seeming
to materialize on the fringes of the gathering. Despite herself she let out
an audible gasp bringing the newcomers to the attention of all. While
greetings were exchanged, some warm and friendly, others politely curettes,
the Aquillea remained where she was and took a personal inventory.
Of primary concern to the Amazon, almost all of her sisters could now be
accounted for. Angel and Calee had finally returned from the underworld for
there they were, standing beside Kendaa and apparently had been for some
time.
Greensleeves and Maddie, on the other hand had just arrived at the campfire
and they had a lot of company with them. Not unexpectedly, Joxer and
Autolycus accompanied the women but three other forms rounded out there
little group. A tall, dark, leather clad woman stood side by side with a
shorter blond carrying an Amazon warstaff. Although Aquillea had never met
the woman she knew instantly who they were. Xena, the warrior princess and
her loyal friend and companion, the bard, Gabrielle. Yet another figure was
very unceremoniously dropped from Xena's shoulders. 'A prisoner of some
kind?' Aquillea surmised.
'Odd, the plan had been for us to go to Xena, not for Xena to come to us,'
Aquillea thought somewhat uncomfortably. 'Is there anything about this day
that has gone according to plan?' she asked herself. Better not to think
about it.
Most startling of all was the small contingent who, with no warning, had
ridden right up to the assemblage. The uniforms suggested military men and
since they had met no opposition they must be allies. One was clearly the
leader and Aquillea felt sure she should know the man. She was feeling very
tired again and it was an effort to concentrate. He dismounted and
approached the Amazon leader, and the firelight illuminated his features
more fully.
Was it really? Yes, yes it was Hercules' brother Iphicles. 'King Iphicles,
now,' Aquillea reminded herself. 'Gods, I haven't seen him since
before……Well, it's been a long time.'
Assuming she still had half her wits about her, Aquillea determined that
left only Hercules and Lyrical still separated from the group. 'Just like
Aphrodite to disappear without giving us another update on Lyrical, that
flighty, self-centered…..'
Aphrodite had just departed in a golden puff of light. Then some lordly
looking man accompanied by riders, obviously his men, appeared out of the
trees on the east side of the camp. None of the sentries had let them know
he was coming, But then they didn't about Xena either. Maybe there weren't
any sentries left since all the Amazons seemed to be standing either around
the fire or with Xena.
"Xena!," Kendaa said with raised eyebrows at these events, "We wondered
where we would find you."
"Iphicles," Xena said , "I wondered where I would find you."
"Xena," Iphicles said. "I wondered where I would find you." Iphicles turned
to the Amazons to greet them. "Amazons," He hailed them. "I didn't expect
to find you."
Shamba suddenly noticed Eeyoraus' reaction to all this and shut her mouth.
Iolaus had started toward the spot where the newcomers were gathering. He
wanted to say hello to the gals not to mention Iphicles; he had not seen
them in quite some time. Aquillea followed somewhat reluctantly a few paces
behind. When they were close enough to follow the conversations, they heard
Iphicles saying, "Amazons, I didn't expect to find you."
Then his expression changed as he turned again to face Kendaa. "Well, not
initially anyway." It was clear to everyone that he was searching for
words; there was something he wanted, perhaps needed to say, but he wasn't
sure how.
"Just tell me," said the Amazon leader putting her hand on his arm.
"We were moving through the woods with no idea you were camped here. But
then we found…..Kendaa, one of your Amazons has been killed." Everyone went
silent as Iphicles motioned to one of his men who promptly rode forward. On
the back of the soldier's horse lay the dead body of Khestrany.
Aquillea stopped in her tracks. "She's no Amazon," the woman said with a
surprising lack of emotion. "She's Maloran's mistress. She infiltrated our
group to spy on us……" Then came the first outward sign of Aquillea's
disquiet, an explanation offered when none was needed. "She had to be
stopped." Life's dark shadows began creeping in around the edges and away
from the warmth of her new found love she was shaking again.
'Wonderful,' Iolaus thought sarcastically, 'Iphicles' timing sure leaves a
lot to be desired.' He did an about face back to Aquillea's side where a
sudden realization hit him and his mouth dropped open. Although RainCloud
had been given time to bandage the injured Amazon's shoulder, she was still
soaked from her tumble into the stream.
"Gods, Quilla," he exclaimed, "we've got to get you out of these clothes!"
Not a single person chuckled, the worry in his voice was so plain.
Wikewike disappeared to retrieve the more of the clothing that had been
packed as possible bandaging supplies. Aquillea looked at Iolaus
uncertainly as Eeyoraus rushed to the pair to see if she could help. She
was slipping away from him, the hunter could feel her receding and he
turned pleadingly to the new-found Amazon for help. He was afraid anything
he might say at this moment would only make matters worse.
"Don't worry Aquillea," said RainCloud who had also hurried over to the
pair. "Eeyoraus and I will help you…..."
The words sparked a little fire in the lifeless eyes as Aquillea looked at
the women, then the hunter, then back. She interrupted, "I've been dressing
and undressing myself for a few years now. I've pretty much gotten the hang
of it. Thanks anyway," she finished not sounding the least bit thankful.
RainCloud rolled her eyes wondering why she bothered. 'Whoever said healers
make the worst patients never treated an Amazon,' she thought. The medicine
woman was a kind hearted soul but she could only think of one way that
might make her sister see reason. "Fine, aggravate the shoulder. Then we
can drop you off in the village to be tended to while we continue on with
Xena. Just as well, really. I'm not sure you'd be of any use in a battle
anyway."
RainCloud held her breath, hoping her gamble would pay off. Aquillea glared
daggers at the healer even as Wikewike returned with some clothing and
handed it to the glowering woman. Her eyes still locked on RainCloud she
tossed the bundle to the unsuspecting Eeyoraus who had to react quickly to
catch it. "Happy now?"
"Elated."
"You know," Iolaus commented. "When I couldn't find Herc I set up this
makeshift tent. For the life of me, I don't know what possessed me! But
maybe there's a reason for everything."
"Excellent," replied the healer. "Someone grab some stones from the fire
ring for extra warmth." Knowing she would probably be 'persona non grata'
with Aquillea she turned to Eeyoraus and added, "And it would best if
someone stayed with her. Just to be safe."
"Great! Baby-sitters now?! You gotta be kidding?" protested Aquillea.
Everyone just let that free shot go and ignored her. Eeyoraus winked at the
hunter then turned to RainCloud. "I think we've got that covered."
It appeared to be three against one and Aquillea knew it was a lost cause.
"I don't suppose I get any say in this?"
"You gotta be kidding!" laughed the Amazon spitfire.
As Aquillea continued to fuss, the silent body at Xena's feet began to
stir. "Hey," said Joxer, "he's waking up!" Amazons and warriors tensed as
their captive gained consciousness. "Did anyone get the number of that . .
." he began as he attempted to get to his feet. All eyes turned to Iphicles
as he asked, "what is this man doing here?" Arkie quickly volunteered an
answer. "' Shamba and I found him sneaking around camp. He was about to get
the drop on her from behind but," she added with some pride, "I put his
lights out."
"Put-his-lights-out?" Iphicles repeated with some confusion. "Well, I don't
know what he was doing when you found him but I know who he is. He's one of
my advance guards. I sent him to scout the terrain and report back."
Arkie's smile melted from her face as the formerly-unconscious guard
addressed the king. "I'm not sure what happened, my lord. I was scouting
the territory as you ordered when I came upon this female warrior. She and
her friend attacked me with some strange weapon made of light!"
At this point Shamba could hold back no longer. "Attacked!?!" she cried
"You were the one who was sneaking up on me!" The two began a shouting
match as Iphicles attempted to separate them. At almost the same moment,
the sounds of an argument were coming from the direction of Aquillea and
RainCloud.
"I do not need a baby-sitter and I will not be left behind!" 'Quillea
shouted.
"I don't think you've got a choice!" RainCloud replied as Iolaus attempted
to get between the storming Amazons.
Xena turned to Joxer and Autolycus. "I don't know what's happening here but
I'm sure you two must be responsible." Greensleeves rushed to the defense.
"They didn't have anything to do with this mess! I don't know why you . .
."
Maddie looked around her and saw that every group seemed to be engaged in
its own argument. It seemed that some were becoming quite heated, teetering
on the edge of violence. She was about to search for Greenie's bag of magic
dust when she looked up and noticed that the darkened trees were filled
with birds. Birds that began to sing.
A small smile grew on Maddie's face as each feuding group fell silent,
listening to sweet song fill the air. Dawn was near but not near enough for
such a songfest to occur. "Rhiannon," Maddie thought.
Amazons and hunters sat in small groups and blissfully stared into the
trees. The crowd was entranced. One by one they nodded off on each others
shoulders and laps. Soon the only conscious person was Maddie.
"My lady," Maddie called up to the trees, "are you here?"
With a bright flash Rhiannon made her appearance. Maddie bowed in salute
and smiled brightly. Rhiannon's pets had once again saved the day. Their
sweet song could indeed wake the dead but it could also soothe the living
and coax them into a peaceful and healing sleep.
"They all needed rest to heal their wounds - physical and mental," Rhiannon
began. "Yet none of them was willing to give in to their exhaustion. Which
was making them squabble needlessly. When they wake all wounds will be
healed, all fences mended. They will be refreshed and ready for the task
ahead of them."
"Then why am I still awake?" Maddie asked
"Well, I thought you might be better served with some quality-time with,
ahh . . ." Rhiannon said and motioned toward Autolycus who was leaning on a
nearby tree. He was quite unconscious. Rhiannon's smile beamed. Could a
goddess blush?
Maddie looked over at her dozing companion. "He's so cute when he's
sleeping," she said.
"Almost innocent," Rhiannon replied
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Maddie finished.
Rhiannon laughed sweetly. "Take advantage of opportunity, Madhatter!" she
said. "Life is too short. I will see you soon to speak about our next
task."
"Thank you again, my lady," Maddie replied and with a flash Rhiannon was
gone as quickly as she came.
Maddie sighed and wandered over to where Autolycus leaned against the tree.
"Auto!" she whispered and gave him a slight shake. "Auto, wake up!"
"Honestly, magistrate, this is all a mistake . ." he mumbled then opened
his eyes. "Maddie, guess I drifted off for a moment."
"You and everyone else," Maddie replied. "Rhiannon pulled the bird trick
again."
"Ah, Rhiannon," said Auto, "a goddess who's actually likable. My gods, look
at them all asleep"
"Strange, isn't it?" she replied.
"Kinda cute when they're sleeping . . . should we wake them?" Auto asked.
A mischievous smile played on Maddie's lips. "Why, aren't you enjoying my
company?" she asked as she moved closer to make her point quite clear.
"Why, of course," he said with a wicked grin, "but there is something I'd
enjoy more"
"Oh?" she questioned, appearing all innocence.
"Yes," he replied and with a sudden swift move picked Maddie up and thew
her over his left shoulder. "Your company in a more private location!" he
said as he took off into the woods leaving the sleeping warriors behind.
