Castlewarming Chapters 231-240
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 231
by Shambalayogi
Shamba was totally disgusted with this Rob man. And her disgust was
beginning to show. She really was set off by some things and had to work at
not physically reaching to hit something when she was so irritated. She
would clench her teeth and then her jaw would start to throb. And that
would irritate her more.
Well, she wanted to smack this guy. He was totally inept at fighting. And
he was in some shock probably from being moved so quickly to a new time.
But she had a lot of trouble having any sympathy for this guy. As she
understood it, he was one who wanted to kill Iolaus in the story. Shamba
hadn't cared for that at all. She knew very well that if there was no
Ioannes or Aquillea, she would have let the Golden Hunter know by now how
attractive he was to her.
Maybe they were only stories in someone's universe, but it was still her
universe. And she certainly didn't want this Rob of Tapert making decisions
about the Amazons and the others without really knowing what their lives
were like in the here and now she knew. But he had to live to do that!! So,
she had to do something to make sure he survived the upcoming battle.
The younger boy, Timmy was doing pretty well at moves with a war staff. He
had been practicing with equipment on the set when he thought no one was
watching. He couldn't do much with any kind of blade since the swords were
much heavier than props on the set. Shamba also thought since what Rob of
Tapert and Timmy were involved in was not real in the future time they
didn't know how these weapons did damage to human beings. Whatever weapons
or fighting was in their time was not what the Amazons and Shamba were used
to doing.
Arkie had caught on fast to any hand-to-hand kind of defense. She still had
her bullwhip to use. Arkie was reluctant to use anything like a knife. She
said she couldn't imagine really using it. Shamba understood this
reluctance. Her weapons instructor said she should learn to use them as
they were designed, to kill or disable. It was then up to Shamba to decide
if she would use the weapons for those purposes or not.
Shamba stomped over to Kendaa. "I don't know if these two men from the
future can be helped to fight at all. Perhaps they should stay out of the
battle. The young one could be trained in time but he is so young. And the
Rob is not cut out to be a fighter at all. Even in our time not everyone is
a warrior. Arkie could handle herself like she has before. "
"Look," Arkie started in . She had come up behind Shamba and hear what she
said to Kendaa. "I know I don't have a lot of experience. This Rob-I mean
Rob Tapert-can't go back to his time without knowing how his characters
really live. So, he has to go into this battle to see how the fighting
really is." Arkie stopped a moment and said something that really had
concerned her all along. " Maybe we have to take this risk to save lives in
the story in the future. Maybe what they put in the story in the future is
what happens to us here. That's what I'm really afraid of. And there's no
way of knowing."
Shamba and Kendaa stood silently waiting for her to finish because they
knew she had something to propose to them.
"So, let him and Timmy and I stay together. I'll make sure Rob doesn't get
hurt. " Arkie wasn't sure she hadn't taken on too much with that statement
but she seemed very sure from deep inside that this would work.
To Kendaa's way of thinking you had to listen to your warriors and believe
they could do what they said. Most of the time, a leader didn't have any
other choice. Shamba hadn't been in battles either, but she was from this
time and had shown she knew how to use her weapons.
"All right," Kendaa said after a moments thought. "I want Shamba to stay
with you, Timmy and the Rob. You will be escorting these two men through
the battle to make sure they are safe. We will treat them like witnesses
for the fighting. " She looked at Shamba for confirmation.
"That is okay," Shamba nodded, using one of Arkie's phrases from the
future. Kendaa had been hearing more of these phrases from other Amazons.
She thought she would probably just have to get used to it.
Anyway, it was one decision made and she had many others to make.
Rob laid back against a tree and still huffing from Shamba's self-defense
lesson, gulped for oxygen. Arkie was sprawled flat on the grass, grinning
to herself. She hadn't done half bad and she'd scared Rob to death with her
whip. That had been worth it.
Shamba was still convinced he needed to be tied to the tree and left
behind, but maybe she would take another look at the former mouth of the
set from New Zealand. He certainly seemed subdued now.
"These women are good," Rob gasped.
"Uh huh," Arkie laughed.
"I could use them on the set right now," Rob muttered.
"You could use a lot of things on the set right now, including an
understanding of the fans of your show."
"Arkie, are you scared?" Rob quietly inquired.
"Yep! But I won't let that stop me from helping them. What about you?"
"Of course not," Rob bluffed, but when Arkie raised up on one arm to give
him a look of skepticism, he grinned, embarrassed by his blustery attitude.
"Unless you count every part of my body is shaking in terror. Do you think
Shamba will really tie me to a tree?"
"It's definitely possible, unless you prove to her and the rest of the
Amazons that you are sincere in wanting the best possible outcome for them
and for the heroes helping them."
Rob fell silent, lost in reflective thought. After a few minutes, he looked
around carefully and watched the women and what before had simply been
characters for him to mold in his series. He observed their efficiency,
their bravery, their commitment and admitted to himself, what he was
starting to learn here was the most valuable lessons he had in years.
Timmy's cracking voice startled both Rob and Arkie. "Mr. Tapert? Are you
there Mr. Tapert?"
Rob unhooked the walkie-talkie from his belt and pushed the button to
answer.
"Wait!! This is great," Arkie shouted happily. "Your walkie-talkie is
self-contained. We can communicate over distance! Allllllll right!"
"Here, Timmy," Rob answered quickly, grinning as he realized he did have
something to offer the Amazons in their upcoming battle.
"I was just worried...I mean I was just..." Timmy sputtered, waiting for
the usual explosion from his boss. Thank heavens the Amazons liked him,
Timmy thought.
"Timmy, you are a saint. Bring your radio and get here fast!" Rob requested
politely.
Across the encampment from Rob, Timmy looked stunned. "That's weird," he
muttered as he headed toward the tree where Rob was now happily laughing.
Flinging her clothes on the stream bank, 'shana took a deep breath, and
jumped into the stream. "Son of a ..." she whispered "This water's COLD!"
Shoshana deftly caught the soap she'd been thrown by the grinning Amazon.
Wikewike snickered from the bank. "It's a stream, not a hot tub ... and
Xena seems to have gotten dibs on hot tubs lately ..." Wike was proud of
the new word she'd learned from Arkie. She tried to think of another one.
Wike wandered off for a minute and came back with an unusually solemn
Aquillea.
Shivering, 'shana made short work of her bath. She did wind up using most
of the half bar of soap, and made a mental note to find another to give
back to Wikewike. The cold water seemed to sooth her bruises and scrapes.
Aquillea seemed to cheer up as she harassed the bathing Amazon.
Soon, the now clean Amazon joined the pair on the bank. After borrowing a
tunic from Wike, 'shana gathered up her things. When she attempted to give
Wike back the small sliver of soap, Wike declined it.
"No prob" the Amazon said, glad she had another future phrase to use, "I
still have the other half of that bar. And you may need the rest of that
soap after the coming battle."
Shoshana grinned. "Let's get back to Xena then, before we miss everything."
Aquillea then said something about a cat that 'shana didn't quite
understand. Shoshana assumed it was another "future phrase" and decided to
ask about it later.
"We gotta get back to camp before they send a rescue party out for the
rescue party!" Aquillea then added.
Wikewike, Aquillea and 'shana quickly walked back to their waiting
companion.
When he realized Lyrical couldn't tell him anything more about Aquillea,
Iolaus had looked disconsolately in the direction Aquillea had gone. He
knew she could handle herself, but but . He turned away knowing he had
to find his assignment in this situation. He would go and see how the
village hunters were doing.
As he turned to go in this direction, he found himself looking straight at
Ioannes. The merchant from Corinth, Iolaus thought. The man who had come to
find Shamba.
"Your friend, Hercules, is right." Ioannes said. "She can handle herself.
She's been doing it a long time. And you do love her because she's like
that."
Iolaus smiled ruefully. "It sounds like you know what he's talking about?"
It was Ioannes' turn to smile. "I am afraid that I do." He grinned back. He
got up from where he had been sitting. "I should go find out if Kendaa or
someone has found something useful for me to do while all this fighting is
going on. Shamba decided she would go where Kendaa sent her and I guess I
will do the same."
Iolaus put his hand on Ioannes' shoulder before Ioannes went to Kendaa.
"Whatever she asks you to do will be as important as anything on the the
front lines. Watch yourself and I hope to see you safe when this is over."
He walked off in the direction the hunters were.
After talking to Arkie and Shamba, Kendaa turned now to making some other
decisions. When the little boys showed up she knew someone would have to
take care of them. Fortunately, Hercules and Lyrical took care of that
problem by Lyrical choosing to stay behind and see to them. Stripe and
Calico were staying with her as well. If anything happened that wasn't
supposed to, they could handle fighting and the boys.
Shamba and Arkie had an assignment she felt they could handle. She hoped
Rob and Timmy would cooperate. She hoped they didn't decide they had any
other option.
"Kendaa, I am beginning to feel like a fifth wheel." Ioannes said. "I know
you have given Shamba some assignment since she and Arkie are deep in
conversation over there. Is there anything I can do at least officially to
feel as useful as everyone else seems to be?"
"Yes," Kendaa said definitely. "Lyrical and two other Amazons are staying
here to watch out for those little boys. Raincloud will probably be here
most of the time to take care of emergencies. She sometimes fights but
mostly is busy with minor and major injuries even during battles. I would
like to know someone else is here to help them do whatever it necessary.
You said you thought you could handle fighting in a tight spot? And you
also have a horse like the others?"
Ioannes nodded.
"Better yet. I don't ever want to worry about what is happening at a base
camp during battles. If you are one more person to help here, it is one
less worry for me."
They agreed on this so Kendaa had one more decision made.
Aquillea couldn't help but grin, impressed by Shoshana's silence when she
hit the water. The dark Amazon knew how cold that water was. But the icy
water reminded her of Khestrany, and the smile faded in an instant. With
'shana and Wike at the stream and Xena scouting, the woman was left alone
to watch and brood.
'Shana had dispatched 11 of Maloran's men. Dispatched? She had killed them.
'That makes 11 fewer soldiers to endanger my Amazon sisters and friends,"
Aquillea tried to tell herself. But it was also 11 humans who had been
incapacitated and then slaughtered with no ability to defend themselves.
'This is war,' she reminded herself and shook her head realizing she had
not yet slain a single soldier herself. 'Some Amazon warrior you are.'
Wikewike approached observing her deep frown. "Problem?" she asked.
Aquillea shook her head to indicate all was well but her companion
persisted, "Disappointed? . . . . . About the rescue?"
Aquillea stared at the woman slow to comprehend. 'What kind of question is
that?' she wondered. Who would be disappointed to avoid such a dangerous
undertaking? And yet . . . . Her thoughts were beginning to take an even
more disturbing path, one that she could not share with the Amazon. She
turned to Wike with a chuckle saying, "Well, I know one hunter of a golden
variety who's gonna think this is an early birthday present!" Wike seemed
satisfied with her reply and sauntered back to the stream's bank to
continue harassing 'shana.
Shoshana's plan had entailed much lower risk and Aquillea did not
understand why she had not shared it with the leaders. Not knowing of the
'shine or the powder, the dark Amazon's plan had been a good albeit
somewhat dangerous one. Kendaa would never have agreed to the plan if it
had been ill conceived. Xena would never have volunteered to join her. Or
would she? Xena was known to occasionally take unreasonable personal risks
in an attempt to redeem herself, to prove herself a worthy soul.
'Do the Amazons think I'm doing the same thing?' Aquillea pondered. So many
people had seemed to overreact to her rescue plan. She swore she heard
Kendaa say something to 'shana about Aquillea getting herself killed.
Lyrical had been visibly upset. 'And Iolaus,' she thought, 'tell me that
wasn't an overreaction.'
Did 'shana remain silent because she was afraid the dark Amazon would argue
against her plan or somehow jeopardize it because of some selfish need
to....to what? To atone for Khestrany? The loss of her family? Beginning to
build a life without them? She didn't want to believe the people she loved
doubted her. She also didn't want to believe that they had any reason to.
But Aquillea's own doubts and uncertainties began to cruelly mock her no
matter which direction she tried to direct her thoughts.
The novice Amazon knew that this was dangerous ground to be treading in the
middle of a war. She tried to shake herself out of her mood with her best
Aphrodite impression. "Well, duh! Get over yourself already." It was so
lame it actually succeeded in making her smile a little.
Aquillea strode over to the creek where a shivering 'shana was just
emerging looking a lot like a drowned kitten. "Come on, smelly-cat," she
teased. "We gotta get back to camp before they send a rescue party out for
the rescue party!"
"Speak or I'll cut your tongue out and you'll never talk again," Joxer
growled as he held the tip of his sword up against the face of the warrior.
Using the knee he had placed against the man's chest he nudged him hard and
received a groan for his efforts.
"Perhaps, we should save him for Xena. I'm sure she has ways to make anyone
talk." Greensleeves smiled wickedly as the warrior's eyes opened wide. Now
maybe they would get somewhere.
"No! No! I'll talk. Just don't turn me over to Xena. I've heard too many
stories of the way she get confessions out of her enemies. Please!"
"Great! Talk away. We're listening," Joxer said, moving off the man, but
not removing his sword. Greensleeves folded her arms across her chest and
looked enquiringly down upon the man they had just captured lurking outside
the Amazon camp. If he was a spy, he was really quite pitiful. She and
Joxer had heard him tromping through the bushes long before they had
surprised him.
The warrior nervously cleared his throat, then replied, "I am a scout for
Stygnos. I was sent here to spy on you and then report back to him."
Greensleeves ground out through gritted teeth. "I knew that pig Stygnos
would try something like this. It's just like him to try and outplan our
strategy. Well, he's not going to get away with it this time. Come with me,
Joxer, and bring that scummy fleabag with you!" greensleeves shouted as she
turned away and headed for the Amazon camp. Joxer wasted no time complying.
The look of fury on greensleeves' face was enough to let him know her Irish
temper had flared. And he never argued with her when she was like this. Oh,
no, he valued his own skin too much. He chuckled to himself as he dragged
the warrior up from the ground and followed the fast disappearing back of
his gloriously fiery tempered, yet extremely loyal and faithful love.
"Timmy, your are a saint. Bring your radio and get here fast! Rob requested
politely.
Across the encampment from Rob, Timmy looked stunned. "That's weird," he
muttered as he headed toward the tree where Rob was now happily laughing.
Timmy didn't know what this place and time was doing to Rob Tapert but it
was definitely better than the way he was on the set. Of course, some days
he was better since he had been married to Lucy. He seemed a little happier
with some things. But most of the time he was the same guy he'd been before
he got married.
Rob got up from where he had been sitting under the tree. He had been
afraid the walkie-talkie radios might not work in this past, before they
were actually invented. But they did work.
Shamba and Arkie walked back to the tree. Shamba thought they try some more
self-defense stuff but she and Arkie thought they should explain just what
they knew about the battle plans and other facts of life in New Greeceland
to Rob and Timmy. They could explain what they knew anyway. All the gods
knew, that Shamba and Arkie didn't know all there was to know about New
Greeceland and the Amazons.
"So, what comes next, Ms. ummm" Timmy started to ask Arkie.
"Oh, just call me Arkie," Arkie said to Timmy. "That'll be simpler for
everyone."
"Okay," Timmy answered.
"We thought we'd tell you what we know of the upcoming plans," Arkie said.
And she told them how Shamba and she would be responsible for watching out
for them until the battle was over. She also filled in what they knew about
the movements of warlord, Iphicles' army and what other groups were doing.
Shamba and she didn't know all the details about everyone but she told what
they did know.
"What we don't know is how anything you do in the future with the story
might affect what happens here. And maybe it doesn't affect it at all.
Maybe what we do here affects the future storyline. We just don't know."
Arkie concluded the briefing. .
"And obviously the gods' time traveling can affect both places." Shamba
said shaking her head. This whole situation was difficult but exhilarating
at the same time.
"And how will we get back ?" Rob asked the final unspoken question.
"That Chronos stone shouldn't be used until some things are sorted out,"
Shamba said. "But I don't know who has the stone. I think Kendaa knows but
I'm afraid to ask about that stone. I don't think I want to know any more
about that stone."
Arkie was pretty sure Kendaa had given the stone to one of the immortals
for safekeeping. But she didn't know who really had it. She would have
though Hercules was the best one to have it but she didn't know all the
players in this game. "And there's no program for this game." Arkie
muttered.
"Program?" Shamba asked her. Arkie was always saying things to herself like
that Shamba didn't comprehend.
"There's no program for the game but I think I have something that can help
this win this game," Rob said slowly. He held out his radio for Arkie to
see. "Timmy has one, too. I'm sure you can find some use for this, can't
you?"
Arkie's mouth dropped open as she recognized the object he held.
"YEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAW'", she let out this victorious yell instead of
answering Rob directly. Shamba was totally startled and everyone else in
the camp turned and looked at them realizing that it wasn't a cry for help.
Arkie grabbed Rob and Timmy and began dragging them over to Kendaa. "Kendaa
..Kendaaaaaaaa, Look at this, look, look, look."
Kendaa could tell from Arkie's whole approach that this had to do with one
of her interesting objects from the future. It must be something that could
help them. Arkie had the two men hold out the radios. Arkie proceeded to
explain about how they worked or she tried. Kendaa had such a look on her
face Arkie wasn't sure she understood.
"Are you saying that these technologies (another one of Arkie's future
words) can help us talk to each other when we are far away from each
other?" Shamba tried to sum it up, extremely pleased with herself for
comprehending and using another new word. This Rob of Tapert just might
redeem himself at least a little for bringing these with him.
"Yes, it's like telepathy only you speak your thoughts into the radio so
the other person can hear you."
"Can anyone else hear what is said into this thing" Kendaa asked
cautiously.
"Only if they are actually around the person who is talking. It would be
like overhearing a conversation. So if they talked quietly into the radio,
only the other person with the radio would hear them. " Arkie explained.
"I suppose someone telepathic could read the mind of the person using it."
Kendaa said . "But then they could read mind anyway without the radio."
Kendaa smiled. This was possibly the best news she had heard all morning.
"I have another surprise for you, Kendaa," greensleeves remarked, anger
still consuming her soul, as she marched into the Amazon camp. Kendaa
turned from where she stood talking with Arkie. In her hand she held a
strange box with buttons and dials on it. Greensleeves made a mental note
to ask about this later, but for know she had more pressing matters on her
mind. "Joxer is bringing it in right now."
Joxer entered the camp, dragging the reluctant warrior behind him. He flung
him down at the feet of the dryad Queen, where the warrior proceeded to
spit out the dirt he had landed in. "He's a spy for the warlord Stygnos,"
Joxer informed Kendaa and watched as her forest green eyes blazed.
"A spy! My, my. How low will that man stoop to outsmart a group of women?
I think he knows we will defeat him, so he has to resort to tricks," Kendaa
softly said as she circled around the dirty warrior. Stooping swiftly, she
caught the man by his hair and pulled his head back. "Now, you listen to
me, you sniveling worm, you will tell me all that you know or I will make
you regret the day you were born. We Amazons have ways to make our enemies
talk."
The warrior trembled as he imagined the tortures he would go through if he
didn't speak. He wasn't a very brave man and he wasn't prepared yet to go
to Tartarus. Making up his mind swiftly, he started talking rapidly in a
shaking voice, "Lord Stygnos is to meet with Maloran to join forces. I have
also learned from a brother scout that Maloran is attacking the village of
Duos as we speak. He will destroy everything in his path, be it man, women
or child. No one will survive."
Greensleeves cringed as she heard this confession. They had to do
something. Innocent lives would be forfeited if they didn't act soon. She
moved close to her leader and spoke softly. "Kendaa, this is not good. We
must do something. We can't wait any longer." Kendaa looked at greensleeves
and nodded slowly. "You are right, sister friend. The time to act is now.
Amazons! We ride!"
Instantly, the campsite was a flurry of activity. The spy was gagged and
tied to a tree and then, the Amazons strapped on their weapons and readied
their horses. Across the campfire, Rob and Timmy looked on with wide eyes.
"You know, Timmy, my boy, I think we've bit off more than we can chew this
time," Rob said in soft whisper. Timmy could only nod his head in
agreement.
While the others were planning battle strategy, Lyrical was planning a
totally different type of strategy. One that involved the care and safety
of four out of six boys. After talking with Stripe, she knew they could use
the two oldest to help RainCloud gather herbs and roots for medicine. They
could also help move the camp to the edge of the woods as well as help
build the blind. However, she also knew because of the rowdiness of the
smallest children, more than Eeyoraus was needed to to stay with them at
all times, and she just didn't have anyone to spare. Calico and Stripe were
needed to protect the camp ... an idea started to form and Lyrical called
out to Gabrielle and asked if she could spare a minute.
"Sure, Lyrical isn't it?" asked Gabrielle, " What do you need?"
"In the village just over that hill, are there any families left or have
they all been evacuated?" inquired Lyrical.
"I think everyone left early this morning," Gabrielle answered, "Except for
three or four people. They stayed to gather the rest of the food and bring
along extra water, why?"
"Do you think you could run to the village and ask if they have room and
someone to watch these four boys?" asked Lyrical. She continued "I know
it's a long shot, but we just don't have anyone left to baby sit them."
"I don't think they left yet, but from what the scouts said it's just a
couple of older women, an elderly man and a very young boy. That doesn't
sound like what you're looking for." she said.
Lyrical thanked Gabrielle and turned to walk back to the boys, when she saw
Arkie, Shamba, Timmy and Rob standing near Kendaa. She called out to Arkie,
and motioned for her to come here when she was finished talking to Kendaa.
As Arkie approached she said, "Got any ideas on what I can do with these
four little ones? Unless I can find someone to watch them I won't be able
to do anything to help set up camp and organize a place for RainCloud to
work." She explained that once they get the area moved and the blind is
built, she can have the older two stay with the younger ones in the blind.
"I will be within calling distance, helping RainCloud."
"As a matter of fact I do have an idea that will solve both your problem
and mine." said Arkie, " Rob can watch the kids!"
"Rob can WHAT?" shouted Rob, " I don't DO KIDS!"
"Listen, Bubba, if I say watch the kids till it's time for us to move out,
then you watch the kids!" Arkie said. She was just about one inch from
Rob's nose, and there was no doubt in anyone's mind as to who was in
charge. Shamba leaned on her staff and smiled as her Amazon Sister took
control.
"I'm not to sure about this Arkie," said Lyrical, "he just doesn't look
capable of handling these guys. I have a feeling we would have to hunt them
down within the first five minutes."
"Do I have a choice?" he asked.
"No," said Arkie, " and Timmy here, can help. In the mean time, Shamba and
I will find out from Kendaa the best possible location to use our latest
find and you can get your stuff done."
"Sounds like a plan?" said Shamba looking questionably at Arkie. She smiled
when Arkie said, "You got it!" Then to Rob and Timmy , "You guys behave and
do what ever Lyrical or Eeyoraus tells you to do and no back talk, got it
Bubba?"
"Ok, ok," said Rob reluctantly," What would you like us to do milady?"
"Just keep the boys on the blanket and stay out of our way." answered
Lyrical, to Arkie she asked, " Are you sure about this Rob? The other one
at least looks like he has a brain and might even be able to use it, but
the Rob .I don't know?" Lyrical walked away shaking her head....
Posted on Feb 18 1999, 10:53 PM reposted Feb 20 1999, 06:33 PM
Once 'shana was ready, the Amazons returned to the forest path where they
found Xena waiting. The Warrior Princess had checked out the farmhouse and
had a troubled look on her face.
Xena updated the trio as they began to stride back to the Amazon camp.
"Maloran and his men are already gone. Since they didn't pass us leaving,
they must be on their way to Duos. We need to update Kendaa and King
Iphicles."
The small troupe of warriors began jog. Minutes passed in silence as each
woman concentrated on moving quickly yet silently.
Finally, they reached the Amazon perimeter. After greeting the patrolling
Amazon, they reached the camp just as they heard the cry ...
"Amazons! We ride!"
Xena hurried to where Gabrielle held a saddled Argo. She leapt into the
saddle and rode to tell the two leaders what she had discovered. When she
reached Kendaa and the King, she greeted them and relayed her news. "That
confirms what that spy of Stygnos' told us" said Iphicles grimly and went
on to relate how the spy was caught.
"By Joxer?" Xena repeated. "Yes" replied Kendaa. "Didn't know the guy had
it in him" the surprised Xena murmured.
Meanwhile, Wikewike, Aquillea and 'shana had found their mounts and were
ready for a brawl.
Wikewike had one more "future phrase" - one she was quite proud of ...
"Let's Rock and Roll!!!" she bellowed, to the surrounding Amazons'
astonishment.
Arkie heard her bellow, grinned and shook her head. The past would never be
the same.
