Castlewarming Chapters 611-620
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 611
by RainCloud/Lyrical
RainCloud left the lean- to in a foul mood. Just the mention of Xena's name
was enough to leave a bitter taste in her mouth. "Why would I care that
Xena is not acting herself." mumbled RainCloud to herself. RainCloud
stopped just outside the lean- to and noticed the darkening sky. Catching a
movement from the corner of her eye, RainCloud turned and observed the
Warrior Princess sitting on the ground leaning heavily against a log. Xena
strained to bring her hand up and rub her temple. But her arm refused her
attempt. It went lifeless, fell to the ground as if to heavy for her to
hold up. The healer instincts in RainCloud started to fill her with a rush
of concern as she saw Xena so obviously struck down with illness. Before
she had taken two steps, the vision of her slaughtered family flashed
through her mind, and the hatred sprang forth drowning any thoughts of
helping her enemy. In disgust RainCloud turned and fled to the stream
berating herself all the way. As she moved toward the water, the hatred she
felt towards Xena grew and grew until she felt as if she were on fire.
Flinging herself upon the ground at the edge of the stream, RainCloud began
scooping up handfuls of icy water to douse her now flaming face in. After
several minutes passed RainCloud rolled over onto her back and gazed up at
the sky. She focused on the first star of the night as it's light slowly
became brighter and stronger. Taking deep breaths she released them slowly
in an effort to calm her pounding pulse and trembling body. Each breath
brought her closer to the serenity that Shamba had taught her to achieve.
RainCloud knew that as a healer, she was responsible for providing care and
help to anyone that was in need, regardless of her personal feelings. Her
teacher had stressed that it was not her place to judge, nor to let any
kind of prejudice feelings get in the way of performing her Healing duties.
RainCloud had never had a problem with this before, but then she had never
been faced with having to treat some one like Xena.
RainCloud continued to struggle with a decision as her mind filled with
different scenarios. One such scenario was to just leave. By doing that,
the decision to treat Xena would be taken out of her hands. "Could I do
this," she wondered, "Could I actually leave the people that have become my
family?" RainCloud felt herself becoming nauseated just thinking about
this, tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Taking a deep shuddering
breath, as she hugged herself around the middle, a strong feeling of
desolation inched its way inside of her threatening to take over her entire
being. "Leaving would be like losing my family for a second time." she
thought desperately, "That's something I doubt I am strong enough to go
through again."
As the healer in RainCloud began to surface, the vision of Xena once more
entered her mind. Replaying how Xena had looked, her fatigue, weakened
muscles, confusion, all seemed extremely familiar. "Those were the very
same symptoms Lyrical had just hours ago." she thought. RainCloud reached
inside the secret pocket and found the vial containing the antidote. She
held Xena's life in the palm of her hand, with this vial. How simple to
just remove the stopper and slowly pour the life giving contents.
RainCloud's hand closed over the top of the bottle. As she began to pull
upwards the words of her instructor halted the motion. "You must never
withhold treatment whether friend or foe." The words finally sinking in,
RainCloud adjusted the stopper and rose to her feet. It is time to forget
the past and move on. With that thought RainCloud made her way back to the
lean-to.
RainCloud came around the side of the lean-to, just as Calee and ~Wike were
struggling to carry Xena inside. Reaching out to assist ~Wike with her
burden, their eyes met. ~Wike acknowledge RainCloud's emotional struggle.
The three Amazon's carried the Warrior Princess in the lean-to and laid her
on a cot.
Removing the vial once again, RainCloud pulled the stopper and raised the
life giving antidote to Xena's lips. She poured a small amount of the
liquid carefully into the Warrior Princess's mouth.
Lyrical came to stand by RainCloud as the small group stood waiting to see
if the Herb mixture would work.
Standing behind RainCloud Lyrical went up on her toes and looked over at
Xena. She was taken aback at how pale and lifeless she looked.
"Know wonder everyone wanted me to stay inside." she thought, "I'm
beginning to understand why they were so concerned."
Lyrical's new understanding of her recent past made a lot of things very
clear to her. She was very proud of RainCloud for having the courage to
overcome the past and help someone she felt was her enemy.
"I think I will ask Hercules to explain what really happened when
RainCloud's family was taken from her." she thought, "He can help her to
understand even if she never quite forgives."
As she watched Xena, Lyrical saw color come back to Xena's face. It was
very faint, but it was there. Also her breathing, while still shallow, was
steady. Lyrical smiled as she touched RainCloud on her shoulder.
"That was really a very brave and noble thing you did for Xena." she said,
"I am truly proud to call you my sister. I don't know anyone who could have
put aside their personal feelings and do the right thing." After a moment,
Lyrical smiled and said, " Well, maybe one other."
Thinking of Hercules, Lyrical slowly backed away from RainCloud and looked
around at who else was in the lean-to. Wikewike, Calico, Stripe…"I wonder,"
Lyrical thought, "Yes…that just might work!"
Closing her eyes, Lyrical started to search for the one person she knew
would be of the greatest help. It didn't take long to locate & brief the
mystery person on current events. In a flash, Ares stood before her.
"Where is she? Where's Xena!" Ares demanded.
"She is on the cot over by RainCloud, now please listen to me." said
Lyrical gently placing her hands on the god of wars shoulders and turning
him toward her. "I think I may have found you an army."
This statement caught his full attention and he seductively smiled down at
her as he placed his arms around her shoulders.
"Now, Ares, you can forget about *that.*" Lyrical said as she removed his
arms, "Please, just hear me out."
Lyrical explained how she had listened to what Wikewike had said and the
hatred she knew was inside her. Then she pointed out the other Amazons at
Xena's side. Each one would gladly fight Callisto especially if Ares were
leading them.
"I honestly believe you won't have to look any farther for your army." said
Lyrical, " And with Hercules fighting as well…"
Ares smiled a very knowing yet, seductive smile.
"Oh, Hercules isn't going on this mission." Ares said while he moved behind
Lyrical, "He said he couldn't fight every battle that came along. Besides,
you need him to take care of you."
Lyrical whipped around, placing herself unknowingly in Ares arms which
instantly came around her and he held her close.
"So you see my dear Lyrical, Hercules is abandoning his dear friend Xena in
her time of need." whispered Ares in her ear.
"Ares, it is obvious that you don't know Hercules very well." said Lyrical
smiling as she gazed into his eyes, "You also don't know me very well
either."
Lyrical broke his hold on her, and caught him off guard as she kick him
behind the knee sending him to the floor. Crossing her arms and looking
down at him she said,
"You just keep underestimating me Ares, not to mention Hercules. Once he
hears what has happened to Xena, he won't hesitate to join your little
army."
"Would you care to wager on that my dear?" he asked as he stood, "Nice
move, by the way. I will get you for that."
Lyrical laughed which caught the attention of everyone. Still looking at
Ares she said.
"Show yourself and give your army there instructions."
"All in good time," he answered. "Do you want to wager or not?"
"What would the prize be for you should the unthinkable happen and I lose?"
asked Lyrical.
"Another week at training camp, and…." Ares didn't finish.
"Guess again Ares!" said a low but threatening voice behind them.
In a few quick strides Maddie had made her way to the edge of the forest by
base camp. A last look over her shoulder showed the group outside
attempting to move the fallen warrior. Others were running here and there,
getting supplies or going for help, occupied with their necessary tasks.
Maddie knew her task was to put as much safe distance between them and
herself as possible. She continued her steady flight into the woods until
the last slips of sunlight disappeared beneath the hill.
She stopped suddenly, leaning against a tree gasping for breath. She
listened intently for a moment. The ringing in her ears had stopped and all
was quiet.
"Well," she thought, "nothing happened. I'm just the same as I was a minute
ago. Maybe the was just a load of nonsense! I'm human and human I'm going
to stay. How stupid am I - getting all upset over nothing?" She laughed out
loud with sudden relief.
"I'm just going to head back to camp," she thought. "They'll all be so . .
."
Maddie suddenly doubled over in pain. It was as if the blood in her veins
was on fire.
"Serves me right for being optimistic," she moaned.
When she could once again stand, she continued her journey into the forest.
Memories of the previous days' journeys told her that this path would
eventually lead to the village by the swamp. She had no wish to go there
this night but she would try not to stray too far from the path in order to
find her way back to camp in the morning.
The burning pain had subsided, for the most part, but Maddie knew she was
not the person she was an hour ago. Her hearing was much more acute and she
could see amazingly well in what was now almost total darkness. Having put
at least an hour's walking distance between herself and her friends she
decided to risk a short rest. She sat on her blanket, resting her back
against an obliging tree and reached into her hat. She removed a small
looking-glass and, with some trepidation, looked at her image reflected
there.
"Almost normal," she thought. "Certainly not as bad as last night. I could
almost pass for . . . human." Indeed, the only difference was the rims of
yellow that had returned to her eyes. She dropped the mirror back into her
hat with a frustrated sigh.
That's when she heard the scream coming from nearby.
Miranda had finally come to the realization that she was lost. The seven
year-old had tried to keep up with the group but the days of walking
through the woods had become long and boring. She found the rocks and trees
a bit more interesting but when she'd stop to take a closer look the group
just kept on walking, sometimes faster than her little legs could keep up.
The lack of adults made keeping track of everyone difficult. When Miranda
briefly ran off in search of a bunny she had seen on the trail, she lost
the group for good.
Calling brought no responses and the oncoming darkness made the child even
more frightened. Whimpering softly she crossed a small clearing and learned
suddenly that these were no ordinary woods.
Maddie leapt to her feet at the sound of the scream. "Heavens above," she
thought, "can these woods cause any more trouble?" Another scream echoed -
a high, childlike sound that set Maddie in motion immediately. She charged
forward as her adrenaline rushed.
Miranda could not be sure what the creature in the darkness was it
certainly was ugly. Huge and shaggy, it looked like a cross between a lion
and a bear. One thing she was sure of, it was probably looking for a quick,
if small, snack. It reared up on its hind legs and let out a horrible
screech. It was just in reach of the little girl as something else flew
from the thicketed area into the clearing.
Well, perhaps not flew, but the speed at which it traveled made it seem
like flying. A huge silver wolf burst from the thicket and sprang onto the
beast's back. With the creature distracted, Miranda scrambled up the tree,
out of reach of both combatants.
The creature reared up once again, throwing off the wolf and sending it
flying toward the nearby bushes. The wolf quickly regained its footing and
charged the beast again. Its powerful jaws wrapped around the beast's neck
and quickly brought it down. The struggle sent the two of them reeling once
again towards the forest. Miranda could only hear the sounds of their epic
battle. Growling and roaring suddenly turned to a desperate whimper and the
sound of retreat.
The wolf trotted slowly from the thicket, slightly battered but none the
worse for wear. Miranda remained firmly attached to her tree branch. She
was not sure what was worse - a creature or a wolf. But this wolf wasn't
acting anything like the wolves in the stories her grandma told her at
bedtime. It sat quietly several feet from the base of the tree, looking
right at her, not making a sound.
Was it . . .wagging its tail?
Miranda shimmied down from her tree branch and cautiously approached the
wolf. Still, it made not a sound nor a move. Finally, it slowly moved
toward her and licked her tiny cheek.
"Good doggy!" Miranda cried as she hugged the wolf. "Good pup!"
"This is so humiliating," Maddie thought.
As the little girl embraced the wolf a voice cried out of the darkness,
"Miranda! Don't move!" A single arrow was aimed and ready to find its mark.
"What's this about Lyrical training with you?" she asked.
"Just that," answered Ares," She is coming to train with me for four weeks"
"That's three weeks Ares, we haven't placed the wager nor have you won it."
Lyrical reminded him. "Kendaa has to agree to come with me as well."
"That wasn't in the original agreement, however, I like the idea of Kendaa
being there. She can accompany you." Ares stated.
"Thanks for **asking Ares," Kendaa said sarcastically, I would be saying
NO if it were anyone else but Lyrical. I really think she could benefit
from your training."
"Excuse me" said a voice in the shadows "I don't believe that I was
consulted on this."
"Hercules" Lyrical cried happily "I am so glad your back. Now you can tell
Ares that we will be on the mission to find Callisto"
"Ares just when are you planning this so called training?" Hercules asked
cautiously. Then to Lyrical he said, "*We* aren't going on this mission. We have someplace more important to go."
"The training won't start until Callisto is taken care of. You will have
more than enough time for you little excursion." Ares said. "And as always
, my training camp is just that, a training camp. Kendaa will be there,
so don't worry."
Lyrical looked at Hercules in disbelief. How could he not want to track
down Callisto. She started to say something, when he cut her off.
"Ares, make sure that Lyrical only trains in weaponry & that's all."
Hercules stated. " I know your reputation and she is off limits!"
Still ignoring Lyrical, Kendaa said, "Don't worry, Hercules, she won't be
out of my sight the entire time. Lyrical is exceptional with a sword, and I
wouldn't have agreed to this if I didn't think it would help her."
Lyrical looked from Hercules to Kendaa to Ares. Here they were making
decisions about her life as if she weren't even there!
"Fine," she thought to herself , "They can't acknowledge my presence, I'll
leave.
I'll go into town and go to the bath house. A good long soak will do me
good."
As she gathered her cloak and sword she started out of the lean-to.
RainCloud caught a glimpse of her just as she left .
"Lyrical," she said trying to stop her sister friend, "Where do you think
your…."
She let the rest of her sentence go, Lyrical was gone. Hercules, Ares and
Kendaa continued talking among themselves totally unaware of Lyrical's
whereabouts.
RainCloud looked on waiting for a break in their conversation. Finally it
came.
"Uh, Hercules," asked RainCloud, "Are you aware that Lyrical left?"
"What!" Hercules shouted, "When, where?"
"Just about ten minutes ago, I would say.' Answered RainCloud. "Don't you
think you had better go after her?"
She said this as Hercules was leaving the lean-to in search of Lyrical.
The warm breeze that had encircled the small group narrowed it's orbit to
swirl around Eeyoraus' feet. Before she had a chance to answer her own
question, before she could open her mouth with one word of explanation ,
she became even more of a mystery to the two men who stood watching in
powerless astonishment. As the circle of wind rose around her, she began to
disappear. Neither man could say a word. Each was left standing, staring
into the face of the other where Eeyoraus had been standing between them.
The warmth had filled her with fantastic familiarity. The chill left her
and she closed her weary eyes.
When she opened them again she was standing in some bewitched place where
fairies flew freely in open sight. She had been here before over twenty
years ago…not alone. ..no more than she was alone right now.
Several paces behind her he stood. A shiver ran through his soul when she
materialized before him. He longed to run to her, to pull back the red
curls the way he did before and shower the back of her neck with warm,wet
kisses. He longed to feel her lean back against him and dissolve into one
being, to hear the lilting giggle , to feel her tender shoulders as she
drew them up in reflex to the tickling, titillating touch of his velvety
lips.
His craving swelled but, just as quickly, his courage waned. It had been
twenty years. She was not his anymore. Only moments ago he had watched her.
Unbeknownst to even his daughter, he had watched her. He had seen her
engulfed in the passion of another man's desires. No, she had long since
ceased to be his.
She knew this place as surely as she knew who had brought her here. Of
course it was the same place. Right over there was the fallen tree trunk he
had lifted her up to sit upon the first time he kissed her. She remembered
the kiss, the way he took her face in his hands, the way he dried her tears
with his long, slender, splendid fingers, the way he looked straight into
her soul, the words he used to comfort her and promise her protection from
his dreadful brother. Then he had tilted her head to one side, moved slowly
towards her quivering lips and barely brushed them with his own. His mouth
wandered over her face and down her neck to that place right beneath her
ear, that favorite place that set her on fire for him and only him. She
remembered when he finally found his way back to her hungry mouth, when she
had thought for just a second that he would have from her what his brother
so wanted and then realized that she would have so much more than that from
him. Murlock had told her of a moment of ecstasy . Seth was offering her a
lifetime.
"Seth." The name lent itself well to the sort of breathy whisper that was
all she could manage. Tension made taunt every muscle, every tissue. Her
spirit soared and fell. "Seth." She said again.
An arrow shot through his heart when he heard her speak his name. It was
same impassioned way she had said before, all those years ago. He, too, was
remembering the kiss. He remembered the words. He remembered the promise,
the promise he hadn't kept.
What they thought of as the truth fell on the two ardent warriors as hard
and heavy as the night had only moments before. A gulp was heard from
either direction as they searched the darkness making sure she was
really…really gone.
"He has her. Murlock's got her…. NO! You can't have her , you wretch, she's
mine!!!!" Michael screamed so loudly that it filled the woods and sent
birds flying and beast racing in every direction.
"He sure can't have her, but neither can you! My life's mission is to stop
that witch! And believe me, I will…if it's the last thing I ever do!" Aka
raged back at the older, larger man with terrible conviction in his voice.
"The last thing you'll ever do is apologize, you twit!" Michael snarled
through gritted teeth. "You'll take back what you said about her and
*then*, prepare to die!"
Once again each man's weapon was drawn and pointed at his anxious opponent.
They danced around in circles, each gazing into the little bit of light he
hoped was the moon's reflection in the other man's eyes. Tripping over
twigs they continued to circle, neither truly wanting to strike the first
blow. They would look quite a humorous site to anyone who could have seen
them. What they didn't know was that someone could see them, but it took a
very special pair of eyes.
Unexpectedly, from deep out of the velvet blackness of the night came a
voice like the voice of an angel. "You two need not fight," the disembodied
tongue seemed to sing. "Neither of you pitiful fools will have her, neither
you nor my evil uncle, Murlock. She's with my father now...and she's
exactly where she belongs."
Lyrical made her way across the camp to where the horses were kept. She
intended to take one and ride into the Antonias. Lyrical was surprised that
all she could think about *wasn't* what had just happened in the lean-to.
Although her reaction and behavior was very childlike, she knew deep down,
that it was just the events of the last few days come back to haunt her.
What was foremost in her mind was a bath.
"I feel like an old shirt that was soiled and left in a corner somewhere."
she thought to herself. " If I don't get some clean clothes and wash my
hair soon, I am going to give a skunk a run for it's money."
Spying Lisa near the horses, Lyrical had just started towards her when, it
appeared, that time stood still.
"Aphrodite, what are you doing?" inquired Lyrical slightly annoyed. "I am
trying to get into town to get a…………"
"A bath, yes I know sweetie," she replied, "What you don't know is you
are like, really messing up **my** plans and if you can just be patient a
little bit longer……"
"Arrrrrrgh !!!" Lyrical moaned, "I can hardly stand to be around myself a
minute longer, please Aphrodite, just let me get to a bath."
Aphrodite smiled as she touched Lyrical on the shoulder. In a burst of
light & rose petals, they were gone. Seconds later, Aphrodite reappeared
behind a frantic Hercules.
"What's up Bro?" she innocently inquired, "Lose something?"
"Have you seen Lyrical?" he asked. Then as he studied her face, "Ok, where
is she?"
"Now why would **I** know where Lyrical is?" she teased. "Was it my day to
watch her and I messed up?" Aphrodite started laughing and gave Hercules a
hug.
"Come on Bro, lets head back to the lean-to and let everyone know what is
going on." she said.
"How can I let them know "what's going on" when I don't know myself.!" he
demanded.
Aphrodite just turned him around and pushed him in the direction he had
just came from. Once inside the lean-to, Aphrodite made her announcement.
"Lyrical is safe and she won't be around for quite awhile. I am also taking
Hercules to the same spot, which will remain unknown by mortal and god, for
a much needed getaway. Ares, show yourself Bro, thank you, will be in
charge of the mission to hunt down Callisto of which I intend to take an
active part in."
Aphrodite looked around and found everyone paying very close attention to
her and smiled loving the feeling of being "in charge".
"How am I doing Herc?" she whispered.
"Very well, Sis." he replied, "Keep this up and you will end up in charge
of the mission."
"As if!" she said, "That would get a little boring after awhile, naw, I'll
stick to helping out."
"Are you quite finished now?" inquired Ares, "I really need to start
planing this thing."
"Chill, Ares, I‘m almost through. Duh!" said the goddess of love,
"RainCloud, how is Xena? Will she be ok?"
"I don't see any reason why not. The antidote is working just fine, color
is returning to her face and her breathing is becoming stable. I think she
should be ready to go in another two or three hours." RainCloud answered.
"I want to be included in this mission as well, so don't think you'll be
leaving me behind."
"Wouldn't dream of it," said Ares, "Now can we get on with this?"
Aphrodite smiled touched Hercules on the shoulder and they both vanished
leaving pink rose petals behind, which, annoyed Ares to no end.
"Why can't she ever just vanish," he mumbled, "She's always leaving those
stupid flowers."
Tiring and disheveled, the restrained brunette lay on the altar-like table
with her head turned, catching her breath as the pain and revulsion
subsided. A tiny part of Aquillea hated these respites more than Maloran's
'attentions', there was too much opportunity to be assaulted by her own
heart and mind. Death sentence or no, the dark Amazon knew that the warlord
would continue coming at her, relentlessly, entertaining himself until her
life's energy was completely spent. .As a result, that same tiny part
wished her torturer would just get the matter over with, and Aquillea
despised herself for her weakness.
The rational Amazon tried to direct her thoughts in constructive
directions, but the growing fatigue increasingly undermined her attempts.
The rest breaks were longer and more frequent now, yet less and less
effective in restoring her strength. 'How much more of this can I take?'
Aquillea asked herself. 'How much longer can I hold out?'
She knew there would be no escape, in fact, no survival without help. The
leather and iron bonds held her too securely. Clearly, there would be no
aid from the gallery, the loved ones whose complicitous silence during the
blurring string of 'sessions' was, each instance, a dagger through
Aquillea's heart. She had no idea of precisely where she was nor any
recollection of how she'd gotten there. There was no way to even guess
whether any would-be rescuers could possibly reach her before it was too
late.
'Stop it,' Aquillea commanded knowing her thoughts were again taking a
dangerous turn. 'Stop it!' she tried once more, the voice in her head
louder and slightly panicky. The dark Amazon squinted her eyes more tightly
shut, desperately wishing her hands were free to press against the sides of
her head. The tormented prisoner whispered hoarsely in accompaniment to the
shouting inside, 'Stop it! You've got to stop. . . '
