Any characters, whose names and descriptions are used, are the property of their original owners, and no copyright infringement is intended or meant. No money can be made from this story. It may be distributed freely so long as it is kept in its entirety, with all notices and copyright information remaining intact.
The characters of Rhiannon Cathcart, Patricia Driscoll, Scythe,
Tzinteotl, Azora, Ingrid Sommer, and Edwin Giles belong to Norjc.
The characters of Shaw Hunter and Maxine Thomasson belong to Tim Knight.
The Wandererverse is a creation of Steve Pantovich.
The characters of Steven St. Wolf, Mindi Whitehall, Alistair King, and Lisa and Caitlin the Vampires belong to Steve Pantovich.
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She tried to draw a breath but couldn’t inhale past the lump in her throat. The note had tumbled to the floor from the pocket of her saddle bag when she had gone to change for the party thrown by the Amazons in their honor. She’d swept it off the floor and recognized her companion’s crisp, mechanical script on one face of the folded piece of parchment. Then she’d opened it and began to read.
|
Gabrielle, I know we'd
have had to come back here, even if Cyena hadn't posted a lookout. To
let them know you were alive after our duel with those headhunters. For
me to get Chrono. You did all the talking, as usual. I didn't trust
myself to speak in case I blew it all again, saying the wrong things. Love, Sonja |
Her stomach churned at the last lines. She was too upset to cry and closed her eyes against the pain. How could she think of leaving me? After all we've been through together. After all I've done to Sonja. Because of me, she took the head of her long-time friend who’d wanted vengeance against me and Xena for her husband’s beheading. And time after time, I’ve denied Sonja's uncanny and proven ability to sense evil, and refused to face the fact that sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
Her eyes flashed open and pierced the darkness with a look of determination. We're in this together, both of us, up to our eyeballs. It's the road to Tartarus and I paved it with my good intentions. Sonja spilt rivers of blood - on my behalf - to keep me away from this road and Tartarus. And now that she realizes how much - and how - she loves me, she wants to show me by walking away? Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and growled from the bottom of her soul, “I don’t think so.” Then she stormed back to the party.
"Hi, Gabrielle!” Cyena, the regent of the city named after he long dead friend Ephiny, said brightly. Then when she apparently noticed Gabrielle’s foul mood, she asked, “You okay?"
"I’m fine,” she said in a clipped tone.
Cyena stared at her for a moment, then seemed to accept her at her word. “Sonja’s definitely on a roll with Virgil stories. She has everyone in stitches. Should I let her know you’re back?"
The bard simply said, “Yes,” and added,"Ask her to sing will you? She would for you."
"Haven’t we just spent the evening keeping Virgil from bothering her to sing?"
"I know, but that was because I knew she wasn't in the mood to sing something cheerful and she didn't want to spoil everyone’s fun."
"And there I was thinking she was just being Sonja," quipped Cyena, trying to lighten the somber mood implied by the bard's tone of voice.
"You mean uncooperative and a total pain-in-the-ass? No, she was actually looking out for me. But you know what? I'd really like to hear her sing, especially if it’s sad. It's how I feel right now."
"Of course Gabrielle, if that's what you want," nodded Cyena. "Sonja!" she called across the fire.
"Yes?" the red-haired swordswoman answered.
"It would mean a lot to me - to all of us, actually - if you'd sing for us now."
"Cyena, I don't think I could sing a happy song right now, I really don't. I would if I could..."
"Then do it for me, will you Sonja? Please?" asked the bard, her eyes glistening in the firelight as she stepped forward from the shadows behind Cyena.
"Gabrielle...I don't want to spoil your party..."
The crowd had gone silent, listening to this exchange.
"It won't spoil anything for me. I'm feeling very sad right now, and I can't think of anyone who could sing for me the way you can. Please."
Sonja blinked hard and looked over at Cyena, who nodded her assent. Clearly thrown by this request, the warrior tossed the last of her wine back in a large gulp and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. She handed the goblet to Tethea and sought to prepare herself. Then she glanced up at last, straight at the bard. She closed her eyes and began to sing. When she’d finished the first stanza, she felt a light touch on her arm. Without having to look, she knew it was Gabrielle. Sonja gently gripped the small hand in her own and placed it over her own heart. She felt the tremors in the younger woman's body and opened her eyes to gaze lovingly into the bard's upturned face. It took all her self-control to sing the Hyborean dirge to its bitter end. As she reached the last phrase, she pulled the bard to her and wrapped her in her arms. Gabrielle placed her hands lightly on Sonja’s broad back, and turning her head away from the Amazons gathered round the fire, rested it on Sonja's breasts. She could not only hear, but feel the low notes resonate through the contact of hand and cheek. As they died away, she tightened her grip on the warrior's body, and felt Sonja's lips pressed to the crown of her head in response.
Unbeknownst to the grieving pair, Cyena had motioned her second-in-command to break up the party. Eyeing the warrior and bard, still wrapped in each other's arms and sorrows, the Amazons had stamped down the flames of the camp fire and had melted into thin air, taking the remains of the celebration with them. As she made her way past the grieving pair, she placed her right hand on Sonja's shoulder while Gabrielle cried. "Good night you two, sleep well," she murmured and she went to make sure Virgil would leave them be.
Sonja's tears flowed as she memorized the feel of the bard in her arms, for this was the last time she would hold her so. Embers shifted and crackled, spitting sparks as trapped resin caught light. It was a long few minutes before either of them moved. At last there was a loud sniff and Gabrielle stirred in her arms. Reluctantly, just a little, the warrior loosened her grip and lifted her chin from the bard's head.
"Sonja?"
"Yes?"
"The worst part of the night was standing there by myself. Not having you hold me like this. I don't think I could handle that another time. Promise me you'll do everything in your power never to leave me alone like that again?"
Sonja went very still. She had pledged never to lie to Gabrielle and here she was, caught on the horns of a dilemma. Be truthful and tip her hand about leaving, or play along, and make complete and utter hypocrisy of what she had said and sung just now.
"Sonja, I'd rather be dead than travel without you. I won't go back to Poteideia if you leave, I don't fit in there now, even less than I did before I left to follow Xena. And I'd go to the ends of the earth to find you if you walked out on me now," said the bard as she leaned back in the warrior's arms to look up into the stony face above her.
"You weren't supposed to find it until morning," said Sonja hoarsely, staring straight over Gabrielle's head, afraid to look into her eyes in case her resolve weakened. "Doesn't change a thing, though. I'm going anyway."
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"You've read what I wrote. I'm poison to you, Gabrielle! You're better off without me. I've caused you nothing but pain."
"Look at me, you bitch!" the bard screamed forcefully, reaching up to put her hands on the warrior's cheeks and yank her head down. "You're all the family I'll ever want or need, Sonja," she whispered, as she saw the tears standing in the blue eyes spill down the warrior's cheeks.
"I don't think you know what I meant by that Gabrielle," she managed at last.
"Yes, I do. I haven’t been a little girl for a long time, Sonja. I know what I want...and I know you want it, too.” Then she closed her eyes and offered her lips to the warrior.
Sonja's arms slipped from round the bard's waist and her eyebrow rose as her mouth opened soundlessly. She straightened to her full height and leaned away from her. “Gabrielle...are you...sure...I mean...well...”
"Sonja?" interrupted Gabrielle, smiling with relief.
"...and...huh?"
The bard leaned in a little closer and both eyebrows had risen until they had disappeared under her hair. "Shut up and kiss me."
Hardly daring to believe her luck, Sonja leaned down and claimed the bard's lips. Gabrielle tightened her grip on the warrior's waist, kissing Sonja deeply, devouring her sweet lips hungrily. Sonja wound her arms behind her beloved bard’s back as the kiss went on for what seemed like a blissful eternity. Finally, they had to come up for air and broke the kiss.
Gabrielle felt Sonja's body sag against hers as the tension drained out of it. "C'mon,” she whispered soothingly, “you're exhausted. So am I."
"Okay."
Stumbling over each other's feet, they made their way back to their hut. Sonja was so bleary-eyed that Gabrielle had to unlace the warrior’s boots and tunic.
"Bed. Now," the Amazon Queen commanded.
"No, I hate sleeping against the wall. You know that."
"You should have thought about that before you wrote that note, Sonja. Now...get in."
"I'll feel penned in,” Sonja whined. “I'll toss and turn. You won't get a wink of sleep," she said sitting at the edge of the bed in her shift as the bard unlaced her own boots.
"I don't care. You aren't going anywhere without me knowing about it the second you move. Get in!" The bard stood up to her full height and tried to look as intimidating as possible in her barefeet. “Don’t make me make you, Sonja,” she added with thinly veiled menace.
At that, Sonja cocked a wry eyebrow, then smiled demurely. "I'm not going anywhere without you, Gabrielle. I promise I'll do everything in my power never to leave you alone again. I swear, on Joxer’s grave..." then she added teasingly, “mistress.”
Gabrielle smiled, padded over to Sonja, and left her breathless with a deep, soulful kiss. "Thank you, Sonja. But just the same, humor me and get in."
Within minutes of complying with the Immortal Queen's command, and after exchanging a few sleepy kisses, the exhausted pair fell fast asleep in each other's arms.
"Sir!" a high-pitched woman's voice snapped and could be heard plainly through the rapidly opening door, "you can't go in there!" The four women inside the opulent corner office on the top floor of Xanatos Electronics, Inc.'s western region glared at the intruders who’d just barged into their meeting. Fox Xanatos narrowed her eyes and regarded the bearded man with stark eyeglasses and a medium build along with his tall and lanky female Asian companion with an icy glare. “Natalie,” she said to the young woman who had followed the pair inside, “I’ll deal with this. That’ll be all.” Then she regarded the couple. “What is the meaning of this?” she hissed.
The man reached into his left breast pocket with his right hand, a movement that caused the crimson garbed brunette woman on the other side of Fox’s small conference table to stand in front of the deceptively youthful looking woman with the regal bearing worn like a badge of honor. As he drew a wallet from the inside of his coat, the Asian woman subtly shifted her position to protect her companion from the raven-haired Hellene. “Pardon the intrusion, Mrs. Xanatos,” he said, clearly a lie, “William Stryker, Defense Threat Reduction Agency.”
Fox spared a quick glimpse at her mother before she regarded Stryker. “You’re DoD,” she observed. “Are you in the habit of barging into private offices, Mr. Stryker?”
The man chuckled mirthlessly. “Only when matters of national security are at stake, Fox. Oh, I’m sorry,” he offered casually, “may I call you by your Christian name?”
In return, she offered a smile that reminded one of a cobra’s. “No...I don’t think so. Mrs. Xanatos is just fine.”
His smile never touched his eyes as he nodded. “Very well, Mrs. Xanatos. Let me get to the reason for our...little visit. We’re responsible for conducting technology security sweeps on special conventional weapons produced on behalf of the United States and her allies. It is our understanding that some of the microprocessors and other electronic devices you produce for defense purposes have been known to exhibit...shall we say...factors that could endanger our national security, especially if they are provided to certain foreign powers.” Then, he shot a quick look at the youthful looking woman who was still seated at the conference table daintily sipping her tea.
“Mr. Stryker,” Fox said, her control barely in check, “I do believe that there are several managers on my payroll who would be better able to help you with your inquiry. I am certain that you would find everyone’s time better spent with them than wasting the time of both my customers and myself with your boorish behavior. Now, I th–”
He cut her off. “Mrs. Xanatos...Fox,” he said, a hardness creeping into his faux friendly demeanor, “Let’s not get ugly here. You wouldn’t like me when I’m...ugly. During the course of my investigation, we have determined that some microprocessors may have been altered based on specifications provided to you by the Liechtenstein government. These modifications may have been...mystical in nature.”
Fox ignored his use of her first name and kept her response measured. “Mystical? What in the devil are you talking about?” Then she smiled wickedly at him. “Are you trying to defend the nation from ‘the boogie man’ and other creatures that go bump in the night, Mr. Stryker?”
He laughed mirthlessly. “Oh, Fox, you are an amusin–”
“That’s two,” she said simply, cutting him off.
“Pardon me?”
“I asked you before to use my married name. You’ve used my Christian name twice. That’s two strikes. You don’t get three when you play in my house. Leave now.”
As he tried to stare down Fox, the sound of a china cup tinkling against a china saucer resounded in the quiet office. “Cousin,” the beautiful woman with flowing brunette hair said, “you obviously have more patience than I to have wasted so much time with this guttersnipe.” Then she sighed and said, “However, I grow weary of all of this prattle. Why not simply kill them and be done with it?” she observed offhandedly, then raised her cup to her lips for another sip.
“For the last time, Red...put me down!”
The last Queen of the Amazons was fit to be tied as Sonja’s shoulder dug into her bladder. Being carried like a sack of wheat didn’t leave Gabrielle with a lot of options at the moment. She could try to smack Sonja’s ass really hard from this position or fire a rabbit punch into one of her kidneys. However, knowing Sonja and her tolerance for pain, she’d probably just get all hot and bothered by it all and Sonja’s reaction would only serve to piss off Gabrielle even more.
Sonja chuckled wickedly. “I’ll let you down if you promise to behave.”
That irked the blonde woman. “What?!? I’m not the one who’s overreacting...you...you...big bully!”
“Sticks and stones, sweetie...sticks and stones,” Sonja drawled over her shoulder as she toted her lover into Fox’s reception area, closely followed by Captain Randall and Detective Vetter. “Your pretty little feet aren’t touching the ground until you agree to let Fox protect your cute little tush–”
Gabrielle immediately felt the tension in Sonja’s body the moment before the flame-haired warrior whipped her off her shoulder to face forward in a defensive position on the floor. Fox’s administrative assistant appeared to be extremely unnerved about something. Both Sonja and Gabrielle knew her to be quite competent and level-headed. Gabrielle strode over to the young woman. “Natalie...what’s wrong?”
Relief clearly showed in Natalie’s eyes as she recognized the Immortal Bard. “Ms. Sirtis...Ms. O’Brien! Thank God! I think Mrs. Xanatos is in trouble. Two federal agents forced their way into her office while she was meeting with some high level clients. Just a moment ago, she raised her voice enough so I could hear her through the door and told him to leave, but he hasn’t come out.”
The swinging library door flew open from a shove of Faith's powerful hands. As the teen witches, Shaw, and Professor Cathcart entered behind the Slayer, the quartet nearly bowled her over when Faith screeched to a halt. Willow peered over the youngest Slayer’s shoulder and saw Jenny, Buffy, and Cordelia standing alongside Giles and Artemis. At first she thought it was the Goddess of the Hunt's presence that had startled the Dark Slayer until she also realized that there were four other women in the library. Of course, she recognized Aphrodite and Xena. However, she didn't know the regal looking woman with the piercing cobalt eyes or the woman who appeared to surrounded by shimmering light.
Just then, Rhiannon drawled, "Well, what have we here? A gaggle of goddesses and a celestial to boot?" Then she narrowed her eyes at the other preternatural beings for a moment, then said in a stage whisper to the girls who stood beside her, "If I were you, they’d bear watching them closely. You know what they say--beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
Aphrodite snorted. "Hey! Was it my fault that the Trojans fell for that hollow horse gag?"
Artemis shot a sidelong glance at the Goddess of Love. "Actually...it was your fault! If you hadn't persuaded Paris to vote for you in the beauty contest by promising him a married woman-"
SMACK!
"Ow!"
The sound of the queen of the Greek Gods hand smacking the back of a blonde goddess' head reverberated through the library.
"What was that for?!?" Aphrodite howled.
"For destroying a marriage to win a stupid beauty contest."
The blonde goddess rolled her eyes and rubbed the back of her head. "Sore loser," she grumbled under her breath as she winced from the sting she still apparently suffered from the last slap. "You know," she snapped at Rhiannon, "I'm glad that Arty here isn't like the rest of you moon goddesses. The whole lot of you, save for my old, reliable sister, are nothing but trouble!"
Artemis growled and a fearful Aphrodite stared at her with a concerned look on her face. "Old...reliable...you make me sound like some...some...kind of dog!"
"Now, Artemis...sister," she said as she crept behind Xena hoping to use the Warrior Princess as a shield, "I wasn't dissing you. You've always been my favorite sister...I've always said that. You can ask anyone-" Aphrodite stopped babbling as she heard Rhiannon's and Shaw's boisterous laughter. She narrowed her eyes at both the Celtic Goddess and the Priestess of Mielikki.
"What's so funny?" she asked dangerously.
A smiling Rhiannon said, "You, my dear Aphrodite. My sisters have told me on numerous occasions that you are quite amusing. I am happy to see that they are right."
The Goddess of Love glared at the Goddess of the Hunt. "What's this? You and Hecate gossip about me behind my back to her?"
Artemis simply snorted and walked toward Rhiannon. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
As Aphrodite stewed, Willow overheard Faith whisper to Shaw, "Let me get this straight...you just got on the bad side of an honest-to-god...well...goddess, right?"
"I suppose I may have," Shaw whispered.
"Okay...just checking." Then the Boston Slayer leaned toward Shaw's cousin and asked, "Hey, Blackeye, can you gen me up a t-shirt that says, ‘I'm SO Not With Stupid' on it?"
Amy whispered back, "Get in line, Faith."
Just then Artemis reached out and drew Rhiannon into a hug. "Hello, sister." She murmured warmly. "It is so good to see you again. How did you know where to find me here in Sunnydale?"
"I didn't," Rhiannon answered. "I'm teaching here at the university under a foreign exchange program. I decided I needed a change of scenery after Jonathan died..."
Artemis tightened her hug on the Celtic goddess. "I'm so sorry, Rhi. I still miss him."
"I know, Arty. Thank you for the kindness you showed me at the funeral."
Artemis simply nodded. Rhiannon reached up and brushed her hand against Artemis' cheek. Then she smiled brightly. "So...why are you here?"Artemis matched Rhiannon's smile with one of her own. "This is a wondrous day! It seems that He who we exalt above all has pronounced that the Amazon nation is to be reborn."
"Really?" Rhiannon cocked an eyebrow. "That's intriguing news, especially considering what happened to your daughters centuries ago.”
Artemis regarded the other goddess with hooded eyes. “My shame will never be erased in regards to them, Rhi. However, the needs of this world have made me go beyond my pain to establish these brave women,” then Artemis glanced in turn at Jenny, Cordelia, Amy, and, finally, her gaze rested upon Willow, “as the nation for these trying times. They are the bright legacy of their courageous sisters from long ago and I am honored to guide and love them from now to eternity,"she proclaimed, her emotions showing in her eyes so clearly that Willow started to choke up.
Rhiannon glanced at each young woman for a moment, then smiled at Artemis. "I believe you have chosen wisely. If Jennifer and Cordelia are anything like Amy and Willow, your new nation is definitely off to a wonderful start. Not only are these young women powerful, they are selfless and courageous as well. They demonstrated these qualities by seeking to defend me against a Black Mage only moments ago."
Artemis' eyes widened. "A Black Mage? Here?"
Rhiannon cocked her eyebrow wryly. "Not anymore," she said simply. "Unfortunately, he made the fatal mistake of believing he faced a mortal instead of a goddess."
The Goddess of the Hunt frowned. "This news is most distressing, sister. As we speak, several of my Amazons are winging their way to Sunnydale. They also bear grave tidings about the abduction of two of our sisters' Immortal priestesses. The attack against you may be connected in some fashion."
Rhiannon nodded. "If that is the case we should pool our resources and address this matter together."
"An excellent suggestion, Rhiannon. With your mystical abilities and my Amazons, I'm sure we can face any challenge the Fates may have in store for us." Then Artemis warmly threw her right arm over Rhiannon's shoulder. "But first, we have the reformation of a nation to attend to.”
Rhiannon narrowed her eyes. “Artemis...do you think that is wise? Do you not consider that dealing with this potential threat should be our primary focus at this time?”
Just as Artemis took a breath to answer, a lilting voice said, “Begging your pardon, lady goddesses, but the reformation of the nation must not wait for anyone...or anything.”
At that, Artemis turned toward the woman surrounded by shimmering light. "And this, dear sister, is the Archangel Livia, my former priestess in her mortal life."
Livia bowed slightly to the sorceress supreme. "My lady goddess."
Rhiannon seemed to be caught off-guard by Livia's greeting. "Excuse me, celestial one. I am unaccustomed to such deference from a servant of our Lord."
Artemis smirked and said, "She was well raised, dear sister." Then she guided the Celtic Goddess over two the two other deities in the room. “Allow me to introduce you to my stepmother and my other sister." Artemis faced the regal looking woman with cobalt eyes and announced, "This is the Lady Hera, the Queen of the Olympian Gods and Goddess of Marriage." Hera nodded her head simply and smiled at Rhiannon, then at the Amazons in turn. Willow thought she was quite beautiful and didn't look capable of being the ‘wicked stepmother' that had plagued Hercules so long ago.
Artemis then turned to the tall, raven-haired beauty dressed in leather breastplate and a short skirt. "This is the Lady Xena, the Warrior Goddess."
Xena gave the Celtic Goddess a warm smile…well, as warm as the former Warrior Princess could muster on short notice. "Hey, Rhi…how's it hanging?"
A puzzled look flashed across Rhiannon's face for a split second before she replied, "Fine…I think."
At that moment, Willow cleared her throat and gained the moon goddesses attention. "Excuse me, Lady Goddesses…"
Artemis smiled warmly at the little red witch. "Yes, daughter of my heart."
Willow graced Artemis with a shy smile. "May I speak?" Artemis nodded for her to continue. "You keep referring to each other as ‘sisters.' But you're from different pantheons."
"That is true, my dear. Every god or goddess originated from cosmic forces unleashed throughout the universe long ago. However, the aspect that makes us individuals come from communal manifestations derived from the spirituality of our worshipers. Over time, these helped shape our appearance to mortals and the personality we have in our dealings with others. Essentially, we are aspects of a single sphere of dominion that governs humanity. Rhiannon is a moon goddess for her people, as am I for mine, Freya for hers, and Hecate for those who worship her. Thus as moon children, we are ‘sisters' as it were."
Rhiannon nodded several times during Artemis’ explanation. “Well said, sister.”
Willow bowed her head slightly toward the Huntress. "Thank you, Lady Goddess."
Artemis smiled brightly. "My pleasure, Willow." Then she turned to address everyone in the room. "If there are no further objections,” and she cocked a wry eyebrow at a smirking Rhiannon, “we should discuss the glorious mission I have for you, my daughters. As you know, Livia, the angel in our midst was once my high priestess. She has now been transformed into a being of light by the Exalted One and tasked to help rebirth the Nation. Livia has told me of the great covenant that He has offered. Now, I want her to tell you."
When Willow glanced at the angelic being, her glow appeared to grow even brighter than before. "Dear sisters of this time," Livia said, her voice soft and melodic, "behold the covenant of the Lord! The Lord our God hast said, ‘Hark! It is time for the Nation to be reborn as one of the Chosen. One day, the Nation shall lead the people to the stars. Then one day, near the end of time, it shall birth the One who shall be at my side at the rebirth of the multiverse.’ That is His covenant to you, the Amazon Nation! What have you to say to his wondrous offer, my sisters?"
The silence was so deafening one could hear a pin drop. Then Cordelia shattered the quiet and uttered, "Oh. My. God," in the voice of a lost and frightened child.