The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
There is nothing like steel blue eyes backed by six feet of trained killer muscle staring down at one to put a damper on surliness. Velona didn't even bother calling off the troops because no one moved, not even Eudora (though she looked like she was ready to make one, if she needed to.)
"Well?" the warrior growled. Her body spoke of pure menace and Velona knew with certainty that this woman was not someone to be trifled with. Whoever she was.
The dark Amazon hated to show a moment of weakness, but it was hard to hide the quiver in her voice, "They kidnapped my woman and made threats to my village." It sounded okay, but not as firm as Velona would have liked.
Xena made mental note of the possessive and took in the garb worn by the woman she was threatening. She smirked. Good thing she didn't care too much about rank. The warrior felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, but didn't turn.
Gabrielle spoke gently, "Let her go Xena. Please." There was a loud rush, a murmur of sound that rustled through the villagers as they realized who was among them. Velona's eyes widened. Then Velona felt the pressure push in (reminding her that it was there) and let go (reminding her that it could come back any time). Xena stepped away and the Chieftess of Skula got her first glimpse of the Queen, who continued to speak softly, "I can see why you would be upset."
Velona found herself into a pair of startlingly beautiful eyes. The Queen's expression was sorrowful, "but it seems you were about to provoke a war. I would like to hear more, before such a decision is made by my Amazons" My Amazons, not *the* Amazons. Xena heard the change in Gabrielle. . .and liked it.
Velona most carefully did not look in Xena's direction, but she didn't back away from her feelings either. "They started it," she began hotly, pointing in the direction of their neighbors. Gabrielle recognized the blaming mentality behind that statement, the likely continuation of *and we'll finish it* and realized she'd need to do some serious work.
She didn't smile, but spoke quickly before Velona could continue with that thought. "Call the warriors down. I'll listen to what is to be said about the situation. We will work together on a solution. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding."
Eudora leapt down from the podium, "There was no misunderstanding. My *captors* made the intent perfectly clear. " Her expression was angry, but honest.
Gabrielle looked at the red head and blinked. She looked like she was about to say something, then changed her mind. She blinked again and tackled the subject on hand, "We will discuss this later. Even if there is to be a war, it can be started tomorrow as well as today. I am tired and hungry. Is there someplace we can stay for the night?" There, that would give them some time to cool down and maybe some rational planning and discussion could occur later.
It took a moment for Velona to register that the angelic woman in front of her was not making a request, that she, the Chieftess of Skula was, in fact, standing before the Queen of the Amazons. They'd better damn well have someplace for the Queen to stay. Her eyes flicked to the Queen's right and to her left, which was suddenly occupied by the presence of Arete and Kalai. She had forgotten about them. The dark Amazon spoke very carefully, somewhat respectfully, "A place will be arranged for you and yours, majesty." Gabrielle smiled in satisfaction and acknowledgment. Velona bowed.
It didn't occur to the chieftess, until a candlemark later, as the Amazons of Skula scurried to prepare the largest guest hut, that this was the opportunity she'd been waiting for.
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These pages were last updated: November 11, 1997
ŠNovember 1997