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.
Xena slipped away as quietly as she arrived after kissing Gabrielle awake so that the Queen would continue to be in a good mood rather than one of those damn it you woke me from a really deep nap and I'm not going to be sociable for another hour moods. Gabrielle really liked waking to kisses. Really liked it. And it was always Xena's pleasure.
The warrior decided to head over to the fields where it was recieving its makeover and far along the way to becoming a greuling obstacle course. She watched as a pair of Amazons swung a huge log across a small muddy pond and grinned. *This* was going to be great.
Once the air had cooled a little and the breeze was strong again, the judges summoned the Queen and her candidates to the challenge field. Spectators were all over the place and it seemed that the Amphipolians and all their neighboring villages had decided to make this a day of festivity. Toris took advantage of being Joxer's official coach and he led Meg to a good spot providing a nice undiluted panaromic view.
Toris settled the blanket on the ground and escorted the lovely cook to its surface. Meg set a basket of snacks by her and liberated a flask of wine from the container. They had spent the afternoon talking about Joxer and themselves. Toris learned that not only was Meg a fine cook (he had really appreciated dinner last night), but that she was really quite openminded about a few things. He also discovered that not only did he have a thing for soft brown eyes, but certain blue eyes led to their own kind of inspiration. And while he noted the similarities between Meg and his sister, he also appreciated the vast (okay, not so vast, both of them had drive, both had intelligence (though Meg grew up with several disadvantages) and both were sexier than all get out) differences. Besides she was spirited and charming.
Meg on the other hand learned that Xena's brother was an okay guy, much like his sister. Toris was strong and good and kind and, like his sister, very appealing. She could see what Joxer saw in the man. She could also see he was attracted to her, but she wasn't the type to poach once someone declared an allegance, so she just enjoyed the man's company and silently congratulated Joxer on making a good choice. Besides the whole looking like his sister thing added a kinky element that she wasn't sure she was ready to deal with. If she was gonna mess with anyone that close to Xena, that person had better darn well be able to tell the difference. So she fought against the impulse to rest her gaze in his and instead focused on the events that were to play themselves out on the field.
When Joxer arrived on the field, looking a bit sleep rumpled, but rested, they both cheered him. He looked a little perplexed but smiled widely and gave them a jaunty wave. Toris wrapped a friendly arm around Meg's waist and they waved happily in return. Meg blew him a kiss and Joxer wondered how in Hades things had gotten worked out without him having to beg.
Kalai stretched and limbered up for the event. She could already see that some of the obstacles might be truly challenging and she wanted to be able to make her way through easily. She saw that there were some individuals wearing the Amazon masks and carrying weapons, which meant, not only would they be trying to maneuver around the complications of the field, but that there would be live confrontations to meet. Much like life, she supposed. No wonder they said this was more about the heart, than about the body.
Arete was so wrapped up in her own preparations that she never saw Meg. Someone fell over one of the benches provided for the candidates, so she picked up the bench and moved it a little bit so it was less dangerous, picked up a rather startled Joxer and set him on the bench and then began her own version of the stretches designed to make the body flexible. Joxer was impressed.
Xena may or may not have warmed up. No one really saw her preparing, but she seemed agile enough and some supposed Xena to have some mythic abilities when it came to physical activities anyway, so no one asked or even really speculated hard. The warrior princess took to the time to assess her competition. Joxer she wasn't too worried about, nor was she worried about Lyneaus since she knew it was unlikely he would make it pass the live action players. Althus would rely on his strength, but Arete had him beat hands down (Xena had to roll her eyes at the blonde's earlier deception. How could she have *missed* that, especially watching the way she manhandled that bench. It was a good thing Arete considered herself an ally.) Kalai had youth and speed which would negate Hector's slow gate. Talus and Cynthia were barely in the race anymore, but she didn't doubt they would put up a good show. Her main concern was Maphaus, who didn't seem very athletic, yet somehow had managed to keep up in the physical competition. She would have to watch him closely. Not to mention Drakus, who seemed overly confident. Helen she had no worries about. The Amazon would run the race and try to beat her, but she didn't have Xena's motivation.
Xena cast a glance at the shadowed dais and saw Gabrielle was speaking animatedly with Cherise about something. Cherise seemed to be holding a large, tattered book (the kind with stuff falling out of it) in front of the Queen and pointing. Hecuba was standing behind her daughter and pointing too, while Cyrene was simply shaking her head and rolling her eyes. Xena wondered what the matchmaker was up to, but turned her attention away when the summoning drums began to beat out the Amazon challenge.
It was time to begin.