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.
It was warm outside, made warmer still by the press of the bodies of those who had not been able to enter the temple for lack of room. Again there was the atmosphere of festival and frolic among the people gathered. The shade and silence of the temple, however, were refreshing and cool. The women who were to be joined had long ago parted ways for the day, each being taken to a different place for preparation. It was Gabrielle's belief that the preparations had not been all that different. She imagined that Xena had been bathed, oiled and dried by willing hands, much as she had been. There was no doubt that Arete and Kalai had received similar. Now she stood in modest elegance waiting in the wings of a great hall, wearing a flowing green gown, her feet in golden sandals, and her hair brushed to a gold and red shine. There was no other adornment on her body, save the sweet smell of delicate perfume.
There were not many in the hall. Just those they loved and the Amazons. Toris, with a twinkle in his eye, stood by his mother. Joxer and Meg stood in the back, but he could feel their presence as if they stood besides him also. Lila and Herodotus, who had finally arrived that morning, waited gracefully with Gabrielle's mother, who despite everything was truly glad for her wandering daughter. Iolaus stood in front with Cherise. The Amazons took various positions in the back.
There were six doors, one leading out of the temple, one leading farther in and four not quite, but almost at the corners. The priests started filing in quietly from the interior of the temple, until they lined the far wall. There was a gasp from the audience as a lone Amazon wearing the Queen's mask followed the priests and stood in front of the priests, but not blocking the door. There was no doubt that it was Ephiny, though none had heard of her arrival. Then there was another gasp as the Amazon's own high priestess stepped into the room with Amphipolous' high priest. His aged features remained neutral and calm, as did her youthful expression. They both held the staves of their rank, which, when they arrived at a certain point they laid down end to end. There was another gasp as the audience watched the staves link themselves in such a way that there was no break between them and it had become on long pole. Then, a small child, carrying a red satin pillow with four small objects upon it, entered the room and stood between the high priests.
Then the high priests clapped their hands four times and spoke in unison, "Where is the Queen of the Amazon nation?"
Ephiny strode forward, her hips swaying to the powerful cadence of her walk. She walked to the front of the high priests, but not in front of the staff and turned her back on them. Then she paced herself a little bit aways from the high priest and stood in the middle of the presentation space. Her shoulders were back and she stood proudly, as an Amazon should.
Again the priests spoke "Why do you turn your back to us?"
Ephiny knelt on one knee and removed the mask, placing it on the ground in front of her, "I am but the watcher in the Queen's place. I rule, but she reigns."
"Stand up Queen regent and call the four corners."
Ephiny stood up in one swift supple movement. This time she and the high priests clapped their hands four times and Ephiny's voice rang through the hall. "Come East, Come West, Come North, Come South."
It was like a dream, watching them file out. The differences and similarities of the women were striking to behold. Kalai wore a gown similar to Gabrielle's except it was a deep shiny blue (she might have looked uncomfortable in it, except she kept forgetting to feel that way once the ceremony started). Xena wore black leather and golden armor. Arete wore white leather with silver armor. They all looked beyond breathtaking. Somehow they ended up facing each other, with Ephiny in the middle.
Ephiny backed out from between them, but not so far that she stepped over the pole. The priest spoke, "Queen regent, these are they who are to be joined by your law, now is the time of your intercession. Have you any objections?" Ephiny looked at the faces of her friends, whose expressions were not quite neutral, but not revelatory either. She looked out at the audience.
"Are there any here who would speak."
Cherise gulped a little. Her stomach was a nervous flutter. Iolaus gave her a reassuring nod, then she stood forward, "I am the master of the race, I have ought to say."
There was a ripple of noise through the audience. The four women looked a little startled, but not too much so. Ephiny didn't even blink. "Say your piece."
"There is one among them who should be disqualified."
"Who is it?"
"North." Xena looked unnerved. Her hands clenched to her sides and her expression darkened. Surely, she thought as the words she'd uttered in the temple to Gabrielle came flooding back to her in swift memory, the God's would not have counted that morning's occupation. It had been meant to be a private experience, not some public display. She had a moment of fear that she'd really hacked Artemis off.
"Why is it?"
"She brought two treasures to the temple and offered two sacrifices. She broke the rules of the game."
Xena looked like she was about to erupt. Gabrielle looked about equally furious and was blushing. Kalai's eyes went wide and though she looked like she might burst into tears her face held the expression of, you had better not mess with this. Arete started to look a bit menacing herself. But Iolaus spoke fast. Really fast, "HOLD."
"Who speaks?"
"I am the arbiter of the race, I have ought to say."
"Say your piece."
"The gods have made their choice and have ruled. The first offering they have accepted as the true and of the spirit, the other they have rejected and have discounted. They have declared this joining fair." The air around Xena's head, which seemed to be crackling now seemed to gentle into something less fearsome.
"How know you this?"
A slightly balding man stood away from the line of priests, "It was so ruled by the Gods. I have heard." A young priestess also stood away from the line of priests and repeated the same phrase.
"Two witnesses are sufficient," intoned the Queen's regent. "The joining is fair. Are there any more words?" The bodies of the four women seemed to relax.
"I stand down, your majesty." Cherise spoke, glad the whole thing was over. Her heart resumed its normal rate as she took position by Iolaus again. He gave her hand a quick squeeze and she looked down at him gratefully.
Ephiny turned around to face the high priests. Her face was quite serious. " Then so let it be. I have no objections to the joining of the corners." The the Amazon Queen regent did a military turn and marched out of the way. When she had a chance she breathed a sigh of relief gave Solari a wink.
There were four more claps from the high priests, then they commanded the four women to join hands. In this way they formed a circle, with the queens mask in the middle. It was at that time that the audience noticed that there were four different kinds of dark and light between them. Arete's fair hair, Kalai's brown, Gabrielle's red gold and Xena's raven locks. The Amazons in the room began to clue that maybe there was more to this than they had realized.
"Here are the words of the Gods." The old high priest intoned, "the bond once formed can not be broken. The circle is to remain intact, for it is one of power. If one corner is felled it must be filled or the bond will break. Now is the time to change your minds, before the circle is even created." There were wide eyes all around. Xena sighed and looked at her Gabrielle. Kalai looked to Arete. Silent nods were given, thought this was a damn sight more than any of them had expected (you know, they expected a priest to say okay you're together for a year, enjoy life, or something. Certainly not this whole serious thing where they couldn't even tell where it was leading).
"Then," his voice was almost gentle, "so let it be."
The high priestess spoke, "Hear oh Amazons! Hear oh Amazons! These *are* the four corners of the nation. These are the four parts of our being. Hear oh Amazons! These who are bound together by our need will gather us to their hearts, commit us to their spirits, guide us with their minds and liberate us by their deeds. Can there be any who object to the will of the Gods?" There was a huge silence in the temple.
"Then," she spoke very quietly, "so let it be."
Then the high priests spoke their names, "Xena, Gabrielle, Arete, Kalai. North, East, South and West, will you fulfill your duties and obligations to the Amazons forever being faithful and true. Will you accept the call of Artemis and the Gods. Will you accept the bond of joining and its consequences?"
Somehow their voices combined as one solemn invocation of, "yes."
"Then," the high priests spoke, "so let it be."
There was a sudden rumbling on the ground and it shook and shivered and knocked a few about (and this was odd because Amphipolous had not had a recorded earthquake), but the ones joined in the circle moved not at all. As suddenly as it started it stopped and a fearsome wind blew forcing many to move, but those joined in the circle didn't even notice it.. The wind died down and now there was fire, swirling about them, dancing around them and it should have burned them or at least singed them, but those joined in the circle only felt the warmth of their hands joined together. And when the fire surrendered, rain and hail and sleet pelted against them, but where they stood it was dry. And they glowed. They glowed as if the sun's own energy was running through their bodies. Finally when the elements were done, the high priests spoke again.
"This is the power of the circle unbroken."
The mask itself began to glow and it began to rock and tilt and dance until it floated and turned in slow circles within their circle.
"This is the reason for the circle unbroken."
Then the mask reversed its motion and danced its way back down to the floor. The energy around the four seemed to curl its way into their bodies and then faded from normal sight. The four women were taken aback by the sensations they felt, but there was nothing for them to do, but surrender to the moment. Gabrielle cast a quavering look at Xena who smiled reassuringly. They all squeezed each other's hands once or twice. It took a moment for them to hear the high priests' voices again. But when they did, they were being instructed to part and to come stand before the pole.
It followed naturally, from the way they were positioned, that they met at the pole in this formation. Xena, the warrior princess stood by Gabrielle's side, who was next to Arete who stood by Kalai. Xena and Gabrielle stood in front of Amphipolous' high priest. Arete and Kalai were in front of the Amazons' high priestess.
The elderly priest leaned forward and grinned, "Now comes the fun part," he whispered to their astonishment. Then he spoke loudly and gazed out at the crowd, even as he addressed the warrior princess and the bard. "Xena, Gabrielle," he began, "the gods have witnessed your deep devotion and," he turned a couple of shades of red and coughed, "the delight, with which you hold each other in your hearts." He got himself together. "Therefore you are here to declare that devotion in a public ceremony, which none may deny." He stared into Gabrielle's eyes with such intensity that would have backed up if not for Xena's hand at her waist, "Will you, Gabrielle, take Xena to be your mate to meet the the obligations and experience the joys thereof?"
Gabrielle took about half a second to make that decision. "Yes."
Then his piercing gaze turned on the warrior princess, "Will you, Xena, take Gabrielle to be your mate to meet the the obligations and experience the joys thereof?"
The priest could tell there was no doubt in the those blue blue eyes, "Yes."
He smiled widely, "Then step over into your new life as partners in this world." Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other, almost shyly, and as one, stepped over the pole.
Then the Amazon priestess spoke, her voice was soft, her expression one of deep affection. She also could be heard quite clearly, "Arete and Kalai, your love is new and fresh and the Gods would put no demands on it, other than that you take joy in each other, but at this time, if you should so choose, your love may also be publicly recognized." Everyone in the temple watched as the two young lovers made silent communication with each other, their expressions changing rapidly between surprise to one of surety. They turned back to the priestess with knowledge in their eyes. The high priestess smiled, "It is well." She turned to brown eyed Amazon. "Will you, Kalai, take Arete to be your mate to meet the obligations and joys thereof?"
Kalai nodded mutely, swallowed and vocalized, "Yes."
"Will you, Arete, take Kalai to be your mate, to meet the obligations and joys thereof?"
Arete looked happy and proud and spoke firmly, even as she clasped her hand in Kalai's, Her answer was a form of worship. "Yes."
"Then step over into your new life as partners in this world." Kalai found herself grinning at Arete as they stepped over the pole in tandem.
"Now," said the elder priest, catching their attention, "we have here symbols of your joining. These rings will be your emblems and none other may wear it until you pass on to the next life and another must be called. Your left hands please." The priest bent down and picked up one of the rings from the pillow. His hand was a little shaky.
The ring looked to small to fit on anyone's hand, let alone Xena's, but to her surprise, it slipped onto her pinky as easy as you please and felt quite comfortable. She watched as the priest placed the ring's partner on Gabrielle's finger. And then the high priestess conducted the same exercise with Arete and Kalai. The young one was then quietly dismissed and all watched as she exited into the depth of the temple.
The high priests stepped back when they were finished and clapped their hands four times. Ephiny strode forth and retrieved the mask and placed it under her arm, then she went and stood where the acolyte had been.
She spoke articulately, "Queen Gabrielle, it is the tradition of the Amazons that our Queens should have consorts and these consorts should be worthy. These three," and she pointed to all three of them, "have proven themselves worthy in mind, heart, spirit and body. Will you listen to them in wisdom, honor them in love? Will you accept them as your consorts for the next four seasons?"
"I will."
"Xena, Arete, Kalai. You have won the right to be Queen Gabrielle's consorts for the next four seasons. She will hear your wisdom. She will honor you in love. Will you accept your part as her consorts?"
"We will."
All three of the leaders spoke in chorus, "Then so let it be."
And that was that.