THE AMAZON QUEEN
Part XVII: Warrior ... Goddess of War?
by L.M. Townsend (e-mail: QueenLaese@aol.com)
DISCLAIMERS: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrenê, Virgil, Meg, Autolycus, Joxer, Velasca, et al (meaning anyone else I didn’t list and should have.) are the property of MCA, Universal, and Renaissance Pictures and anyone else who has a legal claim (thanks for letting the girls come out to play!) The character of Hercules, although a mythical/historical figure in his own right, for the purpose of this story, also belongs to them. Melysë and The Amazons belong to themselves, (and I dare any man to say different!)This story is mine, though, and written just for fun, not profit.
SUBTEXT: - YES, though nothing explicit.
VIOLENCE: Yes, please see special disclaimer below.
LANGUAGE: Where there are warriors....I do try to keep it semi-"clean", though.
*Spoiler Alert - several references to various episodes throughout the history of the show, especially DESTINY, THE QUEST, and A NECESSARY EVIL
SPECIAL DISCLAIMER: This story is darker than anything I’ve written before. I’m not quite sure why it’s evolved the way it has, but here it is. This borders on a horror story, and involves vampires and some of the various lore and superstitions about them - including some of the violent ways to destroy these beings. If this bothers you in anyway, please read no further.
I want to thank my Chosen Sister Tai’ for her input and especially - as always - for her unconditional love and support. Blessed be, Sister.
Thanks also to Crow, who helped inspire some of the ideas for this story.
My thanks to the Bards’ Village for giving me a "home away from home", where I’ve found support and caring friends and family. Thank-you, Villagers!
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The queens had been recovering from childbirth at the Lodge under the watchful care of Cyrenê and Meg - as well as Autolycus, Iolaus, and Hercules. Even little Neiromei, who had joined them at the Lodge - although delighted with two new baby sisters to play with - helped out, making a show of holding her nose while carrying out soiled nappies an arms length from her little body.
Xena came into the room she shared with Melysë one morning after drill to find the priestess rocking both of their newest daughters. Neiromei was already down for her nap, asleep in the bed. The warrior smiled at the scene before her and made a decision. She approached Melysë and took one of the babies, laying her in one of the cradles.
"You ready to go home, ‘Lysë?" she asked softly.
Melysë looked up at her and smiled. "Oh, yes," she said. "Everyone’s been great here, but I’m ready."
"Good," said the warrior, taking the second baby and laying her in the other cradle before sitting next to her priestess, wrapping a strong arm warmly around Melysë ‘s waist. "‘Lysë, I’ve been thinking. Arynë is perfectly capable of leading the drill and the warriors. And Selenë has become quite the priestess. How about you and I take some time off and just be mommys for a while?"
"Oh, Xena, do you mean it?" said Melysë, her eyes shining.
"Yeah," said the warrior, pulling her priestess closer. "Yeah I do."
They were suddenly interrupted by their eldest, Arynë, bursting through the door.
"Mother! Xena! Pitana’s escaped!" she cried. "And that’s not all...."
Xena looked at Melysë, dread in her eyes as she heard a voice she remembered all too well outside.
"Where is she? Where is Artemis, goddess of the Amazons, my enemy?"
Xena leapt to her feet and ran, almost running into Gabrielle. The Bard Queen held her new daughter close against her chest, her bright green eyes terrified.
"Xena, did you hear?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
Yes," said Xena, grimly, unsheathing her sword. "Velasca - she escaped...somehow. And Pitana."
"This Velasca - she’s the one who got Pitana out of prison," said Arynë, her dark green eyes - so like her mother, Melysë’s - worried.
Pitana had been imprisoned when Arynë was still an infant. She was Melysë’s cousin and had challenged the priestess with a Royal Challenge for the Throne of Aemetzainê. She lost, but had returned several years later - to challenge her cousin’s infant daughter - Arynë. Pitana had declared a fight to the death, demanding that Melysë - because of her god-blood - could not participate, all the while believing herself immortal - due to ambrosia. Because of this breach of honour, Melysë had stripped Pitana of the title and rights of an Amazon - and because of the danger Pitana posed to the Aemetzainê Tribe and Amazon Nation - Melysë had ordered her imprisoned where she could do no harm.
"Who is Velasca?" asked Melysë, rising to quiet the now crying babies in their cradles.
"Velasca...was the adopted daughter of Melosa," began Gabrielle, tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh, of course," said Melysë, lifting Leilae and patting her quiet. "I remember the story - she killed Melosa - and tried to take the Mask of Queenhood from you."
"Yes, but what you don’t know - what no one really knows - is that Velasca had gotten ahold of ambrosia," said Xena. "We trapped her in a lava pit with Callisto, but Callisto escaped. Now it seems that Velasca has too."
"Oh, Goddess," said Melysë, sitting back down. "That table-thing Ares had! The one that could - the one he bumped when I fell - and the lava pit! Oh, Great Mother, what did we do?"
"‘Lysë, it’s not your fault," said Xena. "It’s just as well - she would have probably escaped eventually - somehow - anyway. At least now, we’re able to do something about it."
"That’s right, Xena - you have the power to kill gods now," said Gabrielle, sighing her relief.
"Yeah - so let’s just take care of this little matter right now," said Xena, grimly as she strode out of the room, Arynë following close behind. Melysë and Gabrielle went to the window, looking out. They could see Velasca and Pitana, leading a large Amazon army towards the boundary of Aemetzainê.
"Blessed Goddess," Melysë whispered at the sight.
"Yeah," said Gabrielle, with sigh. "Prayer - that’s the way to go, alright."
Xena approached Velasca, her sword twirling, Arynë close behind, her sword also drawn. Suddenly, Velasca threw a lightning bolt at the two Amazons. Swiftly, Xena thrust Arynë away, out of danger, ducking the lightning herself. There were two more bolts thrown, one after the other. The first was an easy dodge for the Warrior Queen, but the second....
"Xena!" Melysë cried, as her heart-mate was flying backwards, falling to the ground. Arynë leapt forward, swinging her sword, protecting her gods-mother. Melysë laid Leilae back in her cradle and used her powers to transport herself down to her warrior and her daughter. "Stop!" she cried, raising her hand and throwing her own lightning at Velasca. The immortal was thrown backward, giving Melysë time to gather Xena to her and grab Arynë’s hand, taking them all back to the Lodge. "Help me," said Melysë, sitting on the floor, holding her unconscious warrior. The three lifted Xena to the bed next to Neiromei - who continued to sleep through the whole thing, while Melysë looked her warrior over, a worried frown furrowing her fair brow.
"How did this happen?" asked Gabrielle, patting little Melosa who was crying, as were the other two infants. "Xena has the power to kill gods - doesn’t she?"
"Who gave her that power?" asked Melysë, quietly, taking the warrior’s hand.
"I ... it was the archangel Michael who told her ... as Eve’s protector..." said Gabrielle, trying to soothe her daughter.
Melysë closed her eyes and sighed. "She’s no longer Eve’s protector," said the priestess, quietly. "Eve ... didn’t want her to...."
"Oh, gods, that’s right," said Gabrielle. "That must mean she no longer has the power to kill gods - ‘Lysë, what are we going to do?"
"I don’t know," said Melysë.
"Mother," said Arynë, standing by the window looking out. "Come and look." Melysë joined her daughter at the window. The armies were withdrawing. Melysë saw her cousin dragging Velasca from the field. "Guess your lightning was stronger than hers, Mother."
"Well, that’s something anyway," said the priestess, returning to her warrior’s side as Xena groaned into consciousness.
"What hit me?" asked the Warrior Queen.
"Velasca," said Gabrielle. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," said Xena. "Just feels like my skull was split by an axe - but I’m fine."
Melysë sat beside her, wrapping warm arms around her, the priestess’s healing touch working her magic. The warrior visibly relaxed as the pain in her head eased and then left.
"Thanks, ‘Lysë," said Xena, smiling.
"Anytime, Love," said Melysë, returning the smile with relief.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Arynë.
"I don’t know," said Melysë, frowning, as Xena slowly rose to her feet.
"Well, obviously my idea is a bust," chuckled the warrior. "Guess I don’t have the ‘stuff’ anymore, huh?"
"So it would appear," said Melysë.
"Well, now we have two immortals to fight," said the warrior. "Is Hercules still around?"
"No," said Melysë, quietly. "He went back to Thebes to take care of some problems there - then he’s coming back."
"That’s no good,’ said Xena. "We can’t wait. We need an immortal to fight immortals. You think Ares....?"
"What do you think?" said Melysë.
"Hm, yeah - I suppose Aphrodite’s out as well?" said the warrior.
"She’s a lover - not a fighter," said Melysë, dryly.
"Okay, well, at least you bought us some time, knocking out Velasca like that," said Xena.
"Not nearly enough, though," said Gabrielle, grimly. "They’ll be back."
"Yeah, they will," said Melysë, going to the cradles and picking up Leilae, patting her quiet as Xena went and picked up Dylanda, also quieting the infant.
"Mother, what do they want?" asked Arynë.
"I’m not sure, Love," said Melysë. "They’ve both tasted of ambrosia - and they’re both quite mad because of it. Perhaps even they don’t know what they want."
"But what do you think?" asked Arynë, troubled.
"I think they have some misplaced sense of vengeance," said Melysë, sitting and beginning to feed the infant. "They both think that the Amazons denied them their ‘rightful’ place as queens."
"Did we?" asked Arynë, thoughtfully.
"No," said Xena, joining her priestess in feeding her daughter. "No, ‘Ryn. Those women had no business leading the Amazon Nation. I know that sounds funny coming from someone like me,
but - "
"What do you mean, Xena?" asked Arynë, sitting beside her mothers. Xena was quiet for a long moment.
"I was a warlord, ‘Ryn," she said quietly. "You know that already. I was ... pretty brutal, bloodthirsty ... cruel, even - unnecessarily cruel."
"You never harmed women and children," said Arynë.
"Not deliberately, no - but some were hurt because of me anyway," said Xena, looking at her heart-daughter intently. "I was very bad, ‘Ryn. Ruthless - anything that stood between me and what I wanted was destroyed. I once had my army build a dam to divert a river so that it would run closer to my camp. Three villages downstream suffered draught and famine because I didn’t want my men walking so far to water and bathe my horse. Now here I am, Warrior Queen of a Tribe of Amazons. There are some who would say your mother was inviting trouble, entrusting an Amazon army to my command."
"But you changed," said Arynë. "I know the stories, Xena. I heard a lot in Themiscyreia and in Hatussas. But I know about all the good you’ve done, too - and I know you, Xena. You’re my tanti-meia - my other mother."
"Yes, now," said the warrior, smiling proudly at her protégée, in spite of herself. "But I had a lot of help getting to where I am now."
"Do you think Velasca and Pitana could change, too?" asked Arynë.
"I don’t know, ‘Ryn," said Xena. "But we don’t really have time to find out. They pose a very real - and immediate - threat to us and to the whole Amazon Nation."
Arynë nodded and slowly rose. "I’m going to increase the guards about the perimeter of the Village - and I’m posting sentries here, too, tanti Gabrielle," she said. "I’m also going to send out the scouts - we need information on that army. I want to put our troops on alert, Xena."
"Good judgement calls, ‘Ryn," said Xena, smiling with pride. "Go ahead and brief them on the identity of our enemy, too - they need that information to stay alive - but tell them no heroics - no one is going to take the leaders of that army down single-handedly. Remember, a lot of the warriors will remember Pitana - they may think with displaced loyalty and try to go after her."
"Right, Xena," said Arynë, leaving.
"What about what she said?" said Gabrielle, thoughtfully.
"About them changing?" asked Melysë, patting Leilae.
"Yeah," said Gabrielle. "Do you think they could?"
"No!" said Xena, fiercely. "We can’t let ourselves ... "
"Go soft?" asked Melysë.
"Yeah," sighed Xena, patting Dylanda as Melysë silently arose and laid the sleeping Leilae in one of the cradles.
"I think they could change," said Gabrielle. "If Ares and Hera could, then ..."
"I think they could, too," said Melysë, taking Dylanda from her warrior and laying her in the other cradle. "But I don’t believe they would. They have no reason to change, no ..."
"Motivation?" said Xena.
"Something like that," said Melysë, sitting again beside her warrior. "We have to do it, Gabrielle. We have to ... remove this threat."
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Pitana stood back and watched as her "rescuer" paced back and forth expounding on the downfall of the Amazons. Something like worship filled the warrior’s grey eyes as she watched this magnificent queen - for so Pitana believed Velasca should have been - as she fumed and stormed about. For a moment doubt slipped in - She’s ranting, thought Pitana. Then shaking her head, she lost the thought and watched. Finally Velasca finished her "briefing" of the troops, grabbed Pitana by the arm, and led her into the command tent.
"Tell me about your cousin," said Velasca. "Where did she learn to throw lightning?"
"Well, from what I had heard - before I was locked up, she’s the daughter of Ares - only Ares despises her," said Pitana, eyes narrowing. "What’s more, I understand he’s mortal now anyway."
"Perhaps not," said Velasca, nostrils flaring. "She’s obviously got something from her father. And Xena! Where in Hades did she come from? Is Gabrielle with her?"
"Yeah - the Bard was there when I was fighting Xena," said Pitana. "Ares asked Xena to come and take care of Melysë before Arynë was born."
"No, I mean why is she still alive?" seethed Velasca. "Do you have any idea how long I was trapped in that lava pit? They should have died decades ago!"
"Oh, that," said Pitana, bored. "Ares froze them for twenty-five years - it’s a long drawn out story - nothing you’d be interested in - I know I’m not. Who cares about Xena, anyway? You already knocked her on her ass - she’s no threat to us."
Suddenly, Velasca’s temper flared and she grabbed Pitana by the collar of her jerkin. "You have no idea, do you?" she said, her voice dangerously quiet. "Did you see how fast Melysë was out there, protecting them, rescuing them? You really haven’t a clue, have you?"
Pitana shrugged. "Whatever you’re thinking, Melysë is a wimp," said the warrior. "The only reason that lightning she threw worked is because it was a surprise. You’re way more powerful than she is - she won’t even fight. What kind of an Amazon won’t fight?"
"One who doesn’t have to," said Velasca, thoughtfully. "There’s more to it. More to her - and to Xena. Something I’m missing. Still, it may be better to use a more ... subtle plan. There must be a way to get that priestess over to our side, Surely she understands that the Amazon Nation is in danger of crumbling from weakness ..."
"Forget it, Velasca," said Pitana, pulling away from the other warrior’s grasp and straightening her clothes. "I’ve tried that already. She’s too ..."
"What?" said Velasca, grinning.
"Soft," said Pitana. "She’s mush - she’s of no use to us - because she won’t fight."
"Hm, I don’t know - given the proper motivation, I think she’d fight very well indeed," said Velasca, musing.
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Melysë paced nervously in her room at the Lodge. Both infants were sleeping and Neiromei was in the kitchen with Cyrenê and Meg. The priestess was frustrated. Knowing that the enemy was camped so close to the Aemetzainê village, she worried for her people. She also worried for her family there in the Lodge. Pitana was her own kin- she really didn’t want to shed her blood. But if it came between that and saving her family, Melysë knew she would do what was necessary. And according to Xena and Gabrielle, Velasca is relentless - she won’t stop, thought Melysë, nervously biting her lip. She fingered a small silk pouch tucked into her zona. It takes an immortal to fight an immortal, she thought. Maybe it’s time....
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"Well, the additional sentries are posted, the troops are on the alert, and the reserves have been called to duty," Arynë reported to Xena. "I’ve sent three scouts to the enemy camp, but we have no word from them yet."
"Excellent," said Xena, smiling proudly. "Have you sent word to our allies?"
"Yes, I sent message birds to my father in Hatussas, to mother’s oath-sister, tanti Tai’ in Lycastia, one to Xenan, leader of the Centaurs, and others to our closest allies," said Arynë. "It’ll take them some time to reply, though. If they can even get here in time. I think Xenan’s people and probably the Lycastian troops, but the others...."
"It’s okay, ‘Ryn," said Xena. "It’s probably not even going to come down to all out war. Velasca’s bound to want a one-on-one confrontation. With my ability to kill gods gone, though - "
"Xena," said Arynë, quietly. "I think ... I think this is my fight."
"Why?" said Xena, gently.
"Pitana - she made the Challenge against me," said Arynë, looking beyond her godsmother. "And Velasca said she was here to fight Artemis - that’s me, too, isn’t it?"
"It was," said Xena, placing a firm hand on Arynë’s shoulder. "But I’m more concerned with you, Arynë - why do you think you’re alone in this? You have the entire Tribe - and Nation - behind you. Pitana made the Challenge against you, yes - when you were three days old. I was your Champion - and I beat her on your behalf. She can’t Challenge you again - gods, ‘Ryn, she isn’t even an Amazon anymore."
"No, she can’t offer a true and legal Challenge against me, " said Arynë, sighing. "I just think, if it comes down to it, it should be me who fights them, one-on one."
"Arynë, it takes an immortal to fight an immortal - you’re not Artemis anymore," said Xena, gently.
Not yet, anyway... thought Arynë, fingering a small silk pouch she had carried for many years, as she nodded and walked silently away.
She was stopped by a runner. "Princess! Your Highness! The scouts!" cried the young woman, eyes wide in fear.
"Calm down, Evandre," said Arynë, grasping the messenger by the shoulders to steady her. "What about the scouts?"
"They....they’ve...oh, Goddess, it’s horrible!" the messenger broke down, weeping and pointing to a group of Amazons carrying three stretchers, but what was being carried on those stretchers made Arynë’s blood freeze and she shivered involuntarily. She shook the weeping messenger.
"Pull together, Evandre," said Arynë, quietly. "I need...my mother. The Priestess-Queen, Melysë. She’s at the Lodge. Get her - and find Xena for me, too - tell....tell her of this. And then get yourself to Hypsyple - you may need...help with...this." I know I will, thought Arynë, swallowing hard at the sight of the mutilated bodies of her sisters.
Melysë arrived at the Village, leaving her youngest children with Cyrenê and Gabrielle. Selenë was with Hypsyple, working with her to help those who had witnessed the remains of the doomed scouts. Worriedly, Melysë sought out Arynë. She found her, sitting behind her hut in the shadows, her sword drawn, staring off into the distance.
"‘Ryn?" said Melysë, approaching slowly. Arynë seemed not to hear her, remaining motionless. "Arynë? It’s me... it’s meia. Talk to me, ‘Ryn."
"I sent them," said her warrior daughter. "They were our very best. I knew, out of all the scouts, they’d be able to get the information we needed back to us. They were our very best. I sent them to their deaths. Worse than death, Mother - they were tortured."
"Oh, Goddess, ‘Ryn," said Melysë, gently, sitting next to her daughter, wrapping warm arms around her daughter, but for some reason, her healing touch was not working it’s usual magic. "Arynë, where’s Tecmessa?"
The Warrior looked at her mother, her eyes dry, her face like stone. "Tecmessa was one of our best, Mother," she said quietly.
"‘Was’? ‘Ryn, did she...?" Melysë, whispered, tears springing to her dark green eyes. Arynë looked away, silent once more. "Oh, Goddess, oh no, Blessed Goddess, Oh, ‘Ryn, I’m so sorry."
Melysë rocked her daughter back and forth, but Arynë remained stonily silent, her dark eyes gazing off into the distance, dry and unseeing.
Xena grimly strode up to Hypsyple’s hut. Busy night for the shamenki, thought the warrior. Damn! Wonder how ‘Ryn’s doing? I remember the guilt of having scouts I sent out come back dead - but this.... Well, ‘Lysë’s got her. She’ll be okay...
Xena entered the healer’s hut and saw the group of Amazons milling around. Selenë saw her warrior mother and with a cry flung herself into the warrior’s arms, weeping.
"Selenë, it’s okay, sh," said the warrior, as soothingly as she could. "I know, it’s bad, but it’ll be alright, I promise."
"No, tanti-meia," sobbed the girl, clinging tightly. "No, you don’t understand. Oh, Goddess, ‘Ryn! Where’s ‘Ryn?"
"Shh, Selenë, she’s with your mother. She’s fine," said Xena, hugging tighter, dismayed at her daughter’s distress.
"Oh, no, I don’t think so," said Selenë, raising her tear-stained face to look up at her other mother. Quietly, Selenë led the Warrior Queen to one of the stretchers. The Warrior looked down on the only one not mutilated, and cursed, plucking a piece of parchment which had been pinned to the tunic of the stretcher’s occupant.
Melysë -
Thus do we treat spies! I wanted this one to be identifiable, though. I know she meant something to you. She told me - right before she died - well, she screamed right before she died, but before that, she told me...everything.
Enjoy her pyre!
Pitana
"Tanti-meia, I think you’re the one ‘Ryn needs right now," said Selenë, calmly, though tears remained in her deep blue eyes.
"Are you going to be okay, Selenë?" asked Xena, worriedly.
"Yes. I have work to do here. The work...eases my heart...some," said Selenë. "But ‘Ryn...I’m scared for her."
"Selenë, your mother’s with her," said Xena. "She won’t let Arynë do anything...stupid."
"It’s not just that," said Selenë, her dark blue eyes glazing over in trance. "She’s standing at the same precipice you faced - remember?"
Xena, stunned, allowed the full force of the memory to hit her.
Caesar had put Xena and her followers in chains. They were taken in chains to the beach, where they were placed upon crosses.
"The ship is secured, Caesar," said Brutus.
"Good," replied Caesar, then looking towards Xena, "Where’s that friend of yours—the Gaelic slave girl?"
"I had to kill her—because she betrayed me," gasped Xena, painfully seething in anger and frustration.
"Really?" said Caesar. "Well I don’t blame you. Still, she would have fetched a good price with the gladiator dealers."
"Is that what you have planned for me?" said Xena, her teeth clenched. "We were going to conquer the world together. What happened to those plans for us?"
"Us—there was never any us, Xena—only Rome. And I am Rome. Still—don’t think that what we had was meaningless. I’ll always remember it—and you’ll have a special place of honour—among my conquered."
The cross is raised and settled into the sand with an agonising thump.
"She was an easier prey than I expected," said Brutus, observing.
"Divide and conquer, my friend," said Caesar, smugly. "You divide a woman’s emotion from her sensibilities—and you have her. I could’ve sold you and all your friends into slavery, Xena—but that’s what any common warlord would do. But with this—and especially with you—I define myself—to all those who would dare oppose me—all those who would dare prey on Rome. Goodbye, Xena. Break her legs."
At Caesar’s order, a Roman soldier took a very large sledge hammer, swinging it into a crushing blow to her lower legs ...
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As Xena hung on the cross, her arms in almost as much agony as her shattered legs, she heard the Romans speaking to someone approaching in the dark. "Who goes there?! I asked you a question!"
M’Lila rescued Xena and took her to Mt. Nestos, to Nicklio, the Healer. "What is this?!" said Nicklio, as M’Lila half carried, half dragged Xena into his hut. "Nicklio!" said M’Lila, then she said something to the healer in Gaelic. Nicklio helped M’Lila lay Xena down, then began to work on her injuries.
He set Xena’s broken legs and Xena remembered the fresh agony of that act, even as she remembered anew Nicklio’s quiet compassion as he used the needles to stop her pain. "You have amazing recuperative powers. How are you feeling?"
"Fine—much stronger. Those needles are fascinating," said Xena.
"Hmm." said Nicklio, smiling slightly.
"M’Lila—up on that cross—I wasn’t sure that I wanted to live," said Xena, puzzled. "You—you had no reason to save me, but you did. Thank you. I know you can’t understand."
M’Lila said something in Gaelic. And Nicklio translated "She wants to know if you feel anger—towards Caesar." Before Xena could think to answer, the Romans came bursting in, trying to recapture Xena. "There she is!" "Get her!"
M’Lila fought fiercely, and Xena, in spite of her broken legs, also fought. Suddenly, M’Lila flung herself upon Xena as a soldier shot a crossbow at her, taking an arrow in the back. Xena felt the horror anew as she remembered M’Lila gazing at her, a look of love in her eyes - pure love, the love of a sister, which she had never had before - and believed she would never know again. In a blind rage, Xena killed the soldiers. To the last one, she applied the "Pinch" - the pressure points she had learned from M’Lila. "You’ll be dead in thirty seconds. But know this—you won’t be the last. Tell Hades to prepare himself. A new Xena is born tonight with a new purpose in life: death."
"Gods, you don’t think Arynë could be capable of..." said Xena, in horror.
"I ... can’t say, tanti-meia," said Selenë, once again very much a young girl, scared and facing a horror no one should have to face. "Could anything - or anyone - have stopped you...then?"
"I don’t know, but you’re right," said Xena, grimly. "I’ve got to try."
After folding up the parchment and tucking it into her zona, Xena left the healer’s hut. She found Melysë, still holding Arynë, humming softly. The priestess saw Xena and cast her a desperately hopeful look. Leaning in, Melysë whispered to her daughter, then planted a kiss on top of the young woman’s head. She rose and came to Xena, to be enfolded in the comfort of the warrior’s strong arms.
"Oh, Xena," said Melysë, tears springing again into her dark green eyes. "She’s so...lost. I can’t get through to her - even my magic isn’t working. We have to get her to Hypsyple fast."
"I don’t think that’s such a good idea right now," said the warrior. She leaned in closer and whispered, "Tecmessa’s there."
Melysë frowned and looked up at Xena. "Why there and not the Temple like the others?" she said, quietly.
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