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.
Well, I finally got the name straight..so to speak. ..Aulix. .Aulix is Jacosta's brother. Arden is Gabrielle's cousin. Okay, got it in my head now. Hee. *grins* I'll go fix the other chapters eventually, but not today. :)
It was Seragi's job to watch the flame. Being a good Greek, he knew what the flame meant and how important it was to keep the hearthfire alive. Part of his mind debated crushing the life of the flame out to bring bad luck to the Amazons. In fact, he'd gotten to the point of retrieving a pitcher full of water and bending his hand to pour the cool liquid out.
The flame had moved, rearing back as if to avoid the tiniest drop. The action was so lifelike, so unexpected, that to Seragi's mind the hearthfire became alive in that very moment. Seragi repented his action immediately. He was, after all, raised to respect the Gods. Even if he didn't agree with them. He looked up to the skies and began apologizing for threatening one of Hestia's own, and set the pitcher down. By the way the fire moved, he began to think that the Amazons had ...connections.
Then, in a peace offering, he extended a bit of feed to the flame.
It accepted.
Seragi watched as a very careful tendril of flame extended to grasp the stick, and then as a flaming tongue flashed out to lick hungrily. It seemed to Seragi that the flame smiled at him, a flickery grin of gratitude. The sight kindled something within the priest's son. It was a fascination that translated and changed a chore into hope.
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Aulix had his men doing the circuit. For awhile there, he thought he might gain the Athenians, but when they'd heard they'd be fighting against Xena they'd mysteriously and instantly declined. It made no sense to the General. He'd been so convinced, given their political policies, that they understood the place of women. The person he'd talked to had simply said, "Xena is different," and the discussion was closed.
He'd called them cowards, but not to their faces, and went and sought out the Spartans. Now they. ..were interesting. Tough. So tough, he suspected the women fed their babies nails for breakfast. When he'd proposed a fight with the Amazons, he'd almost expected them to say no, since their policies were more liberal, but the men wanted the challenge. They respected the Amazons as warriors. And there were those among the group who wanted a good shaking up of the borders. Amazon land was notoriously fertile compared to the harsh rocky soil of Sparta. They could use a bit of it. General Uzi was only too happy to oblige.
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As soon as he could, the Athenian general sent word to Xena, informing her that if she needed allies, she would find them in Athens. He'd not realized he should have sent the missive to Gabrielle. Of course, he might not have recognized her. The queen had grown lean and muscular in her practice. She wore her Amazon leathers proudly and swung a sword with the deadly accuracy of a pro. She had yet to draw blood, but would, if she had to. It was a far cry from what the general knew. The last time he'd seen Gabrielle, she'd been mostly occupying the borderland healers hut against the horde.
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Seragi was following the lines of the tapestry in the deep meditation the priestess had given him. His mind was quiet, his breathing steady. There was a lingering taste of purification incense in the air. He was still high from the rite and would continue to be for a good amount of time, but he was also focused. For the first time in his young life he felt a peace, unlike any other. His mind kept returning to the flame, and he noticed how the lines seemed to flicker with life.
All kinds, every kind of life. He found him being pushed, embraced into Gaia's presence. He'd never known her before. He started from the lowest where there was nothing but the living, and moved becoming dirt, tree, worm, fish, bear, turtle, flower, whale, anything and everything that could be found he became with each of his heart beats. He was man, then woman, then child and then man again, through lifetimes of living. He was all and then nothing and Gaia, the mother of the Gods, was constantly there singing in his blood.
It wasn't until he felt a hand on his naked thigh that he came back to the present. He turned to look into quietly aware eyes. Jacosta's voice was calm and reassuring, "It's time."
His eyes were brown and clear. His smile sweet, but not for the reason that someone outside the temple might think. She smiled back and took his hand. They walked together, as if they were lovers, and stepped out into the crisp night air. Jacosta was dressed in the robes of her priesthood. They slid along her form, and she was so tall and beautiful it took his breath away. She was like the stars. Then again, his heart told him, so was he. She led him to a small hut that had been built specifically for this purpose.
The simple one room building was lit only by candles, decorated with pure Amazon sensibility, pillowed and blanketed and greened. Incense floated heavy in the air and he felt himself ...his soul...lifted. There were drums and something else, playing lightly in the background. The music swirled through his head and made him dizzy, but his blood, already claimed by the Mother, danced to it. He could feel himself moving, swaying, almost shuffling ...there was a wildness to it, a passion that pushed and pulled through him. He was the bull called to stud and he knew it and could not resist, nor did he want to. This was his penance and his gift, given freely. The Amazons would live because of him and he was more alive than he'd ever been because of them.
The golden glow of the candles provided pockets of information and scooped and washed over the two womanly bodies that danced enticingly before him. They were as prepared as he was, washed and anointed, prayed over, loved. Their color was high, blooming. Their scent as heavy as their nipples were stiff. They were irresistable. He recognized one and was momentarily fearful. He didn't know the other woman at all and was comforted. Their hands extended towards him and he moved to them, not mindless, but not altogether there. Jacosta's kind voice smoothed over his soul, "Treat him gently." Then he was lost to himself and to time.
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These pages were last updated: June 14, 1998
ŠJune 1998