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.
An S word that I don't really like at all is used in this, but I felt it was important. Please forgive me and Know I would Never Use that Word about anyone, since I don't believe it about anyone.
The man called Maphaus had never been so angry and offended in his life. He raged against being captured by Amazons. He glared at the chains on his feet as if that would somehow make them disappear. Then he banged his body against the wall in a fit. That was a mistake. It jarred his wrist, which though supported by a splint, felt the effects of his body movement. He winced in pain.
So close. They had been so close. It had been such a perfect plan. He and Drakaus, with the aid of a few others, had taken the persona of some invited candidates. Too bad those men had to sacrifice their lives, but it was for a good cause. All he and his cohort had to do was gain the ear of the queen and it would have solved everything. Either he (through his intelligence) or Drakaus (through his body) would have charmed that girl queen or else cowed her into submission. Then, they would have been able to remove those pesky Amazons from off their land. For two hundred years his people had had to make do with less fertile ground and with being neighbors to those. . he couldn't pick the right word there were so many invectives flying through his head. He stomped his feet in frustration, making the chain rattle and his wrist scream in pain (funny how one little hurt part could affect the whole body).
Maphaus had his own ideas about the natural operations of life. It had galled him to think that he had been beaten by a woman (and he just knew that women should not being carrying swords or have a swagger or live on their own (unless they were elderly widowed) or be (he nearly gagged) married to each other or . . oh he could go on and on). And now, and now, this outrageous unnatural tie. Gods they were all unnatural. His mind drifted to orgiastic hedonism as he visualized the women together, skin against skin, putting the very worst spin possible on the idea. His whole body twisted into knots at the thought of four women being joined. They shouldn't be allowed. It was wrong.
Now if Gabrielle had been a man, he might have understood it. It would have given him a bit of emotional leverage and supported his idea of men being better formed, more true to the image of the gods; the old men that is, the ones before Zeus meddled and created Pandora. (Despite evidence that women had been around as long as men, he totally believed that Zeus created Pandora to punish men and put misery on the earth. He lived by that belief.) Plus the women would have been in their place, the natural order of life would be followed. Or if he had been part of the tie, then maybe it wouldn't have been quite so unnatural. Oh surely the gods didn't, wouldn't approve of this. Maphaus, grew more and more determined that he was correct, based on his vision of what was natural (based on his mythology), what was right (since he figured he knew), how he would feel if he were a woman (and there were a boatload of assumptions he held) and how he felt as a man (we won't even go there). In fact, the more sure he became the more holy he felt, until he was caught up in a vision of godly retribution (especially for that Xena woman) with himself at the center.
All he had to do was escape.
Rumors and opinions flew and it was only the next morning.
They were sleeping together. They were just really close friends. They hardly knew each other. They were trying to fake out their mothers. They weren't going to be joined. They were going to be joined. The gods wouldn't allow it. The gods would be for it. It was unnatural (funny how that word kept coming up). It was very natural. Four women! Two couples. One group? Sex. Oooh Sex. Oh Gods, not Sex. . Gross. Jealousy. Hers. Independent woman in her own right. How could they? Possessive. Sluts. Good people. Consorts. Power. Stamina? Mind outta the gutter. What's wrong with the gutter? Did you see them at the dance? Ah, they were joking. Didn't look like a joke to me. Man, do you even have eyes in your head. Made for each other. Wonder what it would be like and on and on and on. Everyone had an opinion, especially the Amazons.
By the time Gabrielle stepped out of the room, with her armed escort there were several Amazon types who made their presence known and demanded her attention (because they were right and they knew it). Eponin barked at them and made them back up. Gabrielle took a deep breath, because this was one of the things she'd anticipated and she told them, not very sweetly, that if they were bound and determined to get her attention in the morning then they were going to have to wait till after breakfast. Then she told them, in very Queenly terms, to buzz off. Some got offended, but she was the Queen, and by darn, they would get over it.
Xena had been up for some time already, had given Argo a good run and had talked with her very concerned and apologetic mother. "They're talking about you. You know?"
Xena's mouth had quirked, "They have always talked about me."
"But Gabrielle," her mother tried.
"Is a strong woman who has also been talked about before."
"She has?"
"She has. Not everyone was thrilled that she was made Queen."
"But this will be fuel for the fire."
Xena smiled, "or it may make the Amazons stronger." She finished unsaddling Argo, "The Amazons have some choices to make don't they. They can abide by their own laws or not. They can learn from this or not. They can choose not to ask and believe whatever rumors are flying about town. They can believe the worst or the best. They can do whatever the tartarus they want." She began brushing Argo down. "But they can not change the fact that I love Gabrielle. Nor can they change the fact that she loves me. Nor can they change the fact that the race was a tie and Gabrielle is bound by their laws to honor it." She took a breath and spoke carefully, neutrally, "Nor can they change the fact that Kalai and Arete, who happen to be two very outstanding Amazons, are to be her consorts, by *their* law. They will just have to deal." Xena sighed and stopped brushing, "As will I." There was a pause, then she turned to look at her mother, her face sparkling with humor, "so, tell me. Did *you* enjoy the dance?"
Arete and Kalai joined the Queen for breakfast, and that was the saving grace, because they entered the room so proudly, so happily that people could just feel the energy vibrating off of the new couple. They bowed to their queen, very respectfully. Gabrielle greeted them with smiles and hugs and a couple of kisses to the cheeks and bade them sit. Arete gallantly guided Kalai to her seat, then settled down herself. Then they began to talk and laugh and plan and discuss and motivate and kid and simply enjoy each others company. And seeing the genial and (mostly) dignified display of the two Amazons and their Queen, those who had been waiting around to tell Gabrielle how wrong and terrible this all was suddenly remembered courtesy and were kind of humbled because the only fault they could find was their own.
Gabrielle was true to her word, when they were finished eating, she said she was ready to have audience with those who wished to address her. Eponin suggested that they move some tables around and a few chairs, so that people could get comfortable and so Kalai and Arete could sit on the right and left of her. (Kalai leaned back on her chair and caught Arete's gaze and whispered, "They didn't tell me I'd have to stay for the boring stuff." Gabrielle grinned because she heard Arete's response, "Who says it's gonna be boring." She didn't think it was going to be either.
Just as they were getting ready to get settled, there was a cry from the kitchen entrance to wait a second. Gabrielle looked up to see Meg bringing out a basket of something that smelled delicious. She winked saucily at Arete as she passed by, then smiled benignly at Kalai. Then she set the basket softly on the small table besides the Queen. "Thought you might need a snack later."
Gabrielle's expression softened to wonder, "Nutbread." She opened the cloth to look at the still warm concoctions, "Oh Meg! You are the Best!" Gabrielle stood up and embraced the cook enthusiastically.
Meg whispered, "Keep your chin up." Then she grinned and Gabrielle could feel it. "Don't let them fool you Gabs, you're a lucky gal. That blonde goddess is a diamond, though I don't know about the other."
Gabrielle whispered back, "She is too." Meg squeezed her friend a good one. Then departed with a fluff of her gown and a quick grin to the blonde Amazon who was now sitting slack jawed.
Kalai leaned back again, "Hey, love!" she whispered intensely, capturing the strong warriors attention, "You're catching flies." Arete's mouth snapped shut.
She looked back at the kitchen exit and then at Kalai, "I have to tell you something later." She whispered. Kalai gave her the okay sign. Then the impromptu Queen's court began.
Xena walked in somewhere in the middle and settled at a distance where she could watch. She was impressed. The conversation had turned heated periodically, but Gabrielle remained calm with the adroit assistance of Kalai and the sanguine comments of Arete. The topic, which had started out as "this should not be happening," had developed into a political evaluation of the necessity for addressing changes in the law and tradition of the Amazon nation. The range of the conversation, for that is what it became, addressed most of the points on Gabrielle's list (except for the personal assessments because that would have been inappropriate) and by the time they were done, Gabrielle had won most of the Amazons who were in Amphipolis to her point of view. Which in this case was simple. They would abide by the current law. They would evaluate and change antiquated laws and ideas. It was of political benefit for her to have three consorts at this time (and Kalai's racy interjections seemed to let off a great deal of the emotional steam in the room) because it demonstrated the power and wealth of the nation to those who thought they were just a group of little villages with nothing to say. By the time things wound down, the nutbread had been passed around and someone was showing Gabrielle how to make a love knot.
Then it was time to get ready.