Chapter 2 - Battles

The night sky was filled with bright, shining stars. Jonus watched as they twinkled, searching out particular constellations. Yes, there was Orion and the Bear. And she could have sworn to Zeus that she saw a fish. She shook her head. No, couldn't have been a fish.

Her stomach rumbled telling her it was time to leave, to return to the village and face her fear: Joxer loved Gabrielle. It sounded so simple, and it was, but that simplicity had caused emotional havoc for Jonus. That havoc was something she couldn't control or begin to understand. Only when Artemis forced her out of the forest had she felt anything similar. Then, however, she knew Artemis would always be there for her. With Joxer, there was no such guarantee.

Jonus stood and arched her back, stretching the stiff muscles. She'd spent the better part of the day sitting at the river or leaning against a nearby tree, wondering what in Tartarus she was going to do. The answer was easy: be an Amazon. Amazons were strong, tough and didn't let anything stop them from being who they were. Jonus resolved that she was not going to let Joxer, or any man, keep her from being an Amazon. Too much had gone into creating her to lose it now, over something so simple.

There was that word again, simple. She shook her head. No, this wasn't simple. It was painful, heartachingly painful. And something that caused so much hurt could not be simple.

But it was. No matter how much Jonus tried to convince herself that many issues were at play, there was only one: she loved Joxer.

She took a step up the ravine and paused, listening. She waited a few moments, then shrugged. Hearing things, she thought. She continued her ascent and began the trek back to the village. Even with the full moon, the path was dark, but Jonus knew it blindfolded.

She stopped again. She squinted her eyes trying to see into the dense bush, but found nothing. She could have sworn she'd heard someone calling out. Nothing. "Huh, musta been the wind," she tried convincing herself. She began walking, but continuously surveyed the area. A few moments later, she heard it again, louder this time. She hid behind a tree, kneeling low. Gods, how she wished for her bow and arrow! She then smacked herself quietly on her forehead. How could you have been so stupid to stay out so late on your own? This isn't always the safest place, idiot!

A twig snapped close by and the Amazon held her breathe. The forest was deathly quiet. Another snap, near her left.

"Jonus?" a voice called.

Joxer? Her mind raced. What by the gods was he doing here? Why wasn't he with Gabrielle? She stepped onto the path.

Joxer's eyes widened. "Thank the gods I found you." He rushed forward, arms out to embrace her, but held back. Jonus had not made a similar move. He was puzzled by this. "Are you okay?" he finally asked.

"Yes."

"I was looking all over the village for you. No one knew where you'd gone." He paused. "I was worried about you." He held her gaze. Her hair glowed blue in the night light and her eyes pierced through the darkness.

"Sorry," she shrugged. "Lost track of time." She was amazed that she had any voice at all. She swallowed slowly.

"That's okay, but we better get back." He held his hand out for her.

Jonus looked at the hand and arm before her. It looked different than she remembered. It wasn't covered with poorly attached leather, but was of a soft clothe that billowed slightly with the night breeze. The wrists were clad in a strong leather gauntlet, accentuating strong arms. She looked further up and saw that he no longer had on the home-made armour, but a clothe shirt and embroidered/quilted blue vest with a high neck at the back. His helmet was gone, too, revealing a tanned face and carefully combed hair. Jonus wasn't sure if it was the moonlight or her own high emotions, but Joxer looked handsome. Beautiful, in fact.

She raised an eyebrow and declined the proffered hand. She strode past Joxer calmly and confidently. She was an Amazon and needed help from no man.

Joxer stood, confused, then followed Jonus back to the village.

"Jonus! Hi!" Gabrielle called out. Jonus sighed. Gabrielle was the last woman she wanted to talk with.

"Hello, my que...Gabrielle," she corrected. She tried hard to smile, but knew it came out wrong. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine." She stopped in front of the new Amazon, smiling. "So." She paused. Words had never been hard for her, yet, now, in front of Jonus, she was at a loss. "Uh, how do you like being an Amazon?"

Jonus half shrugged. "It's pretty good." She looked around the square. Not too many women were around. Must be later than I thought. "I have a home here now."

Gabrielle nodded. "I know what you mean. The Amazons are like that." She looked into Jonus's eyes. "Can I talk to you?"

Jonus looked at her skeptically. "About what?"

The queen laughed a little. "Oh, about things. Life. Love. You know, girl talk." She hoped Jonus would at least grin, but nothing. The smile faded from her face.

Jonus didn't miss the attempt at humour by the bard and she saw Gabrielle's face lose its shine. "Sure. Let's go to my hut." She led Gabrielle away just as Joxer returned to the village. He wondered what the two women were up to, what they would say to eachother, but decided against intruding. He sighed and hoped for the best.

"This is very nice," Gabrielle commented. "Did you do this?" She pointed to a bow hung near the door, looking back at Jonus.

"Oh, no. I'm not that good." She strode over. "That was a gift from Artemis. Made by Hephaestus." She could see that the bard was interested in it. "You can hold it if you want."

"Oh, I couldn't..." she tried to say, but Jonus had it in her hands before Gabrielle could protest further. "It's...it's beautiful! And so light!" She held it up. "I've never used one of these before."

"You use the staff."

She stopped. "Yes. How did you know?"

Jonus smiled. "All the Amazons know that. You are legendary around here, travelling around with Xena and fighting evil. You're an inspiration."

Gabrielle laughed out loud. "Well, I don't know about inspiration, but I do travel with Xena." She lowered the weapon. "And we do see evil."

A silence filled the small hut.

"I should probably give this back to you before I break it or something." Gabrielle gave the bow back to Jonus.

"No one can break it. Hephaestus, you know." Jonus took the instrument and replaced it on the wall. "Listen, Gabrielle, I'm sorry if I've been a little...well, cold to you." She faced her queen. "It's just that..."

Gabrielle raised her hand. "I know why."

The Amazon was confused. "You do?"

"Mm-hmm. Ephiny and I had a long talk and you were part of the subject."

"Oh." She stepped back.

"Ephiny told me your story. And, if things get back to normal, I'd like to write a story about it sometime." She looked hopefully at Jonus.

Jonus raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm worth writing about?" She sat on her bed, dazed.

"Sure! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear about the woman who lived a hundred years in the sacred forest of Artemis, never aging, never having the weight of the world on your shoulders? That's fascinating enough. And then to have you become an Amazon, well, that's simply amazing!"

Jonus thought on this a while. Queen Gabrielle thinks her worthy enough to write about, to immortalise for all time? "I think, I think I'd like that." She smiled up at her queen.

"Great." The bard sat next to Jonus. "Ephiny also told me about Joxer, how he brought you here, chosen by Artemis to protect you on your trip."

"She did?" Jonus decided a little chat with the regent would be a good idea.

Gabrielle saw this look cross Jonus's face. "Please don't be angry with her. I asked about you, where you came from and all that. I also asked why Joxer was here." She turned. "Guess I could have figured that out for myself."

"What do you mean?" She had an idea, but wanted it confirmed.

Gabrielle breathed out. "I guess I'd better start from the beginning..."

Jonus leaned against the wall in shock. She never imagined the story Gabrielle would tell. A story of this new god Dahak, the birth of her child, a child of evil, her own death and eventual resurrection. It overwhelmed Jonus. "I..I don't know what to say." Her eyes were wide with astonishment. "I don't know if I could have survived something like that." She looked into the eyes of the queen.

Gabrielle smiled lightly. "I often find that what we think we can't do, we find ourselves doing." She could feel her hands shaking. That had been the first time she had told the whole story to anyone. Now, for the first time, she had admitted everything she thought and felt during the whole ordeal. Not even Xena had known the extent of her pain and emotional struggle. She wished she could have told her, but at the time, it didn't seem appropriate. But here, in front of Jonus, it felt right. She knew Jonus would be the right one to tell. "You know, you're the first person who's heard it all."

Jonus's eyebrows went up. "I am? Why?"

Gabrielle stood up, consciously steadying herself. "I guess you could say that I had a vision. Something inside me said to trust you. That you would believe me and understand."

"I don't know about the understanding part, but I do trust you. You are my queen."

"That's not what I meant." She stepped closer. "You are someone that people can talk to without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Your innocence makes you that way." She stopped. How much like Jonus had she been when she first met Xena? Young, naive, fresh. And now? What was she now?

"Thanks," the Amazon answered quietly, "for telling me." Silence. "You said before that you wanted to talk to me. Was your story it?"

Gabrielle took herself away from her thoughts. "Uh, no. Well, not everything. It's about Joxer."

Jonus stiffened, straightening herself. "Joxer."

"Yes. There's something you need to know about him...about us."

Jonus mentally braced herself for the worst, trying to check her emotions that were beginning to bubble.

Gabrielle turned away and walked around the bed. "You see, Joxer's been...well, he was in love with me. For a long time." She saw the hardness in Jonus's face and knew she was trying to protect herself. She understood how painful this was going to be. "And, if the truth be told, I do like him. Love? I'm not sure about that. But he has a special place for me in my heart. Just as Xena does."

"Gabrielle, why are you telling me this?" Jonus moved towards the bed.

"Because, Jonus, I want you to know, that if you love Joxer..." She paused, seeing the slight flinch in Jonus's expression. "If you love him, tell him. From what I've heard, you won't be disappointed." She looked around the room. "He's changed since the last time we met. He's different somehow." She faced Jonus. "And I mean more than just his clothes. He's...Huh, I'm the bard and I can't describe what Joxer's become."

Jonus watched Gabrielle struggle for the right words.

"I don't know if he still loves me anymore..."

"He does," Jonus interrupted. "I've seen it."

Gabrielle raised an eyebrow. "I was hoping his feelings would have changed too." She stood next to Jonus. "I want Joxer to be happy. He's gone through some difficult times and he deserves it." She grabbed Jonus's hand. "But right now, I can't give that to him. Maybe not ever. You can." She squeezed her hand.

Jonus was puzzled. Why would Gabrielle simply give up Joxer like this? Did Gabrielle really think that Joxer could so easily forget her and fall in love with Jonus? Impossible! She heard him calling for her in his dreams, saw the look of longing in his eyes when the bard came. No, he still loved her and nothing Jonus could do would change that. Face the truth, Jonus, and get on with your life.

"No, Gabrielle. I can't." She slid her hand away. "Joxer will never love me the way he loves you. I'd rather save myself that heartache."

"Nothing I say will convince you otherwise?" It was more of a statement than a question. Jonus nodded her agreement. "Then please do one thing for me, Jonus."

"Of course."

"I know Joxer cares for you deeply. Don't discount the possibility."

"Nor you, my queen."

The two women looked at eachother for a long moment. Gabrielle half smiled. "I wonder, Jonus, if you and I could have been friends before this."

A smiled passed Jonus face. "Probably. But I know one thing for sure."

"What's that?"

"I would have kicked your butt in an archery competition." She grinned.

Gabrielle returned the grin, feeling good now. Relieved and relaxed.

"Gabrielle!" Xena shouted outside. "Gabrielle, where are you?"

"Xena?" The queen rushed outside. "Xena, what is it? What's wrong?"

The warrior's gaze directed the bard. Outside the walls of the village, standing on the south ridge, was a small army of horses and riders. Archers were poised, ready to shoot fire arrows upon the village.

"Amazons!" Ephiny yelled. "Prepare for attack!" Within seconds, the town of women rushed into the square, weapons in hand, readying themselves.

"We've gotta stop those archers, Xena," Gabrielle said. "They're going to burn the whole place down."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." She ran over to Argo, leaped on her mare and galloped off, her chakram ready to fly.

But before she could throw, the command was given. A heartbeat later, arrows whistled past, flames roaring, as they landed on the dry thatched roofs of the Amazon huts. They prepared to mount another assault when Xena's chakram cut down the half dozen archers. When her chakram returned to its owner, the warrior princess was already up the slope and leaping off to begin battle.

"Riders! Help Xena!" Ephiny ordered. A few minutes later, the Amazon cavalry was up the hill and doing battle with the now attacking infantry. "Gabrielle, this is going to get dangerous. Perhaps you should..."

"Forget it, Ephiny. You're going to need all the help you can get. Besides, what kind of queen would I be if I didn't fight for the Amazons?"

The regent saw the determination in her queen's eyes. "Alright, but be careful. Jonus!" She spied the woman emerging from her hut, bow in hand. "Watch out for Gabrielle." She charged towards the entrance and prepared herself.

"Gabrielle," Jonus offered her hand. "Stay behind me."

"No, wait! My staff!" She was about to rush into the queen's quarters when Joxer appeared, holding Gabrielle's staff.

"Thought you might need this." He handed it to her.

"Thanks." She wanted to say more, but the army would be here any second. She looked quickly at Jonus, then ran towards the entrance.

Joxer and Jonus stared quietly at eachother, oblivious to the approaching battle. "Do you have a sword?" Jonus finally inquired.

"No."

Jonus was shocked. She remebered the sword that hung at his belt, the scabbard from his father sheathing it. No time to wonder where it is now. "Go inside my hut. There's one hidden under the bedding. For emergencies." Joxer stood still. "Go!"

Joxer paused, then headed inside. Jonus ran to the entrance just as the army began tearing the fortified door down.

Joxer ran inside and frantically began searching through. He couldn't find any sword. His mind went frantic. If something happens to Gabrielle, or to Jonus, because he couldn't help them, he would never forgive himself. He leaped from the table to the bed. Under the bedding, stupid, he berated himself. She said it was under the bedding. He pulled the blankets off and flipped the straw mattress over. There it was, just as she said, and it was a thing of beauty. The moonlight lit up the bronze shaft and reflected the single jewel in the hilt. He carefully picked it up. It felt so different from his old sword, but better. This was a strong weapon, capable of defeating anything it went against. He gripped it firmly and was about to leave when he noticed the glint of something else. He looked and found a golden arrow. His eyes widened. The arrow glowed brightly, making it appear otherworldly. He reached for it, but stopped when his name was called. He quickly pulled the mattress back over it, fearing what would happen if others discovered this secret. He further tightened his hold on the sword and bounded out, right into the middle of a terrible battle.

Onto Chapter three

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