Inspiration: Thanks to Rob Tapert, Missy Good, George Lucas and the Coca-Cola corporation for the wisdom, insight and caffeine. You made it possible, guys.
It was evening now, and a cool breeze ruffled Serbindi’s hair lightly as they made their way back to their temporary camp. The clear night sky was dusted with starshine, bathing the willow trees with their soft silver presence. The night seemed drenched in an ethereal haze, late fireflies glittering in the darkness far off.
Serbindi noticed him visibly relax in the calm atmosphere around them. Not that he’s ever uptight, she mused. But it’s like he’s more comfortable not doing anything. Not talking, or involved in a task. Just walking and enjoying the scenery.
“Enjoying the scenery?” he asked.
She stared at him in wonder, until she realized he was asking a question. It's not like he can read minds or anything, for crying out loud. “Um, yes. It’s nice out,” she offered.
“Mmm, yes.” He paused. “I often find it’s very enjoyable just to walk, not occupied with the latest matters. Live in the moment, you know.”
She smiled at his interpretation of her previous thoughts, and replied, “That’s a very interesting philosophy.”
“Useful too,” he noted, then sighed. “So often people are concentrating so hard on what they must do, they completely neglect the process of how they are accomplishing the task.”
“True,” she said. “I must confess, Amazons are particularly prone to that fault. Always thinking of the next battle, the next ceremony, the next hunt.”
He smiled down at her. “It’s very perceptive of you to notice such things. At least you are aware of your particular tendencies.” She shrugged, and smiled back. For a moment they just stood there, gazing at each other. Then she broke the eye contact. Pleasant though it is. The thought leaped unbidden into her mind, and she shook her head minutely, blinking slightly.
They had reached the door of the cabin, and entered--him holding the door open while she rolled her eyes at the gesture--when Mabenti shouted from the kitchen closeby, “Oh good, you’re back. I wondered where you two were--it’s getting dark out.”
“We were just talking,” Serbindi explained, receiving an odd look from the lieutenant, which passed in an instant.
“Mmm-hmm. Anyway, I finished the dishes,” Mabenti continued, gesturing towards the cluttered sink of spotless servingware. Serbindi nodded absently, her thoughts turned to the slight narrowing of brown eyes she had witnessed briefly only moments before. What the hell’s she getting at?
She paused in her thoughts. “Wait a minute. How did the dishes get indoors? I just took them out a little while ago.”
“A little while ago? Ser, you’ve been wandering around for nearly an hour,” Mabenti informed her with some consternation. “I couldn’t find either of you in the dark, so I brought them in and finished them myself,” she added in a chagrined tone.
“Oh,” was all Serbindi could say, followed by, “I’m sorry.”
Mabenti sighed, then smiled. “It’s ok. I guess I can’t refuse that puppy-dog look.” Serbindi stared at her as the dark-haired woman brushed smoothly past her in the cramped kitchen. “What ‘puppy-dog’ look?” she inquired, outraged, as Mabenti left the kitchen. She turned to him, wide eyed, but he just spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
Mabenti poked her head through the door, amused at the exchange. “Yep, that’s the look.” She turned again, leaving the pair alone.
“What the hell was that about?” Serbindi asked him, receiving a shrug. “Ah well.” She walked over to the window, and glanced briefly at the moon’s current position in the sky. “Wow, it’s really late out. Time to turn in, I guess.”
He was behind her again, but she was used to it by now. “Yes, I suppose so," he replied in his vague way. She turned to face him, and was suddenly struck by an frightening, almost magnetic pull towards him; a strong desire to run her fingers over the seams of his cloak, to feel the warmth underneath.
The dizziness showed in her eyes, and she closed them for a fraction of a second, before pulling herself together. He looked at her with concern, as she clearly seemed to be under some sort of stress--jaw pulsing, accompanied by a faint hitch in breath--but when he reached a hand out to comfort her she drew back quickly, as if burned. Then she turned, and abruptly walked out.
In the relative safety of the larger main room, she shakily lowered herself onto one of the beds to ponder what had just transpired. What the hell just happened? I think I’m losing what’s left of my mind, she thought grimly. This is not good. Better pull your damn self together, Ser. She closed her eyes again, attempting to relax, and felt the warmth seep into her spine, flowing down her body like water. Inhaling deeply, she paused in her actions. My gods, I’m imitating him and I didn’t even know it. I don’t know whether to laugh over that, or be very worried. She opted for amusement, for the time being. It’s better than giving yourself an ulcer over nothing, she rationalized.
Deep in thought, she didn’t notice Mabenti’s presence until the petite Amazon was tapping her on the shoulder. “Hey Ser...you home in there?” she laughed.
“Oh, sorry Mab. I’m just kind of tired,” she hastily explained.
“Mmm, yeah well, I understand,” Mabenti said. She paused. “I’d like to...to thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Serbindi glanced up at her, startled. “Mab, you don’t have to...”
The lieutenant silenced her with a wave of her hand. “Ser, you saved my life. If it weren’t for you and the...” A grimace. “...Professor, I’d be dead under that clump of shrubs. And nastily dead too.” She paused again. “I don’t know if you knew this, but the Gauls used poison on those arrows.”
“What!” Truly shocked, Serbindi started to rise from the bed, but was gently pushed down by her sister.
“It’s alright, there wasn’t enough on the tip to do much damage...and whatever it was you gave me helped. Knocked me out for a good while, but kept what little poison there was from spreading from the hole in my shoulder to the rest of me,” Mabenti finished.
Serbindi sighed. “Helluva way to go about it, Mab,” she chided her friend.
“I guess I should have told you that earlier,” the Amazon apologized. “Any way...the point is, you saved me. And...thank you.”
Serbindi offered a crooked smile. “No problem. just do me a favor...don’t get shot again? It was hell to pull out.”
“And hell to have pulled out. It’s a deal, Ser,” Mabenti grinned, and patted the taller woman on the shoulder.
Serbindi sat for a moment, then unlaced her boots in preparation for sleep. Setting them to one side, she then set to unwinding her hair from the braids she put in that and every morning, picking feathered bits of leather binding out of the auburn strands. With a short puff of breath, the candle was out, plunging the room into darkness, and she layed down on top of the blankets, still clad in her thin leathers.
A round of whispered “good-nights” floated through the room, and Serbindi’s last thought before drifting off was that she had never gotten the chance to eat that fish.
Her leg was flushed flat against his own, the other drawn close up in a position that should have been uncomfortable...should have...wrapped around his hip. He felt her shift minutely, sending hot acid flooding through his veins.
She felt the lean, hard body press against her, and she trembled as he pressed feathery kisses along the pale curve of her neck. Lashes fluttered against skin, and an explosive sigh caught in her throat, as he lowered his movements, long fingers brushing along her collarbone, and the delicate bones in her wrist. Then she only knew the warmth, and the strength, as her world went dark, the only light shining hot and white, and she gladly sank into it.
Serbindi bolted awake, beads of sweat glistening on her skin, and ruffled her fingers through sleep-matted hair. Her eyes widened at the vivid dream, a crooked smile breaking her face, as she panted. It was still dark, the moon slicing through the sky, and she leaned back into bed, pale eyes gazing into the crisp night air wafting through her window.
“Good morning Serbindi,” he greeted her that morning. “Did you sleep well?” He was well-rested, and characteristically alert.
She gave him a bland smile. “Not too well, actually, no.”
“I’m most sorry. Unpleasant dreams?”
She blinked, swallowed hard, and tried to disassociate the kindly smile in front of her, from the feral passion of her dream. She could still feel the heat of his hands on her body, and tried to block out the writhing figure of nighttime.
“Uh, no, just couldn’t get to sleep.” Well, not after that dream.
“That is very unfortunate. Perhaps tonight will be better.” He turned back to his mug of tea, effectively ending the conversation.
Her mouth went dry at that point, and she decided not to dwell on what thoughts that sparked in her. She felt a bit light-headed and walked over to the teapot to pour a cup.
Sitting down with the steaming, fragrant cup of tea, she mulled over the previous night’s revelation. Ok. I’m attracted to him, she contemplated, almost detachedly. That’s fine. Nothing to worry about. She sighed. Except that I have no experience relating to men in non-battle-strategy ways, he has no interest in me, and Mabenti would kick my ass if she ever even so much as suspected I had more than platonic interest in any male. She paused, squaring her shoulders as she sat. It’s ok. I’m an Amazon. I’m tough. I fear no man. I’m an Amazon. I’m...
The figure behind her laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, catapulting her out of her reverie. She glanced up into soft grey eyes. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll be down by the river. Mabenti has offered to teach me that fishing style you demonstrated so deftly within the last few days,” he finished.
“Huh? Oh, ok,” she replied stupidly. The hand caressed her shoulder briefly, then he left the cabin, flashing a tender smile on the way out.
She sat in silence for a long time, then laughed to herself. Good going there, tough Amazon. Real slick. Sobering, she sighed again. I’m in deep shit, she mused idly, then shook her head and hoisted herself to her feet. Might as well get things done while I’m sitting here stewing over cold tea. Her active mind quickly reviewed the short list of tasks she had prepared the following evening, while attempting to sleep.
She snorted, annoyed with herself. Yeah, and it was a fair attempt, wasn’t it. Emitting a final sigh, she rose to her feet and began the preparations necessary to sterilize the dishes.
Mabenti was leaning under the shade of a slim birch, her eyes trained on the far horizon. In her mind, she could see her Fayla--the laughing eyes gleaming at her, strawberry-blonde hair whipping in the wind--and she sighed at the image. Gods, was it only a few days? She could still nearly hear the sweet, flutelike voice, and almost detected the faint scent of warm skin, tinged with pine...
Or maybe it was only the nearby trees. She shook off the daydream, and attempted to concentrate on the voice that was apparently calling her. Regaining her grim demeanor, she answered him with no small measure of regret. “I’m here.”
“So I see,” he replied amiably, then paused. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“No,” she bluntly retorted, annoyed at the question. Only the natural grieving process, she thought bitterly, but refrained from mentioning it to him.
“Ah,” he stated. Then, hesitating, he said, “If you would like to discuss anything...”
She didn’t give him a chance to finish. “If you think I’m going to warm up to you in under six minutes like Serbindi did, you’ve got another think coming,” she shot back. “
He gave her an amused look. “I kind of got that idea,” he informed her.
“I don’t like you,” she continued, “but Serbindi does--gods alone know why--and I like Serbindi. So I guess you have to stay. But,” she added, dropping her vocal pitch, “if you so much as lay one damned hand on her, and so help me gods--”
He silenced her with a gesture. “I see. Say no more.”
She paused, and cocked her head to one side. “No, I don’t think you do.” Another paused. “It was Fayla.”
“Fayla?” he asked, confused.
“You asked me what I was thinking about. It was Fayla. She was killed in the attack,” she told him. “We were bonded,” she added blandly, as though relating the price of apples in Carthage.
“Oh.” He winced. “I’m terribly sorry. It’s hard to lose loved ones.” She shot him a suspicious look, but he remained prudently silent.
“And she was,” Mabenti allowed under her breath. “Very much so.” She sighed. “Damn you. You freaking did it.”
“Pardon?”
She gave a half-chuckle, half-snort. “You got me to open up to you, you nosy asshole.”
“Oh.” He considered this. “You’re welcome.”
She laughed. “Gods, you’ve got some talent. I thought Serbindi was just a softy, but you’re too damn sneaky for your own good.” She gave him a searching glance. “How do you do it?”
“How do I...?”
She narrowed her eyes, looking very much like a hunting cat at the moment. “Get people to talk. I’ve noticed you working your magic on Serbindi, but just wrote it off as a weakness on her part.” She was now focusing on him intently. “You know, you have excellent people skills...shoulda had a girl like you in our forces; hell, maybe they’d still be around.” A pause. “Well, not exactly ‘a girl like you’, but...”
He waved off the misspoken statement. “Why would a negotiator be the deciding factor in the battle? I thought it was a straight raid.”
“Oh, nooo...” Mabenti shook her head, lighting up at the safe, familiar subject of battle trategy. “See, what happened was...”
And she told him of the months of failed negotiations initiated by Queen Kalidasa against the Gaulic general; the scrolls full of messages flown back and forth; and the final decision that lead to the attack: the disappearance of the General’s favorite messenger, the body found torn in the woods a quarter-mile from the General’s quarters...found with Amazon arrows sprouting from her back.
He interrupted at that point. “Her back?” he inquired, puzzled.
She grinned unpleasantly. “Yeah. Turns out our friend the general was carrying out some pretty nasty business with a local...ah, house of the evening, if you catch my meaning.” She winked. “Giving high-ranking positions...or at least, advantageous positions to local girls who didn’t mind turning a blind eye to his personal affairs.”
He raised his eyebrows while scratching his nose. “Ah. I see. Pray continue.”
“That’s all,” she informed him, amused at his evident discomfort.
“Hmm,” he mused. “Has anything been done about this...issue?”
“Oh, yeah,” she replied, giving him the same evil grin. “Hell yeah. I shot that son of a bitch myself.”
“Indeed,” he remarked wryly.
"Yep. Seven arrows in the bastard, four clean shots to the heart,” she continued casually, polishing her nails on her skirt.
“So many? Was that necessary?” he asked, knowing the answer already.
“No,” she said, and her grin split even wider. “But it was sure satisfying.”
He merely closed his eyes lightly, and shook his head.
She caught his eye and said pointedly, “Never piss off an Amazon. We are the most loyal allies, and the worst enemies, you could ever hope of or fear.”
He inclined his head slightly and merely replied, “Point well taken, and I shall heed your words.”
Reliving the evidently pleasant--or at least, satisfying--memory had invigorated her, and she continued with renewed energy, “So, what about those fishing lessons, mm?” she suggested brightly. “I know a few extra tricks Serbindi’s never seen,” she added.
“Indeed?” he responded. She led him to the stream, and discovered she enjoyed spending her time pointing out the different kinds of fish, their habits, and which fish would be available during the different seasons.
She was in the middle of describing the life cycle of a certain species of frog, when she paused in mid-sentence, and cocked her head. Through half-closed eyes she murmured, “There’s somebody to the left of us, about 500 paces away.” Another pause. “Armed.”
The expression on his face could be expressed as astonishment, to say the least. “You can tell that, from--” A raised hand silenced him, and she slowly drew her dagger with a faint metallic rasp, steel reflecting the rippling water below.
A slight crack of branch, and she whipped the knife in the direction of bushes downwind. The bushes rustled, and Serbindi stepped out, holding the blade in one hand.
“What the hell were you doing?!?” she demanded angrily. “You’re lucky I haven’t lost my edge, or you’d be doing a repeat of last night’s service-- on you.” She caught his open-mouthed stare, and ignored it. “By the gods, Mab...”
“Ai, sor-ry,” Mabenti replied testily. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Well, could you learn to maybe tone down your paranoia, and look before you start flinging weapons in all directions?” Serbindi sniped back, still a bit shaken from the sudden attack. She had heard the rasp of an unsheathed weapon, and in the split-second judged distance and speed, to barely prevent it from hitting her squarely in the ribcage. “I don’t think you’d like to have spent this evening pulling knives out of me, and I damn well know I wouldn’t have.”
“Gee, I’ll try to keep my guard more relaxed and leave myself more open to attack from now on.”
“Do you think you could at least not attack your sister Amazon?”
He sat watching this little exchange with unguarded interest, and at last spoke. “May I interject a little thought into this conversation?” he inquired.
“What?” they replied in perfect concert.
He shook his head. “How ever did you manage to DO that?” he asked wonderingly.
Mabenti blinked. “Do what?” she inquired innocently. Serbindi rolled her eyes.
He made a vauge gesture at the knife the taller Amazon still held in her hand. “Your reflexes, they’re astounding. They’re almost...” He trailed off. “It’s incredible.” he finished.
“Why, thank you,” Mabenti preened.
“Both of yours,” he hastened. “Are all Amazons like this or...” He shook his head again, and waved his hands mutely.
Serbindi smirked. For once, seems our little professor cannot express himself satisfactorily, she mused.
Mabenti answered his question. “Nah, not really.” She turned to the other woman. “Remember Rhalesa?” Serbindi chuckled. “Besides, I am--” she flinched “--was the lieutenant. My skills are a bit above par,” she informed him.”
“Ah,” he said with a nod. “That does explain some things.” His eyes flicked to Serbindi. “But how did...”
She gave a slight incline of her head, and tapped her chest. “Weapons master.” He looked slightly surprised. “Yep, anyone who needed training, came to me.”
“I see.” He appeared slightly uncomfortable. “So you two, are in essence, the most skillfully trained, deadliest Amazons in what was left of your tribe.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yep,” they agreed cheerfully.
He exhaled softly. “Well, at least I’m safe.” He darted glances at both of them. “And well-fed.”
The statement earned relieved chuckles all around, and dissipated some of the tension that had floated, unconciously, in the air.
“Speaking of which,” Serbindi continued, glad of the subject change, “I haven’t had a good sparring session in awhile now...and since we’ve been given this lovely sunny day...” Her eyes gleamed. “What say, Mab? Up for a workout?”
Mabenti snorted. “You wish. I could beat you with my eyes closed,” she retorted, but returned the mischevious sparkle in her own dark eyes.
“Yeah? Wanna take that bet?” Serbindi challenged playfully. He looked uneasy. “Are you quite sure you’re both up to it, with such fresh injuries?” he asked.
“What, these little scratches?” Mabenti brushed off his concern. “Nah, they’re nothing.” She turned her attention back to her sister. “Yeah, I will...I bet you...” She paused, and glanced around. “...two days gathering firewood.”
Serbindi laughed. “You’re on. Race you back.” She began a healthy sprint back towards the shelter.
“Race?” He looked puzzled.
She stopped in midstride, nearly colliding into Mabenti. “Oof...yeah. Oh, I forgot to tell you...” She had the grace to appear embarassed. “A couple years ago I, ah, took some of the less valuable weapons from the training grounds, and stored them in the floorboards of the shelter.”
Mabenti stared at her for a long moment, then snickered. “I always wondered what happened to those swords.” She sobered. “You know, the Queen was really pissed.”
Serbindi shrugged. “I thought they’d come in handy just in case.” She sighed. “Anyway, we have weapons to train with, and a possible defense. Better than these.” She flipped the dagger in one hand.
“True,” Mabenti admitted, then took advantage of Serbindi’s momentary distraction to run ahead, laughing all the way.
"You--you freaking featherhead!” Serbindi accused good-naturedly, then sprinted after the shorter Amazon, putting her long legs to good use.
They were both out of breath by the time they reached the shelter, but Serbindi wasted no time in removing the rough wooden planks that served as floorboards, and poked her head into the dusty darkness underneath.
Mabenti stood behind Serbindi’s crouched form. “So are they there?”
Serbindi snorted. “Of course they’re there. Who do you think would--ack.”
“What is it?”
“Nothin’. Dust. Gods, it’s filthy down here. Hey, you should look...there’re dust bunnies the size of your head!” Serbindi called in a muffled voice.
“Don’t you mean your head?” Mabenti asked.
“Nah. You’re shorter,” Serbindi responded smugly. “Ah...here they are.” She pulled out several three-foot broadswords, a couple of old staffs (varnished to prevent rotting, Mabenti noticed approvingly), a crossbow equipped with several dozen arrows, a few assorted maces, and, to the lieutenant’s astonishment, a well-worn battle axe.
She hefted the formidable-looking weapon. “What on earth did you think you’d be using this for?” She examined the armory. “For Gaia’s sake, you’ve got a freakin’ artillery here! Were you planning on launching a seige against the local farmers for their corn?” Her voice was facetious, but the question behind it was in earnest.
Serbindi sighed. “No. I stored them here sort of ‘in case of emergency’, actually...and it’s a damn good thing too.” She carefully removed a somewhat outdated sword from its scabbard, and examined it closely. “Hmm, not bad...not even rusted,” she noted approvingly. She drew it, the rasp of steel magnified in the small room. “So...wanna play?” she asked with a wicked grin.
Mabenti responded with one of her own. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Ah, just a minute,” the voice behind them said. Serbindi sighed. Even when I know he’s here, it still surprises me. “You’ll be going...outside with those, of course.”
“No...we actually plan on staging a full-out duel right inside, using the furniture as coverage,” she replied, deadpan. Mabenti snickered.
“I see,” he replied. equally deadpan.
She rolled her eyes. “C’mon Mab...let’s go have fun,” she said, sheathing her sword, and opened the shelter door.