As the twilight sun began to sink low in the western sky, it cast brilliant streams of orange, pink and purple across the darker horizon. This was the time of day where all creatures scurried to find safe shelter for the coming night. Overhead, a small flock of pitch black ravens still flew, taking advantage of the dimly lit heavens in the dying daylight hoping to travel just a bit further before they sought the protection of the high forest tree tops and settled in for the night, while below, a small gray squirrel skittered across the ground, acorn in mouth, heading toward the large old Oak which he called home.
Similarly, humans throughout the land were settling inside their homes and preparing to consume their meals in warmth and comfort. Some, not so lucky to have a home of their own, spent their nights under the stars, wrapped in blankets and huddled around campfires in an effort to stave off the evening chill. The dark haired woman and her blonde haired companion were two of the latter, enjoying their quiet time after the small repast which had been their dinner. They sat in front of the roaring campfire, the blonde writing on a scroll and the brunette carving something out of a long piece of wood. Between them lay a small bundle, wrapped like a papoose in a colorful blanket, close enough to the fire to keep the occupant snug and warm but far enough from the licking flames to stay out of harm's way.
The short haired blonde looked up from her writing and momentarily watched her older friend whittling down the thick branch.
"Xena, what are you making?"
"A present for Eve."
The mighty Warrior Princess smiled beatifically as she gazed upon her sleeping daughter and thought how much the tiny girl child had changed her life.
"A present huh? You know, I have watched you sharpen your sword for over a thousand nights but I have NEVER seen you carve a piece of wood. I didn't know you knew how."
Xena looked up and smiled wryly.
"I have many skills."
"So you keep telling me."
Gabrielle grinned and continued.
"So tell me Xena, what exactly ARE you whittling there for her?"
"I'm making her a dollie."
"A dollie? Isn't she a bit young to play with dolls Xena?"
"Well maybe, but I remember when I was a little girl. I had a pretty little wooden dollie
that my older brother had carved for me. He must have made it when I was just
a baby because I can't remember him giving it to me, only that I always
had it. I loved that dollie more than anything and I carried her with me throughout my
childhood."
"Really? YOU the Warrior Princess played with...a doll?"
"Oh really Gabrielle, I wasn't ALWAYS a warrior!"
Xena laughed. Rolling her eyes she shook her head feigning amazement.
"Yeah okay, I guess you have a point. But I would think that with three
brothers you would have been more of a tomboy."
"Well I was that too. But even so, I always kept my dollie nearby. She was
special to me."
"Whatever happened to her Xena?"
"I really don't know Gabrielle. All I know is that after I began to fight for my
people in Amphipolis she disappeared. I guess Mom figured I was too grown up
for dolls and threw her out."
"Awww, that's such a shame. I bet you were pretty upset."
"Well I didn't think so at the time but later on I realized that I was
because I would find myself thinking about her from time to time. I have
never forgotten her."
"So you're making a special doll for Eve to keep now, huh?"
"Yeah...exactly."
By this time the doll had begun to take shape, a decidedly female form with strong but shapely arms and long legs.
"Um Xena?"
"Yes?"
"She looks kind of..."
"Kind of what, Gabrielle?"
"Uhm...chesty...to me."
"Chesty?"
"Yeah...you know. Sorta...top heavy. Like if you were to stand her up on her
own she would fall over from the weight of...those."
Gabrielle winked. Xena screwed up her nose and studied the dolls upper half.
"Hmmm...well I was just trying to make her as lifelike as possible."
"Yeah...uh...lifelike is definitely the word."
The two women giggled.
"Well I said I had many skills Gabrielle but I didn*t say that doll making was one of them!"
Suddenly a large male form dropped to the ground with a loud thud from the tree behind them. Throwing down the doll Xena jumped to her feet flipping forward until she was face to face with the intruder as Gabrielle also rose scooping up baby Eve with one hand and grabbing a sai with the other.
"Ares! You must have FINALLY taken a bath...I didn't SMELL you this time!"
Xena*s eyes gleamed with hatred.
"Xena, now is that any way to treat a guest?"
"You're no guest of mine!"
"Tsk Tsk. And I was enjoying that little family scene so much that I almost wanted to join in."
"Cut the crap and get to the point. What do you want, Ares?"
"I want...you, Xena."
"Yeah, I know. So what else is new?"
"Come on, what do you say? I've offered to take care of you and Eve, if you
give me...a child."
"And I keep telling you...not in THIS lifetime Ares!"
"Xena, I will have you one way..."
His hand went to the scabbard at his side and he withdrew his sword.
"...or another!"
Xena faced him squarely, armed with only the knife she had been using on the doll. Ares advanced menacingly twirling his weapon, taunting her.
"Xena!"
Gabrielle tossed the warrior her own sword. Plucking it from the air, Xena spun around and raised the silver blade high over her head, then brought it down hard.
"AAAAAHHH!!!"
Ares jumped back quickly narrowly avoiding the blade which nicked the outer part of his shirt making a long tear across his midsection.
The God Of War looked down in surprise.
"Xena how could you??? That was my favorite shirt too!!!"
Ares' offended tone then became a mocking sneer.
"Well Xena...we can do this the easy way...or the hard way."
"Kind of like...all or nothing, eh Ares? Well I choose...NOTHING!"
As Xena finished speaking Ares lunged forward, sword pointed towards her heart but Xena was quick and her blade met his with a loud clang. Their swords quickly locked together, muscles tensing as they pushed up against each other with all of their might. With a burst of strength Xena broke the lock and shoved the God of War backwards sending him flying into a large dense tree.
"UNNGH!!!!"
Ares shook his head, eyes narrowed to a menacing glare and leapt towards Xena tackling her, knocking her to the ground. He landed on top of her with a hard thud. Holding her arms down with his left hand he seductively stroked her chin with his right and brought his lips down brushing against hers lightly.
"You like this Xena, you KNOW you do! "
Eyes opened wide with pupils full of fire, Xena spat at him.
"PIG!"
Ares calmly wiped the spit off of his face but Xena was able to free one of her arms and she punched him in the groin area.
The intense pain of the blow caused him to momentarily lose his breath.
"Uh...ho!! Low...blow Xena! Not....nice....UNNGH!"
Unable to hold her down any longer, Ares doubled over in pain.
She slid out from under him and grinned wickedly.
"Yeah, I know."
Then, pulling him to his feet, she head butted him and once more he fell to the ground.
"Had enough yet Ares?"
Laying on the ground looking up at Xena, Ares pointed at her and struggled to rise, but then seemed to think better of it.
"For now perhaps. But...you will be mine one day. Mark my words Xena, you WILL be mine."
"Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah....whatever!!!"
Rolling her eyes sarcastically, Xena nodded.
Smiling evilly he began to laugh and quickly disappeared in an explosion of white smoke and flames. Gabrielle, still holding Eve, joined Xena.
"I wonder what that was all about?"
"Same old, same old, Gabrielle."
"That Ares is a stubborn son of a jackal. When is he gonna get it through his
thick skull that you are just not interested!"
"I don't know Gabrielle. All I DO know is that this is getting REALLY old."
Picking up the doll and her knife, she, Gabrielle and the miraculously still sleeping Eve resumed their places by the campfire. Xena completed a few finishing touches on the toy, then picked up a rock and used it to smooth the rough spots. Gabrielle watched intensely, fascinated by the process which was turning a simple tree branch into a thing of beauty.
"Gabrielle, hand me my saddle bag, will you?"
"Sure Xena."
The bard passed over the pouch which had been on the ground next to her. Xena reached inside and took out a three small jars each filled with a powdery substance, each a different color.
"What are these for?"
"To make her face Gabrielle."
"Her face?"
"Hand me your quill and watch."
Xena opened the first jar. Touching the tip of the quill first to her tongue and then dipping it into the ground charcoal, she began to draw the outline of the doll*s eyebrows, eyes, nose and lips. Next she dipped the quill into the second jar and colored the tops of the eyes and the irises with blue kohl. Last the quill was dipped into a jar of crushed dried roses which were used to paint on a pair of full, luscious red lips.
"Oooohhh those ruby red lips, those big sexy eyes!"
The bard giggled like a child.
"You like her?"
Xena sounded quite delighted.
"Well lets just say she's not your ordinary looking toy!"
"Wait now Gabrielle, I'm not done yet."
Wearing a mischevious grin, Xena got up and walked over to Argo.
"You don't mind, do you girl?"
She sliced off a small bunch of tresses from the mare's blonde tail with her knife.
"What are you gonna do with those, Xena?"
"You'll see. Hand me your flour and that water bag, Gabrielle."
The bard did as she was asked and watched as Xena poured some flour and a little water into a clean wooden bowel. She mixed it together until it formed a sticky paste and then smeared the paste on the top of the doll's head. Quickly she spread the hair from Argo's tale around the wooden figure's head and pressed down on it firmly.
"By the gods Xena, she has hair!"
"Yup!"
The sound of a snapping twig behind her startled Gabrielle to her feet, sais in hand. Swinging around, her right foot connected with the soft stomach of yet another male intruder. Bent over and in pain, the man's face remained out of Gabrielle's view as she raised her arm up and then brought it down hard across his neck sending him to the ground face down. As Gabrielle stood over him, The still seated warrior turned doll maker quickly cut off a piece of shear cloth from the bottom of her skirt.
"Hey!"
"Don't worry, you'll never miss it."
Gabrielle frowned at her as the man struggled to his feet groaning and rubbing the back of his head.
"OWWW!!! Why'd ya do that Gabby?"
"Sorry Joxer. But you should never sneak up on me."
"NOW you tell me! Oh my aching head!"
Gabrielle rolled her eyes and returned to Xena's side. Squatting down she noticed that the doll was now complete and the cloth from her skirt had been wrapped around the figure's body and tied at the top of one shoulder transforming it into a lovely gown. Her blonde hair had also been pulled back and tied up with a small piece of leather.
"She's beautiful, Xena."
"Yeah she IS pretty, isn't she? Do you think Eve will like her?"
"I'm sure she will."
By now Joxer had joined them and took the doll from Xena. He turned her over slowly and whistled.
"Whoa! Whadda babe!!! Smiling, Xena nodded her head.
"You like her, huh Joxer?*" Joxer fingered the piece of hair hanging below the leather tie.
"Where did you get this hair?"
"It's part of Argo's tale?"
"Ohhh your dollie has a pony's tale, eh?"
"Yeah Joxer, something like that."
"Ya know Xena, she's quite a babe!"
"So you said." "Oh yeah, I did....hahaha"
Gabrielle and Xena snickered and shook their heads. Xena then snatched the doll out of Joxer's hands.
"Give me that!"
"Okay, okay! No need to get violent about it! Sheesh! Hey Gabby can I have
some of this rabbit you have left over? I'm hungry."
"Sure Joxer."
He cut a hunk out of the carcass and popped it into his mouth. Then he ripped a leg off and attacked it hungrily. Savoring the taste he licked the grease off his fingers and began to talk even though his mouth was still full.
"Mmmm this is great! Really delicious. Best rabbit I have ever eaten. Could you pass me the wineskin Gabby?"
Ignoring Joxer, Gabrielle turned her attention to Xena and the new doll.
"Um...yeah...ok Gabby...I can get it myself...no need to get up...."
"So when are you going to give her to Eve?"
"Tomorrow, after I sew up some leather strips and make her a pair of boots.
THEN she*ll be finished."
"Boots too huh? You know Xena, if other little girls see this doll they will absolutely love
her and probably want one of their own."
Joxer edged closer to the Warrior Princess.
"Yeah, Xena we could make a bundle selling these things!"
As he spoke bits of food flew out of his mouth. Gabrielle picked up a rag laying near her and flung it into his face
"Joxer you're gross! Now wipe your greasy lips and don't talk with your mouth full!"
Xena arched one eyebrow and cocked her head to the right.
"We...Joxer?"
"Umm...I mean...you...uh...Xena."
"Ahhh that's better."
Xena smirked devilishly.
"Actually, Joxer doesn't have a bad idea Xena. We can always use a few extra dinars. What harm would there be in selling a few of these dolls?"
The dark haired woman thought for a moment.
"Immmm....It could work....I suppose....."
"So Xena, what are you gonna name your dollie?"
"Why, I don*t know Joxer. I hadn't thought about giving her a name."
"Well if we...er...I mean you...are going to market her she's gotta have a name!"
"Um..I know lets name her after Ephiny."
"Nah...too common."
"Cyrene?"
"Awww you wanna name her after your mommie!"
"Shut up Joxer!"
Ignoring the biting admonishment, Joxer sunk his teeth deep into his rabbit leg and tore another large hunk of meat off it. Chewing loudly and smacking his lips he contined to speak still with his mouth full of the food.
"Hey Gabby, don't you have any ideas? You're the creative one here ya know!"
"Hey hey hey I resemble that remark!!"
Xena smacked him playfully across his head.
"Oww!"
"Well...I've always been partial to the name...Barbius."
"Barbius Gabrielle? That's an odd name."
"Yeah...cool Gabby we can call her....Barbi....or somethin'....you know.....for short."
"Why would we want to shorten her name?"
"I dunno...sounds good to me is all."
Xena rolled her eyes.
"Barbie indeed Joxer!"
"That's a cute name!"
"Are you finished eating yet Joxer?"
"No!"
"Well, we need to get some
sleep. Gabrielle and I have to wake up at first light tomorrow to make it to Amphipolis by
sundown so good-night!"
Xena and Gabrielle stretched out on their bedrolls, tiny Eve between them. Tuning out the sound of Joxer's voice, they drifted off to sleep while he continued to drone on, completely oblivious to the fact that they were no longer listening.
"Hey Xena, if you could make a few of these on the way tomorrow we could set up a little stand in the Agora and sell them. No...check that...don't want Falafel to see them because then he'll make some just like it and undercut us...ya know....call them...Genium...or something. I know!!! We can sell them door to door or...better yet....write them up on that new listing place called...called...hmmm what's it called? Oh yeah...ebayatus...or maybe we can...."
Ahhh yes my friends...here's where we...fade to black.
Written by RedPrincess {{~_~}} 2000 (she's me too in case you didn't know! *VBG*
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