No Greater Love
Chapter Twenty
Being There...
Xena, Gabrielle, and Mariah were on the road early the next day
leading the horses. As morning lengthened into early afternoon, the women
soon spotted the totems of the Amazon nation. They heard the familiar bird
calls of the sentries. Xena stiffened slightly. "What is it?" Mariah
whispered as she palmed her staff.
"Just follow our lead," Gabrielle reassured her.
Mariah watched as Xena withdrew her sword, buried the tip in the
earth, and clasped her hands over her head. Gabrielle tossed down her
staff and also clasped her hands high in the air. Mariah did the same and
was soon standing next to her friends, her hands clasped together as well.
Three athletic women materialized from the woods. They wore
leather garments and fierce-looking hawk masks made of wood and feathers.
They walked over to Gabrielle, dropped to their knees and bowed their
heads. "We await you, our queen," said their leader.
Gabrielle brought her hands down to her sides, as did Xena and
Mariah. "Please arise," she declared, and the three warriors carried out
her request. Even though Gabrielle was the queen, her commands were almost
always couched as requests; that was the bard's way, which made her all the
more endearing to those who loved her.
The women removed their masks, huge smiles covering their faces.
The three women were Eponin, Solari, and the regent Ephiny. The sentries
had noted the queen's arrival, and these three wanted to be the first to
greet Gabrielle and her closest friends.
"By Artemis herself, it's good to see you again," Gabrielle said as
she hugged the warriors.
"It's wonderful to see you too," Ephiny replied. The regent looked
at the warrior princess. "I'm glad you were able to put some backbone in
the Corinthian army," she stated as she hugged Xena.
"Hey, it could've been worse," Xena stated with a grin.
"Not much worse, from what I've heard," Solari noted, her voice
serious as she greeted the warrior.
"Well, it's all over now," Xena said, an unmistakable note of
finality in her voice. "What's past is past."
The former high school English teacher stood back a little and
watched, but not for long. Gabrielle grasped her arm and led her forward.
"Mariah, we want you to meet Ephiny, Solari, and Eponin. Amazons,
this our fr--," she quickly caught and corrected herself, "our sister,
Mariah." The bard wanted the women warriors to understand just how much
the flutist meant to both her and Xena.
As regent, Ephiny stepped forward first. "Welcome, Mariah." The
tall blonde Amazon stuck out her hand for the traditional warrior's
handshake. Mariah clasped the outstretched arm and hand, sensing the
strength that lay within. Each used the time to study the other.
Ephiny took in Mariah's medium height, curly brown hair, blue eyes,
the gold ring on her left hand. She's not much bigger than Gabrielle, the
regent thought to herself. You'd never know it to look at her that she's
from the future. And with her style of clothing, those scars she's
supposed to have aren't even visible. Still, there was something in the
flutist's eyes, Ephiny noticed. A strength of will, a tenacity. There was
more to her than what was seen, the regent was sure of that.
Mariah, likewise, assessed Ephiny. She was taller than Gabrielle,
with striking brown eyes and a wild mane of curly blonde hair. Mariah
sensed the power and dignity that emanated from the warrior.
Solari and Eponin stepped forward to greet their queen's friend,
the women exchanging handshakes as was the custom, each sizing up the
other. Both women were bigger than Ephiny, and Mariah knew immediately
that they were formidable forces.
After the greetings, Xena, Mariah, and Gabrielle retrieved their
weapons; Ephiny led them to the village, filling them in on recent events.
Mariah took in the surroundings as she walked, listening intently but
adding little to the conversation. She was content for now to watch,
listen, and learn. As they entered the village, they first stopped at the
largest visitor's hut and unloaded the horses. After that, Xena guided
Mariah to the stable where they took care of Argo and Scout. When they
finished, they returned to the spacious dwelling that would be their home
during their visit. Gabrielle was talking with her regent when Xena and
Mariah entered, Eponin and Solari having returned to their own duties.
"Ephiny was telling me about the celebration they have planned for
this evening," the bard told her friends.
"As long as you have some of that great Amazon wine, I'm happy,"
Xena said with a smile.
"Oh, we'll have plenty, you can be sure of that," Ephiny teased.
"What's an Amazon party without the wine?" She turned to Mariah. "We do
have a request of you."
"What is it?" Mariah cocked her head at the regent's inquiry.
"Gabrielle says you're quite the musician. Would you play your
flute tonight?" the tall blonde asked.
"I'd be honored," said Mariah. She looked at the bard and bowed
slightly, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. "Is there any special type
of music her majesty would like to hear this evening?" Mariah's voice was
ever-so-deferential and respectful despite the gleam in her eyes.
Gabrielle couldn't help but giggle at her friend from the future.
"I leave that entirely up to you, musician," she intoned regally as she
regained control over her giggles.
Xena rolled her eyes at her two friends. "Boy, is it getting
*deep* in here," she said.
Both Mariah and Gabrielle couldn't contain their infectious
laughter any longer; soon Xena and Ephiny were laughing along with them.
"Well, I'll leave you three to relax and get cleaned up," the regent told
them after the laughter eased. "The celebration will start at sunset.
I'll see you then." She turned and left the hut.
Xena turned to her two friends. "Let's get unpacked. I don't know
about you two, but a hot bath sounds wonderful right now." Each women
claimed a bed and stowed her belongings.
Mariah spied some beautiful garments and various adornments in one
of the corners of the room. She walked over to them. "Are these yours?"
she asked the bard.
"Yes," Gabrielle replied joining her. "You'll see me in some of it
tonight. Most of this belonged to Terrais; I honor her memory by wearing
it."
Xena joined them and clasped them both on their shoulders. "Come
on," she said. "We better get going before we have to wrestle half the
village to get a tub!" The three women picked up their bathing materials
and their shifts and exited the hut.
The Amazon baths were fed by an underground hot springs. Luckily,
they had the place to themselves, so Xena, Gabrielle, and Mariah removed
their garments and soaked in the soothing warm waters.
"Gods, this feels fantastic," Mariah sighed blissfully after a
while as she lathered herself up and rinsed herself off. "I missed this
the last few days." And Myklos, she said silently to herself; she wondered
about her husband and if he made it safely to Athens. The flutist wasn't
aware how much her thoughts were reflected on her face.
Both Xena and Gabrielle caught the conflicting emotions. "Hey, I'm
sure he's fine," Xena said. "He's made that trip before, and he knows what
he's doing."
"Yeah, you're right," Mariah responded as she came out of her
reverie. She looked at her puckered fingers. "I'm going to get out. How
about you two?" Her friends agreed, and they emerged from the waters,
dried themselves off, and donned shifts for the walk back to their
lodgings. The cooling late afternoon air felt wonderful on their warm
skin, the mild western wind fluffing their damp hair.
The three women decided to rest before the party, Xena and
Gabrielle warning Mariah that Amazon celebrations could last for hours.
Before she knew it, Mariah had dozed off, only to be gently awakened by
Gabrielle. "You better get ready," the blonde told her.
Mariah blinked and looked around as she woke up. Sunset
approached, and it would not look good to be late for the event.
Hurriedly, she jumped out of bed and dressed. Xena and Gabrielle were
almost finished, so Mariah got to see the bard in her full Amazon regalia.
She looked breathtaking, Mariah thought, the brown leather and
suede garments setting off her reddish-blonde hair and light skin coloring
to perfection. The decorative bracers and arm bands only enhanced her
appearance, as did the necklace and earrings. This wasn't Gabrielle, bard
of Potadeia; no, this was Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons, and she looked
every inch the part, as if she were born to it. Mariah couldn't help but
stare at her friend, slightly awed.
"What's the matter?" Gabrielle asked, her voice curious.
"I feel like I should kneel or bow or something," Mariah said,
still a little overwhelmed. Xena shook her head and chuckled at the
teacher's reaction.
"Don't you dare!" Gabrielle said with a gentle laugh as she
squeezed her friend's arm. The bard's stomach rumbled, and that brought
Mariah back to reality. "Get your flute and let's go get something to eat.
I'm hungry!"
That's our Gabrielle, Mariah thought affectionately as she grabbed
her instrument. Even as the Amazon Queen, her friend was still quite the
trencherman when it came to food; that would *never* change! As the sun
dropped further into the west, the three women left their lodging for the
celebration.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Maneuver...
The celebration was held outdoors as the night was balmy and
brightly lit with dozens of torches and the promise of a full moon.
Gabrielle was seated at the place of honor, with Xena on her right and
Mariah on her left. Ephiny, Eponin, and Solari also sat at their table.
Gabrielle stood, and the women fell silent. Invoking the names of
Hippolyta and Artemis, the young queen launched the evening's celebratory
dinner and festivities.
The flutist was quiet through most of the wonderful dinner, still
watching, observing, listening, soaking in the sights and sounds of her new
environment as she ate her fill of the delicious food. And Xena was right
about the wine; it was one of the best vintages she had ever tasted. Unlike
many outsiders, Mariah was very comfortable in these surroundings; this
culture of women warriors intrigued her, fascinated her. She felt their
spirit, their strength, their courage, their zest for life...gods, it was
incredible.
"A dinar for your thoughts," Gabrielle said as she leaned towards
her friend from the future. The queen noticed Mariah's reticence and the
absorbed look on her face.
As Mariah opened up her mouth to answer, she caught a disturbance
out of the corner of her eye on her far left. A group of Amazons
surrounded a red-haired woman who clutched her throat, her eyes bulging.
They took turns pounding on her back.
Instinct taking control as an extra quart of adrenaline suddenly
surged through her circulatory system, Mariah jumped to her feet and ran
over. Pushing the warriors aside, she noticed the red-haired woman's face
was turning blue. Stepping behind her, the flutist grabbed the woman
around her waist, and placed her fist just above her naval. She covered
her fist with her other hand and brought her fist up sharply into the
warrior's abdomen. Nothing. Mariah gritted her teeth and tried again;
this time she was successful as a large piece of grisly meat shot out of
the woman's throat and landed on the table.
The red-haired woman gasped in relief as she took in a deep gulp of
air. She was dimly aware of gentle hands kneading her back and shoulders
as the roaring blackness surrounding her receded. "It's all right," she
heard a reassuring voice murmur in her ear. "Just relax and breathe.
You'll be fine." The warrior did as she was told, breathing deeply of the
sweet night air, air she thought she'd never breathe again. It was several
moments before she had recovered enough to take in her surroundings. She
twisted around and studied the woman who saved her. It was the queen's
friend, the flute player, the one who had been so quiet during dinner.
By this time Xena and Gabrielle were there; they had witnessed
their friend's mad dash from the table and her heroics. Mariah turned to
them and whispered, her voice faint, "Can you get me out of here?" Now
that the emergency was over, the adrenaline rush wore off but an excess of
the chemical still remained in her system, leaving her body shaky, her
knees weak. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the Amazons.
Xena understood immediately. Asking Gabrielle to check on the
choking victim, the tall warrior wrapped a strong arm around Mariah's
shoulders and led her to a secluded place. She had the wobbly woman sit on
a stump and put her head between her knees as she was still a bit
lightheaded.
Mariah sat on the stump, head bowed, hands shaking, heart pounding,
trying to control her breathing so she wouldn't hyperventilate. Xena,
massaging her back and shoulders, could feel the tension thrumming through
her friend as the extra adrenaline made its way out of her system. Soon,
the tension eased and Mariah began to feel better. Xena felt the change
but still worked on her. Solari came up to them.
"Is she all right?" the warrior gestured at the slumped-over
Mariah, her voice concerned.
"She'll be OK," Xena replied as she finished kneading her friend's
now-relaxed muscles.
"Yeah, there's nothing like a little adrenaline rush to liven up
your night," Mariah said in a wry voice as she sat up, leaned back against
Xena's solid form, closed her eyes, and sighed. She opened her eyes and
stared up at Solari. "How's that woman doing?" Mariah felt the comforting
presence of Xena's hands on her shoulders.
"Salla? She's fine," Solari responded. "She's looking for you, as
is everyone else."
"We'll be back in a little bit," Xena said, knowing that Mariah
could use a little more time to herself. Solari nodded and went back to
the party.
Mariah was quiet as she sat on stump, thinking about the choking
incident and last night's conversation with her friends. She laughed
shortly, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah, I'm *some* warrior." She
felt Xena's hands tighten on her shoulders. Mariah didn't realize she had
voiced her feelings.
"What's *that* supposed to mean?" Xena demanded.
Mariah marshaled her thoughts before she answered. "You saw me,
Xena," the flutist said, disgusted at her perceived weakness. "I was
shaking like a leaf. I damn near passed out on you."
"Now you listen to me," Xena told her, her voice serious. "I'll
tell you what I saw; I saw you save someone's life. You knew what to do
when it counted. You didn't freeze; you remember that." The two friends
fell silent.
"Xena?" Mariah said softly after a few moments.
"What?" Xena leaned down.
"Thanks." The flutist's hands covered the warrior's hands; she
felt Xena's reassuring squeeze.
"You're very welcome, my friend," the warrior said with a gentle smile.
Time passed. "Mariah?" Xena asked as she looked down at the teacher.
"Hmmm?" Mariah tilted her head up and looked at the warrior, blue
eyes meeting blue eyes.
"Think you could teach me that move?" Xena's eyes sparkled merrily
in the torchlit night.
"Which one, the running-from-the-table move or the
save-the-Amazon-from-choking move?" Mariah teased.
Xena chuckled as her friend from the future returned back to her
normal spirited self. "The save-the-Amazon-from-choking move. I already
know how to run from tables."
Mariah laughed in spite of herself as she stood. "Here. Let me
show you." She turned Xena around, and grabbed the warrior around the
waist, positioning her hands and showing her how the Heimlich maneuver
worked. She then let the warrior try it out her, cautioning her to be
gentle. With a little coaching from Mariah, Xena soon knew the maneuver
inside and out.
"Where did you learn that?" Xena asked her as they returned to the
party.
"Oh, I took a first aid class several years ago. I learned that
and a lot more," Mariah replied. "I never thought I'd be in a position to
use it!"
Further conversation wasn't possible as Xena and the flutist were
soon surrounded by a throng of thankful Amazons. Ephiny brought Salla over
to meet Mariah.
"I didn't get a chance earlier to thank you," Salla said, her hazel
eyes full of gratitude.
"You're welcome, Salla," Mariah's smile was warm. "I'm glad I
could help."
Each woman studied the other in the flickering fire-lit night.
They were roughly the same height, the same build, although Mariah was at
least five years older. Bright hazel eyes stared into vivid blue as their
lives were forever intertwined on this fateful night. They each sensed the
bond they now shared, courtesy of a chunk of grisly meat.
"I want to talk with you later," Salla told her, her face framed by
her mane of red hair, as the crush of Amazons soon separated them.
"I look forward to it," Mariah called out, the crowd pulling her
off in another direction.
Fate moves in mysterious ways.
And no one knew what lay ahead.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A Little Night Music...
It was some time before Mariah and Xena could make their way back
to the queen's table through the crush of appreciative Amazons. Xena
reached her chair, and the flutist eventually settled back in her own seat
on Gabrielle's left side. The queen reached over and clasped her hand.
"How are you?" she asked, remembering how shaky she had looked earlier.
"Oh, I'm fine now," Mariah said with a smile as she squeezed the
bard's hand. Then she recalled something. "Gabrielle, didn't you ask me a
question just before all Hades's broke loose?" Mariah inquired as she
released her friend's hand.
"Yeah," the queen replied. "I said, 'A dinar for your thoughts.'
What *were* you thinking?" she asked, her voice curious. Xena leaned in to
better hear their discussion.
"I was thinking what a marvelous group of women these Amazons are,"
Mariah replied as she drank deeply of the wine set before her.
Xena chuckled as she watched her friends. "You better be careful
with that; a little goes a long way."
"I can tell," Mariah said. She added some water to the cup to
dilute the potent beverage. It would do her no good to get drunk and act
foolish.
As they sat at the table, a number of Amazons came over and
introduced themselves. Mariah did her best to keep up with the names and
faces that constantly streamed by the table.
After the tables had been cleared, the musicians set up and began
playing. Soon, most of the warriors were dancing around the bonfire to the
pulsating, hypnotic beat of the music. At the queen's table, Xena,
Gabrielle, and Mariah watched the dancers and listened to the music, the
flutist tapping her foot until Ephiny appeared. She looked at Mariah.
"Are you still up to playing?" After the excitement of what had happened
earlier, the regent didn't want to press her.
"Of course," Mariah said. "Just let me warm up first." She
grabbed her flute and went back to the secluded stump where Xena had taken
her earlier to get over her adrenaline shakes. She sat down and worked
through the scales; as she practiced, she noticed Ephiny stroll by, headed
for the latrine. When Mariah was ready, she then returned to the party.
As the Amazon musicians finished, Ephiny raised her hands for
silence. "By the Queen's request, her dear friend, her sister, Mariah of
Tyldus, will now play for us."
The women were silent as Mariah approached Gabrielle. The flutist
bowed, showing the queen the reverence she was due. There was no merriment
in Mariah's eyes as was present earlier in the day. Her face reflected the
love, respect, and admiration she had for one of her best friends who just
happened to be an Amazon Queen. "I await the Queen's pleasure," she
announced.
Gabrielle nodded and smiled at her; somehow, Mariah instinctively
knew the proper tone to take for this public occasion. "Please begin when
you're ready," Gabrielle instructed her.
Mariah sat down where the musicians had set up earlier in the
evening. She decided to perform a medley of ballads and love songs. She
brought the flute to her lips, closed her eyes, and thought of Myklos; that
helped her get in the mood for this performance. The medley featured some
of her favorite music from some of her favorite twentieth century artists:
Madonna, the Carpenters, Celine Dion, and the Beatles. The lilt of the
flute soared over the silent throng of Amazons, the soaring notes carrying
far into the moonlit night.
As she finished, warm applause washed over her. She noticed more
than a few Amazons wiping tears from their eyes, so moved were they by the
music. She stood, quickly bowed to acknowledge the applause, and returned
to Xena and Gabrielle.
"Beautiful, Mariah...simply beautiful," an enthusiastic Gabrielle
told her. "You just keep getting better and better." Xena, drinking her
wine, nodded her head in agreement.
Before Mariah could respond, Eponin walked over. "Could we borrow
your sister for a little bit?" she asked the queen, a huge smile on her
face.
"Take her; she's yours," Gabrielle told the warrior. The bard
grinned and winked at Mariah, and the flutist soon found herself propelled
away from the queen's table and directed by Eponin towards Salla's group,
off to the side.
It was time for that talk Salla mentioned earlier.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lasting Impressions...
Eponin settled Mariah at the table, placing a brimming cupful of
wine in front of her. Mariah took a healthy swig; she was a bit parched
from her playing. She noticed she had quite a nice little buzz in her
head. Whoa, girl, she thought to herself. You better keep your wits about
you. She peered at the stocky Amazon. "I think I'd better switch to water
before you have to scrape me off the ground."
The warriors seated at the table laughed at her words and Eponin
placed a large mug of water in front of her. She drank deeply, and felt
much better for it. She placed her flute on the table, settled back in her
chair, and took in the faces of the Amazons surrounding her. She had never
seen such an athletic-looking group of women, women who possessed an
almost-feral aura of power and grace. Their skimpy leather and suede
garments left absolutely nothing to the imagination; Mariah was glad her
cancer scars were covered up.
They were studying her as much as she was observing them,
especially Salla. So this is the queen's friend from Tyldus, the
red-haired warrior thought to herself. This is the woman to whom I owe my
life. She took in the brown curly hair, the smiling blue eyes, and the
gold ring on her left hand. Salla motioned to the band. "What's that?"
she asked, curiosity reflected in her voice.
"That? My husband gave it to me; it's my wedding ring," Mariah
replied. She noticed frowns appearing on several faces at her mention of
having a man in her life. Better nip *this* in the bud but quick, she
thought. "Hey, different strokes for different folks, OK? Whatever makes
you happy, ladies, and Myklos makes me *very* happy," she finished, her
voice full of meaning.
The warriors chuckled, catching her drift, some of the tension
easing. "So where's your husband now?" Salla continued.
"He went off to Athens for a few weeks while I'm here," Mariah said.
"He didn't mind you coming?" Salla pressed.
"No. Why would he?" Mariah queried, knowing but wanting to hear it
for herself.
"Most husbands would be a little....upset that their wives were
visiting Amazons," Eponin explained.
"Not my man," Mariah emphasized, shaking her head. "He thought it
was a fine idea."
"Well, it sounds as if you've got one of the few good men around,"
Salla said with a smile.
"Yeah, I think I'll keep him," she drawled in a dry voice, her head
still buzzing a bit from the potent wine. This drew another round of
chuckles from the warriors. Mariah decided to turn the conversation away
from herself. She looked at the red-haired Amazon. "Enough about
me...tell me about yourself, Salla."
Salla studied the contents of her wine cup before she answered the
flutist. Where to start and what to tell, she wondered. She looked up at
Mariah, who sat waiting, an expectant look on her face. "There's not much
to tell," Salla said, her voice quiet. "I'm fairly new to the village; I
joined the tribe a few months ago, just before the summer solstice." She
fell silent and took a drink of her wine.
Mariah's interest was piqued; they both began new lives around the
solstice, the flutist with Myklos, and Salla with a new tribe. "What's
your clan?" she inquired. Mariah noticed that the other Amazons at the
table now talked amongst themselves, so the two of them were alone in their
conversation. Eponin, though, listened with half an ear; she, Solari, and
Ephiny had decided amongst themselves earlier to keep an eye on the flutist
during her visit.
Salla's eyes lit up with pride. "I belong to the clan of the
horse." She showed Mariah the beautiful armbands made up of hair from the
mane and tail of the animal.
"Do you ride?" the former teacher asked her, admiring the bands.
Salla sighed. "I used to. I haven't had the chance to get a horse
since I've been here." She thought of the beloved horse she had when she
was with her old tribe, before...Her eyes closed in anguish at the
memories.
Mariah saw the regret and pain on the warrior's face and her heart
went out to her. "Why don't you come and ride with me sometime?" She felt
a kinship towards this woman who was so much like her, a woman who, for
whatever the reason, had to start a new life for herself.
The hazel-eyed warrior stared at Mariah as she struggled to rein in
her surging emotions. "I'd like that," she said simply. Salla decided to
redirect their discussion. "Hey, where did you learn that
stomach-squeezing move?"
"Oh, it was something I picked up in Athens," Mariah lied, noticing
the warrior's shift in conversation. "I used to play in some of the
taverns and inns there; that's how I met Xena and Gabrielle." The flutist
told her cover story.
Mariah noticed something as she spoke; she was picking up some
unusual vibes from Salla. When she had taught high school, she learned,
through trial and error, how to sense a person's mood from a variety of
cues, such as body language, and Salla's body language spoke volumes: this
red-haired warrior *definitely* was not comfortable talking about her past.
Something else we have in common, the former teacher thought wryly,
besides being relative newcomers to the area and sharing a love for horses.
As she spoke the other Amazons ended their conversations and listened to
her tell about her travels with Xena and Gabrielle.
When she finished, she noticed several of the warriors eying her
flute. "We know you performed once already, Mariah; would you mind playing
another song for us?" Eponin asked her, speaking for the group.
"No, not at all," Mariah replied with a smile, flattered. "Is
there anything special you'd like to hear?"
Eponin knew what the women wanted. "Could you play another one of
those ballads? Those were beautiful." The warriors sitting at the table
agreed.
"Sure," the flutist said. She picked up her instrument, and,
settling on her chair, quickly ran through a few scales. Which song, she
wondered as she warmed up, which song should I play...ah, *this* one, she
thought as she made her decision. The song started out quietly, a haunting
promise of what was to come. Soon, conversations at other tables came to a
halt as the Amazons listened to their queen's friend play her flute.
Gabrielle and Xena looked over at their friend when they heard the
flute; this was a tune they had heard many times before when Mariah
traveled with them. Mariah, thinking of the absent Myklos and all they had
endured, her eyes closed, was almost oblivious as she lost herself in the
song, a song she often played before her wedding. It had helped her
through those dark days when she wrestled with the idea of marrying the
merchant. The music grew in volume, reflecting the emotions present within
the piece, softening at the end as Mariah brought it to a close. When the
flutist opened her eyes, she found tears on her cheeks. She wasn't the
only one, she noticed as she looked around and saw several other
tear-stained faces. She heard the applause and cheers of warriors around
her.
"By the gods, girl, you're an artist," Salla said, her voice soft,
as the applause died down. "Does that song have a name?"
"Yeah. It's called, 'Come On In Out Of The Rain,'" Mariah replied
as she wiped her eyes.
"Did you write it?" Eponin asked, curious.
"Oh, no," said Mariah with a small laugh. "I can play them better
than I can write them! And you should hear the words to that
song...they're beautiful. If I ever work up the courage, I'll sing it
sometime."
Eponin, her mouth open to ask another question, stopped when she
saw Xena come to their table. "If you ladies don't mind, Gabrielle wants
to see Mariah." The warrior smiled as she looked at her friend.
"Would you excuse me?" Mariah said as she got up from the table.
"I'll see you later." The warriors bid her farewell as she walked over to
the queen's table.
Xena bent over Eponin. Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Ep," the
warrior whispered in her ear.
"Hey, no problem, Xena," the stocky warrior assured her. Xena
clapped her on the shoulder and strolled back to Gabrielle.
Salla watched them as they moved away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Obligation...
"So how are you holding up?" Gabrielle asked Mariah. when the
flutist had settled back in her seat on the bard's left.
"I'm pooping out," she admitted, stifling a small yawn.
"I told you these parties can last a long time," the blonde said
with a grin, her voice sympathetic. "Do you want to call it a night?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind." She glanced at the warrior women still
in the midst of their celebration. "That's OK, isn't it?" The flutist was
uncertain of Amazon protocols and didn't want to offend them.
"Oh, don't worry," Xena said with a smile as joined them at the
table. The warrior had noticed several Amazons moving off in the direction
of their huts. "Go get some sleep. Tomorrow, I'll show you where you can
ride Scout around here. There's some beautiful country to explore."
Mariah stood and put a hand on each of their shoulders, squeezing
them affectionately. "I'll check on the horses before I go to bed, Xena.
That way, you won't have to do it. Have fun, you two; I'll see you in the
morning." She walked off towards the stables.
Xena and Gabrielle told her good night and watched her leave, as
did a certain hazel-eyed warrior and a stocky Amazon.
Salla rose and followed Mariah.
Eponin rose and followed them both.
Mariah entered the stables, her eyes adjusting to the light. The
flutist checked on Argo and Scout; both horses were fine. She gave Scout's
nose an affectionate rub. "Get some sleep, partner. We're going to have
some fun tomorrow!" The chestnut mare neighed in anticipation.
"She's beautiful," the voice said.
Mariah whirled around in surprise. Salla stood at the entrance to
the stables. The warrior walked up to Mariah and Scout. "How long have
you had her?" she asked.
"Almost two months," Mariah answered. "My husband bought her for
me for my birthday."
Salla stroked the horse's muzzle, a wistful look appearing in her
hazel eyes. "She reminds me of my horse, Erama."
"What happened to Erama?"
"She was killed," Salla said, her voice abrupt. Gods, she thought
angrily to herself, so many have died while I have lived: my entire
family, my village, my tribe, my horse...why?
Mariah saw the conflicting emotions warring on Salla's face. What
had she been through, the former teacher wondered. She changed the
subject. "Like I said before, if you ever want to come riding with me,
you're more than welcome," she offered.
"I might just take you up on that." Salla studied this woman who
had already given her so much, her very life in fact. That brought to mind
the reason why Salla followed her to the stables in the first place.
"Mariah, there's something you need to know; I'm under obligation to you,"
she began.
Mariah's head swiveled in Salla's direction. "What?"
"You saved my life," the warrior said. "According to our customs,
when someone saves the life of an Amazon, she's in that person's debt,
especially when the rescuer is a warrior and an Amazon herself."
The flutist's laugh was gentle, her smile warm. "You don't owe me
a thing. And you're mistaken about two *very* important items, my friend:
I'm not a warrior and I'm definitely not an Amazon!"
The hazel-eyed woman disagreed. "You react like a warrior: quick,
decisive, sure of yourself, calm in a crisis...you did what needed to be
done. And you're the queen's sister."
"Not by blood, Salla. Xena, Gabrielle and I are close friends, the
best of friends in fact. Gods, we've been through so much together these
past few months..." her voice trailed off as the memories flooded her mind.
Salla was nothing if persistent as her next question intruded upon
Mariah's thoughts. "Has anyone ever saved your life?"
The former teacher's eyes widened at the potential answer she
could've given. "Oh, yes, Salla. More times than I even care to *think*
about!"
From the determined look on Mariah's face and the tone of her
voice, the warrior knew this to be true. "Don't you feel you owe them
something?" she asked, her voice purposeful.
Mariah sighed as she answered. "Yeah, I do. And I pay them back
by living each day as fully as I can, as if it were my last. Don't you
see? We've been given a gift, you and me; the gift of life. I've come to
realize just how precious life is, and I treasure it more than anyone
knows. And if you feel you 'owe' me, Salla, then here's how you can pay me
back; live each day the best way you can. That's the greatest gift you
could give me."
They were interrupted by Eponin's entrance into the stables. She
had been outside and had heard most of their conversation. "Xena and
Gabrielle said I would find you here," she addressed the flutist. She
walked up and laid an admiring hand on Scout. "She's a fine-looking
animal, Mariah."
Salla knew their discussion time had come to an end with Eponin's
untimely arrival. "Well, I guess I better get some sleep," she said. "I
have the morning sentry duty; I'll see you." She turned and walked out,
her thoughts and Mariah's words whirling through her mind.
Despite the flutist's words, Salla knew she had a debt of honor.
And she was determined to pay it.
In full.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Protectors...
"How many times?" Eponin asked, her voice soft, as she continued to
stroke Scout.
"What?" Mariah said, startled.
"How many times did you almost lose your life?" The warrior
repeated wanting to hear Mariah's story for herself. The flutist's eyes
narrowed at the thought of Eponin hearing her talk with Salla. Mariah then
realized something; when she wasn't with Xena or Gabrielle, either Ephiny,
Eponin, or Solari had been with her or hovering nearby. Hmm, she thought
to herself, I've picked up three guardian angels.
The former high school English teacher's thoughts then turned to
the oncologists, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, *and* Xena and
Gabrielle; combined, all those people had saved her life quite a number of
times. "Five, Eponin." The flutist put her thumb and index finger an inch
apart. "I've been that close to death five times."
"How?"
Mariah looked around to make sure they were alone and lowered her
voice. "Well, once I almost drowned when I was a little girl; I don't even
remember that, but my parents told me about it. Then twice with the
cancer, once when Gabrielle and I were kidnapped by Galvous, and the last
time occurred when I was trapped in the Dreamscape. Come to think of it,
even Ares had a hand in *that* one!" she mused.
Eponin shook her head. Gabrielle was right; Mariah *had* been
through a lot.
The flutist continued. "It's hard to believe, isn't it? I mean, I
never thought much about dying when I was younger; I always thought it
wouldn't happen to me. A lot of people feel that way where I come from;
they think they're immortal. And when you *do* come face-to-face with it,
it puts a whole new spin on your life and how you choose to live it." Her
eyes became unfocused as she thought of her life-altering brushes with
death. "Ah, well, I guess I better get to bed," she stated as she came out
of her reverie. A huge grin lit up her face and she couldn't resist the
gentle gibe. "Are you going to tuck me in, my mighty Amazon nursemaid?"
Eponin gawked at her and Mariah burst out laughing at the look on
her face. "I'm sorry, Eponin. Truly, I am. I hope I didn't offend you; I
know what you're doing, and believe me, I'm thankful." Her voice was
sincere as she laid her hand on the warrior's arm. "I know you and Ephiny
and Solari are looking out for me. And I appreciate that more than you
know."
Eponin peered into those smiling blue eyes, felt that warm hand on
her arm, and knew the game was up. A gleam lit up her features; might as
well have some fun, she thought. "Well, since you brought it up, Mariah."
The stocky Amazon grabbed the flute player, easily hoisted her over her
shoulder, turned, and carried her out of the stable towards the large
visitor's hut.
Mariah was stunned at the ease at which she had been picked up.
"Come on, Eponin, put me down," she implored to no avail as she struggled
against the Amazon's iron grip. "Please? I *said* I was sorry! Have
pity, woman!"
Eponin stifled her giggle at Mariah's pleadings. "You asked me if
I was going to tuck you in, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," she
replied her voice serious.
"Eponin, I'm begging you!" Mariah said as they entered the hut.
She was surprised to see Xena, Gabrielle, Ephiny and Solari sitting on the
beds having a drink. They had decided to make an early night of it, too.
"What's going on?" Gabrielle asked. The sight of Mariah slung over
Eponin's broad shoulder was almost too much for her to bear. The other
women ducked their heads and hid their grins.
"She said she wanted her mighty Amazon nursemaid to tuck her in,"
Eponin replied with a smirk.
"Come on, Eponin, I *said* I was sorry," said an apologetic but
still-struggling Mariah.
The Queen took pity on her friend. "We can take it from here, Ep,"
Gabrielle told her, a mischievous look on her face. "Why don't you put her
down and have a drink with us? Xena and I will make sure she gets to bed."
"Well," said Eponin, pretending to think it over. "If you think
that's best." She eased Mariah's feet to the floor and helped her stand.
"No hard feelings?" Eponin asked, the smile lighting up her eyes.
Mariah couldn't help but laugh and the other women joined in.
Eponin clapped a friendly hand on her shoulder. "Now let's have that
drink," she said as she poured out two cups of wine, giving one to Mariah.
"A toast," Mariah said, a smile still on her face, "to Amazon
guardian angels." She and Eponin clinked their cups together and each took
a healthy swallow of wine. They moved over to the unoccupied bed and sat
down.
"Guardian angels?" Ephiny asked, her voice puzzled.
"She's onto us," Eponin told the regent, her voice solemn, the wine
cup hiding her grin. She looked at Mariah, and they both snickered.
Mariah decided to let Ephiny off the hook. "I know that you and
Eponin and Solari are keeping an eye on me when Xena and Gabrielle aren't
around," she explained. "'Guardian angel' is a phrase where I come from
that means protector. And I don't think I could ask for better
protectors!"
"How did you know?" Solari asked her, her voice curious.
"Well, besides Xena and Gabrielle, you three are the only ones who
know who I really am. It makes sense that you'd be watching my back."
"And you don't mind?" inquired Ephiny.
"Would it matter if I said yes?" she replied in a teasing yet
challenging tone of voice.
"No," chorused Xena and Gabrielle, quashing *that* debate before it
got started. "But," Gabrielle added, "since you know, I suppose we can
back off and give you some space. Just don't get into any trouble!" They
both grinned at their friend from the future.
Mariah smiled. "There...you see?" She gestured at her best
friends, affection written all over her face. "My two sisters, always
looking out for me. Now what kind of trouble could I get into in a village
full of Amazons?"
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Xena answered, arching her eyebrow. "Did
you already forget about your little adventure earlier this evening?"
The flutist's face grew pensive as she remembered the choking
Salla. "No," she said as she looked at the contents of her half-empty cup.
"I don't think I'll *ever* forget that, Xena." She decided to shift gears
in the silence that followed. "Salla said something tonight that has me
thinking; she said she's now in my debt. Is that true?"
Eponin nodded, her voice serious. "Oh, yes, Mariah. You saved her
life; according to our custom she's honor bound to do the same for you if
and when she can."
"Even though I'm not an Amazon?" the flutist queried.
"It doesn't matter," Solari chimed in.
Mariah was quiet, mulling over what she heard; as she sat there,
another thought struck her. "Hey, what's the story with Salla anyway? How
did she wind up here? What happened to her?" Curiosity overwhelmed her
despite her encroaching fatigue. She struggled to contain her yawn.
Ephiny peered at Mariah and saw the glassiness in her eyes. "We'll
tell you tomorrow," she said as she looked at Solari and Eponin. They
caught her drift and finished their drinks; all three women stood up to
take their leave.
"Make sure you tuck her in, Xena," Eponin needled as she exited the
dwelling.
"Thanks, Ep," Mariah bantered back, using the warrior's nickname.
She could stifle it no longer; she yawned and stretched, the day's events
finally catching up with her. She dressed for bed, as did her two friends.
They kept a few candles lit in case they had to get up during the night.
Mariah crawled under the blanket and soon was asleep, as were Xena and
Gabrielle.
The flutist thought the bed was lonely without Myklos.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Explorations...
It was dark when the sleeping Mariah felt someone shaking her. She
opened her eyes; Xena stood over her.
"You still want to go for that ride?" the warrior asked in a quiet
voice. She was dressed in her customary leathers and armor, candlelight
glinting off the metal.
"Yeah," she said with a yawn. "Just give me a few minutes to get
ready." Xena nodded and walked out of the hut. She stretched and rolled
out of bed. She looked over at Gabrielle; the bard slept, snoring lightly
as was her habit. The flutist dressed, picked up her staff, and met the
warrior outside. After attending to their respective calls from Mother
Nature, they walked over to the stables, saddled their horses, and led the
animals to the outskirts of the village.
The reddish-pink tinge in the eastern sky signaled another
beautiful day as the two women mounted up. Xena took the lead, spurring
Argo to a slow canter to warm up the mare's muscles, Mariah matching her
pace on Scout. As the sun peeked over the horizon, they were galloping
across the countryside, the horses in their glory as their hooves pounded
the ground.
Xena was right. The land in the Amazon territory *was* beautiful.
The many shades of green were breathtaking, as were the rolling hills and
virgin forests. They came to a clearing by a stream and slowed their
horses to a walk. Xena turned to the flutist. "Are you up for a little
workout?" she asked as she removed a staff from Argo's saddle.
"With you, there's no such thing as a little workout," Mariah said
with a grin as she dismounted and palmed her weapon.
Xena dismounted as well and watched as Mariah removed her wedding
ring and placed it on her necklace. They each warmed up and soon were
engaged in a battle of wits and skill, the resounding cracks of their
staffs carrying far in the stillness of the early morning. As before, it
took Xena a long time to penetrate her defenses; she caught the flutist off
guard by dropping her staff and grabbing Mariah's. The two women wrestled
with the weapon before Xena twisted the staff and their bodies so each
woman stood back-to-back, the weapon clutched in their hands high over
their heads. The warrior bent over and pulled her friend over her back,
flipping her.
Mariah found herself flying up and backwards over Xena's back, the
ground coming up in a flashing blur. "Whoa! Xena!!" she cried as she
braced for the impact. She kept her knees bent as her booted feet thudded
on the ground. She hung onto the staff for support after she landed and
stared into Xena's smiling blue eyes. "You've *got* to show me how you did
that!" the flutist exclaimed, her exertions flushing her face.
Xena laughed. "Yeah, I thought you'd like that move. It's saved
Gabrielle on more than one occasion." The warrior took her friend through
the maneuver step by step, flipping Mariah several more times to get her
accustomed to the motion. Then it was Mariah's turn try out the move on
Xena. It was awkward at first, Mariah nearly pulling the two of them to
the ground as she overbalanced while trying to flip the warrior. With some
coaching, the flutist soon felt the warrior move up and over her back,
landing gracefully as she always did. Xena allowed her to try it several
more times to get it down pat. Xena then showed her several defensive
moves to utilize after the back flip. Once the flutist began practicing
the new moves, Xena moved off and began her own workout.
Mariah watched Xena out of the corner of her eye as she practiced;
she so enjoyed seeing her friend at work. Xena possessed such a grace and
beauty, whether she wielded a sword or launched into a series of
gravity-defying flips. The warrior felt alive as the blood coursed through
her, her body responding to the increasing demands she made on it. She
took a well-deserved break and watched Mariah practice for a few moments.
She fits in so well you'd never know that she's not from here. And
she has the gift of getting along with almost everybody she meets.
Amazing...she's come so far in such a short time. I wish she could see
herself as others see her, Xena thought to herself with a smile, thinking
of their infamous "warrior" discussion of the other evening. Her strength,
her courage, her spirit, that wild sense of humor. How could you explain
Eponin carrying her in like that last night? Xena didn't think the stocky
Amazon had that kind of humor in her. Mariah brings that out in people. I
wonder how well Gabrielle and I would fit in her world, how well we would
cope if we were uprooted. If we had someone like Mariah to show us the
way, we'd be all right...
Mariah looked up from her practice to see her friend staring at
her. "Hey, are you all right?" she asked.
"Yeah," Xena said, coming back to the present. "You want to go for
a swim?"
"I'd love to," the flutist replied still looking at her friend, her
eyes narrowing. "Are you *sure* you're all right?" Xena heard the concern
in her voice.
"Never better," the warrior said walking up to her and clapping her
on the shoulder. "Come on. Last one in's a bacchae!" Both women took off
at a dead run for the stream.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Talk The Talk...
The Amazon village bustled with activity as Xena and Mariah rode
back and stabled their mounts. After tending to their horses' needs, they
returned to the visitor's hut where Gabrielle had just finishing dressing.
"Hey, you two! How about some breakfast?" the bard asked them.
"Sounds good," said Xena, Mariah nodding in agreement. They walked
over to the kitchens and eating area; there, Mariah saw the cooks preparing
food for the villagers. Each woman grabbed a plate and helped themselves.
They then walked over to the fire where they scooped out a cup of hot tea
from the simmering pot. Looking around, they spied Ephiny and Solari who
waved them over to their table.
"Where's Eponin?" asked Gabrielle after greeting the warriors.
She, Xena, and Mariah sat down and began to eat.
"She was at the armory. She should be here by now," Ephiny
replied, craning her neck as she looked around. "Ah, here she comes." The
stocky warrior got her food and tea and joined them at the table.
"Heard Xena showed you an interesting move today," Eponin said with
a grin.
"Yeah...how'd you know about that?" Mariah asked, puzzled.
"Nothing gets by those Amazon sentries," Xena told her with a
smile. She explained the flip maneuver she taught the young flutist.
"Isn't that move something?" Gabrielle said. "I remember the first
time Xena pulled it on me...she scared me half to death!"
"Yeah, well I thought I was going to have to change my breeches,"
Mariah said in a droll voice. Solari almost spit out a mouthful of tea at
her statement and they all shared a hearty laugh.
"Mariah, my friend, you do have a way with words," Eponin said with
a grin.
"Oh, I needed that in my old line of work," she replied. She
looked around, saw they were alone, and lowered her voice as she continued.
"You teach 130 teenagers five days a week, ten months a year, and you
better have a quick wit and a glib tongue. They'll eat you alive if you
don't!"
This comment whetted the appetites of the Amazons who wanted to
know more about her twentieth century life. She was brief as she told them
about her job as a high school English teacher. They shook their heads in
wonder as she detailed some of her duties, adventures, and challenges.
Mariah's mind shifted to another topic when she saw Salla sit sown
at a table full of warriors some distance away. "You said you'd tell me
her story," Mariah said as she gestured at Salla.
Ephiny took a drink of her tea before she began. "Salla's had a
hard life as of late. As you know, she's from another Amazon village.
What you don't know is that last year, her village was attacked by a
warlord named Salukas. Salla was hurt pretty badly, so badly in fact the
invaders thought she was dead; that's what saved her. During the fighting,
she escaped, crawling away to safety. Some travelers found her lying on
the side of the road; they took her in and nursed her back to health." The
regent stopped her recitation.
"That's not all, is there?" Mariah asked in a flat voice.
Ephiny sighed. "No. The worst part is she lost everyone she cared
about and who cared about her--her mother, sisters, cousins, aunts,
friends...even her horse. Salukas killed everyone and everything,
including the animals and livestock. When she was well enough, she made
her way here. Salla's mother had close ties with our village and we were
more than happy to take her in. As far as we can determine, Salla was the
only survivor. It was a massacre, Mariah; you know, if you traveled there
now, you'd never know a village once stood there. Salukas completely razed
the place."
"But why?" Mariah was stunned by this amount of carnage.
"Because he hates Amazons," Ephiny said. "It's that simple."
Xena's eyes narrowed as she listened to the regent's story. "Well,
the good news is Salukas won't do that again," she said, her voice low.
"No?" Ephiny asked. "What makes you say that?"
"Because he bought it at Corinth," the warrior princess replied.
The table fell silent. "Does Salla know?" asked Solari.
"I'll tell her later," Gabrielle said with a sigh. "She ought to
know. Maybe knowing he's dead will help her find some peace; the gods know
she could use it." She rose to her feet and looked at Ephiny. "Let's take
care of the work on that trade agreement." The regent nodded and stood.
Eponin looked at Xena and Mariah. "Solari and I are going back to
the armory. You want to come with us?" Xena nodded in assent, but Mariah
shook her head no.
"I just want to take it easy and roam around today, if you don't
mind," the flutist said, her voice distant, her mind elsewhere.
Gabrielle stared down at her. "Are you all right?" she asked,
putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I-I just want to sit here for a little
while. I'll catch up with you later."
Both Xena and Gabrielle had seen that pensive look on their
friend's face before; it meant she had something on her mind she needed to
work out. They decided to leave her alone to do just that.
Mariah told her friends good-bye and watched them as they walked
off. She decided to grab another cup of tea and one of those honey
pastries that had been calling her name. When she walked back to her
table, she noticed Salla was now alone. Changing direction, Mariah
approached the red-haired warrior. "May I join you?" she asked.
Salla looked up and smiled at the queen's friend. "Sure." She
watched as Mariah sat down across from her.
Mariah sipped her tea as she studied the red-haired warrior. Man,
she's been through the ringer, the former teacher thought. The only
indicators of the trauma Salla had endured were the fading scars and the
slight, haunted look around her eyes. Most people wouldn't have noticed,
but Mariah wasn't most people. She had her own scars and had seen that
haunted look in her own eyes staring back at her in the mirror when she
battled her cancer demons.
"Salla, I'm taking Scout out for a ride this afternoon. You want
to come?" she asked as she ate her pastry.
Hazel eyes bore into blue as the warrior thought about the offer.
While on duty that morning, she had seen Mariah and Xena riding their
mares; she wished she could've been out there riding with them. And
although she too felt the bond she now shared with Mariah, she was leery
around new people until she got to know them. "Why?" she asked, her voice
a little suspicious.
"Why not?" Mariah countered. The former teacher could sense
Salla's wariness. It was an attitude she found in many of her students
when she first met them, an attitude she was skilled at confronting and
overcoming. "You said you like to ride. What have you got to lose?"
Her sparkling blue eyes issued a silent challenge to the Amazon, a
challenge she couldn't refuse. She grinned at Mariah; what *did* she have
to lose? "OK...you're on. When do you want to go?"
"How about just after midday?"
Salla thought. "That'll work. I'll meet you at the stables."
Mariah rose to her feet. "I look forward to it. See you then."
The warrior watched the flutist as she walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Back In The Saddle...
The sun was past its zenith as the woman flew over the countryside
aside the chestnut-colored mare. Her smile rivaled the sun in terms of
brightness, the wind whipping her hair around her face. When she felt the
horse begin to tire, she reined her to a halt and dismounted, giving the
animal an affectionate rub.
"You are a speed demon, aren't you?" Scout nickered in reply to
the hazel-eyed woman.
Salla took the mare's reins and walked her back to the stream where
Mariah awaited. She found the former teacher sitting beneath a large shade
tree playing her flute.
"Did you have a good time?" Mariah asked her, a smile on her face.
"It was great!" Salla enthused. "And you weren't kidding about
Scout's loving to run!" She flopped down on the ground next to her.
Mariah couldn't help but laugh at the warrior's obvious delight.
"Yeah, Myklos sure knows how to pick 'em, doesn't he?"
"He sure does," Salla replied, meaning in her voice as she grinned
at her new friend. "He's one lucky guy."
Mariah laughed a little and blushed at the compliment. To hide her
discomfiture, she began to play a tune from one of her favorite movies.
Salla sat back and closed her eyes, remembering the ride, letting
the music wash over her. There was something so...different, so unique
about Mariah's songs; she'd never heard anything quite like them before.
She could've listened to her play all day. "What's the name of that one?"
she asked when the tune ended.
Consternation set in for a moment as the flutist came up with a
plausible answer. "Oh, uh, I call that one, 'Rudy,'" Mariah responded,
thinking of the film's title.
"It's beautiful. How long have you been playing?
"Oh, it seems like years," Mariah joked, sidestepping the question.
"I played when I was younger, then stopped. I just started again earlier
this year."
"Why?" Salla was curious.
Mariah was silent before she answered. "It was a rough time in my
life; I needed something to help me deal with my problems." She cradled
her instrument. "This has brought me a great deal of peace, Salla."
"What kind of...problems were you dealing with?" The warrior's
voice was a little hesitant.
Oh, don't want to go down *that* road yet. "I'll tell you about it
sometime when you have a month to spare," she said with a smile as she rose
to her feet. "Do you mind if we head back? There are some things I need
to do." Jeez, does *that* sound lame, Mariah thought.
Salla hid her disappointment. "Not at all. I've got some stuff to
do, too." The women mounted Scout and rode back to the village.
Mariah's mind was in a turmoil during that ride. Do I dare tell
her the truth about me, she wondered. Would it help or hurt? If I did
tell, could Salla keep it a secret?
Salla was thinking as well; she wanted to confide in someone. She
wished she could open up and share her dreams and fears with someone who
understood the anguish she had suffered. She had hoped that someone would
be Mariah. The warrior sensed something about her, but couldn't quite put
her finger on it. But on the other hand, Salla thought, what would a flute
player from Athens know about losing her home, her family, her hope?
More than Salla ever dreamed she would know.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Loneliness and Friendships...
Time was a blur, each day blending into the next.
They had already been in the village a week. There was so much for
Mariah to do: meeting people, checking out the weapons in the armory,
learning more maneuvers with her staff, sparring with Xena, Gabrielle, and
various warriors, playing her flute in the evenings, listening to Gabrielle
tell her stories, writing in her journal, riding with the warrior princess
in the mornings and Salla in the afternoons...her days were filled with
activities, which kept her mind occupied.
Unfortunately, Mariah couldn't occupy her heart.
Xena and Gabrielle were wonderful. They knew she missed Myklos,
and did what they could to help her deal with his absence. Mariah was sure
they were tired of hearing about him when they talked at night in the
visitor's hut, but they weren't. Mariah was their sister, and they were
there for her, just like they knew she was there for them. During the day,
oftentimes, they went their separate ways, Gabrielle working closely with
Ephiny on political matters that affected the village, Xena and Mariah
working out with the warriors as the women taught and learned from each
other, and, later in the day, Mariah and Salla going off with Scout as they
drew closer to each other, realizing just how much alike they were.
This was an important time in Mariah's life, and she knew it;
friendships were created and bonds were forged that would benefit her in
the future. In the evenings, Eponin, Ephiny, and Solari would often get
together with her, Xena, and Gabrielle to talk and get to know each other
better. Mariah told them more about herself, her twentieth century life,
and showed them her cancer scars one memorable evening when she detailed
that long story. The warrior women were impressed by the scars as Xena and
Gabrielle had been when they first saw them so many months before. The
Amazons didn't say so outright, but they were also impressed with Mariah's
fortitude in dealing with both her cancer battles and her new life. They
too shared stories, telling the flutist about their many struggles for
survival. And as time went on, the three "guardian angels" hovered about
her less and less frequently as she became part and parcel of the village
life. Mariah fit in well, making many friends thanks to her good humor and
easygoing personality.
When she and Salla were together, Mariah never discussed the
massacre that so devastated the warrior; she didn't want to be the first to
broach that issue. Likewise Salla was hesitant to probe too deeply into
her friend's background, finding Mariah reluctant to dredge up her own
past. So they talked about music, horses, life in the Amazon
village...innocuous topics that kept them from safe. For now.
But through it all, Mariah missed her husband. The ache she felt
at their parting had not dissipated as time went on. She often wondered
how he was, what he was doing, and if he was as tired of bathing alone as
she was. She missed him in her bed and in her life; she missed his eyes,
his hands, his touch. She missed her soulmate.
When she went out with Salla in the afternoons, Mariah often sat
under a tree and played many of her favorite love songs and ballads,
including "Come On In Out Of The Rain," while her friend rode Scout. That
particular song helped her deal with her marital loneliness as it had
helped her in her single life, and she was glad her new friend found some
happiness through horseback riding.
One day, Salla asked her to sing it. Mariah tried to beg off, but
the warrior insisted. "You said one day you would; let's hear it. Come
on; what have you got to lose?" Salla told her, using the same words Mariah
had used.
Mariah saw the silent challenge in Salla's eyes, the challenge
*she* knew she couldn't resist. She stood up and began to sing the ballad:
You said you believed that we'd
Find love together happily.
After all the wrong I've done,
You feel that I'm still the one,
To give your loving to.
So bring it home to you.
You told me that you'd love me if I'd ever change,
Welcome me into your arms again.
Come on in out of the rain.
There's a place in your heart to love me again.
Happiness and joy you bring,
When you call my name.
Come on in out of the rain.
I loved no one but you.
But I strayed. I know I made you blue.
You spoke unto my very soul.
You warmed my heart that once was cold.
Now I'm so glad to know:
You told me that you'd love me if I'd ever change,
Welcome me into your arms again.
Come on in out of the rain.
There's a place in your heart to love me again.
Happiness and joy you bring,
When you call my name.
Come on in out of the rain.
Some people spend a lifetime looking for a love.
And I had love right here all the time.
Why did I try to deny it.
Deep inside I just couldn't fight it.
You turned my life around.
The love I lost is found.
So let the rain come down.
You told me that you'd love me if I'd ever change,
Welcome me into your arms again.
Come on in out of the rain.
There's a place in your heart to love me again.
Happiness and joy you bring,
When you call my name.
Come on in out of the rain.
Come on in out of the rain.
Baby, come out of the rain.
Salla whistled and applauded when she finished. "Boy, that was
*great*!" she enthused. "You've got to sing it some night for everyone!"
Mariah demurred. "I think as a singer, I'm a better flute player!"
"So tell me about you and Myklos and why that song means so much to
you," Salla said, changing the subject, looking for a way to get around
Mariah's objections.
Mariah told the story of how she met the old merchant in Tyldus,
how he gave her the flute, how he had died before she returned to play for
him, how she met Myklos at the gravesite, her doubts about marrying him,
and how the song gave her comfort. Salla's romantic nature was swept up by
the story.
"So why didn't you want to marry him? He sounds wonderful!"
"Oh, he is wonderful," Mariah enthused. "I wasn't ready to settle
down, though."
"What changed your mind?"
Mariah looked at her friend and again debated whether or not to
tell her the truth. "Lots of things...I-I guess he just wore me down,
weakened my resolve to stay single."
Salla suspected there was more to the story than that, but decided
to let it pass for now as she had done with other things. During their
talks, Salla had noticed several inconsistencies with Mariah's stories, but
as Mariah didn't press her about her past, Salla did likewise for her
friend. "So when will you sing that song for us? You've got to!" Salla
said, getting back to the topic at hand.
"Oh, I don't know..."
"I've got an idea: how about you sing it for me for my birthday
present?" the warrior suggested. "Aw, come on...please? I get to pick
when and where!"
"Today's your birthday?" Mariah asked in dismay. "Oh, Salla, why
didn't you say something earlier?"
"Ah, I didn't want people to fuss."
"Well, we're going to fuss, my friend," Mariah said, interrupting.
"Let's go out tonight, OK?"
Salla balked, but Mariah verbally twisted her arm until the warrior
surrendered. "All right," Salla grinned, caving in. "Where do you want to
go?"
"Xena told me about this inn that's not too far away. Why don't we
get a group together and go out and party?"
"Sounds great," the warrior agreed. "Let's meet around sunset.
But I still want you to sing that song," Salla reminded her. "And that's
the only present I want you to give me."
"Well, OK," Mariah agreed a little reluctantly. "If you really
want me to, I will. We better get back so we can eat first." Mariah rose
to her feet and pulled up her friend. "I'm not about to go out drinking on
an empty stomach! Hey, how old *are* you now anyway?" she asked as they
got up on Scout.
"Twenty-four," Salla said. Mariah couldn't see her huge grin as
the warrior sat behind her on the animal. "Can you remember way back to
your twenty-fourth birthday? You know, being you're so much *older* than
me," she teased her friend.
Mariah mimicked the voice of an old woman as she spoke. "Gee, I
don't know, honey...the brain gets pretty feeble when you get to be my
age," she said, poking Salla in the ribs.
The two women shared a hearty laugh as they rode back to the stables.
It would be an evening neither would ever forget.
Chapters 30 - 39 Or Back To The Library.