"Gabriel!" Xena snaps her fingers in front of her dazed compainion."Come on now, we are almost there. I thought you would be more excited. You are their queen, after all.."
Gabriel shook her head and continued to walk behind Xena. "What.?, Oh that, you know, I love the Nation, but really Xena, we can't take some side trips or something? We don't have to go straight there. We could go shopping!"
Xena just shook her head, taking a firmer grip on Argo's reins. "No, no. I know what this is about. You just don't want to be involved in the Solistice ceromony. Come on Gabriel, is it really that hard to sit there while the Nation hands you gifts?"
"You know what Xena, it is hard. Especially when everyone stares at you waiting for your reaction. By the Gods! Do you remember what they gave me last year? A "blessed" headress. My hair was blue for weeks!" Gabriel complained.
Xena smirked at her. "I don't know Gab, I thought your hair had a cetatain pazzaz to it. Those people in the fishing village thout so."
"Pazzaz? They though I was a walking mermaid and tried to throw me back into the ocean!" Gabriel pushed Xena in revenge.
Xena just laughed at her. "Well whatever they give you this year, just don't try it on untill your on your own. You wouldn't want to hurt their feelings."
The pair continued down the path well into the night. The moon had risen well over the tree tops when they hit Amazon territory. The walked slowly, anticipating the Amazon to jump down from the trees at any moment.
As a well rehearsed group, five Amazons jumped down and surrounded the pair.
"My queen, welcome back." Ephiny took off her mask and embraced her old friend. "Xena." She shook hands with the leatherd warrior. "Let us escort you to the village."
"I'll walk with you," Gabriel offered. She split away from Xena and walked with Ephiny in the front of the group.
"Is something wrong Gabriel?" Ephiny asked. "I usually can't pry you away from Xena." she laughed.
Gabriel looked back at Xena, who was talking to another amazon as they walked.
"Did you get the thing I asked for last winter?" Gabriel whispered, turning back to Ephiny.
Ephiny smiled, and nodded discretly. "So you two are a couple now?" she asked her. Ephiny was warmed at the thought her Queen and friend had found love. "How did you know last winter you would be with her?"
Gabriel couldn't hold back a grin. "I just had a feeling, that's all. Xena rarely gets presents, so when I thought about it, I just couldn't resit asking you to get it for me."
They made it to the village. Despite the late hour, the village was a-buzz to prepare for the solitice festival. Decorations lined every house, and the smell of baked treats filled the air. Gabriel sighed, the feeling of celebration sweeping through her. She reached for Xena's hand, and the feeling of belonging filled her soul.
"Maybe being back isn't so bad." Gabriel whispered to Xena. A soft smile graced Xena's lips and she nodded knowigly at her.
Gabriel felt surrounded by the ones she loved, annd she wondered why she fought so hard to ignore this place. This was home to her. And things were only better with Xena at her side.
Later, after greeeting her nation, Gabriel collasped on the bed in her hut. She could get a few hours sleep before the ceramony. She got in the covers, not even bothering to change clothes. She was asleep in no time at all.
Xena entered Gabriel's hut, after stabling Argo in the Amazon's stable. She was tired, but she smiled at the sprawled figure on the bed. She knelt and started a small fire at the hearth, and soon, a comforting heat rewarded her efforts.
Xena took off her leathers, draping them on the desk chair. She was left in her chemise, and she gently pushed Gabriel to her side of the bed. She blew out the candle, and went to sleep.
Not had four hours gone by before there was a pounding on the door. Gabriela got up, and saw that Xena had started a fire and was already dressed.
"Morning," Gabriel yawned.
"Morning to you too." Xena replied, kissing her on the forehead. I'll get the door."
Ephiny entered, not at all suprised to see them up and dressed. "Ready my queen?"
Gabriel quickly looked at her clothes, which were ruffled and dirty. "Um, do you know where my ceremonial leathers are? And my mask? "
Ceremony
Gabriel sat on her cermonial throne, taking in the crowd that had gathered. She knew all these Amazons. Most individually, but she saw a few new faces, young and old. She would go through later today, to get to know them better. It was the type of queen she was. She was for the people, not the fame of it. The smell of the roasting boar they brought in this morning. She hadn't participated in the hunt, not because she didn't want to, but because she had other plans. She went to see the gift hidden away by Ephiny, that she planned to give to Xena.
The crowd went quiet, and Gabriel knew it was time to start. She rose off her throne, her red fur lined cape falling in place behind her. She heard the collective gasp of awe, but attributed it the excitment of the day.
"Amazon Nation, young, old, and proud. We come here today, to celebrate Artemis, and the blessings she has given us this year. The crops were plentiful, no sickness decended on us, and only joy was given us to celebrate this year. I am happy to announce that we have new Amazons this year, and we are very happy they have joined us! I hope we all have a fantastic day and may Artemis bless us!"
"May Artemis bless us." They Amazons praised in unison. They cheered, and Gabriel once again took her seat. Ephiny took to the stage, annoucing it was time for the exchanging of gifts. Ephiny handed Gabriel her gift form the Nation, and everyone held their breath.
Gabriel stared at the small box package in her hand. Will this be my doom? she considered. She took a deep breath and untied the string and opened the brown paper package. To her suprise, a beautiful necklace was nestled in the paper. Small blue teardrops showered the necklace, and the chain was soft and delicate, holdng each precious gem in place. The silver and blue complemented each other completly, and Gabriel held back tears at the thoughtfullness of her Amazons.
She got up of her throne and hugged Ephiny. She turned to her Nation. "Thank you everyone, I love it, it's perfect."
The Nation smiled at their queen, then each turned to find their own special someone to give there gift too. Gabriel watched the joy on eah Amazon's face as they all go a present. Her mind turned back to the necklace. She remeber ed her gift! she had to give Xena her gift! She turned to walk off the dasis, but was stopped by Ephiny.
"My queen, you must put on the necklace. You like it right?" Gabriel smiled, and nodded. She thought about what Xena siad, about waiting until she was alone, but decided that it couldn't be that dangerous. She allowed Ephiny to fasten the clasp around her neck. The necklace settled perfectly around her neck. She felt a curious warmth throughout her body, but thought nothing of it.
She headed down the stage and towards Xena, who was staring at her with an odd look in her eye.
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