Path of Forgiveness

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - THE BET

I entered the hut behind Varia, and looked around. There was maybe a dozen Amazons lying there, some with fatal wounds. Varia knelt down beside one of them, who seemed to be sleeping. She had a wound from a sword on her stomach, but it had been stitched up. She was sweating a great deal however, and she had red splotches on her cheeks. She looked like she had a fever, so I crossed the hut to get a bowl of cold water and a rag, and came back over to the woman to dab her face with it.

Varia was holding the woman’s hand, they seemed very close. She looked at me as I wiped her forehead and said, “Thank you.”

I nodded and gave her a small smile.

Varia turned back to look at the woman, and rubbed her hand over the other womans. “Elaris is one of my best friends... I don’t know what I would do if she doesn’t pull out of this feverish sleep.”

“She will,” I said, and she looked at me. “Just give her all the love you can, and she will pull out of this.”

“Love doesn’t cure sickness, Eve.”

I smiled a little as I continued to wipe Elaris’ forehead with the rag. “Yes, it can. Eli has cured the sick and the suffering with his love.”

“I’m no Eli,” Varia said.

“You don’t have to be, Varia. Love is enough. She will pull through this, I can feel it.”

There was silence between us for a moment, until Varia said, “Let me,” and went for the rag in my hand. She covered her hand with my own to take it, and both of us stopped moving as heat radiated through our body. The butterflies were back and I closed my eyes and took a breath to try and calm them When I opened my eyes she was looking at me, and our eyes locked. There was this kind of tingly feeling where our skin met, and she squeezed my hand a little underneath hers before taking the rag from me.

I looked down awkwardly before standing up. “I’m going to go see how the other patients are.”

We were both in the hut until lunch was served. We adjourned to the dining hut, and Varia took her place at the head of the table. Gabrielle and Xena sat to one side of her, and I was going to take a place next to my Mother when Varia nodded her head to me to sit on her other side. I smiled, and took my seat.

Mother got up, smirking, and came to sit at my left instead of being next to Gabrielle. When she sat down and our lunch was being served, she said, “Looks like you and the Queen are getting along quite well.”

I looked at her suspiciously before looking to see that Varia was deep in conversation with Gabrielle, “Why do I get the feeling you know something your not telling me?”

She gave me an innocent look and replied, “I don’t know, I was just asking a question.”

I narrowed my eyes but replied, “Yes, we are getting along. She’s....” But I couldn’t think of just one word to describe Varia, so I stopped.

“She’s what?” Mother asked me.

“She’s.. a lot of things, I don’t know.”

Mother pressed on, “A lot of good things?”

“Yes, Mother,” I said exasperated. “A lot of good things.”

“I knew you two would get along,” she said with a smirk before picking up her roasted chicken leg and biting into it.

I looked her over in realization, “Oh no... you’re not trying to set me up, are you?”

Xena laughed a little, “I don’t have to, you seem to do it very well on your own.”

I was about to retort when Varia turned to me, putting her hand over mine to get my attention. I turned to her and she asked, “Eve, after lunch would you like to accompany me while I do some scouting?”

I knitted my eyebrows in confusement, “The Queen scouts?”

Varia laughed a little, “I don’t have to, no, but I enjoy doing it. I like the time I get alone.”

I tilted my head a little, “But you wouldn’t be alone if you were with me.”

She smiled a little, and the way she did it made me blush a little, “I know.”

*****

“Ten dinars,” Xena said to Gabrielle after lunch as they watched Eve and Varia walk away down the path.

“Ten dinars what?” Gabrielle asked.

“Ten dinars that it’s Eve that makes the first move, not Varia.”

Gabrielle laughed, “Oh your on. Prepare to lose your money, Warrior Princess. I talked to Varia, she’s set on wanting Eve for herself, and she’s much bolder than Eve is.” She paused for a minute before adding, “It’s a little weird, hearing Varia talk like that.”

Xena shook her head, “Remember who Eve came from, Gabrielle. It’ll be her who does it.”

Gabrielle scoffed and said sarcastically, “Like you did?”

Xena was silent for a minute, and narrowed her eyes at her friend. She sighed as she realized that maybe Gabrielle was right and said, “Anyway we could take that bet off then?”

Gabrielle laughed, “Yeah, right.”

*****

Varia and I walked up the path to the hill on the far side of the village. We climbed it in silence until we reached the top. We stood there, the light breeze flowing through our dark hair as we both looked out at the scenery. You could see the main path that led to the village there, so it would be easy to see any on coming opponents.

“I love coming up here,” Varia said as she looked out at the trees and the river that was behind it. “Its quiet, and peaceful.”

“Yeah, it is,” I agreed.

Varia turned to me, and took my hand. My heart started to beat faster as she sat down on the cool grass, and pulled me to sit down next to her. We were looking at each other for a long time in silence, before she touched my face and said, “You’re very beautiful, you know.”

I blushed and looked down and mumbled, “Thank you.” I looked up at her and she smiled at me.

“I can’t believe I never talked to you before today, or at least, I don’t remember doing so.”

My mouth was dry, and I tried to swallow. I’ve been attracted to people before, both men and women alike, but I don’t ever remember feeling like this. So vulnerable.

“Yeah... me either,” I said quietly.

Varia’s hand was still on my cheek, and her thumb stroked it softly. “What are you thinking about?” She asked me.

“I...” I looked at her, not wanting to tell her.

“Tell me,” she said softly with a smile.

“I just... I’ve never felt this way around someone before. It’s strange. I’m used to conquering people, not feeling like a vulnerable child when I’m around them.” I looked down, ashamed.

Varia put her hand under my chin to tilt it up to look at her, “I might be little bolder than you, but that doesn’t mean what I feel for you doesn’t scare me. I’ve had lovers before, but I’ve never felt this way for anyone before, and not this fast.”

I looked at her, my eyes wide. “Why do you think this is happening?”

Varia laughed a little, “Fate? Who knows? I just know that it is. I wish I could understand it, but that doesn’t mean I need to know why to go forward with it.”

Varia moved her head closer to me after she spoke those words, and my breath caught in my chest. My heart was pounding so hard I’m sure she could hear it. Her lips were a breath away from mine when she stopped, seeing if I was okay with it. I squeezed the hand I held of hers to let her know I wanted it, and her lips came crashing into mine, making me involuntarily gasp.

Somewhere behind the trees, Xena was grudgingly slapping ten dinars into Gabrielle’s outstretched hand.

TBC....