{"id":1365,"date":"2016-03-21T07:26:20","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T12:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1365"},"modified":"2016-03-23T07:33:19","modified_gmt":"2016-03-23T12:33:19","slug":"ephiny-and-the-roman-army-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1365","title":{"rendered":"Ephiny and the Roman Army – Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the Roman Army<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm, I guess I should learn what I\u2019m going to do tonight,\u201d Gabrielle finally said breaking the silence which had prevailed since Valaska and Eponin left the hut. \u201cI don\u2019t have to kill anyone, do I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph looked over at Gabrielle at the tone the younger woman had used. She had a slight look of terror at the thought of doing something like that, which was confusing considering the person she had as a lover.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, no, the prisoner still has to undergo the trial, but the order will probably be death,\u201d Melosa replied. \u201cAt that time it will fall upon you to carry out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph watched as Gabrielle\u2019s face went pale at the thought but it was the Conqueror who spoke up first.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t do it,\u201d the Conqueror said, her voice holding a note of finality to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an Amazon matter,\u201d Melosa said looking up at the two.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I saw she won\u2019t do it,\u201d the Conqueror growled, and for the first time Eph saw the person she expected to see, a cool warrior ready to attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts tradition in such situations, the survivor executes the order,\u201d Melosa said.<\/p>\n

The verbal duel seemed to only increase the tension in the room which had Ephiny feeling slightly concerned with everyone\u2019s health suddenly. It was Gabrielle who brought things back down.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s talk about this at a later time, there are more important things going on,\u201d Gabrielle said.<\/p>\n

Ephiny had no trouble imagining her own sword running though the Roman who was responsible for Terreis\u2019 death to the point she even felt guilty for the image it involved. She realized she had been silent for too long and knew Gabrielle needed to know what she had to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess we should head over to the temple,\u201d Eph finally said looking over at Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing dangerous is there?\u201d the Conqueror said speaking up and everyone heard the protective tone in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, no, the princess lights the funeral fire, but there are rituals to follow, a procession to and from the temple,\u201d Melosa said speaking up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, so I\u2019m carrying a torch then?\u201d Gabrielle asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething like that,\u201d Eph said scratching her nose. \u201cAnd, well, you\u2019ll have to dress as our princess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph thought she saw a smirk on the Conqueror\u2019s face which disappeared when Gabrielle glanced over at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I only had to wear that during the celebration part,\u201d she said pouting a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the princess here,\u201d the Conqueror said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I prefer being a pleasure slave,\u201d Gabrielle said walking over to where the Conqueror still sat. \u201cAt least, your pleasure slave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, you\u2019ll do just fine, and it\u2019s only for a small time, you\u2019ll survive,\u201d the Conqueror replied back to her pulling her into a hug.<\/p>\n

Eph had a feeling she was witnessing another side of this complex relationship, one which the more she learned the stranger it got. At times it felt like Gabrielle was the strong one emotionally, then she goes and shows a side of indecision and stubbornness which the Conqueror has yet to show.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you\u2019ll feel better after talking with the priestess at the temple,\u201d Eph suggested. \u201cThen we can go by Zona\u2019s and see if she\u2019s finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts torture,\u201d Gabrielle said at the last part looking back at the Conqueror despite heading out with Eph.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really don\u2019t like to wear clothing,\u201d Eph said making a general statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess not, after so many seasons I got used to it,\u201d Gabrielle said. \u201cI guess it\u2019s a bit like a powerful drug, an addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it doesn\u2019t have anything to do with the fact you enjoy it as well,\u201d Eph asked, recalling something the Conqueror said to her about it, the fact the younger woman enjoyed showing off.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, well, yeah, I guess I do enjoy that part, especially when talking with the nobles of the court, they have a hard time staying on subject when I\u2019m there,\u201d Gabrielle said with a small laugh. \u201cThey even tried to banish me from attending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph\u2019s imagination went into overdrive with images of Gabrielle sitting on the Conqueror\u2019s lap and doing things which would make anyone have a hard time concentrating.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Ephiny,\u201d Gabrielle\u2019s voice said breaking the image she had set up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Eph asked, hoping by some small miracle she wasn\u2019t blushing.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice shade of color, haven\u2019t seen that one in a while,\u201d Gabrielle said, laughing as Eph felt her cheek heat up as Gabrielle continued. \u201cWell, there was that one noble, I think he even stopped breathing for a moment.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t take his eyes off what we were doing, then of course he missed his chair while sitting down.\u00a0 Everyone looked at him and I think he blushed as red as the robe he wore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, here we are,\u201d Eph said noticing the temple was in front of them and welcomed a change in subject. She didn\u2019t need Gabrielle to start giving graphic details on what they were doing, her own mind was doing more than enough and she wanted to be able to walk without falling down.\u00a0 She still couldn\u2019t look at Gabrielle, ad doubted she would be able to look at her face for long before lingering down to the rest of the body.<\/p>\n

Forcing the thoughts from her mind she noticed Airlea standing nearby tending to the interior of the temple. She made her way over the moment she spotted them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, princess, I was wondering when you\u2019d show up here,\u201d Airlea said approaching them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it appears that I\u2019m somehow involved in all of this,\u201d Gabrielle stated, sounding much more like the woman Eph had gotten used to than the one in the queen\u2019s hut.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly one of the more important parts,\u201d Airlea replied. \u201cThe lighting of the funeral pyre is a great honor in an Amazon funeral.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph barely listened while Airlea told Gabrielle what her part in the funeral would be. She noticed a slight look of determination in Gabrielle\u2019s face as she listened to what all she would do and had no doubt about the new princess\u2019 ability to carry out the duty tonight.<\/p>\n

She lost track of time as Airlea taught Gabrielle what to do, when and how. She looked around at the others who also appeared interested in what was going on as word had slowly gotten out about who the princess was.\u00a0 People stopped to get a peak at the princess and it caused Eph to wonder how many were lusting over her.\u00a0 The fact she was nude probably only fueled that fact, the other was tempered by the knowledge she was the slave to the Conqueror.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady?\u201d Gabrielle asked approaching Ephiny as Airlea made her way towards another part of the temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Eph replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what about the ceremony for, well, me\u201d Gabrielle asked as they started back to the huts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, its nothing too much, more of an excuse to party and have fun. The Queen announces you as the new princess,\u201d here Eph stopped as she realized something.\u00a0 \u201cYou do have to be brought into the tribe first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Xena know about this?\u201d Gabrielle asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would think the Queen would have told her about it, and because you\u2019re an outsider you will need to be adopted into the Nation,\u201d Eph said having forgotten all about that part. She had a feeling many would be willing to adopt Gabrielle if they could get past one sticking part.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds interesting, know anyone willing to adopt Xena? We come as a pair,\u201d Gabrielle replied honestly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s the sticking point,\u201d Eph replied wondering about how many would want such a person in your family. It meant a powerful sister-in-law which might be fun, but it also meant that person was the Conqueror, a person they all thought was an eternal enemy of the Nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not that bad, people only know her by her reputation,\u201d Gabrielle stated as if that explained everything.<\/p>\n

Eph started to reply when a slight gurgle came from Gabrielle. Looking over she noticed her princess blushing slightly, something she had yet to see followed by another gurgle from her stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, hungry?\u201d Eph asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we never got lunch,\u201d Gabrielle stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy fault for heading off to the temple in a rush,\u201d Eph said, knowing she also felt a bit hungry as well and turned towards the dining hall. \u201cAfter lunch we can drop in on zona to see how things are going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as it after food,\u201d Gabrielle replied, not the response Eph expected to hear.<\/p>\n

Ephiny walked into the dining hut smelling the food even before the door opened. Inside she noticed there were still quite a few people inside much to her dismay.\u00a0 Heading over to grab something to eat she barely sat down before hearing a familiar voice behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell fine, ignore me, after all you have an important guest with you, far too important to stop and say hi and introduce me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephiny inwardly groaned knowing she would have to face her mother. She thought she saw a smirk on Gabrielle\u2019s face before turning to face her mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, care to sit down,\u201d Eph said making sure she was smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought you\u2019d never ask dear,\u201d the older woman said. In reality Eph knew she didn\u2019t have much to complain about with her mother, only that she would think a bit more before speaking.\u00a0 That and they didn\u2019t always see things the same way.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, this is Princess Gabrielle, princess, this is my mother,\u201d Eph said introducing the two of them, before noticing that Gabrielle was looking back and forth between the two of them making her shift uncomfortably.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have your mom\u2019s eyes, and hair,\u201d Gabrielle finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, I\u2019ve been telling you that for ages, maybe finally you listen. But no, you have to inherit your fathers stubborn attitude,\u201d she said before turning to Gabrielle.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about you dear, you still talk with your parents?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Gabrielle answered far too quickly and Eph had a feeling there was something else going on there but said nothing. Her mother either failed to notice or chose not to and continued on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s too bad dear, what about the Conqueror?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Cyrene, she\u2019s an innkeeper in Amphipolis,\u201d Gabrielle answered. \u201cTook her a while to get over who her daughter had become, but things worked out.\u00a0 She also took me in as a daughter as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, are the rumors true, you\u2019re the Conqueror\u2019s pleasure slave?\u201d Eph\u2019s mother asked leaving Eph mortified at the question and her mother\u2019s usual lack of tact. She frantically thought of a way to apologize to Gabrielle when the blonde answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficially speaking, yes, but as you probably know life is so rarely simple. We\u2019re very much a team and I will admit, my position allows me to study and listen better than anyone else.\u00a0 They either ignore me due to my position or are more interested in my assets,\u201d Gabrielle said, cupping her breasts in emphasis of her point.<\/p>\n

Eph started coughing as the food she swallowed at that moment went down wrong causing her mother to pat her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right dear?\u201d her mother asked. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen that shade since I caught you and Eponin in the back spring last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, thanks mom,\u201d Eph growled glancing at her mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you do?\u201d Gabrielle asked thankfully changing the conversation for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Oh, I take care of the library, something I know my daughter won\u2019t follow me in,\u201d her mother said as Eph looked over to see Gabrielle\u2019s eyes light up.<\/p>\n

\u201cA library?\u201d she squealed, causing people at other tables to look over.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou read?\u201d her mother said sounding shocked.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove to read, and well, sometimes I write stories,\u201d Gabrielle said. \u201cI\u2019m not that good, but I enjoy it, and Xena humors me in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph tuned out the conversation at that point knowing that her mother could talk all day long about story-telling and scrolls, bards and writing. Now it appeared she had someone to talk to about that passion.\u00a0 She ate in silence and missed Gabrielle\u2019s question and had to ask her to repeat it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have training fields?\u201d<\/p>\n

The question caught Eph off guard as she had not been expecting it. She chided herself for not keeping up with the conversation but quickly recovered to answer.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, generally Eponin is there along with Valaska.\u00a0 They like to help train the new warriors and scouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019d like to see it as well,\u201d Gabrielle stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, no problem,\u201d Eph replied. \u201cI can show you when we\u2019re done, after that over to Zona\u2019s to check on the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then the library,\u201d Gabrielle said her eyes lighting up.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Eph said, inwardly groaning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll finally see my daughter in the library, it\u2019s a miracle,\u201d her mother said standing up. \u201cI shall see you later then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph watched her mother leave before turning back to Gabrielle, noticing she had finished her meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cShall we?\u201d Eph asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cLead on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph left the dining hall headed towards the training fields.<\/p>\n

End part 5<\/p>\n

Continued in part 6<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the Roman Army by AJ Marks Part 5 \u201cUm, I guess I should learn what I\u2019m going to do tonight,\u201d Gabrielle finally said breaking the silence which had prevailed since Valaska and Eponin left the hut. \u201cI don\u2019t have to kill anyone, do I?\u201d Eph looked over at Gabrielle at the tone the […]
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