Work Text:
A little workpiece inspired by Xena Warrior Princess & Gabrielle Amazon Queen.
Hermione sighed, looking at the parchments unfurled in front of her. As Queen of Amazons, she knew the importance of treaties and such, but sometimes she really wished she had the time to sit down and read… poetry, stories of bards from all over Greece and beyond and even to learn new things, new medical treatments, anything that could help her tribe.
A commotion outside made her lift her head from the trade agreement she had just signed. Footsteps could be heard outside her tent, and she was surprised when her Regent, Ginny, entered.
“My Queen,” the redhead bowed, the sword strapped at her waist swaying slightly.
“Ginny, what brings you?” Hermione asked with a smile. The redhead had been out on a hunt, “I thought you were supposed to be back in a week?”
“We had to bring our hunt to a halt, my Queen. We ran into an ambush with some Romans and were taken by surprise,” Hermione’s eyes widened at that, “but someone came out to help. Fortunately, we came out unscathed because of her, but unfortunately, she is injured. I request permission to use our medical facilities to treat her wounds.”
“Permission granted, Ginny!” Hermione said without hesitation, “Everyone is okay?” she asked as she got up from her chair and rounded her desk to put a hand on her best friend’s shoulder, eyeing her from top to bottom, looking for any indication of a wound.
“I am fine, and so are the others—a few minor injuries. Nothing time won’t heal,” Ginny replied with a smile.
“That’s good to hear,” Hermione breathed a breath of relief, “Bring me to this Samaritan so I can properly pass on my thanks to them for saving Artemis’ chosen people.”
Ginny nodded, “This way, then. They are just in front of the Healer’s tent.” With that, they both exited the Royal tent, making their way to where the injured were.
From afar, in the light of the torches, Hermione could see a figure strapped to a stretcher. As she got closer, she gasped at the beauty of the woman lying on it. By the Gods, the woman could be a carving of Athena herself. Tall, lithe, bronze skin with muscles proudly on display. A package wrapped in beautifully crafted armor with golden hair spun like gold. She would say the woman was sleeping if it wasn’t for the nasty gash on her forehead and the other cuts littering her arms.
“Get her in and get the Healer to tend to her immediately!” The brunette ordered, watching the other Amazons carefully manoeuvre the stretcher inside. A few minutes later, more footsteps approached, bringing the Tribe Healers, whom the others had gone to wake up from their tents. The young hovered around, ensuring she checked on the others in the hunting party even though they weren’t seriously injured. She couldn’t stop her eyes from surreptitiously glancing over at the blonde stranger as the Chief Healer tended to her. She wondered if she was fine but refrained from bothering her treatment process with her questions. All she knew was that deep inside her, she longed for the blonde to open her eyes to see their colour, but that would have to wait.
With a sigh, she turned back to her Regent, “You all should catch some sleep. You can report to me tomorrow,” she said. Seeing Ginny preparing to argue, she squared her shoulders and glared at the redhead, “that’s an order,” she added, leaving no room for any argument.
Sighing, Ginny nodded, following with a bow, “As you order, my Queen. Let me escort you back to your tent before I retire.”
Hermione nodded, and with one last longing glance at the blonde, she followed her Regent out.
***
The next morning, Hermione was up before Helios even had the chance to get in his chariot, let alone take it across the sky. The air was chilly, and the brunette pulled her cloak tighter around her to ward off the cold, trying to busy herself with more parchments to sign. She waited as long as she could, but her anxiety got the best after two candle marks. She quickly exited her tent, greeting the guards just outside her door as she made a beeline to the Healer’s Tent. She could see movement inside and made her way in.
The Chief Healer looked up, surprised to see the Queen out and about so early. “My Queen,” she said with a bow, “What brings you?”
“I just wanted to check on our patient,” Hermione said, her hands wringing tight in her garb. She had trouble sleeping last night, she knew not why. After a fitful night, the first thing that came to her mind when she woke up was to be here.
“Oh, she woke up!” The healer exclaimed, and Hermione’s eyes widened as she tried to peek behind the healer to see if she could get a glimpse but was confused and disappointed to see an empty pallet, “She was feeling a lot better after a night of rest. Her cut wasn’t too deep. The blow she took to the head was more concerning.”
“Where is she?” Hermione asked, not able to hide the desperation in her voice. Something called her to that warrior.
“She is out in the training yards with Ginny. Though I did warn her not to exert herself, she seemed unbothered by my directions,” the healer said with a grumble. Typical warriors!
“Thank you, Luna. You should get some sleep,” Hermione said, feet already directly her out of the tent.
“I will, my Queen,” the blonde called out.
Hermione quickened her steps. Helios started peering from the horizon, casting a golden glow over everything. On any other day, Hermione would have taken the time to enjoy the beauty of it, but not today. She rushed as fast to the training grounds as she could without outright running and could hear swords clanging against each other as she got closer.
As she rounded the corner, her breath caught at the view of the blonde’s strangers’ back, her head bandaged as she sparred with Ginny. Her Regent didn’t seem to be holding back, and a rush of fear and panic flowed through her veins as the redhead's sword came down hard in a move to split the blonde’s head apart, but the blonde parried effortlessly. “What are you doing?!” She shrieked, unable to stop herself.
The women froze. Ginny looked up at the Queen in surprise while the blonde turned around, and Hermione’s knees shook. The most vibrant blue eyes bore down on her and took her breath away.
“My Queen,” Ginny said with surprise, “We were just sparring.”
Taking a moment to compose herself despite not tearing away her eyes from the blonde, Hermione swallowed thickly before she croaked out, “You are injured. You should be in the Healer’s tent!”
Ginny looked back at the blonde. Now, yes, it wasn’t necessarily a smart move to be sparing when the blonde was injured, but they were being soft.
“Apologies, dear Queen,” the blonde bowed, “I didn’t mean to get Ginny in trouble.”
The harmonious tone of the blonde’s voice with a slight accent took Hermione’s breath away, and she had to put her hand on the fence post to keep herself upright. What was happening to her?
“I am sorry, my Queen,” Ginny said, sheathing her sword. Her brows stayed furrowed, though she had never seen Hermione behave that way.
“I am sorry too,” Hermione breathed, her eyes not leaving the blonde’s deep blues, “I am being too harsh. I.. I just… I want you to have my sincere gratitude for saving my Amazon sisters, and I do not want you to get injured any further while you are here .”
The blonde smiled, “You are truly kind, as Ginny described.”
Hermione’s heart thudded in her chest as the smile on the blonde’s face, pink rosy lips parting to reveal pearly whites.
“We are truly indebted to you,” Hermione said with sincerity, “As Queen of the Southern Amazon Tribe, I, Hermione, wish to extend our hospitality to you. You can stay as long as you want.”
“Thank you, Queen Hermione,” the blonde replied.
“And your name?” Hermione asked curiously, trying not to sound too eager.
“Oh, I apologise, I haven’t introduced myself. I am Fleur of Gaul,” the blonde bowed again.
Fleur… The beautiful name resonated in her, and a warmth bubbled inside her chest, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, my Queen,” the blonde smiled as she took Hermione's hand and bestowed a kiss upon it.
Hermione shivered, goosebumps prickling her skin. The heat of the blonde's lips onto her skin and hearing her dulcet voice call her “my Queen” gave her a different feeling than usual.
Ginny was sure she observed a slight flush on her queen’s cheeks. Oh ho! Interesting.