[The Daily Planet] "Point Taken"

From: Moria McEntire <bansheec@xxxxxxx>
To: The Daily Planet <thedailyplanet@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:44:04 -0400

"Point Taken"
Princesses Diana and Selene

She’d known that at the end of the challenge she was going to be hurting, she didn’t however plan on being thrown into a wall. Selene had walked out of the arena with her head held high and a smile on her lips, but now that she was in the long corridor that lead to the dressing chamber she slumped against the wall. Parts of her hurt that she didn’t know could hurt.

“Princess!” Shahira called as she came up to the other young woman.

Selene gave her friend a weak but real smile. “I’m fine, Shahira.”

“You were thrown into a wall.” The other Amazon replied. “I doubt that your body thinks that was just fine. Lets get you out of your armor and up to the palace.”

Selene allowed her friend to help her out of her armor, leaving her in a wringing wet tunic. “You did well with the armor, Shahira. It fit well given that it was borrowed armor.”

“If you had given me more notice we could have made you a set of armor.” Shahira huffed as she undid the straps that kept the breast and back plates together.

“I can’t have armor of my own until I’m nineteen.” Selene reminded her friend as she accepted the wrap she was handed. She put it on and tried to head up to the palace on her own, but she suddenly realized that without the armor it really hurt to breath. “By the Gods how does my mother do this everyday.”

Shahira quickly went to the younger Amazon and gently helped her as they made their way to the palace. As they entered from one of the side gardens Shahira called to one of the others to fetch the healer.

“Epione is with the Queen, she said she’d be right over to see the Princess when she was finished.” The other woman replied. “Until she arrives Rasha is waiting in the Princess’ chambers.”

She really hated it when people spoke of her as if she weren’t there. “There’s no need to make such a fuss.”

“Even if you weren’t hurt people would be making a fuss.” Shahira told her as they headed for Selene’s room. “You and the Queen were amazing. No one has lasted that long against her, and it has been a very long time since we’ve see her fight so freely. Athena choose her champions well.”

“I’m not Athena’s champion,” Selene replied as she was helped onto her bed. “I just happen to share the same blood line.”

It took all of Diana’s will power not to fly out of the royal box and right to Selene, but she had to finish off the event. After that was done she picked her sister up and flew right for the palace. She knew what it felt like after a battle and her mother hadn’t held back. She knew Selene was stronger then most and that she could take injury as well as she could, but she still needed to see her.

“If you put me down I’ll go check on Mother.” Donna chuckled as they flew down the palace hallway.

“Sorry.” Diana replied as she set her sister down.

Donna smiled. “Go make sure she’s ok.”

When Diana got to her daughter’s room Epione was there. The room smelled of the healer’s saves and creams and Diana relaxed a little. She didn’t smell anything that would mark serious injury.

“I wonder if other royal families have the same tendency for crashing into solid objects.” The elder woman complained as she wrapped a clove scented band around Selene’s ribcage.

“Now why would they do that when they don’t have you to heal them afterwards?” Selene replied with a bright smile.

Epione scowled at the child, but her eyes danced merrily. “You, child, are a brat.”

Selene grinned. “Someone has to keep you on your toes.”

Diana sighed in relief as she listened to the back and forth. “I take it the wall took more damage?”

“She’ll be fine in a day or two.” Epione replied. “She should stay in the wrap for a few hours then soak in one of the hot spring baths.” She turned to look at Diana. “A routine you are very familiar with, Princess.”

“Did you fuss this much with Mother?” Diana asked with a chuckle.

“More so.” Epione replied as she gathered her things. “She is old enough to know better.”

Once the room was clear of everyone else, Diana walked over and sat on the edge of Selene’s bed. The two simply looked at each other for several moments. Finally Diana reached out to gently touch a cut on Selene’s shoulder.

“I’m not sure how she managed that one.” Selene replied as she looked down at her mother’s fingers and her own wound. “I think she got her dagger under my breast plate. I knew Grandmother was good, and that she’s stronger then most Amazons, I had no idea she was like us.”

Diana smiled softly. “Yet another story you’ve not heard, but will in time.” The warrior in her was impressed. For someone so young, with so little experience, Selene had done well. It was more evident now then ever that she was exactly like her. The mother in her was still looking at every cut, every bruise, and feeling a pain for each one she saw. “You couldn’t have found another way to make your point?”

“No.” Selene answered. “It had to be Grandmother. I needed to know that I wouldn’t be eased up on because of who I am, and I needed to be free to really show what I’ve learned. I needed to do just what Grandmother had said, I had to prove that I wouldn’t be an embarrassment to anyone.”

That took Diana aback. “Selene you could never be an embarrassment to any of us.”

“You and Grandmother are a lot to live up too.” Selene admitted.

“You didn’t have anything to prove to us, Selene.” Diana sighed as she caressed her daughter’s face. “We don’t expect you to be anything more then who you are.”

“I expect me to be more then who I am.” The girl replied. “I know that no matter how old I get you’re always going to see me as a child because I am your child, and given Grandmother’s age I’m going to be an infant for at least the next eighty years, but Mama, I couldn’t let everyone keep seeing me that way.” Selene sighed as she closed her eyes. She missed her mother’s touch so much while they were apart. “Please don’t be angry with me.”

Diana carefully took her child into her arms and held her gently. “I’m not angry with you, baby. I wish you’d have told me what you had planned.”

“You’d have talked me out of it.”

Diana chucked softly as she continued to hold her daughter. “I’m very proud of you, Selene.” She helped Selene back against the pillows and kissed her forehead, then smiled. “You’d better get some rest sweetheart. You’re going to be sore for days.”

Selene nodded as she settled in. “Did I really crack the wall?”

Diana laughed. “Yes.”

“Cool!”

[The Daily Planet] "Point Taken"

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