02/03
Ms. Hunter Ash
rating: PG13
Pairings: Xena & Gabrielle
# # #
# # #
Gabrielle felt someone lifting her up and mumbled a weak protest.
"Quiet, my Queen. You won’t do Xena any good if you grieve
yourself to death with exhaustion. You're going to get some sleep.
I'll watch over her," Ephiny's voice carried to Gabrielle's ears
and, despite whatever her mind might have wished, the bard found
herself settling into the strong arms that carried her to the next
hut and placed her in a bed.
"Ephiny, wake me if anything changes," she whispered as
Ephiny covered her.
"Immediately," the Regent promised.
Ephiny smiled at her mate, Solori as she joined the woman outside the
hut and headed back to the Healer's hut.
"You actually got her to sleep?" her mate asked.
"No, her body finally did," Ephiny smiled a very tired
smile. "I'm going to stay with Xena while Gabrielle and the
healer sleep."
"All right, lover," Solori hesitated. "Do you think
there'll be any change? It's been days and her fever was so high."
Ephiny closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't know. She's
strong but Gabrielle says that she was sick before that bastard got
ahold of her."
"Gods, everyone is praying on this one," Solori mentioned.
"Good, can't hurt. I do know one thing," Ephiny said
softly, stopping outside the hut door.
"What's that, love?"
"If Xena crosses over then Gabrielle will follow."
"What!? No!"
"I think so, look at her now! She's wasting away and I can't
stop it," Ephiny growled.
"Have they figured out what their relationship is, yet?"
her mate asked, a note of frustration in her voice.
"I think so. If not they both need to be hit over the head and
dumped in a cage for a week until they do," Ephiny said with a
smile. "You know we rarely see this kind of grieving."
"I know. Go let the healer get some sleep. I'll keep watch out
here."
Ephiny stroked her lover's cheek fondly. "Thank you, my love."
"You bet."
Ephiny settled in for a long night, watching the warrior sleep
fitfully in a fever induced coma, the infection raging through her
body. Ephiny felt tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She truly
didn't know how long the warrior could go on like this.
"Come on, Xena!" she whispered fiercely. "Fight this!
Gabrielle needs you!"
# # #
It was another two days and another struggle to get the bard to sleep
or eat. Ephiny was also looking very worn out and the strain was
getting to the Healer as well.
Gabrielle had finally settled into nightmare-plagued dreams on the
fifth day since they had brought Xena in. Nightmares of blood and of
losing Xena kept the young Queen tossing and turning. Her body was
demanding rest but her mind and soul were refusing it. The bard knew
she, herself, was running a fever from the exhaustion and had dropped
even more weight. Ephiny had almost punched the Queen into
unconsciousness to get Gabrielle to sleep.
# # #
Xena groaned and opened her eyes slowly. The familiar surroundings
of an Amazon hut greeted her eyes. Ephiny came into her view and sat
on a stool next to the warrior’s bed. The Regent looked tired but
was a welcome site.
"Hey," she smiled down on the warrior and lifted a cup of
water to the bruised and parched lips. Xena sipped gratefully.
"Hey," she responded finally. "Where's Gabrielle?"
"Next hut over, I finally got her to sleep. Remind me not to try
and change her mind about anything again."
Xena tried to smile but winced with the pain. "How long?"
"Five days." Ephiny put a hand on the warrior's shoulder as
the woman attempted to sit up with surprise. "You've been sick
and hurt. Fever and the pain took you the first day and we've been
fighting the fever ever since."
Xena took stock of her body and wasn't surprised she felt like she
had been run over by a wagon, twice.
"How bad now?"
"Not bad, the healer managed to get the infection down in your
leg and the shoulder is actually healing nicely. Other stuff is
minor cuts and bruises. You'll be off that leg for another week."
"A week!" Xena protested.
"That's what the healer has ordered. I'll send for Gabrielle,"
Ephiny started to stand up but Xena placed a hand on the Regent's
arm.
"Strats?"
"Menestratus? Target practice for my archers when we found you."
Xena merely nodded at this information, it was what she had expected
from the Amazons. "Thank you, Ephiny. I knew Gabrielle would be
safe with you."
"Always, Xena," Ephiny stopped at the door and looked back
on the warrior. "By the way, I am finally reading your
relationship with Gabrielle right? You two finally got together?"
Xena grinned, "Did everyone in Greece know but us?"
"Yup, there's been running bets as to when you two would finally
figure it out. When did it happen?"
"Bets? Four months ago."
"Yup," the Amazon grinned at her friend. "I lost two
months ago."
"Ephiny," the warrior’s voice stopped the Amazon. The
Regent turned with a questioning eyebrow lifted.
"I asked her to marry me, Amazon ceremony."
The life came back to the Regent's eyes and she smiled a huge smile.
"Really?" Xena nodded, smiling herself. "If you
weren't wounded I'd hug the stuffing out of you! Nothing could make
Gabrielle happier! By Artemis, we've a lot to plan for." The
Regent was gone before Xena could ask for details.
"Terrific, I've asked for the ceremony and don't have a clue
what the ritual is."
# # #
Gabrielle was awake instantly when Ephiny touched her shoulder. She
sat up blinking rapidly, trying to focus both mind and eyes.
"Easy, Gabrielle," Ephiny said calmly.
"What's happened?" she demanded, fear gripping her heart.
She knew Ephiny would only wake her up if there had been a change and
the Healer and Ephiny had warned her that it was unlikely that Xena
would ever recover up from this point on.
"She's awake," the Regent grinned and grabbed Gabrielle to
steady her as the bard leaped out of bed and then swayed from the
lack of sleep and food. "Easy, she's talking and alert."
"Xena!" Gabrielle broke from Ephiny and dashed out of the
hut.
In moments Gabrielle was in her warrior's good arm, kissing Xena and
crying at the same time.
"Shhh, Little One," Xena said softly. "I'm all right."
Gabrielle finally pulled back and sat on the stool, holding Xena's
hand while the other hand ran over the warrior's body, once again
reassuring herself that her warrior was in one piece.
"You are not all right, you've been out for days,"
Gabrielle held the warrior's hand to her cheek.
Xena got a good look at her bard's face and was dismayed. She'd
never seen the bard looking so haggard.
"When was the last time you slept or ate?" the warrior
demanded.
"They made me eat and Ephiny made me get some sleep,"
Gabrielle protested.
"Uh huh, let me guess, you've spent most of the last five days
right there next to me," Xena gathered the bard back with her
good arm for another kiss and reassuring hug. "I love you,
Gabrielle."
"Gods, I was so worried!" Xena reached up to brush away a
fresh set of tears. The bard couldn't seem to stop touching Xena's
hair, face, arms.
"It's okay. Just wasn't my week," the warrior smiled.
"Hah! That's an understatement," the bard grinned.
"What about your family, they were worried sick."
"I sent a runner to let them know I was okay and that you were
safe."
"I'm sorry about your father's funeral," Xena said softly.
"It's all right, just as long as you're safe, my love."
“For once you rescued me. Remind me to keep you around,” Xena
smiled and Gabrielle let the warrior pull her down, The bard sighed
as she snuggled into her familiar and favorite position, curled in
Xena's arms, head on the warrior's shoulder. She carefully placed her
arm around the warrior's waist and hugged softly.
"Forever," she whispered.
She felt Xena's body relax along with her own and drifted into a
nightmare free sleep.
When Ephiny came back to check on the patient she found the Amazon
Queen and her warrior asleep in each other’s arms. She smiled and
backed out of the hut and left orders with the guards that the couple
wasn’t to be disturbed.
# # #
After a day of bed rest and food the bard felt better than she had in
weeks and was glad to be out of the hut. She and Ephiny had a more
difficult time keeping Xena down though. Gabrielle smiled at the
memory of the frustrated look on her mate's face. It did help that
Xena couldn't put any weight on the leg and Gabrielle kept the
crutches out of reach.
After a few more days in bed regaining her strength, Xena was able to
move around the village with the aid of the crutches.
# # #
It was also extremely difficult for both women to keep their hands to
themselves. It felt like forever to the bard since she had touched
her lover more than five minutes at a time. Her body was aching to
feel Xena's touch but neither of them had recovered enough yet.
The Amazon Queen was pleased that Ephiny had sent a messenger to her
family, letting them know that Gabrielle was safe and Xena was with
them. Ephiny had carefully worded the message so as not to alarm the
family but to let them know the Amazons had both women and would
protect them.
She let Ephiny catch her up on the politics that needed tending to,
what documents needed signing, and such. Then they began planning
for a bonding.
After two days Gabrielle had a headache and begged off any more
planning. Xena had grumbled that this was probably going to get
complicated and she was right. Combining a traditional Greek wedding
with an Amazon bonding, then throwing in the politics that came with
a royal wedding were getting to the bard.
The bard was delighted to find herself at the practice yard and
several Amazons were eager to spar with her and the bard's new staff.
Gabrielle was irritated with her own body when she quickly realized
that she wasn't up to her usual speed and stamina but kept at the
sparring, wanting to work her aching muscles and frustrations. The
Amazon Queen always delighted in the training, especially the
sparring. It was very much like a dance between opponents and
Gabrielle loved to dance.
In the back of the Queen's mind was the events of the last two weeks
and her frustration about all of it. She didn't understand why
Menestratus wanted her dead, neither did Xena. Even after talking
about it and finding out that the man had been with the Warlord on
her worst raids, it didn't make sense. Why blame Gabrielle for
Perdicus's death?
Xena sat down on a hay bale, watching her lover spar with several
other Amazon women with her new staff. The warrior was pleased when
Ephiny walked up and sat next to her.
"How are you feeling, friend?" Ephiny asked.
"Better everyday, thanks to all of you. Thanks again for the
rescue," Xena grinned.
"My pleasure, none of us would have been able to live with
Gabrielle if we hadn't. Tell me about the man."
"Menestratus," Xena's face grew thoughtful. "He was
one of my soldiers years ago. I remembered him just before you showed
up. He was a good soldier of sorts but blood-thirsty, he delighted in
killing anything in his way."
"Did you know he was Perdicus' brother when Gabrielle married
him?"
"No, I only knew him as Strats and we never talked."
Xena pulled out a dagger and began balancing it on the end of a
finger.
"I never knew. Gods, Ephiny, will my past ever let us alone?"
Ephiny didn't flinch when the warrior suddenly threw the knife,
embedding it into a fence post close by. With a casual grace the
Regent walked over and retrieved the dagger. Xena shrugged.
"Probably not," Ephiny said simply. "You've made up
for your past, and you'll continue to do so but it will always come
back to haunt you, warrior."
"Thanks," Xena muttered.
"He blamed you for Callisto," Ephiny encouraged the warrior
to resume the explanations.
Xena laughed a grim laugh. "That's what’s so messed up! He
was there at Cirra! He helped murder Callisto's family."
Ephiny thought she would fall off the hay bale and Xena nodded at the
woman's shocked expression.
"Then what in Hades was his problem?!" the Amazon demanded.
"He helped create her as much as you did."
"That's what I told him and he agreed. I can't explain it. Maybe
he thought by killing me and hurting Gabrielle he could live with his
own guilt in Tartarus. He was planning on killing himself after me."
"I don't get it," Ephiny shook her head.
"Neither do I and neither does Gabrielle. Maybe it made sense in
his twisted mind."
"He nearly succeeded, we almost lost you and we would have lost
Gabrielle if that had happened," Ephiny glanced over at the
warrior, gauging her reaction.
"I know that. When it does happen to me, I want you to take care
of her. Don't let her follow me, I'd want her to live," Xena's
eyes flashed.
"You don’t know it will happen.”
“Yes, I do. The life I lead, not much chance of a long life,”
Xena said with a shrug.
“I know but that wouldn't be my choice, Xena. Even if we locked her
away from anything sharp or long, I think she'd grieve herself to
death over you."
"I wouldn't want that," the warrior muttered.
"Live with it," Ephiny said bluntly and Xena looked
surprised. "It's something that we see with some life-bond mates
when one dies. One half of a soul can't live without the other."
"You think we're life-bond soul mates?" Xena whispered.
She, herself, had felt such an overwhelming amount of love for the
bard and felt so empty when Gabrielle wasn't around, but life-bond
soul mates were rare. It was the stuff of legends.
Ephiny looked over at the bard and back at the warrior. "Yes, I
do."
With a spin Gabrielle swept the legs out from under one of her
opponents and blocked a blow coming from overhead. She quickly put a
foot in the other woman's stomach and pushed that attacker out of
reach. She spun and blocked another parry with the staff laced along
her forearm. The bard yelped and dived forward under another blow,
coming up swinging.
With a laugh Gabrielle disarmed one opponent, tapped another on the
head to signify a killing blow and swept another off her feet, then
she found herself sitting on her tailbone rubbing her ribs where
someone had tagged her with a staff. She grinned and stood up and
helped up one of her sparring partners. Gabrielle was covered in
sweat and dust and felt great. She had managed to work out a lot the
tension and felt ready to face everything again.
Together Ephiny and Xena watched the little bard and laughed with the
Amazons Gabrielle had just spared with and applauded.
She looked over at the sound of applause and felt her face blushing
red when she saw Xena and Ephiny clapping on the other side of the
fence.
The bard felt this followed up the blush with a huge grin at the
sight of her lover. It was good to see Xena moving about the village
with the aid of crutches. Her face was strained from the pain and
the fever she had gone through but she looked a lot better than she
had in days. Gabrielle felt hope that everything just might be
turning their way.
With the familiar set of her jawline, the bard made a decision. Then
she broke into a smile again seeing the love dancing in her mate's
eyes.
“She’s good,” Ephiny commented.
“Very, you have good trainers,” Xena agreed.
“Most of that is natural talent. If she ever wanted to turn
warrior she could be deadly in a knife fight, maybe even with a
sword.”
“I hope that doesn’t happen,” Xena said softly.
“You know the odds, traveling the way you two do. She’ll have to
kill someday.”
Xena frowned. “I know, I just want to put it off as long as
possible. I don’t want anything to touch that light of hers.”
Ephiny grinned, “Not as long as she has you, Xena. I’ve never
seen her so happy.”
Gabrielle vaulted over the fence and quickly hugged Ephiny and turned
to hug her mate.
“You’re good out there,” Xena commented, pleased with the blush
Gabrielle gave them.
“Thanks, I’ve been practicing.”
Ephiny stood up, “I’ve got things to attend to and a wedding to
plan. Lots to do,” she grinned.
“Why do I get the feeling this could get complicated,” Xena
complained.
Gabrielle laughed and sat down next to the tall woman.
“Probably. Ephiny says that it can get quite formal when it’s
the Queen getting married. There’s two actual ceremonies - one for
us, family and the blessing of the gods; then a public one that gets
complicated and pompous,” she warned with a smile.
“Gods, I should just throw you over Argo and drag you to a lonely
island for the rest of our lives. I suppose you’ll want me to dress
fancy.”
Gabrielle lightly punched Xena’s arm, pretending to look annoyed
with her warrior. “Can’t have you scaring the foreign diplomats
with your sword and chakram at the ready, can we?”
“Diplomats?” Xena frowned and the bard laughed heartily.
“Xena, mighty Warrior Princess! You’d rather face an army alone
than a royal court, wouldn’t you?” Gabrielle giggled.
“Yup, you bet,” Xena readily agreed with a smile.
“Its just show. Being the Queen they want to put on a big
production, I’m getting them to tone it down a bit. I think you’ll
like the private one,” Gabrielle leaned her head on the warrior’s
shoulder. “How’s the pain?”
“Better. Beginning to itch, always a good sign. The healer says
the shoulder will probably hurt in cold weather from now on, guess
that’ll go with the other aches and pains. Are you sure you want
this old war-horse?” Xena teased.
“Let me show you,” Gabrielle leaned up and, with one hand behind
the warrior’s head, pulled Xena’s lips to hers. The bard
surprised her warrior by pulling the woman down into her arms as
Gabrielle sat down on the hay bale. It wasn't often that Xena let
the bard hold her like this, it required absolute trust, and one
movement and the woman would be on her tailbone. Xena was usually
more self-conscious about showing affection in public for her bard
and Gabrielle knew it. Having Xena relax in the Amazon village like
this was a treat for the bard.
Being a hopeless romantic and optimist, Gabrielle wanted to shout to
the world about her love for the warrior woman. Common sense told
her that this wasn't the safest thing to do in the world but that
didn't mean she kept quiet easily.
Then Gabrielle thought about a secret she was ready to face. Xena
sat up and stroked her lover's cheek.
Xena noticed a shift in Gabrielle’s expression. She sat up again
and touched the bard’s face, pulling the chin up to look in the
deep green eyes she always adored.
“What is it, Gabrielle?”
“I’m ready to look at that parchment.”
“All right, go grab a bath and I’ll meet you at the stable,”
Xena told her.
“Can you ride yet?” the bard looked worried.
“I’ll use a fence to get on. Riding is easy, you can help me off
when we get to the stream.”
“Okay, I won’t be long,” Gabrielle jumped up and kissed her
lover again and then dashed off. The bard marveled again at how
quickly Xena had read the change in Gabrielle's expression and body
language. She wondered again for the hundredth time how they could
have kept their feelings for each other hidden so well. Then the
bard corrected herself with a smile, not from anyone around them,
just themselves. How could they have been so blind?
Xena pulled herself up and began hobbling towards the stable,
thinking about the next event coming. Xena hated mysteries. She was
good at solving them but she hated them. Gabrielle had wanted to
wait until Xena could travel before approaching the next step. They
were both puzzled. Xena couldn’t put it quite into words, she knew
Hecuba would never do anything to hurt Gabrielle but the contents of
the bottle were mysterious and maybe a touch sinister.
Xena wasn’t sure which she dreaded more: facing stuffy nobles or
Gabrielle’s mysterious past.
# ##
Gabrielle led Argo through the woods and along the stream until they
reached a small pool of gentle water and helped position Argo next to
a rock so Xena could climb off the horse without too much trouble.
Feeling somewhat helpless made the warrior feel grumpy and she fought
down the emotion.
Gabrielle sat down slowly on the cloak she had spread out, her face
showing her concern as Xena approached, hobbling along on her
crutches. Even though the warrior tried not to show any pain or
emotion most of the time, the bard could see the tension in the
warrior's face from the pain. Xena sat down cautiously, bringing
blankets and a couple of their travel packs with her.
They had come to a small stream that flowed over many boulders and
rocks and offered many small ponds.
The bard reached into her own pack and pulled out the bottle and
second parchment. After Xena had regained consciousness, Gabrielle
had taken the parchment and bottle from the warrior's pack and opened
it while lying back in Xena's arms. She had been very surprised to
find the letter had been written by her mother while she was still
pregnant with Gabrielle. The letter had instructed the bard to find
a quiet lake, pool of water or a fountain, drink the contents of the
flask with wine and watch the water. The letter also instructed her
daughter to do this with her soulmate. Then the daughter would find
answers.
Xena waited. Green eyes looked deeply into blue ones.
Gabrielle was curiosity personified but this was a little nerve
wracking.
“It’s okay if you’re not ready,” Xena said softly.
“I don’t know. I’m curious as a cat with a closed bag, but
this...” she spread her hands indicating the bottle and the
parchment. “What could it be?” she demanded suddenly. “What
could my mother tell me?”
“She said it might answer some questions you had growing up.”
“Arrrgghhh!” Gabrielle sat staring at the bottle, as if it might
burn her if she touched it again. Then, with a quick motion, she
grabbed the bottle and uncorked it. Xena pulled out two goblets and
poured wine into both from a wineskin. Gabrielle again looked deep
in her lover’s eyes and poured half the powder into each goblet.
“I love you, Xena.”
“I love you, Gabrielle. No matter what we learn.”
With a nod of the bard’s head they both drank and Gabrielle
positioned herself between Xena’s legs and leaned back into her
warrior. Together they began watching the water.
# # #
Both women found themselves closing their eyes, feeling like a fog
had come over both of them. Gabrielle watched everything start to go
fuzzy and felt like she was detaching from her body. Try as she
might, the bard couldn't keep her eyes open and felt her head drop
forward onto her chest.
After a moment Gabrielle opened her eyes and gasped, Xena quickly
opened her eyes, muscles tensing. She blinked several times.
She and Gabrielle were sitting beside a lake instead of a stream. A
gentle lake at dusk. A very calm and gentle lake and Gabrielle
realized with a start that she knew the lake, it was near her home in
Poteidaia.
Very close to them the sounds of someone running through the woods
reached them. Xena reached out to grab a branch to pull herself up
quickly and stumbled back onto her backside when her hand went
through the branch.
A woman ran into sight and went right by them without seeming to
notice them.
“Mother?” Gabrielle felt herself whisper and Xena's body jump as
she, too, recognized the young woman throwing herself down on the
water grass near the lake, in tears and holding her face.
It was Hecuba but a much younger Hecuba, more than 20 years younger.
She was crying and shaking and she didn’t seem to hear the bard.
“She can’t hear or see us, Gabrielle. We’re like ghosts.”
“But she’s younger.”
“Yes, we’re watching this happen back in time somehow.”
Gabrielle leaned back into Xena’s arms again. “Hold me, please,”
she whispered and the warrior gladly wrapped her arms around her love
and Gabrielle grabbed onto the arms, holding tightly.
Hecuba’s sobs racked her body and tore at the hearts of the two
women watching. Gabrielle felt helpless, she wanted to take the young
woman in her arms and comfort her, she also wanted to know why her
mother was crying so hard.
Gabrielle felt a chill pass through her. "Someone's there,"
she whispered and felt Xena's muscles tense up again as the warrior
realized the same thing.
There was a stranger with her mother.
“Why are you crying, woman?” the man asked.
Hecuba squeaked and sat up, stumbling backwards. It was almost dark
and she was alone with a stranger.
“I mean you no harm, why are you crying?” the stranger sat down
on his haunches, probably trying to put young Hecuba at ease.
“My husband, he..... he came home drunk and.....” Hecuba
continued to sob.
“He hurt you and forced you,” the stranger stated and Xena felt
her bard’s muscles tighten. The warrior held tighter.
“No, not force, just not.....” Hecuba stammered.
“Not pleasurable for you.”
“No,” Hecuba dropped her head. “Who are you, I can’t see
your face,” she whispered.
The stranger smiled and held up his hand and all the women were
shocked when it began glowing, putting out more light than a torch.
He grinned. “Better?”
“Apollo!” Xena hissed.
Hecuba went to her knees. “Lord,” she whispered.
“Don’t kneel, please. Just sit with me for a bit. I have a tale
to tell you, young Hecuba,” Apollo ordered and sat down on the
grass next to Hecuba, the light surrounding them.
“You know me?” she asked.
“Yes, I came to see you,” he stated.
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you everything but what I can tell you is that you
are going to have children. The first of them will be a girl and you
will name her Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle felt her head reeling and clung to the warrior’s arms
around her.
“Gabrielle?” Hecuba questioned.
“I like it,” Apollo shrugged. “You will have others but
Gabrielle has a special fate. Sometimes the gods meddle a little too
much in the affairs of you humans and upon occasion some of us have
to step in and counter some of those affects.”
“I don’t understand, Lord.”
“I know. What I can say is thus; with the help of one of the gods
a dark soul will fill this land and could destroy the very
civilization that gives all of us life. This dark one must have a
balance and your daughter will be that balance. She will be the
light to end the darkness. She will be blessed by the gods and
especially by me, a child of the Sun.”
'By the gods, he's talking about me and Xena!' Gabrielle's mind
shouted. "Blessed by Apollo?" she whispered to herself.
“Why me?” Hecuba questioned.
“Why not? You are intelligent, gentle, loving and you have a
strength that she will inherit. It is her fate to shine the light of
the sun on the soul that fell into darkness. It will be Gabrielle’s
light that saves this soul and changes the Fates of the world.”
“Xena?”
“Shhh, little one,” Xena’s voice was strained. Gabrielle was
quite sure that she, herself, was trembling.
“This dark soul, won’t it destroy my daughter?”
“It might, we can’t control everything. It will be up to
Gabrielle and the Dark One. It is a difficult path to go from the
dark to the light but a very easy one for light to fall into dark.
The Dark One may drag your daughter down.”
“Please take this away. I only want a simple and happy life for my
children.”
“The Dark One is her soul mate though their lives will be
difficult. If their love prevails it will be the envy of the gods
themselves. It will be a bond that will span beyond eternity.”
Gabrielle wasn't sure if she was going to be sick or faint. For a
bard who dealt in myths and legends all the time, this was a little
too close to home for the young woman. She was trying to process the
information she had just received.
Dark Soul? The world? Soul mates throughout eternity?
“You’re telling me that a child of mine will change the future of
the world by changing just another person?”
“No, she will touch many souls along her way, not just the Dark
One. In reaching the Dark One and showing this soul love, together
they will defeat the plans of some of the gods that wish to conquer
the world of man to rule over them. Together they will be like the
Sun and Moon, each reflecting the best of each other and sharing the
same light.”
“Will my child be happy?”
“If they find their way to love, your daughter will gladly go
through all the hardship it will mean to be with the Dark One. She
will love this soul beyond any love before, not even death will stop
this bonding.”
Gabrielle felt a tear escaping her eye. She had known in her heart
and soul that she and Xena were meant to be but this was an
overwhelming validation of that love.
Xena wiped a similar tear from her face as well.
“You send a harsh fate to my child,” Hecuba complained.
“Yes, I know. My blessing will be one of the Light. She will be
curious, intelligent and a dreamer. Encourage this in her, don’t
let her dreams die. Do not let your husband break her spirit. The
talent of the God of Poetry will be hers.”
Apollo reached over and touched Hecuba’s face, instantly healing
the black eye that was beginning to show.
“He’s a good man, just a troubled spirit. Be tolerant, he’ll
provide well for the family, just don’t let his temper rule your
children.”
“He was raised hard,” Hecuba complained.
“The visit he’s receiving from Aphrodite right now will mellow
him out a bit. We can’t change him totally,” Apollo warned.
“He’ll still fall short of a perfect husband but he will be good
for you and the girls.”
“Girls, I’ll have more than one girl?” Hecuba gleamed.
“Uh oh, not supposed to reveal anything about the other one and you
can’t reveal anything about me until Gabrielle's either succeeded
or failed with the Dark One.” Apollo grinned. Then his smile
changed and he leaned over towards Hecuba who leaned back, a slight
fearful look on her face. “Relax, I don’t seduce every maiden I
see, no matter what the stories say,” Apollo grinned and placed his
hand over Hecuba’s womb area.
Gabrielle, Xena and Hecuba gasped as light from his hand enveloped
the young woman. When the light faded Apollo was gone and Hecuba was
smiling. She reached down to touch her womb area.
“Gabrielle, you will my dreamer,” Hecuba promised.
The darkness slowly filled the sight of the bard and warrior.
# # #
