XWP: Children of Gods
Awakening Part 9
Ms. Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17
pairings: Xena/Gabrielle, Hercules/Iolaus
Disclaimers
The Usual: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, Ares, etc. etc. etc. Don’t bother suing me, it’s not even worth court costs.
Sex/Subtext/Alt Fiction: No subtext - it’s out there in plain reading. This concerns some characters who are in loving and sexual relationships with people of the same gender. The sex gets hot and heavy (I hope), in other words, a little descriptive.
Violence: some pretty good beatings in here and descriptions of past violent acts, including brutal murder and rape. I’d rate the violence as “R” and the language describing the violence of rape is a little rough.
Storyline: Xena and Gabrielle must find a way to deal with Ares now that they’re back in Greece with Sasha, the daughter of Ares and Xena. In doing so, Xena discovers some truths about her parents and faces her own darkness and Gabrielle must face it with her.
I hope the story can stand on it’s own, but since it is part of a series you might want to check those out first.
A Visit Home, An Awakening
Gabrielle’s Awakening (from Gabrielle’s point of view)
An Awakening, Discovery
Gabrielle’s Discovery (from Gabrielle’s point of view)
Amazon Bonding
Gabrielle - an Amazon Bonding (Gabrielle’s point of view)
Healing
Trial of a Roman, Trial of a Couple
Gladiator, Bard, Warrior, Mother
Ides of March
Children of Gods, Awakening 9
Even with Ares, Awakening 10 - coming
Feedback: yes, yes, yes. Please feed the bard. I love hearing what people think of this stuff. I enjoy writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it.
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“Xena!” Cyrene yelled with a grin as the warrior approached the inn with Gabrielle in her arms. Xena returned the grin and Gabrielle smiled at her mother-in-law.
Hercules hugged Iolaus and Sasha and ruffled the smaller man’s hair.
“How long have you been here?” the demi-god asked.
“About a candle-mark. I was telling Cyrene about the last two years.”
“I’ve been worried sick!” Cyrene commented, moving aside so Xena could move inside with Gabrielle. The older woman’s quick eyes had taken in the bard’s pale and drawn skin and bandages on her wrists, matching ones of her own daughter.
Xena was grateful that there were only a couple of farmers sitting at the tables and sat Gabrielle down carefully into one of the chairs at a table near the fire. Gabrielle smiled as Cyrene came in, followed by Hercules, Iolaus and Sasha. Iolaus let Sasha down out of his arms and the toddler squealed in delight in seeing her mom, Xena and rushed into the dark warrior’s arms. Xena grinned and hugged her daughter tightly and looked at her mom.
“You’ve met your granddaughter,” Xena grinned.
“Granma!” Sasha grinned as well and Cyrene reached out her arms and took the toddler.
“So Iolaus introduced us. Are you okay?” the innkeeper sat down at the table with Gabrielle, holding Sasha in her arms.
Gabrielle nodded but Cyrene thought the bard looked very tired and sick.
“What happened?” Iolaus asked as he and Hercules also sat down.
Xena’s eyebrows raised in question as Torris, her brother, came out from behind the bar, carrying a tray of goblets.
“Hey, Xena. Hi, everyone,” he said simply and walked back into the back room.
“Don’t mind him, he’s still adjusting,” Cyrene said with a shrug, reminding Gabrielle of her mate’s habit of shrugging.
“I noticed he didn’t make it to the wedding,” Xena muttered, pulling up chairs for her and Solan.
“So what happened in Rome?” Iolaus demanded.
Gabrielle nodded to Xena when a coughing fit took her breath away. She was grateful that her mug was filled with cider and not the port that Xena favored. Cyrene frowned at the depth of the cough, noting the sounds of fluid on the lungs.
“How far did you get Iolaus?” Xena asked.
“I told your mom how Gabrielle was captured and sold to slavers and I was hurt. How she ended up in the Arena as a gladiator and got back to us with help from Brutus. About you having a baby in the middle of a skirmish and I got as far as Artemis showing up on the road and zapping us all over the known world.”
“Artemis told us the Amazons and Centaurs had been attacked by the Romans. Gabrielle’s idea was to go to Rome and exchange herself for the prisoners while I killed Caesar.”
“Xena,” Cyrene whispered, the worry showing on her face.
“I know, Mom, but he was worse than Cortese and he had our family.”
“Was?”
“The heralds haven’t reached here yet? Caesar is dead, assassinated in the Senate of Rome by the Senators themselves. Marc Anthony has taken power.” Hercules stated simply.
“You didn’t kill him?”
“No, he caught me when I tried to get to him. He was expecting me.” Xena answered with a grim smile. “Gabrielle traded herself for the Amazons, leaving us with Caesar.”
Cyrene glanced over as Gabrielle coughed again, the coughs deep and wracking.
Xena pulled her chair next to her bard’s and held her mate. Gabrielle leaned heavily into her shoulder.
“We found out that Brutus and some of the other Senators had a plot to kill Caesar and once he was dead would accept a treaty with the Amazons. Caesar put us in the Arena to fight.” Xena suddenly found it hard to continue, remembering the terror when Caesar had announced that the Queen of the Amazons would be crucified and Xena forced to watch during the night while she died. The would-be emperor planned on killing the warrior the next day by beheading but not before she watched Gabrielle suffer and die.
“Caesar crucified Gabrielle and forced Xena to watch,” Hercules continued for his friends.
Iolaus turned very pale and Cyrene thought she was going to be sick. She reached out a comforting hand to Gabrielle’s shoulders, who attempted a small smile.
“How long was she there?” Iolaus asked quietly.
“From sundown to midday,” Xena answered, fighting back tears.
That answered the bandages on her daughter’s wrists, Cyrene reflected. She knew Xena must have gone insane watching her mate dying while chained. The mother was surprised that her daughter hadn’t ripped her own hands off to get to Gabrielle.
It also explained the bandages on Gabrielle’s wrists, the innkeeper knew about crucifixion. Seven inch spikes driven through the wrists and ankles, leaving the body hanging in an unnatural position, unable to breathe fully. Eventually the body would break down and the victim would die, suffocating to death. Fluid on the lungs or heart collapse.
Gabrielle coughed again and whimpered, closing her eyes as she curled into Xena’s arms.
“Brutus got us out of Rome and back to the Amazons and then Artemis zapped us here in reward,” Xena finished.
“Take her up to the room on the right, I’ll heat some bath water and some herb steam water to help break up the lung fluid,” Cyrene ordered as Gabrielle kept her eyes closed.
“Here, I’ll take her up, Xena.” Hercules offered, gently taking the bard into his arms.
She whimpered slightly, drawing her hands in close to her body. Xena’s face reflected her worry as she followed her friend and mate up the stairs.
“Gods, will it never end for those two?” Iolaus muttered.
Cyrene grinned at Solan. “Glad to see you again.”
He grinned back and reached out to tickle Sasha. “Hi, I’m your big brother.”
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Xena was surprised to find the person knocking on their door the next morning was Torris and not her mother. The warrior had already dressed and was getting Sasha dressed while Gabrielle slept. Torris looked at the sleeping bard on the bed and looked uncomfortable, bringing a frown to Xena’s face.
“Can we talk, Xena?” he asked simply.
“Let me get Sasha’s boots on and I’ll be down. I want to let Gabrielle sleep as long as possible. A bed is a definite change from the back of a wagon.”
“All right, I’ll be downstairs.” He left without acknowledging the conversation.
“I wonder what’s crawled under his skin, as if I didn’t know,” she muttered as she struggled with a squirming toddler. She grabbed Sasha into her arms and leaned over to check on Gabrielle’s breathing and frowned at the rasping sound.
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Xena grinned at the site of Iolaus waiting by the fireplace, showing Solan a knife trick. The warrior thought it was a good sign that the small Greek wasn’t suffering from the nightmares as much, especially since Hercules had taken to sharing his bed and soothing away all the nightmares.
Xena caught site of the demi-god sitting at one of the tables watching Iolaus and her son and her grin grew wider at the look of affection on his face. Hercules caught her watching him and blushed. She walked over to the table and sat down.
The serving girl, Aglaea, brought over food for both mother and daughter.
“Morning.” Xena grinned at Hercules and he grinned back, reaching out and tickling Sasha’s chin.
“Morning. Why don’t I take her, your brother is waiting outside,” he suggested and Xena handed over her dark haired daughter with a frown.
“I wonder what is so damned important I can’t feed my daughter first?” she muttered, grabbing her bowl and eating quickly as she headed for the door.
Outside the inn she found Torris standing under a nearby tree, leaning against it with his arms folded. Xena fought down the familiar feeling of irritation. He looked so much like he did when she was young, foreboding and unforgiving. Xena placed the empty bowl and spoon on a bench and walked up to her older brother, trying not to let her body betray her irritation.
“Torris, what’s up?” she asked in an even voice.
“I, uh... I’m sorry about Gabrielle’s injuries, I heard you telling Mother about the crucifixion and Caesar’s assassination.”
“Thank you, Torris.” Xena could sense there was more and wasn’t giving an inch to her older brother.
“I know Gabrielle’s been good for you and I’m grateful for that. I’d like to ask that you not be affectionate in public. It’s just that it’s awkward for me as a Council Elder.”
Xena clenched her jaw and made an effort not to throw her older brother through the tree he was standing against.
“What makes you think anyone even notices, Torris, and what business is it of yours?” she growled, eyes narrowing in anger. Xena was just grateful Gabrielle wasn’t there to hear this.
“Xena, you come in every few months or years but I’m the one who stays, damnit, and puts up with your reputation, good and bad.”
Xena was amazed that he actually looked angry. “Torris, which Xena would you rather deal with? The Warlord I was or the woman I am now?” she decided to try reasoning rather than bashing his head in.
“What does that have to do with this?” Torris frowned.
“Gabrielle is responsible for the difference. She is the light in my life and has saved my soul on several occasions. Accept her as my soul-mate or not, I don’t care.”
“Selfish as usual,” he growled and Xena stopped herself after taking a menacing step forward.
“I don’t know why I’m even discussing this with you except to tell you this,” she grabbed him by his tunic and pulled him close to her. The anger in his eyes was flashing but he didn’t resist. “You had better not treat Gabrielle any differently than before you knew we were lovers or the Council will be looking for another Elder, got me?”
“Why do you even come back here?” he demanded.
“Certainly isn’t for you! I don’t want Gabrielle hearing about our conversation either. She’s been through enough as it is.” Xena released him and started to walk away.
“Afraid she’ll be ashamed of being your bed mate?” he taunted and found himself on his back in the dust with Xena sword at his throat.
The warrior blinked and stepped back, sheathing the sword with trembling hands.
“Torris, you have no idea how close I just came to losing it with you. I watched Gabrielle crucified in front of me, do you think I’m going to let you hurt her?” she demanded, spinning on her heel and heading towards the woods at a trot and then broke into a run when she reached the treeline.
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Cyrene frowned, watching the interplay between her offspring from the kitchen window. She couldn’t hear the words exchanged but the rage on Xena’s face and Torris’ disdain had been very clear. The mother’s heart skipped several beats when she had seen her daughter throw her son to the ground and draw her sword, faster than the eye could follow. For a moment Cyrene had been very scared for both of them, knowing what a death like that would do to Xena and the family.
Cyrene cursed her only living son for whatever he had said to set Xena off that much. She smiled as Hercules walked into the kitchen with Sasha in his arms.
“Hey, where’s Xena? I think Gabrielle is awake, I heard her coughing.”
“I’ll take care of her, Xena’s off in the woods for a bit.” Cyrene tried not to let the demi-god see her worry. He caught sight of Torris dusting off his clothes and the man’s scowl.
“I see the discussion didn’t go well with your kids,” he said with a sad smile.
“No, Xena almost killed him.” Cyrene agreed.
“What?” Hercules whispered.
“Seems Torris upset my daughter about something and I’ve got a good idea what about. I’ll take care of Gabrielle, let Xena cool off for a bit. Can you and Iolaus handle Sasha?”
“Yeah, not a problem. Solan is going to take her for a walk around the village. He hasn’t been out of the Centaur village much and wants a look around.”
“If he’s anything like his mother one village won’t hold him long. What happened to his adopted Centaur father?”
Hercules frowned. “Killed by the Romans. That’s how Solan got that cut on the head, trying to protect him.”
“Gods, when will it end?”
“I don’t think it ever will,” he said sadly.
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Gabrielle tried to keep her cough quiet but found it impossible. She hated to be sick and she hated feeling as weak as she did. Having the bandages on her wrists and her hands practically useless didn’t improve her mood either.
Cyrene cautiously opened the door as she heard a wooden cup go sailing across the room with a growl. Gabrielle sat back on the bed with another round of coughing, blushing in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry,” she said between coughs.
“Don’t be. Remember who my daughter is? I’ve seen temper tantrums before.” The older woman grinned and picked up the cup, setting her tray down on the bed next to the bard. She frowned as she felt Gabrielle’s forehead. “You’re taking a fever.”
“I know. Next comes the healer and lots of foul tasting teas.” Gabrielle complained, taking a drink of the soothing hot tea.
“And weeks of recovery,” Cyrene predicted. “Want me to send for Hecuba and Lila to visit?”
Gabrielle looked at Cyrene with a grateful expression.
Cyrene smiled, “Consider it done.”
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Xena’s mom had been right about the long recovery but it wasn’t the weeks that they had all feared when fever and fluid settled into the bard’s system. Xena figured that it must be the fact of who Gabrielle’s true father was, Apollo, God of the sun and of healing. It was only two weeks before the bard was back on her feet, slowly rebuilding her strength.
Gabrielle’s mother Hecuba and her sister Lila visited the inn for several days, bringing overwhelming joy to the little bard as she recovered. The warrior bard still shook her head, so much had happened over the last two years.
Her mom looked older but her eyes lit up when she talked about a neighboring farmer who was also a widow her age. Gabrielle had grinned when her mom blushed at the bard’s teasing about romance.
Then there was Lila, married and with a small infant at her breast. Her little sister had married the local blacksmith and was happy with the match. Her son, already big for an infant, threatened to be his father’s size. Gabrielle grinned though, being married and a mom hadn’t tamed Lila’s stubborn streak or her quick tongue. Hecuba confided that the big blacksmith was like a puppy dog around her sister and absolutely doted on her and their daughter. Gabrielle was thrilled, knowing how rare love matches could be.
Her mom and sister had also been delighted to see the bard, even if she was wounded and sick. Gabrielle had toned down the dangers and horrors she had faced as a Roman slave and then gladiator but they could both read between the lines, especially when they saw Xena’s jaw tighten. The bard hadn’t been able to tone down the suffering she had gone through on the cross though, they could see the results.
Countering that horror had been Solan and Sasha, their new adopted grandkids and cousins. Solan had taken with his little sister and was a wonderful big brother, playing with the toddler for hours on end. Hecuba had been pleased with the family her daughter was building and told both Xena and Gabrielle so, bringing a happy grin to the bard’s face and an embarrassed blush to Xena’s.
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Hecuba, Lila and son had just left Amphipolis and Xena suggested a walk to the little bard and was pleased when Gabrielle felt up to it. The warrior led them to the small stream just behind the inn and picked a grassy spot and welcomed Gabrielle into her arms as she leaned against a tree.
“What would you think about settling down here?” Xena asked softly, wrapping her strong arms around Gabrielle.
“What about dark and war-like?”
“We’ll have to face it someday, maybe if we can appeal to the gods through Hercules, Zeus can get fuzz-face to leave us alone until Sasha is of an age to decide her future for herself.”
“Won’t be easy, he’ll keep bothering us.”
“Yes, either that or settle in the north with Axel. We need to settle for a couple of years and I’m tired of you being in danger,” Xena whispered in her mate’s ear and Gabrielle leaned back further into her warrior with a happy sigh.
“I’m not happy about it all the time either. There’s something that Apollo told me that’s puzzled me.” Gabrielle frowned in thought and Xena could sense Gabrielle gathering her thoughts.
“What was that, little one?”
“He said that when I was ready to call on him, that I had inherited certain giftings from him and to especially call when you began questioning your parentage.”
“What could he mean by that?” Xena countered with a question of her own.
“I don’t know. That’s just what he said.”
“Maybe it’s time for some answers before Ares gets word about Sasha,” Xena frowned.
“How do we do that?” Gabrielle asked, running her hands playfully over Xena’s arms, marveling at the small scars that matched her own from numerous cuts. The bandages had finally come off the bard’s wrists but she still wasn’t used to the ugly red wounds on both sides of her wrists. She was grateful she still had use of her hands, they were improving every day.
“I guess I start with Mom.”
“What about your brother? He wouldn’t be too happy to have us around.”
“Has he said anything?” Xena demanded and Gabrielle could feel the warrior’s muscles tensing.
“No, my love, but it’s obvious how he feels about us.” Gabrielle smiled a sad smile.
“He can go to Hades for all I care,” Xena muttered. “I need to talk to Mom.”
“Until then,” Gabrielle purred, suddenly distracting the warrior from the mystery by nibbling on her earlobe. Xena growled and felt an answering growl from her bard as Gabrielle turned in her arms and slowly forced the warrior from leaning into the tree onto the grass. Xena moaned softly and held her bard close, having no choice since Gabrielle refused to release her hold on the warrior’s clothes or her lips.
“This..... isn’t... exactly private!” Xena protested between gasps as Gabrielle’s teeth found her neck and her hands worked their way under Xena’s tunic top to grasp her breasts, causing her nipples to beg for more attention.
“Then I guess I can’t strip you naked, can I?” Gabrielle grinned and then laughed as Xena yelped at the thought of being naked by a not-so-secluded stream in her hometown.
Before the warrior could struggle out from under her, Gabrielle slipped a hand under Xena’s skirt and past her undergarment. Xena moaned and threw her head back in sudden passion as the bard discovered how wet the warrior was.
“Oh gods,” Gabrielle whispered, always amazed when she touched her lover. It always felt so wonderful, like touching the power of the gods, the bard thought. “You’re so wet and so beautiful,” she whispered, bringing another moan from her warrior.
Realizing the public situation they were potentially in, Gabrielle quickly entered her mate and attacked Xena’s neck again with her teeth. Xena moaned and grabbed Gabrielle’s shoulders tightly, biting her lip.
“Anyone could....walk....” Xena tried to protest and lost coherent thought as Gabrielle added more of her hand to her attack and increased the speed and depth.
“Then you’ll have to keep quiet,” Gabrielle smirked in the warrior’s ear.
“Arrrgghhhh! I’ll....get you.....oh gods, don’t stop, please!” Xena found herself begging as her body rocked with Gabrielle’s rhythm. The bard’s thumb found Xena’s clit, and the warrior stifled a scream.
“Never, my love.” Gabrielle bit down again and felt Xena’s fingertips digging into her shoulders and the warrior’s body shuddering as waves threatened to overtake her. “Now, my love.”
Xena bit into Gabrielle’s shoulder as the waves overcame her, stifling a scream.
The bard straightened Xena’s skirt and lay next to her gasping warrior, gently playing with Xena’s hair, an amused look on her face.
“Oh you are so in trouble,” Xena gasped and smiled when Gabrielle’s eyes and nose crinkled in amusement. Xena moaned deeply as the bard brought her fingers to her mouth and gently licked them.
Before Xena could recover her breath the bard had leapt to her feet and grinned down at her mate.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Xena demanded, sitting up on her elbows.
“I promised to help your mom with setting up for dinner,” Gabrielle said, trying an innocent expression.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Xena threatened, starting to her feet. The bard giggled and danced away towards the inn with Xena hot on her heels.
Cyrene grinned as the two dashed into the kitchen area of the inn. Both suddenly stopping and looking like two kids who had been caught skipping school. Gabrielle glanced back and saw her mate’s playful expression turn serious and nodded to her warrior and moved towards the other room.
Gabrielle stopped and kissed Cyrene’s cheek and then went out of the room, leaving mother and daughter alone.
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