Bard
Scrolls
Awakening 16
Hunter
Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
Disclaimers
Ownership:
Repeat after me: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc. I’m
borrowing them for entertainment purposes, please don’t bother to
sue me, you wouldn’t even get court costs.
Violence:
less than a typical TV episode.
Subtext/Alt
Fiction/Sex: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship
between people of the same gender and of the opposite sex.
Feedback:
always welcome and responded to!
Storyline:
Xena, Gabrielle, family and friends are traveling back from Northern
Germania to Greece after a winter with the Northern Amazons and
Northmen.
The
story can stand on it’s own but it is part of a series and you
might want to catch some of the earlier parts to know exactly who is
whom.
**It has been four years since Julius Caesar was
assassinated and it is still unclear who is the real power in Rome.
With Brutus and Cassius dead, with no small help from Xena and
myself, Gabrielle, it has fallen to Octavian and Antony, just as Xena
had predicted. **
The
bard looked up from her scroll as Xena stepped into her light. The
warrior knelt down and grinned at her mate.
“How’s
it going?” the warrior asked.
“Ah,
there’s so much to write about when we were with Eddval. That
insane Jarl Herrodr with that little Arab maniac sorcerer. Then
there’s everything that happened with the Northern Amazons,” the
bard complained.
Xena
grinned.
“Let’s
see,” she mused. “You mean traveling to the Northern Amazons to
make amends for my past crimes and having them adopt Sasha as an
Amazon; finding out Alti was still powerful; taking her on in the
spiritual realm and the physical; nearly losing you in that battle?
About your initiation into the tribe and losing Arja, the Queen?
Things like that?”
Gabrielle
smirked at her mate.
“Yeah,
something like that. Don’t forget you nearly died from all those
wounds you took in that battle before you killed Alti. Then
discovering your son had fallen in love with his Amazon escort and
getting tossed out of the village in the middle of winter. What
else? Oh yeah, one power hungry Law Speaker Amazon trying to kidnap
Sasha because she’s the daughter of a god and demi-god,”
Gabrielle counter listed.
“I
am NOT a demi-god!” Xena muttered and Gabrielle grinned, her nose
and eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Of
course not, just because you’re the daughter of two gods and
Cyrene, all at the same time, not a demi-god at all. It’s not
complicated, no, not at all!” the bard teased.
“I
just hope we don’t come up against sorcery again, that was too
weird for me,” Xena complained.
“I
didn’t exactly have a good time either,” Gabrielle frowned and
then smiled when Xena’s hand gently stroked her cheek.
“I’m
sorry, I know it wasn’t,” the warrior said softly.
“In
a way it worked out well,” Gabrielle stated and wasn’t surprised
when Xena’s eyebrows went up in question. “I finally conquered
that damn blood darkness”
Xena
smiled and sat down next to the bard, leaning against the tree.
“Yep, and you were amazing! I’ll never forget the sight of you
in full bacchae craving, all those dead dogs, pregnant women chained
to the walls, meant to be sacrificed and that little bastard
sorcerer. I wasn’t sure we could beat him for a moment there,”
the warrior admitted.
“Yeah,
like you said then, team work. With Solan’s amazing aim with a
bow, you’re aim with a chakram and help from your Valkyrie, we made
it.”
“You’re
forgetting your part in it, my love,” Xena gently scolded. “You
gave Solan the target, you gave me the target and you kept the dogs
from attacking all of us when we were blind by jumping in the middle
of them.”
Gabrielle
delighted the warrior by blushing. Xena laughed lightly and wrapped
her arm around the bard’s shoulders.
“I
love you, Xena,” Gabrielle said softly, laying her head on Xena’s
chest.
“I
love you, Gabrielle,” the warrior responded simply.
*Personal Journal
I feel very fortunate at times like this. Our small
group has camped for the night and everything is set up. Solan is
cooking dinner, a deer that Xena brought down earlier today. Ketli
is playing with Sasha in the trees, he’s almost as much at home in
the trees as an Amazon and he keeps a very close eye on the
precocious child.
I get to take this time to watch my friends and family.
Hercules and Xena are discussing something and Iolaus is napping. I
notice Xena’s eyes always darting back and forth between Hercules
and Sasha, always watching out for our daughter.
“Our daughter”, sometimes that still feels strange
to me. Not because Ares is her father, just the ache I have when I
think about her birth and not being there. I can’t even begin to
describe the anger I’m feeling now that we know Ares had me
captured and sold into slavery to stop me from being there. Even
when I was fighting in the Arena I didn’t feel this level of anger.
It scares me, even more than the Bacchae side of myself.
When do we get a break? I’m almost 30 winters old.
Twice the age past beginning marriage and children myself. Watching
Solan and his new wife Reija reminds me of that. I don’t
understand myself, that’s exactly the life I didn’t want when I
left home to follow Xena, now I’m wanting it and wondering if it’s
too late. We have a home in Amphipolis, both of us have good jobs
and a family. When do we get to enjoy them?
I’m worried now that we know Ares was behind my being
taken as a slave and what a nightmare that was for me that Xena
won’t rest until she’s gotten back at him somehow. Even Hercules
is boiling over with anger at the abuse I suffered and the fact that
Iolaus was crippled because of those damned plans of his brother’s.
I still have nightmares of that time. I don’t talk to
Xena about them much because I know she feels so guilty about not
being there and protecting me or at least rescuing me. All those
hours of training, learning to kill. Learning to do something I
never thought I would be able to do. I remember every face very
clearly. Their eyes haunt me. Xena was right, when you kill – it
changes everything. You can see the light in someone’s eyes going
out as they die. I know that I didn’t have a choice but it doesn’t
help when the nightmares come. I know that each of those men and
women would have killed me without a thought, that’s what they were
trying to do, all that prevented that was that I was better that day.
I never told Xena about the women I was forced to kill in the Arena.
Somehow, I just can’t.
That one is hard to define. I’ve told her everything
about Nikki, about having to become lovers to protect my body from
the men of the gladiator school and for comfort; I’ve told her
about the cravings when the bacchae side takes over; I’ve let her
see what Dancer the gladiator can be like but I’ve never admitted
to killing other female gladiators. I wonder why? Is it because I’m
an Amazon and have sworn to protect women? Do I feel that I’ve
somehow broken that vow? Is that why Artemis won’t come to me?
She came to us when she needed help saving the Amazons but she hasn’t
appeared to me since just after the Ides of March.
Oh good! Now Xena and Hercules are arm wrestling of all
things! Reija is helping Solan with dinner and the kids are now
exploring under some rocks.
Ketli Axe Hand, what names these Northerners come up
with, tries to be such an adult now that he’s almost a teenager but
around Sasha he can revert to being a child that he never really had
a chance to be.
Since revealing to us that she’s somewhat telepathic,
Sasha’s potential god-skills haven’t shown themselves, which is
fine for Xena and me. The less different that she is from other kids
the better. Both Xena and I remember what it felt like growing up
feeling different and how difficult that could be. How painful the
teasing from other kids can be.
It’s been close to seven years since I followed Xena
and I swear she doesn’t look that much older than when I first saw
her. A few differences here and there but nothing major. She’s
still so beautiful and deadly; she takes my breath away even after
all these years.
We left Eddval Skull Splitter’s steading four days ago
and we are making good time on the horses in this spring weather.
After leaving the Northern Amazon village in the middle of the
Solstice Month, I thought we’d never get warm again. Fighting a
river of ice, blinding snow, nearly being killed by arrows, that was
more than I want to repeat. Only Xena got us through at the end.
I’m still enraged at Mattita, the Law Speaker of the
Northern Amazons. Wanting to kill all of us and take Sasha because
the child “might” have powers of the gods. I would be very
tempted to cross that line in my soul about starting a fight with the
intention of killing someone! I’ve only fought in self-defense but
I almost believe I could kill her intentionally. I only hope that
when I get a message from the tribe we find out that Otere and Yakut
have managed to oust Mattita for her murderous plans.
It will be good to be back in Greece. I want to see
Lila and Mother very badly. *
Xena
smiled as she watched Gabrielle writing in one of the bard’s
scrolls. Her mate was deep in thought and sometimes it seemed that
it wasn’t pleasant, Xena could tell from Gabrielle’s expressions.
The
warrior caught Hercules looking at her as they sat under a tree,
watching Sasha and Ketli playing.
“What?”
she demanded.
“You’re
beautiful when you watch Gabrielle,” he commented and grinned when
she began blushing. “I don’t know why it took you two so long to
figure it out, everyone else knew.”
“As
if you can talk, big guy! How long did it take you to finally admit
your feelings for Iolaus?” she countered with a smile.
“True
enough. I guess sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of
us.”
“I’ll
agree to that.” Xena stretched her long body, her eyes darting
around the camp, always alert. “I’ll be glad to be home for
awhile.”
“Yeah,
Iolaus and I have been on the move even more than you two. I want to
get Ketli some education, Iolaus is great with most everything except
numbers.”
“Me
too, I think the entire village of Amphipolis was raising Sasha,”
the warrior grinned. “She has a gift, everyone loves her
immediately.”
“I
could think of worst gifts,” Hercules grinned.
“Yup!”
“Do
you ever think about Zeus being your father?” the demi-god asked.
“Not
a lot. You know how I feel about the gods. You grew up knowing that
he was your father, good or bad. I never knew that until recently.
I’m hoping we never have to deal with that,” Xena shrugged.
“Not
likely, you know. Secrets have a way of coming out, even among the
Olympians,” Hercules commented.
“I
know, but only as a last resort. I’ve seen how thrilled Hera is
with your existence, my friend.” Xena grinned and the demi-god
grinned with her.
“She
seems to be calming down a little.”
“I
hope so, Herc, she’s caused you enough trouble in your life.”
“Dinner!” Solan suddenly called out, startling
Iolaus out of his nap and causing Gabrielle to drop her quill. Both
glared at the youth and, as if he could sense it, Solan grinned.
Xena
cleared her throat to let the young girl know the warrior was there.
The older woman wasn’t surprised when Reija turned quickly and then
just as quickly hid her face.
The
warrior approached the young woman slowly; sitting down on the rock
next to the river they were traveling along. The girl was trying to
dry her eyes and conceal that she had been crying.
“You
okay?” Xena asked simply.
“Yes,
I don’t know why I’m crying,” Reija complained, finally giving
up trying to hide her swollen and red eyes.
“Could
be just your body going crazy. It happens when you’re pregnant,”
Xena smiled.
“Really?”
“Yep,
should have seen me when I was pregnant with Solan, I wasn’t
letting anyone know I was pregnant and I had all those raging
emotions. My troops probably thought I had been cursed by the
Furies,” the warrior grinned. “Or maybe you’re missing home?”
Xena
hadn’t expected the young woman to break down so suddenly and
launch herself into the warrior’s arms for comfort. The warrior
quickly recovered and gently held the young teenager as Reija sobbed.
After
a few minutes the sobs had been reduced to mere sniffles and Reija
pulled back slightly.
“I’m
sorry, I know I’m supposed to be strong.”
“Don’t
apologize. You’ve never been outside of Amazon territory, have
you?” Xena asked kindly.
“No,
not at all,” Reija confirmed.
“Now
you’re traveling all the way across the country from one end to the
sea then to another sea. You’re leaving home, your friends, your
family, your tribe, your way of life, I’m not surprised you’re a
little down.” Xena pointed out.
“My
mother, Mattita, and I hadn’t spoken in months before we left the
village but it still hurts that she tried to kill me.”
“I
know. Adjusting to life outside the village won’t be easy, Reija,
but you’ll find that you have a large family now.”
“Thank
you,” Reija said simply, hugging the warrior again.
*Personal Journal
It’s been seven days since we left Eddval’s steading
in the north and have stopped for a couple of days at a village along
the river. We came upon a spring festival and we found a warm
welcome among the Germanic tribes that make up the small village. I
find my skills at tale weaving most welcome at night around the
bonfires of their celebrations. I think these Germans like story
telling even more than my Greeks. They value their bards, whom they
call Skalds, very highly here, relying on them for education, news,
and entertainment. Skalds can even hold honored positions among
royal courts up here, the nobles keeping skalds close to them so that
their histories might be recorded. These warriors have a passion to
be remembered as heroes and such. I suppose that’s one of the
reasons I began traveling with Xena, I wanted to record her deeds for
the world, especially when I realized that she was trying to change
from the dark Warlord she had been into something else. I wanted the
world to realize that.
The Northmen have a saying up here - Cattle die and
kinsmen die, thyself soon will die; but fame will never fade for he
that wins it.
They also say: from his weapons away no one should ever
stir one step while in the field, for no one knows when you might
have a sudden need of your sword.
One thing about these Goths, they love to fight, gamble,
pursue love and challenge life.
In many ways my fellow Greeks would consider the Germans
barbaric. Their clothing is much more simple, most cannot read a
single word, most wouldn’t know a simple number problem and yet, I
find I admire them greatly. They have a complex religious system and
they aren’t as barbaric as Caesar made them out to be. They still
rely on magic and superstition more than we of the South do but they
also face a harsher life than we do.
They also treat women and children differently than the
Southerners. Women are allowed to keep the property they enter into
a marriage with in case there is a divorce. Something that is
unheard of in our “civilized” society. Divorce is allowed if a
wife is mistreated and she retains custody of any children. Children
are not considered property unless they are children of slaves.
One thing that both societies have in common: slaves.
It seems that neither society can exist right now without slaves,
although Eddval’s Steading did fine without slaves. Maybe he can
influence the other families under his rule now that he has been made
Jarl of the region.
Women are also allowed to have opinions, for the most
part. Some are even allowed to be warriors. I understand that the
Celts are even more even handed with their women and that they have
more rights in society than our own Greek and Roman women have.
Amazing, those we would consider barbaric are more advanced in
dealing with its citizens.
Although I do find I would miss having my scrolls around
me up here. Even ink would be a problem, let alone parchment. They
view my writing ability as a rarity up here and sometimes with awe,
as if I have a magical skill.
I guess in a way that is true on some levels for the
Norse. Their basic writing system is called runes and it developed
out of sacred symbols. Symbols that each have a power, a magic of
their own, even their own sounds. Most everyone knows the basics of
the runes and how to work them but those who are adept at the magical
symbols are viewed with honor and respect and are viewed like we view
our priests.
Xena
looked over at the bard as she wrote in her scrolls and smiled.
Gabrielle was almost unaware of the small crowd she was attracting by
her writing. The warrior reflected that they didn’t see much
writing up here, let alone someone who wrote just to write down their
thoughts, unaware that she was echoing the bard’s very thoughts.
The
warrior looked around, aware that she was fairly at ease, which was
unusual in a large crowd. Normally, she was alert for everything and
anything. Up here you had to be on your toes to avoid fights and
minor arguments and stay out of the way of local politics. It felt
nice not to be watching for assassins, Callisto, or Romans.
The
warrior caught Gabrielle’s eyes and smiled and got an answering
smile that always warmed the warrior’s heart. Then Sasha tearing
through the area with several village children hot on her heels,
laughing in a game of tag distracted Xena. A glance around showed
Solan leaning against one of the logs with Reija between his legs,
leaning back into his chest and the warrior shook her head. When did
he grow up? He was only 15, no 16 summers. A man in all societies
now, she knew, but she didn’t feel old enough to have a son who was
about to become a father.
She
spotted Hercules and Iolaus involved in a drinking contest with some
of the villagers with a lot of wagering going on. The warrior knew
better than to bet on this contest, Iolaus could surprise most
everyone by out-drinking men twice his size and Hercules’ drinking
capacity was legendary. She also knew the same could be said of the
Germans. Xena figured she might take even odds on a couple of the
villagers and the Greeks.
Xena
turned back to the man she was talking to, Saebjorn, a local rune
worker and religious leader. She wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle
joined their table, her sharp ears picking up the conversation on
runes.
“Wait
a minute!” Gabrielle held up her hand and stopped Saebjorn again.
“From the beginning please,” she asked.
“When
you have a need for the power of a rune, the worker goes out and
finds a tree at dawn and asks permission to take a branch,”
Saebjorn began.
“Permission
from who?” the bard asked.
“From
the tree and the spirits of the land, the Disir. The branch is cut
and then the rune worker cuts the staves, long bits of wood, and
carves the runes on the staves. Then he or she must stain them,”
Saebjorn grinned.
“Stain
them? With what?”
“Gabrielle,”
Xena growled slightly.
“What?”
the curious bard asked.
“No,
it is not a hidden secret as it once was,” Saebjorn smiled. “The
runes can be stained, imbued with energy, by many methods. It
depends on what the working is that determines how they should be
stained. Most times it is with the blood of the rune worker, that’s
why working rune magic is usually very personal or very wide spread.”
“What
do you mean?”
“Either
you are working for yourself or for the entire community, not usually
for any number in between,” the magician tried to explain.
“I
see, instead of helping someone with a love spell,” the bard
ventured.
“I
would show the person how to work the love spell themselves and warn
them against working spells in the first place,” Saebjorn grinned.
“Why
discourage them?” Gabrielle asked with a matching smile.
“Because
spells never turn out how you want them,” the Northman laughed.
“We
have a saying, be careful what you ask for, you might get it,” she
joined in his laughter and Xena grinned with them.
Most
of the time the warrior didn’t pay a lot of attention to
Gabrielle’s conversations with other bards, knowing they were
usually exchanging stories, which she would hear later. This time
she was interested in the use of the runes and in Gabrielle’s
understanding of the northern cultures.
“Or
I work a rune working for the community, good harvest, good cattle,
stuff like that,” Saebjorn continued.
“Can
rune magic be used for evil?” the bard questioned.
“Yes,”
Saebjorn frowned in thought for a moment. “Magic is neither evil
nor good, it simply is. It is how the energy is used that makes it
evil or good. Like your Hades, our Goddess of the Underworld, Hella,
isn’t considered evil, she just is. She reigns over the Underworld
where those who aren’t worthy of Asgard end up and those who work
against others end up in the River of Knives, not even reaching
Hella’s Halls.”
“River
of Knives?”
“I
was told that it was probably a river so cold and filled with ice
that it would feel like knives stabbing you. Hella’s Halls aren’t
somewhere I want to end up,” Xena commented. “Snakes fill the
walls, poison drips from the doorways, other fun stuff like that.”
Saebjorn
grinned. “Yes, and Odin’s Hall, Valhol, is made of shields and
there is feasting and drinking all night and fighting all day. Each
god and goddess have their own halls and their own followers join
them after they die. Odin gets half of the honored slain and Freya
the other half.”
“The
goddess of love and forests,” Gabrielle remembered.
“Yes,”
Saebjorn confirmed.
“Back
to the staining,” she reminded him.
“Right,
most times it’s blood which connects the worker to the working.
Other times it can be spit, a minor working. Sometimes it’s…
it’s more personal.”
Both
women were surprised when the began blushing. Xena suddenly
understood but noticed that Gabrielle didn’t.
“For
a love spell or fertility, right?” Xena questioned, hoping the bard
would figure it out without Saebjorn having to go into details.
“What?”
Gabrielle then began blushing and Xena knew the bard finally got it.
“Oh yeah, okay. Uh, how, uh, how then do you use the runes?”
“You
understand ritual, ja?” he questioned.
“Yes,”
Gabrielle and Xena both answered.
“Chanting,
prayers, and such. Sometimes the wood is burned to release the
energy, sometimes buried. Most times the chanting is accompanied by
the galdr stance and sound, the body position of the rune and its
special sound.”
Xena
looked over and saw that several villagers had dropped out of the
drinking contest, literally. Several were unconscious, curled up in
their cloaks next to the fire. Iolaus was swaying heavily on his log
with his eyes closed and the warrior didn’t think that the small
Greek would last much longer. That left Hercules and three
villagers left, still going strong.
Gabrielle
and Saebjorn were deep in conversation about metre verse poetry and
sound and the magical use of it when the bard looked over at Xena and
frowned. The warrior was almost pale and staring at something past
the fire.
Gabrielle
quickly followed Xena’s gaze and saw a figure watching them from
across the large bonfire. The bard could make out that the figure
was probably male from the general outline but not much else. A male
figure in a large, floppy brimmed hat, dark cloak and leaning on a
spear. She couldn’t see his face clearly and couldn’t determine
age or much about him. Something tugged at the bard’s memory but
she couldn’t quite grab it. She turned to Xena.
“What
is it?” she questioned as Saebjorn got up from the small table to
fill his drinking horn again.
“I
need to stretch my legs for a moment, be right back,” Xena mumbled
as she stood up, never taking her eyes off of the figure.
Xena
started by Gabrielle and was surprised when the bard reached out a
hand and stopped her.
“I
got it! My vision!” Gabrielle hissed quietly. “He’s the one
in my vision!”
“I
don’t doubt it, I knew who he was. Wait here,” Xena ordered.
“But…”
“No,
wait here!” Xena snapped and pulled away from her mate and walked
around the fire to the figure.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena
approached the cloaked figure cautiously with her eyes quickly
scanning the countryside, her eyes trying to pierce the darkness.
“Hail,”
she hesitated. “What do I call you?”
“Vakr
is good for now,” the tall figure answered easily.
“Vigilant,
you know that’s what they call me now,” she countered.
“Yes,
Ylsa,” he answered and gestured to a log near the fire, inviting
her to sit.
The
warrior hesitated with her hand on her chakram, just inside her coat.
“I
swear on the head of my son that I mean you no harm and I am not
seeking a fight with you,” the stranger vowed.
Xena
nodded and sat down across the log, facing the stranger.
“What
do you want, Vakr?” she asked.
“I
owe you personal thanks for helping with that mess with Jarl Herrodr,
you and your friend but I thought I’d approach you alone first.
You can tell your friend thank you for me.”
“And
everything before?” she asked quietly.
“I
don’t know you, warrior. You are not the same woman who was here
years before and I am not the same either.”
“Odin,
one thing I’ve learned over the years, gods don’t change much!”
she whispered fiercely.
“Xena,
what changed you?” the Norse god countered.
The
warrior’s face softened and she looked deep into Odin’s blue eye,
suddenly realizing that he had a patch over his right eye. He
watched her facial expressions and nodded, indicating Gabrielle.
“She
happened to you, didn’t she?” he asked.
“Yes,
she is the reason,” the warrior admitted.
“I’ve
changed as well, Xena. Frigga and I are close again, I sacrificed my
eye for the gift of prophecy and wisdom, and I’ve watched the
changes in you whenever you’re in the North.”
Xena
nodded, accepting the possibility that the god before her wasn’t
the same god she knew years before. She had to admit that she wasn’t
the same woman she had been then either.
“Hecate
said that Sasha is predicted to have a future in the North and it’s
important to you, can you tell me anything about that?”
Odin
shook his head sadly. “No, the Norns won’t reveal what, just
that she is important to us. I’m sorry, I know how frustrating
that is.”
“Thank
you for your help in sending Grimhild, both times,” Xena said.
“My
pleasure,” the god grinned. “Things have changed and will
continue to change.”
The
Norse god stood and offered his hand. Xena hesitated a moment and
took his arm in a warrior’s grasp and then accepted his hug.
“You
have turned into quite a woman, Xena,” he said simply and pulled
his hat lower over his face.
“You’re
turning into a decent god, Odin,” she matched his grin and watched
as he walked into the shadows.
Xena
turned and spotted Gabrielle watching her intently and walked back to
the table where the bard waited.
“Where’s
Saebjorn?” Xena asked.
“Headed
for his hall. Who was that?”
“Odin,”
Xena answered simply.
“Odin?
As in Odin, All Father God of all the Norse gods?” Gabrielle
demanded in a fierce voice.
“Yup,
the very same,” Xena couldn’t help but grin.
“What
did he want with you?”
“To
thank us both for stopping that idiot Herrodr from forming his own
Wild Hunt,” Xena explained, sitting next to her mate.
“That’s
it?”
“No,
he said he can’t tell me about Sasha’s future with the Norse
people, just that she has one and it’s important. I hate
prophecy,” the warrior complained.
“Of
course you do, my love,” the bard grinned.
They
both looked over and watched the last two contestants of the drinking
contest. One villager and Hercules, both finishing off another
drinking horn at the same moment and both falling over dead drunk at
the same moment. The spectators howled and stomped their feet,
trying to wake up one or the other but finally had to give up and
declare a draw.
Xena
and Gabrielle both laughed loudly.
“He’ll
pay for that tomorrow!” Gabrielle predicted.
“No
doubt! That mead packs quite a punch!” Xena grinned in agreement.
The
bard leaned back into Xena’s arms and moaned in pleasure as the
warrior leaned down and kissed Gabrielle’s neck.
“Let’s
head for our sleeping furs, little one,” the warrior whispered
huskily.
“Yes,
my love,” the bard agreed readily.
Gabrielle
smiled and turned into Xena’s embrace, when they reached their
sleeping furs inside the local stable. Xena had set their furs up in
the farthest corner of the building in an old stall which offered
them a little privacy. Gabrielle’s sharp ears could hear snores
and breathing from others sleeping in the barn and smiled.
“What,
little one?” Xena whispered.
“You
tell me that you used to be quiet when making love, think you can be
quiet again?” the bard teased and grinned when Xena began blushing.
“Okay,
you!” Xena threatened as her lips began nuzzling Gabrielle’s
neck, “I admit that you can have me begging or screaming but I’m
not the one usually shaking the rafters!” she whispered and was
rewarded with her own teasing by Gabrielle smacking her on the arm
and breaking out of the embrace.
The
bard danced into the stalls and faced her mate in the faint light of
the moonlight. Gabrielle smiled and pulled her coat off and let it
drop at her feet and Xena felt her heartbeat increase at the look of
playfulness in the bard’s green eyes. The bard pulled her tunic
over her head and Xena’s breath caught in her chest at the sight of
her half naked mate.
Xena
entered the stall and went to her knees easily and let her lips and
tongue begin to dance over the bard’s ample breasts and nipples,
her arms encircling her mate and pulling Gabrielle close to her.
The
bard’s whimper of arousal brought a flush to the warrior’s entire
body and she pulled Gabrielle down to her knees and the two lovers
began dueling with their tongues and hands as clothing was pulled off
or pushed aside.
“Gods,
Xena, I love you so much!” Gabrielle whispered as Xena laid the
bard onto the sleeping furs.
“I
love you more than life itself, Gabrielle,” the warrior whispered
back and bent down to capture her bard’s lips and show her soul
mate how much she loved her.
“Xena?”
The
warrior pulled back slightly and was a little surprised when she saw
Gabrielle’s eyes were mostly yellow instead of her usual green and
Xena could see the beginning of fangs on her bard.
“Yes,
little one,” Xena said easily.
The
warrior was surprised at the speed and strength of her bard as
Gabrielle flipped the warrior over onto the furs and the bard began
kissing her roughly. Xena moaned and felt her body responding
instantly. Xena started to pull the bard closer and felt herself
growling as Gabrielle grabbed her wrists in one hand and held her
arms over her head as the bard began nuzzling the warrior’s neck.
Gabrielle growled back and Xena’s back arched as the bard’s
fingers began caressing her center, parting her sexual lips and
playfully arousing the warrior even higher.
As the
bard’s fingers, tongue and lips began to drive her crazy, Xena felt
her body beginning to tremble and tried to break the bard’s hold on
her wrists and moaned with frustration as Gabrielle’s grip held.
The bard pulled back slightly and looked into her mate’s blue eyes.
“Yes!”
Xena hissed and felt her whole body rise off of the furs as
Gabrielle’s fangs pierced her neck and the bard’s fingers claimed
her lower body.
There
were several grumbles later from other occupants of the barn when
cries broke the silence at the far end of the barn but no one
complained much.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Personal Journal
Xena says we’re still in the flat part of northern
Germania, which isn’t saying much. We’ll be hitting the large
range of mountains soon enough. I’m just glad that we’re
traveling in the summer and not in the fall or spring when everything
would be mud in the lowlands and snow in the mountains.
Of course, the rain for the last two days hasn’t
helped this theory.
We’re following a large river and finding plenty of
villages to find shelter in. They are much more open to strangers
here, having the custom that anyone can find shelter from a storm or
at any time during the winter. Of course, getting stuck in a
strangers’ home for five months during the snow season can cause
quite a strain on hospitality, I have no doubt!
The countryside is so beautiful. The riverside is thick
with trees, sometimes it’s even hard to get through on horseback
and the leaves are all different colors. The weather, besides the
four days of rain, has been good with the chill being bearable even
at night.
The only trouble we’ve had was from a small group of
bandits that tried to rob us yesterday. *
Xena
was leading the small band of travelers when she surprised them all
by stopping and holding her hand up in a signal for them to stop.
Gabrielle’s hands went to her sais, Hercules to his war hammer,
Iolaus for his sword, Solan for a dagger, Ketli for a small war axe,
and Reija for her sword.
Xena’s
hand flashed towards her side and brought her chakram up at the same
moment she yelled.
“Down!”
Everyone
moved like a well-trained military unit. Gabrielle dived out of her
saddle, grabbing Sasha from her horse and rolling to the ground,
shielding the child in her arms and taking the heavy hit from the
dirt road herself. Solan felt his wife’s hand on his arm and
rolled towards it, trusting her as they hit the ground together
between the horses. Ketli jumped off his horse and ran to help
Gabrielle shield Sasha. Hercules and Iolaus both hit the ground on
their feet and were able to see Xena deflect several arrows with her
chakram as they flew towards her chest.
Xena
flipped over backwards off her horse with a war cry and landed her
feet in a defensive position.
Solan
and Reija gained their feet and Gabrielle stayed in a crouched
position with Sasha behind her as her eyes scanned the trees.
“Move
and you die!” a voice threatened in lower Germanic.
None
of the Greeks and Amazons said anything as several figures moved out
of the trees, each armed with bow and arrow and sword.
“Hand
over your furs, your money and any jewelry,” the leader ordered.
Xena
glanced over her shoulder, assessing everyone’s position and
getting answering nods from the Greeks and Amazon. She saw Gabrielle
reverse the sais in her hands into a throwing position and saw Reija
whispering to Solan, his head cocked and listening for voices and
noises.
The
warrior turned to the bandit.
“Only
one warning, leave now,” she grinned.
“Maybe
you didn’t hear so well, foreigner. Hand everything over,” he
demanded again.
“Go
join Hella!” Xena cursed as she let loose her chakram, cutting his
bow in two.
Two
bandits fell over clutching their chests; suddenly wondering about
the strange weapons embedded in their chests and the small blond who
had thrown them. It was their last thoughts.
Two
other bandits rushed the group with swords drawn and were quickly
taken out by Reija, Hercules and Iolaus. The leader, the only one
left standing, suddenly turned very pale and decided to make a hasty
retreat back into the trees.
Hercules
and Iolaus stripped the unconscious bandits of their weapons,
retrieved Gabrielle’s sais for her and helped Sasha back up onto
her horse. Everything was done within minutes.
“You
know, that wasn’t even a challenge,” Xena complained.
“Yup,”
Hercules agreed with a grin.
Gabrielle and Iolaus shook their heads in amusement at
their mates.
*Personal
Journal
Now we head into the mountains. Mountains that seem
darker and almost sinister as compared to my native Greek mountains.
Even the Romans hate trying to hold these mountains. The people are
fiercely independent and hard working and keep mostly to themselves.
Fortunately we aren't heading into the deep mountains.
It's strange; I've actually found a place that Xena
hasn't been in her travels. Somehow, even during her Warlord days
she missed the deep Carpathian Mountains. She says that she saw no
reason to concentrate her forces in the deep mountains when she could
control the surrounding land below. Her army howling like the wind
across the land they call the Steppes or down through the valley
between Greece and northern Germania.
We've decided to camp early and start into the mountains
in the morning. The trip from this point on gets harder and travel
will go a little slower. I think we're all anxious to get home
except Ketli, seems like he was born for the road. He never
complains about being tired and takes in everything around him with
an eagerness that is sometimes tiring. He reminds me of myself when
I was a child, only he's getting to travel the world while I grew up
only dreaming of it. Which was better, I wonder sometimes. I grew
up with a loving family in a stable village and life that didn't
understand me. Ketli grew up raised by the large family of Axel
since Ketli was an orphan and then adopted by Hercules and Iolaus,
the boy having bonded so deeply with them. Now he travels the world
but I hear him tossing in his blankets sometimes with nightmares.
Hercules says he hears the boy muttering and crying for his mother in
his sleep. Hercules and Iolaus are wonderful fathers but the boy
still misses his original family.
My nightmares are starting again about being taken as a
slave. The rapes and the horror of the Arena are beginning to haunt
my dreams again. We're not going through the same area where I was
taken and Iolaus crippled but the closer we get to Roman territory
the worse it gets. I know that Xena has noticed but she hasn't said
anything other than comforting me at night, like I do her when the
memories get too much. She's probably figured out what is bothering
me anyway.
I know I should talk to her about it, if nothing else to
keep her from worrying too much but it's so hard. I've never counted
how many kills I had in the Arena but I could. I remember every
face, almost every detail. I thought, I had hoped, that they would
blur together after awhile like memories do sometimes but it seems
I'm cursed by the Fates to see each fight clearly, even those long
fights on that day we were taken in front of Caesar and I was
crucified. It troubles me that I can kill so easily. I killed those
two bandits without a second thought. What have I become? *
Hercules
smiled as he handed Xena a mug of tea and sat down next to her in
front of the fire. He glanced over at their sleeping mates, neither
he or the warrior were surprised when Iolaus and Gabrielle both
headed early for their sleeping furs. Neither the bard nor Greek
warrior had been sleeping well.
“You
okay?” he asked softly.
Xena
glanced up at Solan and Reija huddled on the other side of the fire,
wrapped in each other’s arms and furs, watching the fire and
basking the in the warmth of each other. Sasha was asleep between
Xena’s legs, her head resting on Xena’s thigh, and Ketli was
sharpening his hand axe near Solan and Reija.
“Yeah,
just a little worried. Ever since we ran into that Roman garrison
two days ago both Gabrielle and Iolaus’ nightmares have been
worse,” she said simply.
“I
know. It happens every time. I don’t know what to do about it
except try and comfort them.”
“That’s
about all we can do. I don’t think the Roman Empire is going to
disappear anytime soon so we’re going to keep running into
soldiers,” the warrior frowned.
“You
were the Warlord, where do you see this thing with Octavian and
Antony going?”
“Now
that Antony is with Cleopatra all the time and they’ve already had
a child? I heard the latest news from the Roman soldiers the other
day,” Xena pulled out her whetstone and began sharpening her sword.
Hercules
knew it was the warrior’s way of keeping her hands busy and giving
her a focus when she was thinking, especially unpleasant thoughts.
“You’re
friends with Cleopatra, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes,
we helped her out with a problem a while back.”
“Antony
and Octavian are going to fight, aren’t they?” the demi-god
frowned.
“Yes,
neither of them will be willing to settle for dividing the Empire.
Octavian won’t trust Antony and Antony will kill Octavian the first
chance he gets,” the former Conqueror of Nations commented.
“Why?
Antony should be happy in Egypt and having that half of the world.”
“He
won’t be satisfied with that. He’s Roman, no matter how much he
loves Cleopatra, he’ll always be Roman and want Rome for himself.
He’s ruthless and bloodthirsty, even more than I was. Antony
killed anyone related to anyone that might have been involved in the
assassination of Caesar. He’s quick to use that sword of his and
he’s tried to kill Octavian before.”
“Really?
I’m not surprised. When?”
“The
Battle of Philippi. Octavian and his troops were set to take the
worst of the battle and Antony had assassins infiltrated in
Octavian’s ranks. They were to kill Octavian during the battle and
Antony would seize the victory and claim the Empire.”
“That’s
when you helped them defeat Brutus and Cassius,” Hercules
reflected.
“Yes,
I also kept Octavian off the battlefield. Seems he has a delicate
stomach at times and was too sick to fight,” the warrior grinned
and Hercules shook his head with a grin, admiring the tactical mind
of his friend.
“Antony
planned on killing you and Gabrielle, didn’t he?”
“Yes,
the men he sent with both of us were supposed to kill us but they
decided to be somewhere else when we left,” Xena grinned.
“Do
you think Cleopatra will call on you for help?”
“I
hope not. I like Cleo and thinks she’s one hell of a leader but I
can’t help her against Octavian.”
“Is
it because Antony slaughtered the Amazons or because you support
Octavian?”
“I
don’t have any love for Rome, even after Caesar’s death. No, we
owe Antony for killing our family and friends,” Xena’s eyes
narrowed in anger and Hercules remembered that face very well and was
glad that it was no longer directed at him after all these years.
“I
miss them too,” he said softly, remembering finding Ephiny’s body
on the cross where Brutus had her crucified, the body of Solari,
Ephiny’s mate left for the carrion feeders. They never found the
body of Xenon, Ephiny’s Centaur son.
Xena’s
head snapped up at the sound of a small whimper. She started to get
up and glanced down at the sleeping child in between her legs.
Hercules
placed a hand on her arm. “I’ll go to her, you take it easy.”
Xena
watched with a pained face as Hercules gently shook the bard slightly
until the nightmare was broken and then drew her crying mate into his
arms until Gabrielle fell back asleep.
Xena
caught Reija’s glance and the Amazon shrugged, also at a lost as to
how to help the two Greeks ease their nightmares.
* Personal Entry
Oh Gods, I haven’t been so scared in my life. Solan
woke us up in the middle of the night calling for Xena and me. We
found Reija in such pain, it scared us all. Severe stomach cramps,
so bad that she couldn’t straighten her legs out and kept throwing
up.
Xena was able to use pressure points to relieve some of
the pain while Hercules and Iolaus warmed water up for some herbs to
help calm the muscles down. Solan, I didn’t know how to help him,
we both felt so helpless. He held Reija’s head in his lap and let
her squeeze his hands as the pain ripped through her. I tried
cooling her down with a cool cloth but felt so frustrated.
Then Xena said the words that each of us already knew
but refused to face. Reija was trying to lose the baby; her body was
trying to reject the life growing in her. I know it’s common with
women, especially young girls in their first pregnancy, but that
doesn’t make it easier to live with. Even knowing that future
children are possible after losing one doesn’t help.
Solan was trying to be brave for both of them but he’s
such a caring young man. I knew he was devastated and Reija just
cried in his arms. How can she face losing this child? Reija’s
given up everything she’s ever known to be with Solan and this
child was going to be her connection with her new life.
I found myself silently praying. I know Xena’s not
one for praying and asking help from the gods under almost any
circumstances but I’m not that strong or stubborn. I called on
Apollo, God of healing and medicine, and my father, for help.
We worked through the night, all of us. Ketli kept an
eye on a dozing Sasha by the fire. Iolaus and Hercules took turns
keeping water hot for compresses on Reija’s womb and cool water for
cloths on her forehead. Xena kept alternating pressure point massage
and the herbal teas. I kept the compresses and cool cloths
alternating and Solan kept holding her.
Finally at dawn Sasha’s head popped up and she got up
from Ketli’s arms and approached our tired little circle. Hercules
and Iolaus were almost asleep by the fire and Reija’s pains had
subsided. Sasha knelt down next to Reija and carefully placed her
hand on Reija’s womb for a moment and then smiled at us.
I know I must have looked confused because I know Xena
did.
“The baby is okay,” Sasha told us.
“You sure, Sasha?” Xena asked her.
“Yes,” the child nodded.
Somehow she just knows things.
We spent the day resting. Reija’s pains finally
settled down to a dull ache, and most everyone slept the morning
away. We’ve decided to camp here for a few days and let Reija’s
body rest. Hercules and Xena want to find a nearby village and get a
small wagon for the travel the rest of the way. Reija is protesting,
trying to be the strong Amazon she was raised to be, but everyone is
outvoting her. The best thing for her and the baby is to take it
easy from now on until we’re sure she can carry the child the rest
of the term.
I give thanks to Apollo and to Xena’s skills and the
love of family and friends.
“Is
she going to be okay?” Gabrielle asked her warrior as they settled
the young Amazon mother-to-be into the wagon that Hercules and Iolaus
had purchased from a nearby village two days later.
Xena
grinned as Reija rolled her eyes in frustration. It had been a
difficult argument to get the Amazon to agree to ride in the wagon
and take it easy, finally they had insisted on the life of her child
and Reija had instantly given in, once she accepted it was best for
the baby.
“I
think so as long as we don’t have to tie her down,” she joked and
laughed as Reija threw hay at the couple.
Iolaus,
driving the wagon, looked back and grinned and clicked to the horses,
setting the wagon into motion with Solan sitting beside him.
The
rest of the family mounted their horses and began following behind.
“The
rest of the journey isn’t too hard until we reach the Greek
mountains. We’ll be out of these mountains and into the valley
lands below shortly,” Xena commented.
“Back
into Roman territory,” Gabrielle muttered, her jaw clenching.
“Want
to talk about it?” the warrior asked simply.
“You
already know about the nightmares,” Gabrielle complained.
“No,
Sasha says I don’t know everything.”
“What?”
Gabrielle demanded quietly, glancing over at the child riding in
front of Ketli.
“She
says that there’s something about your nightmares you haven’t
told me and it’s slowly draining your strength,” Xena explained,
glancing out of the corner of her eye to her mate.
The
warrior wasn’t surprised to see the bard’s clenched fists and
jaw.
“She
tell you what it was?”
“She
didn’t know, just that it was hurting you, my love.”
“Xena…”
Gabrielle hesitated; her eyebrows furrowed and face in a frown. “I
need some time, I’ll catch up.”
Before
Xena could respond the bard turned her horse and trotted off back the
way they had come. Hercules and Iolaus turned with questioning faces
and Reija with raised eyebrows. Ketli looked away and Xena had the
feeling he had overheard their conversation.
The
warrior shrugged off the questioning looks and moved her horse to the
front of the wagon on point.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After
half a candlemark Xena turned her horse with a curse and began
trotting back the way they had come. Iolaus looked over at Hercules
and the demi-god just shrugged.
“Will
someone tell me what’s going on?” Solan finally demanded.
Reija,
Hercules and Iolaus all looked at each other, silently debating who
was going to try and explain what they didn’t understand yet.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle
wasn’t surprised to hear a single horse approaching the small
clearing where she had stopped. The bard held her sais in a
defensive position until she saw for certain that it was her warrior,
her Xena, approaching and then turned back to attacking the tree she
was focused on.
The
bard watched Xena get off her horse out of the corner of her eye as
she buried the sais into the tree and spun on one heel into a kick
that snapped a dead branch off the old and dead tree.
As
Xena approached Gabrielle felt the anger energy disappear, leaving
her suddenly tired. She sank to the ground and leaned her back
against the tree. Xena squatted down in front of her bard, blue eyes
seeking out green ones, filled with concern and love.
Gabrielle
felt tears filling her eyes. “I know why Artemis won’t come to
me and maybe even Apollo,” she whispered, dropping her eyes.
“What
is it, little one?”
“I
broke my vows as an Amazon and Queen,” Gabrielle broke down as Xena
held out her arms. The bard scampered into her mate’s arms as
tears ran down her face.
“What
do you mean, Gabrielle?” Xena asked, shifting so her back was
against the tree.
“I’ve
killed women, sometimes they were young.”
“You
have no choice in the spirit realm. Alti had their spirits and they
would have killed you and the other Amazons,” Xena protested.
“No,
not then. I know I didn’t have a choice, even when I killed Cyane
in the Spirit Realm and maybe not even when I killed Arja. This was
different,” the bard protested.
Xena
frowned, trying to remember when the bard had come into battle with
other females and couldn’t think of any when they were together.
Then Xena realized what the bard was probably talking about. The
time when Gabrielle was away from her and didn’t have choices in
her life, especially over life and death.
“In
the Arena?” Xena ventured and felt Gabrielle nod through her tears.
“You didn’t have a choice, Gabrielle!”
“I
didn’t protect females in need, I killed them!”
“They
would have killed you easily if you hadn’t fought back,” Xena
tried reasoning with her mate.
“I
shouldn’t have ever killed, Xena!” Gabrielle protested, sitting
up, her face angry again. “That’s not what I wanted! I should
have died rather than take life!”
“No!”
Xena grabbed Gabrielle’s wrists, forcing the bard to look her in
the eyes. “I would have died without you and probably Sasha too!
You can’t blame yourself for surviving!” the warrior insisted.
“I
wasn’t meant to be a warrior! I don’t believe that was my path!”
Gabrielle insisted.
“It
might not have been, we don’t know that. We know that Ares altered
your destiny and he is going to pay for that! We don’t know if you
never would have killed.” Xena could see and feel the pain
radiating from her mate. “We know that traveling with me you would
have faced that sooner or later. You know that saving people
sometimes requires being a warrior and sometimes that means death.”
“I
might have had a choice in the matter,” Gabrielle complained.
“That’s
the point!” Xena argued. “You didn’t have a choice, it was
either die or survive by killing. You had less choice than even a
soldier in war, Gabrielle. No one can hold that against you.”
“Artemis
seems too! Wouldn’t she have come to me when the Amazons died?
What happens when we die?”
“What
do you mean, little one?” Xena asked, letting go of her bard’s
wrists.
“I
betrayed my vows, I’m not going to end up in the Elysian Fields
with you!”
Once
again the bard collapsed into tears in the warrior’s arms. Xena
felt tears flowing down her face as well as she held her beloved
close.
“Gabrielle,
I don’t believe that! We’ll find out what’s going on with
Artemis when we get to Greece. I don’t believe that anything this
side or the other can keep us apart. The Gods themselves blessed our
joining. We will be together!”
“I
don’t want to be anywhere without you, even paradise,” Gabrielle
muttered.
“Nothing
and no one is going to keep us apart. We’ll figure out what is
going on with Ares and Artemis, little one, I promise.”
Personal Entry
The land now is farmland and rich. The people are
friendly but not as welcoming as the Goths and Germans. This area is
traveled more and they are more accustomed to strangers coming and
going and even troops passing through their small villages and towns.
We ran into another patrol today. A few minor questions
and they always send us on our way once they know we are Greek and
freeborn. Gods, I still get the shakes every time I see a Roman
soldier and Iolaus went very pale as well. How in Hades do I get
over this?
One advantage of having those scars across my shoulder
from my Amazon tribal marking: the slave brand is no longer visible,
the scars destroying the brand.
I must admit that I’m sleeping a little better since I
talked with Xena and told her about my having killed women in the
Arena. She tries to reassure me that that can’t be the reason
Artemis won’t come to me but I don’t know. Xena also thinks the
gods are selfish, spoiled brats most of the time. Did Artemis come
to me for help only because she needed Xena and me and then abandon
me because of my broken vows?
The mountains were so beautiful but harsh. I’m glad
to be in the valley for a while. Next it will be our mountains and
then home. I’m tired and want to see my family and I know Xena is
missing Amphipolis. Who ever would have thought that Xena would want
to settle down?
Home will be good for a while. Solan and Reija to make
their home and prepare for the baby; see Mom and Lila and see if she
has any more kids herself; help Cyrene in the inn and tell stories, I
do have some new ones to add now.
Even the bacchae thing has gotten easier, although Xena
glares at me good-naturedly when Hercules and Iolaus tease her about
her “love bites” after a full moon. I know I blush bright red
but can’t help it! Who ever thought that something that could be
considered a curse could become something that is such an incredible
sexual turn on for us? By eating rare meat the week before the moon
and animal blood, I’m able to control the bacchae craving most of
the time and only had to turn to Xena for more than just the blood
every other month.
A life to build with my love, my Xena. *
Gabrielle pulled her horse close to the wagon and looked
down at Reija playing in the back with Sasha. The young Amazon woman
looked up and attempted a smile.
“Don’t worry, Xena’s mom is going to love you!”
Gabrielle grinned, trying to reassure the young bride.
“Solan says that she didn’t know about him until he
was almost a teenager, now he’s coming back a married man with a
child of his own on the way, she might resent me!” Reija said
softly.
Gabrielle looked over at the young man riding on a
horse, Xena holding his reins.
“She’ll love you, Reija,” Gabrielle repeated.
“Cyrene’s had to adapt to a lot of changes over the years. She
had given up and turned her back on Xena when Xena became a Warlord,
then she trusted and accepted that Xena was trying to change,”
Gabrielle grinned. “She even accepted this tag-a-long annoying
young kid who kept following her daughter and making a nuisance of
herself.”
“You? You weren’t born an Amazon?” Reija asked.
“No, I was born a simple village girl in Greece, on
the coast. Xena saved me and the other girls of the village from
some slavers and I started following her and kept pestering her until
we became friends and I actually started helping her with things.”
“How did you become an Amazon?”
“We asked permission to cross Amazon land and the
Amazons were attacked. I tried to shield an Amazon Princess with my
body after she was hurt and she passed her caste onto me and I became
Queen after her sister. Wasn’t easy to be accepted though. I
wasn’t a warrior of any type and didn’t want to be,” Gabrielle
explained as they rode along.
“But you’re a warrior now,” Reija protested.
“No, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that. I
was forced to learn to defend myself traveling with Xena and becoming
an Amazon. I was very good with a staff and I was determined not to
kill.”
“But?”
“I was forced to learn to fight or die at the hands of
the Romans,” Gabrielle lost her smile. “Solan didn’t tell you
any of this?”
“He said I should ask you about your past, that some
of it might hurt you,” Reija answered.
Gabrielle nodded, appreciating the young man’s
sensitive nature. “It does. I was taken as a slave by the Romans
and sold into a gladiator school, I had to learn to fight or die. I
survived.”
“Oh Goddess Metsola,” Reija muttered, even in the
North they knew about the gladiator games and the cruelty of the
Romans towards their slaves, criminals and gladiators, especially the
women.
“I was able to gain my freedom and rejoined Xena,
that’s why I know how to fight but don’t know if I’ll ever get
over it,” Gabrielle explained.
“Do you think the villagers will accept me?” Reija
asked in a small voice.
Gabrielle smiled, glad to be back to the original
subject. “Yes, they all love Solan and Sasha and have taken to
both of them. They’ll be delighted to see him happy and with a
wife. Xena’s already plans on building a small cottage for both of
you and the baby when we get back. I heard her and Hercules talking
about plans last night over dinner.”
Reija began blushing even more and Gabrielle laughed
softly. This was something the girl was going to have to become
accustomed to, kindness from parental figures, something Reija hadn’t
gotten from her own mother.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cyrene was thrilled to see the small band arriving in
Amphipolis. She spotted Joxer running to meet them from the
blacksmith shop and glanced up as Torris stepped out of the inn
behind her.
Cyrene took in the sight of the group carefully, sighing
with relief that Xena, Gabrielle, and Solan looked well and Sasha was
even bigger. Hercules and Iolaus were as handsome as ever and seemed
unharmed and their adopted son looked taller.
Cyrene was very curious about the wagon Iolaus was
driving with Solan in the seat, grinning from ear to ear.
Torris
grinned and hugged his mom a quick hug and moved inside to prepare
dinner.
The
older woman smiled, now maybe things could settle down, she thought,
saying a quick prayer of thanks to Hecate, Zeus and Hera in seeing
her daughter and family home safe.
