Growing Pains
by Del_kaidin
This is the continuation of Labor Pains. It is 18 years later.
Ephiny watched with
pride as her two young wards prepared to face their coming of age
ceremony.
As their mothers had been inseparable, so too were their
daughters. Terris Xena so like her mother, Gabrielle, red - gold
hair, green eyes, mischief seemed to follow her as did smiles.
Cyrena Gabrielle, so like hers, black hair and azure eyes. Weapon
skills came easy to the god of war's daughter. She excelled at
any she attempted, sword, bow, spear, dagger, and possibly the
most dangerous weapon in her arsenal, her mother's chakram.
Eighteen years and still Ares refused to acknowledge his
daughter. While the amazons were not upset by his lack of
paternal interest, Cyrena was. The pain in the girl's eyes had
grown each year, and more so with the passing of her beloved
grandmother in the spring. Ephiny knew that when the ceremony was
over Cyrena would leave the village for the first time in her
life. She only hoped the young woman was prepared for life
outside of the village that had sheltered her for so long.
"It's almost like looking at Gabrielle and Xena."
Solari said to her queen.
"Yes it is.... isn't it? Although, Cyrena doesn't have her
mother's dark past, I fear she is determined to create her
own." She could never forget the last visit Xena had made.
Cyrena had only been eight. She knew from her close friendship
with Terris that it was unusual for a mother not to speak of the
father, even amongst the Amazons. Yet Xena had never spoken of
the girl's father till that day, and only to tell her that he was
Ares, God of War. Xena had been killed before she had been able
to visit again. Perhaps she could have reached the daughter she
had loved. Now, the angry child had become an angry woman.
Ephiny and Solari watched as the two young women entered Amazon
society.
The tests were meant not to harm but to teach. Each warrior had
to depend on one another for success in battle and in life.
Terris with her staff and Cyrena with her sword. They fought
well, each depending on the other's ability to protect their
back. Swords clanged and scrapped, grunts of exertion filled the
air. Within moments, it was over. Two girls had stepped onto the
field. Two Amazon Warriors stepped off.
Ephiny and Solari noticed Terris' slight limp, but were unable to
offer assistance. Each woman's heart yearned to help her, but the
rules were specific. Only Cyrena could offer assistance, until
the proper acknowledgement of the two was complete. With pride,
they watched the tall dark-haired girl place Terris' arm around
her shoulders, helping her make her way to the dais. It was easy
enough to see the pain in the older of the twos face, yet her
head was held high as they walked slowly toward the Queen to be
recognized as the warriors they were.
"We have proved our worth as fighters and friends."
Cyrena began.
"We ask to be recognized as the Amazons we have
become." Terris said the second reply between clenched
teeth.
Together they finished, "Will you accept us as
Amazon's?"
Ephiny had never been prouder to welcome the warriors with the
words, "We accept you, Terris Xena Perdicus, daughter of
Gabrielle, Amazon Princess and Bard and you, Cyrena Gabrielle,
daughter of Xena, Warrior Princess. Today you are Amazons."
The muffled sound
from across the room awoke Terris, she knew this sound, it had
awoken her many times in the past. Cyrena was crying. Quietly she
rose from the bed and went to her friend. Putting an arm around
the other girl's shoulder she silently gave the reassurance and
love that her friend needed. They sat like that for hours,
neither speaking only giving and taking the comfort of
friendship.
"Terris.... why?" Cyrena's azure eyes pleaded for an
answer from her friend.
"Why? Which why my friend? Why did your mother die? Why
doesn't your father admit your his daughter? Why won't my mother
return to take her place as Amazon Queen?.... There seem to be so
many whys for us. I wish I knew the answers to tell you."
Terris' eyes filled with tears as she thought of all the
injustice they had faced. Some she knew from her own memory and
some from gossip.
Xena and Gabrielle had stayed in the Amazon village only three
months after Cyrena's birth. According to the gossips, just long
enough for Xena to get back into fighting shape. Then Gabrielle
had returned with Xena's body, for the first time. Velaska had
been defeated in her unsuccessful attempts to become not only an
Amazon Queen but a goddess. Yet neither Xena nor Gabrielle
visited their daughters that trip. To be fair, Terris thought,
they did come as often as they could. The last visit, Xena and
Gabrielle had made to visit the girls on their eighth birthday,
was tender and heartbreaking for the young Amazon Princess. It
was that visit when Cyrena discovered the name of her father.
Yet, from her own mother, Terris knew Xena had never told her
daughter the whole truth. That Ares had taken advantage of
Callisto being in possession of her body to hopefully sire a son.
Even with that beginning, Xena had loved Cyrena. Terris had no
doubt about that either.
Then the final time Gabrielle brought Xena to the Amazons, two
months later. All that her mother would say was that Xena had
died in battle. Terris had suspected that her mother was hiding
something, and as the years passed with fewer and fewer visits
she was certain.
"Terris... I have to have answers. I can't live like this.
In the morning I'm leaving for Amphipolis, with a stop in Corinth
to see Uncle Hercules & Iolaus." Her decision made
Cyrena unconsciously raised her chin, and straightened her back;
the image of her mother at eighteen.
"I'm going with you then. I have answers of my own I need to
find. Last I heard Mother was near Amphipolis. Now lie down and
get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us."
He walked along the
worn path, whistling to himself. It was his song, and he was
proud of it. He knew there was no truth to the words, but the
song gave him courage when nothing else could. He had been
traveling for days, sometimes it felt like years, hoping to catch
up with Xena and Gabrielle. At every town, he would ask if they
had seen Xena, but in the last couple of years he had begun
noticing strange looks from folks when he asked. They were polite
enough, always telling him that she wasn't there anymore, the
next morning he would rise and head to the next village.
As Apollo's chariot was rising in the eastern sky, he wondered
why his legs were beginning to pain him. It grew harder each day
to continue his quest to be reunited with his friends. As he
crested the hill he saw them. Xena and Gabrielle sitting
underneath the branches of a tree. He did notice something
different about them.
"Xena! Gabrielle!" He called to them. He was to far
away to see the puzzled expressions on their faces.
Terris and Cyrena had
stopped to rest at the foot of the hill. They had been traveling
for a week and would reach Corinth tomorrow. The friends had
decided to make an uncharacteristic stop to enjoy the morning.
When they heard Joxer call to them, or more appropriately their
mothers.
"His name's Joxer, Cyrena. Mom told me about him, he's
annoying but harmless."
"All right I understand. - But Terris why did he call us by
our mother's names."
"Unless you've forgotten your name IS Cyrena Gabrielle and
mine is Terris Xena." The smaller of the two said, green
eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hi Joxer!" She called
waving to him as he approached.
"Hello Joxer." Cyrena said rising.
"XENA!" He yelled as he pulled Cyrena into a hug. Over
his shoulder Cyrena gave her friend a questioning look. Terris
trying to keep from laughing shrugged her shoulders. "Your
not mad are you Xena?" he continued. "Honest I thought
you were OK or I never would have..... "
Cyrena was unsure of how to handle Joxer's affection, since her
mother's death no one except Terris and her grandmother Cyrene
had spontaneously hugged her. She didn't understand why he was
asking for her forgiveness, to her knowledge they had never met.
Then as she looked in his eyes, and realized he thought she was
her mother. But why was he apologizing? "It's ok Joxer. I
understand."
"Hey I like the new outfit Xena! I liked the old one too but
this one - more Amazon influence. You look younger too. How'd you
manage that." Turning to Terris he smiled, "Hi
Gabrielle. Where are you two headed? What evil warlord are we
going up against?"
"No evil warlords, Joxer. We're headed to Corinth, to see
Un... er... I mean Hercules. Want to walk with us?" Terris
knew that something was wrong with the middle age man joining
them. Nothing dangerously wrong. But, for some reason, which she
didn't know, he was living in the past. A past where Xena hadn't
died. Terris had heard that she and Cyrena looked liked their
mothers, but she had not realized how much until now.
The evening campfire
burned merrily, as the three companions sat talking. Terris and
Cyrena listened to Joxer. Their mothers changing from distant
half remembered childish fantasies to women, struggling to live
in a world they were trying desperately to make better for their
children. They laughed as he told of meeting Gabrielle, cried
when he told of Perdicus death, story after story he told.
Finally he came to the one they most wanted to hear.
"Xena, do you remember the last battle we were in
together?"
"Not really, Joxer." Cyrena answered. They had made the
mistake of correcting them on their identities earlier, only to
have him break down in tears. Within moments he was composed and
still insisting they were Xena and Gabrielle. Now, they answered
to their mother's names, sparing him the upset. "I was
injured, remember?"
"Yea I remember Xena. I thought you were dead. How much do
you remember?"
Long ago Ephiny had told Cyrena some of how Xena had died.
"All I truly remember is we were fighting some warlord near
Cyrra."
"Yes. Callisto. She had raised a new army and was destroying
towns within a day's march of Cyrra. She had a Lieutenant with
her... Hope... Gabby, for some reason you wouldn't fight Hope.
Boy, Xena were you ever angry at Gabby... You never told me why
though. We fought small battles for weeks. We'd win one, they'd
win won back and forth, then after about a month, I guess, we had
a major battle. Right where Cyrra had been. Seemed like Callisto
had planned all those previous attacks just to get us to Cyrra.
We were all shocked when Hope sent us Callisto's head, that
morning. Then we faced Hope and her army. The battle lasted for
hours. Honest Xena I didn't mean to bump into you while you were
fighting Hope. I lost my balance. I didn't mean to make you
fall." Joxer began sobbing, somewhere inside he had faced
the truth of Xena's death again. Terris gathered the older man
into her arms, as if he were a child. "It's all right Joxer.
We
know you didn't mean to." Looking over his head she saw
tears streaming down Cyrena's face.
The dark haired girl mouthing "I'll be back." Quietly
slipped into the forest to compose herself. She had never heard
the complete story on how her mother had died, but she knew now;
and whoever and wherever this warlord named Hope was, she going
to face Xena's daughter. Cyrena could almost pity her, not many
had known that Xena and Ares had a child, would a warlord be able
to face the god of war's daughter?
Cyrena awoke with the
dawn and lay listening to Joxer's soft snoring. Terris mumbling
softly in sleep, lay near. Quietly, Cyrena rose and made her way
toward her horse. Reaching into her saddle bag, she felt for the
package Ephiny had given her. The only thing she knew was
whatever it was it had belonged to her mother.
Clasping the package to her chest, Cyrene left the campsite for
the privacy of the woods. As she opened the bundle a single piece
of parchment fell to the ground. Bending to pick it up Cyrena
looked at her mother's strong, precise and beautiful handwriting.
Cyrena my
beloved daughter,
I had planned to give you this when you turned 18. If you
are reading this, I have died. I hope I died in battle, I
would prefer that too any other death. I rewrite this
letter everytime I visit, you are eight now. I'm watching
you train with Terris and the other amazon's as I write.
What can I say to you? There are things you must know,
things I had hoped to tell you myself.
First, I love you daughter. The mere thought of you can
bring a smile to my face. I enjoy being with you and wish
there could be more time for us to be together.
Second, your father, Ares, don't try to get him to
acknowledge you . . . I know from experience he won't. It
is possible that I am his daughter as well. Which makes
you his daughter and possible granddaughter. Only he
knows and will never admit it. Ask your Aunt Gabrielle
about it, if you have questions or if you can't ask her
ask your grandmother, if, God's forbid, you cannot ask
either of them go to a temple of the Furies and ask them,
not the priest, the Furies themselves, use your father's
name.
Now for your gifts. One was written by a woman in the
kingdom of Chin, Lao Ma, read it. The other, I wanted you
to have something of mine.
I love you daughter,
Xena
Cyrena wiped her
tears away. Gently she started again to unwrap the bundle. The
book was beautiful, heavy inlaid covers, gold symbols on front
and back. Carefully she opened it and was suddenly glad her
mother had taught her to read the Chin alphabet. Putting the book
aside she lifted the second gift.
She lay the pieces on the ground studying them. She studied them
debating whether to wear it or not. her
Rousing from sleep,
Terris turned to wake Cyrena and found her friend tending the
fire and preparing breakfast. She gasped. Terris had almost
forgotten what Cyrena's mother had looked like until she saw her
friend wearing her mother's armor, her sword slung over her back,
chakram at her waist.
Joxer rousing from sleep greeted each young woman. "Morning
Gabby. Xena see ya went back to the old armor."
Terris watched as
Cyrena prepared the morning meal. A chill went up her spine
looking at her. Always she had heard Xena referred to as deadly,
sensual, beautiful, and mysterious, never had she understood. . .
until now. Staring at the dark haired warrior she understood.
There was something primal in Cyrena now an allure that drew
women and men. A power emanating from every inch of the warrior.
"Ter...ER Gabrielle, you and Joxer go on into Corinth. I
have a few things I need to do." Cyrena patted Joxer's
shoulder and rose to her feet. "I should meet you there
tonight. If I don't get there by tomorrow head on to Amphipolis
without me."
"Xena... where are you going?"
"I have to find some answers to some questions." Terris
and Joxer opened their mouths to protest but Cyrena spoke over
their objections. "I have to do this...ALONE."
A few minutes later Terris and Joxer stood silently watching
Cyrena disappear over a rise.
It had been the hardest decision she had ever made, but Cyrena
knew that she could not endanger her friends as she confronted
first the Furies and then her father. As she walked her thoughts
raced. The Furies, Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megara, they held
information about her mother. Her fear was they would curse her
to madness or persecution for not avenging her mothers death.
After her the Furies came possibly the hardest a confrontation
with Ares. What did you say to a father you had never known? One
who had wished for a son? The God of War?
She sensed a presence around her. "I know your here. Show
yourself."
A breeze gathered turning to mist, from the mist stepped a woman.
Cyrena gasped then with tears streaming down her face ran to the
woman with a simple scream. "Momma!"
Xena gathered her child into her arms. For ten years she had
waited, watching as Cyrena had grown into a woman. The last few
months had been the hardest for the woman once known as the
"Warrior Princess". When her mother had appeared in the
Elysian Fields, Xena had petitioned Zeus himself for permission
to see Cyrena. But the pact she had made to protect the girl from
interference from the gods restrained her as well. The conditions
had seemed fair at the time... No god was to interfere or visit
with Cyrena until she had left the Amazon village. "shhhh
it's all right. shhhh." Over and over the Xena comforted her
child as mother's throughout time had, with a soft voice and a
hand gently rubbing Cyrena's back.
Finally the girl's sobs quieted. Raising her head Cyrena looked
at her mother. "Why didn't you come sooner?" she
questioned.
"I would have. But, to keep you safe I made a pact with
Zeus. Until you left the Amazon village and ventured into the
world no god, goddess or shade could visit you."
"Which are you momma?"
"Oh Cyrena, I wish I could answer that now, but I can't. I
promise I'll answer all your questions but this is not the time.
I came merely to see you and tell you I love you. I must go now.
Remember I love you daughter." Even as Xena said the last
and Cyrena tightened her grip, the Warrior Princess faded back
into the mist.
Terris and Joxer had
entered The Golden Fleece tavern to await Cyrena's return from
her mysterious errand. They chose the tavern for its proximity to
the main gate of the city of Corinth. It wasn't much of a tavern,
a few tables, a bar, a dyed gold lambs fleece on one wall and a
small stage along the back wall were it's only furnishings.
Terris had not noticed the woman on the stage until she began to
speak.
"I tell a tale of Xena the warrior princess..."
Terris turned in her seat to watch the bard as she told her
story. Strawberry blond hair with a few gray streaks, gone was
the fighting wear of old now she wore a green blouse and skirt.
The staff the bard had always carried rested against a pillar.
Rising from her seat Terris went to stand before the bard, an
amazon queen in self imposed exile, the companion of the warrior
princess, her mother, Gabrielle.
"Hello mother." Terris' voice was ice.
"Terris?!? What are you doing here? Where is Cyrena? Why
aren't you in the village? Where is Ephiny?"
"I came here to see Uncle Hercules & Uncle Iolaus.
Cyrena is off, probably confronting her father.... if I know her.
I'm an Amazon Warrior now I don't need Queen Ephiny to hold my
hand as I venture into the world. And what about you Mother? Why
have you never returned? Why have you never accepted your place
as Queen?"
Gabrielle was shocked at the venom coming from her daughter. Not
that she didn't deserve her child's hate. "Lets go
outside." Taking Terris' hand she headed for the door to the
alley behind the tavern.
As the door shut behind them, Gabrielle tried to pull Terris into
her arms. The younger woman merely took a step backward glaring
at her. Trying to cover her anguish at this rejection from her
child Gabrielle began "You have grown so much! I barely
recognized you. Why I'll bet...."
"Mother!" Terris cut her off. "Are you going to
answer my questions or not?"
"Yes, Terris, yes I'll answer your questions. Why didn't I
return to the village? I couldn't! Not after..... What do you
know of Xena's death?"
"Some warlord named Hope killed her." shocked by the
fury of her mother's outburst Terris told her what Joxer had said
the night before her voice barely audible.
"Some warlord.....some warlord..... Oh GODS how I wish it
had been just some warlord. You have no idea who Hope is do
you?" Terris shook her head. "Hope is your half sister.
Her father is a demon. If only I had listened to Xena when she
was first born. Then Xena, Solon, and Calipus would still be
alive." Tears streamed down two similar faces one enter
adulthood and one entering middle age as Gabrielle told the tale
of Dahok, Hope, Solon, and Calipus. "We had gone to
Britannia to fight Julius Caesar...." for hours Gabrielle
talked and Terris listened. Gabrielle sparred herself nothing -
no excuses, no justifications were offered. As she finished her
tale Gabrielle looked at her daughter. If she had hoped to find
forgiveness in the eyes of her child she was destined to be
disappointed.
"So you didn't destroy Hope when you had the chance... You
lied to your best friend... and by not destroying this monster
YOU killed three people... and now you want me to forgive you and
say I understand?" Taking a breath Terris walked to the door
to the tavern as she reached for it she turned and looked at her
mother and spoke "You are a self-righteous, self absorbed
woman, and I'm ashamed to be your daughter. Your right about one
thing... you have no right to be Queen of the Amazons. Ephiny is
my rightful Queen from this day forward."
Gabrielle watched as her daughter opened the door and walked
inside. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the door slam
shut.
It stood before her,
finally, The Temple of The Furies. Cyrena wondered if she entered
would she exit with her sanity. True she had been a child when
her mother had died, and even now she didn't know all of the
circumstances surrounding her mother's death. Yet she knew some
of those answers she could get from the Furies themselves. She
needed those before she faced her father. Taking a deep breath,
squaring her shoulders and touching her chakram she opened the
door.
She instantly felt a sense of belonging, a feeling that she had
never felt in the Amazon village. Yes, it was home but it wasn't
either. Ephiny, Solari, and Terris had done their best to offset
the distrust of the other Amazons at Ares daughter living amongst
them. Terris had never completely understood, how could she? She
was an Amazon Princess, at her birth proclaimed the next Queen.
Cyrena had always felt that if her mother had been anyone other
than Xena she would not have been tolerated. A muffled voice
brought her wayward thoughts back to the present.
"Pardon me?"
"What do you want here girl?" The priest had seen many
enter this temple trying to win the Furies favor to punish a
husband or boyfriend. He assumed this one was no different.
"I want to speak with the Furies."
"Hmph. Tell me what you want and I'll speak with them about
your petition."
Cyrena glared at the priest, her eyes narrowing as for the first
time she used her parentage to her advantage. "I am the
daughter of Xena and Ares AND I wish to speak with the Furies
myself."
Even as the priest opened his mouth to chastise her for her
outburst a burst of light signaled the arrival of the Furies
themselves. As usual Alecto spoke for the three. "Leave us.
We'll talk later about your attitude. So you are Xena's daughter
by Ares. Then we are cousins of a sort. Why did you want to see
us?"
"Once you punished my mother with madness and persecution
but lifted it. I need to know why."
"She proved to our satisfaction that she was not guilty of
the crimes Ares accused her of. How could she kill her father if
he was her father." At Cyrena's puzzled expression, Alecto
continued motioning for her to sit on the throne at the end of
the alter. "Sit, please. It is after all your father's
chair. Ares came before us...." Alecto continued on
explaining, as The Furies believed, Ares betrayal of their trust.
"So, finally Xena was the one to suggest a competition
between herself and Ares. If she could hold her own with him she
must be his child, which she did. Naturally Ares never admitted
it. But other than his son by Nemisis he has never acknowledged
his children... Including Cupid."
"Thank you. That explains so much for me. So no one is sure
who my grandfather is?"
"Yes. Though if you truly want to know I would suggest
visiting The Fates, they could answer that question for
you."
Cyrena rose from the throne and looked at the blond Fury,
"Alecto... I realize this is an unusual request
but...."
"But?"
"May I give you a hug? You are after all my only living
relative."
Alecto was astonished by the girls request. Most mortals and gods
would never have asked that of her but she sensed this girl was
destined for more than even she realized. "Certainly"
The two women embraced and as Cyrena momentarily rested her cheek
on her shoulder she whispered... "I'm not your only living
relative. There's your father, half- brother and of
course...."
A thunderbolt crashed the afternoon sky, Alecto realizing she had
said too much stepped back from the hug. Smiling she and her two
sisters vanished.
"And of course who?" Cyrena questioned the now empty
temple.
Great wrenching sob
tore through Gabrielle. She sat watching the door Terris had
reentered the tavern through praying that the girl would
reappear, smiling and saying 'I'm sorry mommy.' as she had so
often as a child. But inside the aging bard knew this time there
would be no opening of the door, and so she sat and waited for an
event that would never happen.
Gabrielle knew she should have returned to the Amazon Village
after Xena's death. Though long ago the two friends had forgiven
each other, with Xena's death by Hope, she could not forgive
herself. How long she sat there she didn't know, a touch on her
shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. Grabbing her staff she
turned to see...
"XENA!!!!" She dropped the staff and grasped the tall
woman in her arms.
"Aunt Gabrielle... I'm Cyrena." a soft voice said in
her ear as arms came around to hold her. "Why are you
crying? Please don't cry I need you."
Gabrielle stepped back and looked at the woman before her. Yes
she could see that this was not Xena, the girl was too young.
"Cyrena?" at the answering nod, she sniffled and
smiled. "You've grown up. You look so much like your mother.
I guess your as upset with me as Terris is? I mean about your
mother and Hope and all?"
To Gabrielle's surprise A smile filled the young girls face.
"Oh Aunt Gabrielle of course I'm not mad... not at you.. not
at momma... not at Joxer. I do hope you'll understand but I'm
going to kill Hope."
Gabrielle laughed. The matter of fact way the girl had said that
she was going to kill Hope was so like her mother, except for the
open loving smile that filled her face. "Cyrena. You do
realize who Hope is?"
"Your other daughter."
"How did you... I mean did Ephiny tell you... I mean Terris
didn't know till I ..."
Cyrena placed a finger over Gabrielle's lips. "My Father
told me. He wasn't to happy to see me. But... He did answer a few
questions. I know that Hope is your daughter, but not your
daughter. Her father is some Great Evil named Dahok and once she
assisted Callisto in trying to rid the world of Hercules... but
he stopped her somehow. But don't you worry.. And... Oh you won't
think I'm insane will you, Aunt Gabrielle?"
"No Cyrena, I won't think your crazy."
"I saw Momma! Briefly just for a moment. But it was
wonderful. Now... why were you crying?"
"Terris"
"Terris? What happened I know she was hoping we would run
into you..."
"I told her everything about Hope, and how she killed
Kalipus and your half brother Solon and your mother... and....
and..." The tears started again as she remembered her
daughters words.
"Where is she?" Gabrielle didn't answer with words
merely pointed to the door. "You wait here ok? I'll be right
back." With a squeeze of the bards shoulder Cyrena entered
the Golden Fleece Tavern.
Gabrielle heard the commotion inside the tavern but couldn't
bring herself to see what it was. The sound of tables being
scooted and voices raised in anger and finally her daughter
exiting the tavern, her ear held securely in Cyrena's hand.
"APOLOGIZE." Cyrena's voice brooked no argument. She
hadn't yelled but Gabrielle recognized her father in her at that
instant.
Terris was shocked. Never had Cyrena talked to her or acted
toward her like she was now. "I WILL NOT!!! I am an Amazon
Princess and YOU!"
"Are the God of War's daughter! Now stop acting like a
spoiled brat Terris. You aren't in the Village anymore, and folks
don't care who you are or what your position in the Amazon tribe
is. And for that matter neither do I. Now apologize to your
mother."
"No." with that Terris turned and stormed back into the
tavern.
"I think it's time I gave my daughter a spanking."
Gabrielle looked at Cyrena and noticed for the first time the
serenity the girl had. They had always worried about her
following her mother's past, never Terris being trouble.
"For what it's worth, Aunt Gabrielle.. If you need help
yell."
Grabbing her staff and giving it a fond pat. "Oh I think I
can handle my daughter... It's time I stopped feeling sorry for
myself and acted like a mother.... Of course..."
"I know Terris might not be able to sit for a few days....
Ephiny gave me my fair share of spankings growing up. I'll wait
here."
Night crept over
Corinth blanketing it in it's peaceful presence. With in
Alchemeny's hut Cyrena listened as Gabrielle, Joxer, Hercules,
and Iolaus spent the evening laughing and swapping stories of
Xena and her adventures. Periodically her eyes would drift to
Terris, alone, solemn, sulking and avoiding sitting down.
Joxer sat near Gabrielle. Silent, unshed tears in his eyes. He
remembered. The agony of watching Xena crumple beneath Hope's
sword thrust. The hopelessness he felt as Gabrielle's had
screamed in agony. The despair at Xena's funeral in Amphipolis
kings, queens, princesses, princes, heroes, Amazons, Centaurs,
peasants, all had flocked to mourn the passing of the Warrior
Princess. That was when he had learned of Cyrena the first time.
A smile crossed his face as he remembered the first time he had
seen the girl. She had been eight years old, already she showed
she would resemble her mother. Not a tear in her clear blue eyes
as she sat so silently between Cyrene and Ephiny. A hand on his
shoulder brought him back to the circle of friends before him.
"Joxer? You allright?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yea... I was just remembering. You know.... "
Understanding Gabrielle nodded and pressed him no farther. She
watched as Iolaus motioned for Cyrena to move to sit beside him.
When she was seated next to him he pulled something from under
the table. A small package it apparently had been carefully
wrapped to protect the contents from years of storage. Clearing
his throat Iolaus began to tell the story of the package.
"Cyrena, about 12 years ago Xena gave me something to hold
for her. She told me if she couldn't return for it that one day I
would meet someone and I would know that this was the person for
it. When I saw you at your mother's funeral I knew... But forgive
an old man I wanted to keep it myself a while longer. I don't
know what's in here. I've never opened it but it was a small
piece of Xena I could keep close."
Cyrena realized in that instant that the four people around her
had loved her mother with a passion she could not imagine. Each
had gone through his or her own version of hell. Gabrielle unable
to forgiven herself had abandoned her daughter to avoid seeing
Cyrena. Joxer also filled with guilt had forgotten the entire
incident. Iolaus had held on to a package for 12 years, just to
keep her mother close. Hercules, he had not talked as much as the
others this night just listened. But she sensed an agony hanging
around him that wouldn't release. Taking the package from Iolaus'
outstretched hands, Cyrena thanked him and grabbed the rope
holding it closed.
A squeeze on her shoulder and the gasp of the adults stopped her
from opening it. Looking behind her she saw who she knew would be
there. "Hi Momma. I guess I wait on this one Uncle
Iolaus."
"X--X---Xena?"
"Yes, Gabrielle it's me." Cyrena watched as her Aunt
melted into her mother's arms. The soft muttered conversation one
of comfort and love. "Shhhh don't cry Gabrielle. It's
allright." Xena lifted the bard's chin and kissed her, they
separated as Xena went to greet everyone. Starting with Terris.
"So you're Terris Xena?"
Not knowing if she dealt with a goddess or shade or whatever, for
the first time Terris admitted to herself she was afraid.
"Yes ma'am."
"You and I will talk more later." Xena's tone brooked
no argument and Terris offered none. "Joxer... You mourned
me hardest of all. There was no reason to loose yourself, you had
nothing to do with what happened that day. Iolaus.
Hercules." Having made the circle of the room she returned
to where Cyrena waited.
"I take it it's time?" Hercules asked.
A sad smile crossed the face of the woman once know as the
Warrior Princess. As she answered "Yes. It's Time."
The End
Read the
prequel to Growing Pains, Labor Pains.
Or read another one of Del's stories Four
Days in April.
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