Growing Pains

Chapter 6


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.

Chapter 7

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.

Chapter 8

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.

Chapter 9

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."

Chapter 10

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."

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