Labor Pains

Part 6 -Cravings and Other Things

It had been several weeks since Xena and Gabrielle had run into Hercules. A quiet meal between friends and shared memories had lifted much of the tension the two women had held.

The first light of dawn shone into the camp. Xena gently shook Gabrielle. "Good morning sleepy-head time to get up." A muffled grumble came from beneath the blankets, "Come on get up and dressed we should make Amazonia by tonight IF we get a move on."

"I'm up....I'm up."

As Gabrielle rose and began to dress, Xena packed up the campsite. She was going to miss the road, the quiet, the solitude, but she knew she needed to be with the Amazons when this child came. A silent prayer for a girl winged it's way to Athena. Turning she gasped. Gabrielle stood not in the green top and short skirt she had become accustomed to but in the skirt blouse and vest she had worn when they first began to travel together. "Gabrielle?"

"It's the only thing that fits. Xena... Will I ever get my figure back? You didn't tell me I was going to get FAT!"

"Remember I said wait till you can't see your feet? And yes you will get your figure back. I did. Have you started having cravings yet?"

"Oh gods yes! Cherries, quail eggs, and what was that sweet Dianna liked so much?"

"Croesus?"

"YES!!! I would love some of those right now!"

"So would I. Or maybe...."

From the treetops seven Amazon warriors descended on them. Raising her mask Ephiny spoke. "I thought you had stopped wearing that outfit Gabrielle."

"Ephiny, its the only thing that would fit."

"No wonder the way you eat..... Wait are you...." at Gabrielle's nod she continued, "No wonder Artemis sent me to find you."

"Artemis?" Xena question wondering what the goddesses were up to.

"Yes. I had just put Phantes down for the night when she visited me in my hut. She told me I would come across two travelers who would need assistance. You two are the first we've come across."

"That would make since considering...."

"Considering?"

"Why don't I tell you in Amazonia. I'd feel safer."

Ephiny frowned as she looked into the warrior princess' eyes. 'Something's going on with her, I wonder what?'

"Oh Ephiny" Gabrielle said digging through Argo's saddle bags, "I have something for the Amazon Nation.... a "gift" from the gods....." She pulled forth a small placard and presented it to amazon.

Ephiny quietly read the inscription....'Amazonia or Bust' ..... "Thank you. I think."

Part 7 OOPs

As he approached the Fates home, Ares tried to control the anger that seethed through him. It had been months since Xena had helped restore him to his godhood. He had left her alone for six months. Now was the time to find her and set about once again wooing her to his service. 'To bad it was Callisto in her body' he thought stroking his beard. He had often wondered what a child of his and Xena's would be like. Undoubtedly a boy, a warrior of the finest caliber.

Somehow in the past six months he had lost track of Xena and that annoying little blond that traveled with her, which was why he was heading towards the home of the Fates in the first place. If anyone would know where she was the Fates would.

Clotho let him in. Lachesis sat weaving the tapestry as always while Atropos trimmed threads.

"You seek.."

"the Warrior"

"Princess?"

"Yes. Where is she?" he asked, sometimes the way they spoke, each one saying a few words was enough to drive him crazy.

"Here is her thread." Lachesis pointed to one of the many threads in the tapestry. Another thread was tangled tightly around it.

"What does that thread mean?" he asked.

"It means she is carrying another life. Did you not know?"

"Pardon me?"

"Look.....here.... this is where you and the possessed body of Xena created this new life...."

"A CHILD!!! Xena is having my child....." Grabbing Lachesis off her stool Ares swung her around. "You beautiful goddess, you."

"You did not know?" Clotho asked perplexed by his reaction.

"No. I haven't seen Xena....well since...."

"Since she helped you regain your godhood." came a voice from the door.

"Athena. What do you want?"

The god and goddess of war stared at each other. The tension in the chamber was unmistakable.

"Leave her alone Ares. She has asked for my protection and I have granted it."

"For how long.... is she under your protection?" he sneered.

"Until the child is born."

"I'm speaking to Zeus.... sister dear. Let us see if HE will allow you to keep me from seeing the mother of MY son." He swaggered toward the door supremely confident, until Athena's last words.

"What if the child is a girl?"

Part 8 It's time

"You know Xena... sometimes I hate you." Gabrielle said looking at the woman beside her. They sat in the afternoon shade of the hut watching the amazons at their practice.

"Why?"

"Look at you..... you don't seem to be having any problems with being pregnant.... But look at me. My hands swell, my feet swell, my back aches constantly... any you... you seem to be suffering from none of these." Gabrielle dropped her head tears streaming from her eyes.

Xena silently enfolded the bard in her embrace. She knew the self imposed exile here was hard on Gabrielle. No matter what she had said all those months ago Xena knew the bard would prefer to be with her family. "Gabrielle... why don't you have Ephiny escort you back...."

"Back to Potedia?? Oh no Xena! I said I was staying here with you and I am staying! Do you under.....uhhhh" Gabrielle broke off as a pain encircled her middle. "Xena? How do you know when it's time to have the baby?"

Azure blue eyes searched the bard's face. She let loose a war cry knowing that would summon the Amazon's to them. Within moments Ephiny, Melosa, and Solari were in front of them with more Amazons coming up behind them.

"It is time?"

"Yes."

Melosa gestured and four Amazon warriors helped Gabrielle into the hut. As Melosa turned to follow them in a soft touch on her shoulder stopped her.

"Queen Melosa... may I request that you send two runners.... one to her family and one to Hercules? I have a feeling that with her child's delivery mine will be born soon."

"You are right Xena. We have been so happy with Gabrielle's pregnancy that we have almost forgotten the burden you carry. I will send my swiftest runners." Melosa whispered words to the two women who had come up to her upon her pronouncement. Bowing they took off running through separate gates toward their destinations. "Xena.... after Gabrielle's child is born, we must speak."

Xena nodded her understanding then followed the Queen into the hut. Gabrielle lay on the mat biting on a stick to keep from screaming. Stepping around the chanting Amazons Xena went to her and removed the stick from her mouth. "Come on Gabrielle stand up."

"Xena.... but ..... why..... it ...... hurts."

"Of course it hurts... walking around will ease the pain and lessen the time. Now remember how I taught you to breathe? " at the bard's nod Xena led her in the breathing exorcises. "So now that this baby will be born any minute what are you going to name it?"

Part 9 - It's a.....

Gabrielle screamed as a new pain enfolded her. Xena's presence helped her through the worst of it. She could hear the warrior's voice quietly offering encouragement and strength as strong fingers massaged her back. Afternoon had stretched into evening, into night, into dawn.

Giving Gabrielle's forehead a gentle kiss, Xena stepped away from her, motioning to Ephiny and Melosa. "This labor has gone on too long. Ephiny, I'm going to deliver Gabrielle's baby the way I did yours...."

"Give her till midday to deliver. I know it is hard for you to see her suffer. This is truly not a long labor..."

"My queen... the baby comes...."

The three women quickly returned to their places. Xena holding Gabrielle's head, Melosa holding her right hand, Ephiny her left. Melosa began the Amazon birth prayer.

"Oh Artemis in Olympus, bless this amazon with a girl child. We thank you for the protection you have given the mother. If a girl we dedicate this child to you, our goddess." Melosa began to repeat the prayer, Ephiny joining her.

As Xena's voiced joined on the third recitation, Gabrielle gave a final push delivering her child into the arms of the midwife. Soon the small cry of a newborn infant could be heard shattering the silence of the hut and the village.

Taking the child from the midwife, Melosa wrapped it in a blanket and placed the small bundle in Gabrielle's out stretched arms. "My foster daughter, today you have made me a grandmother of the next Amazon Queen. What do you wish to name her."

Gabrielle wiped the tears from her face and with a smile named her daughter. "I name you, my dearest child, Terris Xena Perdicus. One name for the woman who gave you your place in amazon society, one name for my friend who without regard to her own life has protected mine, and one for the father you will never know but who would have loved you." Finished she handed the child to Xena and placed Ephiny's hand on her as well . "My friends, my sisters, will you take this child guard her with your life, as you have guarded mine? Teach her the small lessons of life? Will you, if something happens, raise her as your own?"

"I so promise." Ephiny and Xena said in unison. The rituals completed, Melosa gathered Terris Xena in her arms and stepped into the dawn.

"Amazon's meet your future queen. Terris Xena Perdicus."

As a cheer went up from the assembled amazons. High on Mt. Olympus the goddess Artemis bestowed an unknown gift on the child.

Part 10 - A Few answers

Inside Melosa's hut, away from the celebration, Xena, Ephiny and Melosa talked in quiet hushed voices. Gabrielle and little Terris slept peacefully, the three women awake glancing over at them at the slightest sound.

"Athena sent Hermes to me a month ago. I kept this information to myself for her" with a nod of her head, Melosa indicated Gabrielle, "well being. Ares knows, Xena."

Xena bowed her head to hide the tears rolling down her face. The thing she had feared most had happened. "How...."

"How did he find out?" Melosa questioned. Xena nodded as Ephiny put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "He went looking for you.... he requested the Fates' assistance that is how he found out.... Zeus has upheld Athena's protection of you... till the child is born... that is why he has not appeared here yet... but with Gabrielle giving birth... your time will be upon us soon...."

"And we must be prepared" Gabrielle's weak voice came from behind Xena. "What do you suggest?"

"We have sent for Hercules, as well as other tribes of Amazon's.... Artemis, herself, can and has guaranteed your and the child's safety from Ares as long as you remain in the village....IF at the birth it is a girl."

"Then we hope for a girl.... Melosa you have been sending messengers out for weeks... to whom?"

"Hercules, Gabrielle's parents, your mother, and others. They should all begin arriving soon."

"Melosa... I'm sorry that I have brought the attention of Ares to your village. If you wish now that Gabrielle has safely delivered her child I will leave."

"Xena...."

"If she leaves... I leave." Gabrielle's voice whispered angrily.

"Of course she doesn't have to leave. Give us Amazon's some credit Xena... we are not afraid of the god of war....."

"But gods can sometimes be like pesky children... eh Melosa?"

"Hipolyta!!! My sister you came?" Xena looked for the first time upon the legendary queen of the amazon's.

True she was queen of one tribe just as Melosa was, most people didn't realize that each tribe had a queen. The Amazon nation was more a confederation of women warriors. Hipolyta's auburn hair fell around her shoulders in gentle waves, her general stood behind her. "This is Lysia, my general."

Xena, having met Princess Dianna, was not as shocked by the resemblance between herself and the general, as the general. Lysia seemed a paler version of the warrior princess. Instead of raven black hair, her hair was a light brown. Her eyes, the same azure blue as Xena's.

"Xena.... another look-a-like?" Gabrielle questioned from the cot holding back giggles.

Chapters 11 - 13 Or Back To The Library.