Family Reunion Part 7 by Jrockit

 

The sun was setting. Gabrielle watched red streaks go across the sky as Apollo’s chariot danced once more before Artemis rose. She sighed, her heart feeling heavy with the news Solan had given to her. The day, or the rest of the day had been blissful. Gabrielle had never known Xena to be so carefree and young. It was her children that had done that. The bard Queen was happy for the warrior.

 

She was happy that Solan was alive, too. Gabrielle looked up to see the last of the sun, a big blazing ball of orange and gold go down into the sky. She looked up, sensing a presence behind her. She thought it was Xena, and turned. “Solan.” Gabrielle greeted with surprise.

 

“Hello, Gabrielle.” Solan returned, walking over to the bard and sitting next to her. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” He asked. “I used to watch the sunsets in Illusia.” he told her. “They were amazing.” he told the bard. “Bright colors...”

 

Gabrielle nodded. “Solan...I want you to know about Hope–“ She began but the young man held up a hand.

 

“No Aunt Gabrielle.” he said. “It wasn’t your fault Hope is the way she was.” Solan looked her in the eyes. “It wasn’t Hope who killed me,” he said. “It was Callisto. Hope was going to, but Callisto shoved her aside at the last moment and touched me.” Solan explained. “She burnt me... killed me instantly.” he lay a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder when the bard closed her eyes. “It’s all right Gabrielle.”

 

Gabrielle opened her eyes and looked at Solan. “I’m so glad you don’t blame me.” She told him. “I thought you did...I hated myself for being the cause of your death.”

 

Solan shook his head. “I could never hate you, Gabrielle,” he told her. Solan blushed. “In fact, I sort of had a crush on you.” He said in a voice that slightly deepened. Solan was on his way to becoming a young man.

 

Gabrielle smiled. “I’m glad you don’t hate me.” She said. “It took Xena and I a long time to put the past aside, and forgive one another. But we did. We had responsibilities, and Thalia needed us both.”

 

Solan nodded. “I’m glad.” He said. “I worried about her...how she’d handle being alone.” He admitted. “I didn’t think–I hoped Thalia would be all right.”

 

Gabrielle hugged Solan to her. “There was a hard spell, but she worked through it fine.” Gabrielle told him. Solan nodded, seemingly relieved.

 

“Gabrielle?” He asked the bard, turning back to her. “What are we going to do about Hope?”

 

Gabrielle sucked in a deep breath. Ever since Solan had told them that he’d seen Hope, she hadn’t exactly known what she was going to do. Something. Something good. Hope wasn’t going to screw this up for Gabrielle, not now, not when she finally had her family back together. Not even Hell would keep Gabrielle from doing the right thing this time.

 

“I don’t know.” The Queen of the Amazons turned to him. “But I promise you this, Solan.” She said, putting both hands on his shoulders and turning the young man her way. “I won’t let her do what she’s planning.”

 

“Queen Gabrielle?” They heard a voice. Alicia, one of the newer Amazons brought in from another tribe turned. “The Elders are requesting your presence.” She told them, looking nervous about interrupting. Like Eponin, Alicia was formal around the queen. She seemed shy, and needing.

 

“Thank you Alicia.” Gabrielle told the young Amazon. “Tell them I will be right there.” She said, wondering if Xena had heard of this. Alicia nodded and smiled again at Solan, then took off for the Elder’s Hut to deliver the Queen’s message.

 

“Come on Solan.” Gabrielle told her son. “You’re probably hungry, and I need to go do my duty as a Queen.”

 

Solan followed Gabrielle into the hut where his family lived. And this time, the word couldn’t have been truer.

 

 

**

 

The Elder’s hut was askew. Eponin tried calming everyone down, none of the others understanding what this affect could have on their young Queen. Ephiny had told her the story of Gabrielle’s daughter, Hope. It had been a strange one. Someone as sweet as Gabrielle giving birth to a monster, and always having to make excuses for that monster. She didn’t deserve that. Neither did Xena. “Wait," Eponin protested as one Elder, named Miranda sat up. “The Queen and her Champion will handle this, I promise you.”

 

“How do we know?” Miranda snapped. She, like Alicia was a new arrival. Miranda didn’t trust the former Destroyer of Nations and made certain everyone knew that.  Eponin glared at her, silencing the older woman with her look.

 

“Because I know them.” Eponin sneered. “I have been here longer than you Miranda. You may have more rank over me, but I have more sense.” For some other Amazon, she’d have been in deep Centaur dung. But Eponin was Eponin and there was no changing that. Miranda frowned at the warrior and gave her an evil look. “Hope may be Gabrielle’s child, but our Queen will do what’s best. This is none of our business.” Eponin added.

 

Chalapa spoke up. “Eponin is right.” She said, having met Xena and Gabrielle countless times and liked the pair. “Gabrielle won’t let this half goddess destroy everything.” Chalapa thought a moment. “We don’t even know that Hope will–“

 

“Oh please!” Miranda interrupted. She stood, angry. “Hope has tried countless times to bring her father into the world. If our Queen had just came home, and told her real family the matter, we could’ve solved it sooner. Not that stupid warrior.” She sat down.

 

“That stupid warrior…” said Gabrielle, walking into the room dressed in her regal Queen’s outfit–a thigh length tan skirt and matching wrap-around top. “Is your Queen’s Champion, Miranda.” The Queen eyed her. “And it is in your best interest to speak respectfully of her or fear my wrath.”

 

Chalapa and Eponin smiled. “Queen Gabrielle.” Eponin walked forward to the Queen, handing her a scroll. “I’m sure you already know this, but Hope is alive.”

 

Gabrielle nodded. “Yes Eponin, I know.” She told the weapon’s mistress. “Solan told me.”

 

Confused murmurs rang out through the hut. Xena’s son? Wasn’t he supposed to be dead, killed by the very woman they spoke of now? Miranda frowned and sat back, eyeing the Queen with suspicion. “And there’s the other matter at hand.” Miranda added, standing. “My Queen.” She said with bitterness. “There is an army on the other side of the Centaur village. We don’t know what they want.”

 

Gabrielle gave Miranda her best glare. “Then my sisters.” Stated the Queen of the Amazons, “We will find out. Xena!” She called and the warrior princess walked into the room. It got quiet really quick. Xena smirked.

 

“Yes, my Queen?” asked the former Destroyer of Nations with a bow, just to irritate Miranda.

 

Gabrielle turned to her champion. “We have to go back to the Centaur village.” She said. “Seems our many skills are needed.”

 

Xena tried to hide her smile and failed. “Yes, my Queen.” She agreed. “We’ll leave as soon as this meeting is done.”

 

Gabrielle eyed all the Amazons there. “It is.” She said, her voice sharp. “No one is to listen to anyone but the Queen in this matter.” She began. “I will take care of Hope, no one else. Understood?”

 

Murmured ‘yes my queen’ rang out through the hut. The meeting was dismissed. Xena walked over to Chalapa. “What was that all about?” She asked, crossing her arms over her breastplates.

 

Chalapa shook her head. “Miranda.” She began. “She is from Cyane’s tribe, Xena.” The tall, dark skinned warrior told her. “She doesn’t like you, and remembers the old you.”

 

Xena just shook her head, dark hair swaying gently. “She doesn’t like me?” A dark eyebrow arched. “Aww. My feelings are hurt.” Both warriors chuckled. Gabrielle walked over to her champion. “We have to go now, Xena.” Said Gabrielle, laying a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. Xena took a moment to look at Gabrielle’s face. She looked positively white.

 

“Gabrielle, are you sure?” Asked Xena. “I can always go by myself.”

 

Gabrielle shook her head. “No Xena.” She said. “I have to do this. I have to face Hope this one last time.”

 

Xena enveloped Gabrielle into a hug, touching the bard’s cheek and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “You know I’m always there for you.”

 

Gabrielle met beautiful blue eyes. “I know.” She said and hugged Xena tightly. “Just as I’m always there for you.” She smiled over at Chalapa. “We’ll be OK.” She told the warrior. “So tell Ep that before she wears a hole into the floor.” The three women’s gaze drifted over to Eponin, who was pacing. Chalapa laughed and nodded. She walked over to the weapon’s mistress and talked to her.

 

“Let’s get this over with, Gabrielle.” Xena said.

 

“Yes.” Gabrielle held her head up high. “Last time Xena, I promise.”

 

“No, Gabrielle.” Xena said and Gabrielle looked at her. “I promise you it’s the last time.”

 

The two soul mates smiled at each other and walked out of the hut together. Xena got on Argo, giving Gabrielle a hand up. They rode to the Centaur village, being greeted again by Xenon.

 

“You’re here!” Xenon looked impatient. “Hurry Xena, I think it’s really bad. There’s this big army next to us on the hills.”

 

Xena frowned. This was not good. “Where is Tyldus?” She asked.

 

“Over here.” Xenon wagged his head in the direction of where the King of the Centaurs could be found. The warrior and bard followed the young man. The King looked up, relieve washed over his face at the sight of the Warrior Princess. “Xena!” He called, waving them over.

 

Xena, Gabrielle and Xenon walked over to him. From where Tyldus was standing, they all could see the army. Xena had expected the Romans, but she didn’t recognize the flag sticking up. It was made of red silk and had an equal armed cross down it. Gabrielle stared at the flag, getting the weirdest feeling of deja vu. “Hope.” She whispered and they all turned to her.

 

“What do you mean, Gabrielle?” Asked Xena.

 

“Hope, Xena.” Gabrielle pointed to the flag. “Remember the robe she wore the last time? It was made of red silk, and had that cross down it...”

 

Xena frowned. “You mean...this is the army Dahak was preparing? The one Callisto babbled about?”

Gabrielle nodded. “The very one. Oh Xena, this could really be it for us.”

 

Xena looked at the group, then back at the army. She could hear the chants of the men as they prepared themselves for war. And one, very familiar, detested voice rang out among them. It was a voice Xena would never ever forget. One that sent chills down her spine.

 

It was that of her lieutenant, Darphus.

 

**

 

Thalia paced the Queen’s hut as Solan watched his twin sister. “Calm down Thai.” Solan said to her. “They’ll be OK.”

 

Thalia turned to her brother. “Something’s wrong, Solan.” She said. “I can feel it. You don’t understand. Ever since the crucifixion, I’ve been able to...” Thalia sighed. She supposed she should’ve told Mom and Mother this, but she didn’t want to worry them. “I’ve been able to have these feelings, like I know when they are in trouble.” She shrugged. “I don’t get it.”

 

“Can you sense gods like Mother?” Solan questioned. Aphrodite had asked him the same question when he’d been in Illusia. Solan at the time told her no, because he truly didn’t know.

 

“Yeah.” The girl admitted. “Not that it does much good anymore. The only gods that are around it seems are Aphrodite and Ares. You know I’m Aphrodite’s chosen, right?” She asked.

 

Solan looked surprised. “No, I didn’t. When did that happen?” He asked.

 

“When Eve was born.” She said, speaking of their sister. “Zeus tried to kill Mother to stop Eve from bringing the twilight of the gods, but Uncle Hercules killed his own father.” She said, recalling that. “Eve was OK, but it didn’t stop the gods from trying to kill her. Athena even sent her warriors out after us once, and the arrow meant for Mother and Eve hit Joxer instead. He almost died that time.”

 

“Wow.” Solan’s eyes grew wide. “What else happened?” He asked.

 

“It was getting harried, the way the gods were always after us.” She told her brother. She had filled him in on everything since he’d been dead. India, Eli, Livia and how she became Eve...all of it. She supposed she had quiet an interesting life, but Thalia would give anything to live like a normal girl. Just to be able to enjoy herself and not worry so much. “Mother came up with this plan.” She told Solan. “She got tears from Celeste, and put them in this vial.”

 

“The Goddess of death?” Solan’s whisper was hushed. “Why?”

 

“I’m getting there.” Thalia assured him. “She had a plan, see. This plan was to make the gods think that we all died, so they would stop. Instead, something happened. Mother had us all drink the tears, and she played out this plan. She made it look like a wagon crashed off to the side of a cliff, killing me, Gabrielle and Eve. But it didn’t. We were already asleep, Octavious had taken Eve.”

“Octavious?” Solan asked, confused.

 

“Emperor of Rome now.” Thalia said with a smirk. “Anyways, twenty-five years had passed. Mother said Ares froze us in these tombs of ice, and that’s where we woke up to a completely different world. Our friends were gone, Eve was a bloodthirsty warlord. Well we finally got Eve back, but it took a while.”

 

“Wow.” Solan looked amazed. “No wonder Xenon looked different.” He said. “In Illusia, time stands still.”

 

Thalia nodded. “So we’re really supposed to be thirty five you know.” She told him. Solan eyed her and nodded.

 

“Wow.” Solan said again. He froze suddenly.

 

“What?” Thalia asked. Solan held up a hand. “We’re not alone.” He told her. Thalia felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise. “How do you know?” She asked again, and Solan looked over at her without saying anything. “Come with me.” he motioned his sister closer. They crept through the Queen’s hut, towards Gabrielle’s room. Someone was definitely in there.

 

Solan eyed her. “Stay behind me.” He warned Thalia and he knocked on the door. “Gabrielle?”

 

There was no reply for a long moment. Then, “Come in.” said a gritty voice. It sounded like Gabrielle had a cold or something. Solan stepped in first.

 

Gabrielle–or rather–Hope stood there and her green eyes grew wide in shock, not expecting to see Solan. The staff she held dropped and clattered to the ground. “Sol... Solan.” Hope quickly tried to cover her mistake and smiled a very Gabrielle smile. “And Thalia.” Her voice was a purr. “I’m sorry if I scared you. Xena went to see what was wrong. She wanted me to stay here with you two, and make sure everything is OK.”

 

“Everything’s OK.” Solan assured Hope, studying her. Something seemed off about Gabrielle, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

 

Neither could Thalia. “Something wrong Mom?” She asked. “You look different somehow.”

 

Hope gritted her teeth at Xena’s daughter calling her mother Mom. Why should Xena’s brat get to, when Hope had never gotten to? It wasn’t fair. Her eyes glittered darkly and she remembered she had to act like Gabrielle. Gabrielle loved these two...so much more than she loved her own child. How had Solan came back? That thought made Hope so confused, and nearly ruined her surprise.

 

“Nothing’s wrong, dear.” Assured Hope. “Everything is absolutely perfect...now.” And Hope smiled.

It was the strangest smile Thalia had ever seen.