Again, same disclaimers apply as the first part. Please refer back to the first part if you wish to read them.
This is the third chapter thingie in my The Solstice Tree�s Light Series. There is a bit of angst here, but I think it�ll be okay. Enjoy!
As Xena and Gabrielle rode into Potadaea, heads turned and followed them. Argo�s hoof prints in the snow led right up to the home of Hertrodus and Hecuba; Gabrielle's parents, and of course, Lila too.
Gabrielle was trembling slightly when they pulled to a stop outside of her old home. Xena hugged her close, and then helped her dismount, before she too slipped down from Argo�s back. She put her arm around Gabrielle�s shoulders, and then they walked up to the front door.
Xena watched as Gabrielle raised a fist to knock on the door. She hesitated, and Xena placed a gentle kiss to the Amazon Queen�s temple. Gabrielle took a deep breath, and then knocked on the door.
After a few moments, the door swung open to reveal Hecuba.
�Gabrielle..?� She said in disbelief.
�Hello mother.� Gabrielle said nervously. Xena squeezed her shoulder, and Gabrielle leaned into her warrior a bit.
�Please come in.� Hecuba beckoned, motioning the two inside. �You must be freezing!�
Once inside, Xena and Gabrielle nervously were seated near the fire to �thaw out� as Hecuba put it. Lila was with a friend, and Hertrodus was cutting more firewood.
Gabrielle knew that all Tartarus was going to break loose as soon as Hertrodus walked in the front door and saw them. Well, actually when he saw Xena. Gabrielle knew that if it was just her there, sitting in front of the fire, her father would have no problem. It was the fact that Xena: Warrior Princess and former Destroyer of Nations was warming herself by the fire in his home that Gabrielle knew was going to really set him off.
The warrior and bard looked at each other and both held their breath in a nervous fashion when they heard the front door open.
�WHAT IN TARTARUS IS SHE DOING IN MY HOME?!!�
Xena winced, and Gabrielle let loose a very tiny whimper that ended in a growl.
�Honey, Gabrielle and Xena came to spend Solstice with us. Isn�t that wonderful?�
�No, it�s not.� Hertrodus stated. He was shaking with fury.
�But, all you�ve been saying is that you want your daughter here to Solstice. Now she is!�
�No, wife. I wanted my daughter. Not Xena the Murderer and her trusty side kick.� Hertrodus pointed at Gabrielle. He was now seething.
�SHE is not my daughter as long as she stands beside Xena!!�
And with that, Hertrodus stomped back outside, his form soon invisible behind the wall of falling snow.
Lila, who had walked in just moments after Hertrodus, frowned.
�My, what a happy Solstice spirit, huh?�
Solstice was drawing closer, and Hertrodus wouldn�t so much as look at Xena, or Gabrielle for that matter. Gabrielle was heartbroken, and Xena was very angry. She couldn�t believe that Hertrodus would treat Gabrielle like that. She could understand his reaction to her being there, but to act so cruelly to his own daughter... to Xena it was unfathomable.
�Xena, please come here.�
It was Hecuba�s gentle voice that roused Xena from her thoughts. Xena looked up and nodded. She followed Hecuba from the living room and into the doorway of the room that Lila and Gabrielle shared. Xena looked to Gabrielle�s bed, to see the Amazon curled up, hugging her pillow. She was sobbing softly. Xena gave a small gasp, before she went to the Bard�s side.
�Gabrielle?�
Xena no more than spoke before Gabrielle had flung herself into Xena�s arms. The Warrior Princess held the Battling Bard close, as she continued to cry. Xena didn�t have to ask what was wrong. She knew what it was. The fact that her father hated her and would have nothing to do with her was tearing Gabrielle apart, even though Lila understood and supported everything, and Hecuba was being civil.
�Shh Gabrielle... everything will work out, my love... I promise.�
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Alrighty. Houston, we have a problem.
I just started school today (Woohoo, 10th grade!)
I�m not going to have a lot of time to write (except for study hall... bwahahaa)
so the next part of this fic may take a few days to come up. I�m sorry for the wait, but school (sadly) does come first. Heh, maybe for English stories I can use my fics. That would be really convenient, huh? ^_^ Anyhow, until next time... and PLEASE review this fic. I must have feedback! It�s like bread and water to a bard. I�ll die without it, so save my life and REVIEW! Thanks, and have a nice day!
I want MOOOOREEEEE!! Next chapter Noooowwwwww!!