Gabrielle sat in an open bazaar in Brucheum (The Greek Quarter of Alexandria), hoping to find pilgrim's heading back to Greece. As it happened she found a small band of Sarmatians heading back to Greece itself

"Excuse me may I ask a favor Amazon to Amazon" Gabrielle said, "Go to Thebes and give this scroll to Heracles"

Sealing the scroll with Wax Gabrielle places a piece of fine cotton on the table and places the scroll and an Amazon pendent in the center then wraps the cloths round them both and gives it to the eldest of the band of Sarmatians.

Some time later in Thebes the Sarmatian elder walks up to Heracles,

"Heracles" She calls

Turning his head Heracles called, "Yes"

"A woman in Alexandria asked me to give you this" The Sarmatian elder said handing the parcel to him.

"She enclosed a pendent as proof of who she is" The Sarmatian elder stated, "Don't let her read it alone, she told me to tell you that"

15 minutes later after reading the scroll for the third time Cassandra asks, "Why didn't she say anything about mom!"

"I don't know Cassy" Heracles said softly, "We will find out in a fortnight"

Two weeks later Gabrielle arrives in the port of Thebes with one thought in mind finding the home of Hercules, taking a deep breath she walks into the home with Xena' Ashes in her saddlebags knowing the pain she is about to cause…

Walking into the house she greats Hercules, as Cassandra looks for her mother.

Gabrielle places the urn on the table and Hercules understood but Cassandra asks, "Where is mom…"

Gabrielle shaky voice broke as she said, "Cassandra she is already hear!"

"No… No… No" Cassandra could not accept the truth that was staring her right in the face.

In a Shrill voice Cassandra screamed, "Why did you come back"

Letting Cassandra take her anger at her mother out on her Gabrielle said, "To fulfill your mothers last request"

Hercules Asks, "What was her last request!"

"To bring her Ashes back here… and to tell you how she died!" Gabrielle said her voice was raw with emotion as she said, "You would have been proud of her Hercules!"

"Why is that" Hercules asks softly.

"Because she found her own hero's journey" Gabrielle said.

"Cassandra your mother wanted me to give you this" Gabrielle said handing her a scroll

Cassandra

Right about now Gabrielle has given you this scroll, and I imagine right now your angry at her, don't be this was my choice.

Long before I ever met your father or knew you were a possibility I was a warlord in the east in a land called Jappa. I escorted a woman back to her family for the ransom. Akemi misled me and I as I taught her my secrets and she used that information to kill her father. Six months ago she called me back to the east to help her put hundreds of restless souls to rest, what she did not tell me for fear I would not come is, for that to happen for those souls to be avenged and put to rest I had to die. And not come back

I know no one can replace me but I've Asked Gabrielle to check in on you from time to time, and maybe tell you a story or two

Love your mom

Xena Warrior Princess