Episode 2: Pains from the Past

Walking down near a stream towards a small village Ceres finished recounting a story.

"…and so in the end they ended up separated by the stars, gazing at each other from separate ends of the heavens, unable to embrace ever again."

"Is there a point to this sappy story?"

"To tell you the truth I've no idea, my mother made it up on the spot one night when she tried to get me to go to sleep."

"Huh, for something made up on the spot it was surprisingly good."

"I thought you didn't like sappy stories?"

"I don't, want I meant was I couldn't tell it was just made up, it sounded exactly like something Aphrodite would do."

"You know her?"

"Not personally." Stopping they both frowned at the sight of a group of soldiers attacking and ransacking a village. Handing Aella's reigns to Ceres and unsheathing her sword Xanthe instructed.

"Stay here…" Charging forward Xanthe met the thugs swords with a flurry of swings of her own the strength of her swing shattering their blades. Flipping behind her adversaries she used whatever she could find as a weapon to the alternative of slaying them. With one left standing her looked around frightened and began to run.

"Oh no you don't!" Taking out her whip Xanthe whipped it out towards him and it wrapped around his feet. Like wrangling a pig she reeled him in easily, despite his struggling, grinning happily. Wrapping the whip in a expert knot around his body she stepped back admiring her work, watching as he fidgeted and wormed helplessly.

"The more you struggle the worse the choking gets, now you can either tell me who sent you or…" Hitting certain points on his body the man turned red in the face before he began screaming. Letting it sink in she undid what she'd done continuing from before.

"It'll be worse next time, so you either tell me now and live or I give you a slow and painful death and I find out anyways by other means." Stuttering frightened and slightly suffocating he answered.

"C-Carcer! It's Carcer!" Satisfied Xanthe let him go watching him run off, Ceres walked up to her curious.

"So whose Carcer?"

"I don't know him personally, when I was a warlord he wasn't too noticeable and he only worked with me on a couple of jobs. From what I remember, he was really big on slave trade, something even then I was disgusted with so we never really got along. Last I checked though he was rotting in a prison somewhere…he must've escaped."

"He doesn't sound that impressive."

"That's because he isn't, more akin to a barbarian than anything else. His methods involved nothing but brute force and if I know him, he'll likely send his entire army now that he knows I'm here."

"Seriously? Has the guy ever heard of strategy or moderation?"

"Ceres, you can't fix the stupid." Walking up to them stood Dawn, holding a sword pointed at Xanthe. At the height of five-four with sharp blue eyes and long dark ash brown hair, her features' delicate, revealing her youth. Dressed as the farm girl she is, wearing a long velvet skirt and a blue blouse with small dark brown leather boots.

"Xanthe!" She yelled with a shaky but determined voice.

"Leave now! We've already enough trouble dealing with your kind!" Whispering into Xanthe's ear perplexed Ceres asked.

"Uh…do you know her?"

"Not off the top of my head, give me a second."

"You killed my father!" Dawn screamed angrily and yet despite all that ferocity and the backing of the villagers she was far from making a move. Xanthe's eyes widened in realization, a tiny hint of regret mirroring in both as she answered sure.

"Now I remember, Dawn…along time ago…I raided a village not too far from here."

"That's right! And you killed him, remember?!" Ceres watched Xanthe's face seemingly uncaring but the slightest hint of remorse echoing in her stare as she looked down to the ground before replying.

"I know it's no consolation but I am sorry…"

"Sorry?! Sorry?! That's not going to bring my father back now is it?! Do you even know his name, Xanthe?! It was Euryalus!" Ceres touched Xanthe's arm and under a quiet voice whispered to her.

"I know you're not looking for their forgiveness' but…maybe this is a good place to continue for your own?" Looking down at Ceres, Xanthe nodded in agreement then looked back up at Dawn facing her proudly.

"I know you don't want nor desire my assistance but…I'm going to help you chase off Carcer. If you feel like helping that's fine with me if not, it's understandable." A man stepped forward angrily asking atop the defying cries of the crowd.

"And we should believe that YOU want to help us?!"

"No, I simply told you want I'm going to do. Listen I know you want my blood just as much as you want Carcer's but I'm asking you to let me help you! I'm not asking you to trust me, I'm not even asking you to help me, I'm asking you to let me give you a chance to survive! For your sake not mine." The crowd paused thinking it through a reluctantly gave in much to the shock of Dawn.

"Fine, we accept your help." Whipping around Dawn asked shocked and appalled.

"You're kidding me, right?! You're actually accepting her help?!" An old man stepped forward, bearing a slight family resemblance to Dawn. His short white hair and bushy black eyebrows at above dark brown eyes, his nose bent and his lips cracked with a white shaggy beard. Weathered tan skin his old frame looked deceptively frail, dressed in loose fitting light brown pants tucked into dark brown leather boots. A blue tunic under a deep green vest with a belt going around his center.

"Dawn, as much as you hate it we need her help, we don't stand much of a chance on our own. Without her we either give up and surrender everything we own and die or go out fighting, either way our death will be assured." Stalking off Dawn left them to their own devices, the old man then stepped towards the two.

"I'm Aloeus, You'll have to excuse my granddaughter, she lost her father eight years ago and her mother just three days ago. I'll just say it up front, I don't trust you Xanthe, you've wounded too many people to be cleared of suspicion this easily but…we need your help whether we'd like to admit it or not." Jumping in Ceres reassured him with a smile speaking in her place.

"Don't worry, Xanthe will take care of everything." Xanthe gave a sideways look to Ceres before saying.

"I'm not expecting your trust Aloeus nor your respect, I've a lot to make up for…I'd better get started. If you will, I'd like to you to gather every person whose willing to assist…as for the rest, hide them in the warehouse for safety." Aloeus stared into Xanthe's eyes as if to try and examine her soul before nodding and setting off. Xanthe then turned to Ceres saying.

"Listen, when all the fighting starts I want to you to stay in the warehouse with the others."

"What?! But I want to help!"

"Unless you can think of a way of shooting with your bow and not killing anyone, no." Ceres looked down disappointed.

"I understand." Placing her hand on Ceres' shoulder Xanthe reassured her.

"Trust me, somebody's going to have to keep the people calm, I'm trusting you to take care of them." Giving a small smile Ceres nodded understanding her position.

"I got it, just don't forget about me alright?"

"I won't, now go." Xanthe parted ways with Ceres looking around at the small village examining their small walls.

"It isn't much but it's better than nothing…" Getting to work Xanthe set up traps with the help of all the villagers, who eventually began to be positive about the idea and Xanthe taking the lead. As Ceres helped out bringing a pot of mushy and sticky goo to Xanthe she ran into Dawn who stared from an alley way at Xanthe with the most confused expression. Feeling a sense of responsibility and compassion Ceres made her way to her.

"Hey…" Dawn turned to her in surprise her guard up.

"It's you, that girl Xanthe came with…what do you want?"

"My name is Ceres and I was actually coming to see how you were doing, you look…a little lost." At first her eyes were steel but they softened to a warm confused stare as she looked down answering honestly.

"I…am to tell you the truth; all my life my mother taught never to hate or hold grudges against anyone, even those who hurt you deeply. I can't help it though, I'm so angry with Xanthe I just…I want her to hurt like I am but…looking at her now…something different, there's a change in her eyes. This isn't the same woman I remember from my childhood. I feel like the criminal here…" Ceres looked down in response unsure of how to give an adequate reply.

"I don't know how it feels to hurt like you do but…I've learned something watching others over the years. No matter how much pain one person causes the other, people will always be their own worst enemy, as much as Xanthe hurt you…you're the one causing yourself the most pain. It does no good to hold onto all the hate and the suffering, what your mother taught you…the ability to forgive is very precious. I'm sure your father and mother had a great understanding of the world and to keep you from becoming what they most feared they instilled in you all the knowledge of love and compassion they could give."

"Easier said than done."

"The high road, the right road…is the hardest one to travel, just ask Xanthe."

"Ask the person who caused me this much pain to begin with? That's a laugh…"

"Maybe but it couldn't possibly hurt much more than it already does and who knows you might find you're more alike than you know."

"Alike?! Me and that…monster?!"

"Nobody is made the way they are, everybody has the capacity for good and evil. Think about it, something had to push Xanthe into what she was before."

"You got all this just from watching people?"

"Yes but I had to think about it as well…doesn't mean I fully understand it and I pray to the gods I never do. Just try and give her a chance, you never know…that guilt you feel inside when you think of getting revenge may be your parents safeguard to keep you on the right path." Dawn looked down at the ground as a repentant, confused, and contemplating look took hold.

"I-I'll try…Ceres but I can't make any promises."

"Not asking you too, see ya later Dawn." Ceres then went on about her business setting up the pot atop an arch way like instructed. After she was done they all gathered up in the square where Xanthe stood before them.

"Alright, this is it…we've scouted Carcer's men on the move, I want all those who aren't prepared to fight to take shelter in the warehouse, as for everyone else, take your places." Ceres and the others ran for the Warehouse shutting the large wooden doors tightly shut they knelt in a tightly knit group nervously. Xanthe stood atop one of the battlements determinedly. Carcer's men rode in red leather armor with a black flag with the crest of a Hawk on their flags. Seconds before they entered the village Xanthe signaled to hidden archers who shot off flaming arrows to a hidden oil pit in front of the entrance. Running down from the wall she met some of the soldiers leading them throughout the small village to be crushed in between swinging logs.

Pots of the sticky goo dropped on them only for them to fall face first into a hay stack. Those that remained she'd met in combat while the villagers sniped them from above. Running back to the entrance she'd met face to face with Carcer. Carcer is quite boorish looking having short spiked black hair, full eyebrows above deep brown eyes, his nose slightly upturned and his mouth wide. Xanthe walked towards him confidently with a small smile on her face.

"Well, well, it's been sometime Carcer…I see you're still as detestable as ever. Tell me…do you like stealing crests or do you lack imagination?" Carcer sneered at her stepping forward a large axe in hand as he retorted.

"Xanthe…I heard the reports still I thought you'd died, stories of your brother Eryx betrayal are all around. Didn't you get beaten to death and left for dead in a ditch somewhere? As for my crest, Eryx has brought me under his wing, it seems he has more of a business sense than you." Xanthe's eyes narrowed in a deep seated hatred and anger.

"Eryx is dealing in slaves?" Smiling proudly Carcer answered.

"That's right! It's too bad really, you would've made a great leader but you had to screw it all up by becoming all touchy feely."

"Hey Carcer."

"What?"

"Shut up." The second the words left her mouth Xanthe kicked up a metal plate and flung it Frisbee style at Carcer hitting him square in the throat. Dropping his axe in shock, he grabbed onto his throat coughing in pain as Xanthe backed handed his two guards in the face. Grabbing the arm of one she twisted his arm snapping it before kicking the other in the back sending him into cow manure. Flinging the guard aside she made her way to Carcer she grabbed him by the throat, holding him up, while the villagers closed in around him.

"How about it Carcer, feel like delivering a message for me or do you want to be left to the mercy of these villagers? The choice is yours." Barely able to breath he choked out answering.

"M-message…I-I'll…deliver the…message!"

"That's what I thought." Xanthe then pulled one of the horses aside, dislocated Carcer's legs so he couldn't walk and shoved him atop tying his hands together to the reigns. Protesting in pain he stuttered out.

"M-my legs! I can't spur the horse!"

"Don't give me that, I know your horses are specifically trained to return to Eryx when their owner dies." Xanthe then looped a rope around the horses neck and onto the other's walking back to Carcer.

"They'll take you back to Eryx, ready to take my message?" Carcer nodded desperately.

"Good, tell Eryx that unless he wants to end up on the end of his own blade, he'll drop slave trading permanently."

"I-I'll tell him, right away!" Slapping the leading horse on, she watched as all of the horses Carcer and his men rode in on road out of the village in unison. Aloeus came up beside her surprised stating.

"You spared many of his men and…saved us all." Turning around to face him Xanthe replied.

"I won't kill unless absolutely necessary and as for helping you out, don't mention it, I've along way to go before I can be forgiven." Staring at her along with the rest of the village folk Aloeus sighed.

"I…may have misjudged you, Xanthe, I believed that a raven couldn't change it's feathers…I was wrong. On behalf of my family and this village, I thank you and am in forever in your debt, is there anything we can do to repay you?" Xanthe looked around at them in surprise before giving a small awkward smile and shaking her head.

"I don't want anything, I'm just glad it turned out as well as it did."

"Xanthe…" Dawn walked up to Xanthe accompanied by Ceres, bowing respectfully she couldn't meet her eyes at first. Turning towards Dawn confused she listened intently as Dawn spoke up saying.

"I'll never forgive you for what you've done, it's not something that I can just let go of but…I can forgive you for the person you were. At first when I seen you I wanted nothing more than revenge, Ceres here has helped me see that…I was wrong. My parents would not have wanted this of me and…you're not the same person you were eight years ago. What I'm trying to say is thank you and…I'm sorry for not giving you a chance." Taken back Xanthe looked down uncomfortable before smiling happily and clear joy in her eyes.

"No, I should be thanking you…I truly wasn't expecting you to forgive me, I know I wouldn't if I were in your shoes. You truly are a better person than I, I'll try and be worthy of your forgiveness." Dawn smiled happily bowing towards her, watching as Ceres and Xanthe left the village. As they left the village Xanthe turned to Ceres out of curiosity.

"So did I do the heroine thing correctly?" Ceres laughed slapping Xanthe on the shoulder.

"I think you know the answer for yourself, I don't think it could've gone any better."

"Mmm, you're right, if only a little…I've only been doing this for a couple of weeks though." Stopping Ceres turned to Xanthe confused and curious.

"What?" Xanthe took in a deep breath before looking at the nearby lake.

"Just two weeks ago…I was giving up on ever…being who I used to be, an impossible dream I know. Now…however…I'm finding, whenever I help out a village or someone whose in need…I feel better than I did before." Ceres frowned unsure.

"A sense of accomplishment?"

"No it's not that…I'd say it's more a sense of…peace." They began walking on, Xanthe turned to Ceres more light-hearted now as she asked.

"So what did you say to her?"

"Who? Dawn? Nothing really, I just let her in on my perspective of things…I didn't think it would help her as much as it did though."

"Your perspective huh?" Xanthe smiled joyfully, Ceres then turned to her asking.

"You know I've been traveling all this time with you and I don't even know that much about you. I know you were once a warlord but nothing beyond that." Xanthe's smile vanished and became slightly unnerved as she took in Ceres' innocent stare.

"I guess…I should at some point explain some things to you."