Explanations
"Here dear why don't you take everyone on a picnic, in this mess I'm the only one anyone has seen." Xena nodded. She left out and managed to reach two of her soldiers. They made their way to the kitchen spreading the word if they met a soldier who made his way outside. Ephiny, Solari, and Eponin were together and that made her job easier.
"Have you seen Drake?" Xena asked. They shook their heads.
"We saw some of his soldiers were very polite…" Ephiny started.
"Don't forget sweet," Solar quipped in.
"Hey," Eponin said. Solari shrugged.
"Yes they are, but Drake would be the one that left you swooning even now."
"Than we definitely haven't seen him." Xena nodded.
"We'll I'll just keep looking we're all going on a picnic to get out of this mess so I'd advise you make your way outside now if you ever wanna eat." They nodded and Ephiny offered to take Eve. Once Eve was safely on her way with her three aunts Xena went in search again until finally she found Drake surrounded by young women.
"Xena back off he's ours." Xena laughed a little.
"I hate to break it to you ladies, but he's already mine." She held up her hand showing them the simple silver band on her finger with three diamonds on it. The middle diamond was bigger as it symbolized the middle of their life. While the first symbolized the first day they fell in love and the last diamond symbolized their old age. She had a similar necklace, but with more diamonds and it was in the shape of an X which not only symbolized her name, but their two lives crossing though they had confidence they would always be intertwined.
"I tried to tell them, but you know how women get around me." She raised an eyebrow. "Well except you besides they're young and don't listen."
"Uh huh come on lover boy, I can't have you getting to full of yourself again." He stood up and took her hand as he laughed.
"I think you rescued me a little to late." Xena groaned.
"Oh great."
"Where's my little princess?" Drake asked.
"In good company, come on I think everyone is waiting for us." Xena spotted Gabrielle and beckoned her to meet them outside. Once they were all outside they set off for a nice green meadow. Three soldiers carried three big baskets.
"So uh where's the pages or maids or even manservant?" the soldier with a basket asked. Xena sighed and shook her head.
"We can do it ourselves," Drake told them. "You ladies rest." They spread out a huge blanket and put the food down the center. Eve was already sitting up, but she usually ended up falling over and Drake sat her on his knee. Every five minutes he had to exclaim how pretty and smart she is.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were married to Eve," Xena teased him as Eve gave her I'm hungry cry.
"Hey is anyone ever going to explain anything to me, like when exactly you got married and much more?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yeah, sure Gabrielle, I just thought we should all relax a little before I gave you a more detailed answer." She released a breast for Eve to nurse on using her blanket to let her eat in privacy for the guard's sake more than her own.
"Okay here's the thing there is another dimension or realm whatever you want to call it. Anyway Drake and I met when he was three and I was a baby, but eventually he was spending more time in Arcadia and other realms. I had been massacring for five years after Cortese when we met again during one of my long vacations and we just fell in love the moment we lay eyes on each other again."
"Okay and let's say I actually believe this, but where has he been for the pass five years?"
"Well actually five years here is one year in Arcadia so we've only been married two years, but accidentally separated for a year for one."
"Oh and if you love her so much," Gabrielle started hoping that what ever had separated them she could use to her advantage. She loved Xena after all and it was only a matter of time before Xena loved her back in the same way right? "Why did you leave her or she leave you?"
"I don't know, we had some silly fight about what I can't imagine."
"Yeah, its been too long, whatever it was I only meant to leave for a month or two out of anger, than pride, and finally I just couldn't get back because of some war I had no idea about until now."
"Well I'm pleased to say that I was right," Ephiny said to her. Eponin and Solari nodded their agreement.
"Why is it that they knew and I didn't, I am your best friend," Gabrielle told her angry that whatever they had argued about had disappeared like sweat on your body after a nice bath.
"Gabrielle you write things I ask you not to write I thought it best I not mention it until the time came that I left or perhaps Drake showed up like now."
"Well I wouldn't have this time if it were so important to you."
"That's what you said about my relationship with Solari. You may not have meant too but you embarrassed us in front of the entire tribe," Eponin told her.
"And remember when my relationship with Phanties was still a secret?" Ephiny asked. "We were quite content to sneak around until we were ready to tell everyone or I got pregnant which ever came first."
"Oh don't forget about Joxer's brothers. While its good that now everybody knows the difference in some cases. Joxer did not want people to know about his brothers unless he told them."
"Okay, so I've let some things slip."
"I wouldn't say slip from the sound of it," Drake commented. Gabrielle glared at him and everyone saw it.
"Look I'm going home you four are welcome to come with me, but on the condition that you keep it to yourself."
"You know we will, "Ephiny said indicating herself, Eponin, and Solari. Everyone looked at Gabrielle.
"Would you have us hunted like dogs because the people here think we're witches?" Drake asked her.
"No, and I won't tell or write it down."
"Blood oath than just to be safe, it'll physically prevent you from telling anyone who doesn't already know," A guard said pulling out his dagger. Ephiny and the girls took it readily and Gabrielle did too after a moment.
"So Eve how did she come to be?" Gabrielle asked.
"Its weird, but my body has been on Arcadia time except when it comes to my sleeping habits. While we were living our lives my body waited until this year before I started to show in this word. Had I gone back to Arcadia I would have been as big as a house sooner."
"A beautiful house," Drake told her stroking her hair.
"Yeah, and being in this world I didn't notice until I started having the symptoms. I had been getting steadily fatter over the years, but traveling works up an appetite so I didn't see it as strange. Its weird but it happens. Eve is Drake, she was conceived before our argument obviously."
"And you're Queen of this Adia place?" Gabrielle asked.
"Arcadia," Drake corrected.
"Whatever."
"Yes, I am Gabrielle." Gabrielle sighed.
"So now that I've taken this blood oath and asked questions show me something that my eyes can see. Prove it to me."
"You will have your proof when we make the trip home, but first my wife must be properly rested and I must in form you of the war zone you will be entering."
"Its gotta be better than fighting off Gods," Gabrielle muttered as she stood up as did Xena. She took out her Sais. The wind was starting to blow and clouds were forming. Xena cut Eve off to her dismay and secure her in her sling. She picked up her sword. The guards stood as well as the amazons. Drake also stood and took out his sword.
"What's going on?" Drake asked.
"The Gods are coming, get your shields it might be the only thing to protect us if they just throw fire balls at us."
"Men shields surround the princess." They were very efficient creating a sort of wall as the God's appeared.
"Shall we use our power to hurl energy at them my Queen?" the guard asked easily noticing that the Queen was in command of this battle not his King. With his Queen he had ninety-nine point nine percent chance of survival with his King he had a fifty percent chance.
"No, everyone conserve that energy for getting home because when we're gone they can not and will not follow."
"I should hope not, they'll be little more than mortals than," Drake said.
"Give us the child Xena!" Athena demanded.
"What do we do than?" Drake asked her.
"We walk slowly back to the village."
"Why, what good will that do?" Drake asked her.
"A lot of good, Athena won't attack her worshippers. She hasn't reached that point yet," Gabrielle explained as if it were obvious.
"If she attacks Amphipolis others will start to lose their faith in the Gods and begin to abandon them. They take mortals for granted but they won't be happy when their temples start to topple and their help is no longer asked for or wanted." So with the shields holding off the blasts they retreated back into the village. Xena watched Athena swear and disappear.
"Keep on your guard." The guards nodded and everyone went inside pleased to see the tavern had thinned out to only twenty travelers and the rest were villagers.
"What happened?" Cyrene asked. They explained what happen and after a while three of guards retrieved the food which went to the pigs and the baskets and blanket. Drake feeling over protective of his daughter took charge of her except to give her back to Xena to be fed. Xena let him do it since he needed to bond with his daughter.
"Dear do leave that in here and bring Eve, God knows when you'll get to be with your husband a lone at night a gain what with going back to fight a war and so many other things. You left quite a bit of unfinished business if I recall." Xena sighed and nodded.
"Mother will you come, I've gotten use to having you near again and who knows how long this war could last. Twenty years will have passed her before I know it and than what?"
"We'll see dear, I've lived here for so long and ran an tavern."
"Yes, and I think its time you got some rest.."
"But I love cooking and running a tavern."
"Well you could cook at the castle, there's always cooking to be done, and you could be in charge of seeing to it that our guests are most comfortable. Frankly Drake's mother is not the welcoming sort." Cyrene nodded knowing Drake's mother had turned disagreeable and rude at times. She was prone to fits of rage she very often slapped her servant and threw things at them if no one else.
"I'll think about it, but bring my darling granddaughter in here, I like staying up with her, I enjoy the night as much as she does." Xena smiled.
"All right if you insist, I won't argue." Cyrene laughed.
"I bet you won't, and I do." Xena nodded. She went back to her room where Drake was waiting as he rocked Eve. He looked up when he heard her open the door.
"Where's the cradle?" Drake asked.
"Mother is insisting that Eve sleep in her room at least until we leave, I think she's hoping for more grandchildren." Drake walked over to her and kissed her before leaning to her ear.
"She's not the only one hoping for more." He kissed her cheek before walking out. Xena grinned but stopped him before he was out of her reach.
"If you don't mind, my daughter and I have our bedtime routine." He smiled and handed her back over as Eve who was sensing that her routine would be interrupted started crying.
"Its okay Evie, Daddy didn't know." She got her changed into her proper nighttime attire and sang to her until her eyes were closed in slumber. Drake watched all this and noticed the big smile on Eve's face at all the attention she got before she went to sleep. Xena kissed Eve's forehead before she let Drake take her to be tucked in.
"So, what do you say we make your mother's dream come true?" Drake asked undoing his shirt. Xena shook her head from her chair as she brushed her hair. "No, what do you mean no?" Xena turned towards her.
"I don't mean no, I mean not yet. Look with this war we can't afford to bring more angels into this world. I will not loose my child from stress or perhaps a sword wound from some assassin or anything. I have a job protecting Eve let a lone my pregnant self and a daughter who can't even run for her life or even feed herself if necessary to survive outside the palace should something happen."
"You've got me remember."
"I do, I know, but while I don't mind going through the process it takes to make a baby, I do mind making one at this time. We will wait and let our next child be born in peace." Drake nodded his understanding.
"So how do we do this without you getting pregnant?" Drake asked. Xena took a sponge and soaked it in vinegar before inserting it as a barrier method of birth control.
"I hope this works."
"It will." They came together again not worrying about anything it seemed, but Xena always remained alert. She'd never forgive herself sometime happened to Eve. Soon they slept and their days were spent fighting off the Gods.
"Tomorrow we leave it has been two days in Arcadia and the public will be worried." Xena nodded anxious to get Eve home now where at least she was safe from direct attack.
"Mom, we need a decision we're leaving tomorrow." Cyrene nodded.
"I've decided to go, Torres as quick as his visits are dropped by the other day. He will take over so I can always have this place. He's run off to fetch the family he's started." Xena nodded.
"I'm glad you're coming." She kissed her mother's cheek and advised Gabrielle, Ephiny, Solari, and Eponin to sell their horses because they would die the moment they got into Arcadia.
"Than how are we to keep up with you twenty-six?" Gabrielle asked.
"You will ride with one of the guards. So sale."
"No wait, I'm sure you'll all want to come back eventually so why not have Torres keep them in the paddock out back?" Xena asked.
"I won't leave my horse, I just got her after all," Gabrielle whined.
"Is anyone ever going to tell me what's going on?" Amarice asked. She'd gone off to another village on an errand for my mother. She had just met Drake and his warriors. She didn't trust him. After a blood oath she explained and she was ready to help.
"Great, leave them for now and when we get to Arcadia we'll figure out a way to get them to survive."
"Is the atmosphere different?" Ephiny asked.
"Its not the atmosphere just trust me, you'll see. It'll only be three days here before Drake will return you for your horses if we figure out a way." Finally they all nodded.
"Good night because tomorrow we leave." Everyone nodded and the group broke up for tomorrow some of them entered a world they were unfamiliar with.