Attack

It was hours before all the orphans they had located were at the palace and even later when she herself arrived. Where she was washed in hot water that turned her skin so red she thought it would blister by the palace healers at Fiona's orders. If Cyrene hadn't of shown up the water probably would have been much hotter as Fiona would not let them take off the fire at the temperature the human body could withstand. To her anger some children had already been killed that way. Fiona and Xena were having a very loud argument about this when Drake decided to make an appearance from the battlefield.

"You may as well have boiled them alive!"

"Maybe next time I will!"

"There won't be a next time, you're not allowed near them!"

"Ha! You can't forbid me from doing what I please in my castle!"

"How long have they been at it?" Drake asked Cyrene who was sighing and shaking her head. She looked tired.

"Since Xena got back at dawn after the outbreak crisis."

"Outbreak, outbreak of what?" Drake asked.

"The plague, mini epidemic, but its under control as dead bodies are being burned.

"How many of those people were already dead?" Drake asked.

"None," Cyrene whispered. "Except two, the healer poisons them, they die and they throw their bodies away, but people are keeping back from the tents convinced that the plague is supper deadly this time because they're not living in proper conditions. Some however when they find out they have the plague are willingly letting soldiers slit their throats before they're thrown in the fire. Xena asked them, she would never take their life without their consent."

"Woman do you realize that some people are being poisoned."

"They know its poison Drake, however sick and weak they aren't idiots. There are those who have refused food or drink. They will die without the help of poisons or daggers. They've declined to be given a mercy death." Drake sighed as Fiona yelled again and Xena retorted. He wanted to get out before either of them knew of his arrival.

"What started this argument?" Drake asked.

"The orphans, the ones that just came in, Fiona ordered they be disinfected of a disease they don't have. She made the healers and nurses boil the water so hot it burned like fire. Several kids died being forced to bath in it and Xena was furious because she brought them here to live not be killed."

"Hence the remark that my mother may have well put them in a pot and boiled them."

"Yes, that's exactly why." Xena had appeared on the roof and he hadn't even noticed the argument had stopped but he could still hear Fiona yelling.

"Who is my mother yelling at and why is your skin so red." Drake touched her cheek. "And hot."

"Your mother I had to be disinfected and I was scrubbed raw in water that nearly made blisters appear on my skin. And she's yelling at nobody. We were arguing through the door hence why our voices were louder than usual, but than I realized you were here and I came up to greet you see how the war is going."

"Stalemate," Drake answered as they all walked down into the palace. "Come on if you've been out there as long as I gather you'll want to eat." Drake ordered dishes they would normally have at dinner, but breakfast foods would not fill them up. Drake decided they would dine with the orphans. The hall was large enough now that the nobles had breakfasted and went about their business as much as they could. The orphans always one to breakfast late for they all had to shower and dress together. They were very surprised when Xena and Drake entered. The nurses quickly ordered them to bow or curtsy. They were all still frail, but there were happier faces as they could count on good food and warm beds.

"How is Eve?" Drake asked.

"Fine, she was sleeping when I peaked in, but I think I need to spend time with her today before I get back to work." Drake nodded.

"Let someone else go looking for orphans, you can inspect them upon their arrival here. I'd rather you didn't go out there again and exhaust yourself especially if something happens. Today I'd prefer you rested. Eve will understand."

"I highly doubt it."

"Xena this is the one thing I will order you to do and that is rest. Even wonder woman needs her rest to do her best. You're no good to anyone dead and Eve needs her mother as she grows up not a nanny." Drake said nanny, but the tone in his voice suggested Fiona on purpose.

"You're right rest is important," Xena said almost immediately hearing his suggestion. He nodded as they ate dinner in his private dining room alone for once. The children were allowed to approach and thank them near the end. Each child or children that approached were given their full attention and small conversation to their liking.

"I told you, she wouldn't understand," Xena told him as she sat up. She had been asleep for less than two hours when Drake had returned with a wailing little princess who missed her mommy not her daddy.

"Yeah I see." He place Eve on the bed and she made the noise she always made when calling for Xena. Xena slid her closer to her and kissed Eve's forehead while telling her she was here.

"I'm sorry mommy hasn't been around, but she had to help the other children." Eve calmed down and Xena wiped her tears.

"Look at her hair she's turning it into green feathers."

"A shape shifter how rare," Xena commented proudly as she took off the hat and saw her hair had now become blue feathers like on a Blue Jay. She kissed her blue head of feathers and found them soft and glossy. She noticed they weren't full-grown feathers, but those you would find on a young fledgling.

"Yes, our little one is very powerful." Xena nodded. "I can't get her to stop though when she was crying she had turned her mouth into a very sharp beak and pecked me until I suggested I take her to you. But that was after her hands turned into talons and scratched up Fiona's arms when she tried to spank her for misbehaving as she said." Xena looked angry. " I said something to her about it no worries. Cyrene wouldn't even hold her, but did make suggestions to calm her down and it didn't work. We really wanted you to rest, but Eve had other ideas obviously."

"Good girl scratching Fiona like that." Eve's smile widened, as her hair turned normal back to its usual blond hair that blended into her skin it seemed. Next her feet changed into that of a horse than a birds, dog, cat, and many more.

"Eve you have to stop now," Drake told her sternly, but she kept going as her arms turned to wings and she waved them wildly, but didn't take flight.

"Oh God she is going to wear me out. I'll die of exhaustion before her fifth birthday."

"Hmm I doubt it," Xena said. "Okay enough shape shifting for one day young lady I don't want you to wear yourself out or mommy can't play with you." Eve stopped and everything returned too normal.

"Oh she listens to you, but she acts like she doesn't hear me." Xena shrugged.

"I'm her mother." She played peak-a-boo with Eve and blew on her stomach. She smiled and laughed while cooing and drooling as usual. Eve loved all the attention she was getting. Fortunately all the shape shifting had tired her out and having already been fed and changed she was ready for sleep after about ten minutes of play. Xena picked her up off the bed and rubbed her back as she sang to her softly in her ear. Eve was out like a light almost immediately.

"Do me a favor Drake," Xena said as he rubbed the back of Eve's head.

"Anything within reason." Xena nodded with a grin. He grinned back.

"No, I wouldn't ask that of you. I was going to ask you to go check on and see if new orphans have come and see to it they aren't sick with something contagious we can't contain." Drake nodded. He kissed Eve and than Xena.

"Get some rest." Drake stood and at that moment Gabrielle burst in unannounced followed by Lady Tabitha who had probably returned from her lessons. She had given everyone the day off.

"I tried to stop her and I told her you were probably resting again but she came in…" Lady Tabitha started. She was nervous and feared punishment even though Xena had by no means punished her or anyone else. Viscount Holmes had been really harsh on her and she feared anyone with more power than her.

"Its okay, Gabrielle what's wrong?" Xena asked soothing Eve by rubbing her back.

"It's his mother, she's sent all the new orphans back outside the gates, I was supervising it all because I knew you had been up all day and night I know how easily you get sick without rest. Anyway I took a healer with me from town because the palace ones listen to Fiona too much. So we're inspecting children gathering the very sick for more than just treatment in a tent because they were contagious and they're starving Xena she's sent them back out into the hot sun including the ones with chicken poxes that are already here. She says to clear out the infirmary. They're holding up until I get one of you."

"They'll die, Drake, they need constant care."

"After that she plans on removing the healthy ones. She thinks Drake's gone off to the front lines again because your horse got loose and she didn't see the grooms chasing it and she gathers you're asleep and won't hear a thing of it until you're awake. By than it'll be too late for most."

"Mother," Drake growled stomping out. Lady Tabitha gathered Xena's longer robe and helped her put it on without disturbing Eve too much. She tried to put her in her crib, but that erupted in a piercing wail. All three left the room to find Lady Emily and the rest of her ladies halting everyone's movements. Everyone bowed or curtsied to her.

"What's going on?" Xena asked.

"Lady Fiona ordered everyone out when she heard Gabrielle going to wake you. She says you've ordered everyone out, but Gabrielle didn't believe her." Solari and Eponin came in carrying sick children back to their pallets to be looked after by the good nurses.

"Lady Fiona has got some nerve," Solari told Xena. "Poor children are already dropping like flies as if they had to walk twenty miles."

"We're lucky they're even still alive the way the sun is baking everything it can harm outside." This time Eponin was speaking.

"Quickly get everyone back inside. If you're strong enough help move the sick back to their beds," Xena told the orphans. Everyone nodded and went back as thirteen-year-olds headed outside having gained their strength back more quickly than others. They were still thin but together they could drag someone even thinner perhaps back in.

"Okay good that's the last of the sick," Solari announced to the nurses. They nodded and got to work with making them comfortable and much more.

"What about the new arrivals?" Xena asked.

"They've been brought in already and are being treated." Xena nodded to Eponin.

"Now the healthier new arrivals are sitting in covered wagons receiving food enough to sustain them and feel them up for the time being," Lady Emily informed her.

"Yes, they're being put in a section of the second wing for healthy new arrivals who need to be rid of head lice and fed every four hours at least. They've got stomachs the size of a babies."

"A toddler's is more like it, wouldn't you say so Lady Tabitha." Tabitha nodded afraid to speak her mind. Viscount Holmes had discouraged it with beating her. " Anyway I'll go have the kitchen include meat in their diet tonight, its time they had some meat."

"No, no you get back in bed," Gabrielle told her. Xena about to protest.

"We don't wanna hear it, I'll go tell Cyrene myself," Eponin said. She like Solari, Gabrielle, Lady Emily, Lady Clara, Lady Sonya, Lady Elizabeth, and Lady Agnes were dressed as nurses in their sunshine yellow dress that fanned out from the undergarments and stopped just above the knees. They each had a white apron that covered the skirts and basket of herbs was sewn onto the right side of each dress. Xena had worn that same dress when she had apprenticed as a nurse for awhile when Fiona and Cyrene had taken over her and Drake's wedding. It was welcome distraction from a wedding that did not suit her tastes. In the end though their plans fell apart because Fiona and Cyrene could not agree on anything and Xena planned her wedding so when the day came they were surprised to see everything done Fiona more than Cyrene.

"Yes back to bed my queen, you're exhausted," Lady Emily said shooing her away with hand movements.

"Yes, and I will personally escort you back if I have too," Lady Agnes told her. Xena could see that she was out numbered and this was one battle where she would not over come the odds. She sighed.

"Fine, fine you win." They nodded and she turned and left. Lady Tabitha was being told to watch her and keep quiet before she hurried after Xena walking one step behind her.

"Xena, what are you doing out of bed," Drake said running up to them as he came down the stairs in one of the corridors.

"Had to see about the children, your mother has conveniently disappeared." Drake shook his head.

"No, I ordered her to her room and had a few words with her. She's sorry," Drake told her.

"Sure, she is."

"Now don't be like that she promised to apologize to you."

"Its not me she owes an apology it's the children."

"I know, but it was the best I could do she's refused to apologize to them and she won't budge."

"Only because you let her get away with it." They were starting on a familiar quarrel when the ground shook and things began to blow up. There was screaming and yelling.

"The castle is under attack," Drake said as Xena fell into him. Eve started crying because she was between them. Xena held onto her though and managed to spare one arm to pull Tabitha out of the way the as the ceiling fell in.

"Come on." He pulled her towards the front of the palace as dust seemed to fall from the ceiling and chandeliers fell. The city was on fire partly and already brigades were trying to put them out before it spread.

"The Dragons," Xena said indicating them. Eve cried. The castle gates were open and people were streaming through in fright, but the castle was no safer. There was already a lot of damage done when Drake and Xena erected the magical barrier. Tabitha held Eve at this point who cried and cried not happy to be parted from her mother at all.

"Come on!" They ran for the armory where Xena kept extra clothes just in case she found herself in her nightdress and robe away from her room. She was dressed in no time and already soldiers were running in and out for weapons.

"Honestly I'm not parting from my weapons anymore," Xena muttered. Eponin, Solari, Gabrielle, and ladies Emily, Clara, Sonya, Agnes, and Elizabeth ran in.

"God I hope Ephiny doesn't decide today is the day to return," Solari muttered.

"She can't not yet we didn't send the help she needed," Drake told them. They changed and everyone except Lady Agnes who promptly took charge of Eve and Tabitha ushering them to the protection the hidden rooms under the castle provided where the children were already being moved. The sick ones would stick it out in the infirmary. Xena kissed Eve before she went and they hurried to the horses, which were loose but waiting for their masters.

"Okay, I hope everyone is to safety because the barrier is going to be down just long enough for them to send a few more fire balls hurtling the palace's way," Drake commented to Xena.

"They have to be, we have to save the city." There were people at the barrier crying and begging to be let in. The City gates were closed and many more people were terrified. "Let's go!" They took flight and the barrier came down and they attacked. They were right as the palace crumbled in places. Xena used a shield to block the fire like everyone as she slashed and fought the death riders. She managed to help erect the force field again and the inhabitants were once again safe.

"Don't harm the dragons!" Xena ordered. They obeyed, as more forces from their army seemed to appear. Lots of men took flight and it was fierce sky battle.

"They're coming!" Xena yelled. She could see in the distance as the army of darkness was moving forward as more people from more villages were uprooted suddenly or trapped. It was hard to miss the black skies from their height. Once the sky battle settled down the army hurried back out.

"Xena no, don't go you're exhausted," Drake told her. Xena shook her head.

"I'll get out if I feel tired, but I have to help drive them back as much as you do." He tried to argue with her, but she refused to listen.

"Think of Eve," Drake told her.

"I am thinking of Eve," Xena retorted back and he understood that if they advanced things would only get worse and what kind of world would he leave his daughter in. They followed their army and arrived on the ground at the head. They fought valiantly and Xena did in fact get tired especially after her arm got slashed and she loss some blood, but she fought and they drove the army back further and freed more people until they retreated and there was no man's land between them. They had reached another stalemate for now.

"Good girl Argo," Xena whispered patting her neck. Argo turned for home, sensing Xena was tired.

"Xena!" Drake yelled seeing her sway in the saddle. He galloped over to her on his own exhausted steed. He caught her just as she fell. He got off his horse and pulled her off Argo.

"Is she dead?" Gabrielle asked with tears in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself closer and could not bear to think that Xena might be dead.

"No just extremely exhausted," Drake told them. He walked to the tent the men had now erected for them. No one would be returning to Illusia any time soon on exhausted horses and weary bodies. Fresh men arrived to take over the watch, but others were exhausted and promptly passed out.

"Oh I should have insisted you go back to bed before we got all the children in," Lady Emily told Xena as Gabrielle cleaned her wound.

"No we all should have," Lady Clara said. "I would never forgive myself if she had died and poor Eve without a mother."

"Eve will never be without a mother, she's got all of us," Solari said to try and brighten the mood, but there was death all around them.

"At least now she's resting," Gabrielle said trying to be optimistic as well. Solari smiled at her and she half returned it.

"All right I've arranged for transportation back to the palace for all of you," Drake said walking in. "How is she?"

"Sleeping which is good, but we'll have to make sure that the chaos of the palace does not wake her or she won't rest," Gabrielle informed him.

"I know, put her in my room its enchanted so that people can't barge in. Only I can open the door and the only door that leads directly into my room without me needing to open it is the one in Xena's room. No one knows that except her so keep it to yourselves." They nodded. "I'll join her tomorrow tell her that." Soon they were all off on fresh horses. Xena was carried to her room only to find that it had been blasted away behind the door.

"So much for getting into his room," Lady Agnes commented.

"Bring her to my room," Cyrene said appearing with Eve who was red in the face. She had obviously been crying and they could just make out her hair starting to change again before anything else. Cyrene saw too and looked utterly exhausted with her granddaughter. They hurried off to Cyrene's room where Tabitha who hadn't been far away ran a head to pull back the covers and open all the doors so they could come through immediately.

"Tabitha is learning," Lady Emily teased her a bit. Lady Tabitha grinned getting use to them. She had come to think of them all as family when they saved her from Viscount Holmes who tried to kidnap her.

"Where am I?" Xena groaned when they had lifted her into the bed and she bounced a little.

"She sleeps through the horse ride, but she wakes up the moment she's on a bed," Cyrene said shaking her head.

"That feeling is natural, Xena doesn't know the feel of a bed."

"Where's Drake?!" Xena asked sitting up in alarm. "This isn't my room either." Xena had already spotted Eve and her feathered hair any fears she may have had for her daughter had died immediately. Eve cooed in response to her voiced.

"Fighting or resting now we have them at a stalemate for now once again."

"Okay, why am I not in my room?" Xena asked.

"They blew your room up, so it's actually a miracle that you chose not to rest and see to the orphans. We'll have to thank Fiona."

"Good that oughta piss her off."

"Even exhausted she can't help, but scheme, bless her heart," Lady Tabitha joked as if Xena was her daughter. They laughed.

"Ah you hear that, that is the sweet sound of conversion," Lady Agnes said.

"No, it's the sweet sound of a pupil who has been taught well," Lady Sonya announced.

"Its all that and more," Xena said holding her arms out for Eve.

"No, no you need rest," Cyrene said.

"So does she and face it she won't give you any peace until she has me." Cyrene sighed and relented and soon Eve's hair was back to normal and she settled down to sleep.

"I miss the days when I could get her to sleep," Cyrene complained.

"Don't we all," Gabrielle said.

"Is everyone okay, were there any casualties?" Xena asked.

"Not in the palace, everyone though there are plenty of rooms that have been blown off the palace map just like yours," Eponin said.

"The reminds me come on girls we had better go salvage to wreck under room to be sure to find her jewelry and any clothes," Lady Emily announced. They nodded and curtsied before leaving pretending not to hear her orders to go rest.

"Why don't you three go get some rest I'll watch over Xena," Cyrene told them.

"Yeah, look for a letter from Ephiny." They nodded and left.

"I'll go put her in the nursery." Xena shook her head.

"No, I prefer she stays by my side for now." Cyrene nodded knowing her daughter was taking in the fact that if she had of left Eve in her room she could be dead. Xena slept as peacefully as possible as she worried about Drake and her subjects. She slept while they were in pain, but there was nothing she could do in her exhausted state. When she awoke rested she found Cyrene, Eponin, Solari, Gabrielle, and her ladies doing everything she would have done personally for her people. Fiona's attempts to discredit her fell on death ears. She had slept deeply for two days and even Eve had been quiet around her careful not to wake her.