The Ball
"Xena!" Cyrene exclaimed when she walked into her bedroom. Sandy already had a bath drawn out of the hope that she would return even though Gabrielle had assured her she would.
"I know mother, I just needed to find some clarity." Xena was going into the bathroom. Sandy nearly freaked out as she helped her undress quickly.
"Xena, where did you go?" Cyrene asked.
"Into the city." Xena said just as Gabrielle walked in and started scolding her.
"Gabrielle shut up before we miss her explanation." Cyrene said firmly. She turned back to Xena looking at her questioningly and ignoring Gabrielle's shocked look. Xena got in the tub and they all scrubbed her from head to toe.
"Well what's your explanation I missed it among the ows." Cyrene said.
"Like I said I went into the city to find some clarity." Xena said.
"Clarity, what do you mean?" Cyrene asked.
"In this entire month I hadn't really given much thought to what my decision would be, and last night when I did, I realized that I was only getting half the story."
"What do you mean?" Gabrielle asked as she waited for her to dress in her undergarments.
"I mean that they were enticing me with riches and essentially the power to do something good or bad, and all it did was make me unsure of whether or not I thought I could even make a difference by ruling over these people."
"So your answer was to run off with Rocelin." Cyrene said.
"No, my answer was to run off alone, Rocelin merely tagged along he's not as stupid as he looks at times, and I found the other side of the story when I went out there."
"What did you find out?" Gabrielle asked.
"I found my answer and I found out that Grandma and Grandpa may very well be ignorant to some of their people and their nobles." Xena said as Cyrene started on her hair.
"What is your answer?" Gabrielle asked.
"When the moment comes you will know Gabrielle," said Xena. She gave nothing away. All three women surrounding her wondered exactly, which answer she had come too. Gabrielle prayed she didn't take their offer and soon this would be a distant story on her scoll, where as Sandy prayed that she stayed and took her rightful place. Cyrene had decided long ago that she could live with whatever decision Xena made and now she had prefered Xena take what her grandparents offered her. She had heard of the Duke of Persia's brutality to the villagers on his land and she could just imagine what he could do with a whole country. She helped Xena dress in a beautiful blue dress that really brought out her eyes.
"Xena you look absolutely stunning." Cyrene said once she had finished tightening the bodice beyond what it was suppose to be in Xena's opinion.
"I cannot breath." Xena said.
"Your talking, so yes you can." Cyrene said fixing her hair.
"Mother please stop you did a great job leave the hair where you left it." Xena said. Cyrene nodded after fixing it once more to her liking. There was a knock at the door.
"Princess the ball is about to start, five minutes until your entrance." said a guard through the door.
"Cyrene your not dressed. " Sandy said finally taking a good look at her. They quickly helped Cyrene get dressed. Afterwards Xena had to wait to be announced. They were waiting for everyone to arrive it seems some nobles were running late. Queen Atia entered the room off to the side of the hall. There were plenty of young ladies that were being introduced tonight, but the ball was for Xena.
"Princess, you look beautiful." Queen Atia said. Xena smiled at the use of princess not as a title, but an affectionate term for one's granddaughter. She loved that her grandmother never treated her like they had a Queen to Princess relationship, but as a Grandmother to granddaughter relationship. Family came first and foremost in her heart.
"Thank you, and so do you," Xena said hugging her.
"Did you find what you needed today?" Queen Atia asked.
"How'd you know? " Xena asked.
"Everyone goes through it no matter how they inherit the throne and what circumstances life has given them, everyone just finds their answers differently," Queen Atia said. She smiled some more.
"Well I found my answers and I...," Queen Atia stopped her.
"Please surpise me, now I must go and enter with your grandfather, but once all the other girls have entered the guard will knock on the door, come out and wait to be announced," Queen Atia said. Xena nodded. This was her real unveiling.
"I won't have to dance with a lot of people, will I?"
"No, just the important people dear." Queen Atia said. Queen Atia smiled at the frown on Xena's face and kissed her cheek before leaving. She heard trumpets fifteen times as each girl was introduced to court. They were lucky girls in everyones opinion. They were introduced at the ball of the century and everyone would remember them not to mention they had the luxury of saying their very first ball as a true lady was the night of the Princess's introduction and acceptance of the crown. The whole court fully expected her to take her place as heir, it was after all her duty to her family.
Xena took a deep breath and opened the door once she heard the guard knock. She had no reason to be nervous, she had made up her mind and knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do no matter her past. She had thought about the wisdom and lessons her grandmother had given her over the years and this pass month. She considered everything her grandfather had taught her and she most certainly had considered her day in the city. After she had considered her family and friends. She considered the Duke of Persia a lot. She had accounted for everything that should be takin' into consideration when making a life changing decision and knew that whatever the decision a sacrifice would be made and she would have to live with it for the rest of her life.
"Princess go." The guard said. Xena snapped out of her thoughts took a deep breath and walked forward. She was amazed at the beauty before her as she walked gracefully down the white marble steps. Everyone stared silent. Her entrance had been grand and graceful. The ladies envied her beauty and the men lusted after it. No one thought of the brillant mind behind her dazzeling blue eyes or the real power her body posessed. Xena was no longer paying attention to them though, her eyes rested on only one person and that person was Hercules. Standing beside him was Aprodite and Iolaus and she knew how they had gotten here so fast. Pyramid was a three month journey from Greece and last Xena had heard Hercules had traveled halfway to India when she had left for Pyramid.
"Let the ball begin!" King Morton announced once Xena had done the traditional curtsy to her grandparents or if her father were alive than her parents.
"So princess did you ever plan on telling me?" Hercules asked once she had gotten herself outside of the crowd of women and men anxious to make friends and get into her good favor.
"Yea, eventually, when I got over the shock." Xena said as they went out onto the balcony.
"Hmm...it was a surprise when Aprodite brought us to this beautiful place, I assumed she would take us to some random village or perhaps Amphipolis, see I couldn't wait to see you, so I asked her to get us there quicker."
"I missed you too," replied Xena. He kissed her and she returned it before pulling away.
"Not here," Xena whispered. He nodded in understanding. She was a princess and the last thing she needed to do was cause a scandal for her grandparents to deal with.
"Gabrielle tells me you have a very important decision to make." Hercules said when they had gone back in and were dancing a waltz.
"Yea, its a big decision, and I think I may have my answer," Xena said.
"Well than why are you hesitating?" Hercules asked.
"Because I don't know how you feel," Xena replied," we may travel to different places to help people, but your still my companion, life changing decisions effect both of us not just one of us."
"Yea, I know, I'm sorry I didn't realize that with Serena." Hercules said.
"No, its fine we were seperated and I wasn't ready yet I didn't deserve you."
"Don't say that as if your lower than me, we're equals." Hercules said. Xena nodded.
"So how would you feel if I said yes?" Xena asked.
"If you said yes, I'd understand assuming your going to tell me why you said yes, and I would stick by you no matter what, I made a promise to myself that I'd never let you go for any reason and I mean it," Hercules said. Xena nodded.
"And if I said no?"
"Than I'd be just as happy as I am now at finally seeing you," Hercules said. Xena smiled.
"I was so sure earlier, but now I'm still hesitating what do you think?" Xena asked.
"Well tell me why you think you should say yes and than tell me why you think you should say no." Hercules said. Xena told him why should say no and than she told him why she should say yes. Even pointed out Maria with all the kids from the orphanage when they showed up. It was no doubt Rocelin's doing the clothes, hair, clean bodies, and the ride to the palace.
"You've got solid reasons for saying either one, but your still thinking about me because its pretty obvious to me what you want to choose," Hercules said.
"Is it that obvious?" Xena asked.
"Don't worry, only to me, and I think you should go for it I'll support you in your decision, I'm here to stay so if you were secretly planning on getting rid of me your plan failed." Xena smiled at his words.
"I could never get rid of you." Xena said. Hercules smiled too as the song ended. They left the dance floor. Xena was amazed at his court manners. He in no way stuck out aside from being a foreigner. They got something to drink at the refreshment table. Xena had missed dinner, but she'd quickly ate a sandwich on her way up to the room and wasn't starving like so many other late arrivals.
"May I have this dance?" King Morton asked.
"Of course, I always have a dance for you." Xena said to her grandfather.
"Excuse me." Hercules said politely. Xena nodded and he went off to talk with Iolaus. Xena danced with her Grandfather who commented on her beauty and reasured her that no matter the decision he would always love her unconditionally. After her dance with her grandfather he retired to his throne and she began to dance with every married important guy and finally every single guy who did his absolute fair share of flirting. She only flirted back, because it was tradition. She nearly laughed at the last man she danced with he was the guy who'd almost ran her and Isabel over. He apologized time and time again as she watched his mistress scrowl at them though it was obvious she was a noble lady and merely pretended he was her escort.
After all the dancing with nobles she finally got to dance with Hercules again, but she was pulled away to meet all the noble women starting with the most influencial and important. She was so bored that she dragged Gabrielle along, who absolutely had to argue with their one sided views. This made it easier for Xena to endure, and some more liberal ladies laughed and questioned Gabrielle about her other beliefs. While still others hated that the princess would back up her friend than side with them.
"Everyone please it is time that our princess chose the path she will walk from this night on," King Morton announced. Xena stood next to him and she took a deep breath. She knew for sure now what her decision was.
"When I first came here a month ago I was surpised to find that I was a princess, but not all that ignorant to the History of Pyramid, I often wondered whether or not I could rule over you and everyone in the country waiting to hear my answer," Xena said," I was shown the rich life, but I wasn't made aware of the challenges facing peasents and the middle-class everyday, so today I went out and I really experienced the life Pyramid had to offer as much as I could, and it gave me some clarity; it made me realize that the Duke of Persia would ruin all the good things Pyramid has to offer and I could not let everyones hard work be destroyed by such a man taking the throne." Everyone was silent.
"Does that mean your accepting our offer?" King Morton asked.
"Yes, it means that I choose to be the Princess of Pyramid, heir to the throne," Xena said. There was cheering and jumping up and down. Everyone seemed to let out the breath they were holding. Their fate had been decided in the best way possible in their opinion. Xena called for their attention again and they quieted down.
"Wait before I can truely commit to this I feel like I should be honest with you about my past, because we can not establish a relationship without trust." Xena said. She admitted to her crimes of the past. Not in detail, but she admited to being a warlord. They forgave her and actually liked her for being so open and honest with her. Gabrielle was sad and crying about it. She was hoping that they wouldn't want Xena after she admited to her past crimes, but they did. Cyrene was just happy and so was Torres. Alise was happy, but she was still upset over not being able to call Torres her brother. Cyrene was crying out of happiness and Iolaus was clapping and cheering for her. Hercules smiled feeling that Xena had indeed made the right decision considering what the Duke of Persia could do to so many people.
"Princess Xena as a gift we will grant you one wish no matter what it is except killing someone." King Morton said. Xena was silent as she thought for a moment. She looked at Torres, who had to deal with the Earl of Skynard as his father. He was a cruel man and almost as bad as the Duke of Persia.
"I demand that all of the Earl of Skynard's lands and assets be given to my brother Torres and that my father's adoption of him be considered legal meaning the Earl is no longer his father even by birth." Xena said firmly and loudly.
"Than that would mean Torres is the heir." The Earl said to stop King Morton from giving her her wish.
"No, Torres is not the blood heir, so therefore he would not be considered heir." Queen Atia said.
"So be it Richard you are no longer an Earl, your titles, lands, and riches now belong to my son's adopted son." King Morton said. He was furious as the guards escorted him out. Torres hugged Xena.
"Thank you, sister." He said. Everyone awwed at their hug.
"Your welcome, brother." Xena said. Alise started crying and they quietly laughed to themselves. Soon there was a whole lot more celebrating and fireworks were started. Xena was sure there was partying all around the country.