A/N: double digits??? Fuck yeah! Let's fuckin do it yoooo also... according to this world I've written up, a timeline has no life here.
Historical events in this story?: yes! Of course!
Are they in order?: no /
Enjoy!
"Everything! I feel like you've told her everything!" Xena yelled at the bird man.
"That is not true!" He stepped closer to her.
"Then just what did you," Xena poked his chest angrily, "tell my mother?"
"Fine, fine! I'll tell you..."
Two days ago...
It was late in the evening. Toris finally convinced Cyrene that she was in need of a break. Cyrene walked herself upstairs to her room at her inn. She entered the room and shut the door behind her. She sat down on her bed and rested her elbows on her knees.
"By the gods, Xena. Where are you?" Cyrene asked out loud to no one in particular.
"I know where she is." Cupid appeared sitting next to her on the bed.
Without wasting a second, Cyrene pulled out a knife that she kept under her pillow and pointed it right at Cupid. Cupid put his hands up quickly as one would do.
"No need for that now. Put it away now." Cupid said calmly.
After realizing who it was, the wings gave it away, Cyrene did put the knife down.
"Sorry."
"No problem... so you wanted to know where Xena is, right?" Cupid was making sure.
"Is she alright?" Cyrene worried.
"Yes, she is very well."
"Where is she then? Is something keeping her?"
Cupid made a 50/50 hand motion, "she's been, I don't know how to put this but basically, yes something has been keeping her."
"What is it?" She snapped at him.
"My goodness you're just the firecracker tonight. Let me explain how this all came to be."
Cupid then went on to describe the whole imbroglio. The father, the curse, the gods, and so on.
"Pardon my Gaul, holy shit." Cyrene was shocked.
"Yeah."
"So if she's cursed, I can assume she's met the her other half?" Cyrene became curious.
"Yes. And I won't say a word. My lips are sealed." Cupid pretended to lock his lips with an invisible key.
"Why not? I'm her mother for cryin' out loud!" Cyrene complained.
"Because, the right thing to do would be to meet her match yourself but since it's going to be awhile. And plus... I don't feel like it." Cupid joked with Cyrene. "I want you to write to Xena and when your done I'll bring it to her. Got it?"
"Yes, sir." Cyrene said reverently.
"My goodness, Cyrene. Don't call me sir, it makes me feel old and yucky." Cupid requested sincerely and then he winked at her. "Get writing, just say my name when you're finished." Cupid snapped his fingers and vanished.
Cyrene was rendered inarticulate at the moment. She couldn't surmise all the information that was just presented to her.
"What am I doing, just sitting here?! I'd better start writing!"
Back in Orraon...
"Thank you for not telling her about that part. I'd like to do that myself."
"My pleasure, Xena." Cupid smiled.
Cupid was about to leave but stopped himself so he could say one last thing to Xena.
He walked up to her and whispered something into her ear but he was also using lots of hand motions. Whatever he was saying made Xena's face turn a very noticeable red and when he finished telling her whatever it was he was telling her, she gave him a playful but hard punch on his bicep.
"Get outta here, bird man!" She laughed.
When he disappeared, Xena turned around to see Otere, Solari and Terreis in the window looking down from above, Cyane, Ephiny, Eponin and Amarice all standing and watching from the steps of their shared house and finally Gabrielle and Yakut on the street.
"You okay, Xena? You're glowing in the face, my friend." Ephiny teases her.
"Aha ha ha ha, shut up." Xena said to her with a tongue-in-cheek kind of rudeness. "I get it now." Xena saw that they all were still giving her knowing looks. "Are you all gonna just stand around with your thumbs up your asses or are you gonna get moving?"
They all dispersed except for Gabrielle who walked right up to her.
"So what did he say to make your face all red?" Gabrielle stood in front of Xena.
Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's waist and pulled her closer.
"I'll show you tonight." Xena grinned.
That made Gabrielle feel slightly out of sorts but in a good way. A very good way. In fact her face turned just as red as Xena's.
Gabrielle then quickly attempted to change the subject.
"Oh my," Gabrielle cleared her throat, "woo, uh, whatcha got there?"
"A parchment from my mother." Xena said delightfully. "I'll bet you a drachma that it starts with "my little girl." Xena chuckled.
They both walked back into the house and helped prepare the boar.
Later in the night, Xena and Gabrielle decided to go "sleep" in the first house they fixed up a month ago. In their bed roll, Xena laid supine while Gabrielle laid prone on Xena.
"That's what he told you, huh?" Gabrielle said.
"Yup." Xena said in a satisfactory way.
"Definitely worth how exhausted I am right now." Gabrielle patted Xena's shoulder.
"I don't know, Gabrielle... I think I can go another round." Xena lied.
Gabrielle propped herself up so that she had a full view of Xena's face.
"You wouldn't dare!" Gabrielle exclaimed.
"No, no, no. I'm just messing with ya. Come here, you!" Xena pulled Gabrielle back down and gave her an extra loving kiss.
And with that, they conclusively fell asleep.
In the remarkably early morning...
Xena had woken up at the butt crack of dawn. The woman didn't have a chance to read her mother's letter yesterday so that's what she was doing now. Dressing in an older raggedy chiton, she sat herself down and leaned her back against the limestone wall.
My little girl,
I'm worried sick about you. You've been gone for what feels like months. One of your friends popped in, Cupid, and told me about you and what's going on.
I had no idea, Xena. I didn't know that he cursed you. I'm so sorry. I think all I can do for now is send you the best of wishes and thoughts. I wouldn't know what else to do to make things better. But if you think there is, let me know and I will do my best.
I was informed that your curse would arise when you find your soulmate. I can assume you've found yours. I'm glad you have, Xena. You deserve good things. When you return, you must introduce them to me. I'm just dying to meet them.
Why don't you write to your dear old mother and give her an update. Toris and I miss you. Lately, he's been helping me at the inn more than usual. I don't know why he's been doing so, but it's very much appreciated and I am most definitely not complaining. My goodness, you won't believe what he's up to now. He has vowed to grow a beard and only cut it til you come back! By the gods, my children are so daffy.
Well, Xena. You get your project done and then you come on home with that soulmate of yours. We all miss you and hope you are well.
I love you, my little one,
Mother
Xena rolled the parchment back up, then held it tightly with both hands. She looked at Gabrielle who was still sleeping in the bedroll. In her head she had a quick debate over whether or not to go lay back down or get up and get moving. Lying back down won easily.
Xena got up and slipped herself back into the bedroll and automatically, Gabrielle snuggled up to her. I get this for the rest of my life? Fuck yeah! Xena also thought it was just the cutest thing ever.
So another hour progressed and Xena hadn't fallen back asleep. But then again, how could she? She couldn't stop thinking about everything going on in her life. And a little later on she wondered about her future. That was something she was always hesitant about. Yet, it made her wish she had spoken with Pythia when she had the chance.
I'm sure there are more tasks and such to come my way but I know there's nothing I can't handle. Or we, in that case.
Interrupted from her thoughts, Xena sat up quickly when she heard a thunderous cacophony of what sounded like one of the houses falling to the ground. It was so loud that it even woke up Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, who was muddled, had also sat up and said, "Now who the fuck did that?"
"I'm not sure but I hope it's not one of the houses we've already worked on." Xena sighed dismally.
"Hey, wait a minute. I know you get up early but not this early. Are you alright?" Gabrielle asked rubbing Xena's back.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just naturally woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep so I read the letter my mother wrote for me..." Xena looked at Gabrielle.
"And?"
"And she'd like to meet you."
"Oh, Xena that's wonderful." Hearing that made Gabrielle happy. She brought Xena closer and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm glad you feel that way." Xena actually felt really excited but she pushed that feeling out of the way. "Let's get up now. We don't want any Amazons walking in on us, or at least one of us," she gestured to her nude lover in the bedroll.
"Again?"
"Yes, again." Xena said snidely.
Gabrielle laughed and got up.
A few hours later...
All the women were relieved to know that it was one of the houses they hadn't gotten to yet. So after they checked out the damage they decided to use the good left over limestone. Now, unfortunately they didn't have a wagon or anything with wheels so the had to carry or push around pieces. They did roll the rather large chunks on logs and that helped a lot.
Xena had felt like she shouldn't have done that. But then she remembered that, that kind of attitude wasn't like her at all. Just like awhile ago when she had trouble giving out simple instructions to the women. All she could do was to assert her own self confidence and it would last her days. She couldn't exactly put a finger on it and as much as she would've liked to blame it on those pesky gods and goddesses, she did not.
Carrying on, Xena noticed that everyone was in a better mood. She assumed it was because of the house collapsing and Artemis's instructions not to try and rebuild it.
They still stuck to their schedule and everything was going smoothly until Terreis and Amarice began to piss each other off.
First, an accidental bumping into each other. Then it kept happening again and again and each time harder than before. Throwing in some churlish behavior such as sticking a foot out to trip the other. Everyone else didn't want to admit it but it was kind of funny so upon seeing their antics they'd try their very hardest not to laugh or make any sound that resembled one.
They were so nasty to each other that day that when they began to throw hands, Xena and Cyane had to pry them apart. Taking the ladies away from each other in opposite directions, Xena took Amarice and Cyane took Terreis.
Gabrielle, Ephiny, Eponin, Solari, Yakut and Otere stood together silently. They could slightly hear each pair yelling at each other. Moments later, Xena comes marching over to the women pulling Amarice by the nostrils, demanding that Amarice apologize to everyone for disrupting the flow of their work. Cyane comes over with Terreis slung over her shoulder. Cyane set her down and also told her to apologize. Then Xena told them to apologize to each other.
It was fun to watch but it did not end well.
Remembering that the town had old stocks, Xena and Cyane moved one stock in front of the other so that when Terreis and Amarice were locked in, they had to look at each other. They were there for the rest of the day.
A month and two weeks later...
Twelve more houses are finished and everyone is getting antsy.
That day, Artemis just happened to stop by. She didn't want to be seen so she made herself invisible and went around observing the women at work. She liked what she saw and decided to help them out by sending more volunteers. Only two though. Melosa and Diana.
Once hearing that their goddess was looking for two volunteers to help Xena, immediately Diana jumped to the offer.
So Melosa and Diana appeared in Orraon, in the street, in front of the group of women.
Gabrielle was happily shocked to see Diana. She called out for Xena who showed up quickly thinking something was wrong. Once Gabrielle pointed to the two women standing in the street she said without thinking, "we've been blessed with more help!"
"Xena!" Gabrielle scolded her.
"I'm just pullin' your tail... but still I mean come on, we need all the help we can get!" Xena told her.
"Xena, I heard you needed help so I volunteered myself to be here." Diana smiled.
"That's great, kiddo, but you do realized this will take awhile, yes?" Xena said.
"Yeah, I assumed it would." Diana answered.
"Alright, well let's get you both started on something." Xena turned to the other Amazon, "and you must be?"
"Queen Melosa." She answered.
"A queen! Well hello." I hope this goes smoothly.
"How about uh, hmm." Xena looked to Gabrielle. She made a: please help me out here, sort of face.
But instead of Gabrielle, Ephiny stepped in. It didn't bother Xena and it in fact made her feel relieved. Listening to Melosa and Ephiny talk, she learned that Melosa was queen to some of the women she was working with.
This is going to be very interesting. Gabrielle thought to herself. Let's hope these two don't clash with each other... Ever.
From there, Xena had Diana cutting wood and Melosa help put things together and build on the houses.
Things went swimmingly for the twelve women.
Later that night...
Sitting around the fireplace, all twelve of them ate dinner and conversed with each other. Naturally, Diana sat with Xena and Gabrielle.
"So, what's going on anyway? What's with the construction?" Diana asked Xena.
"You know... I'm not entirely sure." Xena responded.
"Whatever it is, you don't seem the same," Diana deadpanned, "And I think it's all apart of this task or something."
Xena made an: Oh shit, you're right, face. "You really think so?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I was just thinking out loud." Diana admitted.
Completely ignoring what Diana had just told her, Xena believed it without a doubt and started over analyzing.
Diana looked to Gabrielle, "is this normal?"
Gabrielle sighed and raised her eyebrows. "I couldn't tell you. It's inconsistent."
"What's inconsistent?" Xena asked.
"Butter." Gabrielle replied quickly.
"Ah, yes. Butter." Xena agreed and then went back to her thoughts in her own head.
"See what I mean?" Gabrielle said to Diana.
"Oh yeah, I see it." Diana nodded.
"You can hunt, right?" Xena asked Diana.
"Of course I can." Diana said.
"You wanna do just that tomorrow? With another one of us of course." Xena offered.
"Sure. That's fine with me."
"Perfect, you and Eponin will be responsible for that tomorrow." Xena pointed at Eponin. "She's over there if you'd like to let her know."
From across the room, Eponin smiled and waved back.
"Gotcha." Diana said.
"Nice." Xena looked at Gabrielle. "I don't know about you my dear, but I'm tired and I'm going to bed." Xena stood up.
Gabrielle got the idea. "Yeah, I'm spent."
"Already?" Xena joked.
"Ugh, get a move on before I actually am tired." Gabrielle gave her a little push.
"Oh, a little aggressive. I like." Xena taunted her as they were walking out of the house.
"No, I could never." Gabrielle added.
"I'm glad we're on the same page here because I wouldn't either."
"Really?"
Xena nodded, turned to her and walked backwards, "I think all that super pain stuff has a place of its own. It belongs on a battlefield or getting an amputation for example. Not in a bed. But that's just how I see it. To each their own." Xena wasn't paying attention and walked into the limestone wall behind her. "Oof."
"You good?" Gabrielle asked.
"Just peachy," Xena exhaled
Gabrielle took her by the hand and led her inside.
"Peachy, huh?" Gabrielle gave Xena a coquettish smile.
Xena nodded.
"I'd like to see your peach." She said quietly to herself, forgetting that Xena could hear her.
"Excuse me?!" Xena said aloud.
"Nothin'" Gabrielle lied.
"You know that I heard you. You're just messing with me now." Xena squinted.
"If I were messing with you, we'd already be in that bedroll up the stairs." Gabrielle stated.
"Hoo hoo hooo, I sure do like what I am hearing." Xena grinned.
Gabrielle started going up the stairs, "Are we going to mess around or not?"
Xena quickly followed her, "most definitely!"
And so they went through the night messing around and ended it feeling spent.