AN: it's been awhile since I've updated this! I do enjoy writing this story quite a lot, so please, enjoy the alternate Xenaverse lol ;) thank you for reading.
Chapter Eleven
Xena stood with Gabrielle in the hallway and Freya had come along with her mother, tugging on her long skirt. Gabrielle peered down and waved her hand off. The small girl frowned displeased at the lack of attention she was getting.
"What's wrong with her?" Gabrielle asked Xena, touching her arm softly.
Xena's body tensed as soon as she felt Gabrielle's hand touch her flesh. "I'm going to talk to her," she sighed, frowning and began marching off to find her sister.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Gabrielle asked sweetly.
Xena smiled, "I think I need to talk to her alone," she said softly and left the hallway. She searched the other hallways and came to an archway leading into the gardens behind the palace. She saw Xayida standing out in the cold, snow falling gently on her raven hair.
Xayida shivered and she didn't know whether she was shivering because it was cold or because she was so distraught by her memories that seemed to haunt her indefinitely. Xena wrapped the cloak around her body and exhaled sharply stepping outside into the freezing cold. She tread carefully in the snow and kept her distance. "Xayida," she said barely above a whisper.
Her younger sister turned around and her cheeks were pale, her blue eyes wide stricken with fear, or maybe grief perhaps. Xena raised a curious eyebrow and watched her sister continue to stare at her in that odd way. "Do you remember when you were fourteen and..." she shivered, "I –I stole your dress...to go to a party?" she smiled and Xena sighed.
"It's freezing out here," she took a step forward and Xayida took a generous step back. Xena groaned, "Xayida, you will freeze to death, come inside!" she extended her hand to her sister and Xayida refused to move.
"You didn't...a-a-answer me!" she stuttered.
Xena folded her arms and defiantly stared at her idiot sister. "Yes, I remember," she said calmly.
Xayida smiled nodding her head, "a-and...you were so upset with me. Y-you wouldn't...t-talk to me for a week," she added and Xena sighed heavily, growing tired of this story and she was becoming impatient.
"I forgave you," she extended her hand again, "come inside," she pleaded.
Xayida frowned, "and...remember when we went...t-to that party i-in Wallachia?" she said and Xena rolled her eyes, not wishing to rehash all of this especially outside in this harsh winter storm. "I let you borrow my earrings, and it just so happened t-that...they were y-yours," she stared at her sister, narrowing her eyes. "I –I took them from you and you –you didn't notice!"
"That is enough," Xena grabbed her sister's arm forcefully and began dragging her inside. Xayida pulled her arm from her and Xena's eyes grew wild with irritation. "You're testing my patience, Xayida."
"E-everything has," she stuttered, now her lips losing their color, "...has always been yours and I accepted that since we were children," she folded her arms, wrapping the silk caftan around her freezing body. "And I took a lot...of things f-from you," her eyes began to swell with tears.
Xena sighed and took a step forward as her hair began to sway violently in the snowstorm. "I know you did and I took a lot from you too," she said sincerely and Xayida smiled weakly. She extended her hand for the last time, "come inside," she raised her eyebrows, "don't make me say 'please'," she smirked.
After some coaxing Xena finally was able to get her sister inside. Gabrielle waited patiently, trying not to intrude on their conversation. She stood up once she saw the two enter the palace. Xayida was pale and both covered in snow. Xena patted herself off and took off her cloak shaking the snow off onto the floor.
"By the gods!" Gabrielle gasped, "what were you doing outside?" she looked to Xayida.
"What a great question," Xena said flatly. "Gabrielle could you get a blanket for me?" she asked and Gabrielle nodded immediately going off to find a thick blanket.
Xayida sat down in a chair and Xena took off her caftan throwing it aside. She ran her fingers through her sister's hair and Xayida was still shivering. "What was that about out there?" Xena asked politely, genuinely concerned for her sister's sanity.
The younger sister smiled, "I remembered s-something," she shivered and Xena knelt down beside her, eager to know what was making her sister act so insane since she arrived here from Rome. "I saw you...with Freya," she exhaled sharply, "it reminded me when –when I found out you were pregnant," she smiled softly and Xena's eyes widened, putting a finger to her sister's mouth.
"We are not to speak of that again, remember?" Xena whispered, afraid that Gabrielle would come back and hear too much.
Xayida frowned, "why...didn't you tell me?"
Xena began fidgeting nervously fixing her sister's hair and dress mindlessly, "tell you what?" she said sharply.
Her sister grabbed her hand to stop her from her mindless anxiousness. "That you were pregnant," she stated.
Xena frowned, "does it really matter? You found out eventually," she snapped. Xayida looked into her sister's eyes and immediately felt a tremendous amount of guilt invade her mind. The archbishop was right, she was indeed a liar. She had lied to her sister for a long time and kept a secret from her for many years. At the time, she thought she was saving her sister, but now, she felt so awful about it. She kept Xena's son for herself in secret and Xena had the notion that her son had died. She had no idea.
Xena then stared into her sister's wide teary eyes. "It does matter," Xayida croaked and her sister eyed her curiously and then Gabrielle arrived with a blanket and fresh stockings for Xayida to wear. Xena thanked her blonde friend and took Xayida's cold wet stockings off to put fresh ones on. Gabrielle stood back watching Xena mother her sister, which was most odd. For someone who claimed such hatred towards her own sister, she was being very kind to her and went out of her way to help her when she needed it most. Xena said that she did hate Xayida and still cared for her, which made Gabrielle believe that Xena did not hate her at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She loved her younger sister dearly, it was obvious as she watched Xena tend to Xayida calmly and without question.
Xena wrapped the blanket around her sister and stood up feeling that would suffice for now. "Better?" she asked and Xayida nodded her head slowly, unsure of her sister's act of kindness. "I will go get a fresh gown for you," she said and left her sister alone. Gabrielle smirked and then followed Xena hastily.
Gabrielle skipped to Xena and saw she was on a mission to find a gown in Xayida's belongings, which she brought few with her. "You were very nice to her," she said curiously and Xena said nothing. "Why?" she wondered.
Xena came to Xayida's room that she stayed in and rummaged through her trunk of clothes, pulling out three corsets cringing at the style. It was definitely outdated and she didn't need to bring so many with her, she thought. She pulled out another white gown for her to sleep in and turned to see Gabrielle blocking her way out the door. "What?"
"You're ignoring me," Gabrielle smirked. Xena stepped to the side to leave but Gabrielle shadowed her steps and the Greek queen groaned. "Why are you being so nice to her?"
Xena sighed, "she's sick, Gabrielle. She's been talking nonsense ever since she got here!" Gabrielle's eyes widened as a response. "Whatever she saw back in Rome is affecting her in the worse possible way." She brushed passed her exiting the room.
Gabrielle quirked her mouth to the side and followed Xena back to the seating area. She was very curious as to why Xena was acting like this. She said Xayida was her enemy, but that wasn't what she saw.
Xayida lifted her head and saw her sister come with a gown in her arms. She raised an eyebrow at her and Xena bent down reaching for her hand and Xayida pulled away. "Why are you doing this?" she asked staring into her elder sister's eyes.
"You aren't well, Xayida." Xena urged her sister to come with her up to her guest room and Xayida snatched her hand away from her.
"That wasn't an answer," Xayida frowned. "Avoiding my questions, are you?" she chuckled, "as always. You haven't changed a bit, Xena!" her smile widened and Xena frowned, not really feeling like helping her sister anymore. She stood up carefully and was eye level with her sister. "You are full of secrets," she whispered and looked behind her to see Gabrielle waiting patiently. Smiling she added, "I am too, yes?" Xena narrowed her eyes. "But I'm the bad one, right?" she frowned and snatched the gown out of Xena's hands and the blanket fell off her shoulders. She began making her way to the stairs to retire to her room.
Gabrielle stepped out of her way, "do you need help?" she asked politely.
"No, you've helped enough," Xayida said softly, "I'm sure you are enjoying my sister's company more than mine," she added and climbed the stairs steadily hanging onto the rail.
"She seems upset," Gabrielle said and stared at Xena. She was completely silent and hadn't said a word to her. She saw her eyes said otherwise thought. "Xena?" she came up to her and touched her shoulder. Xena was knocked out of her daze and shrugged Gabrielle's hand off then quickly left the room. "Where are you going?!" she called out and saw Xena disappear around the corner. She sighed and thought it might be best to leave her alone for awhile.
The following morning Gabrielle tread down the stairs from her room after checking Xena's room, but she didn't find her there. She decided to go look for her and hoped she didn't leave. Xayida was still asleep in bed, which was to be expected especially after her odd behavior last night.
Gabrielle found Mira hastily making her way down the hall and she smiled at her. The young amazon bowed her head, "my queen," she said and smiled at her.
"Have you seen Xena?" she asked curiously.
Mira nodded, "she's in the library," Gabrielle nodded and made her way to the library. "My queen," she said and the Amazon Queen turned her head, "she said she does not want to be disturbed," she said softly. Gabrielle smiled and nodded, continuing to the library to find Xena.
Xena had been up all night reading through the books that she and Gabrielle had picked out. She had made several notes and came up with nothing so far. Xayida's behavior was odd, but she figured that was just the ugly coming out of her and nothing else. She didn't use to be like this, she thought. Xayida was a kind girl, a sweet and naive girl. Xena had stolen that naivety from her sister long ago and she felt responsible for her outlandish behavior.
Xayida soon became irritable and difficult to work with as the years passed when they were younger. She wanted to do things her own way without her older sister's help which Xena felt that was her fault too. She had given her sister so much but also took a lot from her and vice versa. Xena showered her in power and glory which they shared together. When the power began to dwindle, Xayida didn't like that and desired more and it was power alone she seeks. Xena was off another path, but her sister wanted to continue onward, away from their past nomadic life. She figured that the grand parties and lavish palace and hospitality of the Wallachians would follow them everywhere, but in truth, Xayida found out that she was hated everywhere with Xena's name attached to her like a shadow, a shadow that she couldn't get rid of. She would always be known as the sister of Xena, nothing more.
Xena wanted to find more about this dark presence that was encompassing Rome, but in order to do that, she needed help from her sister, something she never wanted to revert back to again. She didn't want to ask for her help and if she did, Xayida would probably laugh and deny her. She kept flipping through the pages of this book she had been reading for a couple of hours. Demonology, she scoffed. This proved nothing except that demons were no better than the Greek gods. They liked to play games and Xena didn't like games unless it were by her rules.
Gabrielle entered the library and saw Xena surrounded by dozens of books. She looked tired and worn out. She felt like she needed to sleep or take a break. "Hi," she said and Xena lifted her head from the book. She closed the door behind her and smiled, "what are you reading?" she sat down opposite her.
"Bullshit," Xena tossed the book aside onto the ground and Gabrielle gasped. "This is stupid," Xena stood up and then threw all the books off the desk and Gabrielle's eyes grew in shock. She began pacing around the desk rubbing her chin pensively. "She's insane and I don't think she needs help from demons for that."
Gabrielle bit her bottom lip and felt Xena's tension rising. "Xena, you were being so nice to your sister last night, and now, you sound like...you despise her." She couldn't make any sense of this at all. "I don't understand it."
"Join the club, Gabrielle," Xena growled and folded her arms staring at the books that were scattered all over the floor. She looked to her blonde friend and sighed, "I'm sorry. These are your books and I'm just...angry," she knelt down and began picking up all the books she threw down. As she picked up the third book she saw Gabrielle's hand on hers and she looked into her green eyes.
The blonde smiled, "It's okay to be angry," she picked up a book and set it on the desk. She sighed looking at all the books Xena picked out, "you read some Latin I see," she smirked flipping through the Latin book about demonology.
"I can read Latin just not very well, you know," Xena teased with a subtle grin. "I don't think these books are going to help us find out what is going on in Rome." She admitted sadly. She hoped that this would be easy but with Xayida's unwillingness to comply, she didn't see much progress in their future. "I think we need to go to Rome to see for ourselves."
Gabrielle blinked, "you want to go to Rome? But you just got here!" she felt saddened that Xena wanted to leave already. It had been so long since they had seen one another and now she was ready for another mission.
"I was going to ask if...you would come with me?" Xena smiled. She witnessed a bright light in Gabrielle's eyes and knew that she was delighted to hear that.
"Of course I will!" Gabrielle said giddily and hugged Xena randomly, giving the Greek queen quite a shock. Then realization hit her and she pulled away from her brunette friend. "What about Xayida?"
Xena sighed, "she will have to come with us," she grumbled.
"You think she will come?" Gabrielle asked and seeing the look on Xena's face was the answer she needed.
Xena barged into her sister's room and saw she was still asleep. She came over to her and ripped the covers off the bed and Xayida cringed, bringing her knees close to her chest. "Get up," she threw a pillow at her sister and Xayida woke up grumpily staring at Xena.
"What for?" she sat up and saw Gabrielle was present. She fixed her gown as it was falling off her shoulder and grinned at the Amazon.
Xena began rummaging through her sister's clothes and picked out a dress for her then threw it on the bed. "We're leaving for Rome." She turned to leave and Gabrielle kept staring at Xayida blankly.
Xayida's jaw dropped, "excuse me? I'm not going back there!" she threw the dress at Xena's backside. "And I sure as hell am not going with you," she folded her arms.
Xena slowly turned around glaring at her sister. "This is not up for discussion," she picked up the dress and sauntered over to the side of the bed and handed the dress to her sister. "You're coming."
"You can't make me go with you," Xayida raised an eyebrow at her sister challenging her.
"I order you," Xena said with a firm tone. Gabrielle had never heard Xena's voice like that and it was almost scary. She was no longer playing games with her sister, she was being a queen at this moment, a scary one at that. "As your queen," Xena said with a curt nod and dropped the dress in her sister's lap.
Xayida laughed, "I am a queen! You can't order me to do anything," she stood up now facing her sister, both glaring at one another.
"I own your lands, that makes my status higher than yours. And if I say you're coming with me, then you're coming," she said seriously, "understand?" she hissed and Xayida looked away, grabbing her dress to change. Xena smiled and went to Gabrielle, grabbing her hand gently. "We will wait outside, Xayida," she said and both left the room.
Gabrielle walked with Xena to go outside to the horses that were being made ready for their journey, which was a bit out of the blue. Gabrielle wasn't quite used to how Xena went about things, but Xena worked quickly and on a whim. "Do you really own all of her land?" she asked.
Xena nodded, "yes. Something I did after she left me. I made sure everything she had belonged to me because I did not trust her," she fixed her horse's reins and pet his mane, calming the beast.
"And you still don't trust her, do you?" Gabrielle asked as she threw a saddle over her own horse.
"No," Xena fixed her saddle and buckled the pouches to it tightening the straps. "Gabrielle, there are a lot of things you don't know about Xayida. She is not to be trusted."
Gabrielle sighed growing tired of Xena's cryptic language. "You keep saying that but you haven't told me anything about her 'betrayal' and all the horrible things she has done."
"You don't believe me?" Xena said and kept her eyes on her horse. Gabrielle remained silent and now it was Xena's turn to glare at her.
"I didn't say that, but it's hard to side with you when I don't know anything."
Xena smirked, "I'm not asking you to pick sides, Gabrielle but beware of her."
Gabrielle lifted a brow, "would she try and kill me?"
The brunette shook her head, "no, she knows that you are dear to me. She would never hurt anything that is close to me," she winked.
"Well, I'm here!" Xayida walked out in a black dress with red trim and rabbit fur around her collar. Her eyes widened as she saw her sister was wearing a red dress with a black corset. "Your dress is out of fashion, sister," she smirked and climbed onto her horse. Xena rolled her eyes and mounted her horse. "When we arrive to Rome I'll make sure to buy you a new one."
"That won't be necessary. We aren't going to Rome to shop for clothes," she pulled on the reins and pulled up beside her sister.
Xayida shrugged her shoulder, "still, you can't wear clothes that are out of season around me," she sighed putting on her black gloves. "I'm very important in Rome, you know."
Xena nodded, "so I've heard," she rode ahead of her and Gabrielle mounted her horse following beside Xena. Xayida frowned and began trotting off behind them both. "We will stop in Athens along the way," she said and heard her sister's loud scoff.
"For what?" Gabrielle whispered closely towards Xena.
"I don't really feel comfortable going into Rome without at least some of my men with us," Xena whispered back. She turned around and saw Xayida's eyes wandering around as she rode behind them. "I'm giving you a task, Xayida," she said loudly catching her attention. "I want you to take us to the archbishop you met with."
Xayida's eyes widened and immediately felt fear overcome her. Xena turned around with an eerie smile. "Can you do that?" she asked and Xayida nodded, not saying a word. They continued to ride to Ottoman territory so Xena could retrieve her ship and sail to Athens to make a small stop then off to Rome. This journey was going to be long and so far, Xayida was very compliant. One moment she was acting insane and the next, she was completely fine. It was so odd to see her like this and honestly, Xena was saddened by this. She wished the best for her sister even after they parted ways, but to see her like this, was disturbing to say the least.
Later that day, the sun had set and Xena wanted to stop to rest for the night. She didn't feel safe traveling in Ottoman territory without any protection. Though she could protect herself, she wasn't so sure that she could protect both Gabrielle and Xayida by herself. She knew a few people and was able to find a very large home to stay in for the night. The house was owned by a very kind man, he wasn't Turkish, but Arab and lived here because the pay was better and was able to provide an income for his family back home in Syria.
Xayida looked at the room and saw that she had to share a room with Gabrielle and her sister and she grimaced as she saw Xena taking off her corset with her back turned to her. "This place is very odd," she said and Gabrielle lifted her head as she was taking off her boots. "Their customs are strange. I see why the Roman Church hates them so much."
Xena smirked and threw the corset onto the bed. "You are easily fooled by looks, Xayida. These people are very kind."
"Last time I checked, you weren't friends with the Ottomans," Xayida folded her arms.
"I'm not friends with their leader, he merely tolerates me. But the people are not to blame and you should be grateful that this man allowed us to stay here," she said and began taking off her boots as she sat on the bed.
Xayida shrugged her shoulder and sat on the bed, not very tired at the moment despite all the riding they did today. They literally traveled all day just to get to Anatolia and then they would go to Athens, the place she loved to hate and hated to love. She wished that Greece was hers and she would have shared with her sister, if she hadn't been so stubborn. She laid down and turned towards to face the wall, refusing to look at her sister. "Goodnight," she said to both of them.
Gabrielle smiled, "goodnight, Xayida," she said and Xena said nothing then stood up to light a few candles. Xayida waited for her sister to say something back but after a few silent moments, she closed her eyes and hoped that sleep would overcome her.
Xena sat down on the bed and ran her fingers through her long thick hair. She looked up at Gabrielle who was preoccupied with writing something. "What's that you have?" she asked.
Gabrielle blushed, "it's nothing," she closed her book and set it aside, getting comfortable on the bed she laid on her stomach staring at Xena. Her eyes went to Xayida who didn't make a sound and hoped she was asleep. "She wasn't so bad on the way here," she whispered.
Xena turned her head to see Xayida sleeping soundly with her back facing the wall. "She's putting on a front," she frowned and combed her hair getting the knots out, wincing as she pulled her hair with the comb. "She wants you to see the good side of her. She is a great magician," she smirked and Gabrielle sighed, resting her chin on her hands, casually kicking her legs back and forth mindlessly.
"I've only known one side of her, Xena," she whispered. "You both play this game of cat and mouse, but I'm the flea, left to bite both animals." She sighed and leaned on her elbows staring at the Greek queen. "I need information," she said seriously. "Tell me of a time when she betrayed you," she smiled.
Xena shook her head, "there are so many Gabrielle."
The blonde rolled her eyes, "and I don't know any of them. So far I've all heard are allegations from you both, but no context."
Xena looked over at her sleeping sister and sighed heavily, "fine I'll tell you of a time when she betrayed my trust," she whispered and Gabrielle got off her bed and hopped onto Xena's bed, eager to hear the story. "It's not that exciting," she smiled.
Gabrielle shrugged, "we'll see about that."
Xena was going to make sure that Gabrielle knew some stuff about her sister, but she decided to tell her this specific story, only because it was the first time Xayida actually betrayed her. Though this was after Xayida found out about her sister's baby, she would make sure to leave that part out of the story when she told Gabrielle.
Wallachia 1439
Xayida walked through the palace of Wallachia and there was supposed to be a big party tonight but she had heard talk of another attack from the Ottomans. She hoped it wasn't true, but she saw Xena talking with some of Borias' men and she frowned, making her way over once the man left her side.
Xena folded her arms and sighed heavily thinking to herself. "Sister," Xayida said and Xena lifted her head to see her sister smiling sweetly as she came up to her. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," she shushed her and grabbed her arm pulling her into another hallway away from prying eyes. "I thought we discussed to keep this a secret between us?" she whispered and Xayida nodded.
"Of course, Xena. I understand," she smiled and brushed her hand against her sister's cheek. "I just wanted to know how you were feeling that's all."
Xena nodded looking around and saw many people passing by them in the grand hallway. "Your concern is touching," she smirked.
Xayida looked at her paranoid sister and Xena began to bite her fingernails nervously. "Are you going to the party tonight?" she asked and Xena was too preoccupied by other things on her mind. "Xena?"
The elder sister looked to her and stopped biting her nails, "what?" and then she caught onto what she said and smiled, "of course the party...I'm going to pass," she pat her sister's shoulder and walked off. Xayida frowned and ran after her sister grabbing her hand.
"Pass? But Xena, it's the most important party of the year!" she said and Xena kept walking and she followed. "Xena," she stopped in front of her, "I'm really worried about you lately," she grabbed her hands gripping them tightly.
Xena sighed, "there's nothing to worry about," she smiled and Xayida was not convinced.
"You've been acting strange for awhile now," she said and Xena looked elsewhere avoiding her gaze. "I think we should go back home to be with mother and our brothers for awhile."
Xena's eyes widened, "no! are you insane?" she lowered her voice once she saw she was drawing unnecessary attention to herself. "I can't go back there, I have a lot to accomplish here."
"What does that mean?" she asked and Xena kissed her cheek then left her side. "Xena?" she called out and Xena ran down the hall and rounded the corner. She folded her arms and huffed, not satisfied with her sister's odd behavior.
Later Xayida was picking out a gown to wear to the party tonight. There would be a lot guests here and she wanted to make a good impression. She had been in this palace for over a year and everyone knew her well as they did Xena. Xena made a very good impression on everyone and a lot of the Wallachians loved her but some hated her, which she knew that'd happen. She pulled out a gold dress and a black mask to wear to the festivities tonight. She sighed and wondered why her sister would pass on parties, Xena loved parties especially since she made many new friends each time there was a party at this palace.
She left the room to go find her sister in hope's to persuade her to join the party. As she walked through the hall she heard muffled talking and saw a door cracked open. She looked around and saw the halls were empty, probably preparing for tonight. She crept closer to the door and peeked through the crack of the door and saw Xena talking with a group of men, they were soldiers, Borias' soldiers.
"I want everyone surrounding this area as well as the outskirts," Xena instructed and pointed at the map in front of her. "The Ottomans are going to attack tonight and I want to make sure to get rid of them." The men nodded. "I will meet with Esam at the front to command you all and Borias is not to know about this, understand?" she said and the men disappeared into an adjoining room.
Xayida's jaw dropped and she covered her mouth. Of course Xena would pass on a party if it meant she was going to attack the Turks. She promised Borias that she would not interfere with the conflict between the two warring parties, but she lied. She lied to her.
Xayida needed to tell someone about this and quickly. She stepped away from the door and began walking the opposite direction until she heard her sister's voice. "Xayida, aren't you supposed to be getting ready for the party?" she asked. The younger sister turned around and smiled falsely at her.
"I was just getting some flowers for my mask," Xayida said and Xena stepped forward looking for the flowers.
"And where are they?" she raised an eyebrow.
Xayida chuckled lightly, "well, I didn't find any that would match my dress so I guess I'll go without." She shrugged and turned to leave and her smile disappeared. Then she stopped and looked to her sister still standing there looking confused and miffed. "What are you going to do since you won't be coming to the party?" she asked curiously.
Xena smiled, "I think I will go to bed early. I feel very tired," she lied.
Xayida nodded, "you aren't sick, are you?" she said in a hushed tone.
"I don't like it when you fuss over me like that, you know," Xena was becoming irritated. Xayida smiled and let the subject go and was obviously oblivious to her lies that poured from her mouth. "You should get ready or you will be late."
"I hope you sleep well, then," Xayida said and turned to leave. She rounded the corner and breathed heavily. She heard footsteps and peeked out from the corner and saw Xena walking away hastily. She really needed to tell someone about what Xena was about to do. The Ottomans were fearless and had a lot more firepower than Xena had and she feared that she would get killed.
Running off she went to find Borias in hopes that he would help her. She came to his room and burst through the doors and saw his attendants getting him ready for tonight. "Xayida..." he said with a frown, not very pleased that she was able to just waltz in his room. His waved his hand at his servants and they left the room. "What do you want?"
"Xena is not going to the party, you know," she said and he smiled at her.
"She loves parties, why wouldn't she come?" he said as he looked at himself in the mirror.
She sighed, "Xena is going to do something very...stupid," she began and that caught his attention, "she's going to lead an attack on the Ottomans tonight."
Borias' eyes widened, "I told her to stay away from those Turks!" he growled and threw a chair and she cringed. "Where did you hear this?"
"From her own mouth. You have to do something!" she pleaded. "I fear she will be killed and I just can't allow her to do this..." she begged for his help.
He groaned grabbing his gun, "I'm getting tired of her games. We are at peace with the Ottomans right now and she wants to fight them?" he shook his head and grabbed her arm, "you're coming with me."
Xena rode on her horse into the lands and saw Ottoman territory not far from here. This was a perfect spot because she would be unseen. She smiled and saw all of the soldiers lined up accordingly. She heard a loud gunshot and she was startled as was her horse. Her eyes scanned the area and saw Borias with the elite guard surrounding her.
"Xena," he said and lowered the gun, "don't be stupid," he smiled and Xena growled at him.
"What are you doing here?!" she spat and then saw Xayida appear from behind him. "You!" she dismounted her horse and came marching towards her sister. Borias forcefully grabbed her shoulders holding her back. "Let go of me!" she demanded.
He frowned and kept holding her back and then slapped her. She gasped and touched her tingling cheek. She grit her teeth then slapped him back. He sneered and she glared at him. "I told you to stay away from the Turks, Xena!" he yelled.
"They were going to attack anyway! I wanted to get rid of them before they got the upper hand!" she spat back and got really close to his face. She then looked to her sister, "and you..." she hissed with an eerie smile, "you heard my plan, didn't you miss flowers?"
Xayida lowered her gaze and said nothing. He rolled his eyes and shook Xena's shoulders slightly, "don't blame her, she saved you!"
"She betrayed my trust," she scowled. "She knows when stay out of my business, but she just couldn't help herself. Could you, sister?" her lip quivered and Xayida looked into her sister's malicious eyes.
"Attacking the Ottomans is my business, Xena," Borias corrected her. He waved his hand to his elite guard, "arrest her," he commanded and Xena's eyes widened and she began laughing.
"Arrest me? You can't arrest me!" she said and the men grabbed her arms. "Get your hands off me!" she growled and the men didn't let go of their hold.
Borias folded his arms, "yes I can. I own these lands and you are a traitor in Wallachia, Xena." He looked to the solemn Xayida and grinned. "Perhaps you should be angry at your sister, not me." He walked off and the guards pulled Xena forward. Xayida stepped aside and looked at her sister feeling sorry that she got her arrested.
Xena spat at her sister and Xayida gasped and wiped the saliva off her face. "I'm sorry, Xena," she whispered and touched her cheek before the men took her.
An hour later Xayida found Borias and he didn't feel like joining the party now. He sat in his room drinking some wine and she barged into his room again. He looked to her and took another sip. "You like barging into prince's rooms, don't you?" he said sarcastically.
"You can't just arrest her!" she yelled and the servants closed the door so guests wouldn't hear. "She's my sister."
"And your sister is a traitor." He said casually and set the glass down on the table beside him.
She began pacing around nervously, "you can't keep her in there, Borias." She shook her head thinking this was a big mistake.
"Why not? She doesn't know when to stop with her games," he scoffed.
"Because she..." Xayida stopped herself as she promised Xena she wouldn't say a word about her condition especially to Borias. He looked at her to continue, "she's unwell. She's very sick and I know how you treat prisoners..."
That seemed to grab his attention, "sick?" he asked with a subtle smirk. "Sure she is."
"I'm serious," she said folding her arms. "She didn't want to tell you but she's been like this for months now." She lowered her gaze and his smirk disappeared.
He rubbed his chin pensively rethinking his decision once he saw the sincere look in her eyes. "You women are ridiculous." He stood up and began to leave.
"Where are you going?" she followed him, hoping he was going to release her sister.
"To the party. You can visit her if you want," he said and walked off. She stood with her mouth agape in complete shock and soon came to realize that she should have probably told Borias what was going on.
Gabrielle listened to Xena tell her story and she frowned, feeling like she was leaving out something. "Did you recover from your illness?" she asked.
Xena smirked, "yes I did, a few months later," she whispered.
"So, she got you arrested because you wanted to attack the Turks?" she wanted to clarify and Xena nodded. "She saved you from being killed and you consider that a betrayal?" she asked, a bit confused.
"It wasn't that Gabrielle. I knew what I was doing and I knew I was breaking the law, but she promised me that she would stay out of my business and she betrayed my trust in her. I trusted her and she went to Borias of all people and he arrested me."
Gabrielle nodded, "I understand," she paused. "How long were you in the prison for?" she wondered.
"A couple of weeks," she said and looked over at Xayida as she slept soundly. "She was able to convince him to release me then we left Wallachia after that."
"To go where?" Gabrielle leaned in closely and touched Xena's sleeve.
Xena looked down at her hand and then over at her sister. "Home," she said softly and then sighed. "We should sleep. We have to leave early in the morning for Athens." She said and Gabrielle hopped off the bed into her own and Xena brought the covers over herself and blew out the candle.
"Goodnight Xena," Gabrielle said and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight," Xena whispered and turned on her side, hoping she'd be able to sleep and soon.
Xayida opened her eyes and saw Xena asleep or appeared to be and Gabrielle as well. She had heard the entire story that Xena told Gabrielle and it was only a constant reminder of all the things she had done wrong in Xena's eyes. A single tear streamed down her cheek and she turned over facing the wall again, wide awake now.
Xena stared at the wall with her eyes wide open, unable to sleep especially after a memory like that which she shared with Gabrielle. She closed her eyes and a tear trickled down her cheek.