THE WORST OF ALL VISIONS

Herodotus adjusted his collar eyeing the dusk sky above as he watched the people dance in the main city square. The festival had started early it had started at noon rather than at night. Not that it mattered to him it just meant dressing in a change of clothes more fitting to the festival. Everyone else would be joining him soon. Well almost everyone, Ophelia and Lysandra were already here they'd walked up with him and were now enjoying the food and alcohol on offer. He watched as a thick heavy log was thrown on to the huge wood pile which would be lit by someone, though it was always the village elder's choice. The four huge poles had been risen up on all four sides of the square each had a golden satyr statuettes at the top in dancing positions.

There was another half height one though with pan on it, unlike the others it had a bowl with already lit flames inside it. The idea being that the chosen person would light a piece of wood in it and then throw in to the wooden pile lighting it up as a prayer to pan himself for a good summer next year filled with plenty. He watched as Ophelia came to stand next to him. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Ophelia raised her wooden goblet tapping it against his. "Very much so, thank you for inviting us." Herodotus smiled as he met her gaze. "It's a pleasure to have you both here, though I have to say the fun is just about to start."

Ophelia smirked looking in to her goblet. "So hopefully Gabrielle and Lila will be here soon all dressed up." Herodotus felt his smile widen. "Hopefully Hecuba sent them to get changed." Ophelia felt her smile fade. "What are you going to do about Typhoeus? He will show up after all, it would be just like him to ruin a good festival." Herodotus smiled easing out a piece of parchment handing it to her. "Lila being in the position she is, she has a few rights. She gave his to Hecuba today and as I hear it no one can disobey Potidaean law." Ophelia slowly read the scroll she found her laughter hitting the air. "Lila banned him and Ixion from the festival, I'm impressed."

She handed the parchment back watching as Herodotus put the scroll back in to his highly elaborate jackets inner pocket as he spoke. "So am I now all I have to do is hand him this notice when he shows up and he'll have to leave along with Ixion, but Eudora can stay I'll make sure of that since I would like to speak to her about her taking Gabrielle and Lila's things. I just need to know what Typhoeus said to her, to make her do that." He turned watching as Hecuba came towards him dressed in her purple chiton robes decorated with light violet patterns and a wide lighter purple belt. She looked as stunning and beautiful as ever. Hecuba smiled as she walked towards her husband adjusting her robes as she pulled her cloak up, which was to keep out the cold. "It's been a while but it seems they still fit after all these years."

Herodotus stepped forward he took hold of her hand kissing it as a smile crept over his lips. "You look as stunning as ever." Hecuba smiled as she eased her hand away. "You tease you." Ophelia raised an eyebrow. "No he's not teasing you do look gorgeous." Herodotus turned to her raising his hand pointing to Lysandra. "Don't you have your own partner to compliment?" Ophelia blinked before her mouth formed a wicked smile. "Yes as a matter of fact I do, so I'll leave you two alone and go and bother her." Herodotus watched her go he turned back to Hecuba feeling the seriousness take over. "No I'm not teasing you, you do look wonderful in those ropes and it's wonderful to see you in them again."

Hecuba smoothed down the robes half sleeves. "Thank you I mean that." Herodotus put a hand on his beard watching as the village elder walked out using his old wooden staff. He was a thin man who was blind and had short hair and a chest length beard he would point the one who would light the fire with his staff. Behind him were the ten council members all dressed in there white and blue diplomatic robes they all talked as they took there seats at one of the tables. He turned meeting his wife's gaze. "Where are our two daughters?" Hecuba breathed in as he put his arm around her shoulder. "There getting ready, they know the rule though they can't dress in the same room as their partner."

Herodotus looked up as Xena and Lector appeared. "Well it seems that both their partners are ready, we are just waiting on our daughters." Xena moved towards Herodotus she fidgets pulling on the red cloak which was pinching her throat. "Why did I let you talk me in to wearing this thing? It's too tight!" Lector adjusted his dark black jacket with its golden patterns. "Because you're a warrior and trust me it suits you, it's a hoplite cloak it shows of your status." Xena breathed in sharply throwing the cloak so it fell across one shoulder revealing the shoulder guards which had been plating in gold which weaved with in the bronze patterns in thin streams.

The breast plate and back plate had, had the same weaving gold plating as did the knee guards and wrist gauntlets. As for her arm guards she hadn't bothered with any tonight. She'd had the Potidaean black smith work on an old set of bronze armour which had very much had it and since she had two normal sets she saw fit to turn the old set in to a decorative piece. In her view he'd done a wonderful job it was subtle but very powerful, but the cloak really wasn't working for her right now but she was willing to put up with it. "It's still too tight." Lector smirked as he folded his arms. "Oh please would you stop complaining?" Xena sneered raising her hand as she grabbed his shirt. "You know it's only because you're family that I don't hit you."

Lector eyed her hand feeling a wide smile form he knew this was just Xena being grumpy and childish. "I thought it was because you liked me and because I'm your friend." Xena breathed out as she let go of his shirt she couldn't deny that even if he did annoy her at times. She watched as Hecuba and Herodotus walked towards them. Hecuba raised her eyebrow eyeing them both. "You both look very dashing." Lector smiled as he leaned forward. "Why thank you." He watched as Xena nodded respectfully. "Hopefully Lila and Gabrielle will be here soon." Lector nudged Xena's shoulder. "Well we both hope they will other wise our preparation, well more pacifically Xena's will have all gone to waste."

Xena grabbed his shoulder squeezing down feeling him wince slightly as she met his gaze. "Make yourself useful Lector and go get us both a drink." Lector felt his grin widen as he ignored the slight pain of her grip. "Okay." He felt her grip loosen somehow he knew that he wasn't going to make that remark again any time soon. Xena watched him go she looked up sharply as she caught sight of Gabrielle coming up the street closely followed with Lila who was walking beside her. She could see the beautiful white peplos silver weaving flower at the shoulders and on the thick wide belt, complete with the brown sandals which had fur covering to keep her feet farm.

Her lover also had her cloak to keep the cold out she felt her smile widen as she walked towards her. Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she came towards her lover smoothing down her robes nervously. She could see the beautiful golden weaves in her lovers armour and the red cloak she looked gorgeous on every level. Xena smiled as she came to stand in front of the younger woman she smiled taking her hand kissing it gently before looking up to meet her forest green eyes. "You look beautiful." Gabrielle felt her nervousness melt away as she looked at the golden toned armour. "Thank you, so do you, they did a wonderful job on your armour."

Xena eyed the golden weaving. "You don't think it's too much?" Gabrielle ran her fingers along with weaves on her lover's gauntlet. "No not at all it looks wonderful." Lila adjusted her blue robes with there decorative fish patterns watching as Lector came towards her with drinks in his hand. "Ah there's my handsome man." Lector gave her smile as he eyed her decorative belt and fur sandals and fur cloak he leaned forward giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. "You look wonderful." Lila slowly took a drink from his hand as she met his gaze. "So do you." She turned looking at Gabrielle and Xena for a moment. "Well it looks like Gabrielle's doing okay you have no idea how nervous she was about dressing up and everyone looking at her."

Lector raised an eyebrow. "You know it's not easy to get dressed up for people you don't know but I think it's harder when it's your home town, and it's been a long time since your sister has stayed here for any length of time." Lila took a sip from the wooden mug. "No I guess your right about that, she hasn't." Gabrielle looked up meeting Xena's gaze. "Can I borrow a weapon of you?" Xena felt her smile widen. "Lila wouldn't let you have one?" Gabrielle nodded. "She said my sai blades had no place at the festival." Xena leaned down pulling the long dagger from her boot she gently put it in her lovers hand watching as she instantly tucked it away behind her decorative belt.

She put a hand on her shoulder. "Better now?" Gabrielle gave her a wide smile. "Much better thank you." She was about to speak only to find herself stopping as she looked at the sky high above them as it changed. It was a quick change the kind that you'd miss if you weren't looking but she saw it perfectly. A huge rolling band of rainbow colour moved through the clouds like a tidal wave sweeping over head in a violent motion before disappearing in to nothing as the clouds turned back to there normal colour. She felt her eyes dart as she turned to her lover. "Did you see that?" Xena raised an eyebrow. "See what?"

Gabrielle raised her hand. "The clouds they looked like they had rainbows in side of them." Xena eyed the sky. "No I didn't see that." She eased the younger woman closer to her putting her hand around her waist. "May be it was Zeus trying out something new." Gabrielle felt a smile form as she looked at her lover. "You're right maybe it was Zeus." She wasn't going to wind herself up over nothing she was going to enjoy this festival and her lover's company. Xena took hold of her other hand giving her a warm smile as she leaned forward meting her lips in a slow and gentle kiss, she had been unsure about dressing this way but now she was here it all felt so much better.

Typhoeus snarled in anger as he shoved a farmer as side seeing Herodotus and his family. He turned seeing that Ixion and Eudora were following as was Ceto, Thaleia and Agapios. He shoved another person out of the way seeing that his youngest son was joking with was peasant wife. He could see that he was unaware of his presence. He raised his hand. "You little bastard how dare you ban me from this festival!" Herodotus looked up sharply as his father's voice broke through his thoughts shattering his peaceful moment with Hecuba and drawing the attention of everyone all around them. He breathed in deeply he should have seen this coming he turned slowly meeting his father's dark gaze as the man came to stand in front of him.

He took in a deep breath before speaking. "You are not welcome here Typhoeus." He eased up the letter from the council opening it so he could see it. "My daughter Lila had this pass through the council today you and Ixion are banned from this festival because you own slaves which is illegal in this region." He didn't think as he shoved the notice in to his hand. "It's not negotiable it's the law!" Typhoeus eyed the note before crunching it up throwing it at Herodotus's feet. "I knew you were a curse on me the moment after your birth when you killed your mother in the process."Herodotus sneered in disgust seeing that Xena and Gabrielle were moving closer along with all the others including Ophelia and Lysandra. "I doubt my mother ever loved a man like you."

Ophelia stepped forward seeing her moment. "You didn't even love your own sons Typhoeus you sent Herodotus's older brother Cleobis to his death so you could live." Typhoeus raised a ringed finger slowly eyeing her. "You do not speak to me cur I know about you and your lust for women!" Ophelia heard her own mocking laughter hit the air. "I know something about you to Typhoeus I know what you did to Cleobis's wife!" Herodotus turned shapely the shock taking over. "What did he do to my brother's wife?" Ophelia felt an evil smile form as she looked at Typhoeus. "Why don't you tell them what you did Typhoeus? I've waited for years to have this opportunity and was never able to say anything because I knew no one would believe me, but I know they do now."

She raised her hand no longer caring who was around her she had witnessed this event so long ago and it had haunted her dreams for years. "You murdered Cleobis's wife Leliana in cold blood, after she spoke out against you for her husband's death! I saw the whole thing I saw you beat her and then strangle her and you did it so you could have her children and bring them up!" She sneered in disgust. "Then you hid the will to hide the truth which was that in the event of Cleobis and Leliana's death both of their children were to be passed to myself and Lysandra to care for and bring up, I was with him when he wrote in on the will and he had me sigh it!" Herodotus turned sharply eyeing his father he didn't need to think everything Ophelia had said felt like the truth. He knew that her and his brother had been very good friends and that he had trusted her deeply.

He eyed his father seeing his disgust. "Is this true!?" Typhoeus laughed as he pointed at Ophelia. "No I didn't kill her, I can't believe you would believe this sapphist whore over me?" Herodotus folded his arms. "She is not a sapphist whore! Her name is Ophelia and she is part of my family and I believe her words over yours, after all you're a lying coward who put my brother to death!" He ignored Ophelia's shock as he spoke. "I would trust her words over yours any day!" Typhoeus moved towards him pulling his weapon free in a violent motion only to step back as Xena pulled her sword free in a swift motion. Xena narrowed her gaze as she spoke feeling her teeth grind together. "I believe the past has come back to hunt you Typhoeus."

She moved the tip up so it was close to his throat. "Don't tempt me to kill you because all I need is a reason!" Herodotus felt a smile form as eyed Xena he turned back meeting his father gaze. "I'd leave because when the festival is over I will see that you pay for what you did to my brother and his wife! So you and Ixion can leave now as for Eudora she can stay along with your slaves, who aren't slaves here but free men and women!" Typhoeus narrowed his gaze. "You can't do anything to me I'll crush you under my foot just like I have others!" Herodotus sneered meeting his gaze. "My daughter Lila is going to become part of the council her word will soon be law! Gabrielle and Xena will also end your life if you attack my family!"

Lysandra stumbled painfully putting her hand against the table trying to steady her self as a painful vision pieced her sight. She groaned in pain as the terrible images filled with blood, pain and screaming rage filled her senses. Ophelia stepped back seeing her lover's pain she put a hand on her arm the panic taking over as she steadied the other woman. "Lysandra are you alright?" Lysandra felt her vision end she looked up feeling the fear set in. "Something is coming something terrible." Her next words were cut off as the earth around them started to rumble she watched in horror as chairs and tables fell over spilling there food all over the place and everyone went in to panic she swallowed as it stopped turning to her partner. "It's coming!"

End of part 21

Silvermoonlight