A SIMPLE AND PROFOUND TRUTH

Cleytus looked at the three people now on his healer beds, Typhoeus and Ixion were both resting under fur covers. They had been completely stripped of their armour. Typhoeus had been given a drug to force him to go to sleep, because the bastard just wouldn't hold still there was now a rich thick paste on his stomach wound which he hoped would help heal him. Ixion had not awoken ether he was lying close by wrapped in bandages which was fortunate for him as his leg had, had to be amputated right up above the ankle. The only other person in the room was Xena who was finishing wrapping Gabrielle's wounds. He knew that Xena wouldn't keep her here she'd take her home as soon as she was finished but right now she just needed a bed so she could work on the bandages.

Lysandra had taken Ophelia home and was no doubt waiting for her to come around, her wounds were no more than a mild concussion and nothing that couldn't be cured with a little bed rest and a few simple herbs. Truth was he needed the other beds for the others who were in a much more serious condition. He turned eyeing the Warrior Princess. "You need to give Gabrielle that herb pack when she wakes up." Xena turned eyeing him for a moment. "I can take care of her just fine I don't need your help." She turned back opening her lovers eye seeing that it was still glowing she breathed in deeply the Aztec gods had said this would happen, it was no more than a side effect of their meddling.

She closed her lover's eye she hoped that no one had seen this because it would be far too difficult to explain. She pulled up the herb pack opening it smelling an odd odder, she knew what it was, it was ginger root a herb to help with pregnancy pain and sickness. She turned eyeing Cleytus for a long moment. "Why are you giving me this?" Cleytus slowly met her gaze. "Isn't it obvious?" Xena felt her teeth grind together she hated being talked down like she was idiot least of all by this man, who she knew her lover really didn't get on with. "No it's not obvious to me!" She threw the packet on the desk eyeing him. "These are herbs for pregnancy."

Cleytus laughed clearly this was a bad joke on Xena's part. "You know they said you had a sense of humour but I had no idea it was this dry." Xena turned ignoring the pain in her stomach as she limped up to him. She didn't think as she slammed out her hand wrapping her fingers around his throat then pulled him up violently watching as his feet started to leave the floor. She wasn't going to be mocked by this bastard! She hated being made to look the fool by anyone. She narrowed her gaze watching as the fear appeared in his eyes. "Don't mock me I'm not in the mood for your bad jokes, you little bastard!" She sneered no longer caring that he was focus of all her rage.

So far she'd had a less than pleasant night the festival had been ruined along with any change of her proposing to her lover, every thing she'd wanted to do had been ruined! She didn't care that the creature had brought her down in battle she had learned how to deal with this kind of defeat but watching the woman she loved be badly hurt in front of her wasn't something she really couldn't take. She'd pulled him up higher knowing that she needed to be quick as she needed to give herself a pain killer to deal with her stomach pain which was still hurting. "You're going to tell me right now what is going on, because making out that my lover is pregnant is not amusing." Cleytus breathed trying to ignore his fear he'd over stepped his mark.

He breathed in feeling her iron grip tighten as he looked in to her enraged ice cold gaze. "You don't know…she didn't tell you?" Xena leaned closer. "I don't know what?" Cleytus eyed her for a long moment before speaking. "She came to me….I checked her over…" Xena snarled aloud. "She told me that you didn't know what was wrong with her!" Cleytus breathed in painful. "No that's not what I told her! She has the early symptoms of pregnancy but she denied it, she didn't want to know!" He felt her grip tighten as the shock appeared in her eyes. "I thought you'd both arranged it and had some help, she wasn't taking the news well because she loves you and didn't enjoy sleeping with the man who no doubt helped you."

Xena stopped still feeling her body freeze as his words hit home and what he was saying became all to clear. Her lover was pregnant? She let go off him harshly stepping back. Her words hit the air as she raised her hand suddenly feeling out of her depth. "No…that's not possible…." Cleytus put a hand on his neck swallowing painfully. "Sure it is, you should be happy you were successful." Xena turned sharply. "Shut up!" She watched as he pulled back, she found herself starting to pace Gabrielle had not left her bedside once since there return from Mexica. She didn't need to question her lovers loyalty here Gabrielle had always been nothing but loyal to her through out the years in there relationship.

Plus her lover had found love making difficult after Mexica she just hadn't been up to it she had, had so much difficulty getting the images out of her mind of herself and the Aztec sun god sleeping together it was only recently that her sex drive had really returned with a lot of force. She found herself stopping still as a shocking thought entered her mind one that she hadn't considered. She spoke the name before she could stop herself. "Huitzilopochtli…." She turned looking at the younger woman who was still unconscious feeling everything start to make sense her lover's sickness. Her slightly distant behaviour and her fatigue she had not put all of these pieces together with crystal clarity until now. She felt her eyes dart it even explained why her herb remedies weren't working.

She put a hand on her face in frustration, gods she had been giving her herb mixes for general illness and not pregnancy. It was little wonder it wasn't working, she turned eyeing the younger woman again as another harder question entered her mind. Why hadn't Gabrielle told her about this after she'd found out? She had never held her sleeping with Huitzilopochtli against her in anyway it had never been her fault, she hadn't known any better because he wiped her memories and told her that he was her lover. This child had to be his and he had clearly not been honest about her getting pregnant as he'd told Gabrielle that it wouldn't happen despite their sleeping together.

She breathed in deeply, maybe because of what he'd done with her soul it had caused this to happen by mistake. She took in a deep breath trying to recompose herself as she shifted through the herbs opposite grabbing the herb paste she'd made for self and putting it in to her mouth chewing it slowly hoping that it would dull the pain. She leaned against the table suddenly feeling uncertain about everything that had gone on around her in this past week. Gabrielle hadn't told her, why hadn't she done so? She would not have held it against her, was it because it was Huitzilopochtli's child? Did the younger woman think that because it was his child that she'd reject her or throw her out?

She took in another deep breath before swallowing the herb paste in her mouth trying not to gag because of how awful it tasted. Frankly she didn't care if it was his child, she stopped sharply that was the problem though wasn't it? Her lover's last child hadn't been planned for ether she felt the painful truth hit home all too suddenly that it made her stomach twist painfully. Had Gabrielle thought in her head that she'd treat this child in the same she had with Hope? Did she believe that she'd look at this child in the same way? She looked up slightly it was all to clear that, that was the reason and in a truly sad way it was understandable from Gabrielle's point of view, she was had clearly been terrified of going through all this again and had kept it to herself.

She felt the pain hit her heart gods it hurt the woman she loved still didn't fully believe that she had changed and that she'd welcome a child. That maybe she had, had thoughts about them having a family together and that she didn't care if it was someone else's child. She breathed in painfully feeling the tears as they started to fall before she could stop them as the pain intensified before she could stop it. Gods she wanted Gabrielle to trust her, to have faith in her! To just believe that she could trust her! Just to give her some credibility yet here she stood feeling like she was the last one to know when she should have been the first one to know, it wasn't right or even fair. Cleytus moved forward he had always assumed that Xena was as hard as stone when it came to her emotions.

Yet here she was crying in front of him he wasn't even sure if these were tears or joy or sadness. "Are you okay?" Xena looked up sharply realizing that the old header was looking at her. She wiped the tears away suddenly feeling subconscious of her self. "I'm fine." She paused knowing that her next words were a half truth. "I'm just happy that what we planned was successful." There was no way in Tartarus that she was going to tell anyone how this child had come to be as far as she was concerned this was planned. She would not put the younger woman through the torment of saying that she slept with anyone else. The first time around with Dahak had been painfully enough, she grabbed the herb bag putting it away safety.

She had her weapons back and Herodotus had taken the rest back home, she moved over to Gabrielle gently lifting her up. She turned to the healer who looked concerned. "I'm going to take her home." Cleytus nodded looking at her. "Of course." Xena moved towards the open door she turned looking at him. "I'm sorry I did not mean to hurt you, I've just had a very difficult day." Cleytus looked up sharply watching as she disappeared from sight he hadn't expected an apology least of all from her. As far he knew she only ever said sorry to Gabrielle, never to anyone else. He shook his head clearly she wasn't the woman he'd heard about some years back if anything it was clear that Gabrielle had rubbed of on her in more ways than one.

8

Typhoeus coughed painfully as he opened his eyes watching as the dimly lit room came in to view. He turned realizing that he was in some dirty peasant healing house. His gaze shifted to the bed opposite where Ixion lay unmoving, he looked around only for his eyes to fall on Herodotus who was seated close by his arms folded. He watched as his son stood up slowly, he laughed only to stop due to excruciating pain of doing so. "So my boy you've come to see me after all." Herodotus breathed in deeply two hours ago Xena had returned home with Gabrielle who still wasn't conscious. She had put the younger woman to bed and was now sitting in the chair in their room waiting her to wake up.

No one had said much everyone had been tired and they'd gone to their beds, but he couldn't sleep. Not after what had been said by Ophelia that this bastard had murdered Leliana his brother's wife in cold blood and then taken the children. Despite that in the will they were meant to go to Ophelia and Lysandra. No he couldn't let that rest he knew that the old bastard was dying and before he went to Tartarus he wanted answers. He folded his arms. "I'm not here to see you, I'm here for answers you murdered Leliana." Typhoeus sneered eyeing him in disgust. "You still believe the word of sapphist cur over that of your own father?"

Herodotus stepped forward eyeing him. "You are not my father, you were never a father to me or my brother and unless you want me to put the coins on the eyes to pay for passage in to the underworld you should tell me the truth!" Typhoeus snarled eyeing him in disgust he could see in his eyes that he wasn't bluffing. "You little bastard, you dare to black mail me!" Herodotus sneered leaning closer. "Well if I learnt anything from you it was that people are very always giving when they are about to die. You knew that better than anyone you used to threaten people you didn't like with throwing their bodies in to a shallow pit and not giving them the coins to pay to the ferry man, if you didn't get what you wanted from them."

He eased out two coins from his pocket raising them for a moment before putting them away. "Now it's your turn you bastard to know what it is to suffer on your deathbed. They told me that you won't last the night and if Ixion ever heals that he'll be crippled for the rest of his life." He looked around the room. "No one else is here only you and me and as father of my house hold I will see justice served to you right here and right now." Typhoeus breathed in trying to ignore the pain. "Well Gabrielle didn't do so well ether, hopefully she'll die as well." Herodotus didn't think as he grabbed his throat slamming him in to bed hard as he leaned over him. He slowly pulled the sword free his belt which Gabrielle had used to slay the monster.

He brought up the blade slowly running it down his face enjoying his look of shock as he spoke hearing the venom in his every word. "Gabrielle will live, because she's stronger than you are, she'll rise up like the light of day while you burn in the fires of Tartarus. She defeated that monster alone!" He narrowed his gaze tightening his grip as he leaned even closer. "She did something nether you nor Ixion could do and she did it not to make herself look good but because she wanted to save everyone including her lover Xena!" He narrowed his gaze. "As I said before she would put you to shame and she did and I'm proud of that!"

He looked deeper in to his father's eyes. "I'm proud because she is my daughter and she's my blood and she's has nothing of you in her! She's better than any son I could have hoped for and my family name will live on through her and her sister. While yours fades away in to nothing because no one will want or care that you lived at all, because you gave nothing in your legacy but pain and suffering." He pulled away realising his grip as he lowered his blade. "Now you will tell me what I want to know or I will leave you to your fate and you will have no coins for the ferryman." Typhoeus breathed in eyeing the blade knowing that his son truly meant what he was saying. "Very well, I did kill the little bitch Leliana."

Herodotus eyed him for a long moment. "Why!?" Typhoeus coughed painfully. "Because I wanted the children as my own and she wanted to take them from me, she intended to speak out against me. It was simple really I invited her and the children to dinner at the villa then I beat her and took hold of her throat and strangled her, then I had my slaves throw her body in to the lake so it would look like a common murder." He felt a smile form. "I told the council that she had been a whore and was going to brothels, they believed me of course, after which I took her children as my own." Herodotus eyed him feeling the dark rage take over. "You're a vile disgusting bastard Leliana was a kind and gentle person, she didn't deserve to die by your hand." Typhoeus sniggered. "Well that's the way things are Herodotus."

He raised an eyebrow. "Because of the way things are I was not going to hand over those children to Ophelia and her cur of a lover and have those two unnatural bitches raise them. No I made sure that, that will was never found and after tonight, after I die you still won't find it because Ixion will be the next in line for my villa, not one of your daughters." Herodotus shook his head meeting the older mans gaze. "I can't believe that I'm related to you, I hate you. I've always hated you I was never your son just your puppet. I'm glad I left you behind it was the best thing I ever did, I only wish Cleobis had done the same." Typhoeus snarled watching as he stepped back. "You are a curse of a son I wish I'd killed you as well."

Herodotus eased out the coins eyeing them. "You want your coins?" He turned his hand dropping them on the floor listening to them clatter. "Come and get them you bastard!" He ignored the sound of Typhoeus cry of anger as he walked out of the room slamming the door behind him. He had all he needed to know as far as he was concerned this man was dead to him. Typhoeus looked up sharply watching as Herodotus disappeared from sight. Vile conceited little bastard, he'd make sure that when Ixion got the will that he'd make Herodotus pay for this with his life! He moved his hand down despite the pain to the tied pouch on his leg which hadn't been removed. He grabbed it ripping it free.

He pulled it open easing the folded document free which was his will, along with the small quill then threw the pouch on the floor. He opened the document fully despite the loss of two his fingers on one hand. The shaking fingers of his good hand moved as he started to scratch in the first letters of Ixion's name with the remaining ink. A sudden pain hit him before he could finish the name forcing his hand to freeze. He turned in shock watching Ares the god of war appeared behind him in a blast of white fire, his dark eyes burned in to his own as he held out his hand stopping his writing. Typhoeus turned staring at him despite his pain. "Lord Ares?" He paused looking up slightly. "You've come to save me have you not?" Ares eyed his in disgust as he leaned forward. "No I haven't."

Typhoeus blinked eyeing him. "I'm your loyal servant! You should heal me!" Ares felt his teeth grind together as he put his other hand on his sword. "You're not my loyal servant Typhoeus you're a disgusting scum bag, who I should have dealt with long ago." He leaned over looking the will. "So let me start by saying that you're writing the wrong name on your will." Typhoeus watched in horror as the name he'd written was suddenly erased. "No!" The next moments turned to agony as his hand started to write of its own accord he watched in utter horror as the new name appeared as his quills ink replaced itself. Ares looked over as the last letter was written. He grabbed the will pulling it out of his hand, ignoring his scream of rage. "Very good Typhoeus and you spelt it correctly."

He blew on the name causing the fresh ink to instantly dry, then rolled it up putting it in to the back of his belt. "This will now find its way in to the right full hands later tonight." He walked over to the old general watching as the quill fell from his hands clattering on the marble floor. "I had intended to have you hung by the council on your return to Olynthus but after listening to the conversation you've just had with your son I feel I should intervene personally, as it clear that your family has no love for you and wouldn't miss you." He smiled moving closer he didn't think as he grabbed the man wrapping his whole arm around his throat ignoring his weak struggling. "You're going to die Typhoeus they'll think you choked on your own blood." He slowly began to squeeze ignoring the sudden violent struggling of the vile old man. "I never liked you Typhoeus you go against everything I believe in, you're a representation of the bastard I was."

He smiled squeezing tighter watching as blood flowed down the old mans chin as he started to cough. "The only good thing you ever gave me was Gabrielle, by the way thank you for her she is after all five times the warrior you ever were." He ignored the shock as it showed in his blood shot eyes he felt a smile form. "Now in death you're going to make it so she's well provided for and has everything she could ever want." He squeezed tighter listening as Typhoeus gagged. "Because when she's happy she makes Xena happy and I always want Xena to be happy. You see I love Xena very deeply but she does not love me anymore, her heart belongs to Gabrielle and I respect that. So you see I have to ensure that Gabrielle is always happy it's now the order of things."

He felt the old mans body go limp as death took over he let go violently watching as he hit the bed face first. He stepped back eyeing his dead body with its open eyes for a moment before turning to Ixion who was still unconscious. He'd kill him to if it weren't for the fact that his fate was already worse than death. The fates would deal with him in time, after all crippled scum with out friends didn't last long in the outside world he watching as the white fire surrounded him as he teleported away.

End of part 25

Silvermoonlight