37

This is just a short one.

After pushing out the last drunk sending him home and shutting up the bar for the night Cyrene tiredly picked up the remaining mugs and walked through the inn toward her kitchen at the back.

Hot faced and rushed off her feet Cyrene and the hired maid had worked tirelessly through the day cooking and serving mugs and bowls of hot and cold food and mug after mug of wines and ales then cleaning them to be used over again to customers who had filled her tavern to almost bursting to fill their bellies eat and slake their thirst as Amphipolis baked in the summer heat and as was normal for any market day even when uncomfortably hot nothing stopped for business and trade. Now with the day over and done and having sent the maid to her own bed, exhausted Cyrene felt she could relax and then take some food before takeing rest herself.

Entering the kitchen she was surprised to find the room wasnt empty and saw Xena, Gabrielle and Solan sitting at her table. " What on earth are you all doing here ? " she said shocked.

" Nice to see you again ma. Sorry for the secrecy and coming in round the back. " Xena drawled squeezing water from her hair.

For the trio their return journey had been as uneventfully tedious and boring opposite to the full of incident their outward journey had been and arriving long after sundown dirty and dust covered they had used the bath house to clean up before entering the private living quarters.

" Of course you know I'm pleased to see you dear but I thought. " then she saw Solan peering up at her tiredly and pointed. " I thought you were taking him home. "

" It's something of a long story. " Gabrielle interjected and Cyrene looked quizzically at her and then at her daughter. " And you will tell me this story later no doubt. "

Cyrene took towels out of the cupboard and handed them round. " Have you eaten ? " first to Solan then automatically the innkeeper began to lay out the leftover cold meat and bread and an assortment of fruit with jugs of wine and cider on the table with cups.

" He looks tired out and ought to be in bed. " she said filling the cups then turning to Gabrielle. " And what has happened to you ? You wern't like that when you left. "

" I had an accident. " Gabrielle grinned sheepishly.

" And Solan wanted to wait for you. " Xena said tired Solan looked hopefully up at the innkeeper while she gave out wine, cider and milk to Xena to Gabrielle and to Solan.

" Waiting for what, what do you mean ? What is all this about ? "

Gabrielle opened her mouth to tell her but Xena stopped her by raising a hand. She had started now she was determined to see it through. " We came back to, because I want to tell you something. "

" Tell me what ? "

" To explain. "

" Oh get on with it Xena. I can always tell when your trying to give me bad news. " Cyrene groaned beginning to lose patience. " To introduce you, tell you that Solan is your grandson. " Xena blurted out.

A heavy silence fell as mother and daughter exchanged looks. One shocked the other somewhat embarrassed.

" My wha ?! "

" Grandma ? "

" Oh my, oh my. " Cyrene could say no more as Solan sprang up joyfully from his seat and dived into her welcoming embrace. Tears came to her eyes and she opened her arms wide to receive and enfold him. " Now aren't you just glad you did that. " Gabrielle leaned against her friend and whispered low between mouthfuls. " Gabrielle. " Xena returned in an equally low voiced groan that didnt carry.

The look Cyrene gave her errant daughter over Solan's head was a lot less than the happy reaction she was exhibiting to her new found grandson and Xena knew with her mother's look there were questions that were going to want an answer.

It started a lot sooner than she expected.

The innkeeper stroked the young man's hair as Solan sat down again and began to eat from the cold plate of meat and bread and mug of milk that she'd given him.

" And what about your father how does he feel about this ? "

" Father ! no he died defending the Centuars some years ago gran. " Solan said proudly and Xena nodded and said. " Borias was a good man and the Centaurs have cared for Solan since. "

" I only wish that I had a memory of him. " He said sadly and stifled a yawn. Cyrene gave him another hug. " You sound all in poor love go, take those and use the spare bed, off with you. " then she packed him off with a kiss and his arms full of food and drink to the bed he had used in the roof eves.

The moment he closed the door behind him Cyrene turned to Xena and Gabrielle and her tone became more abrasive as she glared at her daughter.

" So my grandson, and this was the only reason you're here ? now that you have decided to tell me of his existence. " Cyrene said grimly.

" When he learned that I was his mother Solan insisted to make this visit to you. "

" And you said yes my how noble of you I'm amazed that you even bothered and took the trouble. Now I suppose I'm to be grateful that I've been able to finally meet with my grandson." Cyrene laughed hollowly. Gabrielle winced at the tired sarcasm in Cyrene's tone.

" It wasn't meant like that. This was Solan's idea for you to get to know each other. " Xena said and immediately regretted it as she saw the implication and Cyrene's face.

" I'd suspected that it wasn't your idea to begin with and I suppose too that you we're forced into telling him who you were. "

Xena's jaw tightened. Where this was going was becoming plain and to make any answer now would not appease or ease her mother's anger.

" You both will have to use the barn as you room is being used right now. " Cyrene said and turning on her heel she walked out.

" Oh wow I wasn't expecting that. She really sounded hurt and upset. " Gabrielle sighed. " Yeah I guess she is. The barn huh, c'mon. " Xena ground her teeth and picked up one of the candles and blew out the rest. Xena gave a humourless laugh then she led the bard through the darkness into the barn where Argo and the other mounts were.

Xena sighed as she set the little candle lamp down and the two women bunched the hay together to make up their bed and lay down side by side. " I'm sure you will find a way to make things right with her Xena. " Gabrielle said comforting Xena with her arm around her waist as she snuggled up close and Xena pulled the blanket over them. " I don't know, I really don't know. " the warrior said as she blew out the candle and wondered if sleep would take her.

Strands of grey laced the clouds beginning of the dawn behind which the morning sun rose in a hot ball. Waking gently Gabrielle stretched out yawning and looked up seeing that Xena was already awake. " Hi, I slept like a log how did you sleep ? "

" Fine." It was dawned on Gabrielle quickly in the woman's hard eyed look that she hadnt slept much, if at all. " You didn't did you. Look I understand you're feeling guilty Xena but your mother was just tired out last night. Now that she knows about Solan give her time, I'm sure she will come round. "

Xena nodded. " You don't get it. She'd like to string my guts right now, even a Centurian would be kinder than mother would. Running an inn and putting up with drunks, bar fights and local toughs let alone bandits who would steal her takings given the chance and bringing up three kids who would get into mischief the moment her back was turned on her own made her a lot tougher than you would imagine Gabrielle. Why I remember one time.. well never mind. "

" No go on. "

" No not now let it go. " Xena said reddening.

" I'm sorry Xena I didn't mean to pry. " Gabrielle backed off quickly at Xena's scowl.

Xena stopped, she hadnt meant to frighten Gabrielle. " No I'm sorry It's me, just memories, another time maybe but not now. "

" Sure It's okay another time. " Gabrielle said pulling on her boots.

Of course when they did walk back into the inn for breakfast it soon became obvious to both women that Cyrene's feelings hadnt much changed by the morning. To Gabrielle and especially to Solan she was warm and friendly as she made them their breakfast but to Xena her demeaner was a lot colder although she was very careful not to let Solan see it. After eating Gabrielle decided to stay and help out with the chores with Solan while Cyrene and the maid got on with setting up the bar for for the day's work. To stay out of her mother's sight Xena made herself scarce and returned to the stable to care for the horses.

When there was a quiet moment Gabrielle downed her cleaning cloth and took her chance to speak to Cyrene once she was alone. " I'm very sorry about last night. "

" It is not for you to apologise Gabrielle last night was not your doing. I was in shock but I should not have shouted at you. " Cyrene said.

" You didn't and I was as much a part of it too I pushed Xena into telling you because I thought it would please you to know about Solan. "

Cyrene smiled at the girl. " I am pleased about Solan, more than I could put into words but don't take the blame for Xena I doubt you could push her to do anything. "

" You know she didn't mean to upset you. "

Cyrene pursed her lips. " She has a funny way of showing it. "

" She didn't mean to. I'm sure if you talked to her. "

" Xena hasn't meant to do a lot of things but she's done them all the same. No Gabrielle I'm done talking. " Cyrene said bitterly and went back to her polishing. Gabrielle found herself struggling for words. She had strived to convince her mother to believe that Xena had not intended to hurt her feelings but it hadnt worked out and to insist would do no further good. Unable to go on she went back to her cleaning and afterward when she had done that she went back to the barn.

When Gabrielle opened the door she saw Xena was brushing down Argo and making her coat gleam. " I'm sorry I tried to explain to your mother Xena but she doesn't want to know. "

" Oh Gabrielle. I wish you hadn't, I warned you that it was no good and this was between her and me. " Xena sighed. In that other life she had only just been been forgiven by her mother for all the wrong things she had done in her life but not this way round. All that had been set back to the begining and she had pushed things too far. " Not that she could or even wanted to now. " she said. Coming from so different a background and having little understanding being kind warm and forgiving of the tough world that Xena had started from. Gabrielle looked puzzled.

Xena put the currying brush down and rested her hands on her hips. " Look her sending me here was her way of reminding me of all her spankings and punishments that I'd ever got as a child and right now I would give anything to take the sting of that rotten paddle of hers for at least then I was forgiven for what I had done. But now it can't be. It can never be. "

I'm long past going over her knee for what I've done and there is no way I can hope mother will forgive me I have hurt her too many times for that. She thought to herself despondently.

Suddenly they were both dragged round to the sound of slow hand clapping. Framed in the doorway stood Amphipolis's overweight policeman." Now that would be a sight to see. You promised you'd be gone with your kooky friend and troublesome brat and you have broken your word to me now what am I to do ? I shall have to arrest you all. "

" Nicolo you don't want to do that. Take me if you like but not the boy or Gabrielle. " The man ran his hand over the stubble on his chin as he considered it. " You will come quietly ? "

" I'll make no trouble. "

" Xena ? " Gabrielle asked uncertainly.

" Hush Gabrielle it's alright. " Xena drew then held out her sword to him. " Okay Nicolo I surrender to you. "