Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Blue Eyes, White Horse, and a Chakram
===[x]
Chapter 36: Stars
One moon ago…
"Mistress, it is time. "The sacrifice has been prepared," the newest apprentice reported.
"You should not be leaving at time like this," the fire scolded, but Alti ignored him. She'd had a dream and knew that something was happening on Earth. It was important, and even if she couldn't convince her father of that, she was strong enough now that she didn't need his permission. Xena was in Valedmar now, but something was pulling her back to Earth. She could feel it.
Leaving the room that housed his flame, she traveled down the hall of her keep to a larger room that she used to practice her dark magics. She noticed a half-dozen dark soldiers waiting for her orders. Without ceremony she grabbed the first one by the neck, quickly draining away his life force with her touch. Turning to the other five she gave them a wide grin as the fear in the room grew so thick she could taste it.
Counting six bodies on the ground, Alti started building energy for her gate. Once it was prepared she turned to her current apprentice, who handed her the six stones that the soldiers had worn.
"I don't understand," the apprentice asked, "Why not just bring the soldiers with you? We have others you could have gained energy from."
Alti turned toward her latest prize. She was young, with dark hair and blue eyes. Reminded her of someone else, but this one had true talent. It would be a pity that she'd eventually have to die. "Someday you will understand," Alti explained. "In the meantime, this is much more fun."
The apprentice smiled in response to Alti's harsh laugh. She could only hope that was true.
-X-
The sun had set. Gabrielle sat across from Xena watching her absently play with a ball of flame in her palm. She had known about Xena's ability to manipulate fire, but had never seen her do so in such a casual manner. She flipped it and rolled it around her fingers like it was little more than a child's toy.
"You have gotten better with that," Gabrielle casually commented, momentarily breaking Xena's train of thought.
The warrior shrugged and tossed the ball into the fire pit which surged up as it absorbed the additional energy. "I've learned many new things, this whole place is new." Xena paused as she looked up at the stars. "Even the stars here are different."
"Yes, I know, I noticed that too. We've been so busy I hadn't really looked until tonight. I don't recognize any of the constellations. Do you think that is because we are on the other side of the ocean?"
"No, I don't think we are on Earth anymore."
"What do you mean? We have to be on Earth. It looks just like home. The plants, the animals, they are the same."
"Some are, yes. But not everything is the same. It's like a mirror of home, but at some point things went different here then on Earth."
The bard thought about Xena's words for a moment before asking, "Xena, do you remember, when you told me about when the fates showed you a different reality? When you changed your life by never picking up the sword?"
"Yes, I remember," admitted the warrior.
"Maybe here is like that, a different reality?"
"Is there a different reality that would change the position of the stars?" Xena challenged.
"I guess not," agreed Gabrielle. "It's another mystery to be solved."
"Yeah, why do we always have to be the ones to solve the problems?"
"Because it is your destiny, child," a mysterious voice rang out behind them.
Xena was instantly on her feet, sword in hand. The voice had come from nowhere; she had felt no presence or sensed anything from it. A shadow stepped out of the darkness. It was a woman. She was slight of build, had dark hair, and wore a simple white tunic.
"Stay back," Xena warned.
"Child, put your sword away. I will not harm you, and you cannot harm me."
"Who are you?" Xena asked.
The women stepped closer to the fire and her features became more prevalent. She was beautiful, with classic chiseled lines and a pristine complexion. Her skin literally glowed with power but by far, her most striking feature was her eyes. They had no pupils, but where black, and when you gazed into them you could see the stars themselves. Xena heard Gabrielle gasp as she saw the eyes as well. They both realized that this was no ordinary person.
"Who are you?" Xena repeated.
"I have many names. Some call me the Starry-eyed one."
Gabrielle took in a sharp breath as she recognized the name from some of the stories that she had been studying, "You are a goddess."
The woman turned her head acknowledging Gabrielle and answered, "Some call me that as well."
They stared at each other for a moment, the goddess patiently waiting for Xena and Gabrielle adjust to her presence.
"May I join you at your fire?" the goddess asked.
Xena nodded, and reshieved her sword. "What do you want from us?"
The goddess calmly sat across the fire from the warrior and bard. "Please sit," she invited. "We need to talk."
The duo sat and waited for the goddess to begin.
"I am sorry I had to disturb you," she began. "I don't usually take such a direct approach. I much prefer my children to work out their problems themselves, but unfortunately the situation is moving much too rapidly for me to stand idle and watch my children be destroyed."
"Who are your children?" Gabrielle asked.
"You are, and the Heralds, the people of Valdemar, all the people and creatures here in Velgrath."
"We are not your children," argued Xena. "We don't even come from here. We are children of Greece, of Earth."
The goddess smiled. "That is true, in this life that is where you were born, but before that you have had other lives, many of them here. Your souls are tied with this land, not with Greece."
"Is that why this place is so familiar?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes, child, you are getting hints from your past lives, which make it familiar."
Xena realized now that it made sense, the cryptic messages from the Companions, about remembering, hinting how they already knew certain things. It also explained why she and Gabrielle were able to do things on Earth that should only have been able to be done here in Valdemar. They had been taping into energies from pervious lives.
"Your thoughts are correct, child," the goddess confirmed to Xena.
Xena blinked, slightly surprised that the goddess was reading her thoughts. "It makes sense, but why now? Why appear to us to tell us this?"
"I know you have many questions, but my purpose here not to satisfy your curiosity." She paused a moment before continuing, "You have begun to unravel a mystery. So far you have done wonderfully. With the information you have turned up, I have started my own investigations and I have concluded that destiny has been altered, by your presence here."
"It wasn't our idea to come," Gabrielle said sarcastically.
"No child, it was your fate to come, either in this life or the next you would have come. The events that have transpired here have forever altered your destiny on Earth. If you would not have been brought here, your lives there would have changed, and you would have changed your world. Because you are not on Earth, the evil that you would have fought there is now here, in Velgrath."
"What do you mean? The evil is here?" Xena asked.
"There is a great balance of power in the universe," explained the goddess. "There is a constant battle between the forces of darkness and light. When power shifts in one area it has to shift in another to balance it."
"So why are we here? Why didn't you just let us stay in Greece?" asked Gabrielle.
"That was beyond my control. The magic that brought you here was ancient. I do not interfere."
"But you are interfering now?" accused Xena.
"Yes," agreed the goddess. "Because the power has shifted, and the fate of both this world and Earth is in jeopardy."
"I don't understand. We have only been here a little over a moon, what could we have done to alter the fate of the world?" asked Gabrielle.
The goddess waited to answer. "Gabrielle," she said softly. "You killed the Black Solider. You lost your blood innocence, an innocence that was to be claimed on Earth, not here. That cannot be undone."
Gabrielle took a breath in. Xena feeling the heaviness in the bard's emotions wrapped her arm around her. Gabrielle took comfort from the warrior's touch and responded, "It's all my fault then."
"No child, it's not anyone fault. Sometimes things happen, and sometimes when things happen the future is altered. In a way every choice that is made alters things, some things are just affected more than others."
"So what do we need to do?" asked Xena.
"That depends. I have a request to ask of you. Your answer will determine the course of action." The goddess paused for a long moment. "I came to ask you permission to bring your son here, from Earth to Valdemar."
"My son? You mean Solan?"
"Your son by birth, Xena. He belongs to both of you in spirit though."
"I don't understand. How could he belong to me? He's Xena's son…" Gabrielle replied.
"No child, he belongs to both of you," the goddess interrupted. "Xena, you are his protector, and Gabrielle you are his teacher. You have both taken on the responsibility of his soul. He is a child of you both. So I ask you, do I have your permission?"
"Why?" Xena asked.
The goddess became quiet, seemly thinking about Xena's question. "What do you mean why?" she finally asked.
"Why Solan? Why do you want him? Why bother to ask our permission? You're a goddess, why bother asking a mortal? Why is he so important to you?"
"Solan is like you, he is special. He holds the key to restore the balance, and bringing him to Velgrath will make both of our tasks easier."
"That sounds familiar," Xena's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You twist your words to make it seem like you are doing us a favor."
"Xena, I do care. I know you don't understand, but I am not Ares, or Aphrodite, or even Zeus. I am not one of the gods that you have grown up with. My only interest is what is best for my children"
"What if we refuse?" asked suddenly asked Gabrielle.
"I give you my word that I will not bring him here without your blessing. You're refusal will make things more difficult, but I tell you honestly, having Solan here working alongside of both of you is our best chance and stopping the darkness."
"It sounds like you are not giving us much choice." accused Xena.
"There are always choices. If you deny my request, you have my word that I will not bring him here against your will," the goddess repeated.
Xena looked to Gabrielle, and through her touch, she sent, :What do you think, Gabrielle?:
:I think she is being honest with us,: Gabrielle answered.
:I don't like the idea of putting Solan in danger.:
:I don't' either, but it seemed like he might be in danger anyways. At least here with us we can protect him,: Gabrielle sent.
:Yes, that is true. You ok with it then?: asked Xena.
:Yes, if you are. He's your son.:
:He's our son: Xena sent back, with a wave of comfort and love. "Alright, you have our permission and our blessing," the warrior confirmed.
The goddess nodded, "Then it shall be done."