FOR WHAT WILL BE AND WHAT MUST BE

Xena eased up her hand gently running it down her lovers back tracing the lines and contours in a gentle motion. The room was dark and only lit by a single candle it was dark outside and everyone was now in bed. She knew tomorrow that they'd have to tell her parents that they had to leave to go to Illyria. She eyed the younger woman who was half dozing as she pulled the cover further up her naked body in truth it was unfair that Gabrielle had to do this but the way she saw it once it was over with, they could leave. Truth was that her lover needed to meet Sophia again she'd been holding it off for so long.

It would be good for her to see her again and get the issues between them resolved fully, she eased up her finger running it down the old scar on her lovers back where the arrow had penetrated before going out though her upper chest. She took in a deep breath before speaking. "Gabrielle, are you awake?" Gabrielle opened one eye slightly. "No." Xena felt a smile form. "Really?" Gabrielle opened her other eye. "No I'm asleep." Xena eased her arm around her waist pulling her close. "You sound awake to me." Gabrielle raised an eyebrow. "That's because you're dreaming." She eased up her hand running it through the long black hair in a gentle motion feeling a smile form.

Xena eased herself up leaning on her elbow looking down at the younger woman as she turned on to her front her hand still playing with her hair in a gentle motion. "Then I'm having a very nice dream." She looked at the desk where Sophia letter was still lying. "What are we going to tell your parents tomorrow?" Gabrielle felt her eyes dart. "We should just tell them its nothing but a short trip." Xena looked at her for a long moment. "What about telling them that Sophia has invited you to a royal dinner and you want me to come along." She leaned over taking the letter of her lover's desk. "This could be your invite, so to speak."

Gabrielle blinked eyeing the letter. "You know I told my family that letter wasn't important, how do you think they'll react when I tell them that?" Xena felt a smirk form on her lips. "You could say you've only just opened it and read it, plus you have the star medallion the highest honour in Illyria you could show that to them and say it's why you got an invite." She paused meeting her lovers gaze. "You do still have that star medallion don't you?" Gabrielle rolled her eyes leaning over pulling open her draw she fumbled around finally finding the thick gold chain she pulled it up watching as the old medallion came in to view. It was looking a little worn truth was that it had lying at the very bottom of her back pack for many years even during the time change.

When she had moved in to the new room with her lover she'd shoved it in her draw and forgotten about it. "It's here." Xena put the letter down taking the old medallion from the other woman's hand looking at it for a long moment. "You kept it even after all these years." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "No I just forgot about it, it was in my backpack on my first trip to Mexica." Xena eyed the old gold which wasn't gleaming anymore. "Just needs a good clean and buff shine and it'll look as good as new." She carefully placed the old medallion down opposite the letter. Her hand moved gently downwards of its own accord to the other woman's stomach feeling the need to change the subject. "Do you think our child is a boy or a girl?"

Gabrielle turned sharply meeting her gaze feeling the surprise take over, her lover was embracing this subject with such intensity. Yet she felt like she was still rushing to catch up and even fathom the concept of them both producing a child. She lay back on the pillow in truth she still felt out of her depth with this whole subject. "I don't know which it is." She put a hand on her face feeling the frustration take over. "Gods I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept that we produced a child together." Xena lay back on the pillow next to her she knew this had to be hard for the younger woman, she'd had to take in so much and all at once and even now she was struggling with the idea of them both having a child.

She was sure that given time she'd begin to settle down and embrace the idea of being a mother again she was after all a good mother. She'd been very protective and loving of Hope after her birth and she'd taken care of both Solan and Eve. She'd been there with both of them to help them with their problems and resolve their issues as well as protect them. Even it meant being beaten up by another Amazon and loosing her right of place.

She breathed in deeply bringing the younger woman closer again seeing the conflict in her eyes. "We should get some rest tomorrow we have to tell your parents about what we are doing." Gabrielle looked up slightly running her hand through the long dark hair she looked up meeting her lovers light blue gaze. "Xena." Xena eased moved her hand running it through the long blonde hair. "Thank you though, for what you just asked, it really means a lot to me." Xena felt a smile form as she blew out the candle close by before laying back down enjoying the warmth of the bed feeling the other woman shift closer to her as she closed her eyes. "Your welcome."

8

Xena moved her spoon slowly through her porridge and oats everything seemed so quite everyone was eating their breakfast. Apart from Ceto and Thaleia who were sleeping in for the first time in their lives, in her view all the more power to them they needed it after living the lives they'd had. Gabrielle was sitting next to her eating quietly lost in own thoughts the atmosphere was both pleasant and calm despite that everyone was a little squashed in around the table. She looked up realizing that now was the best moment if any to speak up as her lover was lost in her own thoughts. "Not long ago Gabrielle was sent a letter from Illyria." Herodotus looked up slightly. "Yes I remember, you both didn't get around to telling us what it was about." Xena put her spoon down. Some how a part of her didn't want to go on this errand, but she had to she made a promise. "We've had an invite from Sophia Queen of Illyria."

She watched as everyone looked up sharply she felt a forced smile form. "It's nothing mayor no trouble or anything Sophia would just like us to go to a royal banquet so we'll have to pack to leave tonight, we'll be away for three may be four days at the most." Lila turned eyeing Gabrielle. "I thought you said, your letter was from no one who was important!" Hecuba leaned forward eyeing her eldest daughter. "You know Queen Sophia?" Gabrielle looked down eyeing her porridge. "I don't know her we just met once my self and Xena sorted out one of her problems." Xena eyed her lover the younger woman was being far too modest she looked up slightly. "Gabrielle was given the star medallion for her bravery."

Herodotus looked up sharply. "The star medallion but that's the highest honour in this region." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "It was nothing really it wasn't important." Xena put a hand on her lovers she wasn't going to let her try and play this down. "Gabrielle helped to stop a plot to assassinate the late king Kleitos." Lila sat up sharply seeing the shock in everyone's faces. "Why did you never mention this Gabrielle? I mean you know a Queen and you saved the King that's pretty big?" Gabrielle eyed her for a long moment. "I've met many royals Xena's helped a lot of them out in the past, I didn't think this was that bigger a deal."

Lector felt a smile form. "Well I think it's a really big deal, does your invite include members of the family? Because I'd love to come." Lila raised her spoon. "Yes Gabrielle I mean after all that's happened with our grandfather I'd love to see a royal palace." Gabrielle felt her eyes dart nervously why was this suddenly not going the way she'd envisioned. "It's really not that great I mean one palace looks the same as the next." Lila eyed her. "Well I've never even seen a royal palace and I would love to learn about royal laws it might be my chance to complete my training as a councillor, if I could do a royal case." Herodotus put his hands together feeling a smile form as he turned to Xena. "Yes you could take Lila and Lector with you on your trip after all they've been through I'm sure they'd love the experience."

Xena blinked as she looked up oh gods this really wasn't going how she'd planned it she found herself forcing a wider smile as she looked up. "You know as Gabrielle said this won't be very interesting royal banquets can be so tedious believe me." Herodotus raised both eyebrows. "Then that's all the more reason for you to take Lila and Lector with you." Hecuba looked up feeling a wide smile form. "Yes you should take your sister with you, you both need a break and you've had such a hard week." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "But..." Hecuba looked up meeting her gaze. "You know I'd be so disappointed if you don't." Gabrielle lowered her gaze oh great now she knew she wasn't going to get out of this one.

When ever her mother used those words she knew there was no point but to just give in to what she wanted. Other wise she'd just keep on at her until she gave in. She eased up her hands. "Okay I'll bring Lila and Lector with me." Hecuba turned seeing that Eudora was listening quietly beside Agapios she could see a sense of longing in her eyes but it was clear that she wasn't going to voice herself. She breathed in deeply turning to Xena. "I would be most grateful if you could take Eudora and Agapios with you as well. I think travelling outside would really make them happy and I know you'll take good care of them along with Lila and Lector." Xena felt her eyes dart for a moment realizing that she had no choice both Gabrielle parents had just roped them in to this and they had no choice but to say yes.

She put her hands together. "Of course we'll take them with us." Gabrielle swallowed her mouth full seeing the joy lit up in Eudora's eyes over being invited on this trip. Somehow she couldn't deny her that, Eudora had never even seen the outside world and she was sure that she would really enjoy the trip as would her partner. As for Lila there was just no point in talking her out of this, her and Lector would just keep going on about it until she gave in. So she might as well save her self the trouble. Lysandra smiled putting her hand on her partners arm. "Yes you should go and enjoy your selves I mean you've all had such a hard week seeing a palace would do you the world of good."

Herodotus nodded. "Lysandra is right and you can tell us all about your trip when you get back, no doubt you'll have a lot to tell us." Ophelia raised her hand. "You know I'd really like to come all those decorations all that food and wine." Lysandra raised an eyebrow. "The healers orders are that your meant to take it easy for the next week or so and he also said no wine only water to help with your blow to the head." Ophelia put her hand on her chest. "What but that's not fair!" Lysandra looked at her for a long moment. "But it's the healer's orders dear and you need to follow them, it's for your own good." Ophelia put a hand on her elbow. "Oh that's just great no parties, no wine and no excitement what am I meant to do with my time?"

Lysandra put her hand on hers. "Well you get to spend time relaxing and helping Herodotus with the grinding wheel it'll be very good for you." Herodotus smiled putting a hand through his beard. "Yes it's very relaxing work you just put the grain on the wheel and watch it do its job, it's very therapeutic." Ophelia looked at him for a long moment. "You know shopping is therapeutic to." Lysandra rolled her eyes. "You are not buying anything else." Ophelia watched as Gabrielle's little fox rubbed against her leg the blonde haired woman leaned down picking it up putting it in her lap stroking its ears. "Where can I buy one of those, I mean it's so cute?"

Gabrielle watched as Xena leaned over watching as Citlalli licked her fingers. "I was given Citlalli as a gift when I was in Mexica." Ophelia felt a smile form. "So I'd just have to go to Mexica well I do like the idea of travelling." Gabrielle stroked the little dog's nose. "I wouldn't recommend it as a place to travel to, it's dangerous." Lila looked up sharply. "Yes very dangerous." Ophelia blinked folding her arms. "How annoying." Gabrielle breathed as a thought crossed her mind. "But since we are going away I'm more than happy to give him to you to take care off while we are gone." Ophelia sat up sharply. "Oh I'd love that." Gabrielle gently passed Citlalli to watching as she took the dog holding it gently. "He eats goat and sheep meat, he doesn't need much though."

Ophelia's smile widened as she dog licked her fingers. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of him while you're gone." Xena put her hands together somehow it felt like Gabrielle had made the right choice and she was sure that Citlalli would be very well taken care off. Lila clapped her hands together. "What will we need for the trip to Illyria?" She felt her smile widened. "I mean should I bring my peplos robes and you could bring yours." She stopped realizing her mistake as she met her sister's gaze. "I'm sorry." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Its okay it doesn't matter." Xena leaned over putting a hand on her knee. "I'll pull a few strings and get Autolycus to get you a new set from Apollonia, which will be better than your first set."

Gabrielle slowly met her lovers gaze. "You don't have to do that." Xena felt her smile form. "But I'd like to." Hecuba put her spoon in her empty bowl. "Gabrielle I agree with Xena you should get a nice new set of peplos robes." Gabrielle nodded before lowering her gaze to her porridge as she began to eat once more. "I'd like that." Somehow it felt good to be able eat again with out the feeling ill the medicine Xena was giving her was working. She had, had her first good nights sleep last night, it hadn't been interrupted and she hadn't woken up feeling ill all wanting to be sick. She did still feel slightly tired though but she knew that she couldn't really get around that. Xena had been the same when she'd been pregnant with Eve and there had been days when she'd had to shake her awake in the morning.

At least she hoped that was the case, she didn't know for sure, since her last pregnancy had been completely unnatural and sped up and after it she hadn't felt right in that area for a very long time. She'd suffered from cramping muscles bellow her stomach and her chest had hurt from time to time. She'd put it down to the pregnancy being the way it had and that it had really knocked her hormones out of balance. This would be her first normal pregnancy and she knew she'd have to get too used to a lot of feelings and strange sensations until the child was born and a part of her was scared off that. It was more the thought of not knowing what was around the corner and whether her child would be okay and be born full term.

Lila put her hands together. "This is so great I can't wait to see a royal palace, do they do things like boar hunting?" Gabrielle swallowed her mouth full sharply meeting her sister's gaze breaking out of her thoughts. Her sister was so excited by this it was such a strange thing to see since she remembered feeling the same emotions so clearly about travelling when she'd been younger. She had long lost the excitement though as well as the feeling of being drawn in by a place and its sights and sounds. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever gone to a place and looked around her as she taken everything in. The closest she'd come was in Apollonia when her and Xena had gone on vacation some time back.

She really wished she could embrace that joy once more the way her sister was now, but the truth was that she couldn't. She'd seen most of the world, she'd travelled through all manner of lands and it was all the same to her now. She looked up slightly watching as her sister looked up. "They did boar hunts when Kleitos was king but I'm sure that they still do them, it was always very popular among the royal council." Lector put his hands together. "I can't wait this is going to be so much fun."

End of part 35

Silvermoonlight

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