Duncan walked into the ballroom where Drexia was training to see how her lessons were coming along. Her wings had grown out the day before and she was trying to learn how to fly. When he opened the door to the large ballroom Drexia had just started to level off when the door opened. She tilted to see who had come in and lost her concentration causing her to fall. She slammed into the ground hard on her shoulder. She growled angrily as she got back to her feet.
"Damn it, I almost had it that time. What the hell do you want?" Drexia asked. She rubbed her tender shoulder while she waited for him to respond.
"You forget your place." Duncan said sternly. He walked up to her to look her in the eye before he continued. She put her talons underneath his chin and grinned.
"You fear me. I know my place, do you?" Drexia grinned. "Tell me, why all of these lessons to learn to kill?" Drexia hissed at him. "I'm not simply your weapon." She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Perhaps, it is you that needs to learn your place."
"You dare too much this time." Duncan said angrily.
"I wouldn't be your best warrior if I didn't." She smirked at him. "I should know more than how to kill, however. I want to know if there are any others out there like me. I want to know if I had a family."
"I told you before that you were abandoned, and I took you in." Duncan reminded her.
"There could still be others like me. I want to meet them." Drexia replied.
"We never found anyone like you my dear." Duncan stated patiently. Drexia glared at him.
"I want to go look for more of my kind. If they abandoned me then I want to know why?" Drexia said firmly. She turned to leave, and Duncan quickly grabbed her arm.
"It's too dangerous for you to go out there now. You need to finish your training first, so let me send my scouts out to see what they can find." Duncan suggested.
"I don't understand. I am the best warrior that you have. You said this yourself many times, so why am I not strong enough to search for my kind." Drexia asked curiously. Duncan sighed.
"You're strong among humans yes, but there are other creatures out there that I am preparing you for and if you run into them now before you're ready you could die, and I don't want that to happen." Duncan said as he took a seat pulling her down gently next to him. "I realize that it is selfish of me, but I don't want to see you get hurt." Duncan said in the best fatherly tone he could manage.
"What will your men do once they've found them?" Drexia asked. She became concerned that Duncan's men would kill her kind without provocation. "I mean I see the looks they give me, and I know without you being here some would happily kill me and some others give me a look that's…very uncomfortable."
"I will make sure that they don't harm any of them. I promise, now will you please stay here and continue your lessons?" Duncan asked as he kissed her forehead. She nodded and he smiled down at her. "Thank you my dear. I promise that you will be fully trained soon." Before Drexia could say anything further there was a knock at the door. "Enter," Duncan called out. A guard walked into the room and stepped in front of them.
"Milord, you asked to be notified when your guest arrived." The guard stood there for a moment waiting for Duncan to acknowledge him. While he waited he leered at Drexia in a way that sent shivers down her spine.
"Yes, thank you. Tell Bodhe that I will be there momentarily." Duncan ordered. The soldier bowed and quickly left the room to carry out his orders. "I'll be back shortly, continue your lessons. I want to see more progress when I return." Drexia nodded. Duncan quickly left then to go meet his guest. When he arrived in his study his Captain was waiting for him.
"Milord, we made sure that your guest was made comfortable." Duncan nodded and stopped just before entering the room.
"I need you to do something for me." Duncan said after a moment. "I need this kept secret from Drexia, but I need you to find Gilcomgain and together I want you to kill every gargoyle in this land." The Captain grinned and nodded before leaving to follow his orders. Duncan walked inside the study. Bodhe was sitting in the chair facing the desk and was drinking scotch from a large goblet.
"Milord," Bodhe quickly rose to his feet when Duncan entered the room. Duncan waved for him to sit back down and walked over and sat on the desk directly in front of him.
"I guess you're wondering why I had you summoned here today." Duncan asked as a way of beginning the conversation.
"Your messenger wasn't very informative." Bodhe chuckled and took another drink. Duncan nodded.
"I didn't give him any information. I thought it would be best to deliver my condolences for the death of your friend in person." Duncan said. Bodhe put his goblet down on the table next to the chair.
"Thank you, Milord. It has been a great loss for all of us." Bodhe said after a moment. Duncan nodded in understanding and then walked around the desk and sat down.
"I heard that there is cause for some celebration." Duncan said changing the subject. "Your daughter is engaged I hear."
"Yes, she is engaged to Findlaech's son. You've met him before milord. His name is Macbeth." Bodhe reminded him.
"Oh, yes… I remember him now." Duncan said after a moment. "I need you to go ahead and call off that engagement." Bodhe looked at him in shock. At first he thought that he had misheard him.
"Milord, I don't understand." Bodhe began. Duncan grinned wickedly at him.
"It's really quite simple, I have promoted Gilcomgain to the rank of Baron and gave him Findlaech's estate. Macbeth has no title or power any longer." Duncan informed him.
"Why…Why would you do this?" Bodhe asked in shock.
"Gilcomgain has been a very loyal asset to me and I am rewarding him for it. Now, you have two choices you can be a good father and accept that your daughter will marry the new lord of Castle Moray or you can choose to ruin your lives, and both of you can be homeless like Macbeth will soon be." Duncan called for his servant to bring dinner at that moment. "The choice is yours. Choose wisely, not just for yourself but for your daughter." Duncan's grin grew wider. "I mean who would marry her if she were destitute."
"You wouldn't dare. The other noble houses won't stand for it." Bodhe shouted as he rose to his feet.
"Are you certain of that? Ask Findlaech what I'm capable of. Oh, that's right you can't." Duncan grinned as Bodhe realized what he was saying. "So, I take it you will tell them that the wedding is off and then you will inform Gruoch about her new fiancée?" Bodhe nodded slowly and walked slowly towards the door. He felt numb and didn't know what to do.
How will I ever explain this to them? Bodhe thought as he saddled his horse and began the longest ride home of his life.
…
Xena, Brooklyn, and Demona arrived at Alcmene's home on the first day of the third week. The gargoyles waited while Xena changed into her human form to knock on the door.
I wish that I could do that… I wonder if I can. Demona thought just before the door opened and a middle-aged woman opened the door and stepped outside.
"Alcmene, it's great to see you again." Xena said as they hugged briefly.
"It's always good to see you dear. If you wait a while I believe that my son should be home any day now." Xena nodded and waved the gargoyles over.
"I wanted you to meet my new friends." Xena told her. Demona and Brooklyn stepped forward cautiously. "This is Brooklyn; he helped to defeat Constantine along with Demona. Brooklyn nodded and shook Alcmene's hand.
"It's nice to meet you." Brooklyn grinned at her.
"This is Demona, she's my sister." If Alcmene was shocked by that she didn't let it show. She hugged the gargoyle and invited them all to come inside. Xena and Brooklyn walked inside and Demona stood in the doorway stunned for a moment.
"You're not afraid of us or curious about Xena and me?" Demona asked surprise by the calm exhibited by Alcmene upon meeting them. Alcmene waved off her concern and laughed for a moment.
"Do you have any idea what kind of creatures my son brought home over the years?" Alcmene chuckled again. "I'm relieved that you look nearly human." Demona let her lead her inside and she stood towards the back of the main room studying her new surroundings. In this main room she had a small round table with four chairs around it in the center. Towards the back was a fireplace with a pot hanging over it, and there were several rugs that decorated the floor in all different colors. A hallway connected the main room to three bedrooms in the back of the house.
"This is a nice place you have here." Demona said after a moment. Alcmene grinned and looked around her house.
"Yes, it's my own personal palace." Alcmene replied. "So, you two are sisters. I'm sure there is a very interesting story behind that." She walked to the pot and took off the lid before stirring the contents.
"It is a very long tale." Xena and Demona said nearly simultaneously.
"Well, we have a while before Hercules will be here." Alcmene said as she took several bowls and filled them with the stew. Demona stepped forward and helped her to pass the food out. "It's alright dear, I can manage."
"It would be impolite to make you do all the work." Demona grinned at her and after they passed out the bowls they sat down to eat and talk. "Brooklyn will take care of the dishes after dinner. Won't you?" Demona asked.
"I will?" Brooklyn asked surprised by Demona's offer. Demona glared at him for a moment. "Yes, I guess I will."
"He doesn't have to do that. I'm perfectly capable…" Alcmene began.
"He really doesn't mind, and I know that my sister has something very important to discuss with you." Demona replied. Alcmene turned to Xena and it took a moment before Xena could say what she wanted to. While they ate Demona and Xena told Alcmene about the journal that they found in Constantine's belongings. Alcmene was shocked to hear about the experiments the warlord had been running.
"What happened to Gabrielle?" Alcmene asked concerned that something may have happened while they were trying to stop Constantine.
"She's fine," Xena assured her. "She is just beginning her new duties as the priestess of Aphrodite."
"Gabby is a priestess?" Alcmene asked in surprise. "Well, I suppose that would be a good fit for her." After dinner Demona and Brooklyn went to take care of the dishes and left Alcmene and Xena alone. Xena took a deep breath and took the older woman's hands in her own.
"Alcmene, I want you to know that I love your son very much and I would never think of replacing the memory of his past wife, but I do want to spend the rest of my years with him if we can have your blessing." Xena nearly stumbled over the words. Alcmene grinned at her and nearly laughed when she saw how nervous she was.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this to happen." Alcmene pulled Xena to her and hugged her tight. "I've always wanted my boy to settle down." She sat back and her eyes narrowed before she spoke again. "He doesn't need his heart broken again. That bitch Hera saw to that. I hope that you'll make him happy because if anyone in the world deserves it he does."
"That's all I want to do." Xena said in a reassuring tone. Alcmene grinned at her.
"I know dear," The front door opened and Iolaus came through.
"Did you see that? That guy went like that and I…" He stopped when he noticed the women staring at him and the two gargoyles came back in from the kitchen area. "What's going on here?" Iolaus asked curiously.
"We were just having a friendly chat." Xena assured him. Hercules grinned and walked up to his mother to give her a hug.
"You never come by just to chat, Xena. What are you up to this time?" Hercules chuckled as he pulled himself free from his mother's grip.
"I was…well, I was…" Xena began and started to get frustrated that she couldn't say the words that she wanted to.
"She was asking for my blessing." Alcmene finished for her. Xena blushed but spoke up.
"I was hoping that we could do the ceremony at night when the moon is at its highest point so my sister can attend." Xena said looking from Alcmene to Hercules hopefully.
"You don't have to do that for us." Demona interrupted suddenly. "I know that most humans prefer to get married with the sun in the sky."
"Well, we're not most humans and it just wouldn't do to get married without family being present." Alcmene pointed out. "I think that's a great idea." Xena got up and walked outside with Brooklyn and Demona to give Hercules time to talk to his mother.
"I think tomorrow night we could test our bonds as well." Brooklyn said suddenly. Demona froze.
"I don't know if we have enough time." She pointed out. Brooklyn started to say something, but her mind suddenly was in another time and place.
"That dress is so beautiful. I still can't believe that you made it yourself." Cold Fire said as she helped her sister dress for the bonding ceremony. Demona smiled at her sister.
"It's tradition. Trust me I would have loved to just buy one, but that would have made this ceremony less special if I had." Demona pointed out.
"I don't understand why?" Cold Fire said. "It all seems kind of silly to me."
"That's because you are still young yet. I'm hoping that Leader will see that Goliath and I are truly meant to be." Demona's tone suddenly became serious. "I know that he thinks we're too young, but I can't imagine going another day without him."
"Will you help me make a dress like that?" Cold Fire asked suddenly. Demona grinned down at her and ruffled her hair before she stood up.
"When you find your mate, I promise that I will help you make the most beautiful dress." Cold Fire smiled wide and hugged Demona again.
"I want more than anything to look like you." Cold Fire said and they heard the music that signaled the bonding ceremony was about to begin.
"Demona… hey Demona, are you okay." Brooklyn asked in concern when he didn't get a response from her. Demona wiped her eyes when she felt the tears begin to sting them and she looked around for a moment not comprehending what was going on.
"I'm sorry…I just need some time alone." Demona walked towards the corral leaving Brooklyn to wonder what was going on. Suddenly, time froze, and the three Fates stood next to Demona.
"Are you sure about this, Sister?" The white-haired Fate asked curiously.
"I also must question this new tactic. What if we do this and Oberon catches us?" The black-haired Fate added.
"We need to get Demona back on track. She may be the only one that can get through to her." The blonde Fate said after a moment. "I don't like it any better than you do but our choices are quickly running out. Will you help me?" She looked to her sisters for a response. "We can just cut our losses here." She pointed out.
"We'll help you." Her sisters said reluctantly after a moment. Time resumed and the Fates disappeared.
…
Cold Fire and Cold Stone just returned from their patrol and were headed to speak to the Leader when the Fates appeared in front of them.
"You may continue on your way Cold Stone." The white-haired Fate informed him.
"We're only here to speak with your sister." The black-haired Fate added. Cold Stone paled and started to back away.
"We're not here to kill you." The blonde Fate said trying to sound reassuring. "We need your help. It's regarding your sister." Cold Fire stopped moving and waved for Cold Stone to continue without her. Cold Stone glared at them as he walked past.
"What's wrong with my sister?" Cold Fire asked in surprise. The Fates shook their heads and the blonde Fate stepped forward.
"Nothing yet, we need your help in a future time your sister will make a choice that will be the downfall of your entire clan. You alone have the ability to stop it." The Fates said simultaneously.
"But, how can I…" Cold Fire began.
"Come with us and I promise once you help us then we will be able to fix everything for your clan in the future." The Fates replied.
"Why are you doing this? Aren't the Fates supposed to just let whatever is supposed to happen to happen?" Cold Fire asked curiously.
"She destroys the course Fate has set for your kind. We need you to help us put things right." The Fates replied.
"How exactly do I do that?" Cold Fire asked after a moment.
"We need you to convince her that she is meant to be with your red brother in the future." The Fates advised her. Cold Fire laughed thinking that they were joking.
"Why would I do that when she has Goliath?" She chuckled and walked forward past the Fates.
"In a year you all die except for your red brother and your sister." Cold Fire's eyes widened in shock from what she was hearing.
"That's…that's not possible." She said after a moment.
"We need your help to make sure that your race will continue. Will you come with us?" They began to chant, and a large yellow circle appeared in mid-air and Cold Fire tentatively accepted the blonde Fate's hand and they stepped through the glowing circle.
…
Demona sniffed the air. I know that scent. She thought as she began to look for the source of the new smell. Where do I know it from? She walked around the barn and the smell grew stronger. She snuck around the side and silently snuck inside through a small window. She continued to follow the scent as it took her to the back of the barn.
"It is you." She heard a familiar voice call out excitedly. She turned in time to catch Cold Fire as she leapt into her arms hugging Demona tight to her.
…
Gruoch met Macbeth at their usual place. A tree stood in the middle of an open field on top of a large hill.
"I don't care what my father says. I love you and I will run away with you if I have to." Gruoch said while she held his hands in her own. "The kingdom doesn't matter to me."
"Your father explained to me what Prince Duncan will do to everyone in the kingdom including us if we don't agree to this now." Macbeth pointed out.
"I don't care. We can run away to another kingdom far away from here. All we need is each other. I love you and I know you love me too. That's all we need." Gruoch said as tears began to sting her eyelids.
"You're wrong," Macbeth had to use every ounce of strength he possessed to say his next statement while looking her in the eye. "I don't want to be with you. I release you from any obligation you believe that you owe to me." Gruoch desperately clung to his hand.
"I know you're worried about me and my father but please don't do this." Tears began to pour down her face as she begged him to reconsider what he was saying. He pulled his hands away roughly.
"No, the truth is that I don't love you and I don't want you to come with me any longer." He could see her heart break and it was as if he were watching it in slow motion. Then her eyes hardened.
"Very well, I should really be going now milord." Gruoch said her voice going cold.
"Gruoch, you have to understand that…" Macbeth began. She got on her horse.
"I understand perfectly. Thank you for choosing my fate for me. Good day sir." She gripped the reigns and rode the horse down the hill and back to the castle.
"I can only pray that Bodhe is right about this." Macbeth said miserably. He felt guiltier with every moment that passed as he watched her ride to the castle and he sat there until the sun went down. "I love you Gruoch and I'm so sorry that this had to happen."
…
While Macbeth and Gruoch were arguing the Hunter along with several of Duncan's soldiers were smashing several gargoyle statues that they found. Gil made sure that none of them looked like the gargoyles that had helped him during the battle against Constantine. When he saw that it was a group that had tried to slaughter a town he allowed the soldiers to do their job. He misled the group several times after that protecting three other lairs they found because he couldn't think of anything those groups of gargoyles had done to wrong him and after teaming up with Demona he believed they could be good as well as bad.
"This is the sixth time that we've found an abandoned lair. The Captain complained as he sat on a boulder to rest.
"We successfully found and destroyed one lair. That's more than many find in a lifetime." Gil reminded him. "We'll rest here for a while and then we can continue the search. The Captain nodded and ordered his men to setup camp. You better get me Gruoch. Gil thought as he helped to cook dinner for that evening. After they ate one of the women who joined them beckoned for Gil to come to her. She led him to the back of the cave by swaying her hips seductively. When they reached the back, she turned around quickly to face him. The sudden move took him off guard and he nearly fell backward.
"Start explaining." She whispered fiercely.
"Explain what?" Gil asked confused.
"Don't give me that. You know damn well what I'm referring to. The Captain and the others may be too stupid to notice but since that first lair you took us to, every single other one had been vacant for days. Hell, the last one had been vacant for nearly a week." She stepped closer to him. "If I can see that before we even entered the lairs then how could it be that the legendary Hunter is able to miss it?"
"You're smarter than you appear Vivienne." The Hunter grinned at her. "I suppose that you agree with what I'm doing, or you would have turned me in."
"See, you're smarter than you appear as well. Yes, I don't believe that we should kill creatures that have done nothing to deserve it. What did the first group do?" She asked out of curiosity.
"They slaughtered a village. They killed all the people their indiscriminately. They killed women, children, and the elderly. I don't agree with Duncan's orders but since I have to follow them I will choose which targets we kill. I just need you to keep the Captain believing that I am leading him on the right path." Gil whispered to her.
"For a man who has a great sense of right and wrong I'm surprised to hear that you will soon be marrying Macbeth's fiancée." Vivienne said with a hint of loathing in her voice.
"I've loved her since…" Gil began. Anger flashed in Vivienne's eyes and it appeared as though she would strike him.
"And that gives you the right to steal his wife." Vivienne whispered fiercely. She barely stopped herself from shouting at him. "Since nothing I say will matter I guess I might as well say it. I have been in love with you since the first time we met, but you've never even given me a second look." Vivienne shook her head angry at herself for being vulnerable even for a moment.
"I…I didn't know that." Gil said honestly. He didn't notice that Vivienne got herself assigned to every post Gil worked since they met.
"It's too late now isn't it? I'm sure that Duncan has something terrible planned and if you don't go along with this now he'll know something happened." Vivienne replied bitterly.
"You…you really love me." Gil asked still shocked by her admission. She made sure that no one was looking and then leaned down and kissed him roughly.
"Is that proof enough for you? After this plan if you decide that you would rather have me then I might accept you even after you leave her, but if you don't then do not expect me to pine after you." She winked at him and walked back to the other side of the cave to rejoin the others. Gil stayed behind to think about his options. Besides, Gruoch, Vivienne had been a woman that he would have given anything to be with.
If only I had known that she felt that way. Gil thought after a moment. I can't marry Gruoch now. He got up to rejoin the others but didn't really listen to their conversation. His thoughts were completely centered on Vivienne and Gruoch.
