Usual disclaimers apply.
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Chapter 28
My arms were crossed and I was staring at Mama in the same way she was staring at me. Mom was sitting on the other side of the table with her head in her hands. "You are the most stubborn people…" she muttered. "I've had enough of this from the both of you." Turning to Mama she pointed her finger and spoke again, "You are the adult, Xena. Act like it. And you," she rounded on me. "You need to find a way to meet your mother half way because if this keeps up I am going to start kicking some butt and neither of you is going to enjoy it."
A sudden flash of a conversation with Auntie before coming here flashed in my brain and I buried my face on the table. "Oh the gods," I groaned. "Seriously? Are you trying to scar me even more than I am already?"
"Sammy what are you talking about?" Mom's eyes looked at me with concern.
"I finally made the connection about the barn and all those references Auntie was talking about before I came here. It's bad enough you two go at it like rabid rabbits but to have that image now planted in my brain…."
"Rabbit rabbits?" Mama asked. "That's the best you could do?"
"What, you'd rather I say weasels?"
"That's been known to work," Mama smirked. "And rabid rabbits wouldn't be doing anything, Sam. You should know that."
"Fine," I threw my hands up in the air. "Please, guide me, all knowing one, so that I may use a proper comparison for you next time I catch the two of you having sex!"
"Try knocking," Mama deadpanned.
"I did! Twice!" I took a deep breath. "I still want to know how you got into that position with as pregnant as you are."
"I have…"
"Many skills, yeah, yeah." I turned to Mom. "Fine, you win. I'll meet her half way, but the next time she laughs at my trauma I am not going to give in so easily."
Mom glared at Mama, "Xena?"
Mama shrugged, "What? That look on Sam's face was priceless. I couldn't not laugh. How was I to know that she'd walk in just as we were…"
"Mind bleach, sharp stick," I stood up and glared at the both of them. "Get a flipping lock!" I finally demanded. "And you," I pointed at Mama. "Try to use the bionic hearing next time for the knock at the door!"
Storming from the hut, I began to run away from the village and the image still trapped in my brain.
I had had enough. I'd had enough of both of my parents for a while. Heading to the kitchens I stormed inside and grabbed what I deemed needed supplies around the protests of the kitchen help. Yaya and Shay were roasting a rather large deer behind the kitchens and I knew I'd be gone before either of them came back. Making all the supplies disappear into my satchel I ran for the stables from the kitchen.
Halfway there I heard my name and turned with a smile, "About time you caught up with me."
"Well you need to learn to send messages in a better way," Daria quipped.
"You got it, didn't you?" I countered.
"Sure after having to throw the stick for Nasa about twenty times." Daria chuckled. "He then let me take the paper from his collar. I still can't believe I had to reward him first."
"I've trained him well," I joked as we entered the barn.
"Yeah, he's just like the rest of your crazy family," Daria teased back. We made quick work of putting the tack on Mavri and Haven and were well on our way out of the village before anyone knew we were going.
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"Gabrielle," Xena looked up from the book she was reading to Eve. "Shouldn't Sam be home by now?"
Putting down her quill Gabrielle looked at her wife and nodded, "Yeah. I know she and Daria were going to spend some time together, but neither of them has been seen all day. I just figured they went to the pond."
A small huff brought both women's eyes to the small brunette seated on what was left of Xena's lap. "Something you need to tell us, Trouble?" Xena asked.
"Sam and Daria took off on Haven and Mavri this morning."
"How do you know this?" Gabrielle asked moving from the table to kneel in front of the chair Xena was sitting in.
"I saw them leave," Eve rolled her eyes. "I even waved to them. Sam told me to stay out of trouble for a few days and then they took off."
"I can't believe she'd do this without telling us or leaving a note," Xena fumed.
"She did leave a note," Eve supplied. "Only she tied it to Nasa's collar and when Nasa and Damnerva were playing it flew away."
"Eve, what happened to the note?" Gabrielle asked slowly.
"I put it under my pillow."
"Why?" Xena asked.
"To keep it safe," Eve shrugged. "It's torn and dirty but you can still see some of the words."
"Will you please go get it for us," Gabrielle requested.
"Will I still get my story?" Eve narrowed her eyes and stared at her blonde mother.
"Yes Eve, you will still get your story."
"Okay," Eve slowly slipped off Xena and headed to her room. "Just making sure," she said quietly. "Yaya says that Mama's pregnancy brain and forgetting with this one is awful."
"My mother…" Xena trailed off as Eve returned with a crumbled up piece of paper in her hand.
"Is this paper?" Xena asked taking it from Eve.
"It is," Gabrielle sighed. "From her journal. It has to be."
Handing the paper to Gabrielle Xena allowed Eve to crawl back onto her lap and waited while her wife read the note. "Well?" Xena asked.
"Finish Eve's story, Xena. You need to see this and then we need to talk."
"Great, just great." Xena sighed and picked up the book of nursery rhymes once more as Eve tried to settle herself against her mother.
Huffing a bit Eve finally managed to find a comfortable spot. Putting her mouth to Xena's stomach Eve took a deep breath before speaking, "Would you come out already? I need this lap more than you do!"
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Putting her head in her hands Xena brushed the tear from her cheek. "I still can't believe she left us a journal entry with her note on the back."
"Neither can I," Gabrielle looked at her wife and wiped away her own tear. "I don't understand, Xena. She's been here, with us for almost six years now. How can she still feel this way?"
"Because everything changed when she came here," Xena responded. "You were different at first, and now, I've done nothing but screw up and disappoint her. Maybe Sam is right," Xena's voice was quiet. "Maybe we would be better off in the future…."
"You know that's not true, Xena. And Sam is still looking at all of this through a young person's eyes. She's not a small child any longer, but she is far from a warrior."
"She's seen more than most of these warriors ever will, Gabrielle."
"I know," Gabrielle turned to the paper in front of her and smoothed it down once more.
Tuesday, May 28, sometime in Ancient Greece.
So here I am writing another entry into my ever present journal. Another entry that is doing nothing more than complaining once more. I had such high hopes only a few weeks ago. Mama and I went to her warlord cave behind the waterfall and for the first time in forever I felt that I had my mama back. The Mama that I lost when I came here. I was allowing myself to hope once more and hadn't felt such peace in a long time.
Then we ran into Daphne and her worthless father. Once more, another became MY mama's priority and I was pushed aside yet again. It's bad enough sharing my moms with the nation and my sisters. Now I have to share her with this girl that thinks she's so special because Mama was inside her body once upon a time. She's not that special though you'd never know that by the way Mama treats her. Even when in trouble with Mama I got a talk from Mom instead. Goes to show you where I am on the list of my mama's priorities.
Kassandra says she expects me to make peace with Daphne. That Daphne is going to need Mama (as her sister), and Yaya, as well as me. I just don't know if I can do that anymore. I have been putting others before myself since I was ten and I am tired of it. I want to be first for once. I want to be tucked in every night and sung to the way the little girls are. It never matters what I want though. It hasn't since I was ten and I don't see it changing now.
I need to get away and think, but know I'll probably be in trouble for that too. At this point I don't care. I'm going to ask Daria if she wants to keep me company for a few days. I'd ask Rory, but I don't want someone who knows me that well coming along. I need time to just be with no shared memories of the moms I've lost. I guess I've never stopped mourning them, it's just gotten worse….I hear Eve so I'll put this away for now. I'm sure I'll be making more entries like this… though if I had a copy machine I could just do that and place it inside. After all, nothing will ever change.
Gabrielle stopped reading and fell into Xena's arms. "We have to make this right, Xena. We have to give us back to Sam somehow. She's becoming lost and the last thing I want for her is to feel lost."
"I know," Xena's deep voice cracked and she kissed her wife on the temple. "We will fix this, Gabrielle. I'm still not sure how, but we will. I have two months until the baby comes and Sam is going to have her Mama…both of her moms back somehow before that happens."
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Stopping Mavri I held up my hand to Daria and she stopped Haven as well. "Sam?"
I shook my head and then nodded to my right, "Someone is in trouble about half a mile that way. Let's go and be prepared for anything."
"I've got your back, Sam. You know that," Daria replied with a smirk as we moved the horses in the direction of the voices I heard.
Stopping short of the voices Daria and I dismounted and moved forward through the trees. Holding in a scream I motioned to Daria to follow my lead as I flipped from the tree. "Is this a private party or can anyone come?" I asked the rough looking man holding Daphne tightly.
"Oh looky here, Arlen," he grinned showing a mouthful of rotting teeth. "We got us another little girl to play with."
"I am not playing with you!" Daphne protested trying to get out of his grip.
"Not yet," the man confirmed. "But you will be. Isn't that right, Arlen?"
"You betcha, Metus. We're going to have so much fun with these two." I eyed the grungy man who had spoken.
"I think it's time for you to get off our lands," I informed him.
"Did you hear that, Metus? Just like that little girl the other week who told us to leave." The dark haired man laughed and I tried to stay relaxed.
Taking a breath I looked at both of them. "You're the men that encountered my sister and mother?" I asked quietly.
"If you mean that pregnant warrior who let us go, yes, that's us," the one holding Daphne spoke again. "There were three of us last time, but she managed to do a number on Lycan. He's stopped hanging with us and refuses to come within three miles of Amazon borders now."
"Then he must be the smart one in your group," I replied softly. "Why did you come back?"
"Decided we'd go hunting, right Arlen?" the one called Metus answered. "Only we found us a pretty little girl instead. Poaching her is a lot more fun than poaching deer."
I snorted. "The only thing is, the deer don't fight back."
"She tried that," Arlen spoke this time. "But Metus there has her held tight enough. She hasn't been able to get away."
"It's not her you need to worry about," I informed him. "It's me."
"You? What's a little thing like you going to do to us?" Arlen asked.
"Well, first I'm going to make sure you let her go. Then I am going to make sure that you never bother us on our lands again."
"You want to hold this one while I take her?" Metus asked his partner.
"Sure Metus. I've been wanting to hold the little girl for a while now."
Waiting until I was sure Metus was going to release Daphne, I flipped at just the right moment and shoved her out of the way. "Get in the tree!" I ordered knowing that Daria would keep her out of my way.
"No way," Daphne began to argue as Metus and Arlen drew their swords and came towards me.
"Now Daphne! I can't focus on you and take care of them!" I shouted.
"Sam I am …."
"Daria now!" I yelled in English. Hearing Daria land behind me I ignored the struggle taking place and focused all of my energy on the men advancing towards me. "Get her to safety and tie her to a tree if you have to, but get her out of here!"
"I'm not leaving you, Sam," Daria responded. "I've got your back and Daphne will be safe.
Nodding at Daria's words we pulled our swords at the same time and began to fight in full with the men attacking us. They were bandits and had obviously used swords but weren't trained like Daria and I were and Daria had easily disarmed Arlen. She had her sword at his throat and I called for Daphne to get rope from the horses and bring it back.
Finally growing tired of the fight I focused all of my energy and was able to disarm Metus. "Which one of you hit my little sister?" I asked quietly.
"Why? What are you going to do about it?" Arlen asked from his place on the ground."
"Just answer me," I demanded.
"I hit the brat," Metus spit out. "Putting my sword back in its sheath I backhanded the man as hard as I could. "That's from my sister." I supplied wishing that Daphne would hurry with the rope.
Seeing the look in his eyes, I managed to avoid the fist that came for me and before I knew what was happening I had the man kneeling on the ground in front of me. Hitting him again I moved behind him and prayed that I would get the pressure point right. Pinching his neck and gloated at the gasp he took and watched as blood slowly trickled down his face from his nose.
"Sam, Sam!" Daria's voice finally pierced the fog that I was in and I looked up at her. "He's going to die! Sam, he's dying."
Shaking my head, I released the point and hit him again causing him to fall to the ground. "Tie them up when Daphne gets back and send her to the village. They need to go on trial for trespass and attempted kidnapping. Saying no more I ran towards the horses and jumped on Mavri taking off as fast as was safe from the injured men on the ground and my friend.
"Where's Sam going?" Daphne asked handing Daria the rope.
"I'm not sure." Daria sighed as she bound the men back to back. "You need to get on Haven and get back to the village as fast as you can. Get Xena, Gabrielle, Ephiny, and Eponin. Be sure to tell them what happened here. I'll guard the prisoners but then I need to go after Sam."
"Daria, I …."
"I don't want to hear a word from you, Daphne." Daria rose to her full height and towered over the younger girl. "Sam almost killed that man today because she needed to save your hide. Now get your ass on that horse and to the village before I kick it there!"
Holding in her tears at Daria's fury Daphne turned and ran back to Haven. Mounting she turned the mare towards the village and took off as fast as she could hoping that she'd find help as soon as possible.
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Hearing hoof beats Daria finally relaxed. Metus had only regained consciousness a quarter of a candle mark ago and was now complaining of a severe headache. She'd said nothing to him or his companion and waited for the footsteps that would signal her being able to hand these men over for a proper trial.
"Daria?" Gabrielle's voice caused her to turn from her vigil and smile slightly.
"Thank the gods you're here, my queen."
"Daphne said there was trouble out here," Ephiny stepped forward. "What happened?"
"These men had Daphne so Sam decided to help her." Eponin and Xena joined the group and all women focused on the junior warrior. "Anyway she managed to get Daphne away from them, but then Daphne gave her a hard time about getting into the tree with me."
"Continue," Gabrielle pressed.
"That's when Sam called me from the tree and told me to get Daphne to the horses, but I refused to leave her. I had to have her back and help. The men came at us and we were able to disarm them."
"Then why did Sam take off?" Xena asked.
"She used the pinch on this one," Daria pointed to Metus who had gone quiet. "He admitted to being the one that hit Trouble and she backhanded him pretty hard. He came at her and the next thing I knew he was on his knees in front of her with blood coming out of his nose gasping for air. I finally got her to release it and that's when she gave me final instructions and took off on Mavri."
"How did she seem to you after that?" Gabrielle asked.
"It was like she was in a fog," Daria shook her head. "She was smirking as he was dying in front of her and then when I got her attention she jumped. It was almost like she didn't know what was happening. She released him, hit him again, and took off. I've never seen her look that scared."
"Any idea what Daphne was doing out here?" Eponin asked.
"Not a clue and frankly I told her I didn't give a damn," Daria sighed. "She pushed Sam so far today…I was afraid for her. I've never seen her like that."
"What exactly did Sam say before she left?" Gabrielle asked.
"She said to tie them up and send Daphne for the four of you. Sam said that they needed to stand trial for trespassing and attempted kidnapping. Then she took off as fast as she could on Mavri."
"By the gods, Xena." Gabrielle moved into the taller woman's arms. "We need to go after her."
"No," Daria stepped forward. "With all due respect, my queen, let me go after Sam. We were leaving because she needed time away from you. Allow me to bring her back. I promise that I won't let you down."
"Xena?" Gabrielle looked into the azure pools she loved. "What do you think?"
"You have one day, Daria." Xena finally spoke. "If you aren't back by mid-morning tomorrow then Gabrielle and I will come and find you."
"Understood," Daria nodded to the adults gathered around her. "Do I need to go and get Haven?"
Gabrielle shook her head, "She followed us back out here." The woman laughed. "It's almost like she knew you'd need her. Make sure she has a proper break, Daria."
"I will, my queen. Thank you."
Watching as the young woman moved towards the sounds of the horses Gabrielle finally turned her attention to the regent. "Sam was right, Ephiny. These men need a proper Amazon trial. Take them to the village as our prisoners and call the council into session. Be sure they are watched closely."
"Happily," Ephiny replied helping Eponin jerk the men to their feet.
"Oh, and be sure to keep Trouble away from them. It might be best to call Hestia," Xena added.
"Understood," Eponin finally spoke as she shoved the men in front of her. "Get going and be glad the queen isn't letting me kill you out here."
Gabrielle waited until Ephiny and Eponin had disappeared into the brush, "Are you really letting Daria go alone after Sam?"
"What do you think?" Xena asked.
"I think we're heading home so you can get a few supplies and catch up to Daria as quickly as possible."
"I always knew you were smart," Xena kissed Gabrielle gently. "I won't let Sam down, Gabrielle. Not anymore. I can't lose her."
"We're not going to lose her, Xena." Gabrielle walked with Xena back towards Argo. "You are going to find her and help her find out what's going on. Then you are bringing her home and the three of us are going to figure this out, together."
Xena nodded, "And we are going to be tucking that child in every night that we are able until she moves out of our hut. I refuse to let her down in that respect anymore, Gabrielle. I won't hurt her when I can prevent it."
"Agreed." The blonde took her warrior's hand only letting it go when they reached their mounts. "Let's go get your supplies, warrior. You have a daughter to bring home."
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