Part 7
With Eve at age 2 and Chloe at age 1, Xena was heavy with child and she was going to be a mother again any day. Ares was spending his days preparing for the birth of the child as well. He was having horses brought in to give as a gift to his first born son. Everyone acknowledged the baby that Xena was carrying as a boy. Nobody knew what it was, but everyone called it a boy.
Xena and Gabrielle had become close friends. Gabrielle had been given a room at the palace. Her mother had died a few months back, and she was alone. Xena insisted that she move into the nicer rooms of the palace. Gabrielle's long blonde hair was bright after it was washed, her green eyes sparkled, her pale skin shined.
Gabrielle and Prince Iolaus had met and talked and discovered that they did like each other. They had been courting for quite some time, and Xena was sure that they'd be married within the month. Well, that was until a stranger moved into the kingdom. His name was Joxer. He was a bard, actually. He'd written a beautiful play, which Xena had attended along with Ares and Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was touched by the play so much, that when she saw the bard, she took quite a liking to him. He was handsome and he had a way with words. That just took the girl's breath away.
The age of 14 wasn't as easy as the other two years. It was the same. Just the same old thing day after day. There were children, royalty, and advisors. Xena was feeling suffocated. The only things keeping her from going crazy were her love for her 17 year old husband, her love for her children, and her love for her friend, Gabrielle.
On this day, Xena was walking through the corridors of the palace with Gabrielle. They were taking a break from the bustle of the royal life.
"So, you and Iolaus are getting close." Xena said to her friend. "So are you and Joxer."
"Yes." Gabrielle said with a smile. "Iolaus is so sweet and charming. He loves me so. But Joxer, he's so handsome and intelligent. He loves me very much. He's already asked for my hand."
"Do you love either of them?" Xena asked.
"That's the problem. I love them both." Gabrielle said. "I feel that I should stay true to my long-dead husband, but, I feel that in my heart, I must marry one of these two. I don't know how I'm going to choose."
"Just follow your heart." Xena offered. "It's the only thing that can't lie." With that, she felt a pain in her back, and she doubled over.
"Xena!" Gabrielle exclaimed as Xena nearly collapsed. But, thanks to Gabrielle, Xena didn't fall. Gabrielle helped her sit down on a bench. " I'll go get the midwife."
Five hours later, Xena was lying in bed, the midwife nearby, and Gabrielle was sitting beside her friend, wiping her forehead with a cold, damp cloth.
"Breathe, Xena." Gabrielle soothed.
"I can't do this." Xena wept. "I didn't ask to be born to royalty. I didn't ask to be married and have children so young. Why? Why is this happening to me?"
"Shh . . ." Gabrielle soothed. "Xena, you know that you can do this. You've done this twice before. You've bore two daughters."
"You know what they say . . .third time's a charm. I so want to give my husband an heir." Xena said. "But, if it's a girl, I won't mind. If he minds, he can take it up with the Fates."
With Eve at age 2 and Chloe at age 1, Xena was heavy with child and she was going to be a mother again any day. Ares was spending his days preparing for the birth of the child as well. He was having horses brought in to give as a gift to his first born son. Everyone acknowledged the baby that Xena was carrying as a boy. Nobody knew what it was, but everyone called it a boy.
Xena and Gabrielle had become close friends. Gabrielle had been given a room at the palace. Her mother had died a few months back, and she was alone. Xena insisted that she move into the nicer rooms of the palace. Gabrielle's long blonde hair was bright after it was washed, her green eyes sparkled, her pale skin shined.
Gabrielle and Prince Iolaus had met and talked and discovered that they did like each other. They had been courting for quite some time, and Xena was sure that they'd be married within the month. Well, that was until a stranger moved into the kingdom. His name was Joxer. He was a bard, actually. He'd written a beautiful play, which Xena had attended along with Ares and Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was touched by the play so much, that when she saw the bard, she took quite a liking to him. He was handsome and he had a way with words. That just took the girl's breath away.
The age of 14 wasn't as easy as the other two years. It was the same. Just the same old thing day after day. There were children, royalty, and advisors. Xena was feeling suffocated. The only things keeping her from going crazy were her love for her 17 year old husband, her love for her children, and her love for her friend, Gabrielle.
On this day, Xena was walking through the corridors of the palace with Gabrielle. They were taking a break from the bustle of the royal life.
"So, you and Iolaus are getting close." Xena said to her friend. "So are you and Joxer."
"Yes." Gabrielle said with a smile. "Iolaus is so sweet and charming. He loves me so. But Joxer, he's so handsome and intelligent. He loves me very much. He's already asked for my hand."
"Do you love either of them?" Xena asked.
"That's the problem. I love them both." Gabrielle said. "I feel that I should stay true to my long-dead husband, but, I feel that in my heart, I must marry one of these two. I don't know how I'm going to choose."
"Just follow your heart." Xena offered. "It's the only thing that can't lie." With that, she felt a pain in her back, and she doubled over.
"Xena!" Gabrielle exclaimed as Xena nearly collapsed. But, thanks to Gabrielle, Xena didn't fall. Gabrielle helped her sit down on a bench. " I'll go get the midwife."
Five hours later, Xena was lying in bed, the midwife nearby, and Gabrielle was sitting beside her friend, wiping her forehead with a cold, damp cloth.
"Breathe, Xena." Gabrielle soothed.
"I can't do this." Xena wept. "I didn't ask to be born to royalty. I didn't ask to be married and have children so young. Why? Why is this happening to me?"
"Shh . . ." Gabrielle soothed. "Xena, you know that you can do this. You've done this twice before. You've bore two daughters."
"You know what they say . . .third time's a charm. I so want to give my husband an heir." Xena said. "But, if it's a girl, I won't mind. If he minds, he can take it up with the Fates."