Title: Eclipse – The Revelation
Author: Strife's LMNT
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters that really belong to the producers, writers and general owners of the Xena: Warrior Princess Show. No copyright infringement intended, it was a summer project of mine. I do own all of the new characters.
Chapter: 5
Eve rushed to tell Xena about their surprise vacation after telling her good friend Nivea, Rani's sister. Xena was trying to teach Ares how to read the complex hieroglyphics without any results. It was hard to teach a three-thousand-year-old God something new.
XENA: Hey, Eve, maybe you'd be better at teaching him.
EVE: Um, maybe not. But I do have good news.
ARES: What? There's more leftover wine from the banquet?
EVE: No, I had it thrown out.
She felt awful about lying and wished she could tell the truth. Eve had really taken the leftover wine and consumed it all herself that morning. Her personal motto was that to cure a hangover one must drink more. She wasn't an alcoholic, like the crazy men who showed up at the palace gates everyday, but she did find the sweet wine to be a wonderful medicine.
EVE: I've been thinking about last night and I completely accept it. I mean it's great we've all moved on after the Twilight and I wanted to get to know my brothers and sisters. Rani's been planning a surprise vacation for me after the honeymoon and I want you two to come with me. And, of course, Gabrielle and your kids. It would also be a great chance to promote Eli's teachings to those who live farther away from the capital. They haven't had as much exposure to the new religion.
XENA: Won't people be suspicious when you're preaching about the One God and you have all the Gods of Olympus on your boat?
EVE: No one has to know. You'll be traveling as my family.
ARES: I think it should be fun.
XENA: Sounds okay to me.
EVE: Great! Now I just have to deal with the wedding and I'll have months of vacation ahead of me! Can you tell Gabrielle and the others too?
XENA: Yeah, sure. Get going your servant's been wanting to ask you about guest seating.
Eve left hurriedly muttering something about incompetent servants.
ARES: One down, one more to go.
XENA: I can deal with Gabrielle. Hey, maybe she'll want to become a goddess too! She and Aphrodite get along well.
ARES: You mean the blonde would be around for eternity? I know you two are best friends, but come on?
XENA: It was just an idea. I'll go talk to her now, since I'm having no luck here with you.
Xena found Gabrielle in the large library looking at some ancient scrolls. Xena had taught her some hieroglyphics and she found she could easily piece together the stories she loved to read.
XENA: Haven't you already read that one?
GABRIELLE: It's my favourite. Or had your immortal mind forgotten that already?
XENA: Ouch. Score one for the bard. I know it's your favourite. The Prince and the Pauper right?
GABRIELLE: Yeah. I know you didn't come all the way here to chit-chat.
XENA: I wanted to apologize. I know you're upset about Ares and I keeping it a secret from you. I wanted to make it up to you.
GABRIELLE: And how exactly will you do that?
XENA: We want to make you a goddess.
GABRIELLE: We? Don't you mean "I"? I know Ares doesn't agree with you. He couldn't stand having me around for eternity. He wants you all for himself. Don't you get it? I'm not jealous, I just don't like you lying to me.
XENA: Okay then. No immortality.
GABRIELLE: I never said anything about that. I'll think about it.
XENA: Oh, one more thing. Eve's taking everyone on vacation after her honeymoon with Rani. She wants you to come.
GABRIELLE: Sounds good.
XENA: Are we okay? Nothing else bothering you?
GABRIELLE: No, nothing.
With all her problems out of the way, Xena could finally enjoy the wedding. She found that Eve had really worked hard with her advisers to make sure everything was ready for the traditional Elijian ceremony. Flowers were harvested, the temple was cleaned and refurnished, guests were brought in, and food was prepared. Before long, the morning of the wedding came. Eve decided that her first act as a sister would be to incorporate her siblings into the wedding ceremony. It was a way to introduce them as family and make sure people were not suspicious of her when they took their vacation.
Eve made sure everyone was dressed and ready, running from room to room like a crazed woman. Running until Xena reminded Eve that they were immortal, they could deal with themselves. Eve got the message and, with one last smile at her family, went to get ready.
The guests were seated in the temple, many of whom had been at the banquet. Musicians played as the royal family came in as a procession. Their names were announced and as each went past, the guests bowed in reverence. It was depressing to know that the entire family had the same names. The boys were all Prince Uhkment and they only thing to distinguish them was the Roman numeral after their name. The girls also were all named Cleopatra VIII through to Cleopatra XII.
Then Rani and his brothers-in-law came down the main aisle dressed in traditional Egyptian style clothing with lavish gold jewelry, hairpieces and even make-up. The women were next, each dressed in a different coloured outfit consisting of a long silk skirt and matching strapless corset. Eve wore a white toga, commemorating the land she had grown up in. Her hair was a mass of curls and braids piled on top of her head, woven with golden silk ribbon and adorned with precious gems.
The ceremony began and they each vowed to take care of each other and serve their country. Xena looked over at Ares who was sitting in the crowd. She could almost see a hint of a tear in his eye, until he saw her looking at him. He turned away from Xena, pretending to talk to a man beside him. Xena always knew Ares considered Eve his own daughter, even though it was far from the truth. She regretted not having spent as much time with Eve as Ares had, even though most of it was spent conquering the world. Aphrodite sat beside Ares sniffling throughout the ceremony. Xena herself couldn't help thinking about her own wedding so many years ago. Joxer had been a witness as well as the Fates. That had been a different situation with Ares holding Gabrielle hostage. Eve looked relieved as the ceremony ended with a kiss between the newlyweds. The ceremony was the beginning of a two-day celebration that everyone from servants to their masters participated in.
After the extravagant celebration, Eve and Rani went off on their own private vacation to the land of Chin. They wrote back frequently, telling their family of their adventures on horseback together. Xena and Gabrielle had decided to stay in Alexandria at least until the end of their Nile vacation. Gabrielle had busied herself with the temples' upkeep and the organization of the library. She had avoided the immortality subject and everyone was careful not to bring it up. Xena became immersed in the Egyptian legal system and was named a honourary member of the court. She often sat in on sentencing and gave her honest opinion on cases. Before long, Xena's opinion was sought on every case and Ares had added another title to her godhood, Goddess of Justice.
XENA: Don't you think it's sort of ironic? Destroyer of Nations to Goddess of Justice?
ARES: Eve went from Livia, Champion of Rome to Queen of Egypt, didn't she?
The other children had also made a second of home Alexandria. Adreanna had become interested in the black arts of the old religion and spent many hours in the ancient temples. Xander, Alexus, and Amos were interested in the blacksmiths and tanners of the area. Meredith became involved with the courts of justice and the kingdom finances often lending her opinion to the court viziers. By the time Eve and Rani had returned from Chin, their family was settled nicely in the palace and soon they would all go on their vacation. The Olympians weren't the only ones excited about the Nile excursion, Rani's siblings were also counting the days until their departure. A palace guard had been hired as the assassin and Cleopatra made sure he was well-informed.
CLEOPATRA: He usually takes a long bath before retiring for the night. He makes his servants leave him alone in privacy while he bathes. That's the time he should be killed, preferably with a slitting of the throat or stabbing. He's still not comfortable with being naked in front of the help. He really is a silly boy.
GUARD: What about the other guards? They're usually stationed at the door.
CLEOPATRA: You'll be on guard that night, I'll make sure of it. Then I'll call your partner to the throne room, leaving you alone.
GUARD: And if I'm caught?
CLEOPATRA: As long as Rani is dead, you'll be pardoned by me. If he's still alive, you'll be the one to die. Got it?
GUARD: Yes, my princess.
A/N: Review, you know you want to. It's as easy as 1-2-3!!
