You may have noticed that various chapter titles mention different types of birds. Can y'all guess what bird represents each character thus far?

Chapter Fifteen: Where the Magpie Lie

A week later, the ship docked in Abydos, and both Evander and Varinia wandered around the unfamiliar territory. Evander was skeptical of Xena's men, who escorted them throughout the journey from Rome. All this time, he thought that he was going to be murdered the moment he and Varinia stepped off the ship, but in fact, he was allowed to roam the city freely.

Varinia, on the other hand, was very eager to explore the area. It was a beautiful port city, Evander observed, but he didn't trust Xena's men. They walked through Abydos, admiring the tall buildings and the lush green mountains on a separate island not far from the port.

They were given an abundance of money that Evander didn't want. He wanted nothing to do with Xena, and he couldn't stop thinking about what Varinia said. She made a connection that didn't seem fathomable right now. Xena as his mother? No, that couldn't be. He refused to believe it to be true.

He tried to put aside his conflicting thoughts and enjoy Varinia's bliss. She was so happy here, he thought. They were free from Rome, free from Emperor Nero. It was just as Xena promised. She freed them, but why would she do that? Was it possible for her to show an ounce of compassion?

Evander didn't know what to believe anymore. A part of him wanted to find Xena and tell her off, but another part of him wanted to stay far away from her.

His arm was snatched, and he was pulled to a jeweler's shop. He smiled and grabbed Varinia's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Evander, can I get this?" she asked. She pointed to the emerald jeweled necklace.

In Rome, there was no way either of them could afford a beautiful piece of jewelry such as this. Evander kept reminding himself that they weren't in Rome. Nobody knew who they were here. They were able to start anew.

But there was one small problem; this money wasn't theirs. It was Xena's money. Evander felt like he was thrown to the water like a babe who couldn't yet swim, though he didn't want someone else he hardly knew to take care of him and Varinia, he didn't have any funds saved. He was barely able to fend for himself back in Rome.

"Do you really need that?" he asked, implying the jewelry.

Varinia frowned sadly. "But Evander…I've never had the chance to buy jewelry before! I just want to buy this just once." She clasped her hands together and batted her eyelashes.

He rolled his eyes. "Alright, go ahead."

Once the necklace was paid for and wrapped in a linen package, they went on about their way. Xena's soldiers kept a watchful eye from a few paces away. Evander occasionally looked over his shoulder and groaned inwardly.

"They're following us," he whispered.

Varinia turned and smiled at the soldiers. "Just try to ignore them. You should be grateful! Xena is providing food, funds, and shelter for us."

"She held me captive, Varinia," he reminded her.

She sighed, "I know, but…she didn't harm you. She obviously cares about you. If she is your mother then maybe you –"

"No!" he barked. "Xena is not my mother and stop saying that she is!"

She recoiled and hooked her arm around his. That topic was obviously untouchable even still. Varinia didn't know if that was the truth, but it made the most sense. Evander could've been killed, and he would've been, but Xena didn't and wouldn't, kill her own son.

Suddenly, Evander jerked away and stalked over to a fisherman by the coastline. Varinia chased after him with the soldiers shortly following her. Evander cleared his throat loudly, which alarmed the young fisherman.

"Morning, sir!" the fisherman greeted with a smile.

"How far is Edirne from here?"

The fisherman scratched his head and answered, "oh, it's about a two-day boat ride, sir. But, I gotta say, you just missed the last ship in the channel. It left at dawn."

Evander grunted and felt a hand wrap around his arm. He turned to Varinia, who was breathing heavily after her quick sprint. She didn't look too pleased that he took off so abruptly.

"That's the city where the Steppe Queen resides, right?"

The fisherman stifled a laugh. "Steppe Queen? Who is that?"

Evander's eyebrows tapered. Everyone in Rome called Xena by that title. Undoubtedly, the people in her territory must've also called her by that name too.

"Xena?" he said in a questionable tone.

The fisherman's eyes engorged. "Oh, you mean the Conqueror," he corrected.

"Conqueror?" he whipped his head towards Varinia with a frown.

"Say, sir, you shouldn't be callin' the Conqueror by her name," the fisherman whispered. "But anyway, ya, she lives in Edirne. It's a huge city! I'd love to live there someday. Only the wealthy live there."

Evander nodded. Figures, he thought. He thanked the young fisherman for the information given and went on about his way.

Varinia firmly gripped her beloved's arm and pulled him aside into an alleyway.

"What are you trying to achieve? Forget about killing her, Evander," she advised. "You're no longer a mercenary, so stop thinking in that mindset."

"I…I wasn't thinking of killing her," he alleged. "I don't know what to think anymore."

Varinia smiled and caressed his arms with a tender touch. "It's okay to be curious. Maybe one day you could go talk to her and seek the answers to your questions if she really is…your mother," she treads cautiously.

"She only brought us here so she could spy on me. You heard what the man said, Edirne is only two days journey from here."

Varinia let out a heavy sigh, "you're really eaten up over this. Let's talk about something else!" she pulled him through the crowded streets. "We should find the villa we're supposed to live in."

It was hard not to think about Xena. Everything revolved around her. They were spending her money, walking on the soil she owned, and they were also given a place to stay. Everything that they had belonged to Xena. She even claimed the sea they sailed across!

For now, he wanted to spend his time with Varinia. And they had all the time in the world, free of worry.

Gabrielle finished the portrait of her client less than a week after their meeting on the coast. It was easier to paint a live subject, but Gabrielle had the image of Xena firmly planted in her head. She remembered every detail about Xena's facial features, mannerisms, the crinkling of the corners of her eyes when she smiled, and creases around her mouth.

It was her job to notice every detail of her clients, and yes, this included Augusta Sabina, whom she hadn't seen in the last two weeks. She was grateful that she was spared from Sabina for the time being. She, too, could only take so much of the Empress, as she was tired of the one-sided conversations.

Since her client's departure and her completion of Augusta Sabina's portrait, Gabrielle had nothing to do. Aside from the Empress' permanent commissions, she hardly had any outside work from the citizens.

As days passed, she grew bored with her extra spare time. Mostly, she stayed up in the loft. She was all alone in Rome. A few days ago, she went in search of Varinia, but she eventually concluded that Varinia probably left the pit of filth she lived in.

Good for her, Gabrielle thought. She wanted Varinia to leave a long time ago. Evander was also on her mind. She hoped that he was able to leave Rome as well, but since she hadn't heard from him in over a month, it was highly unlikely that he was even alive.

She hated to admit that she was hoping that Xena would write her. It was strange that she didn't ever find out the name of her client, especially since they spent several days together talking. Gabrielle never met a woman quite like her. That certain alluring behavior that Xena possessed was enchanting in a peculiar way. It made Gabrielle want to know more.

That uncertainty was something Gabrielle craved. She loved embracing the 'unknown' and was always seeking new knowledge whenever given the opportunity. Xena was that unknown. She was that opportunity that Gabrielle sought for.

Questions that Xena proposed were often circling in Gabrielle's mind. She wanted to do more with her life, and the fact that she wasn't able to, tore her up inside. The longer she remained in Rome, the more of her humanity and humility she lost. Xena was absolutely right. She needed to get out of Rome.

Another lonely day passed by, and Gabrielle lain waste up in the loft. She sharpened her knives and cleaned her brushes more times than she could count. She didn't bother to buy new supplies to stretch a fresh canvas because there was no point.

Sometimes, she wished Sabina would come to pester her for a while. At least it would give her something to do. Down below, she heard several of the sculptors talking about the idiotic things that men usually conversed about.

She didn't know how much longer she could take listening to men talk about female anatomy. Balancing a paintbrush in the crevice between her upper lip and nose, she jolted up at the sound of drums outside the shop.

Gabrielle jumped off the bed and ran downstairs to see what the commotion was. She ran to the open windows, and Zenodorus shortly joined her with a smile on his lips.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, which she shrugged off and gave him a jab to the ribs. He grunted and stepped away, chuckling.

"What's all this?" she asked.

"Oh, you haven't heard," Zenodorus said. "Augusta Sabina gave birth yesterday. Looks like the Emperor is finally announcing it."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes dramatically. She was so eager for any kind of excitement, but as soon as she heard that the celebration was due to the birth of the Emperor's child, she became very disinterested.

The birth of Rome's royal child was a sign that fall was right around the corner. Summer was ending soon. Usually, Gabrielle would be ecstatic about autumn, but she wasn't because she was still stuck in Cerberus's den.

"Where's your tall, dark, and mysterious client at?" Zenodorus asked.

"She had to leave Rome."

Evident disappointment crossed Gabrielle's face. All the questions she had were never going to be answered if Xena didn't come back to Rome. She lied on sheer faith that she'd be contacted eventually. Even if it was a short letter from some far-away place, she'd be satisfied with that.

Upon arriving in Edirne, Xena quickly came to the conclusion that she was forever alone. Everything she had was due to her hard work and determination. She ruled over the entire Steppe region and fought several times when her position and land were threatened. Through a stranger's eyes, they could assume that Xena had everything in the world to grant her everlasting happiness.

When Gabrielle asked her if she was happy, her immediate reaction was to guard her emotions. There was always a need to place a shield between her psyche and feelings. Emotions were a dangerous tool that could wreak havoc on someone's life. She found this to be true when her son was taken from her.

He was snatched out from beneath her nose, and she couldn't prevent it. She tried her best to protect her land from Emperor Tiberius, but she always felt she didn't try hard enough. If she placed more guards around her son's room, maybe the kidnapping could've been prevented. Perhaps if she stayed closer to home, she could've saved her son.

Would it have made a difference? These were the thoughts and questions that burdened her for years. It took all of her strength to hold back from revealing the truth to Xian when he was in her hold. She already caused him a lot of pain and suffering. Telling him that she was his mother would be like digging a hot blade into the infected wound.

Xena didn't know her son since she didn't get the chance to, but she did know that he was smart. He would figure it out in time, and when he did, she was sure that he probably wanted nothing to do with her.

Denial was always the first step in the process of acceptance. Her son was a complete stranger to her. He even changed his name to one with a Greek origin. He completely ignored his roots, and he should, right? Xian wasn't from Edirne. He didn't grow up with the traditions and customs that Xena wanted to teach him.

It was a nice name, Xena acknowledged that. Evander. It meant 'strong warrior.' It wasn't too far off from his birth name's meaning of 'immortal warrior.'

Xena relied on good faith that her son and Varinia would stay close to her. It was far-fetched, but she hoped he would remain in Abydos. Again, he was a smart boy, and it was apparent that Varinia loved him more than anyone. It was a love that Xena wished to share with her son, but that was just wishful thinking.

She thought she could fill that void when she found Gölge. That relationship was unhealthy from the beginning. Gölge was too old to be controlled. Xena always had difficulties with that girl. She knew that the girl always had hidden feelings for her. Gölge also had no shame in expressing those feelings as time went on.

Xena deduced that she was looking for companionship in all the wrong places. Gölge's death didn't become imminent until Xena walked by the bedroom, where her apprentice resided in. She knew that Gölge's death was in vain. Maybe a few years ago, she wouldn't have felt remorseful over ridding someone in her life.

She didn't love Gölge. Using people as bait wasn't love. She was just using her to reach her goal. Her son also played a massive role in that hasty decision. Xena so desperately wanted her son to be free from the horrible life he led that she would do anything for him, and that meant murdering Gölge so his freedom could be granted.

Today was the first day of autumn. Xena returned home five days ago, and it consisted of sleepless nights. She spent most of the day sitting on the balcony of her room, refusing food from time to time. Consuming food seemed like such a chore. Often she desired to be a deity, so food and drink were no longer a requirement to continue living.

One of Xena's doting chambermaids, Erva, who had been there for the birth of her son, as well as many campaigns, expressed her concern for Xena's lack of care for her health and well-being.

Erva walked into the bedroom and found Xena sitting on the balcony for the fifth day in a row. She carried a tray of fresh linens and set it on the bed. Cautiously, she made her way over, and Xena didn't need to turn her head to know who was behind her.

"I told you I wanted to be alone," she said sternly.

Erva had grown accustomed to Xena's moods and mannerisms over the last two decades. She knew when it was time to leave and when it was time to intervene.

"And I told you that you need to get out of this room," she combated.

Xena frowned and swiveled around. "Are you hard of hearing?"

The brunette smiled faintly. "Are you?"

"Fair enough," Xena's upper lip twitched into a smile. She didn't have the energy to fight.

Erva was very aware of the situation regarding Xian. After all, she was there for his birth. She kept tabs on his and Varinia's location as per Xena's request.

"They're in the villa that you set up for them," Erva needn't say the names for Xena to understand.

Xena nodded in silence.

"What would you like me to do with Gölge's belongings?"

She didn't want anything of Gölge's to remain in her home. A side of her wanted to be rid of the girl, but lately, her emotions regularly left her conflicted. She told Erva to donate all of the clothes and furniture to the charities spread across Edirne. She thought it was a fair way to dispose of Gölge –decent enough to cease her endless guilt building within.

While Erva disappeared into an adjoining room to put away the linens, Xena lost herself in thought again. Her mind focused on her son and Gölge, then guided its way down to Gabrielle. She left Rome with a sweltering colliery of fire in her stomach.

She was so engulfed with rage when she saw the wound on Gabrielle's arm. She made the right choice to leave when she did. If she lingered in Rome longer, she probably would have reacted irrationally. That moment had to have been the hardest decision in her life. At one point in her life, she wouldn't hesitate to end Gabrielle's life.

Now, she felt differently about the matter. She chose not to kill Gabrielle even though she could've. But she wouldn't. And couldn't. Xena decided not to give in to her impulsive behavior at that moment on the coast.

The saying, 'the older you are, the wiser you become,' was utter rubbish in Xena's mind. She was older than Gabrielle, older than Gölge, but she didn't feel the tiniest bit wiser as she aged. She allowed her anger and resentment to haunt her for years. She could count on her hand of the times she truly felt happy in her life.

She recalled what Gabrielle told her back in Rome. You don't sound very happy about the choices you've made.

Gabrielle didn't know her that well, but she could see right through her. She didn't realize she was so transparent, or maybe Gabrielle was just good at reading people. Either way, Xena didn't like that.

She opened herself up just enough for Gabrielle to read in between the lines. But there was a falt there. Neither one of them knew they were alleged enemies.

Gabrielle, in a way, killed her.

Xena thought she was pretty adequate at reading people, but she failed miserably when she tried to analyze Gabrielle's emotions concerning the assassination. And maybe that was the problem. She was studying Gabrielle. She couldn't bring herself to hate Gabrielle for what she did. Gabrielle was just following orders, albeit terrible orders, but orders nonetheless.

That's all she did ever since she returned to Edirne. Aside from thinking about her son, she thought of the correct approach to deal with Gabrielle. She couldn't leave that situation to the wind. She liked to finish what she started, and she always had the last say.

This was no longer a matter of surviving an assassination attempt. This was no longer a game or a war with Nero. This was a test, and Xena was definitely tested. She willed herself to not murder Gabrielle. And she won.

She won the battle but not the war. She contemplated over the last two weeks of how to handle the tight spot she, essentially, wedged herself into.

She finally came to a decision.

"Erva," she called.

The chambermaid came rushing to Xena's side. She hoped that all of the persuasion of talking Xena into leaving her room had finally come to fruition.

"I want you to write a letter for me."

"Sure, of course."

Erva quickly grabbed a quill and parchment. She made herself comfortable at Xena's desk and dipped the quill into the ink well and waited for instruction.

"You will write down everything I say without question, do you understand?"

A new wardrobe called for the change of season, and Gabrielle went in search of new gowns to purchase in the market. There was a desire to stay inside the workshop because the birth of Augusta Sabina's child was celebrated for more than seven days. It was day eight now.

Gabrielle would've stayed inside if she had something to occupy herself with, but she didn't. She was bored stiff and needed to go out to keep a sane mind. Once she gathered her satchel and money she collected from her job, she headed out to the square.

So far, she was already regretting her decision to brace the public. All she heard were words of adoration for the Empress's child. Apparently, she heard from the grapevine that the baby was a girl. Great, Gabrielle thought, the child was going to be just as spoiled, arrogant, and conceited as Augusta Sabina.

Close to the winery, she was able to find some suitable gowns. Typically, she bought pants and boots, but every once in awhile, she had an urge to purchase gowns. Maybe she would need them in the future, just like the time she was invited to a party at the palace. She had no appropriate attire and had to go buy something. This way, she could be prepared for future gatherings.

In the middle of the purchase, a Roman dressed in polished armor, approached Gabrielle. A gentle shoulder tap caused her to whip around. Her eyes traveled up to meet the soldier's stoic face.

Her heart sank to her stomach. She dreaded seeing Roman soldiers. This could mean that she was given a new assignment, and of course, she was forced to take the task, no matter how hard it was going to be.

The soldier presented a letter with a Roman royal seal. This is it. She has a new assignment. Someone's life was going to be taken away.

Hesitantly, she took the message, her heart hammering in her chest. The Roman soldier jaunted away, and Gabrielle curled her fingers around the rolled parchment. Given the explicit nature of the message, she couldn't open it in the public's eye.

Too nervous to concentrate, she threw the coins onto the merchant's table and took the gowns she purchased then whisked away from the crowds. Finding a quiet place near the workshop, she broke the wax seal and unrolled the message.

Her eyes skimmed the words, and she was pleasantly surprised and a bit relieved. A piece of her remained intact. She clutched the message to her chest and took in a deep breath to calm her whelmed nerves.

When she collected herself, she continued to read the rest of the letter. It was a strange letter, but at least she wasn't assigned to execute someone again. She didn't know if she could go through that a second time. She barely recovered from the last assignment.

At the bottom of the letter, there were two addresses given. This was the first time Gabrielle received a request to leave Rome. But no matter what, she was obligated to comply, especially after Augusta Sabina openly threatened her life weeks ago.

Her life was valueless in Nero's eyes, and apparently Sabina's too. She did want to leave Rome, but she didn't think it would be for this specific reason. This meant that she had to prepare to leave soon, and she needed to purchase more than a couple of gowns.

Aside from the terrible atmosphere of Rome, she was going to miss Zenodorus and the rest of her colleagues. Then Gabrielle remembered that every assignment and task she was given was temporary. She would come back to Rome or have her head served on a platter.

Traveling across the ocean wasn't anything that Gabrielle was used to. She preferred to remain on the land. Throughout the journey, Gabrielle had to take a ship to get to her destination, and she was sick the entire way. As soon as she set foot on solid ground, she had the urge to kiss the soil beneath her feet.

During her trek through the unfamiliar territory, Gabrielle asked for directions several times. Once she reached the massive city, Edirne, someone was able to guide her. She thanked the man reverently over and over again. She was sure that the man found her annoying after a while because he stopped responding and acknowledging her chatter.

After she was helped by the kind man, she came to one of her destinations. Upon entering the large building, plenty of eyes turned to her. She was in a workshop, much like the one back in Rome. Of course, she would be sent to a place like this.

Gabrielle smiled at all of the artists, most of which were painters just like her. There was also something refreshing about this place; all of the artists here were women. She was glad that she wasn't going to be around copious amounts of men all day long.

She tried to approach these women with a friendly attitude. "Hello, my name is Gabrielle," she introduced herself.

The women all looked at each other confusedly and then smiled faintly at the newcomer. They continued to work at their appointed stations, and Gabrielle stood in the center of the room. So far, she didn't feel very welcomed here.

Gabrielle went ahead and spotted an open space in the room and set down her belongings. She plopped down in the chair and ruffled her hair, exhaling deeply. Her long journey had really exhausted her, and she didn't intend to stay here long. She still had to find the other location, which apparently was the place she was going to live for a while.

Being in the same city that Xena used to live in was eerie. Gabrielle felt like she didn't belong here, but she came here on orders. There was the thought in the back of her mind that she was being watched. Even though she knew Xena was dead because she killed her, she still felt like there was a pair of eyes burning into her backside.

Absentmindedly, Gabrielle rubbed the nape of her neck. A chill ran up her spine, and she swiveled in the chair and gazed out the window. Nobody was there. Of course, there was nobody there, she inwardly chastised herself.

She desperately needed to befriend these women.

"So, do you all work for Augusta Sabina?" she asked aloud.

The artists gawked, and a few chuckled at the question. Gabrielle nibbled on her lower lip and regretted ever opening her mouth.

"You must be in the wrong place," one of the women spoke up, "this is Edirne, not Rome."

Gabrielle rubbed her itchy throat. "I –I know. I was asked to come here on Augusta Sabina's orders."

"Well, we've never seen the Augusta before. I doubt the Conqueror would allow that woman to step foot into Edirne," she said, chuckling with her colleagues.

Gabrielle's eyebrow arched. "Conqueror?"

"Truly, you must live under a rock!" the artist said jokingly.

An overwhelming sensation of bugs crawling across Gabrielle's skin emerged. She peered down at the goosebumps and hairs standing up on her arms. She recoiled and wrapped her arms around her body as she felt the need to protect herself; from what or whom, she didn't know.

"The Conqueror of Edirne," the artist spoke again, slightly irritated with the ignorance of this newcomer.

"Oh," Gabrielle felt a sense of relief wash over her. "You mean Xena."

The room fell silent, and the brush strokes halted mid-way on the artists' canvases. They all gaped at her with wide eyes, and Gabrielle licked her lips. They looked like she had said something so blasphemous.

"I…um, I heard she was killed in Rome," Gabrielle added.

"You're mistaken. The Conqueror is very much alive. She passed through here yesterday."

A lump formed in the center of Gabrielle's tightened chest. Her face turned a shade of white that not even the buildings in this city could reflect light off of.

"Gabrielle, right?" the artist asked and continued, "word of advice; don't call the Conqueror by her name."