Queen's Tradition Chapter 7
Author's Notes: Still own nothing!
Author's Notes 1.2: I have had some great reviews. To answer one of them, I am hoping to reveal how Sam came to be. A quick hint: it won't be quite like how Wonder Woman was created.
Author's notes 1.3: I wasn't quite sure how this story was going to evolve, I had only worked out the first 3 chapters. I thank you all for staying with me on this journey.
Xena stands at the bed of both Sams and Gabrielle's bed, looking over them. She listened to the healer explain the depth of each of their injuries, Ephiny at her side. Even though Xena had listened many times before to healers reports of injured soldiers, friends, innocents they worked to protect throughout the years on the road, and even the time with her, Ephiny, and Bri in that temple a lifetime ago. She was not prepared for this, listening as the two most cherished woman in her life lay so still, so lifeless, so pale, while the healer explained. Xena knew exactly what the healer was telling her, yet she actually didn't hear a word she said. She never heard the healer explain that the Queens shoulder was not only dislocated, but that she also had to cut away some additional tissue and muscle to ensure that an infection wouldn't spread and saying that she was hopeful Gabrielle would regain full use of it. She didn't register that Sam was banged up pretty badly, but just needed to be looked after for a day or two and could be discharged back to her bunk. She also didn't hear when the healer mentioned that the Queen was strong and how impressed she was that Gabrielle was able to ride in at all, but how that stunt cost her dearly and would likely not wake for a few days. All Xena was able to think about was how the first time she held Sam after she fell while jumping from their porch. Sam was a few summers old and had returned from story time and began to reenact a tale of her and Gabrielle, she jumped off the top of the two steps to demonstrate part of the battle and didn't quit stick the landing, falling and scraping her knees. Xena remembers jumping over the railing, rushing to Sam. She scooped her up, prepared to rush her to the healers hut, fearing the worst, only to look down at Sam frowning up at her mother, "Mommy that is not how the story went, momma fell but rolled away before the giant stepped on her." "I'm sorry little one, you did such a great job demonstrating the story, I thought you were really injured" Xena says putting Sam down. "I did falls down, but I'm okay. I strong just like you and Momma."
"By the Gods Ephiny, this was a close one." Xena says shaking her head.
"Agreed, not just with their injuries. The amount of soldiers that were trapped on the other side of the gorge would have been too much for us. They truly saved the Nation. Even those who are not Bri's biggest fans are not denying the win."
"I just hope Gabrielle see's that, she needs to rest and heal and not try to do too much."
"The way I am feeling right now, I'll be lucky to roll over."
Xena rushes over to Gabrielle, kneels next to her and grabs her hand, kissing her on the head, tears in her eyes.
"Bri, honey, you had me so worried. First we couldn't find you both, then after we got back and you passed out again, I just… I don't think I have ever saw you like that before. It truly scared me." Gabrielle reaches her hand up and cups Xena's face, wiping away a tear with her thumb. Xena leans into contact, needing the comfort that Gabrielle can only give her.
"Xe, honey, I'm sorry I scared you, scared everyone, but I am going to be okay." Glancing at the resting Sam "Our daughter is going to be okay?" Gabrielle ask with a mixture of statement and needing some reassurance, Xena can only nod.
Ephiny clears her throat, trying to make her presence known to the two soulmates.
"Gabrielle, how are you feeling?"
"Not great." Bri confesses, her eyes pleading with Xena. "Tell me how Sam is, I can see that she looks okay but I need to hear it for myself, every injury, every bruise. I need to know" Gabrielle's hand drops from Xena's face, she tries to sit herself up to touch her daughter, as if touching her will reassure her that her daughter is alive, that she was able to protect her.
"My Queen, you need to lay still, you yourself said that your injuries were great, you need rest and that means not trying to sit up" the healers says as she gently pushes Gabrielle back down.
"Bri, you promised me that you would be the best patient and I need, we need you to keep that promise" Gabrielle quits trying to sit up, she isn't quite ready to admit to herself just how badly she is injured, that will come, but that effort was too much for her.
"You play dirty warrior, but a deal is a deal. Now back to Sam."
"The princess has a few stitches on her shoulder and will need to keep it in the sling for about a week. She has a decent sized bruise on her abdomen and side, no broken ribs or any other bones. Various cuts and minor bruises, the biggest injury is the concussion. She will need to take it easy for a few weeks to ensure that none of the dizziness returns. Otherwise, she will be fine." The healer adds looking Gabrielle in the eyes. "You my queen didn't fare as well as our Princess, but from what I have heard, that was your plan." The healer giving Gabrielle a good job look "Do you need me to run down your injuries?" Gabrielle shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes.
"Just tell me how bad my shoulder is, the arrow went thru it" Gabrielle pauses remembering how she was too slow to prevent the arrow from hitting Sam altogether, slamming her eyes shut at the memory of the injury to herself and daughter "but then it was pulled back out, not to mention being strung up by my wrists on a tree limb. I am sure it is not in the best shape." Gabrielle says matter of fact like, opening her eyes to look at the healer bracing for the worst news.
"Well my Queen, you are correct, it is your worst injury. I did have to cut some tissue and muscle away as it was infected. Time will tell, but I think if you let it heal and slowly work to regain strength in it, you will be very close to normal." Reaching to try and touch Sam, needing to feel her to make sure that what her eyes are seeing and what her ears just heard are all true.
"Can you move me a little closer, I need to be able to feel that she is okay." Tears are now flowing freely, Xena and Ephiny push Gabrielle almost right next to the resting Sam. Gabrielle does the best she can to caress Sam's sleeping face, taking time to feel her breath, brushing back her hair to take in the large bruise on her face.
"I did this to her, each bruise, cut, pain was caused by me. Not by my hand, but my inability to protect her."
Xena moves around and kneels on the other side of Sam, so that she is facing Gabrielle.
"Bri, honey. You didn't do this, that army did this to her. She got these while fighting by your side to protect all of us. Do not degrade her sacrifice or your sacrifice by blaming yourself. She was every bit the Amazon warrior and our daughter, fighting to protect others. Placing herself in danger so that others didn't have too. Honey, I know you feel responsible. I feel responsible too, I'm sure most of us feel responsible that their Queen and Princess are injured while we are not. That is what makes us strong, that we are each willing to take someone else's place. I know exactly how you are feeling, each time you were hurt when we were first traveling together I knew it was my fault. If I only I was better, stronger, faster, I could have prevented you from being hurt, prevented you from experiencing any pain. But you reminded me that sometimes these things happen and in reality, I saved you from being injured much worse. Bri, just think of how much worse this could have been. Not only for Sam, but for all of us. The army that you stopped from getting to us was triple what we have. There would have been a great deal of Amazons lost if we had to engage with the full force of Dasani's army."
The weight of Xena's statement laying heavy in the room, each pondering the what ifs.
"Xe, thanks" trying to shift a little, the healer placing a few pillows under the Queen to help her sit up "I think I know everything you said, in my head that is, my heart well that is a different story. I always feel responsible every time I lead the Amazons into battle, every time someone doesn't make it back, every time someone is injured, but I also know that is the burden of the crown I wear. But she is my child, I carried her, we created her, and by the Gods I needed to protect her!" as Gabrielle spoke, she became more agitated, upset, feeling closed in and needing to gather some control back. She begins to get up, unsure why she has this urge to run when suddenly she feels Sam grab her, she stops and looks down at her daughter, eyes still closed and it reminds her of the time when Sam was no more than 7 summers old and ended up catching a cold and fever. Gabrielle remembers how Sam was in her and Xena's bed, they were arguing over something. Gabrielle remembers feeling much like she does now, and much like that moment, Sam grabbed her and rolled into her. Gabrielle shakes herself from that memory to find Sam curled into her, just as she did all those years ago. And much like that day, Gabrielle leans back and pulls Sam closer. She closers her eyes and soon joins Sam in the land of Morpheus.
Ephiny looks at Xena whose face shows pure exhaustion, still dirty and marred from the previous day's battle. Xena looks at Gabrielle, asleep, clutching onto Sam as if she loosens her grip, she will somehow lose Sam. She looks at the healer whose eyes show a mix of pride in her Queen and sympathy for the warrior who came very close to losing two very special people. Xena finally looks up at Ephiny, one of the few people who has witnessed Xena's vulnerability.
"Xena, why don't you go rest for a little bit, get cleaned up. I will get Pony or Solari to sit with Sam and Gabrielle. And before you shake your head at me, we still have a lot to take care of. There is still the matter of addressing the council and our two prisoners. And I frankly can't deal with a tired, over irritable Warrior Princess, and the council. I am also going to do just as I suggested to you. We can meet back here in 3 candlemarks."
"Ephiny, I really want to argue with you, but I just don't have it in me. I was worried for those two when they left on the camping trip for a whole different reason, and thank the Gods you sent that scout out with them. Then when everything started happening and we couldn't find them, I thought…I thought I had lost them" Xena lowers her head. "I know this moment can happen at any point, to any of us, but the reality that it was almost both of them and because of friendly fire, might have been too much. I am going to take you up on your offer of a bath and some rest. I honestly don't trust myself right now to deal with our prisoners and the council. I am sure they all would appreciate a kinder, gentler Warrior Princess."
Ephiny and Xena smirk at each other and depart for their respective huts.