The Queen's Tradition

Chapter 9

I own nothing. Thank you for all the comments and reviews, I have not abandoned this story.

Gabrielle hears the bow string being pulled back, glances towards the sound and sees the soldier aiming at a defenseless Sam. Gabrielle begins to run towards Sam, she dives to catch the arrow, but it slips through her fingertips and pieces Sam in the heart. Gabrielle hits the ground, rolls over, and sees blood trickling out the corner of Sam's mouth, Sam's eyes are lifeless, looking at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle screams out, shoots straight up in bed, her eyes are scanning her surroundings. The force of her jolting up in bed, forces Sam away from the crook of her mom's arms and out of Gabrielle's eye sight. As Gabrielle scans for her daughter, she begins to panic when she can't locate her, Gabrielle's breathing becomes short and sharp, pulling on her injured ribs. By this time Sam has realized her mother had a nightmare and is able to reach out to her, placing her arm on her leg.

"Mom, I am right here." Sam rises on her knees to be able to pull Gabrielle's head towards her. Gabrielle, feels Sam's arm on her leg and is finally able to focus in on Sam's voice.

"Mom, take a deep breath in, there you go, now let it out. Do that again for me."
Sam can feel Gabrielle starting to calm down, she helps her lay back down, never losing contact with her mom. Sam is not a stranger to her mother's nightmares. They don't often discuss them, at least not with her, but she has overheard them both talking about them when they thought she was sleeping.

"Mom, do you want to talk about it?" Sam asks as she resumes her earlier position nestled into her mom. Gabrielle is finally able to open her eyes and fully looks over Sam, she takes the time to ensure her daughter is safe. She lifts Sam's head up so she can focus on San's eyes, reassuring herself that they are full of life and not the dull lifeless version from her dream. Gabrielle can only shake her head no, not trusting herself to speak. After a few minutes of silence, Gabrielle begins to run her fingers through Sam's hair. "Thank you, when I awoke and couldn't find you, I feared that my dream was actually reality. Some things a parent never shares with their child no matter how old they are. But I do appreciate you asking."

"Don't worry Sam, she will discuss it with someone."
"Ephiny, how long have you been there?"

"Long enough, I was on my way over when I heard you scream out, by the time I got in here I saw Sam had everything under control"

"Did anyone else hear that, Eph? I can't let this get out." Gabrielle whispers the last piece. Ephiny steps closer to Gabrielle, sits down on the chair next to it and grabs Bri's hand.

"Bri, I was only a few steps away, so I do not believe so, but what if someone did?"

"Mom, why would you not want anyone to know. We all have these types of dreams." Sam says as she sits up in bed, but keeping contact with her mom.

"Sam, honey, there are some Amazons who prey upon weakness and will forever look for an opportunity to challenge me for the thrown." Sam sits and ponders what her mom said.
"Is that why you insisted upon riding into town?" Sam looks over to Ephiny, "Thea, I don't understand."
"Well kid, somedays I do not either" Ephiny is sensing Gabrielle has calmed enough that she is once again feeling her injuries, she can see that Gabrielle is fighting falling back asleep, certain it is partly due to not wanting to have another nightmare.

"Sam, you look like you could use a walk and then maybe grab some food for your mom? Bri, my friend, please rest, you are not looking too hot."
Sam slides off the bed and heads out with Ephiny to a bench not far from where they were. Ephiny passes Solari and asks her to sit with the Queen.

Ephiny puts her arm around Sam and pulls her close.

"You know you did really good out there, and your mom will be fine."
" Umm, maybe. I mean we lived so there is that. But I don't understand where this fear is coming from with mom." Ephiny pauses for a moment to gather how she wants to explain this to the curious Sam. Growing up, Sam often would ask her questions that either her mother's didn't want to answer or she didn't want to ask her mom's.
"You have heard the stories of how you mom came to be given her Right of Caste. Back then many Amazons were not so excited about this. Even I was hesitant, at first. Your mom was not an Amazon, nor was she even anywhere near as talented as a warrior as she is now. When she first came to us, she didn't even know how to hold a staff. But it soon became clear that her power wasn't in her ability to fight, it was in her ability to be unwavering when it came to right and wrong and her ability to look for an alternative way to using force. And that went against everything the Amazons were about. So when she challenged to become Queen in order to prevent a war, this tribe became very divided. And when her challenge was handled by Xena, to those who didn't like Gabrielle then, well they thought it was the ultimate betrayal of Amazon ways. A queen who needed someone else to fight her battles for her."

"But mom would never have mother fight on her behalf now, she has too much need to prove herself, to allow that to happen."

"Kiddo, you are very correct. If anyone ever challenged your mom, she would be the only person to fight on her behalf. And you are also correct about Gabrielle's need to prove herself. She doesn't see herself as anything other than who she was when she first became queen, and works every day to prove to all the Amazon's that she is worthy of the crown. That is part of why your mom is such a good Queen."

"But why doesn't she see herself as being good enough?"

"That is the question we all ask ourselves, and only your mom can answer. We should be getting back, unless you would like sometime out here with Mariska." Sam looks to see that Mariska had approached with some breakfast.

"I would Thea, we won't be long."

Leaving the two young Amazons alone, Ephiny heads back to the healers hut.

"Hey Solari, I'll hang for a bit. Go grab some breakfast, maybe bring me something." Solari heads out as Ephiny, pulls up a seat to sit next to her friend.

"I know you are not sleeping, Bri."

"I know and I thought you were grabbing breakfast." There is a noticeable shift in Gabrielle as she begins to speak again. "I just can't right now. Ephiny, I am so tired, so tired of putting up this show that I am okay, and I I want to do is rest with Sam tucked into me, but every time I do, I see Sam's lifeless eyes. I see how things could have went. I just….I" Gabrielle looks up at the ceiling, trying to calm herself and gather her thoughts. After a few moments, Gabrielle whispers "Eph, I don't know if I can do this right now. Do the Queen thing."

"Bri, you don't have to do it today or even tomorrow or the next day. I promise you, no one will think anything other than you were severely injured while protecting your family, your nation. So we can postpone another day or two or you can let Xena and myself handle the council. Or do you don't trust us." Ephiny says with a smirk that Gabrielle can't see but senses. "You know that isn't the case, so wipe that smirk from your face, you are not going to goat, I'm too tired to care who handles any of this. You and Xena do the meeting, I will rest and hopefully in a few days we can hold the celebration."

"You know those crazy Amazons would rather have their Queen able to enjoy the celebration, and won't mind waiting an extra day. My queen I hope I am not out of line, but any Amazon who dares to speak ill words towards you, is nothing but jealous or crazy. You have lead this nation back to glory, and I will give anyone a piece of my mind who dares to say otherwise." The healer comments from where she had been listening. "And I agree, you need rest and I was thinking, we can probably get you back to your quarters today and that should help with being able to rest." Seeing the toll this discussion has played upon the Queen, "I would also feel better if you let me aid in that rest," as the healer hands some tea to Gabrielle. It isn't long before Gabrielle is sleeping again. The healer and Ephiny move right outside the healers hut to discuss the Queens treatment. Both Solari and Xena are also approaching.

"This group looks rough" Solari states handing some breakfast over the Ephiny and the healer.

Ephiny looks clean, but the tiredness is apparent on her face, mixed in with some cuts and bruises from the recent battle. Xena eyes are trying to show nothing, but to her friends they can see the slight slump in her shoulders, and the dullness to her eyes.

"Well I was able to talk her into letting Xena and I handle the council today and our healer was able to talk her into postponing the celebration till she is feeling better. Which was actually pretty easy, and that worries me." Looking at Xena "Sam and I had a chat, she is asking some questions about why Bri is acting this way." Xena simply nods to Ephiny.

The healer steps more into the group "And I think moving her to your quarters will also be helpful in her recovery. The familiar setting will aid in her resting. If no one objects, we can also move the princess to your quarters, I believe it best for the Queen, and you, if the princess is near." She says looking at Xena. Seeing no other objections, the Healer exits the group and begins to prepare for moving Gabrielle.