Queen's Tradition

Chapter 10

I still own nothing. I just want to say that while this story has taken me a long time to finish, it has been such a great adventure! I am going to try and wrap up this in the next few chapters.

Peering from inside the jail cell Dasani and his brother look out the bared windows to the group of Amazons carrying a petite blonde on a liter up into a hut that is slightly larger than the others. Outside they see a rather tall Amazon having a very intense conversation with the other very mean looking Amazon. He sees the tall one stop and put on a smile as an Amazon he recognizes approaches.

"Well looks like the Queen and her daughter did survive after all. I really should make sure I stop over for a visit shortly." He muses to himself.

Sam approaches her mother's quarters and sees her mother and Ephiny out front, they looked to be in quite a discussion. As soon as Xena sees Sam walking up, she stops and smiles at her daughter. Xena quickly assess Sam, she still looks tired and her face still has some good bruises on it, her arm is still in the sling, under her mother's gaze, Sam's stand a bit taller, trying to show that will be fine. She had been worried about her mom while she was sitting with Mariska and getting breakfast. Xena quickly shakes her head of thoughts of losing them both.

"Sam, I know we didn't consult with you but it was decided that you can hang out with your mom and me for a little bit while you finish recovering. I know…" Sam interrupts her mother.

"Mother, I get it and it's fine. I think it will be best for all of us"
"Kid, when did you get so wise" Ephiny says as she pulls Sam close and fusses with her hair.

"I was born this wise" Sam says and winks at them both.

"So then what's the plan, mom rests up here? I stick close by to keep her calm, you can watch over us both, then after a few days, maybe a week I move back to my bunk?" Xena is amazed at her daughter's ability to understand, then voice what all the "adults" keeping dancing around.

"I think so, we have some official business to take care of during that period, but we need your mom to rest up and we think this will be the best way."
"Makes sense, if it's okay with you all I am going to head in and rest up. Thea thank you again for the chat, I think I understand a little bit better now."
"I'm sorry she had to grow up so quick these past couple days. But I'm glad she has handled herself well, it will go well for her as she assumes more "Official" duties."

"She has always been pretty grown up, but you see a maturity to her now that wasn't there when before she went on the camping trip. I have seen many young amazons return with the same maturity after their trip with Gabrielle. Bri certainly has a way with people." Xena watches Sam walk into their hut.

"I think we need to head over the council meeting." Ephiny nods her head, instructs the guards and both her and Xena head over to the meeting.

Sam enters the quarters she spent so many years with her mother's as a young amazon. She walks past her room, thinking back to the discussion between her mother's and an adolescent but very adamant Sam almost stopping her foot that when she turned the proper age, she would live with the other young amazons as they went to school and learned of the Amazon ways. She remembers the Queen was not onboard with the idea, she remembers how she had resented her mom for many years thinking Gabrielle didn't believe she was ready. That was the moment her and Gabrielle's relationship began to suffer. Sam now finally realizing it wasn't because her mom didn't believe in her, but that she didn't want to miss out on being a part of Sam's life. Sam walks down to her mother's bedroom and stands next to their bed. She takes a moment to observe Gabrielle, she notices that her mom appears to be sleeping, there isn't as much twitching or whimpering that Gabrielle was experiencing when they were in the healers hut, even with Sam sleeping next to her. She lets out her breath, adjusts her arm but is unable to contain the slight hiss from the movement.

"Sam if you are in pain, we can get Mariska to bring you something" Sam displays a very stunned look on her face.

"I'm really okay, it is just a little sore when I readjust. You know I have always wondered how you can do that?"

"Do what?" Gabrielle ask, turning her head to look at Sam.

"Can you teach me how you did that, knew what I was doing/feeling? I always thought it was a mom thing, but you did that out in the forest too, you sensed their scout, you even sensed that arrow before it was shot." Gabrielle closes her eyes trying to stave off the nightmare she had earlier.

"Didn't sense it quick enough" Gabrielle mumbles to herself. Sam heard her, but doesn't want to make her mom anymore upset.

"I bet you can do it already, you just have to try. It is just removing all the noise and focusing on what is beyond the noise. Your mother is much better than I am at this, she taught me." Gabrielle pats the bed.

"Why don't you lay down with me for a bit? I seem to rest better when you are near."

Sam lays down next to her mom, she also rests better when she can keep her mom in her sights.

Soon, both Queen and Princess are asleep.

"Guard! Help us, my brother just collapsed"

The amazon guarding Dasani and his brother instructs the other guard to get the healer. She then opens the cell door.

"Get back or I won't check on your brother" the guard instructs Dasani, who complies and backs into the corner. The guard continues to approach the man on the floor. She bends down to roll the man onto his back, not taking her eyes off of Dasani in the corner, never noticing that his brother is turning over himself, he pulls a knife out. The guard notices Dasani's demeanor change too late, she turns her head back to the man on the floor, only to feel the knife plunge into her shoulder, falling back to the floor.

Dasani and his brother run out, shutting the door behind them. They head off to the queen's hut.