Chapter 22 –Hun Invasion Part III
Zeno sat on his throne inside of his chambers, drinking wine. As he sat by himself, quite proud that he was able to capture Xena yet again, he noticed his servants were acting strange as were his guards posted at the doors surrounding all exits of the throne chamber. He sniffed his wine but found nothing strange about it. He also made one of the servants test his wine before he drank it, but nothing came of it.
Sloshing his wine back and forth in the chalice he heard swords clashing outside the doors and he immediately jumped to his feet. The doors flew open and Huns came charging in, attacking all of the guards.
His eyes widened and he backed away in fear seeing a horde of black armored Huns storming throughout the throne chamber. His servants dropped the trays of drink and food then took off running, screaming in horror. He set his wine down and withdrew his sword as he continued backing up, but he had nowhere to run to.
Xena marched into the room, beaten, bruised, lashed and her hair just as wild as her eyes. She had a devious smile on her face as she walked to the center of the room, glaring at the Roman Emperor. Twirling the sword gracefully, she sauntered forward, eager to plunge the blade into Zeno's chest. She had longed for this moment for a long time now.
The Huns stood behind her, holding their weapons. Gabrielle and Navaz came running inside the throne chamber. Gabrielle closed the doors behind her, grinning at the fearful emperor. Navaz whistled to his men.
"Seal all the doors!" Navaz ordered and the Huns scattered. He then took his bow out and pointed it directly at the emperor with a malicious grin. "Nowhere to run this time, Zeno." He winked.
Xena gripped the Roman sword and Zeno snarled at the Hun king. "Finally. I have you all to myself. When are you Romans going to learn that you can't get rid of me so easily?" she teased.
"You people are like the plague!" Zeno spat.
Xena nodded and walked forward, intimidating the Roman. He continued backing away from her in a circle and she rounded her body around, keeping her eyes glued to him. "No fancy tricks, Zeno. No whips. No crucifixes. Just you and me." She lifted her sword and gripped it with both hands. "Fight me."
He laughed. "This is ridiculous! I'm not going to fight you!"
"Why not?" her eyes grew as the fire within her emerged –a fire that had been missing for a long time. "You have no army or generals to save you this time, Zeno. You are the greatest emperor, right? You should be able to fight me in fair combat. What do you say? Will you fight me or will you surrender? Either way, you're going to die. Your choice," she winked.
He groaned. "Is that a threat?"
"No. It's a promise." She ran forward and cried out, thrusting her sword down and he dodged the attack. Her sword clashed onto the marble floor. She whipped her head around and snarled, running at him again and swung her sword downward, ripping into the curtain along the wall, missing again.
"Stop running, you coward!" she yelled and he breathed heavily, backing away, his hands shaking as he held onto the sword. "What's the matter? Too scared to fight a woman?"
"You're not a woman. You're a savage." Zeno furrowed his eyebrows and then he heard a bow being pulled back tautly. He spun around and saw Navaz pointing an arrow directly at him.
Gabrielle grabbed the king's arm firmly. "No. Let her have him," she said and Navaz lowered his bow slowly, glaring at the Roman.
Xena smiled at Gabrielle and rolled her shoulders backward. "Come on, Zeno!" she ran forward and he gasped as he saw her jump about ten feet into the air. She swung her sword down and he blocked the blow, dropping to his knees. She pressed onto his blade with all of her strength, her teeth clenched in a tight forced smile.
"Not so mighty now, are you?" she hissed and he kicked her in the shin and she groaned, lightening the load on the blade, he rolled out of the way before her sword clanged onto the ground, missing his head entirely. She looked down at her shin and limped forward. "Oh, you've got to go..." she muttered.
Zeno ran to the other side of the room and retrieved a sword from one of his fallen soldiers. Now with two swords he smiled from ear to ear. Xena scoffed and ran after him, swinging her sword left to right and he blocked her attacks with each sword. She pressed harder and swung faster. Quicker. Swifter than him. She kicked one blade out of his hand and then kneed his elbow.
He cried out in agony and his arm became limp. She shoved him into the wall and drove her sword forward. He gasped and ducked, causing her sword to plant itself into the stone wall behind him. He eyed her bare midsection and sliced her with his blade. Xena cringed and backed away, wrapping her arm around her torso.
She pulled her arm away and saw blood seeping from the gash. Navaz shook his head and Gabrielle frowned. "Are we going to let her die?" he groaned.
"Just wait," Gabrielle whispered. "She can do it."
Zeno smiled. "I draw first blood." He ran over and kicked her in the gut. She stumbled backward and he clocked her in the jaw. She gasped loudly and breathed heavily, widening her eyes. He grabbed her long hair and kneed her in the face then threw her onto the ground.
Navaz's eyes grew in horror and he unsheathed his sword. Gabrielle put her arm in front of him. "No!"
"He's killing her!"
Gabrielle saw Xena get up off the floor, blood trickling down her chin and her ribcage from her new wound. She so badly wanted to step in and help Xena but she promised she would stay away. Zeno was Xena's fight and nobody else's.
"Give her a chance," she said and eyed the furious young king behind her. Slowly, he slipped his sword back into its holster.
"You must have a death wish," Zeno chuckled and Xena spat blood onto the floor. "You aren't afraid to die...are you?"
Xena smiled, blood staining her teeth. "That's because I'm not going to die. You are." She charged right at him, sword in hand and he swung his blade around, meeting hers in mid-air. "I never got to kill Valentinian or Theodosius. Their own people killed them." She grabbed his neck and head butted his forehead, sending him stumbling backward.
"Funny how that works. Your own people betraying you." She smiled and then kicked him in the chest and he fell onto his back. He scooted away from her just as her sword was about to plunge into him. "See, that is the difference between your people and mine. We don't betray our own kind but you Romans...that must be a hobby of yours." She chuckled.
She stomped onto his cape, choking him. He grabbed his leg and drug him across the floor then sat on top of his back, pinning him to the ground. She leaned her body against him and her hair sprawled across his neck.
She whispered in his ear. "Do you enjoy pain, Zeno?"
"You gain nothing if you kill me. Odoacer will be emperor of the east and west if you kill me."
She chuckled softly. "You're wrong, Zeno." She grazed the blade against his bare cheek, slicing into his skin, drawing blood. "See, it is you who has been betrayed and tricked but not by me...if you offered to be my ally...I would have considered it."
His eyes widened and she grabbed his hair and held the blade against his throat. He stared over at Gabrielle and she frowned deeply at him.
"My daughter made an alliance with your governor. So when I kill you, he will become the new emperor." She said and Zeno's color drained from his face. "Romans betrayed by Romans. History does repeat itself, doesn't it?" she grinned.
Slowly, she cut into his throat and he gasped. Blood spilling onto the floor and pouring from his mouth. Gabrielle usually looked away whenever Xena executed someone but this time, she couldn't turn away. Her eyes were fixated on Zeno as his head was slowly being severed from his body.
Xena grit her teeth and stood. With one clean swipe she decapitated the emperor and threw his head off to the side. Her face covered in blood and her wound seeping blood gradually. She exhaled a sigh of relief and dropped the sword.
Gabrielle smiled and ran to Xena, wrapping her arms around her tightly. "Are you alright?"
Xena nodded and pulled away from her blonde partner, cupping her cheek. Both stared at each other warmly. "I'm fine."
"Your wound," Gabrielle grazed her fingers on the commander's stomach.
Xena winced at her touch. "Gabrielle. We need to go to Balaam. Odoacer is there."
Navaz's ears perked up. "Odoacer is in Balaam?!" his voice raised with utmost concern.
Xena lowered her eyes. "Yes and we need to get back there but we will never get there on time."
Gabrielle smiled. "We can ride to the coast of the Black Sea. There are some Roman merchant ships there. It's only a few hours to Armenia from here by ship. We can ride the rest of the way."
Xena grinned and gripped the blonde's shoulder. "And what would we do without you?" she said and Gabrielle shrugged her shoulder.
"What about the army?" Navaz interrupted, asking his commander.
"Send the remaining men back to the Akitiziri and tell them to send a third of the men to Troy, another here in Constantinople and the rest back to Balaam." Xena turned to the worried king.
He sighed. "Okay. I trust you..." he said uncertainly.
"What took you so long?" Xena teased and grabbed Gabrielle's arm. "Come on, show me where he keeps the horses."
"You're going to need some clothes," Gabrielle commented as her eyes roamed Xena's nearly naked body. "I don't know where your other clothes are."
"I'm not wearing Roman armor," the warrior griped.
Dengi halted the horse and surveyed the area. All he saw was snow and huge mountains. The snow was falling heavier now and he was losing sight of where to go to next. He wasn't from this area and didn't know the geography as well as he'd liked to.
Anastasia winced and lifted her head, staring at the white oblivion ahead. "Where...are we going?"
"Hmm..." he sighed and saw a small stretch of trees along the mountains. "We'll go over there for awhile." He steered the horse through the thick snow towards the trees. He looked behind him and saw the entire city of Balaam lit up and then saw over the hillside a horde of horsemen riding in. "What in the world..."
She exhaled heavily. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing. Nothing." He jumped off the horse and yanked the reins, tying them around the large tree trunk. He then took off his cloak and grabbed Anastasia, lifting her off the horse. "Sit here." He aided her to lean against the tree and he wrapped his fur cloak around her.
She slipped her arms through the sleeves and winced. Her head lolled against the large tree and she placed her hand over her abdomen when she felt the pain worsen.
Dengi watched the dark horde riding into Balaam and saw a huge Pannonian flag. A big smile appeared on his face and then he heard Anastasia whimpering softly. He immediately turned and knelt down, brushing the veil away from her face.
"Hey," he smiled, "just a little bit longer and then we can go back, alright?" he said and she nodded. "I'm sure my mother will give me the signal very soon." He reassured her and kissed her forehead. He ran out from under the trees and saw fire, a lot of fire from afar, inside the city. "Shit."
Anastasia bit her bottom lip and scooted backward, leaning her back against the tree. "What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing. You just focus on yourself and the baby right now." He waved his hand dismissively. He shook his head and knew that couldn't be good. Fire was never good. "Fuck." He saw a lot of yurts burst into flames.
"What?!" she yelled.
Dengi ran to her side and cupped her cheeks. "Anastasia, don't worry about it!"
"Dengizich!" she gasped and grabbed his shoulder.
"I'm telling you just –"
"No! Look!" she pointed behind him. He stood and spun around to see men wearing black fur cloaks and hats to match.
He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the mountain men. "We're not looking for any trouble."
"You are Huns." One of the men said and eyed Anastasia sitting on the snow, propped up against the tree. He smiled seeing the fine black and gold embroidered gown she was wearing and a veil to match. "You are royalty," he noted.
Dengi frowned. "Listen, we were just about to leave. I don't want to fight you."
"What are a couple of royal Huns doing in the mountains? You are aware that this is no longer Hun territory, right?" the man smiled and Dengi's face paled.
"Mother, I swear to God," Dengi muttered. "I can make sure you get whatever you want but I don't want to fight you." He said and the men folded their arms. "You would hurt a pregnant woman?" he asked seriously.
The mountain men chuckled. "We know you Huns live by a code not to hurt women and children but we are not Huns."
"What are you then?" Dengi asked.
"Gokturks," the man answered and the others pulled out their weapons.
"Anastasia, go!" he yelled and her jaw dropped. "Get on the horse and go!"
She eyed him incredulously and then grabbed one of the branches, lifting herself up slowly. As Dengi was fighting off four of the men by himself, one of the Gokturks wrapped his arm around her neck. She gasped and reached forward, snatching a dagger from the saddle-pack. She stabbed him in the eye and he staggered backward, crying in agony.
Steadily, she grabbed the saddle and swung her leg over, cringing. she held onto the reins and turned to see Dengi being punched in the face. He fell to his knees and breathed heavily, lifting his head. Both of them stared at each other, tears in her eyes.
"Get out of here!" he yelled and she kicked the horse, riding through the heavy snow back to Balaam.
"Odoacer!" Ernak ran straight for the emperor that stood over a fallen White Hun. He cried out and tackled the emperor to the ground. He punched the Hun turned to Roman emperor in the face repeatedly. Odoacer grabbed Ernak and flipped him over his head.
"Son of Attila," the emperor wiped his bloody lip. "Your father would be very proud of you." He chuckled.
Ernak growled and picked up his sword then charged at the emperor. Together their swords clashed against each other. "You are one of us! Why did you side with the Romans?!"
"Because Romans are superior," a wicked smile appeared on his lips as he stared at the young Hun. "Your army is filled with Bulgurs. I did not realize you were allies with them again..."
Now it was Ernak's time to smile. "Great kings can ally with anyone. You will never be my ally!" he kicked the emperor down.
"Kill me now and the entire Roman Empire will attack you."
"I look forward to it," Ernak smiled and ran off, jumping on his horse to help out the rest of his army.
Kreka and Tuya stood at the top of the stairwell in front of the Adame overlooking the Romans and Huns of all nations warring. Kreka growled and kicked a Roman down the steps and drove her sword into another that came towards her. Tuya stabbed another soldier that jumped onto the stairwell. She threw him off the tall staircase.
"Susmak," Kreka muttered and wiped her blade on her dress.
Tuya breathed out heavily and turned to the khatun beside her. "Where did you send Dengi and Anastasia?"
"Somewhere safe," Kreka said.
"Gokturks!" Anastasia rode in and both women turned to see her riding on a large black horse without Dengi. She breathed heavily and halted the horse.
Kreka ran down the stairs and Tuya shortly followed. "Anastasia," she grabbed her hand, helping her off the horse. "Where is Dengizich?"
Anastasia held onto Kreka's shoulder firmly. In between labored breaths she spoke, "Gok...turks."
Tuya's eyes darkened. "You fool! You sent them to the mountains?!" she yelled and Kreka frowned. "That is not our territory!"
Kreka was about to yell back until Anastasia moaned loudly and gripped her arm for dear life. "Tatli kiz," she whispered and wrapped her arm around the young queen. "I'm taking her inside. Do not let anyone come within five feet of the Adame!" she eyed Tuya.
Moments later, Ernak rode up and saw his mother with Anastasia heading inside the Adame. It was the first time he had seen Anastasia and he was glad that she was alright. Smiling, he peered down at the irate queen mother of Navaz.
"So...who's in charge here? You?" he asked with a charming smile.
Tuya's upper lip quivered. "Go to the mountains in the northern pass. There are Gokturks and your brother is there alone."
Ernak's eyes widened. "I will take a few of my own men." He whistled and waved his hand then a group of men on horseback came to his side. "This has been quite an exciting day!" he smiled and rode off. Tuya rolled her eyes and walked back up the stairs.
Gabrielle dabbed a cloth on Xena's rib wound as gently as possible. Xena held onto a wooden post while the shipped rocked as they sailed across the Black Sea towards Armenia. The warrior eyed her blonde partner as she was focused, incredibly focused actually.
"Sailor hands, ease up on the gash will you?" she tease and Gabrielle blushed.
"Sorry. He got you really good," she shook her head and grabbed a needle and thread.
Xena smirked. "And now he won't get anyone else ever again." She said proudly and Gabrielle smiled then dug the needle through Xena's skin. "Damnit, Gabrielle!" she hissed.
"If you would just hold still then it wouldn't hurt so bad," the blonde teased. "You're such a baby when it comes to this yet you can still fight with a broken arm or leg. Unbelievable."
The commander shot the adviser a glare and cringed as the needle pierced her skin again. "I'd rather give birth again than have you sew up my wounds."
"You can do it yourself then!" Gabrielle frowned and Xena laughed lightly. Sighing, she continued sewing up the warrior's large gash. "Besides, I'm not that bad at it. You're just a baby."
"I am not."
"Yes you are."
"No, I'm not Gabrielle."
"Xena. You are." The blonde snorted. "Now, hold still before I accidentally poke you."
Navaz walked into the cabin where the two women were. He immediately turned around when he saw Xena was still not dressed properly and wearing that poorly constructed bandeau over her breasts. "Xena..." he cleared his throat.
Xena and Gabrielle shared a smug grin. "Yes, Navaz?"
"Why didn't you tell me that Odoacer was in Balaam?" he asked in a calm voice.
"I didn't want you to worry about Anastasia. I know she will be safe."
"There is no army there."
"Kreka is there."
He scoffed, "you put a lot of faith in that woman, don't you?"
Gabrielle shook her head. That poor man didn't know anything about Kreka and had only known her for almost two years now. Kreka acted like Anastasia's mother in Xena's absence and therefore he had never seen her for who she really is, which is such a shame, or maybe a blessing.
Xena rolled her eyes. "She is a Hun Queen, Navaz. She is also a warrior. She was the leader of her tribe in China and Mongolia. I know I can count on her even though she and I haven't always had the best relationship over the years. You should have more faith in her."
"Yeah and she beat up Xena once," Gabrielle chimed in and got a horrible stare from her partner. She delved into sewing the wound again, avoiding Xena's icy eyes.
He turned his head over his shoulder. "Really?" he was curious now.
Xena groaned. "It wasn't what you think. I was angry at someone else."
"But she broke your nose," Gabrielle said and received another glare. "Okay..."
"Anyway, when we get to Balaam, I don't want Odoacer to see us. If Kreka is in charge then I have confidence that the Romans will either retreat or be driven out."
Navaz nodded. "I hope he doesn't do anything to Anastasia or I will rip his heart out."
Xena's eyes widened and Gabrielle pursed her lips, but this time stayed silent. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. I'm not out to kill Odoacer. I just don't want him in our territories."
He spun around, not caring if he looked at her while improperly dressed anymore. "You want him to live?" he asked in disbelief.
She nodded. "I avenged my people and myself by ridding the world of Zeno. If Odoacer is gone then –"
"Then there won't be a Roman Empire. Isn't that what everyone wants? No more Romans?"
She smiled smugly. "Huns won't destroy the empire, Navaz. The empire will crumble in on itself in time. We sit back and do nothing. It will come crashing down. Trust me."
"You really believe that?" Gabrielle asked, lifting her eyes as she bit the thread with her teeth.
"All empires fall eventually. The Roman Empire was already broken in two before Attila became king. Now, it is forever broken and Odoacer wants to be a king not an emperor. It will fall, I bet on it." Xena smiled and Navaz rubbed his beard.
"We should be reaching the coast of Armenia soon. It will take a few hours to ride to Balaam. I hope we are not too late." He said then turned to leave. "Oh, Xena..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for helping me with everything. Your legend as the best commander in all the Hun tribes is true. I'm sorry that I did not trust you completely before." He said then walked out of the cabin up to the dock of the ship.
Gabrielle smiled and bandaged Xena's torso. "Still think he's a spoiled brat?"
"Only a little bit," Xena teased then swatted Gabrielle's hand away. "You're doing it wrong."
"No, I'm not! I always bandage you up this way!" the blonde snarled.
"And you do it wrong every time," Xena smiled and fixed the wraps around her wound. "Gabrielle. I didn't get a chance to say thank you for all your help."
Gabrielle folded her arms. "I would do anything to help you especially if it involved Zeno."
Xena lifted her wary eyes. "You are not upset that I killed him?" her voice shaky.
"Months ago I disagreed with you about this. I didn't want to see you revert back to your old self but you never did. You were calm and collected. Definitely not the old Xena that I first met. I am glad that he's gone. Now Anastasius can be the new emperor."
Xena smiled and leaned forward, kissing her partner on the lips gingerly.
"What was that for?" Gabrielle touched her lips.
"For being you," the dark haired warrior winked.
Kreka slipped Anastasia's dress off of her and threw it on the chair beside the bed. She then unpinned the veil and tossed that aside as well. Anastasia sobbed softly and Kreka frowned then rolled up the long sleeves on Ana's black slip.
"Why are you crying?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm not ready for this!" Ana cried out.
Kreka smiled softly. "Well, I suggest you get ready, tatli kiz. You may not be ready but your baby is." She grabbed Ana's hair and pinned it up.
"No, no." Ana shook her head and tried to get out of bed but the khatun pushed her back against the pillows. "I want my mother."
Kreka groaned. "She's not here! I will help you now will you just cooperate with me?" she said and Anastasia closed her mouth, batting her long lashes up at the woman. "I know you want your mother to be here for you but it's just not possible. Relax and don't get out of bed. I will be right back." She smiled and then left the bed.
"Wow! Do you see those Romans outside?!" Csaba came in and then saw his mother in bed and Kreka Khatun's eyes narrow. "Oh...what's going on?"
Kreka grabbed the boy by the shoulder and ushered him out. "You aren't supposed to go outside!"
"I didn't! I saw from the window!" he frowned and turned, facing his aunt, nearly eye level with the tall woman. "What's going on? Is she alright?"
"She's fine. Your mother will deliver the baby soon so I need to get gather a few things and –"
"Really?" his face lit up. "I want to help. Can I help?"
Kreka sighed and pushed the boy out of the room and closed the doors. "You aren't supposed to be in there."
"But she's my mother. I want to help, please?" he begged with his big green eyes. She smiled softly. His face reminded her so much of her stepson, Ellac. It was hard to resist that look in his eyes.
She relented, giving into his plea. "I need some new sheets and a water basin."
He nodded. "I can get that!" he ran off and she groaned lowly.
"And turmeric," she added softly as he was already rounding the corner. She rolled her eyes then decided to go outside to see how everything was fairing out there while there was only a bit of chaos inside the Adame.
Ernak came back with his older brother a couple of hours later and halted in front of the Adame. Leila ran up as soon as she saw Dengi being carried by one of the men. She gasped and knelt down beside him and Ernak arched an eyebrow.
"Uh, who are you?" he asked.
She sobbed softly and touched Dengi's badly beaten face. Judging by the look in her eyes and the way her hands touched his face, Ernak knew that this woman was more than just a friend of his brother's.
"Oh I see..." he nodded then spotted his mother walking towards them. He grabbed Leila by the arm and she struggled against him. "Hey! Stop!" he growled and she stared up into his eyes. "I can tell that you care for my brother but my mother can't see you." He said and Leila looked at Kreka Khatun walking over with a purpose. "I'll come for you later," he smiled. She nodded then slowly walked off.
Kreka's eyebrow rose and she saw a young woman walking off. "Who was that?" she asked and Ernak spun around.
"Nobody. These Caucasians. So nosy," he chuckled, trying to play it off.
She frowned and bent down, touching her son's cheek. Sighing heavily her fingertips grazed the cuts and bruises on his face. Slowly, Dengi's eyes opened and he looked into his mother's almond shaped hazel eyes and her warm smile.
"Is...Ana..safe?" he croaked.
She wiped her cheeks dry. "Yes, she's fine." She kissed his forehead then stood, facing her other son. "Where is Odoacer?" she looked around and all she saw was a bunch of dead Romans and no one else to be found.
Ernak shrugged. "He retreated I guess. He couldn't get what he was coming for. Tuya said that he would be back though."
"Of course." She nodded. "And where is she?"
He glanced around and saw the Hun soldiers cleaning up the mess and dragging Roman corpses across the snowy field. "I don't know. She was here a few minutes ago when I spoke with her."
"Hopefully she will turn up somewhere," Kreka said. "Take your brother inside. I will have someone tend to his wounds. I have to go back to Anastasia."
Ernak smiled and followed his mother. "Is she having the baby?" he asked and she sighed heavily. "I'll take that as a yes. So, how long?"
"Ernak, please," she put her hand up.
Xena, Gabrielle and Navaz rode into Balaam and saw a pile of Roman corpses next to the border. Gabrielle's eyes widened. "Wow, we missed some party," she said.
"Yes, apparently," Xena commented and everyone trotted into the territory slowly. All the Hun soldiers bowed their heads at Navaz and he smiled briefly. There, in front of the Adame she spotted Ernak and frowned.
Navaz groaned and trotted after Xena. He turned to Gabrielle. "Does she always do that?"
"Pretty much." Gabrielle smiled and rode behind him.
"Ernak!" Xena yelled and the young king turned at the sound of her voice. He smiled grandly and left a Bulgur's side to come greet her. She skid in the snow and frowned down at him. "What are you doing here?"
He adjusted his collar. "Well, I'll have you know I destroyed all of Zeno's legions in Pannonia and even got the Bulgurs to ally with me. Pretty proud of me now huh?"
"Hmm." She hopped off the horse and wrapped the fur coat around herself. "Good job, Ernak." She finally broke into a smile and pat his cheek roughly. He cringed and rubbed his face. "Where is Odoacer? I thought he was here."
He folded his arms. "How did you know about that?"
"That's not important."
Gabrielle halted her horse. "We had a little bit of a run in with Zeno."
"A run in?" Ernak pried and eyed Xena. "Oh...OH! You killed him didn't you?" his eyes grew with excitement. "Xena! You are a goddess!" he hugged her then kissed her cheek.
"Get off of me!" she snarled and he pulled away immediately. "Ernak. Odoacer."
"Oh right. Yeah, he was here hours ago, many hours ago but he retreated. He said that he'd be back." He nodded, sighing heavily. What a mess, he thought.
A loud high pitched scream echoed from inside the Adame and Xena turned as did Gabrielle and Navaz. Ernak slapped his forehead. "Oh yeah, and she's been screaming in there for hours." He thumbed the Adame behind him.
"Anastasia?" Navaz asked and before Ernak could respond, Xena ran up the stairs to the building with Gabrielle following behind. Navaz went to chase after them and Ernak grabbed his arm.
"Hey, whoa, you can't go in there."
"But she's my wife!"
Ernak sighed. "I'm aware but men aren't allowed in there. If you try to go in the room my mother will probably hit you and kick you out. So, word of advice, it's best to just let the ladies do their thing, you get me?" he smiled charmingly and Navaz frowned, shaking his head then ran up the stairs. "Hey! Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Anastasia grit her teeth and clutched onto Kreka's hand, panting heavily. Kreka dabbed her forehead and smiled at her. "I...need...the herbs." She said.
The khatun shook her head. "I can't give it to you, Anastasia."
"Why ever not?!" Ana snarled and glared at the khatun.
"Because you don't need it yet." She said and felt the bones in her hand being crushed. She winced and Ana lolled her head on the pillow, clutching onto the sheets, shutting her eyes as tightly as possible, trying to ignore the agonizing pain throughout her entire body.
Xena and Gabrielle walked into the room and Anastasia opened her eyes, turning her head. A smile graced her flushed face. "Mother!" she cried out and let go of Kreka's hand.
"Oh thank god," Kreka muttered and got off the bed, wagging her hand back and forth.
Xena sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed her daughter's hand, kissing her knuckles. "I told you I would be here for you."
"Timing. It's all about timing," Gabrielle said and Ana grinned at her.
Anastasia looked at her mother's face with several cuts and a bruise around her temple. "What happened?" she grazed her fingers along her mother's wounds.
"Don't worry about it," Xena said and grabbed her daughter's wrist. "I'll tell you later."
The young queen moaned loudly and her grip tightened around her mother's hand. Moments later when the contraction passed she lolled her head on the pillow, breathing heavily. "Navaz...is –is he here?" she asked.
"Yes he is," Xena said and looked over at Kreka's large frown. "Would you...like to see him?" she said and Ana turned her head with a bemused and shocked expression.
Ana nodded her head with a big smile on her face and Kreka scoffed. "Oh please. Xena you know he can't come in here."
"Shut up Kreka." Xena left her daughter's side and Gabrielle smirked at the irritated khatun before trailing after Xena.
Csaba sat down on a bench with Navaz sitting beside him. "So, did my grandma really kill Zeno?" he asked and Navaz nodded.
Xena opened the door and both of them stood up. She smiled softly and tiredly at them both. Csaba walked forward, trying to peek through the crack in the door. "Did she have the baby yet?" he asked eagerly.
"Sorry Csaba, not even close." Xena said and then disappointment overcame him. "Navaz, she wants to see you." She said and his face paled.
He stepped forward and then was quickly reminded about what Ernak said. "Is Kreka going to hit me?" he asked curiously.
Gabrielle laughed and Xena nudged her in the ribs. "No, she's not. Just get in there before I change my mind, will you?" she said and Navaz quickly brushed past her.
Csaba folded his arms and he sulked. "He can go in and I can't?" he asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to be in there," Gabrielle advised. "Hey, why don't we go and play a game?" she offered.
"But I want to stay here in case something happens," he said. Xena grinned softly and wrapped her arm around her tall lanky grandson.
"With the way things are going, you'll be waiting for hours."
He gasped. "Hours? But I've already waited five hours!"
Together, all three of them walked down the long hallway. "Nothing is going to happen until morning most likely," Xena said and his eyes widened.
"Morning?!" his mouth gaped. "My god. Poor mother." He frowned sadly. Xena and Gabrielle shared a small smile.
Ernak rounded the corner and saw the three together. "Hey, any news yet?"
Xena rolled her eyes. "You're just as bad as him." And Csaba frowned up at her when she said that.
"To be fair, you ladies don't tell us men shit about these things." He said and Csaba grinned.
"See? I'm not the only one!" he said and Xena pinched his arm. "Ow!" he rubbed his arm and grimaced. "So, are you going to tell me how you killed Zeno?"
Xena's eyes grew and her lip quivered. "Who told you that?!" she hissed.
"Um...you know what, never mind. We can talk about it later." Csaba pried his grandmother's arm off of him and walked down the hallway. "About that game, Gabrielle?" he asked.
Gabrielle sighed. "Are you coming, Xena?"
The warrior waved her hand. "I'll stay here in case Anastasia needs me."
Gabrielle smiled and then walked off with Csaba, talking with him in hushed voices. Ernak sauntered over and nudged Xena's arm playfully.
Xena creased her eyebrows. "What?"
"Come on. Tell me how you killed the Roman pig. What did you do? Crucify him? Cut off his limbs?" he asked, wriggling his eyebrows.
"I beheaded him," she said flatly.
He gasped. "Praise the Lord! Tell me how you did it. I need details." He said and she turned, walking back to Ana's room. "Hey, wait! Come on, Xena! Give me the details!" he ran after her.