Chapter Five
"He must hate being seperated from you for long periods of time." Gabrielle said as they road towards Athens shortly after a dawn and a quickly breakfast.
"He thinks I'm dead, Solan has never layed eyes on me except when he was a baby." Xena said.
"What Xena how could you let..." Gabrielle started.
"No, listen Gabrielle, I gave him to Kaleipus, so that he would be safe from my enemies like Dagnine, and I won't let you make me regrett it by scolding me for not keeping him from the start." Xena said in a tone that left Gabrielle speechless. Finally they reached Athens.
"Get two rooms and order lunch I'm going to go check out the orphanage." Xena said.
"Do you want use to come with you?" Hercules asked. Xena shook her head no.
"I need to do this on my own." Xena said. They nodded in understanding.
"I'll go stable the horses than." Hercules said. They split up. Xena walked briskly, but slowed as she neared the orphanage. She prayed to the goddess or god of lost children that he was here. She hadn't seen any signs of Dagnine, so that meant he was on his way north. She knew that Amphipolis would be safe though they could handle Dagnine's army, and some one would see his army coming however small or big. She would be sent a message by bird or rider, even a runner. Not only that the King of Macedonia had an army they could ask for his help.
"Please let him be here." Xena said to herself. She looked at all the children playing in the snow. Not one of them were Solan, but it was obvious they weren't new to the orphanage. She reached the door and hesitated before knocking on it. The children outside noticed her and immediately started towards her with hopeful smiles and she got a better look at their faces. She returned the smile and it occured to her that she was a bit out of the ordinary women who visited. She was in deerskin pants and tunic rather than her leathers, which may have actually frightened the children. Finally the man running the orphanage opened the door.
"Welcome how can I help you find the child of your dreams?" He asked stepping back to let her in. The orphanage was in good shape, but it wasn't the best. It was just good enough to keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. The children who had been outside ran pass her and upstairs. Once they'd all gone she heard more movement as the man led her into his office still waiting for her response.
"I'm looking for a boy child in particular he's been seperated from his family." I said.
"Ahhh we do get kidnapped boys sometimes, the criminals are taken to jail and sometimes they're lucky enough to be returned to their families." He said.
"Yes, well I know he's about 10, but I haven't a clue what he looks like I haven't seen him since he was a baby, but I do know he had blue eyes."
"Ten year old blue eyed boy." He said.
"Yes." Xena said.
"We have several, I'll be right back." He said. He left out of the room and she heard a collective sound of goans and than he came back in with ten boys all about the same height for their age group. One in particular didn't look to happy, but it may have been the way they were being paraded around in their best clothing like prized trophies. A look from their keeper though and he was smiling.
"Whose name is Solan?" Xena asked.
"How do you know my name?" The boy who had been frowning. Xena said nothing as she took in all of his features.
"Kaliepus sent your friend Virgil to find me." Xena finally said as she fought the urge to hug him just yet.
"You know my Uncle, do you know where he is?" Solan asked eagerly as the man ushered the others out who were now collectively sad at their misfortune.
"I'm sorry, but your village was destroyed."
"So I really am an orphan." Solan said.
"No, your not an orphan." Xena said standing as she watched the men taking out the papers.
"Yes, I am my parents are dead and so is my uncle." He said.
"Look I have a lot to say to you, so why don't you go pack all of your things and I'll explain to you back at the tavern." Solan only nodded knowing that his Uncle said he'd send someone for him, some one he trusted to take care of him if he died or until the threat had been eliminated. Once he had gone Xena turned to the man.
"There will be no need for that I am this child's mother." Xena said.
"He doesn't act like you are. "
"That's because he doesn't know the truth, I gave him away to protect him, but now its time the truth was out." Xena said.
"I don't know." He said.
"Its obvious we're related we look exactly the same practically." Xena said.
"Your eyes." He said. Finally he let her go without having to go through a lot of crap. Everyone waved goodbye and the children that had come with Solan were sad because they were orphans. Xena promised if she ever met any survivors she'd send them their way.
"So who are you?" Solan asked.
"My name is Xena." Xena said.
"Your the woman that killed my father, why would my Uncle send a murdering bitch like you after me?" Solan asked suddenly angry. The sword he carried, which Xena made a mental note to rid him of, was out of its scabbard in no time. There was no one around to see them being that it was lunch time and the warrior in Xena admired her son's quick reflexes. Xena was a bit taken aback, but made no move to draw her sword or hurt him in anyway.
"Put your sword down I have no intention of hurting you or letting you use a sword against me." Xena said. Solan didn't do so, and in no time it was in Xena's hand along with his scabbard. Xena put the sword back in it's scabbard and stood towering over Solan.
"Now listen to me, I did not kill Borias like everyone in your village thought, I was to busy helping you into the world to kill him." Xena said. Solan was silent.
"I don't believe you, you left my poor mother to die after you killed him." Solan said.
"No, I didn't, I wish I could tell you who really killed your Father and set your mind at ease about me, but I swear to you I was helping you into the world on that night." Xena said. She stared him straight in the eyes to let him know she was not here to play games and lie to him. Than Solan seemed to remember something his Uncle had once said about this infamous warrior princess standing over him.
"One thing you can count on from the warrior princess is that she doesn't bother to much with games or lies its not in her nature, she would have to have something big to gain by doing so."
"What have you to gain from taking me in?" Solan asked.
"Just your love and trust." Xena said. She helped him up.
"Why would you want that from me?" Solan asked.
"I don't think your ready to hear that. " Xena said.
"How would you know when I'm ready?"
"You don't trust me and you don't like me that's how I know your not ready." said Xena.
"Well than take me back to the orphanage the last thing I want is for you to be my mother!" Xena was hurt by his words and he saw it in her eyes before she hid it. She said nothing knowing that his words came from him not understanding.
"Is that what your trying to lie to me about, you being my mother." Solan said.
"No, I'm not trying to lie to you." Xena said.
"If this is your idea of a joke than I must say it is pathetic and cruel, my mother if she were alive would have taken care of me and loved me. She wouldn't have left me to think of myself as an orphan with no family except an Uncle for a centaur with no blood relation." Solan said.
"Your right if I had of been a good person back than and your father were alive Kaleipus wouldn't have raised you until a few months ago, but I'm sorry I hurt you when I made the decision to do what I did to protect you." Xena said calmly. Inside she was happy he was alive and well, but it was also killing her to see such hate in his eyes directed towards her.
"I don't believe you." He said.
"Fine, don't believe me, but your not going back to the orphanage and I'm not desserting you, your place is with me now and Kaliepus knew that you'd only be safe with me if he were to die, so whether we base my decision on what Kaliepus thought or my love for you I don't care just know your coming with me." Xena said.
"Your a murdering bitch and I hate you." Solan said.
"That's fine let's go we've been out here to long." Xena said seeing that he was shivering. She'd have to get him proper clothes when the market opened back up. She pulled him along.
"Mother your not my mother, you probably are taking me back to your camp, so you can murder me in private or in front of my father's army." Solan said.
"You found him?" Gabrielle asked standing.
"Yes." Xena said without emotion. She was hurt and was trying to hide it. Solan tried to leave, but was surpised to see she still had a firm grip on him.
"Introduce me." Gabrielle said excited. Xena sighed.
"Gabrielle this is Solan my son, Solan this is one of my best friend's Gabrielle." Xena said.
"Hey." Gabrielle said.
"Fuck off." Solan said.
"Keep that up and I'll tan your backside." Xena said seriously that he just shut up.
"Here I got two rooms." Gabrielle said tossing Xena the key.
"Let's eat I'm starved." Xena said. Xena sat down with her back against the wall and a full view of the tavern, and Gabrielle sat to her left, but leaving space for Hercules. Iolaus would close Solan in, so he would stop inching away. Finally they showed up just as the tavern keeper finished taking their order.
"What will it be?" He asked.
"Iolaus you order." Hercules said as he and Gabrielle maneuvred, so he was seated next to Xena.
"No problem." Iolaus said scooting Solan back over closer to Xena to his dismay. Finally Hercules was seated next to her.
"Iolaus meet Solan, Solan this is Iolaus Hercules' best friend." said Xena. Solan seemed to brighten up that meant the other guy was Hercules and there was hope for him yet. He shooks his hand and greeted him politely. This made Gabrielle a bit mad.
"Hercules, Solan, Solan this is Hercules my..." She looked at him.
"Boyfriend whatever name you want put on it the nature of our relationship is the same," Hercules said more to her than him," and nice to meet you Solan I've heard a lot about you."
"Your the Hercules right?" Solan asked.
"Yea." Hercules said expecting a lot of flattery, but he received none.
"And I'm staying in your room right or do I get my own?" Solan asked. He looked hopeful of either one.
"Your rooming with Hercules and Iolaus." Gabrielle said.
"Shut up slave I didn't ask you." Solan said. Gabrielle was so angry she stomped off upstairs.
"Solan let's get something straight." Xena said.
"What?" Solan asked.
"First of all answering me like that will not be tolerated, I am an adult so act like it, and secondly Gabrielle is not a slave she is a free woman always has been and always will be, so you will treat her with respect, because I can pretty much garentee she'll always be around." Solan merely sulked afterwards and all through dinner as did Xena. Hercules and Iolaus said nothing knowing that Solan had an idea of who the old Xena use to be not the new Xena. Obviously they had issues to work out before he could be trusted with the information that Xena was his mother.