My Immortal XXVI
Gabrielle held Xena's hand as she reclined on a couch in Eileithyia's estate. The goddess of childbirth had excused herself momentarily to attend to a young demi-goddess who had just started having contractions.
"I don't know why you insisted on a check-up, I feel fine, Gabrielle," the warrior grumbled.
Ares' trial was set to open this afternoon and Xena was nervous. She didn't want to waste time here, she wanted to visit with him in his cell before she saw him in the courtroom.
"Humor me, okay." Gabrielle patted the warrior's forearm.
"Fine, but I better get to see Ares this afternoon." Xena warned, then relaxed into the sofa.
"If things work out the way that I hope, then the next time you see him, it won't be behind bars."
"What are you talking about?" Xena cocked her head and turned it toward the bard, her friend now had her undivided attention.
"I'll tell you later, here's Eileithyia."
The tall elegant goddess walked into the room so gracefully that it almost appeared as if she was floating toward them.
"Xena, I really am glad you decided to come by. I know that you are adept at mortal healing but you are carrying half-godlings inside of you and I would really like to check on their progress."
"It wasn't my idea," Xena blurted before feeling Gabrielle slugged her in the arm. "Hey," she pointed a finger at her friend, daring her to hit her again.
"Eileithyia, we really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to give Xena the check-up she so desperately needs," Gabrielle smiled trying to smooth things over.
"Anytime. Xena, I know how independent you are, it's one of the things I admire about you. Still, I hope you realize that I am here should you ever need my help."
"Thank you," Xena said sincerely when she realized she was being a bit of an ass.
"So, let's take a look, shall we?" Eileithyia pulled a stool up next to Xena.
Xena spread her legs, expecting her private recesses to be invaded by the goddess.
Eileithyia gently pushed Xena's legs back together. "I'm a goddess, Xena. This exam will be far less invasive than what you are accustomed to." The goddess splayed her long fingers out across Xena's abdomen. Xena studied the hands, noticing how much like her brother's they looked. Xena couldn't wait to feel his hand playing across her belly again, reaching for their children.
"Beautiful, everything seems to be in place. Their development seems perfectly normal for this stage of pregnancy. They're very powerful, even for demigods. I haven't felt this much godly energy radiating off of a demi-god fetus since the birth of Hercules."
"So they'll have powers like Hercules?" Xena asked.
"Yes, even if you never become a full-goddess, Xena, these children will have powers, I can feel it already. However, if you eat the ambrosia while you're pregnant, they will be born full deities. They will absorb it from you your bloodstream."
"I have a question," Gabrielle piped in.
"Go ahead," Eileithyia responded.
"Can you tell the sex of the children?"
"Yes, of course I can, although, their sex organs haven't developed yet, I can read their chromosomes. Would you like to know the sex, Xena?"
"No, not without Ares here."
"Well, I'd like to know," Gabrielle interrupted. "And, it may be important to his defense. Xena if you don't want to hear then we can go in the other room."
"What are you talking about, Gabrielle?"
"I have a plan!" Gabrielle beamed
"Fine, then tell us the sex, if she thinks it'll help Ares."
"Xena, you're having a boy and a girl. One of each." Eileithyia announced.
Xena smiled. She couldn't wait to tell Ares.
"You're sure that at least one of them is a boy?" Gabrielle asked for clarification.
"Yes, of course, one of them has male chromosomes."
"And you'll swear to it in court?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes, will it help save my brother?"
"It just might. Now, I need to go see Ares. Xena, I need you to go back to his place and wait for me."
"Why can't I go with you?"
"Because, we are going to be discussing his defense. I don't need him getting distracted by you." Gabrielle rolled her eyes.
"Okay, but I want to see him before the trial starts."
"I will hurry," Gabrielle promised.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
Xena hadn't been home an hour before Gabrielle returned wearing a victorious grin.
"Well, don't you look satisfied?" Xena commented as Gabrielle plopped down in a chair in Ares' front parlor.
"I can't believe he and I actually agreed on something. What's more is that we are actually working together and getting along!"
"I haven't had a chance to tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done for him."
"Well, honestly, I did it for you. He was an afterthought. But still, I think I have a convincing defense put together. As long as you do your part."
"My part?" Xena asked.
"Come with me, Xena." Gabrielle motioned for Xena to follow her toward Ares' bedroom. The bard pushed open the doors and started surveying the room. She walked to a corner closet, opened it and triggered a switch. Xena heard tumblers clicking and then the sound of stone sliding against stone. A tapestry that hung on the wall fluttered from the sudden draft of air.
"What's this?" Xena asked as she walked to the tapestry and pulled it aside. The opening revealed a keyhole. Xena looked at the keyhole and instinctively knew that her key pendant would open the door. She took the pendant from between her breasts and inserted it into the slot. With one final click the door opened. A metal box sat inside, Xena pulled it out of the hidden safe and walked to the bed with it.
"Now don't argue with me, Xena." Gabrielle demanded.
"What are you talking about?" She asked as she opened the lid to find a secret stash of ambrosia.
"When he got his godhood back, the first thing he did was put this aside in case he lost his immortality again," Gabrielle informed.
"How do you know this?"
"He just told me, told me where to find it. I told him I want you to go ahead and become a goddess, he agreed and told me where to find this."
"I can't Gabrielle. If they execute him, I don't want to be a goddess without him. It's a packaged deal."
"Xena, don't do this. Think of the twins. Do this for them."
"Gabrielle. . ."
"For once, just listen to me. I am going to get him out of this but I need you to do this, first."
"Will it help him?"
"Yes." Gabrielle confirmed.
"Okay," Xena agreed and pulled a piece of the gelatinous substance from the box.
Gabrielle grabbed the box and quickly secreted it back into its hidden spot, closing all the doors and levers.
"Do you think you should lie down or something?"
"I don't know, maybe. I always thought he'd be here for this."
"Well, he isn't, and we need to get this done before his trial begins. So lay down."
Xena laid her head on her pillow. She looked to his vacant spot then grabbed his pillow and pulled it to her. She inhaled his scent and hugged the pillow to her for comfort. "Here goes," she breathed and slid the ambrosia into her mouth.
Gabrielle watched as her friend's body tensed then started to glow. Shards of light burst throughout the room like fireworks in Chin. Gabrielle hit the floor to avoid being hit by a beam. When the eruptions quit, Gabrielle stood back up and looked at Xena. She didn't look any different. "Did it work?" She asked.
Xena clenched her fists opened and closed. She could feel the god energy coursing through her. It felt like having him inside her, on her, engulfing her. It was the most incredible feeling in the world. "Oh, it worked." Xena said and disappeared.