Pieces Together 5

My fingers gaze across the stalks of wheat as they wave in the wind. The field looks like an ocean of golden waves, shining in the sun. Cle reaches his stubby fingers out, trying to grab and hold on to any stalk he can reach. I can hear Xena mumbling a few feet away, so I follow the sound of her voice.

'I'm gonna to kill them.' She growls as I enter the open space she's standing in. Actually this should be covered with wheat, but a herd of cattle decided to take a trip through our field and they left nothing but a trampled path of grain.

'Well, we probably should have put up a fence.' She glares at me.

'How is that helpful now?' I shrug my shoulders. It's probably not a good idea to antagonize her right now. She's raking her fingers roughly through her hair, staring at the destruction.

'Xena, it's not like we need this.'

'That's not the point. ' Throwing her hands up in the air, she starts walking away. I follow, trying to keep a wiggling Cle in my arms.

'The point is, there's no reason to get so upset.' I can hear her mumbling under her breath. 'What's really wrong.' I can see her shoulders tense, but she doesn't stop moving. I finally manage to catch up to her, grabbing her arm to stop her at the barn 'Xena.' She's washing any emotion from her face, putting on a fake smile.

'You're right.' Kissing my forehead, she tries to walk away again.

'Xena?' Finally she turns, a small sigh escaping.

'There's news that the Romans are invading Britannia.' Oh, I get it now.

'And you want to go.'

'It's Caesar Gabrielle.' Her tone pleads with me to understand.

'It's going to get you killed.' This hatred she holds, it always eats away at her.

'You don't get it do you?' Her eyes flare angrily at me. I get it, I understand only too well. I'm not arguing with her about it this time. Shaking my head, I walk back to the house holding the tears at bay. She doesn't try to stop me, doesn't say a word; but I have to accept this is who she is. In minutes she's riding off on Argo at a break neck pace. Redirecting my feet, I decide to visit Cyrene.

Cyrene has adopted Cle like he is of her blood. I'm pretty sure if Xena did anything to mess this up, Cyrene would refuse to give Cle up. I'm glad though, she's the only kind of grandparent that seems interested in him. The walk to the tavern is mostly quiet, Cle babbling away in my arms at nothing in particular. He's only recently been able to hold his own head up. I wonder how long it will take him to learn to walk, talk; how far behind other babies is he right now?

When we're nearly to Cyrene's, she comes walking up towards me; a smile and a slightly worried look on her face.

'Oh good, I was just going to look for you.' Her arms reach out, grabbing for Cle and showering him with kisses.

'What's wrong?' We resume our walk.

'There's a couple that has been asking for you. I told them I could take them to your house, but they insisted on staying.' Hmm I wonder if it could be?

'Did they tell you their names or what they want?'

'No.' She looks over at me, slightly worried. 'Do you want me to take Cleon so you can talk to them?' I pull him back into my arms.

'No, if it's who I think, they'll want to see him.' I stop a few feet from the door. 'But can you stay close?' Cyrene rubs my back, giving me a reassuring smile.

'Of course dear.'

The tavern is empty, save for a few people. Perdicus' parents sit towards the back, their posture displaying tension and awkwardness. Cyrene gives me a pat before walking to her bar, taking up sentry duty with a rag in her hand.

'Hello.' His parents jump at the sound of my voice, both standing and looking at me with wide eyes.

'Gabrielle.' They both nod. 'Is there somewhere private we can talk?' His father asks, looking around the room.

'There's no one else here, it's private.' He glances over at Cyrene, unsure of her presence, but he gives in with a nod. They both resume their seats as I grab one across from them. His mother is staring at Cle with tears in her eyes, hands trembling slightly.

'This is our grandson?' His father asks.

'Yes, would you like to hold him?' Neither say a word. 'I'm sorry about everything that has happened.'

'No matter now.' Perdicus' father waves a dismissive hand at me. 'Before we received your message, we had already hear rumors.' His eyes pierce into mine. 'We went to see your parents and they had quite a story to tell.' There's nothing nice about this man right now; it's not how I remember him.

'I see.'

'We believe we should take…Cleon, and raise him. We can provide a better home.' I can't help but gasp in shock. Without a word, Cyrene shuffles over and takes Cle from my arms, before retreating back behind the bar.

'Why is that?' I try to contain the anger in my voice.

'Our daughter was just like him. We know how better to handle him.'

'He's not a piece of equipment?' I growl.

'No, but he is our grandson, all that we have left of Perdicus.' His mother finally speaks, voice quiet and crackling.

'I have no intention of keeping him from you.'

'Children like him do not live long, he should be surrounded by love.' I can't believe she's saying this.

'He is.'

'We've heard about that Warrior.' His father finally says; I've been waiting for this topic to show itself.

'We love you because Perdicus did, but we cannot allow our grandchild to grow up around a…savage.' His mother spits the words out in disgust.

'Xena is no savage.' I can't contain my rage any longer, they are taken back by the vehement in my words. 'And I won't sit here and let you accuse me of being a bad mother.' I shoot up, my chair sliding along the floor behind me. 'You may visit him as you please, but he is my child.'

'And you really think that warrior woman can provide for you both? She got our son killed!' Perdicus' mother now stands, letting the anger flow from her.

'And I'm sorry about that.' Xena appears out of nowhere. 'But that gives you no right to come here demanding Cle be given over to you.' Her voice is calm, but relays an anger that boils below the surface.

'I have every right!' His mother slams her fist on the table, causing her husband to wince. 'What do you know of raising children?' Her eyes scan up and down Xena.

'I understand you are grieving, but I think you should leave now.' Their eyes lock in a silent standoff, his mother though can't handle the glare Xena is leveling at her. Grabbing the arm of her husband, she pulls him up the stairs without another word. I'm too stunned and angry to really process my thoughts right now. I move away from Xena, and take Cle from Cyrene's arms. She kisses my cheek, giving me a sad smile. There's a fear building in the pit of my stomach; I'm afraid that they haven't given up yet.

Striding past Xena, I make my way out into the sunlight. Cle is beginning to become fussy in my arms, no doubt hungry and tired. We're halfway home before Xena finally decides to follow, pulling Argo along behind her.

'Gabrielle?'

'What?' The anger at the situation as leached over into the anger about Xena and the Romans.

'I won't let them take him.' Her hand is on my shoulder, putting me to a halt.

'How are you going to do that when you're off fighting the Romans?' I can't stop it, I'm angry and sad, and feeling very alone right this second. She pulls her hand away, wincing slightly.

'Gabrielle…'

'No, I do understand. I really do get it, but you are the one who doesn't get it. And as much as I don't want to be angry with you….' I trail off, shaking my head as tears fight to free themselves. 'Xena, do what you have to do. Maybe one day, you'll care about us more than about getting revenge.' I leave her standing there, my tears finally sliding down my cheeks. I love her for who she is, I just have to keep telling myself that.

Xena left without a word, packed up and headed off towards Britannia. That was two days ago; two very long days. Who knows how long she'll be gone. It's raining again, dark and gloomy outside. I'm sitting in the rocking chair, singing Cle to sleep when the door busts open; splinters fly. Roman soldiers appear on my doorstep, followed closely by their General.

'What the…!' Snatching up my staff, I clutch Cle close to my chest. The General leers at me and looks around the room.

'The bard I presume?' I refuse to respond, leveling a glare at him. 'No matter, I know who you are; Xena's little pal.' He sneers.

'What do you want? Xena isn't here.' He actually starts to laugh.

'Oh, I know. She's not what we want right now.' He waves his men forward, and they come rushing in the room. I'm not Xena, I can't possibly take on all these men and keep Cle safe at the same time.

'I'll go with you, please just let my son go.' I drop my staff and put my hand out, pleading.

'Oh no, we especially want him.' He gives a nod and his men descend on us; hands grabbing at me tightly.

'Please, he's innocent.' My begging only brings a vicious slap to my face.

'Caesar has plan for you both.' My mind begins to race. What do I do now? Luckily a contingent of Roman soldiers is hard to miss, so maybe Cyrene will get word. A soldier slides a thick coil of rope around my neck, pulling me out the door with a jerk. They let me hold Cle, but I fear falling with him in my arms.

The other end of the rope is tied to the saddle horn of a horse. The rain has already soaked me, my dress becoming nearly see through. Soldiers leer at me, lustful thoughts obviously filling their minds. One though refuses to make eye contact; he's nothing more than a boy that isn't yet battle hardened.

The General sets a quick pace, causing me to jog along behind the horse. My sandals continually get sucked into the mud, causing me to stumble every few steps. Cle is screaming in my arms, I have nothing to cover him with aside from his swaddle. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that Xena's not here to save us this time and I have no idea what to do.