Swords

"Mommy what are you doing?" Daniel asked. Xena was making a samurai sword out of Damascus steel the same type of metal her chakram was made out of. She had been working on it for a week all day everyday. She was preparing to put it in the fire one last time.

"Making a Katana."

"Can I come in now?" Daniel asked.

"Yes." He came in just as she was putting it in some water to harden the steel. He watched her fit with a hilt and everything. He watched her test it out a few times. She even let him throw an apple and orange at her, which she sliced in half with no trouble.

"Can I see?" Daniel asked. Xena hesitated, but she explained that after this he was not allowed to touch swords. But she promised that when he was old enough and only than she would teach him to defend himself with a sword and no more.

"It has the same markings as your chakram," Daniel said marveling at the craftsmanship.

"Yep and it even has your name and Solan's." He smiled.

"Why?" Daniel asked curiously.

"To remind me why I fight to protect people when I can." Daniel smiled and nodded. "Come on you can help me make the saya." Daniel was very enthusiastic and helped her carve it out of imported wood from the ho tree. Woodcarving was something she had taught him to do as a child of three when he would get restless when he caught a illness that kept him in bed. He was careful and followed her instructions to the letter. Cyrene watched them marveling at their relationship.

"Dinner's ready," Cyrene called. Xena put her sword in a safe place as Daniel put the saya in a safe place. They washed their hands and faces before going inside with Cyrene. She had made her famous spicy chicken stew, which was full of rice, vegetables, and red hot chilli peppers. Among other spicy spices.

"Be careful Danny the stew is very hot," Cyrene warned. Daniel spooned the stew into his mouth. Everyone watched him except Xena as his face turned red before he smiled and continued eating. Xena ate as well. She was use to the burning power of her mother's spicy chicken stew and didn't go running for water like every one else except Cyrene and Daniel.

"Mommy can I have more peppers?" Daniel asked. Xena retrieved some from the kitchen. She let him take four before he put them in his soup and smashed them to release the flavor. His smile got wider once he tasted his stew again.

"I can't believe it didn't burn him, and even worse it wasn't hot enough for him," Cyrene commented to Xena sounding slightly offended although she didn't mind.

"Oh that stuff never burns him he can eat twenty-five chili peppers whole and not be burned." Cyrene shook her head.

"The boy is tough." Xena nodded.

The next morning they finished the saya together, but she made him leave while she created the accompanying dagger. He was all too happy to help her make the saya for that too. After that she carved him a staff and made arrows. He happily helped her with arrows and new horseshoes for Argo as winter came upon them. They spent the winter practicing the staff and bow even the crossbow.

"I like the long bow like yours mommy," Daniel said.

"I know, but sometimes a crossbow is very handy and quicker to shoot. Other times you want a long bow." Daniel nodded. "Come on that's enough practice we haven't made snow angels or snowman and women once. You should this is after all your first time in the snow." Daniel nodded enthusiastically as they did all this and even went sledding.

"Mommy how come all the other kids tease me for being rich, they say I talk funny. They don't understand Hebrew, I thought all poor people spoke it."

"No sweetie here everyone speaks a common language and that's Greek. You have to speak Greek and they are not poor, we have more because we grow stuff ourselves that can be sold for money or traded." Daniel nodded.

"Will they be nice if I speak Greek." Xena shrugged.

"They'll understand you and see how much a nice boy you are. Than you'll start making friends."

"If you say so Mommy," Daniel said so trusting of her. They went down the hill again, but Xena decided he was ready for the big hill where all the kids went anyway.

"Go join them, I'll watch for a little while." Daniel nodded and dragged the sled over to them. Xena walked around and nearly stepped on something. She bent down and brushed the snow off. Xena uncovered a hurt baby falcon and nursed it back to health, but when time came to set it free it would not go away.

In fact they developed a close bond like her and Argo. She trained it to warn her of danger a head of time and find Daniel, Cyrene, and Torres. She had a bird call specified for each member of the family member including herself if she needed help. While Daniel called her Falkee, she affectionately named her Nalani.

"Mommy I don't want to give Piggy away."

"Daniel, we have way to many pigs as it is, you can keep one girl and that's it. Plus there are a lot people who could use a pig or two. They need Piggy more than us." Daniel nodded sadly. She put him in charge of selling the pigs. He kept one girl.

"You did a good thing," Xena told him. He nodded. "Now pick a Ducky for dinner." Daniel's head hung even lower.

"Maybe Grandma will make an eggplant dinner. No meat." Daniel smiled and ran in to go ask her.

"Mommy look what I caught in my snares," Daniel called running up. He had three live birds." What are they?"

"You caught a pheasant, a quail, and a partridge?" Xena asked slightly impressed. He nodded. "Six years old and already a great hunter." Daniel smiled. "Come on I'll cook them for our journey." He frowned.

"No mommy I caught these as pets."

"You're kidding right." Daniel shook his head no. Xena sighed and he smiled and ran to build them their own coups. It took him all day when he caught males of both species. They had a rooster for the hen, but Xena couldn't stand being woken up by it every morning so once the hen had laid two nests and got plenty of baby chicks he met the axe in the yard.