Solan
The next day they spent a whole day preparing a food satchel. Lots of cheese from the goats milk, two skins of cow's milk, one water skin, bread, Pork from Piggy Twenty who was very fat and ready to die in her opinion though he had several more years of his life a head of him. Xena even had some dried fish in the package a long with some apples and plums and Daniel's favorite vegetables.
"Can I wear my linen skirt?" Daniel asked. Xena nodded as she saddled Argo and put their satchel of food and saddlebags on her. Nalani flew down and landed on Argo's head. She was very gentle and Argo let her stay. Xena patted Argo as she greeted Nalani.
"Look mommy Bunny came back," Daniel called. Xena looked as he ran to go put Bunny back in her box.
"Mommy can I bring Kitty?" Daniel asked.
"No, Kitty stays here, we're already over packed we can't take kitty too."
"Can we take Doggy?" Daniel asked.
"No." Doggy yawned and settled himself in the sun. He obviously had no intention of traveling anyway.
"What about piggy?" Daniel asked.
"No."
"Ducky?" He asked.
"No, no Ducky, Chicky, Goosey, Bunny, Pete, Lamb, Sheepy, none of them." Daniel looked down. "I'm not falling for that today now come on its time we set off." Daniel nodded as she lifted him up onto Argo who remained perfectly still.
"Xena do you have his trousers and tunic and boots?" Cyrene asked. Xena checked the bag.
"Yeah, its all here. Are you sure you'll be fine because we can leave a little later."
"Xena you've been here almost a year any longer and you'll just be offending Gabrielle, now please go." Xena nodded. She kissed her mother good bye and hugged her. Cyrene kissed Daniel goodbye.
"Bye Grandma, take care of my pets for me."
"I will Danny don't worry." Daniel nodded. Xena got on behind him. Her sword on her back, her dagger on her left side while her chakram remained on its familiar place on her right hip. A quiver of arrows hung on the saddle horn and the bow on top of it could easily be lifted off. Daniel held his collapsible quarterstaff. They went through the gate and than galloped off after one more wave. They stopped in Potidaea that night.
"Tavern's are funny," Daniel commented as she tucked him in.
"Why do you say that?" Xena asked.
"The men walk funny."
"That's because they're drunk, which is something you should abstain from if you know what's good for you." Daniel nodded. She bent down to kiss his forehead.
"No, not until you get in bed too."
"Okay, hang on." Xena changed into her night tunic and got in bed next to him. She kissed his forehead.
"Are we gonna visit Solan?" Daniel asked lying on top of her after she had fallen asleep. Xena woke up just enough to hear him aske the question again.
"Yes."
"Did you tell Grandma?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, I did, now why aren't you sleeping?" Xena asked.
"Too noisy downstairs." Xena although having been away from the noisy sounds of a tavern for six years had spent five years commanding an army and the clanging of armor was nothing compared to the noise downstairs. She'd have to remember to choose her taverns more carefully.
"I know, but try, how about I sing to you." He nodded. She rubbed his back and sang to him until he had drifted off. In the morning they left town before the whole town had woken up. Gabrielle's father spotted her.
"Hey you warrior!" He yelled. Xena and Daniel were walking as she held his hand and told him a story featuring him as the hero. She didn't even think to look his way until he ran after them. "Warrior!"
"Can we help you sir?" Daniel asked politely with a smile on his face despite being up at such a early hour, but than again even though neither one of them were exactly morning people they got up early.
"Warrior where is my little girl, what have you done with her?" Herodotus asked.
"I haven't done anything with her, I just got back to Greece last summer. Now if you'll excuse us." Xena took Daniel's hand and led him away.
"Come back here I'm not through, now I wanna know where my daughter is," He demanded.
"When I find her I'll tell her you asked about her." Xena continued walking.
"Mommy who was that?" Daniel asked.
"Gabrielle's Father, but he doesn't like me much."
"Why, everybody love you mommy." Xena smiled down at him.
"In Egypt, but not here." They reached the trees that line the rode on either side now. They heard a noise and than a monkey jump down and land in the rode.
"Monkey!" Daniel exclaimed running to him.
"Nalani, you could have warned me about Monkey," Xena said to the Falcon who sat on a nearby branch. She lifted her wings as if to shrug and made Xena laugh a little. She held out her arm and Nalani and flew onto her exposed arm with no leather. She was very gentle and careful not to scratch her arm like she did in the beginning of their relationship. Daniel walked over with Monkey.
"Come on enough walking let's gallop a little." Daniel nodded with enthusiasm happy she wasn't sending Monkey back who sat on his shoulder. She put him and got on next to him as Nalani took flight again. They collapsed his staff and stored it safely on Argo before she galloped away at not to high a speed. Argo was carrying a lot and she didn't want to push her into exhaustion with the speed she really had in mind.
"We're here," Xena announced recognizing the centaur lands. Nalani screeched and Xena raised her arm as she held onto a sleeping Daniel. He didn't sleep much at night because of the ground and tired himself out during the day insisting on walking half the day. It was nearly night but there was light enough left for them to get to the village. Monkey held onto the saddle horn. Xena looked around some more and it looked like a war had gone on not too long ago, but it was hard to tell in the fading light. "Nalani search for intruders." Nalani screeched and flew off.
"Are we there yet?" Daniel muttered sleepily, but not waking up.
"Almost, I'll wake you up when we get there." As Monkey jumped down She turned him around so he was facing her and was more comfortable as much as possible. He wrapped his arms around her. Nalani came back soon and screeched. She did her screech that meant she was calling out how many miles. The camp was situated two or three miles away. Nalani flew off again.
"Monkey," Xena called as she kicked Argo into a trot. Monkey jumped onto her out stretched arm before she kicked Argo into a slow gallop. She slowed to a walk as they reached the village. Nalani screeched a warning just as Xena heard an arrow loosing it self from the trees. A patrol group. Xena caught the arrow just before it struck Daniel. She dropped it and got down with Daniel in her arms. Monkey jumped down too.
"Mommy," Daniel cried at being woken up and being pressed on the ground.
"Sorry baby we're under attack." She took off her chakram and sent it flying for the trees. It bounced off a rock and cut all the bow and arrows. It also struck some one's skull because when it lodged itself in a tree near her there was blood. The rest of the patrol ran out to attack. Monkey being the good monkey he is picked up the bow and dropped it along with several arrows. Xena grabbed it and lifted up. She shot down every man with her arrows. Daniel still lay with his mother over him. When they all lay dead, she told him to remain laying down and to close his eyes. He nodded and did as he was told. She stood up carefully listening, but all she heard was hoof beats in the distance and Nalani screeched a warning. She dislodged her chakram from the tree and wiped off the blood on the grass before putting it on her side. She hurried over to the men to inspect them.
"Callisto," She muttered with disgust. She pulled out her arrows just as the centaurs arrived. She heard them draw their bows. They didn't recognize her. Several men had swords and carried torches. The light revealed the dead bodies.
"Who are you and state your intentions," She heard Kaleipus's strong voice.
"Now you wouldn't hurt an old friend, would you?" Xena asked Kaleipus turning around after wiping the arrows off. She walked back over as he tried to remember who she was. "How quickly you've forgotten me once we became friends. Maybe we should go back to being enemies." He grinned seeing she was teasing and the chakram on her belt.
"Xena." She nodded. He was about to step forward, but stopped when he saw Daniel laying there with closed eyes. Xena bent down and placed the arrows back in their quiver.
"If you could remove your friends so he can get up," Xena said. Kaleipus nodded and motioned to his fellow centaurs who smiled at her remembering how she had defeated Dagnine six years ago. She smiled back at them. They blocked the bodies from view as Xena secured her quiver and bow back on the saddle. She lifted Daniel up off the ground. Kaleipus looked at her and she shook her head. "Thank you, shall we continue to the village?" He nodded. Monkey followed them. When they were far enough away Daniel was able to open his eyes.
"Mommy what's he?" Daniel asked almost immediately seeing Kaleipus's half-human form.
"Kaleipus is a centaur remember, he takes care of Solan." Daniel smiled at him.
"Can I touch him?" He asked. Kaleipus and Xena laughed. She looked at him and he nodded. She put him on the back of Kaleipus and he couldn't do anything but giggle and feel all over him. Kaleipus laughed as his light touches tickled him. They reached the village and she tied Argo to the post before she followed Daniel and Kaleipus inside.
"Well?" Xena asked not offering him any explanation about Daniel and he accepted that.
"This woman Callisto, she just started attacking us two weeks ago. She's been killing anyone who's tried to enter the village and anyone who tries to leave to call for reinforcements from anyone who'll give it. Gabrielle passed through and we hoped to call on the Allie treaty she had created between us and her amazon tribe, but news has been impossible to get to the outside world since no one returns." Xena nodded in understanding. "Do you know her?"
"Unfortunately yes, she's an enemy of mine and I can only hope she hasn't found out about Solan. Where is he?"
"He was at a friend's home, but knowing the men your arrival will be spread all over town and he'll come running. He's missed you."
"I've missed him." Daniel who was now leaning against Xena as he got back to his favorite activity which was sleeping, woke up a little.
"Solan here?" Daniel asked.
"No, go back to sleep," Xena said picking him up. He lay his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes.
"He knows?" Kaleipus asked.
"There are no secrets between Daniel and I. Same with Solan except one." Kaleipus nodded his understanding.
"Can we defeat this Callisto?" Kaleipus asked. Xena nodded.
"Unless she's gained immortality, yes, she's only human, right?"
"Right, but getting to her is the challenge."
"Leave her to me now that I'm here, you concentrate on defeating her army. I suspect as always this will end with you fighting one battle while I fight another. You'll crush her army while she runs in defeat. Or I kill her and her army runs or is crushed. Typical ending to all battles." Kaleipus nodded.
"I don't think she knows of Solan, I mean I've had the occasional man and most of the women ask after your visit, but I deny it. To tell them and not him would be unforgivable." Xena nodded. "I still feel the same way you know, but if I parish…" Xena held up a hand.
"I understand, but maybe we could work something out."
"Make your intentions clear." Xena nodded.
"My intentions are to merely tell him the truth, and I can only stay away for so long and frankly my will power is wasting away even before Daniel, who merely speeded up the process," Xena spoke. "I understand that this has become his home and that you love him like a son, and I think we should work it out where, if he'll have me, he can stay with me Amphipolis for awhile and return to the Centaur village."
"We shall settle this after the war."
"All right, but how long do you think a six-year-old can keep his mouth shut?" Xena asked. Kaleipus was silent as if giving it serious thought.
"We agree that you tell him but all living arrangements be discussed after the war no sooner and no later." Xena nodded and they shook on it. A door opened and out walked a centaur with curly hair. She couldn't forget the young centaur anywhere it was Xenon.
"Xenon!" Xena exclaimed. She had thought he would be with Ephiny.
"Aunt Xena?" He asked rubbing his eyes. Xena nodded as he hugged her with one arm. She talked to him for a moment catching up. He seemed unaffected by the war.
"Will you help us so we can send messages to mommy again?" Xenon asked. Xena nodded after he had met Daniel who loved Xenon immediately. He was only a year older.
"Yes, but something tells me you'll be seeing her soon before you can get another letter out." Xenon smiled. She kissed his forehead before he went back to bed.
"You know him well," Kaleipus commented.
"I was the one who pulled him out of Ephiny's womb before they were both dead."
"That explains the name and all." Xena nodded just as an Eleven-year-old Solan ran in.
"Xena!" Solan exclaimed. He started to hug her when he saw Daniel. He stopped and backed up.
"Who's he?" Solan asked.
"Daniel," Xena said drinking in the sight of her beautiful son, she hadn't seen him since he was five years old. He had grown so much in the pass six years just like Daniel. She forced her tears to stay back even though her eyes glazed over. Daniel woke up at the sound of his name.
"Solan?" Daniel asked her.
"Yeah, Solan's here, wake up." Daniel yawned and rubbed his eyes. He slid down and turned to his brother looking up at him. Daniel was short for his age, but was capable of doing anything.
"Hi Solan," Daniel said holding out his hand.
"Hi," Solan said. He looked at Xena. "Is he your son?"
"Yes, Daniel's my son," Xena answered. "Come on let's go somewhere private we have a lot to talk about before I do anything else." Solan nodded. Daniel followed them into Solan's bedroom. He set down his books. "Daniel go back in front, get to know Kaleipus but don't go outside."
"But I wanna hear," Daniel whined.
"Do you want me to give Monkey away?" Xena asked. Daniel's eyes went wide and shook his head no as he walked backwards out and closed the door. "Stop eavesdropping."
"Okay mommy." She heard him walking away. Solan sat on the bed and Xena turned towards Solan. She took a deep breath and was about to start when Solan spoke.
"Why did you have him?" Solan asked. "Don't you love me?" Xena looked at him confused. The words sounded like that of a jealous older sibling.
"What?" Xena asked.
"Why did you leave and never come back, do you know what I dreamed every night as I counted the days until you were suppose to come back to the village?" Xena shook her head. "I dreamed that you would adopt me and be my mother. I thought you loved me enough, but you don't. When I heard you had finally come back I thought maybe it wasn't to late for you to be my mother, but you found another son now." Xena's shoulder's slumped forward.
"Solan, I love you more than you'll ever know, but Daniel is not a replacement. Honest to the Gods I had every intention of coming back to you when I said I would, but sometimes the fates throw you curve balls that alter your life. My curve ball sent me Daniel and led me to Egypt for six years."
"You could've written to me."
"I wish I could have, but I had to end all contact with my friends and family in Greece, but I'm through running. My family and friends are not worth sacrificing when I can fight back. I should have come back a long time ago, but it's the choice I made and I can live with it because Daniel is alive today and happy."
"Was he in danger?" Solan asked.
"He still is, but I can't teach him to run, it's as much his problem as it is mine and we'll face it when the problem appears. I'm just sorry that you were disappointed and hurt. I didn't mean to hurt you." Xena rubbed the side of his face as she was bent down in front of him. She kissed his forehead.
"So you'll adopt me and be my mother. I know Uncle will be upset, but I'll come back and visit him often."
"Solan I won't adopt you."
"Huh?" He looked confused, upset, and hurt.
"Don't be upset, the reason I won't adopt you is because I'm your real mother." He was so confused he had no room to be upset or hurt.
"What?" Solan asked. She launched into the story of his birth. When she finished he finally understood. He told her to get out and that he hated her.
"I'll be at the tavern than." She held back her tears and went in to say goodnight to Xenon like she promised before she took Daniel to the tavern. She put on a brave face for those she passed even as she stabled Argo. They went straight up to their room.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Daniel asked concerned seeing a few tears escape as she undressed him. She didn't speak as she put him in his night tunic.
"Get some rest." Daniel nodded and lay down. She was so upset at Solan's words she neglected to tuck him in or give him a kiss so he didn't sleep, but watched her silently cry as she set on the edge of the bed. He was suddenly filled with anger at Solan for making her cry. There was a knock on the door and he shut his eyes and pretended to sleep. Xena wiped her eyes and face. She glanced back at Daniel before getting up. She opened the door to reveal a village woman.
"Kaleipus asks that you join his war council and sends his apologies." Xena nodded. "He says I am to stay with the child you brought with you."
"Yes, he's asleep, but if he wakes up and wants me bring him to me." She nodded.
"He's in the meeting hut." Xena nodded. She looked to make sure Daniel was safe in his bed before leaving out. The woman came inside the room and shut the door. She sat in a chair by the fire and began sewing. Daniel only had to wait for her to fall asleep. He crept out of bed and dressed himself. He left without anyone giving him a second glance. He found Kaleipus's hut and went inside and found Solan at the table eating dinner or more like picking at it.
"What are you doing here?" Solan asked with malice. Daniel pulled out his staff and put it together.
"You're gonna pay for making mommy cry."
"So what, what about what she did to me?" Solan asked angry that his six-year-old brother thought he could harm him. He grabbed his staff. He walked around the table so there was nothing between them.
"All you think about is your self all mommy ever did was love you, you were almost all she talked about. I didn't have to bring you up and ask everyday when we were going to see you so she'd miss you more so I could have a big brother. Now I don't want one because you're selfish and you made her cry."
"She left me," Solan said.
"She protected you just like she protected me. Now you must pay for your crime." Daniel attacked with such skill and almost caught Solan unaware but he was the son of the warrior princess too and his skills came almost naturally. They took the fight out into the streets. Solan had a bloody nose and Daniel had a head injury. They both landed an equal number of hits on the other's body. Solan was going for a roundhouse kick and Daniel was already ducking and about to sweep his unprotected leg out from under him. They hadn't realized that they had burst into the meeting hut. Xena caught Solan's kick and Daniel's staff.
"He started it!" They said at the same time realizing their surroundings and the force of nature that had stopped them.
"I don't care both of you to the tavern now and wait for me there for sentencing," Xena ordered. Her voice was devoid of emotion except anger. They started back. "Your staffs." They handed them over. They walked off and she turned back around.
"Well men if we're done here until morning." Kaleipus nodded and she left out. He did not follow her knowing this was something she had to do as a mother and not just to Daniel, but to Solan even if he felt like her rights were gone and Solan was his. The village woman woke up when she came in, she was shocked but left quickly at Xena's word. Xena pulled out her healer's kit after she set the staffs in the corner.
"Mommy…" Daniel started.
"Stop Daniel I'm not falling for your crocodile tears." She turned around and inspected his face. He had a nasty bump that had a open wound on it. It was bleeding and Solan had a bloody nose and cut lip. "Hold this to your nose and you hold this to your cut." They did as they were told. She mixed a poultice for their cuts and bruises.
"Mommy it's his fault, he made you cry." Xena stiffened. If she had of paid more attention she would have noticed he wasn't asleep, but she was too upset at Solan's words.
"It's your fault you attacked me."
"Shut up, Solan you're older you should know better and Daniel you're old enough to know better than attack anyone like that. I told you the staff was defense only, You're grounded until further notice." Xena turned to Solan after she applied the poultice to Daniel's wound. "And you, you're grounded for three months and you will do community service the entire time and for three weeks after."
"But…"
"Don't but me. Show me all your bruises. I've never been more disappointed in either of you." They did and she rubbed a different mixture of herbs in. Once their injuries were taken care of they both suffered their first spanking together than she made them stand in a corner to think about what they had done. When she thought that they had had enough time in the corner on their knees she made them hug and apologize just like her mother use to make her and Torres do. It never worked, but it was better they learn to apologize with a hug.
"I don't ever want to see you two fighting again, if I do that spanking you both got will feel like an insect bite is that understood?" They nodded. They walked Solan back to Kaleipus's hut. Daniel was silent as he dressed himself for bed. She didn't look at him at all. He lay down watching her as she changed.
"Go to sleep," Xena ordered.
"I can't until you kiss me good night and tuck me in." Xena walked over.
"After your appalling behavior you don't deserve it," Xena said as she tucked him in after she got in and kissed his forehead. He frowned as she turned away from him. He wanted to be held and sang too but he knew that wouldn't happen. He dropped off and she gave into her feelings and pulled him close.