GABRIELLE
It's very nice of you to help with this. You know you really don't have to do this Cyrene.
The older woman chuckled as she sat a cup of warm tea in front of Gabrielle and moved to sit down across the counter from the young woman with her own cup.
CYRENE
Don't be silly Gabrielle of course I'm gonna help with this.
Cyrene smiled.
CYRENE
It's notevery day that my only daughter gets married after all. And to one of the most wonderfully sweet people a mother could ever hope for one of her children to find.
Gabrielle smiled as she tried to wave off the compliment and minor embarrassment that came with it.
GABRIELLE
You're far too kind, Cyrene.
CYRENE
Nonsense. It's only because of you that I have a relationship with my daughter again. The change I've seen in her, it's like night and day.
Cyrene reached across the counter and put her hand over Gabrielle's.
CYRENE
Thank you Gabrielle. I will forever be grateful for the way you've not only affected Xena's life, but for all the pain you prevented from taking place at her hands. You have no idea the impact you've made on so many lives. Including Xena's and mine.
Gabrielle sat there for a moment unsure of how to respond to such a statement that carried so much weight to it.
GABRIELLE
I, don't know what to say. Both you and Xena seem to think that I have some kind of ability to make people change who they are, but I haven't actually done anything.
CYRENE
But you have.
Gabrielle gave Cyrene a questioning expression.
GABRIELLE
Again Xena said the same thing, but I don't see how I could've possibly done anything that would have madeXenachange the very person she was. Honestly I can't really see anyone being able to make Xena do anything.
CYRENE
Maybe not but it's as much what you've done Gabrielle, but who you are that seems to have an effect on everyone around you. The biggest being Xena herself. And for that I could never thank you enough.
Gabrielle smiled slightly in response before a question came to her mind that she hadn't thought to ask before, and her expression went serious.
GABRIELLE
Cyrene, can I ask you something?
CYRENE
Of course. Is something wrong?
GABRIELLE
Well it's just I...
Gabrielle paused unsure if she should ask about something so personal that likely had a lot of painful memories attached but felt a gentle touch on her hand that sat on the kitchen counter that got her attention to see Cyrene wearing a slightly worried look on her face.
CYRENE
Gabrielle, what ever it is I hope you know that you can always talk to me about anything. I know we may not be blood, but you're marrying my daughter makes you family. So while I would never try taking the place of your actual mother, I would hope that you can feel comfortable enough to come to me with anything that's on your mind, whatever it is.
Knowing that the woman meant every word of what she said, Gabrielle took a small breath before she asked Cyrene what was going through her mind.
GABRIELLE
Well you see for as much as I know about Xena and have learned that a good deal of what I had heard about her isn't true. There's still something I don't know, and that's how she even became the person she was when I first met her. I mean no one just decides to turn to the kind of life she's lead on a whim, do they?
CYRENE
No I suppose they don't.
Cyrene let out a small sigh.
CYRENE
I would've thought you would've had this conversation with Xena a while ago. But then again, it isn't exactly something that she likes to talk about. And given that you're set to be her wife, it only seems right that you know why she ended up the way she was. Or at least how it all started.
Cyrene took a sip of her tea as she gathered her thoughts before placing the cup back down in front of her and continued.
CYRENE
You see Gabrielle I don't know if you're aware, but Xena isn't my only child.
GABRIELLE
Wait, Xena's not an only child? She never mentioned that. Then again, she doesn't really talk much about her life before I came along.
CYRENE
I assume now it's because she's ashamed of the things she's done, and she's afraid that telling you will drive you away.
GABRIELLE
But I already know alot of it from what I've heard either before coming here, what I've found in the archives, as well as what I've seen first hand. And even knowing all that, I still love her because I see that she's not that person anymore. So I don't get why she would think that talking to me about this kind of thing would change that.
CYRENE
Well I can't be certain, but maybe it's just not easy for her to talk about because it means that she has to face what she's done. But maybe if you ask, she'll eventually open up about some of it. But I guess that this particular topic might be really difficult for Xena to talk about, and giving my involvement in the situation I think she would be okay with my telling you about Lyceus.
GABRIELLE
Who's Lyceus?
CYRENE
Lyceus is... or was my son and Xena's brother. Along with my other son, Torris. And well you see growing up with just brothers, Xena was never really interested in the typical things that most young girls like her were into. She was far more interested in rough housing, playing with wooden swords and all the things that her brother's and the other village boys were doing.
Gabrielle chuckled at the thought of Xena as a little girl running around a village and all the things she must've gotten into.
GABRIELLE
Somehow that doesn't surprise me one bit.
CYRENE
Looking at who she grew up to be, I guess it wouldn't. But as I was saying out of all three of my children Xena and Lyceuswere the closest. Probably because the two had very similar spirits that seemed to be drawn to adventure, whatever it looked like. Whereas Torris didn't have quite the same disposition for such things. It was a simple life but a good one, and that was all I had ever wanted for my children.
Cyrene sighed sadly.
CYRENE
But as it would turn out, it would seem that the fates had a far different and much cruelest plan.
GABRIELLE
Why, what happened?
CYRENE
Well when Xena was a little younger than you our village, Amphipolis was attacked by an army. The people of the village wanted to surrender in the hopes that we would be spared from being killed, but Xena insisted that they wouldn't take mercy on us and that the village had to take a stand and fight back to defend ourselves. And so she rallied a number of the men in the village to take up weapons and fight to defend the village. And among those people were Lyceusand Torris.
Cyrene shook her head sadly as she continued.
CYRENE
The battle was long and while the army was driven off, so many of our people had fallen during the fighting. And tragically, one of the people who lost their lives that day was Lyceus.
Gabrielle could see the pain in Cyrene's expression as the older woman brushed away a single tear that had worked its way to the corner of her eye.
GABRIELLE
I'm so sorry Cyrene. I can't imagine what that must've been like to lose one of your children in such a terrible way.
CYRENE
It was the worst day of my life. And in my grief and pain over losing my son and with the ones who attacked us gone,needingsomeone to blame for his death. It wasn't right, but I lashed out and placed all the blame for everything on Xena. Because she was the one who told us to fight. So in my grief stricken mind she was just as responsible for Lyceusbeing killed then if she had wielded the blade that had killed him herself.
Cyrene shook her head as Gabrielle sat there quietly, not knowing what to say. She never imagined that Xena had gone through something so tragic as she listened to Cyrene continue.
CYRENE
I was so upset about Lyceusand angry at Xena that I just lost my senses. I slapped her in the face multiple times as hard as I could as I screamed and cried. I told her that it was her fault that Lyceuswas dead. Her fault that so many others had died. And that was a sentiment that the rest of the surviving villagers shared.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly angry tone) So everyone blamed Xena for what happened? But that's not fair, from what you just said she was only trying to protect the village,
CYRENE
(Sad tone) I know. And I wish more than anything that I could go back and change how things played out. Because while that was the day that we lost Lyceus, it was also the day that the Xena I had raised also died. She left the village and never returned. And after a while I started hearing rumors of the things she was doing. Going around building an army, raiding village's. Raiding, pillaging, killing. The things I heard her doing all in the name of what she had claimed to be for the benefit of Amphipolis and of Greece as a whole, But I'm sure Xena will even agree now that wasn't really the case. Although it might have started out that way, her reasoning for what she was doing quickly turned selfish. I ended up ashamed that I had even given birth to someone who could cause so much pain and destruction. And so I disowned her and decided that I only had one child remaining in this world.
GABRIELLE
I had no idea.
Gabrielle sat there for a couple of moments as she let all the new knowledge of some of Xena's history sink in, before speaking again.
GABRIELLE
I'm sure it wasn't easy after all that, but I'm glad that you and Xena have been able to mend your relationship.
A soft smile found its way to the older woman's face.
CYRENE
Me too.
Cyrene picked up her cup of tea and took a couple sips before putting it back down.
CYRENE
Now why don't we get back to a happier subject, and you can tell me what sort of plans you have for your and Xena's wedding. Because if I recall correctly when Xena asked me to help out with planning things when I asked her about what she wanted she just said that she'd be happy with whatever made you happy, telling me quote "Whatever Gabrielle wants, Gabrielle gets."
Cyrene chuckled.
CYRENE
I never thought I'd see the day, where anyone would have Xena wrapped around their finger like she is with you. But aside from everything else, you make her happy and as her mother that's one more thing that I have to thank you for, Gabrielle. So why don't we get to work on getting this wedding planning underway.
And so Gabrielle and Cyrene sat there for a while talking casually as Gabrielle gave the ideas she came up with for some of what she wanted and what Xena would like for the wedding. The conversation was full of joy and laughter as they went over multiple aspects of the wedding while at Gabrielle's request, Cyrene shared some of the happier memories of what Xena was like as a little girl that had the young woman fascinated by who xena was as a child before she embarked on her dark path to becoming the fearsome Conqueror of legend.
GABRIELLE
(Laughing) I still can't believe even as a child Xena thought having a pet chimera was a good idea. What was she planning on doing treating it like a puppy?
Cyrene chuckled.
CYRENE
She really was always a bold one. And the name she already had picked out for it too wasn't much better of an idea either. I think it was Cupid or something like that.
Hearing that the child version of Xena wanted to name a chimera Cupid made Gabrielle laugh even harder as she made a metal note to bring that up to with Xena later just to see her reaction, but had her plan abruptly put to a stop when she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
XENA
(Joking tone) Thank you mother, I'm glad you seem to be enjoying ruining what little reputation as a fearsome leader that I still have left around here.
Gabrielle turned slightly on the stool side was sitting on to see Xena standing beside her with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face that after a moment changed to a small smirk.
XENA
And I was gonna name it Charon, not Cupid.
Cyrene chuckled.
CYRENE
Oh that's right. I guess Charon the chimera does have a better ring to it after all.
Xena gave her mother a disapproving stare before hearing Gabrielle's laughter that quickly brought her back to why she had come there in the first place and Cyrene noticed the sudden shift in Xena's demeanor as she turned her attention to the young woman.
XENA
Gabrielle there's something important I need to talk to you about.
Seeing what looked to be a sad seriousness on Xena's face, Gabrielle could tell that something was clearly on Xena's mind.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
Xena looked at her mother who could tell from the look on her face that something was wrong and though it best to excuse herself to give the other two women some privacy to discuss whatever it was that Xena had to speak to Gabrielle about.
CYRENE
You know Gabrielle I think we did plenty wedding planning for today, So I think I'm gonna head off for a little walk for a bit before I get started on preparing dinner.
Cyrene untied the apron she had around her waist and sat it on the counter.
CYRENE
So I'll just leave the two of you to talk and come back later.
With a small smile Cyrene turned to walk away and placed a hand on Xena's shoulder as she walked by to try giving her daughter some encouragement and support for whatever she had to tell Gabrielle. Once Cyrene left the kitchen, and it was just Xena and herself, Gabrielle stood up and moved to stand in front of the Conqueror.
GABRIELLE
Xena is something wrong?
XENA
Actually Gabrielle, I think you might wanna stay sitting down for this.
Placing a hand on Gabrielle's back, Xena guided the young woman back to the stool she had been sitting on just a moment prior and waited a moment as Gabrielle sat back down.
GABRIELLE
What's going on?
Taking a breath to figure out how to tell Gabrielle what she found out about her sister, Xena did her best to mentally prepare herself for however Gabrielle might react to what she was about to say as she pulled up another stool and sat directly across from Gabrielle, close enough so she could easily just reach the blonde.
XENA
Gabrielle I don't know how to say this, but I just got word from the scouts that I sent out a while back looking for your family, and from the way you described her after I said I'd look for her, I'm almost positive that after a lot of searching, we finally know where your sister is.
Hearing the words that had Xena had just spoken, Gabrielle could hardly believe her ears as she found herself feeling estaic that Xena had actually managed to locate her sister.
GABRIELLE
(Joyful tone) You found Lila?! Really?
Before Xena had the chance to continue, Gabrielle sprung forward from her seat and wrapped her arms around her neck as she hugged her.
GABRIELLE
I don't know how to even begin to thank you for this Xena. I can't tell you what this means to me.
With a sad expression Gabrielle couldn't see, Xena put her arms around the young woman and held her for a moment knowing that what she was about to say nest would almost certainly break Gabrielle's heart.
XENA
Gabrielle listen, there's more that I need to tell you about what we found when your sister was located.
Hearing the soft, sadness in Xena's voice, Gabrielle pulled back and looked up at the taller woman.
GABRIELLE
What about it?
XENA
I don't know how to tell this, but it turns out that the man who runs the group of slavers that attacked your village and kidnapped your sister, mother and the others from your village, Draco. He's had your sister for all this time and well...
Xena paused, not knowing how to tell Gabrielle the next part of what was discovered about what her sister's life had been like since the two were separated all those months ago. But felt that she should know giving the fact that Lila was her family and to prepare Gabrielle as best she could for what her sister might be like when they were hopefully reunited. Although knowing what she had to tell Gabrielle didn't make it any easier to actually do, as Xena searched for the gentlest way to tell Gabrielle what her sister had been forced to endure.
XENA
Gabrielle, do you know what a body slave is?
GABRIELLE
A body slave? No, I never heard of that. Why, is that supposed to be different from any other slave?
Xena let out a sad sigh as she had never imagined that she would ever have to explain such a thing to Gabrielle and again tried to come up with the most sensitive way to explain the horrific life that the young woman's sister had been forced into.
XENA
Well, I suppose when you think about it, a body slave technically isn't really much different from a standard slave in the fact that they both have to do whatever the person who owns them says. But where a standard slave is typically used for manual labor or tending to household chores such as cooking and cleaning. A body slave is made to tend to the... physical desires of the people they serve.
GABRIELLE
The physical desires of the people they serve...
Xena watched as Gabrielle fell silent for a long moment as the young woman looked down seemingly in thought, leaving Xena unsure if she had explained what she meant too vaguely for Gabrielle to understand what she meant. But just as the Conqueror was about to ask Gabrielle if she understood, she heard the young woman begin to softly sob and Xena swiftly stood and wrapped the young blonde in her arms who almost immediately after being wrapped in Xena's embrace, completely broke down and wept for her sister Lila as Gabrielle learned what she had been suffering through. All the while Xena's heart broke for the young woman in her arms as she wished more than anything that she could take her pain away. But knowing that she couldn't , instead did the next best thing that she could think to do as she stood there in the kitchen, holding the young woman who had inadvertently changed everything in her life tight.
XENA
I'll get her away from him. I promise Gabrielle, whatever it takes I'll get your sister back from Draco.
(Quiet angry tone) I don't care if it's the last thing I do, that son of a bitch is gonna pay for everything he's done. I'm gonna make sure that he'll never be able to hurt anyone else like you or your sister ever again.
TO BE CONTINUED...