It was a few days after Draco's defeat and Xena, Gabrielle and everyone else returned to the keep. Aside from the initial, brief celebration of the warlord no longer being a threat, it was all business as usual for those in the Conqueror's employ. And for Xena, even though she still had to perform the typical duties required of a good ruler to maintain order over her large expanse of territory, it was the first time in months that she felt like she was finally able to fully relax and not have to think about the possibility of an immanent attack of scheme. And as Xena sat in her study gazing out of her window, she smiled to herself as she remembered the reason how the conflict between herself and Draco had started over a dispute over which of them controlled what part of Greece. But yet when the Conqueror was out on the battlefield finally getting to confront the warlord, the thoughts of who owned what piece of land never came to mind even once. Instead, her only goal was to bring the warlord's reign of terror to an end and to protect those like Lila from being victimized any further by him or his men. So as Xena turned to resume going through the newly arrived letters on her desk, she glanced over to the door for a moment as her thoughts turned to Gabrielle as she thought of putting her work off to go find her soon-to-be bride, but instead decided against it as she figured it would be better to give the young woman some time alone with her sister and instead returned to the task of working to decide what she was going to do with all the land that she had acquired from Draco's death. Which was just one more thing that Xena had decided that she needed to get sorted out. Along with a number of other things that since returning to the keep, she had begun to contemplate making arrangements for.
GABRIELLE
Is it okay if I come in?
After giving a small knock, Gabrielle cracked open the door to the room that had been prepared for Lila and peeked her head in to see her younger sister sitting at the small table by the window and walked in as Lila looked at her for a moment before returning her gaze out the window as she shrugged in indifference. Taking the nonverbal response as an invitation, Gabrielle walked into the room and walked over to stand against the wall across from where Lila was sitting as an uncomfortable silence hung between them for a moment before Gabrielle spoke despite not really knowing what she should say.
GABRIELLE
So how's the room? You know if there's anything you need all you have to do is say so, and we'll get it for you right away.
LILA
(Monotone) I'm fine.
GABRIELLE
Okay. Well when you do all you have to do is talk to anyone any it'll be taken care of.
Just making a small sound that said she understood, Lila returned her attention toward the window as more silence filled the room as Gabrielle watched her sister for a moment as she tried to think of what she should say. Because while she was beyond ecstatic to finally see Lila safe, knowing at least some of what her sister had gone through made their reunion far more difficult for Gabrielle than she had escaped, because as much as she wanted to do whatever she could to try and help Lila heal, Gabrielle was at a complete loss for where she should even begin. Especially because the last thing she ever wanted to do was to accidentally cause her sister anyone pain or trauma than she already had endured.
GABRIELLE
So how are you today?
LILA
Fine.
GABRIELLE
That's good.
More awkward silence found its way into the room until not being able to stand the way her own sister was acting so uncomfortably around her, Lila spoke again.
LILA
(Slightly Irritated tone) You know you don't have to treat me like I'm a fragile piece of pottery that'll shatter at the slightest breeze.
GABRIELLE
What? But I'm not I just...
Lila scowled as she looked at Gabrielle.
LILA
(Slightly Irritated tone) Yes you are. Ever since we got here you've treated me completely different from the way you used to back home. Instead of talking my ear off about something or other or acting as excited as someone who's about to be married should when talking to their sister. you just keep giving me with that sympathetic look and always asking how I am no matter how many times I tell you I'm okay.
GABRIELLE
I don't mean to, I just...
LILA
(Irritated tone) Don't believe me.
GABRIELLE
No. I mean yes. I mean...
Gabrielle paused as she was at a loss for what she should say while Lila looked away as she continued.
LILA
Look Gabrielle, what happened to me is something that I'm gonna have to live with, and I get that you're trying to help and be careful not to upset me but please I need you to just treat me normal. Stop trying to coddle me. If you don't know what to say that's fine, but stop trying to baby me and just admit that you're uncomfortable and don't know what to say instead.
Gabrielle sighed as she walked over and sat across from her sister.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry Lila. I don't mean to, I just... you're right I don't know what to say or do. But you're my sister and knowing some of what you went through while you were with Draco I just don't know what I can do to help you deal with it all.
Lila reached over and held Gabrielle's hand as she gave a small sad smile.
LILA
I know that, and you can help me by just treating me like your sister nothing more.
Gabrielle put her other hand over Lila's.
GABRIELLE
Okay. I'll try.
A small smile crossed Gabrielle's lips as she gripped her sister's hand a little tighter.
GABRIELLE
So now that we have that sorted out, if you're up to it, how would you feel about helping me do some wedding planning?
Leaning back in her seat, the Conqueror sighed as she tossed her quill on the desk in front of her and picked up the paper she had just finished writing to read it over when she heard a knock on the door to her study and called for the person to enter.
LEONIDAS
Good afternoon my lord.
The lieutenant saluted with a fist held to his chest as he stood in the doorway for a moment before walking up to the desk Xena sat behind.
LEONIDAS
You called for me?
XENA
Yes I have a number of letters and documents here that I need sent out.
Leonidas looked down at the mountain of scrolls that were stacked on the Conqueror's deck.
LEONIDAS
My lord, if you were this far behind on your workload you could have said something.
XENA
Actually this is all new.
Xena chuckled slightly as she picked up a couple of the top scrolls and placed them to the side.
XENA
These are sorting out what to do with Draco's territories that I gained automatically from his death.
LEONIDAS
Aren't you keeping it?
XENA
Nope. I honestly have no desire to pick up where he left off.
Leonidas looked at the Conqueror with a great deal of surprise.
LEONIDAS
But wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to pick up the areas he controlled before someone else takes claim to them?
Xena shrugged.
XENA
It would. But like I said I'm just not interested.
Hearing her uncharacteristic response, the Conqueror's lieutenant stood unsure of what to make of her statement that was completely contradictory to everything he had known the woman's grand ambitions to be.
LEONIDAS
But I thought you wanted to unite all of Greece under your banner?
XENA
The plan's changed.
Xena picked up a scroll while seemingly becoming deep in thought as she continued.
XENA
Just like so much else that has.
The Conqueror rose from her chair as she came out from behind her desk to stand in front of Leonidas as she handed him the scroll.
LEONIDAS
What's this?
XENA
A declaration.
Xena nodded to the large pile of scrolls that remained on her desk.
XENA
The same as all of those. All to be sent out to every city, village and territory under my control.
LEONIDAS
A declaration? May I ask what for?
XENA
The liberation of every piece of land I hold.
LEONIDAS
Liberation.?!
The man could hardly believe what he thought he was hearing.
LEONIDAS
My lord, surely this must be a joke.
XENA
Not at all. But you're free to check for yourself to see that every letter here is one hundred percent official.
Leonidas shook his head in disbelief as he tried to figure out what the Conqueror could have possibly been thinking by doing something like this.
LEONIDAS
I don't understand. Why after everything would, you send out a mass proclamation declaring every territory you hold liberated?
Xena returned to her seat.
XENA
Because honestly after everything that's happened this past year, having all this power, doing whatever I please, going after and crushing anyone who dared to oppose me...
The Conqueror sighed as placed her elbow on the arm of her chair and she shook her head as she rested her chin in her hand.
XENA
None of this feels right anymore.
LEONIDAS
But everything you've done it was for the benefit of Greece and it's people. Wasn't this all to protect Amphipolis and those you loved.
XENA
Maybe it was at one point.
The Conqueror lowered her arm as she looked at Leonidas.
XENA
But come on we both know that hasn't actually had anything to do with what I've done for a very long time.
LEONIDAS
And what about now? Don't the people under your rule deserve the security your rule has brought them? Just like the rest of these lands that would benefit from being brought under your sovereignty?
XENA
The people don't need someone like me ruling over them. My rule has done barely anything to actually change the average person's life. Every day there are people all over who still suffer. They're still victimized by the very things I swore to prevent. Just look at what happened to Gabrielle and her sister. Their village was in an area under my control, but that did nothing to stop Draco from attacking it anyway and because of that, their mother is dead. No one knows what happened to their father. Gabrielle has had to live with the guilt of leaving her family behind after she nearly died escaping from Draco's men. And I don't think I have to remind you what her sister has gone through.
Xena clenched her fists in frustration.
XENA
My rule did nothing to prevent that son of a bitch from causing unforgivable suffering to not only them but so many others. And if I can't stop someone like him from running rampant over the places that are under my control and harm the very people that I'm supposed to keep safe, then all the questionable and down right unforgivable things I've done in the name protecting those very people has all been for nothing aside from serving my own greed and selfishness. Which now is something that I'm ashamed to admit has been all I've truly been doing for far too long. And it's beyond time that comes to an end and I begin trying to make things right. I know I'll never be able to truly make amends for all the suffering I've caused, but if I put at least as much effort as I did into doing things that destroyed people's lives than maybe I can at the very least try and prevent more innocent people from falling victim to the other people like me. Which is why I have to give up this all up. I became what I was because of the anger and lost for power that I thought I needed to achieve my goals.
Xena stood up.
XENA
And now if I want to work to begin making up for all of it, I have to give back what was never really mine to take in the first place.
LEONIDAS
I think I understand.
XENA
Good. Then have those letters sent out as soon as possible.
The Conqueror's lieutenant saluted his leader.
LEONIDAS
Yes my lord, I'll have them delivered to the carrier's right away.
XENA
Very good.
Coming out from behind her desk, Xena walked past Leonidas as she headed to the door to leave her study but stopped when she heard Leonidas ask her something.
LEONIDAS
If I may ask my lord...
The Conqueror looked back at the man.
XENA
Hm?
LEONIDAS
if you're no longer trying to unite Greece, then what will you do?
Not expecting to be asked such a question, Xena stood there as she was thought for a moment.
XENA
Not sure. I've been so busy sorting all the land stuff out, I guess I haven't thought about it. But I'm sure I'll...
Catching a glance of the sun's position outside the windows, Xena paused mid-sentence as her thoughts quickly shifted to a completely different subject that she had almost completely slipped her mind.
XENA
Shit, it's that late already?
LEONIDAS
Something wrong?
XENA
I gotta go. Doing all that took much longer than I thought it would, and I promised Gabrielle I'd meet her for dinner then help her look over the finalized plans for the wedding after I was done here,
Leonidas smirked at the drastic shift in Xena's demeanor when it came to anything involving Gabrielle.
LEONIDAS
(Teasing tone) Well you have better get going then. We wouldn't want to keep the bride to be waiting any longer than she already has, would we?
XENA
(Annoyed tone) Didn't I just give you have a job to do? Quit being a smart ass and get going.
Keeping the knowing smirk on his face and paying no mind to the unhappy scowl on the Conqueror's, Leonidas gave a quick salute before turning to leave.
LEONIDAS
(Disingenuous tone) Yes, my lord.
(Teasing tone) Be sure to say hello to the little one for me.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Out.
The scowl growing on her face, Xena aggressively pointed toward the door and with the stack of scrolls under his arm, Leonidas chuckled as he left and Xena walked out of the room behind him to go meet up with Gabrielle. And as Xena walked briskly down the halls to find the young woman she would soon marry while cursing how hectic her life always seemed to be, she had no way of knowing what laid ahead in the final remaining days before her and Gabrielle's wedding. And as a result just how chaotic the keep would very soon become.
TO BE CONTINUED...