CHAPTER 11

The journey to Caria had taken days, and everyone was exhausted from such a long trip. But it had been worth it. Everyone was returning home safe and sound. The end of the road was near. They had arrived in familiar territory, which rejuvenated their spirits. With sweet smiles on their faces, they reveled in the joy of being back in their homeland. It was noon when they arrived in Karia. The sun was smiling down on them from directly overhead, peeking through the trees. The people, aware of their approach, were ready to celebrate this victory. The news of their defeat of the Persians had long been delivered by carrier pigeon, and the townsfolk had been prepared for days, waiting to kick off the celebration. In fact, they had stationed two watchmen on the hill in shifts for this purpose. The watchmen had been waiting for their return for days when suddenly one of them spotted a crowd of horsemen coming toward them from behind the mountain.

"They're coming, they're coming," he said excitedly, lowering his binoculars.
"You said that last time too, and when they got closer, we realized it was just a flock of sheep."
"No, no, this time I'm sure. If you don't believe me, take a closer look."

The other watchman eagerly took the binoculars and wouldn't believe his eyes. He looked again to make sure. This time his friend wasn't mistaken. It was indeed them. He started running down the hill with excitement.

"They're coming!…. They're coming, get ready!..."

In his excitement, he wasn't running down the hill so much as rolling down.

"Let the celebrations begin; our heroes are returning. Let's welcome them as they deserve."

They had planned a magnificent feast for them; music, dance, and drinks were all ready. Seeing the watchman running down the hill, the rest quickly got to work finishing the celebration preparations. One group was turning lamb on the fire, another was cooking rice in enormous cauldrons, and another was bringing barrels filled with wine to the celebration area. A choir and dance troupe featuring ethnic music were waiting for their arrival, eager to start singing and dancing. As soon as Xena, Gabrielle, and their army set foot in the lands of Caria, the people welcomed them with flowers and applause. Caria was now theirs. They could continue living in their small town in peace and happiness. Xenia spotted Luna running towards her from a distance. Luna was shouting with joy.

"You're back! You're back!.."

Xenia jumped down from her horse and hugged Luna tightly.

"Yes, we're back. How I've missed you."

"You defeated the enemies, didn't you?"

"Yes, we did."

"I wish I could have been with you. I can only imagine how amazing you looked in battle. That's so cool."

"Yes, it was truly amazing. I would have loved for you to see it too. But it was also very dangerous. If you had been there, you would have been in danger, and I would never want that to happen."

"Why?"

"Because you are very precious to me."

Luna hugged Xenia with a big smile on her face.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Suddenly, Luna paused.

"What about my dad? Wasn't he with you? Where is he now?"

Having been a witness to the conversation between Xenia and Luna for a while, Gabrielle dismounted and joined them.

"Oh dear Luna. Your father has gone far away on a very important mission."

"Did he go very far?"

"Yes, it's a very important assignment."

After saying this, Gabrielle looked at Xena, who was getting down from her horse.

"I want to introduce you to someone important, Xena. This beautiful, smart, and skilled little girl is your granddaughter, Luna."

Before anyone could say anything, a voice rang out from a distance.

"Mom?"

When Xena looked toward the source of the voice, she saw her daughter Eve standing there, frozen in surprise.

"Is that really you, Xena? Are you my mom?"

With tears in her eyes, Xena nodded and pursed her lips. She reached out as if to embrace her. Eve ran over and hugged her mother tightly, filled with longing.

"Mom... where have you been? You can't imagine how much I've missed you."

As Xena held her daughter, she reflected on how much time they had lost. She held Eve by her shoulders and noticed how the years had matured her. Yet she could still see the familiar sparkle in her daughter's eyes from her babyhood. No matter how many years went by or how old Eve got, she would always be that little baby crawling in the forest in her green dress and hat. That would never change. Even if Eve was almost 50 years old, it remained true. As she stroked her daughter's hair with trembling hands, she couldn't take her eyes off her. But she didn't speak. While looking at her mother's weary face, Eve sensed something was off. Who knows what her mother had gone through? How had she survived? Sensing her unanswered questions, she glanced at Gabrielle.

"Eve. Your mother has been through tough times; we need help. Also, Solan..."

Suddenly, Gabrielle's sentence trailed off as she became aware of Luna's presence beside them. She paused, took Luna's hand, and leaned down to her eye level.

"Sweetheart, why don't you play with Xenia for a bit? Grandmothers are very tired and want to rest."

"But I…"

"Can you give us a little time to rest?"

"But after everything…" Eve said.

Gabrielle interrupted Eve.

"Let's meet in my yurt after taking a little rest."

Eve had to comply with what Gabrielle had said. Two days ago, during her journey back from India, she had reflected on everything she experienced while withdrawing to a high-energy spot. She thought about the difficulties she faced with her mother, the injustices she did to her, and her longing for her mother. Moments of her gladiatorial battles with Gabrielle in Rome flashed before her eyes. How cruel she had been to her mother. Yet her mother did not respond in kind. As Eve grew older, she came to understand just how vicious her actions had been, and every day she felt regret for what she had done to her mother. During her time of retreat, she deeply wished to see her mother. She had thought this would happen in Elisian Fields. She never expected her prayers to be answered so quickly. But now her mother was right in front of her. Why wasn't she speaking?

While she was lost in these thoughts, Luna approached her. Suddenly, she remembered her brother. As she gently stroked the child's head, she hoped to find answers to all the questions in her mind within a few hours. When she looked at Xenia and Luna chatting together, it felt like she was seeing her mother and Gabrielle. Xenia's cool recounting of events in Persia resembled her mother's youth. Luna sat on a tree branch, listening to her with admiration. Her eyes would occasionally widen in astonishment at what Xenia was saying. Sometimes her amazement was so great that she made sounds filled with wonder. Eve looked at them and smiled. There stood young Xena and Gabrielle right before her. One was Gabrielle's daughter, and the other was Xena's granddaughter. And she was also her beloved niece.

"Teach me how to use a sword," Luna said to Xenia.

"But I'm not that good either. Your grandmother is much better than anyone at swordplay."

"My grandmother?"

"Yes. I'm sure that once you rest a bit, you'll want to get to know her. Your grandmother is the warrior princess Xena."

"Xena? The warrior princess from the tales?"

"Yes, that's her!"

"Oh wow, that's so cool. Maybe one day I'll be a warrior like her, what do you think?"
"Of course you can, you're very talented."
"Should we go to her?"
"I don't think now is the right time. She's a bit unwell. Her throat hurts, and she can't talk. She'll speak with you when she gets better, don't worry."

Xenia guessed that Xena wouldn't want to leave her granddaughter with questions due to things that were hard to explain. She knew that when the time came, Xena would make time for her.
Within a few hours, they had gathered at Gabrielle's yurt. Xena, Gabrielle, Eve, Virgil, Americe, and the White Hawk were all there. Everyone was eagerly waiting for Gabrielle to speak. Just as Gabrielle was about to start, there was a knock at the door. Gabrielle called out,

"We're not available right now, whoever you are, please come back in a few hours."
"Mom, it's me, Xenia."
"Baby, we're in an important meeting right now."
"I know. I want to join too."
"But you…."
"I'm not little anymore, Mom. Plus, I've been through everything too. I know more about Xena lately than you do."

Gabrielle paused. "Okay… You're right… You can come…"

Xenia quietly entered amidst the silent gazes of the others and took her place among them.

"Yes, if everyone is here, we can start. The reason I gathered you all here is to discuss the disasters that have befallen us and to gather your thoughts on possible solutions. You are my family. Yes, after many years, I have reunited with the biggest part of my family."

Gabrielle smiled and looked at Xena. She gently placed her hand over Xena's hand and squeezed it. Xena reciprocated in kind, squeezing her hand back. These hands had waited a long time to meet. They had held swords, bows, and pens, but had only found this warmth in each other's hands. Gabrielle thought to herself, I hope our hands never part again. Then she looked at the others.

"But Xena can't speak. She shouldn't be able to. We don't know why. She can't explain it to us. All I know is the unbearable pain I feel whenever she speaks."

Everyone looked at each other in shock.

"How can this be? Why would her speaking hurt you?" said Americe in surprise.

"Maybe it was just a coincidence. Perhaps your pain at that moment had nothing to do with Xena's speaking," Virgil said.

"No, it's happened twice. It has to do with me." She said so herself.

"Then why?" Eve asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. I wish she could explain."

"There must be a way to explain."

"But how?"

"She could write it down," Xenia suggested.

Gabrielle liked this idea. "Yes, we can do that. Xenia, go get my parchments and quill from inside," she said excitedly.

Xenia eagerly jumped up and brought the parchment and quill, placing them in front of Xena.

"Come on, you write, and I will read it to everyone."

Xena nodded and took the quill in her hand. She hadn't held a pen in a long time. She started to write slowly, and everyone patiently waited to see what she would write.

"I've waited a long time to be here. It's worth everything to be with you. My dear family...

When Xenia read this aloud, everyone looked at her with tearful eyes.

"But why can't you speak?" Virgil asked.

"It's a pact. An agreement in exchange for my return."

"How? With whom?"

"Shahmeran!"

"Shahmeran?" said Virgil. "I know Shahmeran."

"How do you know?" Gabrielle asked excitedly.

"There was a tavern run by my mom and dad, remember?"

"Yes, we remember," they all replied together.

"There was a painting hanging on the wall. My father used to tell stories about it. He called her the queen of serpents. She was very powerful but also merciful. I don't know much, but…"

"Anyway, you should keep writing, Xena. Will it continue like this forever? Isn't there a way?" Gabrielle said.

Xena was writing while Xenia was reading.
"There is. But I don't know it."
"How do you know it exists?"
"Shahmeran told me. But she didn't tell me how to find it."
"Well, how will we learn? There must be a way to communicate with her."
"Can't we find where she lives?" Americe asked.
"Only in dreams," Virgil replied.
"In dreams? How?" Eve asked curiously.

"My father explained it like this. Shahmeran can communicate in dreams with people who have a pure heart and a high spiritual power. She lives in another dimension. You can only access that dimension through dreams."

Everyone turned to Eve at once.
"I don't know if I can do that," Eve said anxiously.
"There's nothing to doubt in this. I hope you give it a try for your mothers," Americe said.
"Of course, I will try. But I don't know if I have enough strength."
"If Solan weren't in this situation, I'm sure he could do it too," Gabrielle said.

Then she revealed the truth about Solan to everyone. She explained that the person they had known for years as the Enlightened One was actually Xena's son Solan, who had died years ago, and why he had come here from Heaven for his mother. Because he had remained a child in Heaven for years, he should have been older than Eve, yet he appeared younger. The spell had broken, and Solan had transformed into a hawk. Gabrielle saw no harm in everyone knowing this. When she finished speaking, everyone was astonished into silence. They couldn't find anything to say. They had learned too much in one day and were bewildered about what to think.

They had a long discussion among themselves to evaluate the situation. In the end, Eve decided to prepare for her dream of prophetic revelation that night. She mentioned that she needed to perform purification rituals before doing so. By the time the meeting was over, it was quite dark, and midnight had passed. As Eve left to make her preparations for the evening's vision, the others yawned and returned to their homes, weary from the journey. Xenia had fallen asleep in a fetal position while listening to the discussions.

Occasionally waking, she would say, "I'm not sleeping; I'm just resting my eyes," and drift back into sleep. This situation amused Xena and Gabrielle.

Only Xena and Gabrielle remained at the table. Gabrielle looked at Xena with misty eyes, letting out a deep sigh. There were profound meanings hidden in that sigh. A gentle breeze from the slightly open window stirred Gabrielle's red curls. The light from the gas lamp on the table cast glimmers in Xena's green eyes, and she gazed at her in admiration. Gabrielle swallowed hard.

"Here you are. You're in our home. I've imagined you sitting here beside me for years, and now you're actually here. But you can't speak. That must be so difficult."

Xena looked at her with the shy expression of a child. Her face seemed to want to convey much. Finally, she decided to express her thoughts on paper again. Then, she began to write something down. For a while, she remained silent as she wrote. She wrote... Gabrielle got up to close the slightly open window. The air had turned quite chilly. She went to put on her nightgown. Xena had finished her writing. Then her gaze fell upon Xenia, who was asleep in the curled position on her chair due to fatigue. Xena stood up and lifted Xenia into her arms in one motion. As she carried her to her bed, she left the parchment she had just written on on Gabrielle's lap. Gabrielle curiously began to read the writings on the parchment placed before her.

"There's a moment when I look at you, and no words are left in me; my tongue breaks, then fire races under my skin, and I tremble and grow pale, for I am dying of such love, or so it seems to me."

This was the poem of Sappho, and it was signed with a kiss….