Chapter 19: Fractured Bonds
Ulysses whispered softly,
"Xena, Xena," as he gently rubbed her back. Xena opened her eyes, still groggy and disoriented. She wasn't sure how long she had slept once she finally got to sleep.
"Mykaleia is here, and she wants to reexamine you. I told her that you've been incredibly tired and still feeling sick," he said lovingly. Xena sighed and nodded in agreement. Ulysses smiled softly at Mykaleia and turned to leave.
"Wait," Xena's raspy voice called out. Ulysses immediately stopped and came back to her.
"Yes, my love?"
"Stay with me."
"Of course," he eagerly replied. He then turned to Mykaleia and said,
"I'm sure you don't mind?"
"No, not at all," Mykaleia said. She continued, facing Ulysses and Xena.
"I just want to make sure the pregnancy is progressing smoothly before I give Xena something for her nausea and fatigue. May I begin?" she asked, looking at Xena tenderly.
"Yeah," Xena said. Ulysses clasped her hand in his, running his fingers lazily across hers.
Mykaleia conducted a thorough examination. Xena winced slightly as Mykaleia pressed gently on her abdomen, but Ulysses' presence and the warmth of his hand in hers provided some comfort. He whispered soothing words, trying to ease her discomfort. After a while, Mykaleia straightened up, a reassuring smile on her face.
"Everything looks normal."
"The baby is healthy, and the pregnancy is progressing as it should." Xena let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Ulysses squeezed her hand, relief shining brightly in his eyes. Mykaleia pulled out some herbs from her medical bag.
"Here," she said, handing them to Xena.
"Brew these into a tea. Sip it as much as you like, but at least three cups a day. You'll start to feel better in no time."
"Is that safe for our baby?" he inquired with wide eyes.
"Yes, my king. I've offered it many years to many expecting mothers with no issues." Xena took the herbs gratefully.
"Thank you, Mykaleia."
"My pleasure," Mykaleia replied warmly.
"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call for me." She packed up her things and left the room, leaving Xena and Ulysses alone. Ulysses leaned in and kissed Xena's forehead.
"See? Everything is going to be fine."
"I hope so," Xena said, still feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"I never expected to be feeling this horrible." She felt her eyes watering. Great, she thought, now the hormones were going to take over.
"It's a blessing," Ulysses said softly as he pulled her into his body.
"We're going to have a child, Xena. Our child." Xena looked up at him, a combination of emotions playing across her face.
"I know. It's just... it's hard to function this way."
"I'll be here with you every step of the way," Ulysses promised.
"You're not alone in this." Xena nodded, feeling a bit reassured.
"Thank you, Ulysses. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," he said, pulling her back into a gentle embrace. They stayed like that for a while, finding comfort in each other's presence. Xena eventually pulled away and looked at the herbs Mykaleia had given her.
"I suppose I should make that tea."
"I'll help you," Ulysses offered.
"Let's get you feeling better." Together, they went to the small kitchenette area in their chamber. Ulysses helped Xena prepare the tea, his hands steady as he boiled the water and measured out the herbs. Xena watched him, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. Despite the uncertainty that still lingered, she felt a glimmer of hope.
They sat together as the tea brewed, talking quietly about the future. Ulysses made plans for their child, speaking of the dreams he had for their growing family. Xena listened, feeling her fears slowly dissipate in the face of his support.
When the tea was ready, Ulysses poured a cup for Xena. She took a sip, feeling the warmth of the tea spread through her body. It was soothing, and she could already feel it starting to ease her nausea.
"Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Anything for you, my love," Ulysses replied, kissing her hand.
Zephyra sat at her vanity, styling her hair when there was a knock on her door. She frowned, wondering who it could be. Last she had seen, Ulysses and Xena were in their bed chambers. Casually, she walked to the door and saw Melaina, Lysandra, and Olympia standing there.
Before she could invite them in, Melaina barged in on her own, with the other two women following behind. Zephyra sighed and closed the door. She sat down at her vanity and observed the three women, focusing on Melaina who had her hands on her hips.
"What can I do for y'all?" Zephyra asked, her tone calm but curious.
"Where is Xena? It's been over a week since we've seen her," Melaina demanded rudely. Lysandra quickly tried to soften their interaction.
"What she means is that we are all concerned about her. It's unlike her to be unseen for this long and, well, since you are her personal maiden, we assumed you would know what was going on." Zephyra frowned at Melaina and said firmly,
"It's Lady Xena to you!" She stood up.
"Our lady has not been feeling well, that's all. Have none of you never been under the weather before?" The women fell silent, shifting uncomfortably.
"Once she is feeling better, you'll see her again. Now, if there isn't anything else," Zephyra walked to the door and opened it, gesturing for them to leave.
Lysandra and Olympia exchanged glances before nodding and walking towards the door. Melaina lingered for a moment, clearly unsatisfied but unwilling to push further. She gave Zephyra a piercing look before finally heading to the door as well.
As the women left out the room, Lysandra turned and said gently,
"Thank you for letting us know. Please give Lady Xena our best wishes." Zephyra nodded curtly.
"I will. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Once the door closed behind them, Zephyra leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath. She was tired of dealing with Melaina's attitude and the constant questions from the staff. She turned back to her vanity, trying to shake off the irritation.
A few minutes later, there was another knock at the door. Zephyra groaned inwardly but opened it, expecting one of the women to have returned. Instead, it was Gabrielle, looking concerned.
"Hey, Zephyra," Gabrielle said softly. "I just wanted to check on you. I saw Melaina and the others rushing out of here. Neither one of them looked happy."
Zephyra sighed, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease a little.
"Yeah, they were here. Asking about Lady Xena, of course." Gabrielle nodded.
"I figured. How is she doing?"
"She's still tired and a bit sick, but Mykaleia says everything is normal for her condition," Zephyra replied.
"Good," Gabrielle said with a small smile. "I'm glad to hear that. If you need any help with anything, just let me know, okay?"
"Thanks, Gabrielle," Zephyra said, feeling a bit better.
"I appreciate it."
Gabrielle gave her a reassuring nod before heading off, leaving Zephyra alone again. She returned to her vanity, determined to finish her hair and get on with her duties. She knew Xena needed her to be strong, and she was determined not to let her down.
As Ulysses slept in Xena's arms, Strife appeared and blew powder in his face. Ulysses sneezed, and Strife laughed a loud cackle before vanishing. Xena took a deep breath as she woke up, still wrapped in Ulysses' arms. The tea had worked, and she felt better than she had all week. Ulysses opened his eyes and looked at her. She leaned up and kissed him. He let his lips linger on hers and asked against her mouth,
"Feeling better?"
"Yes," she smiled. She pulled back and hesitated before continuing to speak, "It's something I want to talk to you about."
He searched her eyes and said, "Anything."
"It's about our wedding and the baby," she began, her voice soft but steady. "I've been thinking a lot, and I want to make sure everything is in place for our future."
Ulysses frowned, his expression darkening slightly. He sat up, gently detangling himself from her embrace.
"Xena," he started slowly, "I've been having second thoughts."
Her heart began to race. "Second thoughts? About what?"
"About us," he said, looking away. "About getting married, about the baby. Everything."
Xena's face paled. "What do you mean?"
He took a deep breath.
"This baby was unexpected, Xena. It wasn't part of the plan. We've been under a lot of stress, and I think we've rushed into things. I've realized that I'm not ready for this—any of it."
"You can't be serious," Xena whispered, her voice irritated.
"You weren't singing this same tune when you were plunging yourself into me every night." She scoffed. "You asked me to marry you. You said you loved me."
"I do love you, Xena," Ulysses said, his tone softening but his resolve clear.
"But love isn't enough. I'm not ready to be a father to an infant all over again. This baby was a mistake, an unexpected one."
Tears filled up Xena's eyes. "A mistake? How can you say that? This is our child."
Ulysses stood up, avoiding her gaze. "I need time to think, Xena. I can't commit to something I'm not ready for. We need to reconsider everything—our relationship, the wedding, the baby."
Xena felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. "So, what are you saying? That you don't want this baby? That you don't want me?"
He looked at her with a pained expression. "I'm saying I need space. I need to figure out what I want and what's best for the future."
"Our future?" Xena asked, her voice breaking. "Or just yours?"
Ulysses didn't answer. He simply turned and walked towards the door.
"I'm sorry, Xena. I really am." As the door closed behind him, Xena sank down onto her pillow, letting the tears fall freely. She had never felt so alone. The man she had trusted with her heart, her future, was now abandoning her when she needed him the most.
Aphrodite was sitting in her palace, polishing her nails when she felt her chest tighten. She dropped her polish, gasping.
"What is happening?" she said to herself. Just as she caught her breath again, the pang in her chest grew stronger. She fell to her knees.
"Something major is totally going on in the love realm." She opened a portal to locate the source of the heartbreak. As the portal cleared, she saw Xena lying on her bed, tears streaming down her face. Without hesitation, she materialized in Xena's room.
"Go away," Xena immediately said, her voice broken.
Aphrodite looked at her with a sad expression and walked toward her. She sat down on the bed next to Xena and reached out to stroke her hair. Xena caught her hand before she could touch her.
"I said go away," and threw her hand back toward her.
"Xena," Aphrodite said softly, "I'm here if you need someone to talk to. This sadness you're feeling is not good for the baby."
Xena wiped another tear from her cheek. "Gabrielle was right," Xena said, her voice cracking.
"About what?" Aphrodite asked inquisitively.
"About Ulysses. I don't know how she saw it, but I didn't."
"What did he do?" Aphrodite asked, shocked that Xena was opening up to her.
Xena took a deep breath. "He said that he didn't want us to get married and he didn't want our baby."
Aphrodite gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. "No, that can't be right," she said. "I felt your and his love bond."
Xena shrugged. "Well, it's not there now."
"Xena, I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Aphrodite said determinedly.
Aphrodite stood up. "There's something off about this whole situation. Love bonds don't just disappear like that."
Xena sniffled, her eyes still red from crying. "What's the point? He's made his decision."
Aphrodite knelt down beside the bed, taking Xena's hands in hers.
"Listen to me, Xena. Love is a powerful force, and it's not easily broken. If Ulysses truly loved you, there's no way he could just walk away like that. Something must have happened."
Xena looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Aphrodite said, "that there might be something or someone influencing his actions. I'm going to find out what it is."
With that, Aphrodite disappeared in a shimmer of light, leaving Xena alone but with a spark of hope. She reappeared in Ares' throne room, her eyes narrowing as she saw him lounging on his throne, a smug grin on his face.
"What have you done, Ares?" she demanded, her voice filled with fury. "This has your name written all over it."
Ares looked at her and laughed, a deep sound that echoed through the room. "Oh, sister dear, always so quick to blame me." Aphrodite stepped closer, her fists clenched at her sides.
"Don't play games with me, Ares. I felt the heartbreak, the pain. Only you would take pleasure in such chaos. What did you do to Ulysses?" Ares leaned back, still grinning.
"I didn't do anything directly, love goddess. But I might have given Strife a little nudge. He's quite good at causing discord, isn't he?" Aphrodite's eyes blazed with anger.
"You're despicable. Do you have any idea what you've done? You could ruin lives with your petty games!"
Ares shrugged. "People suffer all the time. It's the way of the world."
Aphrodite looked down, unsure of what reason to give him. Then she said, "Breaking the warrior babe's heart will not lead her to your arms."
"I don't care whose arms she's in, as long as she is back on the battlefield."
Aphrodite shook her head. "We both know that's not true. Ares, if you love her..."
Ares immediately raised his voice, "Love is for the weak!"
Aphrodite threw her hands up in exasperation. "Fine. If she means anything to you, you would know this is not the way to try to swoon her back to you. Especially during this delicate time."
"Are you done?" Ares asked irritably.
Aphrodite shook her head, her expression filled with disappointment. "You just don't get it, Ares. This isn't how you win her over."
Without another word, she disappeared, leaving Ares alone in his throne room. The smugness was gone from his face and replaced by a flicker of uncertainty.
Xena stood before the mirror, her hand gently caressing her still-flat stomach. The morning sickness had been relentless, but her determination to move forward with her plans for the kingdom remained unshaken. She took a final sip of her tea, gathered her resolve, and made her way to the grand hall where the palace women awaited her.
As she entered, the women bowed respectfully. Zephyra stood beside Xena's chair, offering a reassuring nod. Xena took her seat, her expression calm but unreadable.
"I'm so glad that you all took the time to join me," Xena began, her voice steady. "Going forward, I want to inform you of the upcoming changes within the palace."
The women exchanged nervous glances, uncertain of what was to come. Xena's expression softened as she continued.
"At the end of the week, each of you will get off early. During that time, you all will be in class. I've found a few teachers who will visit every week to teach you. Every person deserves to be educated."
A wave of relief and joy swept through the room. Some women put their hands to their faces, unable to believe the news. Xena's heart, though heavy with her personal struggles, warmed at their reactions.
"Next," she continued, "each of you will have the option to sign up for sewing, cooking, and basic medical care." She handed Zephyra a parchment.
"Line up, and Zephyra will mark your name next to the hobbies that you prefer. You can choose all if you like, but medical care is mandatory. You will be given time off each week to learn your new skills."
The women eagerly lined up, chattering excitedly as they gave their preferences to Zephyra. Their smiles and words of gratitude filled the hall, lifting Xena's spirits despite the lingering sadness in her heart.
After the last woman had been marked down, Zephyra turned to Xena, her eyes shining with admiration. "You've made a great decision, my lady. This will empower them." Xena nodded, feeling accomplished.
"Thank you, Zephyra. I want everyone in this palace to have opportunities to grow and learn." As the women left, still excited, Xena lingered in the hall, taking a moment to collect her thoughts.
Zephyra approached her, sensing her turmoil. "Are you alright, Xena?" she asked softly. Xena sighed, a faint smile touching her lips.
"I'll be fine, Zephyra. Today was a good day for the kingdom. Let's hold on to that."
