Chapter 20: Rising Above

Xena sat in the garden, listening to the sounds of nature. They were a gentle song to her thoughts. Many weeks had passed since Ulysses had spoken to her, and his absence from their bedchamber had only deepened her heartache. She ate her meals outside of the dining hall, with only Zephyra for company. Zephyra had noticed the king's complete withdrawal but hadn't dared to ask Xena about it...yet.

Xena hadn't left the palace since discovering her pregnancy. Despite her efforts to hide it, the sadness in her eyes was always apparent to Zephyra. Gabrielle, too, had been distant, never checking on Xena, which made Zephyra question the sincerity of her friendship. However, she was glad she was able to have Xena all to herself.

Zephyra walked toward the garden with a small bundle in her arms.

"Lady Xena," she whispered, taking a seat beside her. Xena glanced up, noticing the bundle Zephyra was holding. Zephyra carefully brought it down and handed it to Xena, revealing a tiny baby sleeping peacefully.

"Taria had her baby and wanted you to see him," Zephyra said softly.

Xena took the baby into her arms, holding him close to her body. As she snuggled him, her eyes filled with tears.

"Darn it!" she muttered, blaming her hormones for the sudden surge of emotion. Zephyra smiled and she gently touched Xena's belly.

"You've gotten much bigger. No one can even tell you're with child, the way you wear your dresses now."

Xena sighed, "Only you, Ulysses, and Gabrielle know about the baby. I haven't told anyone else yet. And yes, my belly has really grown." Zephyra saw the sadness return to Xena's eyes and hesitated before asking,

"Why are you hiding it?" Xena looked away with a conflicted expression. Zephyra pressed gently,

"Don't you want the baby?" Xena's response was immediate and more irritated than she intended,

"Of course I do." Zephyra's eyes softened with concern.

"Then why keep it a secret? The kingdom should know about this joy." Xena's gaze remained distant.

"It's complicated, Zephyra." She sighed, "Ulysses...he doesn't want the baby. He said he doesn't want to marry me and that the baby was an unexpected mistake." Her eyes watered. Zephyra's heart ached for her.

"But you love him, and you wanted this child, right?" Xena nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, I did. I do. But now...everything feels so uncertain." Zephyra placed a comforting hand on Xena's arm.

"You are strong, Lady Xena. Stronger than anyone I know. You will get through this. And no matter what, you have people who care about you and this baby." Xena sniffed, Zephyra's words breaking down her defenses.

"It is not right that Ulysses could bed you and then disown you! He has no right, Lady Xena. If you told the palace about the baby, no one here would question who the father is. Please, let the palace know. We haven't had a royal baby in forever."

Xena looked down at the tiny baby sleeping peacefully in her arms, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. She felt Zephyra's loyal support and saw the earnest concern in her eyes.

Zephyra reached for the baby, but Xena held him tighter. "I'll take him back to Taria," Xena said softly. Zephyra placed her hand gently on Xena's belly and kept it there this time.

"I can't wait until the baby gets here. I don't care how Ulysses feels." She laid her head on Xena's shoulder and wrapped her arm behind her back.

Xena didn't respond immediately; she continued to rock Taria's baby. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and heartache. The baby's soft breathing and warmth brought a small comfort amidst the turmoil.

With a softer voice, Zephyra asked, "Do you think the king will come around once the baby arrives?"

Xena clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes. "I don't give a damn what he does."

Zephyra nodded, understanding the depth of Xena's hurt and anger. "How much longer do you have?" she asked gently.

"A little less than two seasons."

Zephyra's hand remained on Xena's belly, offering silent support.

"The palace will celebrate this child. You will have the love and support of many, regardless of King Ulysses' actions." Xena looked at Zephyra, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Zephyra. Your words mean a lot to me." Zephyra smiled warmly.

"You are not alone in this. We will make sure that you and your baby are cherished and protected."

Xena took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. The baby in her arms began to stir, and she gently rocked him back to sleep. She looked at Zephyra and nodded, a small but determined smile forming on her lips.

As they sat together in the garden, the weight of the future felt a little lighter. Xena knew there would be challenges ahead, but with Zephyra's support and the strength she carried within, she was ready to face whatever came next. The love she already felt for her unborn child was a powerful force, one that would guide her through the uncertainty and heartache.

Zephyra gently took the baby from Xena's arms and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. "I'll take him back to Taria. You take some time to rest."

Xena nodded, feeling relieved and determined. While Zephyra walked away with the baby, Xena sat back, listening to the sounds of the garden. She placed her hand on her belly. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to hope.

Xena walked into the dining hall to join them for dinner. She was the last to arrive. When she walked in, all talking ceased. The staff hadn't seen her in many weeks. She wore a fitted dress and everyone took note of the roundness of her belly. There were gasps and whispers filling the hall. So there wasn't any confusion, she rubbed her hand tenderly over her belly and took her seat next to Zephyra, who was smiling brightly at her.

Xena made eye contact with Ulysses. His eyes stared at her belly and then he looked her in the face. She looked at him with a hardened expression. He looked around and announced that it was time to eat.

Gabrielle looked at Xena and then whispered to the prince,

"This is what happens when you be the king's whore." Telemachus' mouth dropped open in shock as he turned to Gabrielle, who showed no remorse for her outburst. He glanced at his father, expecting a reaction. To his surprise, Ulysses continued eating. It was as if the king was purposely ignoring the comment, leaving Telemachus confused and concerned.

"Gabrielle," Telemachus whispered, trying to keep his voice steady, "what are you doing?"

Gabrielle's eyes were filled with anger. "It's the truth, Telemachus. Everyone knows it, but no one dares to say it."

Zephyra spoke up, "She is no whore. The king proposed to her in front of the whole kingdom."

The prince was lost for words. He didn't know how to take in this new information. He had no idea that Xena was even pregnant. He honestly had no clue why he hadn't seen her in so long.

All the guests chatted amongst themselves. Even with everyone preoccupied with eating and conversation, the tension around Xena, Gabrielle, the king, the prince, and Zephyra soared at its highest.

After their meal, Xena and Zephyra chatted lively walking back to their quarters. The prince eagerly called her name,

"Lady Xena," urging her to stop. Once he made it by her side, he softly talked to her, "So, it's true, you're carrying my father's child?"

Xena smiled, "Yes."

The prince couldn't believe his ears. "I wonder why Father never even mentioned this to me?"

Zephyra was unable to hold her tongue. "Because he wants to disown his responsibilities."

The prince frowned at her. "How dare you speak of your king that way?"

Xena touched his arm, "It's true. He doesn't want anything to do with our baby or me."

The prince contradicted, "That doesn't sound anything like my father."

"I know," Xena said softly as she placed a hand on her belly. "Ask him yourself."

The prince looked between Xena and Zephyra with a confused look on his face. He turned swiftly and walked towards the council room to speak with Ulysses at once.

"Lady Xena, you are the strongest person I know. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise," Zephyra said gently.

Xena sighed, her hand still on her belly. "Thank you, Zephyra. I just wish things were different."

As they reached Xena's quarters, Zephyra gave her a comforting hug. "We'll get through this together. You have me, and soon you'll have your child."

Xena nodded, finding comfort in her support. "I appreciate you more than you know."

As he reached the door, Telemachus hesitated, feeling anger and disbelief surging through him. He knocked firmly and entered without waiting for a response. Ulysses looked up from his desk, surprised to see his son.

"What is it?"

"Father, is it true?" Telemachus demanded. "Is Xena carrying your child, and you plan to disown them?"

Ulysses' face hardened. "Who told you this?"

"Does it matter? Is it true?"

Ulysses sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yes, she is carrying my child, but I have my reasons." Telemachus' eyes narrowed.

"What reasons could possibly justify abandoning your own child and its mother?" His voice cracked slightly, but he pressed on. "You know, I'm starting to wonder if you purposely got lost at sea when I was a baby. Did you leave just to keep from coming back to tend to me and mother?"

Ulysses' face went pale for a moment before he recovered. "No, Telemachus, that's not true. I never wanted that. You and your mother meant everything to me."

"Really?" Telemachus' voice was sharp. "Because this sure feels like a repeat of that. You're walking away from another child." Ulysses stood up with a posture stiff.

"It's not the same. The kingdom has expectations...traditions. I cannot simply bend to every emotional whim."

"Emotional whim?" Telemachus' anger flared. "This is your child we're talking about. How can you be so cold?" Ulysses' face softened briefly.

"I never wanted to hurt anyone, least of all you. But ruling requires difficult decisions." Telemachus shook his head, disgusted.

"This isn't ruling. This is cowardice." He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

As the days passed, Ares observed Xena through his portal, his eyes narrowing as he now saw the determination in her gaze. She no longer seemed broken over Ulysses and Gabrielle's thoughts towards her. He slammed his fist on the skull at the end of the armrest on his throne, causing the bones to rattle.

"Strife!" he muttered angrily to himself. "He messed up."

Pacing in frustration, Ares thought about how Strife had only cursed Ulysses and Gabrielle, failing to cloud Zephyra's thoughts.

"How could he not know to cloud her personal maiden's thoughts too?" he fumed. He threw a fireball into the wall, the flames erupting and sending a shower of sparks across the room.

"I should have just done it myself," he growled under his breath. With a wave of his hand, he decided to release the spells he had cast.

"No reason to keep them cursed when it no longer has the effect I wanted," he mused. The portal shimmered as the dark energies dissipated, freeing Ulysses and Gabrielle from their magical bonds. Ares watched as the lingering enchantments unraveled, returning to him in a swirling vortex of power.

As he stared into the portal, watching Xena tenderly caress her growing belly, a new plan began to form in his mind. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. He would reclaim his warrior princess, no matter the cost.

As Ulysses trained the men on the training grounds, he suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if a heavy load had been lifted off his shoulders. He grabbed his head, his mind twirling with clarity. The soldiers noticed his distress and asked, "My king, are you okay?" Ulysses waved them off.

"Take a break." He stumbled back into the palace, leaning his head against the cool stone wall. Suddenly, thoughts of Xena came flooding back to him, the harsh lies he had told, the cruel way he had treated her. Overwhelmed with emotion, he knew he had to find her immediately. He knew exactly where she would be.

He ran through the halls, his heart pounding in his chest, tears filling up in his eyes. Bursting into the garden, he saw Xena sitting among the flowers, her hand gently resting on her protruding belly. She looked up, surprised to see him, and their eyes locked.

"Xena," he breathed, his voice choked with emotion. He rushed to her, pulling her up into his arms, hugging her tightly.

"I am so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I was a fool. I let my fears and insecurities cloud my judgment. I love you, Xena. I love you and our baby more than anything."

Xena felt the warmth of his embrace, her own tears beginning to flow. "Ulysses..." she started, but he cut her off, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes.

"I can't wait for our baby to arrive," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I want to marry you at once, to make things right. Let's start planning our wedding today."

He placed his hand gently on her belly, feeling the life growing inside. He leaned down and kissed her belly lovingly, whispering,

"I can't wait to meet you, little one."

Xena's heart filled with emotion, her tears now falling freely.

"Ulysses," she said, her voice trembling. He pulled her close again, cradling her face in his hands.

"Never again," he promised. "I will never let anything come between us again. You and our baby are my everything."

They stood there in the garden, holding each other tightly, the weight of the past weeks lifting as they looked forward to a future filled with love and hope. Ulysses kissed Xena deeply, pouring all his love and regret into that kiss, as the world around them seemed to fade away.

"I love you, Xena," he whispered against her lips. "Forever."

"I love you too, Ulysses," she replied, her heart full.

Zephyra couldn't believe her eyes. She saw Ulysses sprint past her with a look of intense determination on his face. Curious and concerned, she took off running behind him, her heart pounding. She hoped nothing happened to Xena since he was running in her direction. She skidded to a stop as she reached the garden, her breath catching in her throat.

There, in the midst of the blooming flowers, she saw Ulysses pull Xena into his arms, hugging her tightly. Zephyra's heart swelled at the sight, tears of joy springing to her eyes. She saw the raw emotion on Ulysses' face, the tears in his eyes, and the way Xena melted into his embrace.

She watched silently as Ulysses spoke to Xena, his voice filled with heartfelt apologies and promises. She could see Xena's tears, the way her expression softened, and the pure love that radiated between them. It was a beautiful, intimate moment, one that Zephyra knew she had no place in.

With a smile on her face and her heart full, Zephyra turned to leave, wanting to give them their privacy. As she walked away, she felt relieved and happy. Finally, things seemed to be falling into place for Xena and Ulysses.

As Xena and Ulysses walked down the halls, Ulysses had his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. The many staff members looked on, confused, as they hadn't seen them together in months. When they passed by Lysandra, Ulysses instructed her to call a staff and guest meeting at once, making it clear that attendance was mandatory for everyone living in the palace.

"Tell them to gather in the grand hall immediately," Ulysses ordered. Xena looked at him, curiosity in her eyes.

"Why are you calling a meeting?" He squeezed her waist reassuringly.

"I need to correct some things," he said, leading her onward.

They reached the grand hall, and Ulysses guided Xena to sit in the throne chair before taking his own seat beside her. They waited as the hall slowly filled with palace staff and guests, everyone buzzing with curiosity and confusion.

Once everyone had gathered, Ulysses stood and addressed them.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice clear and commanding. "These past few months, there has been a lot of confusion, all of which I am responsible for."

He walked over to Xena and gently helped her to her feet. Though she had no trouble standing, the gesture was tender and protective. He took her hands in his and continued,

"As you all may know by now, Xena is with child. This is my child, a child of royal blood." Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Ulysses pressed on.

"Xena and I are still set to be married. We will need your help, starting today, to plan our wedding. Xena, this child," he touched her belly lovingly, then gestured to the crowd towards the prince, "and your prince are my life. I love them dearly."

He turned to Xena, his eyes filled with emotion. "I love you," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her passionately. The crowd erupted in a chorus of "awwws" and delighted whispers as they kissed. Xena pulled back, laughing at the crowd's reaction. Ulysses smiled and turned back to the assembly.

"Meeting dismissed."

As they made their way out of the hall, staff members and guests approached, lightly touching Xena's belly in a show of affection and support. Ulysses kept her close, his arm firmly around her waist, his presence a constant reminder of his love and commitment.

They walked through the palace, hand in hand, and it was as if a new energy had taken hold. The whispers and laughter of the staff were filled with joy and excitement. They passed by Zephyra, who beamed at them, her eyes glistening with happiness. She fell into step beside them, her smile unwavering.

"You did it, Lady Xena," Zephyra said softly. "You showed them all." Xena looked at her friend, gratitude and love shining in her eyes.

"We did it," she corrected.

While they made their way back to their chambers, Ulysses whispered in Xena's ear,

"I need you." He then nibbled on her ear, making her blood rush through her veins. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt his warm breath against her skin.

Once they reached their chambers, Ulysses slammed the door behind them and pulled Xena into his arms, kissing her deeply.

"I've missed you so much," he muttered against her lips. His hands roamed her back, pulling her closer. Xena responded with equal passion, her fingers threading through his hair.

"I've missed you too," she whispered back, her voice filled with longing. She could feel his heartbeat against her chest, strong and steady. They moved towards the bed, never breaking the kiss. Ulysses gently laid her down, his hands caressing her growing belly.

"You're even more beautiful now," he said softly, looking into her eyes. Xena smiled, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness.

"I love you." She pulled him down to her. Ulysses kissed her tenderly, his lips trailing down her neck to her collarbone.

"I love you too, Xena," he whispered. "More than anything." Their passion ignited, they spent the night rediscovering each other, their love and desire intertwining.

Spent, they laid in each other's arms, their bodies still tingling with the aftermath of their passionate reunion. Ulysses' hand rested protectively on Xena's belly, his thumb gently stroking the curve of their growing child.

"We're going to be a family," he said, his voice filled with wonder and joy. "I can't wait for our baby to arrive." Xena snuggled closer, her heart full of love and contentment.

"Me neither," she replied softly.