Disclaimer: None of the O'Connell's, Ardeth, or characters from the
Xenaverse belong to me. But maybe I could come up with some of my own. (
Warning: This is taking place mostly in the Xenaverse and so, obviously, there will be violence. NO SUBTEXT. Sorry if this disappoints you, but I'm just not into that.
I did not care too much for the last season of Xena (except for a few episodes) and did not like the hero on ice thing. Eve does not exist in my story (though I did like her) simply because it got too confusing to write about that. I tried. Everyone is in their proper time period. Just say this is sometime in the third or fourth season. Before the timeline got knocked all over the map. Oh, and, though I love the episode with Mel and Janis, let's just say it didn't take place.
"No, no, Leanna. Here, listen to Taryn read it again."
The eight year old girl took the dusty scroll and began reading it loud and clear. Every syllable was flawlessly pronounced and seven year old Leanna watched her cousin in awe. To the young man teaching them, it came as no surprise. His sister was exceptionally bright. She had started reading English by the age of four and Greek and Egyptian weren't far behind. He had been the same at her age. And he had no doubt that his young cousin would be able to catch up. She just hadn't been out in the field as much as they had. Her father, his Uncle Jonathan, was very protective of both her and her three year old sister, Cara. Alex was surprised his uncle and cousin had come along on this dig. His aunt, who was expecting another child, and Cara had remained behind in London.
Alex's thoughts drifted to the dig. It was the last one he'd be able to go on for a while. In one month, he would start college. He loved knowledge, but hated learning in the confines of a classroom. Accustomed to learning in the field with his parents, Rick and Evelyn O'Connell, he longed for adventure to go with his studies. The past eight years had been uneventful compared to the fateful day he had foolishly put on the bracelet of Anubis, but they had still been years full of new discoveries. Nothing life- threatening, but still years of adventure.
"That was nicely done, Taryn," he said, realizing his sister had stopped reading. He wondered what his parents were up to.
"Have you found anything, yet?"
Evelyn O'Connell met her husband's eyes with a disappointed gaze. At the age of thirty-nine, she had lost none of the beauty she possessed the day she met Rick O'Connell. If anything, her nineteen years of marriage and motherhood had enhanced her looks. She was dressed simply, in a plain white cotton blouse, tan pants, and boots. Her black hair was held back from her face, bound by a brown leather strap. But her brown eyes were full of frustration and irritation.
"I hope I haven't done anything to deserve that look," Rick said, half jokingly.
"Oh, Rick, I'm beginning to think that coming to Greece was a complete waste of time. We should have stayed in Egypt."
"But Egypt, my love, is not where these scrolls are."
"If they exist at all."
"Of course they exist. All the scholars say they're imaginary. So they must exist."
Evelyn managed a small smile at the insult towards scholars. Her husband had no patience for them.
"We've dragged Jonathan, Leanna, and our children out here for no reason. Half of our crew gave up two weeks ago and went home. The other half are starting to complain very loudly. I can't blame them. We've been out here for three months, and still no sign of the scrolls."
Rick enveloped his wife in his arms. He had supported this vision of hers. In the beginning, three years ago, he had been dead set against it. She had begged and pleaded with him, but he had stubbornly refused. After a trip to Egypt a year ago, they had once again come across Ardeth Bay, their old friend. Evie had asked him if he had ever heard about the scrolls and he had been very adamant that they existed. Rick didn't want to believe it. What did a man steeped in Egyptian lore know about Greek history? But Ardeth explained that the author of these 'scrolls' had written them about someone who had once saved the life of Queen Cleopatra. When Evelyn had convinced her husband they should go, Ardeth had decided to come along. Actually, he was the only one holding the rest of their crew together. Even Jonathan was beginning to voice complaints, although he knew this was important to his sister.
After giving his wife a final squeeze, Rick released her and looked deep into her eyes. He had to uplift her. Encourage her to pursue this dream of hers. At the same time, he knew she needed to rest. He wondered how much longer she would keep her pregnancy a secret from him. He had noticed her weight gain, an unusual trait in his wife, but nineteen years of marriage had taught him to keep his mouth shut until his wife confided in him. She probably didn't realize she was showing, yet. No one else had.
"We will find them, Evie. I promise we will find them. All the evidence we've found has pointed to this location. Just the fact that we found any evidence should prove that they exist. We'll prove the scholars wrong, Evie. We've done it before. But for now, let's take a break. Let the crew go into Athens for the evening. It'll just be our family here tonight. Okay? You need to rest."
Evelyn agreed and went to dismiss the crew. Rick headed towards the tent which was doubling as a portable schoolroom and the map room for the expedition. Three heads looked up when he came in.
"Great news! We get a break!"
He didn't miss the look of relief on Leanna's face, but Alex and Taryn seemed disappointed.
"What are we going to do, Uncle Rick?" asked Leanna.
"Well, we'll go into Athens and eat a nice meal and then we'll just wing it from there. How's that sound? Alex? Taryn?"
"Sounds great, Dad," Alex replied cheerfully. A little too cheerfully. Rick's eyes twinkled. His son was always looking for adventure. On more than one occasion, it had gotten him into trouble. Looking down at the shiny black head of his daughter, he feared she was the same way. Alex nudged Taryn.
"Huh- oh, yeah, sounds great," she said. A big smile was pasted on her face. Rick rolled his eyes.
"Alright, girls, go change into some nicer clothes. Wait a minute, where's Tierney?"
Alex suddenly realized that his other sister had not returned from her 'short break'. He groaned aloud. Taryn met his eyes and stifled a grin. The look on her father's face was no laughing matter.
"She said nature was calling," Leanna chimed in.
"When was that?" Rick inquired, his gaze intent on Taryn and Alex.
Knowing it was useless to lie and knowing where her twin must be, Taryn bit the bullet.
"She's probably at the dig site with Ardeth and Uncle Jonathan. You know she loves the adventure and excitement."
Rick shook his head in surrender. His daughter, five minutes younger than Taryn, was far too much like him. While both girls were their mother over in looks, except for their piercing blue eyes, their personalities were opposite. Taryn, like her mother, craved knowledge from books. Any knowledge. She was constantly reading. Both girls were extremely intelligent, fluent in Greek and Ancient Egyptian, but Tierney was the mover and shaker, so to speak. Her father over again in personality, she was usually able to find adventure anywhere she went. She didn't like being cooped up and escaped lessons whenever she could. Well, if she'd gone off to the dig site, then Evie would find her there and bring her back after she released the crew.
"Go on and change, girls," he finally said. "I'm sure Tierney will be here soon."
After they left, Rick fixed his son with a stern eye. Alex met his father's gaze squarely, knowing he was going to be lectured. Tierney had been put in his care and he should've kept an eye on her. He should've known better than to think a day giving lessons to her would be uneventful.
But the lecture never came. Evie wandered into the tent just then, followed by Jonathan and Ardeth. All sensed something was going on. Evie put a hand on her husband's shoulder.
"What's going on?"
"Our son allowed our daughter to wander off during her lessons."
Evie's voice became soft and low. She whispered in her husband's ear.
"He can hardly be blamed for that, darling. I know he was in charge, but Tierney is old enough to know better. Ease up a little, Rick, please."
Rick O'Connell saw the sense in his wife's comment and his expression became softer.
"Sorry, Alex," he said. "You really can't be blamed for this."
Alex was temporarily stunned. Being the oldest, he was used to being left in charge of his sisters. He did want to accept some responsibility and finally found his voice.
"She may have been old enough to know better, Dad, but I was still in charge. I'm sorry."
Rick smiled with pride as Alex accepted responsibility. But the mood evaporated when he heard the next words from his wife's mouth.
"So where is she? I'll have a talk with her."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Warning: This is taking place mostly in the Xenaverse and so, obviously, there will be violence. NO SUBTEXT. Sorry if this disappoints you, but I'm just not into that.
I did not care too much for the last season of Xena (except for a few episodes) and did not like the hero on ice thing. Eve does not exist in my story (though I did like her) simply because it got too confusing to write about that. I tried. Everyone is in their proper time period. Just say this is sometime in the third or fourth season. Before the timeline got knocked all over the map. Oh, and, though I love the episode with Mel and Janis, let's just say it didn't take place.
"No, no, Leanna. Here, listen to Taryn read it again."
The eight year old girl took the dusty scroll and began reading it loud and clear. Every syllable was flawlessly pronounced and seven year old Leanna watched her cousin in awe. To the young man teaching them, it came as no surprise. His sister was exceptionally bright. She had started reading English by the age of four and Greek and Egyptian weren't far behind. He had been the same at her age. And he had no doubt that his young cousin would be able to catch up. She just hadn't been out in the field as much as they had. Her father, his Uncle Jonathan, was very protective of both her and her three year old sister, Cara. Alex was surprised his uncle and cousin had come along on this dig. His aunt, who was expecting another child, and Cara had remained behind in London.
Alex's thoughts drifted to the dig. It was the last one he'd be able to go on for a while. In one month, he would start college. He loved knowledge, but hated learning in the confines of a classroom. Accustomed to learning in the field with his parents, Rick and Evelyn O'Connell, he longed for adventure to go with his studies. The past eight years had been uneventful compared to the fateful day he had foolishly put on the bracelet of Anubis, but they had still been years full of new discoveries. Nothing life- threatening, but still years of adventure.
"That was nicely done, Taryn," he said, realizing his sister had stopped reading. He wondered what his parents were up to.
"Have you found anything, yet?"
Evelyn O'Connell met her husband's eyes with a disappointed gaze. At the age of thirty-nine, she had lost none of the beauty she possessed the day she met Rick O'Connell. If anything, her nineteen years of marriage and motherhood had enhanced her looks. She was dressed simply, in a plain white cotton blouse, tan pants, and boots. Her black hair was held back from her face, bound by a brown leather strap. But her brown eyes were full of frustration and irritation.
"I hope I haven't done anything to deserve that look," Rick said, half jokingly.
"Oh, Rick, I'm beginning to think that coming to Greece was a complete waste of time. We should have stayed in Egypt."
"But Egypt, my love, is not where these scrolls are."
"If they exist at all."
"Of course they exist. All the scholars say they're imaginary. So they must exist."
Evelyn managed a small smile at the insult towards scholars. Her husband had no patience for them.
"We've dragged Jonathan, Leanna, and our children out here for no reason. Half of our crew gave up two weeks ago and went home. The other half are starting to complain very loudly. I can't blame them. We've been out here for three months, and still no sign of the scrolls."
Rick enveloped his wife in his arms. He had supported this vision of hers. In the beginning, three years ago, he had been dead set against it. She had begged and pleaded with him, but he had stubbornly refused. After a trip to Egypt a year ago, they had once again come across Ardeth Bay, their old friend. Evie had asked him if he had ever heard about the scrolls and he had been very adamant that they existed. Rick didn't want to believe it. What did a man steeped in Egyptian lore know about Greek history? But Ardeth explained that the author of these 'scrolls' had written them about someone who had once saved the life of Queen Cleopatra. When Evelyn had convinced her husband they should go, Ardeth had decided to come along. Actually, he was the only one holding the rest of their crew together. Even Jonathan was beginning to voice complaints, although he knew this was important to his sister.
After giving his wife a final squeeze, Rick released her and looked deep into her eyes. He had to uplift her. Encourage her to pursue this dream of hers. At the same time, he knew she needed to rest. He wondered how much longer she would keep her pregnancy a secret from him. He had noticed her weight gain, an unusual trait in his wife, but nineteen years of marriage had taught him to keep his mouth shut until his wife confided in him. She probably didn't realize she was showing, yet. No one else had.
"We will find them, Evie. I promise we will find them. All the evidence we've found has pointed to this location. Just the fact that we found any evidence should prove that they exist. We'll prove the scholars wrong, Evie. We've done it before. But for now, let's take a break. Let the crew go into Athens for the evening. It'll just be our family here tonight. Okay? You need to rest."
Evelyn agreed and went to dismiss the crew. Rick headed towards the tent which was doubling as a portable schoolroom and the map room for the expedition. Three heads looked up when he came in.
"Great news! We get a break!"
He didn't miss the look of relief on Leanna's face, but Alex and Taryn seemed disappointed.
"What are we going to do, Uncle Rick?" asked Leanna.
"Well, we'll go into Athens and eat a nice meal and then we'll just wing it from there. How's that sound? Alex? Taryn?"
"Sounds great, Dad," Alex replied cheerfully. A little too cheerfully. Rick's eyes twinkled. His son was always looking for adventure. On more than one occasion, it had gotten him into trouble. Looking down at the shiny black head of his daughter, he feared she was the same way. Alex nudged Taryn.
"Huh- oh, yeah, sounds great," she said. A big smile was pasted on her face. Rick rolled his eyes.
"Alright, girls, go change into some nicer clothes. Wait a minute, where's Tierney?"
Alex suddenly realized that his other sister had not returned from her 'short break'. He groaned aloud. Taryn met his eyes and stifled a grin. The look on her father's face was no laughing matter.
"She said nature was calling," Leanna chimed in.
"When was that?" Rick inquired, his gaze intent on Taryn and Alex.
Knowing it was useless to lie and knowing where her twin must be, Taryn bit the bullet.
"She's probably at the dig site with Ardeth and Uncle Jonathan. You know she loves the adventure and excitement."
Rick shook his head in surrender. His daughter, five minutes younger than Taryn, was far too much like him. While both girls were their mother over in looks, except for their piercing blue eyes, their personalities were opposite. Taryn, like her mother, craved knowledge from books. Any knowledge. She was constantly reading. Both girls were extremely intelligent, fluent in Greek and Ancient Egyptian, but Tierney was the mover and shaker, so to speak. Her father over again in personality, she was usually able to find adventure anywhere she went. She didn't like being cooped up and escaped lessons whenever she could. Well, if she'd gone off to the dig site, then Evie would find her there and bring her back after she released the crew.
"Go on and change, girls," he finally said. "I'm sure Tierney will be here soon."
After they left, Rick fixed his son with a stern eye. Alex met his father's gaze squarely, knowing he was going to be lectured. Tierney had been put in his care and he should've kept an eye on her. He should've known better than to think a day giving lessons to her would be uneventful.
But the lecture never came. Evie wandered into the tent just then, followed by Jonathan and Ardeth. All sensed something was going on. Evie put a hand on her husband's shoulder.
"What's going on?"
"Our son allowed our daughter to wander off during her lessons."
Evie's voice became soft and low. She whispered in her husband's ear.
"He can hardly be blamed for that, darling. I know he was in charge, but Tierney is old enough to know better. Ease up a little, Rick, please."
Rick O'Connell saw the sense in his wife's comment and his expression became softer.
"Sorry, Alex," he said. "You really can't be blamed for this."
Alex was temporarily stunned. Being the oldest, he was used to being left in charge of his sisters. He did want to accept some responsibility and finally found his voice.
"She may have been old enough to know better, Dad, but I was still in charge. I'm sorry."
Rick smiled with pride as Alex accepted responsibility. But the mood evaporated when he heard the next words from his wife's mouth.
"So where is she? I'll have a talk with her."
(TO BE CONTINUED)