Disclaimer: I don't own Xena: Warrior Princess. Pity me.
The
Solstice Tree's Light
Chapter
Four
It was early the following morning when Xena finally stirred slightly and woke. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her mind, and found that she was leaning against one of the walls in Gabrielle and Lila's room. In her arms she had a contentedly snoring Bard.
Xena smiled and gave Gabrielle a gently squeeze.
"Are you going to wake her up?"
It was Lila who spoke from the doorway of the bedroom. Xena looked up at Gabrielle's little sister and smiled slightly.
"I'm not sure... she really wore herself out last night, crying so much."
Lila nodded sadly. "Father is being a horse's
ass about all of this. He should be happy that Gabby is here at all,
instead of angry that she's here with you."
Xena
sighed.
"Maybe if I left... I could go see my mom again and let Gabrielle have some time alone with you all... maybe it would do some good-"
"No way, warrior!" Gabrielle had woken up and cut off Xena's planning.
"You are staying right here. If father is going to accept me it is going to have to be with you at my side."
She sighed thoughtfully.
"You are my soul, Xena, and if father can't, or won't see that, than it is his problem."
Lila grinned.
"There's the Gabby I know!"
XXXXXX
Gabrielle and Lila were outside in the snow when Hertrodus came home from the blacksmith later that afternoon. Xena was nowhere in sight, and to Hertrodus it actually looked as if his daughter had never left.
Lila lifted the giant snowball that was to be used as the snow person's head, only to laugh and throw it at her dear sister. Hertrodus found himself smiling as he watched his eldest daughter scoop up some snow and throw it at Lila. It hit her square in the face, and she shrieked.
"How dare you!" Lila yelled as she bolted away from the Amazon Queen. Gabrielle laughed and prepared another snowball to throw.
Hertrodus wiped the tears that had gathered in his eyes and sighed.
"Why did you have to leave..? You had such a good life here..."
"She had to leave because she knew she could make a life out in the world."
Hertrodus jumped at the voice behind him. He whipped around and found himself face-to-face with Xena: Warrior Princess. Hertrodus just stared at Xena.
"Hertrodus... I know how it feels to lose someone that you love, but Gabrielle isn't gone. In fact, she's right over there, wishing that her father wasn't angry with her, and hurting because he is. Gabrielle is only lost to you because you let her be. Don't punish your daughter because of your hatred of me."
Tears flowed unchecked down Hertrodus' cheeks as he finally understood. He nodded slightly, and looked at Xena as if he had never before saw her face.
"Maybe you should go to her." Xena prompted softly.
"I-I don't know what to say... to her..."
Xena smiled warmly through the tears in her own eyes.
"How about 'I'm sorry'."
Epilouge:
"Please pass the nutbread, Lila."
"Gabby, I think you've had enough." Lila joked as she handed her sister a slice of the sweet bread.
"Lila, why don't you pass me a few slices as well." Hertrodus said, smiling.
"Oh great, so that's where she gets it from..." Xena joked, putting her head in her hands. Everyone laughed.
"Ready?" Hecuba asked.
Everyone nodded in unison, and Hertrodus playfully shouted.
"Hurry up, woman! By the Gods, I'm not getting any younger, here!!"
Hecuba
chucked, and lit the candles. She then seated herself next to the
rest of her family, and they all watched as
The Solstice Tree's
Light
shone bright on them all.
FIN