Musings Chapter 6

Musings Chapter 6    

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright 1997

     Xena drew a whistling breath over clinched

teeth, resisting the urge to throttle the brash young

woman kneeling in front of her.  "Don't you think that

was something you should have told us?"

     Adalai shrugged, "Why?  What difference

would it make?  Besides...," she grinned, "you never

asked."

     Gabrielle placed a calming hand on the

warrior princess' shoulder.  "All right, Adalai, no more

secrets.  If we're going to help you, you have to tell us

everything.  Deal?"

     Before Adalai could answer, the sound of

voices drifted in their direction, close but not so close

as to be of immediate danger.  Peter looked in their

direction then wrinkled his nose before speaking.

"Probably not a good time for a serious discussion.

I'll bet they're looking for me.  You should leave.

Addi, one more thing...mama's here."

     It was the budding warrior's turn to be

stunned.  Grateful for the darkness, Adalai allowed her

emotions to play upon her face.  Anger, followed by

love, followed by the child's need to be rocked in her

mother's arms, cradled against the breast that nurtured,

gave life and comforted away the aches and pains of

growth.  "Is she ok?"

     "She's fine.  Renfrew always did like her

best.  You want me to tell her you're here?  She'll

want to see you."

     The voices were coming closer, "I don't

know...we better go."  She gave her brother another

hug, then without looking back, disappeared into the

darkness.

     Gabrielle looked at Peter, "You want to come

back with us?"

     Peter shook his head, "Nope.  I can't.  Not

yet, anyway.  I gotta go."  He looked through the trees

in the direction of his sister.  "Something else you

should know.  Renfrew's slipped over the edge.  He's

insane.  The healers call it battle fatigue...whatever, all

I know is he's beginning to make some odd decisions

and there's talk of an overthrow...I gotta go."

     "Be careful."  Xena whispered.

     Peter flashed his toothless smile, "I didn't

survive this long being stupid," then he too

disappeared into the darkness.

                    @@@

     Adalai, Xena and Gabrielle were already

gathered by the reviewing stand as the indigo sky

began to lighten.  Adalai and Xena scanned their

surroundings, making sure that the villagers were in

their assigned places and ready for whatever Renfrew

might try to surprise them with.

     Gabrielle just waited.  She hated waiting

because it gave the mind too much time to mull over

what was about to happen.  Every time she thought

about the impending confrontation, the images of the

children popped into her head.  Here was a man

obviously exploiting these children to further his gains

and yet, according to everything Adalai and Peter had

told them, these human shields were better taken care

of than most village children.

     They had plenty to eat, warm clothes and

adults that took care of their every need including the

human needs of nurturing, comforting contact and

love.  None of them had been hurt and in fact, they

were the reasons that Renfrew's campaign had been so

bloodless.

     But it was still servitude and that was

something Gabrielle could not stomach.

     "You're thinking..." Xena quietly said to her

lover.

     Gabrielle reached out and took the warrior's

strong hand, placing the palm against her cheek.

"Can't help it," she smiled.  "Too much waiting."

     "Want to talk about it?"

     Gabrielle paused for several heartbeats before

answering, "I don't know that there is anything to talk

about.  It's just that this is the most bizarre situation

I've ever been involved in."

     Xena smiled, "Including the Titans?"

     "Including the Titans"

     "Including Joxer and Aphrodite?"

     Gabrielle burst out into laughter, "Ok, maybe

that was the most bizarre...a nightmare."

     Adalai interrupted Xena's unspoken thought,

"We've got company."  She nodded towards the

opposite end of town.  "And it looks like he's brought

everyone with him.  Wonder what he's up to?"  She

adjusted her sword, checked her armor then stepped

out to meet her father, her companions stepping in

right behind her.

     They met in the middle of the square, each

warily eyeing the other for the faintest signs of trouble.

"Start talking Renfrew."

     "I've told you what my plans are.  The next

step is up to you.  We can do this peacefully or you

can raise a big fuss, get some people hurt, all the while

knowing that I'll get what I want anyway.  Why waste

the energy?"

     "Not this time, Father."  Adalai nearly

choked on the term, spitting it out like poison. 

     "I'll ask it again, who's here to stop me?

You?  Your puny friends and fellow villagers?"

Renfrew burst out into hysterical laughter.  Suddenly,

he grew quiet, signaling for his soldiers to spread out."

     "NO!"  A woman came riding up from the

rear of the column.  She wore her waist length gray

hair pulled back into a ponytail, held tightly at her

neck by a leather thong.  Her face wore the wrinkles of

weather and age like hard won trophies and she carried

herself in the saddle like a well-trained and seasoned

warrior.

     Adalai recognized her immediately and

judging from Xena's and Gabrielle's reactions, so did

they.  Of course, it did not hurt that daughter looked

exactly like mother.

     Adalai's mother dismounted in front of her,

careful not to dislodge the child serving as her shield.

They stood, just looking at each other, trying to

replace the old memories and images with new ones.

     "Mother..."

     "Adalai..."  She reached out a tentative hand

and touched her fingers to Adalai's face.  Daughter

immediately burst into tears and fell against her

mother whose arms wrapped around her, cocooning

her as only a mother's arms can.  They leaned

against each other, using one another for support while

the tears of joy, sadness, anger and grief streamed

down their faces.

     Xena looked away, fearing the breakdown of

her own resolve, and noticed the first signs of madness

playing across Renfrew's face.  White began to show

around the brown in his eyes, giving him the

appearance of a trapped and frightened animal.  Xena

nudged Gabrielle and the two of them casually stepped

in between the Warrior and his family.

     "Step away from her, woman."  Renfrew

shouted and when his wife did not move, he called out

in a voice more shrill than the last.  "Danae, I said step

away from her."

     Adalai felt her mother stiffen and leaned

back, looking into Danae's face.  "Adalai, he's losing

his hold on reality and even though there are enough

in the camp who want him displaced, there are none

willing to do it," Danae whispered, gripping her

daughter's shoulders with the strength of a titan.

     "DANAE!" he roared, flecks of spittle

showing on his lips.

     She whirled around and strode over to him,

taking the reins of his horse in her hands.  "I will not

listen to you any longer.  You've kept me from her

long enough.  Well, not any more.  Adalai is my flesh

and blood, my child and I will know her," she finished

through clenched teeth.

     Suddenly, Renfrew lashed out with the his

foot, catching Danae square in the jaw with his heel,

sending her sprawling flat on her back and

unconscious.  Gabrielle was immediately kneeling

next to her while Xena drew her sword and moved to

block his path to the fallen woman.

     Adalai stepped forward, a rage induced calm

pouring over her, calming her thoughts and

heightening her senses and reflexes.  "I present myself

as rightful heir to the warlord known as Renfrew.

Blood by his blood, flesh from his flesh, birthed by the

true and faithful wife known as Danae.  Is there one

here to challenge that claim?" 

     Danae waited for a response.  If someone did speak

up, it would fall upon her to prove her parentage

which would take too much precious time.  She held

her breath.  Nothing.  "With birthright acknowledged

and by the Rules of Ascension, rules which were

spoken and made law of this regime, I challenge the

one known as Renfrew, seeking to strip from him his

badge of office and place it upon my own chest.  Is

there one here who will deny my right to this challenge?" 

She, once again, called out so all could hear.

     Renfrew sat in his saddle, dumbfounded by

the words coming from his offspring's mouth.  Never

had he been challenged, not even so much as a

whisper of dissention until now.  His vision began to

cloud and he no longer recognized the people around

him.  "You can't do this!"  he called out.  "No one has

the right to challenge me."

     "I DO and I have old man.  My heritage has

been heard and recognized, my challenge has been

issued and none have spoken to deny it.  By your own

rules I am allowed to do this.  Are you such a coward

that you won't face even your daughter?"

     That statement sent whatever remaining

sanity he had, scattering upon the wind.  "Then by

those same rules, I choose the test."  He began to

laugh, the maniacal high pitched laughter of one who

no longer had control of his mind.

     Danae had regained consciousness and lay a

hand on Gabrielle's arm.  "He's insane.  He could

choose anything as his test making certain she fails.

You must stop her."

     Xena overheard and looked at Adalai who

just smiled at her.  "Don't worry, Xena.  I know what

I'm doing."

     The sound of Renfrew's voice interrupted

their quiet exchange of words.  "I choose the test of

bare handed combat.  No weapons, no armor, no

tricks," he said as he slid from his saddle, landing with

a thump as if to punctuate his last statement.

     Danae squeezed Gabrielle's arm, "This test is

to the death.  He'll kill her.  Adalai," she called out,

"come here, please."

     Adalai knelt beside her mother and began to

remove her armor and weapons, "Mother, relax.  I

know what I'm doing."  She smiled, trying to reassure

herself as much as anyone else.

     "I should be the one to do this."

     Adalai became very serious, "No, I should.

He made the mistake of turning his back on me.  And

now he's made the mistake of underestimating my

abilities."

     "I was the one that convinced him you were

dead.  I thought if we left you behind, you would..."

     "He should have checked.  I was his

supposed favorite and he didn't care enough to

check,"  Adalai interrupted.

     A lone tear escaped from Danae's eye and

rolled down her cheek, becoming lost in her hair.

"I've just gotten you back.  I couldn't stand to loose

my oldest child twice."

     "I don't plan on letting this insect take me

out.  Besides, I haven't had the opportunity to make

your life miserable yet."  Adalai grinned.

     "Let's get on with this..." bellowed Renfrew.

     Adalai stopped in front of Xena, handing her

the ring from her pinky.  "Give this to Mother if

anything happens, ok?"

     Xena examined the silver and onyx ring then

closed her fist around it.  "I will."

     "Thanks."

                                @@@

     The onlookers made a circle around the two

combatants, a human arena of sorts, and watched the

father and daughter circling each other.

     Adalai watched his hips, remembering what

she had learned about hand to hand.  The hips lead,

the shoulders and head fake.  She taunted, calling him

old, feeble, insane, watching whatever traces of sanity

he had left fade from his eyes.  She smiled inwardly,

knowing that he would soon make a mistake.

     Renfrew lunged for the creature in front of

him, throwing all of his weight into it and reached out

to grab Adalai.  She easily dodged, grabbing him by

the front of his shirt, rolling backwards and handily

flipping him over her head.  In an instant, she was

back on her feet and waiting on his next move.  "Is

that the best you can do?  Ha!  No wonder no one

wants you as a leader anymore."

     Renfrew closed in, raining blow upon blow

down on the sixteen year old, each of which she

blocked, striking back and connecting with many of

her own.  He was clearly stunned, she was relentless. 

     A kick to his chest landed with a dull thud,

forcing the wind from his lungs but he stood up to it.

He landed a kick against Adalai's knee, the resulting

crack being heard by even the farthest witness.

Thinking that his opponent was now disabled,

Renfrew rushed in, wrapping his hands around

Adalai's throat, closing off her windpipe. 

     Another would have panicked, but not her.

She brought both arms up through his, hands locked

together and slammed the one large fist under his jaw.

His hold loosened and she twisted, wrapping an arm

around his head and with one quick jerk, snapped his

neck.

     She stood over his fallen body fighting back

the tears until she could no longer hold them and

collapsed to her knees, burying her face in his chest

and sobbing.  "You bastard...."

     There was a flash of light and from it emerged

Ares, eyes ablaze with anger.  He looked with disdain

down at the fallen, insane warlord then he kicked the

lifeless body but quickly regained his composure and

turned his attention to the injured daughter.  “Well,

no matter.  Just a minor setback.”

     “One caused by a little girl.  Must stick in your gut

eh Ares?” Xena mocked.

     Ares snapped his head around and glared at the object

his greatest desire then focused his attention on the smiling

girl laying on the ground.  “I can take care of that right now.”

He took a step towards Adalai and raised his hand.

     Without knowing why, Gabrielle stepped between the girl

and Ares blocking the god from reaching the child.  A bolt of

energy burst from Ares’ fingers but instead of striking and

killing Adalai, it was drawn to and absorbed by the white

mark on Gabrielle’s chest.  Gabrielle became engulfed in

a white light and suddenly, a bolt of energy shot back from

her striking the God in the chest.  He was knocked back off

his feet and when he stood back up, he was clearly shaken.

     He had felt pain and that frightened him.  He reached

down and picked up the lifeless body of the crazed

warlord and glared at the bard then looked at Xena. 

“This isn’t over, Xena.  But you have the power to stop it.

Remember that.  I’ll be back.”  He disappeared in a flash of

light taking the body with him.

     Xena caught Gabrielle as she staggered and lowered her

gently to the ground.  She touched the scar on Gabrielle’s

chest and noticed that it felt warm.  “What just happened?”

      Gabrielle slowly shook her head.  “I don’t know.  I was

compelled to do it though.  Almost like a hand in my back

was pushing me and I heard a voice in my head telling me

to trust.”

     “Artemis, is my guess.  Let’s get you two some place

more comfortable.”

                                @@@

     All was quiet in Adalai's camp, and it was

now truly her camp.  They sat in her tent, sharing

dinner and discussing the day’s events.  A healer had

seen to Adalai's knee, announcing that with time it

would heal and be as good as new.  However, until

then she was under strict instructions not to put any

weight on it.  A restriction that the stubborn young

woman was chaffing under.

     "For Xeus' sake, would you please sit still?!"

Xena barked.

     "I can't.  This thing on my leg is driving me

crazy."

     "Both of you leave each other alone."

Gabrielle ordered.  "You pick at each other as if you

were sisters.  So, what's next Adalai?"

     "Those that want to find their parents will be

given whatever help we can give.  Once they're all

reunited, then those that want to stay will settle with

us.  Most of the adults in the camp would rather

establish a new village somewhere than return to their

previous homes, so we'll have plenty of grown-ups to

adopt the young ones that want to stay, which I believe

will be most, if not all of the children here.  Mother is

taking a small band of riders and returning to the

enslaved villages to tell them what has happened here.

They'll return to self rule, unless they vote

unanimously to defer to me.  If that happens, I'll

appoint someone to govern them.  That's as far as I

have gotten, plan wise."  What about you two?"

     "That's a lot of responsibility for a sixteen

year old."  Gabrielle said.

     "Not so much, besides I'll have Mother to

offer advice.  I suspect she'll be the one to actually run

things.  She'll just speak through me."  Adalai smiled

around a bite of lamb stew.  "What about you two?

What about Ares’ threat."

     Xena just shrugged.  “That’s nothing new.  Ares has

been a pain in my backside from the day I gave up my

evil warlord days.  I’ve gotten used to it.”

     Adalai looked at Gabrielle.  “And you?  You seem to

have a weapon against him.”

     Gabrielle absently touched her fingers to the scar and 

smiled.  “I’m not worried.  Maybe he’ll think twice now.”

     Xena smiled and flipped the ring that Adalai gave her to 

hold back to its rightful owner who snatched it out of the air 

with a practiced one-handed catch.  "Anyway, we'll stay 

here a couple of days.  Darius has given us  a room in the 

inn and I intend to take full advantage of it," she winked 

which caused Gabrielle to blush.

     Adalai smiled, the implication of that statement not being 

lost on her youth.  "Good."

     "After that, who knows?  If the fates leave us alone, maybe 

we can get a couple of weeks of good rest." 

     Xena's hand was on Gabrielle's leg and was slowly making 

its way up the inside of her thigh.  Gabrielle was grateful that a 

table was blocking the view and was hopeful that no one would 

see the flush to her face.

                                @@@

     Ares paced around his room grinding his teeth in frustration.  

More than once, that bard had been the reason his Xena rebuffed 

him and more than once he had wanted to strike that insufferable 

girl down but he stayed his hand because he knew that he would 

never win Xena over if he had been the reason for Gabrielle’s death.  

“Well, all bets are off now.  Those two are going down.”