Xena: Warrior Princess- A Legend Never Dies

Chapter 15

Xena is met by Callisto in the hallway outside her room.

"I need to talk to you."

Xena nods, "Okay, talk."

"I'm ready to go back to being Eve. To be your daughter again. I just want to make sure you understand why I had to take on the form and knowledge of Callisto. I knew Gabrielle wouldn't respond the way she did if I came to her as Eve so I promised Ares to give him what he always wanted. He let me take on Callisto's form and knowledge. I also brought Cyrene back. She was the only family I had without you and Gabrielle. I just wanted to let you know why."

"I do understand. I may not have before but I do now."

Before her eyes Xena witnesses Callisto shifting back to Eve.

"That was all it took for me to be myself again. I just needed you to understand why before I could be your daughter again."

"I'm sorry I didn't understand before. Why you would take on the form of someone I hated, someone who hated me. You did what you had to do. Now we have a feast to prepare for. I need you to promise something though."

"Anything."

"After the wedding, I want you to stay here with your brother and my mother. They need someone to protect them."

"Of course."

"And I will come visit, all the time."

"I know you will. Now let's go help downstairs."

"Eve."

"Yes Mother?"

"I'm glad you're back."

They walk downstairs to see Cyrene fussing over Gabrielle trying to help.

"No! This is your damn wedding feast. You will not help cook or clean or decorate. Today is a day for you and Xena to relax."

"Calm down, Mother. If Gabby wants to help, let her help."

"You too, Xena? This is for your wedding. You two need to relax."

"We can relax when the world is at peace."

"You two will do as I say and relax now! If you won't relax willingly I will force you to relax!"

Xena has moved next to Gabrielle and she leans over and whispers, "Being forced doesn't sound very relaxing."

Cyrene slaps her.

"I heard that."

"Ow. Alright, Alright. We'll go fly some parchment and lay in the feild. Will that make you happy?"

"Yes. Go. I will send someone to get you when the feast is ready."

Xena takes Gabrielle by the arm.

"We don't have much of a choice," she turns her head to Eve in the doorway, "Help your grandmother."

Xena and Gabrielle walk out of the tavern.

"When did she get here?"

"She's been here the whole time as Callisto. She couldn't change back until I understood why she took on the form of the person I hated the most."

"You could have killed her but you didn't."

"You would have stopped me. Now, do you know where I can find some parchment to fly?"

"There is some in Argo's saddlebag."

They get the parchment and head out into the feild.

"Alright, Gabrielle, I'll run with it, you hold on to the string. Let's get this thing in the air."

After a few minutes the parchment is flying through the air. They run around like young girls laughing as the parchment dips and twirls in the air above them. Xena tackles Gabrielle to the ground, both laughing.

"I hate to admit it but my mother was right. We do need to relax. Feel like swimming? There's a spring nearby."

Gabrielle laughs.

"Point me in the direction. I bet I can beat you there."

"Alright. I will accept the bet. What are we betting?"

"A month of cleaning."

"You're on."

Xena calls "Ready.."

Both take off before go is said yelling about how the other is cheater and shoving each other to get to the spring first. Gabrielle reaches it a few seconds before Xena. She laughs.

"Looks like you are cleaning for the next month."

"That wasn't a fair race. You cheated."

"Yeah? So did you. Sounds fair to me."

"Okay. I'll clean for a month then but you have to cook for the month."

"Sounds fair."

They remove any clothes they don't want getting wet and dive into the spring. They splash around and act like children for a while before climbing onto the banks and laying down to dry. Xena and Gabrielle roll to face each other. Xena slides her fingers through Gabrielle's hair.

"You kept it short."

"Yes. I wanted it to be the same as before you died so I never let it grow back out."

Gabrielle moves Xena's hair out of her face so she could look into her eyes. Xena smiles and pulls Gabrielle closer, kissing her.

"I love you, Gabrielle. I'm so glad that you are mine."

They lay intertwined staring into each others eyes as the sun dries them.