Special Thanks: As always to Stoley who's friendship means so much and to Leigh for her wonderful help editing the story! Extra special thanks to my Peruvian princess Monica for being so supportive and wonderful…Te Quiero Mi Amor!
Comments gladly accepted at Cruise1313@aol.com.
Part XVIII
Xena and Gabrielle looked at one another shocked and not sure what to do about what they just witnessed. Ephiny tearful and regretful of her actions answered, " Blaise…I'm so sorry.
Blaise stared angrily at her wife and walked out of the Tavern whistling for Taz who dutifully trotted up followed closely by the horse Xena was using. "Where are we going Blaise?" Xena asked mounting her horse after following her sister out of the Tavern.
"Halls of War!" Blaise announced coldly grabbing Taz's reigns to mount him and felt Ephiny's warm touch on her arm. She looked down at the shorter Amazon not recognizing the woman she fell in love with, but one that had betrayed her.
"I want to go Blaise…please don't deny me that." She asked pleadingly.
"Do what you want Ephiny. You'll do it anyway despite my objections." Blaise snapped mounting Taz and reigned him leaving Ephiny standing in her dust.
"Xena please?" Ephiny pleaded her hazel eyes filling with tears of worry for her children and pain for hurting her wife so badly.
Xena held her hand out to help Ephiny up on her horse. "I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but you'll have some serious talking to do when we get home. I've never seen Blaise this angry with you Ephiny."
"I know…I've hurt her deeply Xena. I never expected to ever see the stranger in her eyes, but I just did." Ephiny answered sadly settling in behind the Warrior Princess.
"Xena! Be careful!" Gabrielle replied worriedly stepping out of the tavern.
"I will…just take care of Joxer and we'll be back before you know it." Xena assured her with a slight smile and reigned her horse quickly vanishing out of Gabrielle's sight.
Blaise raced Taz as fast as he would go towards Ares' temple. The thoughts of hurt, betrayal and anger consuming her. She was terrified what her father might do to her children and at the moment they were her main concern. She focused all the anger she felt towards Ephiny to her hatred and disdain for her father.
She wanted to kill him once and for all. She hated him with a passion for taking her children and her mother. 'Mother…why would he take mother?' She asked herself confused and wondering what his motives were with Cyrene.
'What are father's motives for anything?' She asked herself disgusted by Ares' actions and stopped Taz when they reached the temple. She quickly dismounted and entered the large structure followed by Xena and Ephiny who had finally caught up to her. "Blaise…we'll split up and see if we can find the kids and mother more quickly." Xena offered and headed off to her right after Blaise nodded in agreement to her plan. Ephiny went to the left knowing from the angry look on her wife's face that Blaise wouldn't want to be followed.
'Why in Tartarus didn't I just tell Gabrielle that I wasn't going to follow her orders and side with my wife?' She asked herself quietly checking the rooms for the children and Cyrene. When she heard Blaise's blood curdling yell she headed back quickly to find her wife. Blaise's scream had rocked Ephiny to the core of her existence and she was frantic to find her fallen lover.
Blaise strode through the walkway entering the large expanse of the main room to the temple and never saw the blow she received across the face…she only felt the pain that quickly exploded throughout her jaw throwing her to the ground. She was dazed as to what had just happened and realized when she heard that maniacal laugh of her father who exactly had been behind the sneak attack.
"Blaise…you didn't really think I would let you just walk in here and take my new heir did you?" He sarcastically asked approaching his daughter as she struggled to stand up.
"You didn't think I'd just let my children and mother stay with you did you?" Blaise retorted equally sarcastic struggling to a half standing position.
"Your son is staying with me!" He shouted and kicked Blaise in the leg immediately collapsing her to the floor.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Blaise yelled out in pain when she felt her knee snap and dislocate. She held her leg and attempted to put her knee back in place when Ares grabbed her by the hair.
"Leave the boy with me. He will be treated as he should be at my side…like a god instead of the way he'll be treated in that Amazon village…like a slave." Ares tauntingly informed Blaise.
"He will not be treated as a slave there!" Blaise objected trying to remove the grip her father had on her hair to no avail.
"Didn't that Amazon bitch lover of yours tell you that your son will never be welcomed in the Amazon village? That all boys are either turned into slaves or are banished from the village? Or worse…killed?" He asked with a laugh realizing his daughter didn't know any of this about her son.
"You bastard!" Ephiny shouted managing to sneak up on Ares and delivered the same blow to Ares that Blaise received from him. Ares lay next to his daughter grabbing his leg and received a kick in the face from Ephiny sending him flying away from Blaise who finally relocated her kneecap. "Give me back my children!" She shouted moving towards Ares who laughed and rose to his feet preparing to throw a fireball. Ephiny's eyes widened and she rushed towards the entranceway diving and rolling to avoid the fireball that was averted away from her when Blaise did a leg whip and knocked her father to the floor.
She rose to her feet moving towards her father with a limp and rage in her eyes stopping when she heard her mother scream. Blaise turned and headed out of the room in search of where she heard the yell finding Ephiny on her way out. "Are you okay?" She asked with concern and put her arm around Blaise's waist to help her walk.
"I'm fine." Blaise stoically answered and moved away from her wife who had once again betrayed her. She wanted to know why Ephiny had not told her about their son's status in the Amazon village, but now wasn't the time to get into it. She tried admirably to push away the feelings of hurt, deceit and betrayal by her own wife…she had too. She would deal with that later…right now her focus was on finding her children and mother…safely.
Blaise and Ephiny arrived at the area where they heard Cyrene yelling at the same time Xena did. "Damn!" Xena exclaimed when she saw where her mother and niece were sitting. Cyrene and Jordyn were both resting on a huge rock platform out in the middle of a deep cavern with a very large distance between them and the area the trio were standing.
"Mother! Jordyn! Are you two okay?" Ephiny shouted anxiously looking out at the pair.
"We're fine, but I couldn't hold onto Chayce! I'm so sorry!" Cyrene cried regretful and scared.
"It's okay Mother…I'm coming out to get you and then we'll get Chayce." Xena answered scanning the landscape for her options to rescue the pair.
"No, I'm going." Blaise answered adamantly limping towards the edge.
"Blaise you can barely walk. I'll go." Xena offered steadying her sister. Blaise could see the uneasiness and helplessness in her sister's eyes and appreciated her offer greatly, but she had to understand that she was going to be the one to follow this one through…alone. Xena wasn't used to sitting back and just watching. No way, she was a woman of action and this was killing her not being able to help, but she would respect Blaise's wishes.
"There's a walkway here Xena that only Ares and I know about. He used to play this concentration game with me when I was younger and if I remember correctly it will make a bridge straight across to mother and Jordyn.
"Okay…are you sure you can remember it?"
"I have to Xena. Mother's and Jordyn's lives depend on it." Blaise answered valiantly.
"Alright…once you're across I'll follow and help you bring them back." Xena conceded reluctantly.
"No, you can't. Only one can cross and come back. If more then one crosses the stones disappear and you will fall to the floor of the ravine." Blaise explained with seriousness evident in her blue eyes.
"How will you get back?" Ephiny asked worriedly and put her hand on Blaise's strong arm concerned for the safety of her wife, disappointed when the arm was moved away from her.
"Let me have your whip Xena. I'll have to figure out a way to get back across with Jordyn safely." Blaise answered worriedly and took the whip from Xena.
Ephiny stopped Blaise who moved closer to the edge. "Blaise I know you're very hurt and angry with me right now, but I had my reasons for not telling you. One of which was to keep from hurting from you."
"Save it for someone who wants to hear it Ephiny." Blaise angrily and coldly answered refusing to look at her wife.
"Blaise…please." Ephiny pleaded her tears trickling down her cheeks not recognizing the woman before her who was filled with so much hurt and betrayal. "I love you…please be careful." Ephiny replied conceding to the fact that no matter what she said to Blaise it wasn't going to matter…she wasn't interested in listening to her as the devastation was evident in her stormy blue eyes.
Blaise flashed Ephiny a sideways glare and quickly looked back to the task at hand beginning her quest of finding the hidden stones to walk across. Once she remembered the first one the others followed appearing one after another. Blaise struggled on the small stones while Ephiny and Xena held a collective breath watching her unsteadily cross the stones praying to whatever gods were listening to help her on her path.
Blaise's concentration was broken when she heard Jordyn yell, "BOOMA!" and begin to cry. She looked up to check on her daughter. She tried to steady herself on the stones when she felt confident that Jordyn was safe. She sighed relieved when she was able to catch her balance and get set to find the next stone.
"Ssh…honey. Booma's coming to get us right now, but we need to be real quiet until she gets here okay sweetheart?" Cyrene asked softly rubbing her granddaughters back and hugging her to reassure her that Blaise would be fine. She felt the tension release from Jordyn's tense little body and kissed her forehead.
Blaise finally crossed the walkway and knelt before her mother and daughter with tears of joy in her eyes that they were not injured. Jordyn jumped out of her grandmother's arms and into Blaise's wrapping her arms tightly around Blaise's neck.
"What's a couple of babe's like you two doing in a joint like this huh?" Blaise teased holding her daughter tightly rubbing her back to comfort the scared little girl. She smiled at her mother who brushed Blaise's sweaty black hair off her face and kissed her on the cheek. Blaise kissed Jordyn's cheek and began to explain to Cyrene what had to happen, "Okay Mother…you'll be able to pass back and I'm sure you'll be able to take Jordyn back across with you as both of your weight doesn't equal mine. Let's just hope that Ares doesn't decide to change some of the rules while you're going across."
"Okay." Cyrene answered nervously taking a look down at the deep ravine below causing her heart to race even faster. She took a deep breath and exhaled trying to calm her frayed nerves.
"You okay Mother?" Blaise asked worriedly as she struggled to a standing position.
"Just a little nervous, but I'll be fine. Let me have that little angel." Cyrene smiled reassuringly and reached for Jordyn who screamed, "No!" and held Blaise tighter.
"Okay…honey. I'll take you across." Blaise assured her daughter by rubbing her back and kissing her cheek repeatedly.
"Honey, how will you two get across?" Cyrene fearfully asked looking at Blaise with frightful blue eyes.
"Don't worry…I'll figure something out. You get going Mother. Make sure you don't look down…listen and glance up at Xena if you feel like you're getting nervous and she'll guide you okay?" Blaise asked with concern for her mother who was visibly shaken and rubbed her arm to comfort her.
"I will and you two be careful. Please. I couldn't bear to lose another child and grandchild. That's why I refused to let go of the twins when Ares came to take them. So, he had to take me along with them, but once we were here he was able to get Chayce away from me." Cyrene explained and began to cry because she wasn't able to hold onto Chayce.
"It's alright Mother…you're a brave woman and did the right thing. Now I know where Xena and I got our courage from…you." Blaise adoringly smiled at her mother and continued, "I'll find Chayce and bring him back safely just like the two of us are going to make it across safely too…right Jordyn?" Blaise asked with a small smile and looked into her daughter's tear filled hazel eyes. Little Jordyn nodded yes and laid her head back against Blaise's chest. "Head across Mother so, I can take care of some business I have with my father." Blaise answered reassuringly and kissed her Mother's cheek as Cyrene began her catwalk across the stone pathway.
Blaise intently watched her Mother make her way across with Xena helping to pull her across once she was within reach. Blaise scanned the landscape and saw an overhang that would support the whip. With a sling of her arm she snapped it over the rocky eave. "You ready to have some fun sweetpea?" Blaise asked in a gentle tone with Jordyn smiling and acknowledging she was ready to go. "You hold onto me really tight and don't let go until you see Mommie okay?" Blaise instructed and saw her daughter nodding yes and wrap her arms even tighter around her neck. "Here we go!" Blaise swung off the rock holding the whip and Jordyn tightly only releasing the whip when she swung through. She clutched Jordyn with two hands and performed two flips before landing on the other side where everyone was waiting for them.
Blaise felt the explosion of pain through her leg once again and struggled to keep from falling. Unable to support herself Blaise fell on her back still clutching Jordyn protectively. The wind was knocked out of her and she gasped to get it back. Her lungs were filled with air once again and she deeply inhaled then exhaled. Jordyn looked up at her with fear in her eyes, "I'm okay sweetie…did you have fun?" Blaise asked trying to lighten the moment for her scared daughter and lay her head back exhausted.
"Blaise…Jordyn!" Ephiny yelled and rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly and took Jordyn who began to cry and clung to her Mommie tightly. "It's okay…Mommie's here baby." Ephiny assured her rubbing her back and hugging her tightly.
"Let me help you up Blaise." Xena offered with Cyrene rushing to Blaise's side.
"No, not yet. You have to put my knee back in place first…it's out again." Blaise explained breathing deeply to calm the pain she felt.
"Okay…I'll hold you down and Mother can put it back in place then." Xena explained nodding towards her Mother who agreed and moved into place.
"Wait! Eph…take Jordyn out of here. I don't want her to hear or see any of this it will only scare her more." Blaise explained worried for her daughter.
"Aah…Blaise. I don't want to leave you." Ephiny answered hesitantly and held her hand.
"Eph…please. Listen to me and do this one thing for me and take her away from here. She's petrified as it is and this will just make it worse. Please." Blaise pleaded with Ephiny squeezing her hand to emphasize her point.
"Okay…I will." Ephiny answered reluctant to leave Blaise and looked at her scared daughter then down to her injured wife and squeezed Blaise's hand for assurance. "I love you." Ephiny replied softly and rushed out of the cave her eyes filled with tears of worry for her lover and missing son. Once outside she sat on the ground with Jordyn and cried harder clutching her daughter for comfort hoping her wife and son would soon be out. She wondered just how terribly wrong her happy life had gone. It was probably when she decided to hide things from her wife. She thought she was doing the right thing, but now she realized it was just the opposite and hoped Blaise would be able to forgive her.
"Do it!" Blaise shouted confident Ephiny was out of the area with her daughter. "Aahhhhhh!" Blaise screamed and thrashed when Cyrene snapped her knee back in place with Xena struggling to hold her sister still. "By the Gods!" Blaise exclaimed anguished and in pain resting her head on her sister's leg as Xena lovingly stroked her sweaty dark hair.
Xena wished she could take away the pain Blaise felt physically and emotionally, but knew she wouldn't be able to. Putting the pinch on her leg did nothing to ease her pain. 'So, how can anything else help?' Xena asked inwardly hurting from the pain that was clear in her younger sister's blue eyes. Eyes that mirrored her own in more ways than one. All she could do was be there for Blaise if she needed her. "You okay Blaise?" She asked concerned turning Blaise's towards her wiping the dirt off her face.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Blaise gasped and sat up breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry I had to hurt you honey." Cyrene replied sadly the tears streaking her face.
"It's okay Mother…you had to do it. Now, I have to have a conversation with my father." Blaise answered coldly and stood up as her demeanor instantly changed to one of complete focus, rage and hate.
"Blaise, I'm coming with you." Xena replied standing next to her sister.
"No, you take Mother to safety and make sure nothing happens to Jordyn or Ephiny while I'm gone." Blaise answered sternly and looked at her sister her blue eyes darkened with rage.
"Mother and Ephiny will be fine. I'm going with you." Xena demanded.
Blaise's anger raged and she squared off to face her sister. "What part of what I said didn't you get Xena? I said I'm going to handle my father not you! You're not the only one who can save the day Xena. Now, please do as I ask." Blaise demanded angrily staring her sister down.
Xena had never seen Blaise like this before and she was tempted to go against Blaise and follow her in to face her father, but she knew Blaise had to do this on her own…to finalize her destiny. "Okay…I'll do as you ask Blaise." Xena conceded and patted Blaise on the shoulder for reassurance.
"Thanks." Blaise answered the corner of her mouth turning upward for a small smile.
"Blaise, please be careful." Cyrene replied worriedly and kissed Blaise.
"I will Mother…I promise. Please make sure Jordyn and Ephiny are safe for me?" Blaise asked looking Xena straight in the eye. She may be mad and not want to be with Ephiny right now, but she didn't want anything to happen to her.
"I will…you don't need to worry." Xena assured her sister as they exited the room.
Blaise nodded and watched as her mother and sister headed out of the temple. "Now, daddy…it's time we had it out!" Blaise replied in a maniacal, evil tone heading into another room of the building to find Ares.
Xena and Cyrene exited to find Ephiny sitting with Jordyn in her arms sleeping. She was finally able to calm her upset daughter by rocking her in her arms and singing to her. "Is Blaise alright?" She asked distressed and looked at Xena.
"Yeah, for now." Xena answered uneasy about the whole situation and turned back to the Halls of War wondering if she made the wrong decision by staying out of the situation and letting Blaise face Ares alone.
Blaise entered Ares' throne room and found her evil father resting lazily like a lounge lizard across his chair. He began to laugh maniacally and swing his legs around to square off with his daughter.
"I'll give you this…you're persistent and you did learn something about focus and concentration from dear old daddy." He answered sarcastically with an evil grin happily planted on his face. "Too bad I don't need you around to help me out anymore." He answered throwing a fireball in Blaise's direction.
Blaise jumped, tucked and rolled narrowly missing the fireball that knocked out one of the walls causing the building to rumble and shake. Blaise looked around for some escape or weapon to help her defend herself against her deranged father. "It's no skin off my back that you won't be around to help me with my duties as God of War…dear ol' dad!" Blaise goaded and peaked around the rock to see if he was heading her way and stood up.
"Oh, really?" He asked arrogantly firing off another fireball that Blaise averted with a shield that she held up at the last minute. The fireball bounced off a few walls crumbling them on top of her father effectively stopping the barrage. She walked over to where he was pinned down and laughed.
"Xena was right when she said the easiest way to stop a god was to create a rock pile on top of them. I'll have to remember that when I take your place daddy!" She arrogantly taunted her father who tried to remove the boulders that pinned him to the ground. "I think I'll be taking this now." Blaise sarcastically informed him and took her father's sword from the scabbard attached to his hip. She held the magnificent piece of weaponry in her hand admiring the sword with a relieved and vindicated smile. She was in awe of the sheer power she felt in the sword and reveled in the feeling.
"Blaise…no!" Ares yelled struggling to move the boulders to no avail.
"Too late!" Blaise taunted and held the sword with both hands feeling the brute strength that coursed through the melded steel. Watching in awe as the bright glow of the sword heralded her transformation into the new God of War. She felt invincible, strong, revived and had no trace of pain in her leg from the injury that had been present only moments before. "Seems like Blaise has a new bag now and things are going to change in Greece." She sarcastically announced.
"One of which is getting rid of your sorry ass." Blaise added as she pushed the rocks off of her father and grabbed him by the hair bringing him up into a sitting position.
"Blaise please…we can rule this kingdom together." He pleaded meekly and looked at his daughter. She saw the fear in his dark eyes and smiled.
"Oh, so now you want to rule with me?" Blaise asked sarcastically and laughed. "Fat chance daddy…out with the old and in with the new…me!" She answered cockily and slapped him across the face sending him flying to the other side of the room.
"Aah!" He shouted losing his breath from hitting the wall, which shook and began to crumble, as did some of the other walls. He struggled to stand up, but was helped by Blaise who tossed him across the room. "Owww! Blaise…you've got to stop…this place is going down!" He shouted and struggled to a standing position trying to avoid the stones that fell around him.
Blaise approached him. "That's what I hope dad! No more halls of war, no more petty cruel attacks on people just for your own profit or sheer delight of it." She shouted angrily and grabbed him by the back of the head to acquaint his face with her knee but stopped when she heard a loud rumbling noise that could only mean one thing.
"By the gods!" Ephiny shouted. "I'm going in…something's not right!" She announced as she worriedly handed Jordyn to Cyrene and headed towards the building.
"NO! Let Blaise handle this Ephiny." Xena protested and stopped Ephiny.
"My wife and child are still in there and I'm not about to sit here doing nothing while they both could be killed! I couldn't live with myself if that happened while I stood around doing nothing." Ephiny shouted angrily and stared Xena in the eye.
"I understand Ephiny, but this is Blaise's destiny. This has been laid out for her since she was a baby. Have some faith in her and know that she's going to come out of there with your son." Xena informed Ephiny honestly and was relieved to see Ephiny was backing down. 'You better come through Blaise.' Xena worriedly thought and looked back at the building that was crumbling around the foundation. Frustrated that she couldn't intervene. She felt confident that Blaise could handle the situation…she had too, but she was her little sister and she was concerned for her well being. It was her duty to feel responsible for her siblings.
"Hello Grandfather." Blaise announced with a smile knowing the commotion that was taking place was Zeus making his appearance. "Chayce!" She exclaimed the relief washing over her when she saw her son safe in her grandfather's arms.
"Seems I found this handsome little boy wandering around Mt. Olympus without his mother." He teased with a laugh. "I think he belongs to you my dear granddaughter."
"Oh, isn't this touching." Ares sarcastically announced and fell to the floor when Blaise drove him to his knees with a swift kick to the groin. The high pitch groan he released on the way down proved his daughter had hit him where it really hurt.
"Show respect to your father you piece of centaur dung." Blaise shouted annoyed and held him down to the ground.
"It won't work Blaise…he's never shown his mother or I any respect ever." Zeus announced disgustedly with a smirk on his face that Blaise had her father in a very humbling position. "Are you ready to fulfill the destiny I have for you?" He asked looking at his granddaughter.
"Yes, I am grandfather." She answered with a proud smile and a nod of her head out of respect for her grandfather.
"I'm very pleased to hear that Blaise. Now, what would you like to do with your father?"
"Oh, I thought you and grandmother could use him as a slave boy at Mt. Olympus." Blaise snickered and shoved her father forward with him landing at his father's feet.
"I'm sure his mother will be quite delighted to see we have some more help around the house." He answered with a laugh and moved to hand Chayce to Blaise. "I think this little guy wants to see his mother." He replied smiling and stroked Chayce's dark hair lovingly when he handed him to Blaise. "He's a very beautiful child as is Jordyn, Blaise." Zeus answered with a proud smile and tossed his long flowing white hair off his shoulder.
"Thank you grandfather…yes, they both are." Blaise agreed smiling proudly and hugged her son tightly after checking him over.
"Come on wuss…let's take you home to mama." Zeus teased and grabbed his meager son. "I trust you will make a good God of War Blaise." He exclaimed with a wink and a smile.
"You can count on it grandfather and thank you." She answered smiling and rubbed her son's back to comfort him and watched as Zeus and Ares disappeared. "What do you say we get out of here?" She asked teasingly and covered her son's head moving towards the door sending a fireball to destroy the building. Chayce laughed when he saw what his mother had done. "You liked that huh?" She asked laughing and walked through the door just as it tumbled struggling to see through the cloud of dirt and rubble that filled the air from the building collapsing.
Ephiny, Xena and Cyrene could do nothing and worried when they saw the building begin to tumble. Ephiny's heart raced and it hurt wondering whether her wife and child were either injured or worse…dead. She wanted nothing more than to see them both again and cried harder. Ephiny looked up and saw a figure cockily striding through the cloudy air. Her heart raced faster as the figure slowly approached and she stood in shock. Wavy hair, dressed all in black, that arrogant swagger. She knew it had to be Ares. It seemed as though time had almost slowed to a stand still and the image of the figure became clearer as it came closer to her.
It was Blaise confidently walking towards her with no signs of injury protectively carrying their child in her arms. She smiled fondly when she saw Blaise look at Chayce and push his hair off his forehead then lock her blues with Ephiny's hazels. She gasped and cried harder approaching the pair happy they were both alive. "Blaise! Chayce!" She shouted and ran to them. "Is he okay?" She asked worriedly and hugged the pair.
"He's fine Ephiny." Blaise answered coldly still unable to forgive her wife and didn't reciprocate the hug. Blaise saw the hurt and confusion in Ephiny's hazel eyes, but didn't care as she walked past Ephiny towards her mother to check on her little girl.
"How's my little girl?" Blaise asked sweetly and looked at Jordyn who reached for her mother. Blaise pulled her daughter into her arms and held her tightly relieved that her daughter was safe.
"What happened with Ares?" Xena asked intrigued approaching her sister.
"He has a new job now. He's Zeus' slave boy and I'm the new God of War." Blaise arrogantly announced with a laugh and hugged both her children again.
Cyrene shot a sideways glance at Xena letting her know with the look she was worried by Blaise's callous demeanor. Xena rubbed her mother's back to comfort her and looked back at Blaise concerned. Blaise walked away from the group and sat down on a boulder holding both of her children close to her. She worriedly checked them over to make sure nothing was wrong with them and kissed each on their foreheads. Ephiny watched and wondered what she was going to say to Blaise to make up for what she had done. She decided she would just have to apologize and hope Blaise could forgive her. She also wondered why Blaise didn't consult with her about becoming the God of War now and decided to find out why she left that detail out.
"Blaise…aah…why didn't you discuss with me the fact that you were going to take your father's place as God of War now?" Ephiny asked nervously approaching her lover.
"You've known this would happen since I first met you Ephiny so, don't try to turn this around and feel left out of my decision as it wasn't one up for discussion…it's my destiny." Blaise answered agitated by her wife's question and turned to show her just how displeased she was.
"Well I do feel left out Blaise." Ephiny answered sadly and moved closer to her tumultuous wife.
"Oh, poor Ephiny's feeling left out. Join the club…how do you think I feel about our son not being welcomed into the Amazon nation and having to find out about it from my father instead of my wife?! Or the fact that she chose her Queen over her wife?!" Blaise angrily asked in a raised tone squaring off to her wife with Jordyn squirming in her arms. Blaise handed Jordyn to Ephiny who laid her head on Ephiny's shoulder.
"Blaise…I'm sorry. I really am, I was just trying to protect you and not hurt you. Please let's just go home and we can straighten this whole thing out." Ephiny pleaded the tears forming in her hazel eyes.
"Home Ephiny? What home? We don't have a home." Blaise answered angrily looking at Chayce then back to her wife.
"Yes, we do Blaise." Ephiny answered confused by Blaise's response.
"NO, we don't." Blaise answered defiantly pointing to her and Chayce. "If my son is not welcome in your village then I'm not welcomed there and we have no home there. So, we are going to a home where we are welcome!" Blaise interceded angrily the fire in her blue eyes evident as she turned and walked away from her wife. She felt so unwanted, so unloved and felt humiliated by the fact that her son would not be welcomed in his own mother's clan…it disgusted her and she didn't want that prejudice for her son. He did not deserve that destiny.
Ephiny's tears streaked her face seeing the pain, hurt and betrayal in Blaise's blue eyes. Knowing she was the cause of it she couldn't just watch her wife walk away .
"Blaise! Please, we can work this out!" Ephiny replied urgently and jogged to catch up to Blaise who disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke. "Blaise! Blaise…please…don't leave us!" Ephiny pleaded and cried harder clutching Jordyn closer to her chest.
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry." Cyrene comfortingly replied as she approached and put her arm around Ephiny who looked at her with a tear streaked face. "Don't worry…she'll be back when she cools off." Cyrene answered reassuringly…hopeful that Blaise would indeed return.
"I hope so mother because I don't want to live my life without her." Ephiny answered sadly and walked off heading towards the path that would lead her back to Cyrene's house. She wondered just exactly what did she think she would spare Blaise by keeping that a secret from her? She realized just how dumb of an idea that was and wondered how this whole mess was going to play out. She was devastated by the pain she caused Blaise and angry that Blaise would just walk away from their life with their son. Ephiny hoped Blaise just needed to cool off as Cyrene had suggested and would come back home where she belonged.
Blaise appeared at Mt. Olympus surprised she was able to make it there considering she had no idea on what the transporting rules were for gods. She chuckled and laughed when Chayce found it quite amusing disappearing and reappearing in a different place. "Was that fun buddy?" She asked in a childlike voice kissing his cheek and heading down the long corridor. Blaise stopped at the living quarters her brother Cupid and his wife Pysche occupied and knocked. "Let's introduce you to your cousin Bliss. I bet he would love to create a little mischief with you." She chuckled looking adoringly at her son who smiled at her as they both waited for someone to answer the door.
"Blaise! What's going on?" Cupid asked surprised to see his sister when he opened the door.
"Just thought we'd stop by and say hello." Blaise answered nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders. "Can we come in? I'd like to introduce Chay to Bliss."
"Oh, yeah…stupid me. Where are my manners? Come on in!" He stammered still stunned by his sister being back home and stepped aside to allow them to enter.
"Auntie Blaise!" Bliss exclaimed excitedly and rushed into the room.
"Hey, buddy!" Blaise answered happy to see her mischievous little nephew and squatted down for a hug from him. Chayce became jealous and pushed Bliss away exclaiming, "My Booma!" and hugged Blaise tightly. Blaise was shocked by her son's reaction and rubbed his back to comfort him. She saw that Bliss was hurt and confused by Chayce's reaction and rubbed his back as well. "Sorry Bliss…I guess my son is a little jealous and doesn't understand. Chayce…this is your cousin Bliss and I'm sure he would love to show you around Uncle Cupid's pad." Blaise informed her son hoping he would get along with his cousin.
"Hi Chayce!" Bliss greeted with a smile and looked at the pouting, jealous little boy in Blaise's arms.
Chayce was reluctant and looked at the boy before him with the strange looking feathers on his back then looked at Cupid who stood next to Bliss smiling. "This is your Uncle Cupid, Bliss' dad and my brother just like you are to Jordan." Blaise informed Chayce and pointed at Cupid who looked at his mother slightly confused.
"You are quite a handsome fellow Chayce. I know that all the ladies will be in love with you!" Cupid teasingly affirmed with a laugh and flapped his wings much to Chayce's delight.
Chayce giggled watching the wings on Cupid's back flapping and Bliss joined in by wiggling his little wings hoping it would make Chayce warm up to them both. Blaise laughed and held her son out to Bliss who hugged Chayce.
"I'm your cousin Chayce and I'm going to show you all kinds of cool things to do around here." He informed the little boy and held him in his arms. "Can we go in and play with the toys?" He asked both his father and his aunt with child-like wonderment.
"As long as you don't get into any trouble and as long as Auntie Blaise allows you to take Chayce in there." Cupid informed his precocious little boy and both looked at Blaise for her answer.
She smiled and replied, "sure…just don't drop him!" She teased her nephew who laughed and promised he wouldn't.
"And don't play with my arrows either. I don't want to have another 'Comedy of Eros' on my hands again because of you." Cupid warned and laughed as they watched Bliss carefully carry Chayce out of the room. Cupid sat next to his sister knowing she had a lot on her mind.
"What's happening Blaise?" He asked concerned looking her in the eye as he placed a comforting arm around her.
"Well. Do you know that I took over dad's godhood and I'm now the God of War?" She asked wondering if she had made the right decision or not and looked up at her brother for some of his wisdom.
"Wow! No, I didn't know…I was…aah…indisposed." He answered with a chuckle and a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Oh, sorry…dude, I didn't interrupt you two did I?" Blaise asked sheepishly and worried she had intruded at an inappropriate moment.
"No, we were finished by the time you knocked." He answered with a laugh. "So, how does it feel to be the God of War?" He asked exuberantly.
"Well, pretty good actually. I'm surprised." Blaise laughed and was surprised that it wasn't as bad as she thought…so far.
"Then why do you look so glum?" He asked reading the signs of despair written all over his sister's face. Her body language as well told him she didn't seem very happy.
Blaise looked down at her hands and thought about Ephiny then looked back up at him. "It's Ephiny…she betrayed me." She stammered embarrassed by the fact and upset that Ephiny could have done that too her.
"How?" He asked confused shaking his head in wonderment and shrugged his shoulders.
"Aah…well, I don't really want to discuss it right now…okay?" Blaise asked not wanting to get into right then as she was trying to put it out of her mind for a little while.
"Sure, but just remember. I'm here for you if you need to talk to me." He offered warmly and patted her on the back.
"Thanks Cupid…I appreciate it. Where's Aphie?" Blaise asked hoping to change the subject.
"She's shooting the curl and doesn't want to be bothered when the surf's up!" He chuckled and laughed along with Blaise.
"Gods forbid you bother Aphie when the surf's up!" Blaise answered with a hearty laugh and stood up. "Let me get my son so the two of them don't get into too much trouble."
"You going to stay in your old room?" He queried walking with Blaise towards the room where Bliss and Chayce were playing.
"That's where I'll be bro!" She answered laughing and watched with an adoring smile as Bliss and Chayce played so well together. "Come on my little warrior…let's go see if we can round up some grub for you." Blaise replied with a chuckle picking her son up and hugging him. "Say goodbye to Bliss and Uncle Cupid." Blaise asked and laughed when Chayce waved to the both of them.
"Bye Chayce come back and see us any time." They both replied and waved goodbye as they watched the pair exit the room.
Blaise took Chayce to her living chambers and settled her son into her old room. She looked around the room remembering all the time she had spent there. Some of the memories were good and some were bad. She felt lost, hurt and betrayed…something was missing and she felt it in her heart. Blaise flopped back on the bed wondering just how her life had turned so dramatically and what was missing from it. "Jordyn and Ephiny." She replied softly and sadly. Then she remembered what her father said to her about her son that Ephiny neglected to tell her. She sat up and lovingly watched her son play with some of the toys Bliss had left in her room.
She wondered just how anyone could not accept her son especially his mother into her own culture. 'Why didn't she tell me?' Blaise asked herself growing angrier at every thought. She couldn't believe that the Amazons she knew would treat their sons like that. 'Why didn't I see it while I was in the village?' She questioned and reasoned that it was because she was more consumed with her own life with Ephiny, her duties and Xena and Gabrielle's life to look beyond them to see how the other amazons lived.
Blaise noticed that Chayce was very sleepy and picked her son up. "You sleepy little man?" She asked with a loving smile. Looking into his tired blue eyes she laid back on the bed cuddling her son close to her as they both drifted off to sleep very quickly.
Two days had passed and everyone had returned to the Amazon village. The trip back was a very quiet one as Ephiny shut herself off to everyone. Xena and Gabrielle didn't know what to say or do. Gabrielle was extremely worried about her Regent and wondered what she could do to help Ephiny get that spark back into her life. She was a mere shell shutting herself off to everyone except for Jordyn. "Xena, we have to do something about Ephiny. She's devastated by everything that happened with Blaise and I'm terribly worried about her." Gabrielle explained to her warrior wife as Xena sat cleaning her sword.
"I'm not sure what else to do Gabrielle. I've called for Blaise, but she won't come. Maybe she doesn't know she's supposed to show herself when she's called upon to do so as a God."
Xena answered stopping her task to gaze upon her sexy wife as Gabrielle lovingly rubbed her expanded abdomen when she felt the baby actively move about.
"We've got to do something for Ephiny. She's so completely out of it that I'm worried for both her and Jordyn. Can't you call upon Aphrodite and see if she can help?" She asked wondering why the baby was so active today. She hadn't felt very good all morning and wondered if it was just from the stress of the whole situation with Blaise and Ephiny that had greatly affected all of them. Her most trusted advisor, confidant and friend had become a walking zombie and she could do nothing to help her.
"I tried…she's not answering either…Gods!" Xena answered disgusted and shook her head. "Oh, wait…I'll try Cupid." Xena replied with renewed hope that Cupid might be able to help.
"Xena! Come quick…it's Argo!" An Amazon shouted and pounded on the door to get the warrior princess' attention.
"Argo?!" Xena shouted worriedly and rushed to the door. "What's wrong with her?" She asked frantically opening the door to face the amazon.
"She's gone into labor!" She replied excitedly.
"I'm on it! I'll be back later." Xena informed Gabrielle turning back to her before heading out the door.
"Wait…I'll go with you!" Gabrielle attempted to inform Xena who was already gone and felt a stabbing pain in her abdomen. "Aah…owww!" She gasped in pain doubling over holding her abdomen. She struggled to sit down on the bed and hoped the pain would subside by taking deep breaths, but it did nothing to alleviate the pain. Gabrielle stumbled to the door and shouted for one of her Amazons to help her.
"What is it my Queen?" The Amazon asked frantically and helped her queen to the bed.
"I must be in labor…please get Xena and then let Ephiny know what is happening." She explained between her gasps of deep breaths allowing the Amazon to help her into bed.
"Yes, my Queen. Stay with the her as I fulfill her orders." She informed the other Amazon who entered when she heard Gabrielle yell for help.
"Can I get you anything my Queen?" The frightened Amazon asked Gabrielle holding her hand as Gabrielle's grip tightened during each painful spasm that occurred.
"My wife." Gabrielle weakly replied as she screamed out in pain.
"Xena! Xena! Come quickly…it's Gabrielle!" The Amazon shouted rushing into the stall seeing Xena with her hands on Argo who was about ready to deliver her baby.
"What is it?" She asked with a panicked look on her face when she turned to the amazon.
"She's gone into labor!"
"What?!" She asked surprised and worried. "She's not due yet! It must have been the stress of the trip and everything that's been happening with Blaise and Ephiny that's sent her into labor." Xena reasoned worried about her wife and child standing up. "Damn…Blaise! Blaise!" She shouted and looked around with her sister not appearing. She stood up and guided Eponin in her place behind Argo. "Make sure both of the horses come out of this alive!" She demanded and exited the stalls. "Cupid! Cupid!" She shouted with the God of Love appearing before her stopping her in her tracks.
"What's up?" He asked with an unpleasant smirk on his face for the interruption.
"My wife and my horse are in labor and I can't get my sister to show her face. Get her here!" She ordered the God of Love angrily and headed to her hut to be with Gabrielle.
"Oh, aah…sure thing!" He stammered nervously noting the worried look in Xena's eye and disappeared. "Blaise!" He shouted entering her living chambers.
"What's all the shouting about dude?" Blaise asked agitated and tried to quiet her loud brother so he wouldn't wake Chayce who had just fallen asleep.
"Gabrielle and Argo are in labor and Xena has demanded your presence to help. You do realize that when someone asks for you to appear you must? You can't just shirk it off." He informed her angrily.
"I just thought they were trying to get me back to talk to Ephiny and I'm just not ready to do that now." Blaise answered regretful. "Can you keep an eye out on Chayce while I go help?" She asked hurriedly looking and motioning towards her sleeping son.
"Sure…go…go!" He answered rushing her and watched while she disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke.
"I hear we have a couple of babies on the way." Blaise teasingly replied appearing next to Eponin.
"By the gods Blaise! You scared the you know what out of me!" Eponin exclaimed as her heart pounded in her chest from being so startled.
"Oops, sorry. How can I help?" Blaise asked squatting next to the panicked Amazon.
"Calm Taz down. He's going crazy and he's upsetting Argo." She informed Blaise who stood up and approached her worried horse.
"Hey buddy. Calm down now, you're upsetting your babe!" She calmly informed her worried stallion and rubbed his nose to settle him down hearing his low whinnied response. "Come on…let's take the worried father out to the corral." Blaise responded and led her stallion out of the stalls much to Eponin's delight.
"I'm going back inside to help deliver your baby and I want you to chill out here. Understand?" She asked her trusty horse adamantly and patted his neck when he thrust his head up and down agreeing to her terms. She turned back before entering the stalls again and looked at her agitated horse that had followed her. "Remember…I'm a god now and will know it if you even think about doing anything." She reminded him with a snicker and laughed as she watched him rear up and whiney before racing around the corral frustrated. "How's our girl?" Blaise asked kneeling next to Eponin.
"The baby's almost out." Eponin explained and struggled to guide the horse's legs out.
"You're doing great Argo!" Blaise calmly replied stroking the mare's neck to assure her.
"It's a boy!" Eponin exclaimed excitedly when the colt entered the world and laughed along with Blaise when the little guy tried to stand up but couldn't.
They both backed away to allow Argo the time she needed with her new baby and watched as the proud mother doted on her newborn son. She cleaned the little guy off and checked him over thoroughly as any mother would with their new child. "I guess I'll go let the nervous father know he has a son." Blaise chuckled and looked at Eponin who flashed her an odd look.
"Blaise…you act as if that horse was human." She sarcastically answered and laughed cleaning herself off.
"He pretty much is to me and he does understand a lot of what humans do that's for sure." She answered laughing and exited the stalls greeting the nervous daddy at the door. "Congratulations my friend…you have a son!" She informed him and scratched his neck hearing his delighted whiney in response.
He strained his neck to see past Blaise and catch a glimpse of his newborn son. "Oh, no…not yet. You can't go in until his mom has some more time with him. He's very handsome though and he looks a lot like you my friend." Blaise informed him. "Give them some time and you can see them both." She answered with a laugh and headed towards Xena's hut to check on Gabrielle. She laughed and shook her head in disbelief that she did actually consider her horse more of a human than an animal.
She entered the hut smiling and stopped when Ephiny turned to her with a surprised look on her face. Blaise's blue eyes quickly looked away to Gabrielle who was almost finished delivering the child. She watched her sister lovingly holding Gabrielle's hand and stroking her face to calm her with comforting words of encouragement. Blaise felt a pang in her heart and remembered when her twins were born, how happy she was and how much she loved Ephiny.
She gave Ephiny a sideways glance and stared at her when their eyes met. The only thing she saw in the face that she once loved more than anything was betrayal. Her anger welled in the pit of her stomach and she fought the urge to leave immediately, but wanted to stay to support both Gabrielle and Xena. Not to mention, the fact that she wanted to see her new niece or nephew.
She looked back at Gabrielle who screamed loudly and heard the cries of the newborn baby. She smiled lovingly when she saw the look on her sister's face as she saw her daughter for the first time. Xena was ecstatic, amazed and gloriously happy looking upon her daughter. Blaise noticed the tears streak Xena's face and sniffed back her own tears when Xena handed Gabrielle their daughter.
They both broke down and cried tears of complete joy and happiness looking upon their daughter's face. "She's so beautiful Xena and she looks just like you! I'm so happy!" Gabrielle exclaimed as the tears flowed harder. She gazed into the blue eyes she loved so much.
"As usual…you get your way." Xena teased with a warm, loving smile and kissed the mother of her child. "Let's hope she has your temper." Xena laughed along with everyone else. "I love you Gabrielle."
Xena whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek stroking their daughter's cheek lightly. Her heart was filled with so much love, joy and happiness from the birth of their child. Her life felt complete and nothing else mattered to her except the two most important women in her life.
"Thank you for our child. I love you so much Xena." Gabrielle smiled and kissed her Warrior Princess to let her know just how much she loved her.
"No…you are the one to thank for so much Gabrielle. You've filled my heart with love, happiness, joy and now, a beautiful baby. I owe you more than you will ever know my love." Xena sincerely professed delicately kissing her bard.
"Hey, knock it off so, I can meet my new niece." Blaise teased wiping the tears from her eyes and knelt beside the new mothers.
"Blaise." Both replied in unison with a chuckle. "This is your Auntie Blaise." Gabrielle responded happily and held the baby up for Blaise to catch a glimpse of her.
"Well, hello precious! Aren't you just a beautiful little girl." Blaise cooed proudly looking upon her new niece. "What name has your Moms given you?" She asked teasingly and flashed a mischievous smile to Gabrielle and Xena.
"Oh, aah…ha…ha." Gabrielle stammered with a laugh and looked at Xena for confirmation on the name they chose for their daughter.
"Her name is Jade." Xena answered with a proud smile.
"What a beautiful name." Ephiny exclaimed exuberantly and knelt beside Blaise who felt uncomfortable with the closeness. She was most definitely ticked off at Ephiny and couldn't find it in her heart to forgive her. All she wanted to do was hate her and that's exactly how she felt.
"This is your Auntie Ephiny, Jade." Gabrielle introduced her daughter to her Regent and sister-in-law.
"Hello Jade…you are beautiful." Ephiny exclaimed and held the baby's finger.
"Oh, by the way, you also have a son. Argo had a boy." Blaise informed Xena and Gabrielle.
"Is she okay?" Xena asked worriedly and looked at her sister.
"Mother and son are just fine." Blaise reassuringly smiled. "Speaking of sons…I need to get back to mine. I'm sure he has worn Uncle Cupid out about now if he's finished with his nap." Blaise explained as an awkward silence fell upon everyone. Blaise cleared her throat and kissed her new niece. "I'll see you later little one." Blaise replied lovingly and stood up. "Congratulations you two…I'm very happy for you." She offered and kissed Gabrielle and Xena goodbye. She glanced down at Ephiny who looked away unable to look Blaise in the eye and see the hate in her beautiful blue eyes as she exited the hut.
Blaise inhaled and exhaled trying to quell her emotions that wanted to spill out. She started to feel as she always had…not part of a family. She felt the awkward tension in the room and didn't feel as though she belonged there just as she did growing up with her father.
"Blaise." Ephiny softly replied exiting the hut sidling up to her tall lover.
"Save it Ephiny. I don't want to hear anything you have to say to me." Blaise answered sternly staring coldly off in the distance.
"Not even if it concerns your daughter?" Ephiny snapped angrily.
In a panic Blaise questioned that something was wrong with her daughter. "What's wrong with Jordyn!?"
"She needs you just as I'm sure Chayce needs his Mommie." Ephiny answered her hazel eyes filling with tears at the fact that she hadn't seen her son in two days.
"I spend more time with Jordyn in a day than you do Ephiny so, don't tell me what my daughter needs!"
"How do you see her?" Ephiny asked confused.
"I'm a god now Ephiny…I sneak in and see her while she is being watched by the nanny and when you're sleeping. Chayce has been with me to see his sister also and as far as Chayce goes, he doesn't need a Mommie who finds being an Amazon more important than her son!" Blaise spat angrily and disappeared.
"Blaise!…Blaise! Please, that's not true." Ephiny shouted Blaise's name and quietly informed her of the truth before her tears consumed her. She didn't want the rest of the tribe to see her crying and quickly entered her hut to find Jordyn standing in her crib with her arms extended waiting for her Mommie. Ephiny smiled lovingly and cried harder holding her daughter closer to her chest. She wished Blaise would allow her to explain and bring their son home so they could all be a family once again.
Blaise held her son in her lap lightly stroking his dark hair. She kissed the top of his head and looked at him when she heard him reply, "Mommie." And point to the bubble that showed Ephiny with Jordan. Blaise looked up at the bubbles before her that allowed the Gods to know what everyone was doing and held him closer to her and kissed his cheek lightly. "Yes, that's Mommie honey." She replied softly and stared at the picture of her beautiful wife and daughter hugging one another.
"Mommieeeee…" Chayce cried pointing and squirming to touch his mother.
Blaise felt a terrible pain in her heart when she heard her son cry for his Mommie and wondered what she should do. She knew there was one person who would have an honest and true answer for her and vanished to see that person with her son held firmly against her.
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April 2000