Part 5

After breakfast, Joxer had no idea what he was going to do. He was sure his presence wouldn't be welcomed in the kitchen. He also knew he probably wouldn't be welcome to spar with the other Amazons. After all, he was just a bumbling idiot, wasn't he? Although Xena had said he'd improved some, he was still not good enough to hold his own against any of the Amazons. Now that Gabrielle was bonded to Xena, he was sure they wouldn't be interested in hanging around him any more. He had served his purpose, so the only thing left for him to do was to leave. Even the Amazon guard who was supposed to accompany him everywhere had seemingly forgotten about him. "After all, I'm just a man. No-one important. I'm sure they'll not even miss me." He thought to himself.

He quietly and silently made his way back to pick up his belongings and slipped quietly out of the village.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Eponin had found Lila and was walking with her and Gabrielle when they saw Hecuba walking hand in hand with Cyrene.

The two older women looked like they were involved in a serious discussion as the trio.

"Mother, where have you been?" Lila questioned.

Hecuba raised her head and Lila could plainly see that she had been crying.

"What's wrong, Mother?"

"Nothing, Lila. I'm all right." Hecuba offered.

"You've been crying. Please tell me." Lila asked again.

"Really, Lila. Everything's fine. Just needed a little cry, that's all. There's nothing to worry your pretty little head about." She smiled at her youngest child as she drew her in for a hug.

Gabrielle knew that her mother wasn't telling the truth, but decided not to pursue it for the moment.

"I seem to remember you were going to meet me for lunch. What happened?"

Lila's face immediately went red as she turned to Eponin and she remembered just exactly what they had been doing earlier that day.

"Um, well, um, I was." Lila stammered.

"Oh for goodness sake, Lila. Stop that stammering." Hecuba shouted at her daughter.

Everyone jumped slightly at the tone of their mother's voice.

Lila moved closer to Eponin. "Mother, I have been with Eponin."

"All this time! What on earth could you have been doing that made you forget …. " Hecuba didn't need to finish her sentence.

By the colour of her daughter's cheeks, she realised exactly what her daughter had been doing.

"Lila, how could you? I can understand Gabrielle lying with Xena because they're bonded, but you. I thought you had more sense than that." Her mother yelled.

The women couldn't believe the change that had come over Hecuba. Cyrene had thought that she had made progress with their talk. Obviously she was wrong. Gabrielle also thought that her mother was coming round to her way of life. Lila just burst into tears.

Eponin went to speak, "Hecuba, if I could explain ... "

Hecuba screamed, "Don't you talk to me. You've taken advantage of my baby. I mean couldn't you have at least had the decency to meet me first and ask for my permission to see my daughter?"

Before Eponin could reply, Lila screamed at her Mother "I shared something with Eponin that was so incredibly special and you condemn me for it. Mother, I thought you were happy for me. Did you think this was just a passing phase like everything else? What did I do that was so wrong, Mother. Tell me!"

"Lila. That's enough." Gabrielle grabbed her sister. "Maybe you'd better go back to your hut. Cyrene, Eponin, could you please go with Lila? I'd like to talk to my mother." Gabrielle said in her best authoritative voice.

"Yes, Gabrielle, of course." Cyrene put her arm around the young woman trying to comfort her as they left Gabrielle and Hecuba to talk.

~~~~~~~~

Gabrielle turned her mother back towards the river. She could tell her mother was still angry as she could feel the tension in the older woman's arm. They stopped at Gabrielle's favourite spot and sat down.

"Mother?" Gabrielle asked.

Hecuba burst into tears again. "I'm sorry for my outburst, Gabrielle." Gabrielle took her mother in her arms. She let her mother cry for a while before speaking.

"Why did you yell at Lila? I thought you were happy for her."

Hecuba pulled herself from her daughter's embrace but kept holding her hands. "I was, I mean I am. Lila never even introduced me to Eponin last night. I saw them together, but not once did Lila think to introduce me. Now Lila's telling me she's having sex with her? She's my baby Gabrielle. Hearing that she had given herself to another person in such an intimate way upset me so. It would have been nice to at least meet this woman first.

Gabrielle squeezed her mother's hands. "I can understand that Mother. But you know Lila. She can be impulsive at times and doesn't think things through properly. It doesn't happen often but when it does, she does it well."

Both mother and daughter laughed at that comment.

"Yes, you're right. I remember a lot of things she did when she was younger." Hecuba replied.

Her mother continued, "It's just that I'm losing my family faster than I expected. First you, then your father, now Lila…" Her mother's voice faded.

"I'm so sorry Mother. This has been harder on you than I have realised. You are more than welcome to stay here with us for as long as you like. There's no reason for you to go back to the farm right now, if at all."

"I wanted to talk to you about that Gabrielle. I think I want to sell the farm. There's no point me living there all alone. Our neighbour has been asking us to sell for years, so it is probably best to do that. My heart just isn't in it anymore. Would you think badly of me if I did sell? I mean it's your home."

"No, of course not. My home is here now, with the Amazons and Xena. You need to do what is right for you. I will support you any way that I can."

Hecuba pulled her daughter into another embrace and whispered, "Thank you."

The two women hugged each other for some time before they separated again. When Gabrielle pulled away, she thought she caught the quick site of a confused look on her mother's face.

"Mother? Is there anything else that is bothering you?"

"What of Eponin Gabrielle? What is she like?"

"If there was a competition between Xena and Eponin in the 'Warrior who says very little' stakes, it would be a tough choice who would win." Both women laughed heartily.

"Surely there aren't two of them?" Hecuba asked.

Gabrielle smiled, "No, not really. But Eponin is a warrior. A very good one actually. She just isn't one for idle chitchat like the rest of us. I know she loves Lila, Mother. She would protect her with her life. Just like Xena would me. I think you'll like her."

"I know my daughters have good heads on their shoulders, so I'm sure she's a fine woman." The woman sat in silence for a while, both of them just enjoying their surroundings.

"Gabrielle?" Her mother's voice was soft.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Well, I have something else that I need to talk to you about. I wasn't going to say anything, but I don't want any secrets between us."

Gabrielle's face took on a serious look.

"What Mother, is something wrong?" She asked.

"Well, it's about Cyrene." Hecuba stopped, unsure of what to say next.

"What about Cyrene, what's wrong with her, is there something the matter with her? Gabrielle questioned.

"Oh, no. Nothing like that, she perfectly fine as far as I know. It's just that, well, Gabrielle. I'm so confused right now, I don't know what to think."

Gabrielle was totally confused by this conversation. Her mother wasn't making any sense.

They were unable to continue their conversation as Gabrielle heard someone racing toward them.

~~~~~~

After leaving Gabrielle and Hecuba to talk, Cyrene and Eponin took Lila back to her hut. Lila was shaking and crying.

Lila's pleading voice nearly broke Eponin's heart. "Oh Ep, why did she attack me so. I'm sorry that I didn't introduce you last night, but I got caught up in the excitement of everything."

"We've both have been caught up with each other and the excitement of the wedding that we didn't really think about your mother's feelings in all this. I'm so sorry to have been the cause of so much trouble."

"No, you're not going to blame yourself for this, Ep. It's my fault. I just don't think sometimes." She then turned nasty. "If it was so important to her, why didn't she come up and introduce herself?"

Eponin smiled. That's twice that Lila had called her Ep. She decided she liked it. Sure, her friends called her that all the time, but when Lila said it, she felt special.

Before Eponin had a chance to respond, Cyrene spoke, "Lila, please look at it from your mother's point of view. She's just lost her husband, her first daughter got married to another woman and then you come along and tell her that you're also in love with a woman. She had all that to deal with and now you tell her that you've had sex as well. It's a lot for someone to take in."

Cyrene hoped that Gabrielle could get through to her mother. She really felt for the other woman, having to come to terms with all that had happened to her family in such a short time. But there was something else there, something she was not yet ready to admit. She quickly forgot her musings and concentrated on the matters at hand.

"Don't you think you owe your mother an apology?" Cyrene asked.

"Yes, I guess I do." Lila agreed.

"I think we both do, Lila." Eponin added. "I suggest as soon as Gabrielle has finished talking with her, that we both go and talk to her, so that we can meet formally. There's still the matter of asking for your hand formally, you know?"

Cyrene was shocked, "You mean, you two? Already?"

The two women blushed. "Yes, Cyrene. I just know that Eponin is the one for me. I can't explain it."

The older woman embraced the two younger ones. "I am so happy for you both. So when's the wedding? I'm assuming I'll be invited?"

Lila and Cyrene both laughed as they saw the look on Eponin's face. "Hang on, we only just decided, there's no need to make plans for the wedding right .. "

Lila pulled Eponin in for a quick kiss, not minding at all that it would be in front of Xena's mother. "Almost had you there. Never thought I'd see my brave warrior scared. Cyrene's just teasing you, right?" she asked.

"Of course I am. I like to make the strong silent types squirm whenever possible."

The three women all laughed out loud.

"Xena certainly doesn't get her sense of humour from you." Eponin stated.

"She has one?" Lila asked.

"Yep, she sure does, but she likes to keep it well hidden." Cyrene replied. "Well, ladies, if you excuse me, I'm going to find something to do. I'm sure you have some things to talk about."

Lila pulled Cyrene into an embrace. "Thank you." She whispered into the woman's ear.

As they pulled apart, Cyrene smiled, "You're welcome. Everything will be alright, you'll see."

~~~~~~~~

Xena, Ephiny and Solari had been on the training field for some time when one of the younger Amazons came running towards them.

"Regent Ephiny. Have you seen Joxer?"

"No, I haven't since breakfast, why, what's wrong?" Ephiny was immediately concerned.

Xena spoke up. "Come to think of it, I've not seen him either." She turned to Solari. "What about you?"

Solari shook her head as well.

Ephiny began giving orders "Right then. Let's get moving. He's got to be here somewhere. Xena, you see if you can find Gabrielle?" "Solari, you find Eponin, Lila, her mother and Cyrene. They may have some idea as to where he might be. See you all at the Council Hut as soon as possible."

They all headed off in different directions, each one wondering what had happened to the loveable, bumbling Joxer.

~~~~~~~

Xena found Gabrielle and her mother down by the river and made no secret of the fact that she was approaching.

Gabrielle stood up and looked at Xena with concern, "What is it Xe?"

"Joxer is missing and no-one's seen him since breakfast. It's not like him to just disappear. We've got to meet in the Council Hut and organise a search party."

"Oh no." The bard exclaimed. "Why on earth would he just leave and not say anything?"

"Well we didn't exactly notice he was missing, now did we? He probably felt neglected."

"Yes, but we do that all the time, why would now be any different? The bard questioned.

"I don't know Gabrielle, but we'd best get moving.

Gabrielle turned to her mother. "We will finish this conversation later Mother."

The three women hurried back towards the village.

~~~~~~~~

With everyone assembled in the Council Hut, it was quickly discovered that no-one had seen Joxer since breakfast. This was quite alarming to everyone there.

Ephiny decided to send 4 parties out to search for Joxer. Gabrielle still wasn't too concerned by his disappearance, feeling that the man probably just decided to head off and visit Meg or something. Xena on the other hand, had a strange feeling that something just wasn't right. Eponin, Solari, Xena and Ephiny were to each head up a party.

Xena spoke, "He can't have gone that far as he's on foot. As soon as anyone sees him, signal that you've found him and hold him until I get there. Threaten him if you have to."

Gabrielle decided that she would go with Xena on the search, but the warrior had other ideas.

"Gabrielle, with Ephiny away from the village, you need to stay here just in case something happens."

"What do you mean in case something happens? What's wrong? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"I don't know my love, but I have a very uneasy feeling at the moment and I just want to be careful, ok?"

While the bard didn't like the idea of being left behind, again, she agreed. "Ok Xena, I'll wait. Please be careful." She pulled Xena's head down for a quick kiss.

Ephiny shouted to everyone. "Alright, you each have your areas to search, let's go!"

~~~~~~~~

Eponin and her small patrol had been checking the northern border when they came across a group of about 30 men camped just outside. She made a mental note to herself to find out who had been in charge of patrolling this section and why these men had not been spotted earlier. They made their way closer to the group when Eponin overheard Joxer's voice. Moving closer, she could see that Joxer was tied to a tree and the leader was grilling him about the Amazon Village. As soon as she accessed the situation, she sent one of the scouts to get Xena and Ephiny. She decided not to do anything until Xena got there, unless of course the man actually went through with his threat to Joxer's life should he not give over the information that was requested.

She hoped that Joxer would be able to talk his way out of the mess, but it was highly unlikely.

"Enough. It's time for you to die!" said the leader as he brought his sword high above his head.

"NOW!" shouted Eponin as she rushed forward to stop one man's blade. The Amazons in the group engaged the 10 men in the group. Xena arrived mid battle and quickly launched herself after letting out her battle cry. She landed in front of a man who was about to run Joxer through. She quickly dismissed him with a stab to the stomach. She untied Joxer and told him to grab a sword to defend himself. Xena then turned and went back into the fray. Joxer turned to pick up a sword and was met by Kyldon, the leader.

"So, I'll finally get to kill you after all" Kyldon snarled.

Kyldon bought his sword up above Joxer's head and brought it down. It was only sheer luck that Joxer was able to block the move. He fought Kyldon bravely, but the other man was a much better fighter and when he saw an opening, he quickly thrust his blade into Joxer's chest.

"Joxer! No!" Xena screamed as she saw the blade enter him. The look on his face was one of absolute terror. He slumped to the ground as Xena quickly dismissed the warrior she was fighting and threw her chakram into the chest of the man who had cut Joxer down. She raced to Joxer's side and cradled him in his arms. She quickly looked at him and realised that nothing could be done to save this man. The other Amazons finished off the other men and quickly rushed to Xena's side.

"Xe-Xe-" Joxer stammered. His eyes looked deeply into hers.

"Shh, don't try to talk. Xena whispered. She felt the tears welling in her eyes and it was all she could do not the let them fall.

"Tell Gabrielle that I love her and will never forget her. Look after her Xena".

"I will. Joxer, I - I love you too you know. You have always been a part of my family. I know I've treated you badly at times, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there when we needed you. You fought bravely today and you will always be known as Joxer the Mighty to all that I tell of you. You are such a brave soul".

"Thank you Xena. I-I love you too." With his dying words, his body slumped against hers and Xena then let the tears flow freely. Xena had to be physically pulled away from his body by six Amazons who had the terrible job of taking Joxer back to the village.

'Gabrielle' she thought. 'How am I going to tell you about this?' She left the Amazons tend to the body and made her way back to the village and prepared herself to tell Gabrielle the news.

~~~~~~~~

Ephiny had made Gabrielle wait in her hut surrounded by the Royal Guard. She was more than a little annoyed at being treated like a child and here she was The Queen. She heard some horses and raced outside to see what was happening.

As Gabrielle looked towards Xena she could she Joxer's helmet in her lover's hands. She then looked at the body lying on the stretcher behind Argo, and instantly knew exactly whom it was laying there.

"NO!" Gabrielle screamed. "It can't be true. It can't. I should have been there". She collapsed and Xena grabbed her and held her close. The tears welled up in Xena's eyes at the sight of her beloved sobbing uncontrollably.

Xena whispered soothingly into Gabrielle's ear, "Sssh Brie love, it's okay. Joxer fought bravely and died with honour. His last words were that he loved you and would never forget you". With that Gabrielle's sobbing increased and Xena picked her up and took her towards their hut. Xena held Gabrielle for several candlemarks until the sobbing stopped and she finally drifted off to sleep. Xena gently laid her down and slipped in beside her allowing herself to relax. She too, was soon fast asleep. Tomorrow would be a day of mourning and both her and Gabrielle needed their strength to deal with that.



To be continued