"Why? You promised. You promised never to leave me." She stared at the litter, as if
begging the small mound to rise and answer. "How? How am I suppose to go on? You
.. you were the one - the only one who understood me, loved me, and had the patients to
deal with me. You said you would wait in the hut, why didn't you." Tears fell unnoticed
from clear blue eyes, she made no motion to stop their course down her cheeks. Turning
away she continued walking slowly west. "We'll be there soon ... by sunset we should
reach the village. Why did you make me promise to bring you here? I could have taken
you home.... but maybe this is home. Xenon - Did you know Ephiny is worried about
him? He's fallen for Solari's daughter. Ephiny is sure Solari won't agree to the couple but
... " Memories over took her, Delivering Xenon in the midst of that horrible war, Ephiny's
crowning ceremony, Ephiny's voice as she sung a funeral dirge over the body's of two
children. "When we get home, I'm going to have to put Argo out to pasture, she's getting
too old to be carting us all over creation. Or maybe we could stay in the village, Ephiny
would like that. What do you say?"
The sun sank lower on the horizon the day was ending, over the next rise drums could be
heard and smoke could be seen. On the top of the rise stood three women and a centaur.
It wasn't hard to figure out who they were, Ephiny, Solari, Xenon, and Melosa. A smile
crossed the traveler's face at her two friends with their children. "We made it. How long
has it been? 10 years. Xenon you've grown into quite the handsome young centaur, and
Melosa you look lovely."
Ephiny and Solari exchanged quick glances at each other. The sparkle was gone from
those blue eyes, she had aged 20 years from the last time they had seen her just two
weeks ago. Ephiny realized that the woman was taking this turn of events hard. Nothing
had prepared her for the final outcome, not the months of sickness and weakening -
nothing.
"Xenon, take Argo to the stables and ... " She couldn't say it. For some reason saying it
was too painful, too final, too irrevocable.
"Yes mom." He took Argo's reigns from numb fingers and kissed the top of the traveler's
head. Turning his mother saw the tears fall from his eyes. Melosa went with him, she
knew him almost as well as his own mother and he would need her gentle comfort.
"Everything's ready... do you want to wash up before the ceremony?" the Amazon Queen
asked.
"No. I'll just wait here if you don't mind, till you come for me."
"I'll wait with you. Go on Ephiny you have things that only you can do... I'll stay with
her."
Hours passed and finally a horn rang out through the darkness. "It's time."
Nodding the traveler rose, squaring her shoulders she marched into the village with her
head high. Then she saw it all - the pyre - the small body laying on it - the crowd
surrounding it. Hercules, Ioalus, Autolycus, Rafe, Ulysses & Penelope, Pandora, Diana
and Philemon, Meg, Joxer, Leah, Lilla and more, some who she didn't know. It was over,
no longer could she hide it from herself. Xena crumpled to the ground harsh sobs
wrenched from her soul filled the silence. No one moved. A small figure moved from
Lilla's side toward the warrior princess. With her small hands the young child raised
Xena's face, "It's ok Aunt Xena. Aunt Gabby doesn't hurt anymore. She's on the Elysian
fields waiting for you. How would she feel if she saw you like this? Come on. Stand up.
That's good. Now I'll stand right here beside you, OK?" Little Gabby held her Aunt's
hand as the Amazon archers shot fire bolts into the pyre.
Slowly one by one, as the fire consumed the body, the crowd moved away. Finally only
two figures watched as the fire continued to burn one tall and dark holding the hand of a
seven year old child.
