Path of Forgiveness

CHAPTER TWELVE - A RE-MEETING

Breakfast went by uneventfully. Mother and Gabrielle were the first ones there, of course, Gabrielle doesn’t ever come late for a meal. I stayed clear of looking at Varia or even in her direction for that matter, I didn’t want our meal to be awkward or anything. I helped clear the dishes from the table, until I was called over by Mother.

“Eve, can I have a word?”

I raised an eyebrow suspiciously, but relented. Following Mother outside the hut, I turned to face her, “Yes?”

She put her arm around me, and led me out towards the forest. “Just thought we could enjoy some quality time together, that’s all.”

I was suspicious and said slowly, “Alright...”

“Great,” she said with a smile. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Mother sure has been acting strange all this morning, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Maybe it was because her and Gabrielle finally took their relationship to the next step. That had to be it, right? I decided to ask her about it, since we were spending quality time and all.

“So you and Gabrielle seem a lot closer now,” I said, in observance.

“Yes,” she said, as we walked down the path away from the village. “It’s... nice.”

Mother was never good at talking about her feelings, so I let it go. That, and I had no desire to know if they ended up consummating their relationship or not. Though I’m sure Mother wouldn’t tell me even if they did.

We walked for maybe twenty minutes, filling the time will small chit chat and whatnot. We came to the river and stopped by it, looking out at the scenery. Then I heard voices. Turning around, I saw Gabrielle come into the clearing with Varia. My eyes widened and I turned my mother.

“You promised!”

But before she could reply, I started get very light headed again, and looked over at Varia who seemed to also look very dizzy. My legs collapsed from underneath me, and everything went black.

*****

I awoke with a splitting headache, groaning and holding my head, I sat up, only to see an Amazon across the clearing who seemed to be doing the same. What had happened? Shaking my head to clear it, I looked up, only to be staring at the pointed end of a sword. The Amazon that was across from me before was now standing over me, her sword drawn towards me.

“What did you do to me?” She asked, practically growling.

“Me?” I asked in disbelief. “I didn’t do anything!”

“Don’t play dumb with me, I wake up over here with no memory of how I even got by this river, and you’re the only one around, so TALK!” She pointed her sword closer to me, and I backed up.

“I don’t remember either! I was just trying to find my mother, Xena. You’ve heard of her, right?” I was hoping my Mother’s reputation would be enough to make her draw back her sword. She looked like the Queen from the village we were staying at, but I couldn’t be sure.

“You know Xena?” She asked, suspiciously, but didn’t move her sword

“Yes, she’s my mother. I’m staying at an Amazon Village not far from here with her and Gabrielle.”

The Amazon drew back her sword and sheathed it. “I’m sorry, you must be Eve, right?” She held out her hand to help me up, and I took it as I rose to my feet. There was a heat that shot all through my body, and I guess her’s as well because we both let go of each other’s hands quickly like we’d be burned.

I cleared my throat and answered her question, “Yes. And you’re the Queen?”

“Varia,” She introduced herself.

“Nice to finally meet you,” I said, giving her a slight nod.

“And you,” she replied. She looked out towards the river for a long time before saying, “It’s weird... we both have no idea how we got here. Do you...” She stopped for a minute, as if debating on asking me something. “Do you have... pieces... of your memory missing from the last couple of days too? It seems like all I remember is the mundane things, like eating and sleeping.”

I tried to think of what I did yesterday, and yet all I could remember was going to bed that night. “Yeah, I do. What do you think caused this?”

“I don’t know, but I think we should get back to the village and find out. Hopefully it’s nothing, but we can’t be too sure.”

The two of us walked back to the village, and coming upon the clearing I spotted Xena. “Mother!” I said, and ran over to her.

“Eve!” Mother exclaimed as she came to hug me, “Where have you been?”

“Over by the river. I don’t... I don’t even know how I got there. The Queen and I, we woke up together, both not remembering a thing.” I nodded towards Varia, who had just come to stand next to me.

“Strange,” Xena replied. “Well, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. If you don’t remember by tomorrow morning, then we’ll do something about it. Until then, just don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”

Mother was taking this far too... calmly. I looked at Varia, who kind of shrugged at me. She I guess seemed to think the same thing. Mother must know something we don’t, but isn’t planning on telling us right at this minute. I decided to go along with whatever it was that she was doing and relented, “Alright, I won’t worry about it. It was just weird, was all.”

“Why don’t you two go play?” Mother said to me, referring to me and Varia.

I flushed red, “Mother, I’m not seven.”

Xena laughed and gave me a pat on the butt, which made me jump. She walked away, still laughing to herself.

“She’s acting strange,” Varia said.

“You’re telling me,” I replied. What was Mother up to?

I turned to look at Varia, and she turned her eyes away from Xena as well to lock with mine. I suddenly felt very awkward, and I didn’t know why. “Well... I uh...”

“Yeah, um...” Varia said as well, and took a step back. “I uh, gotta get to the Healer’s hut. Some of my sister’s were hurt in the last battle, and I want to help take care of them.”

“Of course,” I said, quickly. “I’ll um, I just... go... somewhere... else then?”

Varia nodded quickly and awkwardly, and turned to walk away. But she stopped mid stride and said. “Unless...”

My heart was beating fast, and I wish I could calm it. I didn’t know what was going on with my senses all of a sudden, I had never felt like this in my life. I repeated what she said, in a form of a question. “Unless...?”

Varia turned, and looked at me. “Do you want to come with me?” It was such a simple question, but the way Varia posed it made it seem like something was beneath it, weighing it down and making it far more important than it really was.

My mouth was dry, and I tried to swallow, “Sure...” I said in a raspy voice. I cleared my throat before continuing, “I’d love that.”

Varia’s whole body seemed to relax, and I didn’t even realize she was tense before. She smiled at me, “Good, come on.”

I followed behind her to the Healer’s Hut, with this weird feeling like butterflies in my stomach. I didn’t know what was going on, but as strange as it was... I liked it.

TBC....