See Chapter One for Disclaimers

Chapter Three

Xena decided to use meditation to rummage around in her memories and find out what else was lurking there.  She closed her eyes, and did some deep breathing, sending her conscious mind to search deep inside.  It looked somewhat like the dream tunnel in there, and she let her iron will and determination carry her quite a distance.  She found herself outside the hill fort, again dressed in the saffron tunic, and carrying the sword.  Creiddylad was on one side of her, and the Morrigan on the other.  They crossed a river on a barge, and entered the same castle where Hope had been born.  There they stopped in front of a big stone.  Xena held the sword high and plunged it into the stone.  The three were happy about something to do with the sword--a foretelling of a future hero.

Another memory involved a noisy pack of black hounds riding to the hunt, and riding after them with a handsome man with grey eyes.  The same man taught her swordplay, while she saw Creiddylad teaching her about herbs.  An inner voice told her that these were her real parents.  "At least it isn't Ares," she thought.  Xena tested the memories.  They seemed real enough.  Was the Goddess creating them in her mind?  Or...Xena considered.  She really should be dead again.

Did this Goddess save her for her own reasons?  Or maybe...  Xena just couldn't seen to stay dead.

She came out of meditation to find Creiddylad smiling at her.  The smile made Xena shiver.  It was way too familiar, since it exactly echoed her own.  It was the smile she had seen in countless mirrors and pools of clear water.

"What in Hades is going on here?" demanded Xena.

"Some people call it, 'finding your roots,'" said the Goddess.

"What's the sword about?"

"Excalibur?  Nothing but a symbol, it is, and it isn't.  A singing metal blade that through anything will cut.  The scabbard is other thing.  The scabbard any wound will heal.  Who holds Excalibur heals the land and leads the people.  The High King, he is.  The Once and Future King, he is."

"But only with our help."  The words came effortlessly, like a lesson well-learned.  She regarded Creiddylad.  "Exactly what are you the Goddess of?"

"On Mayday, I come to earth, and 'tis my turn at the wheel of the year.  Healing and spring, summer and all the good things that come out of the earth are mine.  And when the Fall comes, I see Gwyn Ap Nudd for one day, then off he goes for his turn at the year's wheel.  Long, long ago, at our meeting, I became with child.  My bright beauty Brigantia was born.  An intelligent lass, with bright blue eyes, and a mind equaled by no one.  Her hair was dark as night, her skin white as snow, and the sword was her friend.

" She grew in wisdom, but longed always, for more.  One day she came to me, she told me she wanted to be born on earth, to learn the ways and lives of the people.  And when she felt she had learned enough, she would come back and take her rightful place in Avalon."

Xena was really hating where this story was going.  It had the ring of truth.  Xena twitched.

She was getting really uncomfortable.

"Are you trying to tell me that I'm this Brigantia?", asked Xena.  

"Brigantia is one of nine sisters.  You have meet three while wandering the plane of mankind."

Xena sat bolt upright.  Memories of Diana, Meg and Leah filled her mind.  This was the first logical explanation of the look-alikes she had ever heard.  Xena waited for more information.

"Each sister has great talent in one special area, and many skills in others.  Brigantia was a healer, warrior and it was she who forged Excalibur."

"That explains a lot.  So, if I'm this Brigantia, and I'm not saying I believe I am, it sure explains why I could take the sword out of the stone.  It might even cover how I was able to forge the ring.  But, if I'm some sort of Goddess, why was I so angry and violent for so many years?" asked Xena.

"Gods and Goddesses reflect what is.  We shape the future, and place it in the hands of mankind.  When you took human form, you took on all the weakness of human flesh.  Your memory was buried deep inside you, and you had no proper guide.  We left three of your sisters nearby so you could help each other.  We sent each of you teachers.  "Twas great good luck that another Goddess stumbled into your life," said Creiddylad.

"Great good luck for both of us," said Xena.  "If all this is true.  Although I might have known from that jolt I got when I first saw her.  So, am I stuck here?  Is there some way I can go see Gabrielle?"

"You are not yet recovered.  You died, you know.  You are being restored to your true body.  Wait.  Be patient, my child."

***************

Learning to teleport wasn't easy.  Gabrielle slammed into Mt.  Etna, had to tread water in the North Sea, and finally found herself standing in front of a huge wooden gate with her mother.  A porter with dark eyes and a long beard appeared, holding woolen cloaks in each hand.  Gabrielle wasn't really cold, but she supposed it was their style of dressing here, so she put it on.  Somehow, Aphrodite managed to make hers look sexy.  They followed the porter into a great hall.  A fire roared in the fireplace.  Royal dogs lounged on a bear skin rug.  In a carved wooden chair sat a handsome older man, with long hair, and green eyes.  His hair was red-gold, and he wore a red silk tunic, embroidered with gold thread, and studded with emeralds.  A lap harp was on his knee.  When they entered, he smiled, and stood, putting the harp aside.  Gabrielle took a moment to glance at Aphrodite.  She saw a look on her mother's face she had never seen before.  The Goddess of love was clearly very taken with Taliesen.  Her eyes glowed, and she smiled in a new, and dignified way.  The look on her face was mirrored on his, mingled with a bit of pride when he looked Gabrielle's way.  He took Aphrodite's hands in his.

"Aphrodite, like the sun on a winter day.  I was a frozen pond.  You melt me, with your smile."

He turned to Gabrielle, looking her up and down.  His smile was gentle, and a bit familiar.

"Remembering?  You have grown since last I saw you.  Did you become a Bard, as you wished?" he asked.

"You were the traveling bard, who taught me in Potadia!  I wondered how someone in such a little village would know so much about the bardly arts.  Yes, I wrote a lot of scrolls, and people seemed to like my stories, " said Gabrielle.

Aphrodite giggled.  "Ha!  You are so modest!  She was a hit, Tali.  And in her spare time, she saved people , with her friend, Xena."

Taliesen regarded Gabrielle with a sweet smile.  He took her hand in his, and a warm feeling went through her.  She was with both her real parents, and it felt right.  "Friend?' She sounds special.  Who is she?"

Tears sprang to Gabrielle's eyes.  She had pushed aside the hurt for almost a whole day by shutting down her grief.

Aphrodite slipped an arm around Gabrielle, giving her a little squeeze.  "They were a happening couple.  One of my best--well, they did most of the work.  And to answer your question, Xena is Brigantia."

"One of the Nine Sisters?  The Misty Isle is near enough.  I will send a message to them.  I believe they will invite us."

"Xena is alive?  How?  Where?  I can go to her?" and Gabrielle heard herself giggle like her mother.  She blushed.  A giggle wasn't the right response.  But she was so happy.  Xena was alive!  The dungeon door flew open and Gabrielle embraced her treasured feelings for her warrior.  Taliesen went to a window, and reached outside.  When he withdrew his hand, a huge raven was perched on his arm.  He whispered in the bird's ear and released it through the open window.  Gabrielle could hear it fly away.  Taliesen turned back to his daughter, his eyes soft.  

"I would like to hear one of your stories while we wait," he said.  "Tell one about your friend, Xena."

Chapter 4

Xena was going mad.  Gabrielle was in Olympus, and she was stuck here in Avalon.  She wasn't even sure where it was.  Creiddylad was at the window with her back turned, so Xena decided to make a break for it and find Gabrielle.  She sat up, and pulled back the covers.  She still hurt, but she was a warrior, she could take pain.  Xena put one foot on the stone floor.  It was cool against her skin.  She slid the other foot beside it, and leaned forward.  Then using both hands, she pushed herself to her feet.  The pain rushed up and filled her mind.  Xena gritted her teeth against the pain, and took a step.  It felt like stepping on crucifixion nails.  Xena tried to breathe.  Her heart was racing, and her skin was clammy and cold.  She was shaking.  She felt a strong arm around her, and leaned into her mother's support.  Xena allowed herself to be put back to bed, and watched Creiddylad, pull the cover back over her traitor body.

"You win, I'll wait a day or two.  I just miss her so much," said Xena.

Creiddylad smiled and patted Xena's arm.  "Your luck is with you.  A message we received.  Your Gabrielle is on her way here."

Xena forgot all her suspicions, and hugged her mother tight.  Happiness danced inside her heart.

The little family stood on the shore of the Misty Isle.  Aphrodite and Taliesen flanked Gabrielle, each holding a hand.  Gabrielle was as nervous as a girl on her first tryst.

"For Goddess sake, it's Xena.  I know Xena.  Calm down," she told herself.  She deep breathed as a barge came toward them.  It was poled by a woman shrouded in a grey cloak.  Gabrielle idly wondered if she was one of Xena's eight sisters.  The barge landed, and Taliesen helped Aphrodite and Gabrielle out.  Gabrielle was impressed with her father.  He was kind, intelligent, thoughtful, interested in others, and the best bard she had ever heard.  She was just sorry she had not inherited his singing voice.  They were now at the hill fort, and the endless grassy knoll didn't appear to have an opening.  The shrouded one spoke a word in a language Gabrielle didn't understand, and a door opened into the hill.  The family went in, and Gabrielle literally had to rub her eyes.  The walls were dazzling displays of crystal, lit from within, and refracting all the colors of the rainbow.  Everything opened into a great room, with a bubbling cauldron in one corner.  A woman hovered over a patient in a narrow bed.

"Gabrielle!" cried Xena.

Gabrielle was in Xena's arms in six steps.  They kissed eagerly, like starving men falling upon their first meal.  After several moments Gabrielle remembered her manners, and backed away from Xena's embrace.  She looked at Creiddylad, suddenly feeling very shy.

"Hello, I'm Gabrielle, Xena's friend."

Creiddylad laughed.  "You gave Brigantia the will to recover.  Thank you.  You love my daughter."

"With all my heart."  Gabrielle turned to Xena.  "Just think, if we both hadn't wanted to experience life on earth, we never would have met.  How are you?"

Xena gave Gabrielle a rueful smile.  "I hurt all over, and I really was missing you, but I feel a lot better now.  I just wish my body would catch up."

Creiddylad walked over to Xena, reached down, and lifted her from the bed.  She walked over to the cauldron, and held Xena over it.

"No!" cried Gabrielle and Aphrodite together.

"You don't understand.  This will complete her healing.  This cauldron is the source of life," said Taliesen.  And they watched as Creiddylad dipped Xena in the cauldron.  When she came out, her skin was glowing, and the pained look had fled her eyes.  Xena stood on her own two feet, and walked over to Gabrielle.  She took the young bard in her arms, and lifted her in the air, twirling with her, and grinning like a madman.

"Cool!" said Aphrodite.  "I love happy endings."

"I think they would like to be alone.  Would you like to visit Gaul with me?  They have this lovely little inn on the Riviera...", said Taliesen.  And they both popped out.

Creiddylad regarded them both.  "You have but one more obstacle between you," she said.

Xena and Gabrielle looked at the Goddess in shock.

"Like what?", demanded Xena.

"My real name, I suspect, "said Gabrielle.

Xena looked truly puzzled.  "What?  Is it a funny name.  Are you afraid I'll tease you?"

Gabrielle took a deep breath.  She held Xena's hands and looked into the bluest of all eyes.

"I promise you, I didn't know this until yesterday.  My name is Hope."  Gabrielle watched the wince in Xena's face at the name and the memories.  A shiver went through Gabrielle.  She hated hurting Xena.

"The Fates have a sick sense of humor.  As I recall, you got more than even with them.  You won't be mad if I call you Gabrielle in private, will you?  You see, I'm kinda used to it."

"Hiding again, Brigantia?" asked Creiddylad.

Xena shot her a look, then gentled it as she looked into Gabrielle's lovely green eyes.

"I have a lot to answer for, don't I?"  As Gabrielle opened her mouth to reply, Xena placed her fingers on Gabrielle's lips.  "Wait.  I need to say this, and I've avoided it for years now.  I'm so sorry I made you kill your own daughter.  I should have trusted you to raise Hope to be like you.  I think someone told Atreus what I would become, and he tried to kill me.  If Cyrene hadn't killed him, I could never have changed.  I never would have known all those people who tried to help me, and most of all, I would never have met you."

Gabrielle placed a hand on either side of Xena's face.  She looked into her very soul.  

"I'm sorry I got caught up in that power play between Dahak and Eli's god.  I threw away all caution, and I made a mess of things.  And I'm not at all sure I could have helped Hope find her good side.  I guess I'm not cut out to be a mother."

"Nonsense, you helped raise Eve, and you were there when we reclaimed her from the Romans.  I'll call you Hope, but only if it doesn't hurt you inside.

Gabrielle's reply was a kiss.  Somehow, she knew they would work everything out.  A hundred million tomorrows were ahead of them, and they would live them together.

Epilogue

Epilog: They settled on the Misty Isle, creating their own household.  They return to the earth from time to time, born as humans, and without memory of their past.  But they always find each other.  A few of the sisters always trail along to help.

Meg died, finally, and when she returned home, the Nine were complete again.  Should you ever find the Misty Isles, you will find her and her sisters going about their work, and a little blonde Greek Goddess in the background, holding Brigantia's hand.

finis

Look here for more information:
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/celtic/articles.html

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