ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

The Amazon Queen

by L. M. Townsend (AKA Queen Laesë)

DISCLAIMERS:  The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrenê, Meg, Joxer, et al (meaning anyone else I didn't list and should have.) are the property of MCA, Universal, and Renaissance Pictures and anyone else who has a legal claim (thanks for letting the girls come out to play!) Melysë and The Amazons belong to themselves (and I dare any man to say different!) This story is mine, though, and written just for fun, not profit.

Subtext:  YES, though nothing explicit.

Violence: Yes, but no more than you’ll see on the show.

Language: Pretty tame, so far.

Other: If you haven’t read the previous installments in this series, you may have difficulty following along with who’s who. You can find these HERE.

*Spoiler Alert - several references to various episodes throughout the history of the show, especially IDES OF MARCH and LOOKING DEATH IN THE EYE (with perhaps more to follow as the story progresses)

(Click photo for larger image) Artwork by aj

Part XVIII:  Cyrenê’s Tale

“XENA!!”

The blood-chilling scream had Melysë flying out of her bed and into her daughter’s room, for once moving even faster than Xena. The priestess rushed in to see Neiromei sitting up in her bed, her eyes wide in horror, drawing another breath to scream again. Melysë sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping the little girl in the comfort of her arms, and rocking her gently, crooning softly in her ear. Xena, only a step behind her priestess, checked the room carefully for whatever had so terrified the child. Finding nothing, the warrior sat next to her priestess, worry for their young daughter in her deep blue eyes.

“Just a nightmare,” whispered Melysë.

“Another one?” said Xena, concerned.

“Xena-meia,” cried the child, stretching her little arms out past Melysë toward her warrior-mother.  Xena took the child into her strong arms and immediately Neiromei quieted. “Hey, I’ve got you, Little One. What’s so scary?”

“Y-you and tanti  Gabrielle...” sobbed the child, snuggling closer to Xena. “Y-y-you were...dead!” Once again the little girl wailed, clutching Xena tighter, as Melysë looked on, frowning in concern. Xena looked up Melysë, who nodded.

“Neiromei, look at me,” said the warrior, pulling the child back a little, but still holding her securely. “I’m not dead now, am I?” Neiromei shook her head.

“But you were,” she said quietly.

“But not now,” said Xena, firmly.

“But it was awful, Xena-meia,” said Neiromei, shuddering. “Those men hurt you and tanti Gabrielle - they hurt you very bad. They were bad men. And it was snowing.... ”

Melysë knew the story, but to her knowledge, no one had ever - would ever - tell it to a young child like Neiromei. With a sigh, the priestess lit a lamp in the main room of the cottage. She checked on the other children; Selenë had arisen and went to the kitchen to make some warm milk for her little sister, smiling knowingly and sympathetically at her mother, then decided that chammomile tea might do a better job of relaxing the little girl to sleep once again. The babies, Dylanda and Leilae were - thankfully - still sleeping in their cradles.

Neiromei had been having nightmares for over a moon. The healer said it was probably due to Neiromei adjusting to the new babies, but Melysë didn’t think so. The child’s dreams were so violent - and had a basis in truth, but a truth Neiromei would have no way of knowing about - unless she were gifted in magic like her mother, Melysë.   A very good possibility, thought the priestess.

Melysë left the babies’ room and found Xena sitting and rocking their young daughter, singing. Mesmerised by her warrior’s incredible voice, Melysë sat and listened. She knew Xena rarely sang. When she did sing, it was a gift to those she held most dear. Neiromei, too, was caught up in the magic of the warrior’s voice and soon fell deeply asleep. Xena held her and rocked, singing to her sleeping daughter, for a while longer. Finally, she arose carefully and carried her back to her own bed. With a sigh, she went back to Melysë in the main room of the cottage. Melysë smiled at the warrior.

“Thank-you,” she said, softly.

“I’m worried about her,” said Xena, sitting with her priestess, wrapping strong arms around Melysë’s slender waist and pulling her close.

“Me, too,” said Melysë, resting her head back against the warrior’s shoulder. “I mean, I know children have nightmares, but Neiromei’s dreaming every night - and the dreams are so violent, they’d even scare me.”

“I know,” said Xena, troubled. “But the really frightening thing is that these dreams are things which have actually happened - how could she know about the crucifixion?”

“I don’t know, Xena,” said Melysë. “Maybe she’s coming into her powers - if she has any. She’s so young for that, though.”

“Well, she is your daughter,” said the warrior, smiling and gently kissing the top of her priestess’s head.

“And yours,” said Melysë, returning the smile. “What are we going to do for her, Xena? This can’t go on much longer.”

“I don’t know,” said the warrior. “We’ve already talked to Hypsyple - maybe we should take her back to the shamenki .”

“Or I could call on my nykel, Tai’,” said Melysë, thoughtfully.

“Tai’?” said Xena. “You really think Romy needs a healer?”

Xena was well aware of Tai’s incredible healing skills - she and Melysë had trained together in the Great Temple. Tai’ had had some tragedy in her life, but ‘Lysë never talked about it. Xena only knew that it involved an incredible sacrifice on Tai’s part to save the priestess’s life - and for that alone, Tai’ had Xena’s rare respect and gratitude. Although Xena respected and genuinely liked Tai’, still she felt uneasy around the healer. Tai’ was an empath of great power and strength - even more so than Melysë - and although Xena knew that Tai’s integrity was above reproach, there was just something about the fact that Tai’ had the ability to see straight into Xena’s mind and heart that made the warrior edgy. There was also the small fact that Tai’ and ‘Lysë could communicate mind to mind even over great distances - and while Xena had no doubts about where her priestess’s heart lay, still Xena felt....left out. No doubt how ‘Lysë feels about the soul-bond between Gabrielle and me, sometimes - and there isn’t even any ‘history’ between ‘Lysë and Tai’.... mused the warrior, absently plaiting Melysë’s dark hair. Yet she never lets on, never says a word about it. I really ought to just let it go...like she has....

“Tai’s not only a healer, but a shamenki in her own right. And as you know, she’s a very powerful empath which makes her a very skilled healer of the mind as well as the body,” said Melysë.

“‘Healer of the mind’? Oh, ‘Lysë, Romy’s not crazy,” said Xena concerned. “It’s just some bad dreams.”

“No, she isn’t crazy,” soothed the priestess. “But Xena this is happening every night. I remember the nightmares I used to have.” Melysë shuddered and the warrior pulled her closer.

“Bad, huh?” said the warrior. Melysë nodded, snuggling closer for comfort. “What made them stop?”

Melysë smiled and looked up at Xena. “You did,” she said, softly. “From the first time you came to Aemetzainê, when Ares sent you - I’ve never felt safer than when you were here. That was the first time in a very long time - since before I escaped Kraes, the Black Mage, in fact - that I slept through the night. And every time you visited in between then and when you agreed to stay on as Warrior Queen, I slept peacefully all night. Now the nightmares only come rarely - and usually when you’re gone.”

“So that’s why you keep me around, huh?” chuckled the warrior, teasingly. “To chase away the bad dreams?”

“Among other things,” said the priestess, teasing back, then she grew serious again. “I don’t want Romy going through that anymore.”

Xena heard the weariness in her voice and looked at Melysë’s paleness and the deep shadows under her priestess’s eyes and felt her own exhaustion at the lack of sleep they’d been having of late.

“Okay,” said the warrior. “Go ahead and get Tai’ - if anyone has to work on Romy’s mind, I ‘d rather it be her, anyway.”

“Tomorrow?” said the priestess.

“It is tomorrow,” chuckled the warrior, indicating the lightening sky outside of the window. Melysë reluctantly began to rise, but Xena gently pulled her back. “No, you need some more rest - we all do. Selenë is still up - I’ll ask her to keep an ear out for the babies when they wake up. You are going to back to bed.”

“What about you?” asked Melysë. Xena grinned.

“I’ll be right there,” she said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Melysë awoke later that morning the bright sun, streaming in through the window - and the sound of her warrior’s “angry voice” just outside. Quickly she arose and dressed, peeking in at the babies, who were freshly changed and playing together happily with their older sister, Selenë.

“It’s okay, Mother - I’ve got them,” said her older daughter, smiling up at her. “I hear her, too.”

Melysë smiled her thanks, and rushed outside to see Xena, kneeling in front of a tearful Neiromei, gently scolding the little girl.

“I tell you these things for a reason, Romy,” Melysë heard her say. “You could get really hurt. Now if you must climb, stay to the smaller trees. When you’re a bit bigger, I’ll teach you how run through the taller ones, but until then...”

Neiromei nodded, solemnly, and Xena released her, rising to her feet. Neiromei ran off to play as Xena turned and saw the priestess. Grinning, the warrior shook her head. “Romy got stuck - way up in a tree,” she said.

“And you had to rescue her?” said Melysë. “Poor baby - she’s probably so embarrassed! You know how she loves to do ‘big girl’ stuff.”

 “She really got up there, too,” said Xena, proudly. “Too bad she couldn’t get down. Lilia and Terreis put her up to it, I’m pretty sure. If she’d been able to climb down, they might stop teasing her.”

“Oh, Goddess,” said Melysë. “She’s really going to hear about it now, isn’t she?”

“Aw, she can take it,” said Xena. “One of these days, she’ll impress the hells out of them and they’ll back off on the teasing. It’s just kid stuff - they’re older and Romy just wants to feel like she’s a ‘big girl’, too, like they are.”

“I know,” said Melysë, frowning. “But I don’t like to see her teased. Maybe I should talk to Gabrielle...”

“No, ‘Lysë,” said Xena. “You can’t do that - that’ll only make it worse. I should know.”

“You got teased when you were little, Xena?” said Melysë, smiling. “I find that hard to picture somehow.”

“Uh, no,” said Xena, grinning sheepishly. “I, um, did the teasing. And when they told my mother, I only got worse. Just let it go, ‘Lysë. Terreis and Lilia really actually like her or they wouldn’t bother with her.”

“How come we never went through with this with the other two?” said Melysë, sighing, as Xena pulled her into a hug.

“Because both ‘Ryn and Selenë are older than Terreis and Lilia and every other kid was too intimidated by the fact that they’re the princesses to give them a hard time,” said the Warrior Queen, chuckling. “Besides, ‘Ryn would’ve just decked anyone who bugged her and Selenë just gives people that smile of hers and really freaks them out. Just let Romy handle this herself in her own way. Trust me - she’ll be fine.”

“I know,” said Melysë, frowning. “But I was teased when I was little - I didn’t like it. And I don’t think Romy does, either. But I’ll let it be - for now.”

Neiromei ran towards the group of children, but stopped, seeing Lilia and Terreis giggling with each other. The little girl assumed they were laughing at her. Well, why shouldn’t they, thought the child, glumly, as she turned and walked slowly away from the other children. I’m Romy, the Dummy - always needs her Mummy - she can’t even climb a tree - what kinda Amazon’s she gonna be?

The child sang very quietly to herself, tears rolling down her cheeks as she climbed a smaller tree - one of her favourites, but still Romy thought of it as “baby tree”. She perched herself on a branch and watched as the other children played among themselves, laughing happily.  She hadn’t meant to doze off, but she hadn’t been sleeping at night with all those bad dreams, so she didn’t see it when Ephiny, Gabrielle’s oldest daughter, walked up to Lilia and Terreis, grabbing both of them by the arms and pulling them off a bit from the others.

“Why’d you do that to Romy?” she hissed at them. “I saw you - you picked on her until she climbed that tree. She could have been hurt!”

“We didn’t think she’d really do it!” said Lilia. “That was a big tree - I sure wouldn’t have tried it.”

“Me, neither,” said Terreis.

“Yeah, well, Neiromei is a nice little kid,” said Ephiny. “You guys need to lay off her. You don’t want to make Xena  mad - and you really  don’t want tanti  ‘Lysë mad at you - trust me, I know!”

“Okay,” sighed Terreis. “We’ll apologise.”

“And stop picking on her,” said their older sister, arms crossed in front of her. “Or you’ll answer to me. Got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” said Lilia. “Can we go now?”

“Go on,” sighed Ephiny, watching her little sisters running back to the other children. Her malatyr, Selenë had told her of Neiromei’s nightmares, but even though Ephiny knew her sisters weren’t causing them, she still thought the little kid deserved a break. Ephiny really did like Neiromei, and she knew that her sisters liked her, too, but they would probably keep teasing her despite her warnings. They really don’t understand,  thought Ephiny. Because, even though Mother is a queen, they weren’t born to be Amazons - not like me. They’ll probably never even take the Oath. Maybe I should talk to Mother - she’ll make them behave. Or maybe not - she never could get me to be good. At least not until ... anyway, maybe I should just leave it alone.....Romy’ll show them, one of these days....

Romy’s nap in the tree deepened into sleep and with sleep, came the dreams.

Athena's warriors were shooting arrows at Xena and Gabrielle. Xena, driving a wagon, sees a cliff, and drives alongside of it,  while more arrows flew at them and flames. Tanti Gabrielle threw her sais and two of Athena's warriors were hit and fell down. Then the wagon stopped and Xena threw her chakram, killing a platoon of warriors. Athena threw a fire bolt and hit the wagon with Xena and Gabrielle. The horses broke loose from the wagon and they ran. Romy saw her beloved tanti Gabrielle fall slowly back, as if overcome from the smoke of the burning wagon, and heard Xena call for her, reaching as the wagon fell over the cliff....

With a cry, the child awoke startled and tumbled out of the tree. She sat up, clutching her throbbing little arm, looking frantically about to make sure no one had seen her fall, then ran deeper into the woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Melysë was frantic. She had already called upon her Oath-Sister Tai’, and Tai’ had agreed to come right away. Xena was out looking for Neiromei, since the little girl hadn’t been seen since her scolding by her warrior mother. Xena, feeling guilt-ridden, combed the woods. Melysë had told her it was no more than Romy deserved for her disobedience, but all Xena could think of was the hurt in her little girl’s dark blue eyes.  I was too hard on her, thought the warrior. She’s just a little kid - but I’ve told her so many times not to climb the tall trees. Where is she?

Romy ran through the deep woods, her arm hurting more with each jarring step. She didn’t know if anyone had seen her fall out of that “baby tree”, but she knew that she was in big trouble. That’s why Xena-meia was so cross with me - she knew I’d fall. I’m so dumb! Falling asleep in that stupid tree!

Suddenly, Neiromei stopped. A tall figure stood before her on the path and beside the tall one, a smaller one - a girl, perhaps a little older than Neiromei. Romy looked up and smiled a little.

“Tanti Tai’,” she said.

“Romy - what are you doing out here all by yourself?” asked Tai’, kneeling beside the little girl. “Do your meias know you’re out here? I bet they don’t.”

Romy looked down and silently shook her head. “No, tanti,” she said, quietly. “I just....ran.”

“Come here, Sweetie - you’re hurt,” said Tai’, gathering the little girl to her. “Why, Romy! Your arm’s broken!”

“I...fell,” said Neiromei, miserably. “I fell asleep in the tree and I fell out - pretty dumb, huh?”

“Not dumb at all,” said Tai’, gently. “Your mother told me you’ve been having bad dreams - it’s no wonder you fell asleep somewhere you felt safe. Come, Kaiyte - let’s take Romy home - her mother’s very worried about her. Both of them - Xena’s looking for you even now.”

“How - how do you know that?” asked Neiromei.

“Your mother and I can talk to each other with our minds, Romy,” said Tai’. “That’s how I knew you needed .... me.”

Skillfully splinting the child’s arm until they could get to the supplies she would need to properly treat it, Tai’ whistled the signal to Xena that Romy had been found, then scooped the little girl into her arms and, taking Kaiyte’s hand, led both girls back the Amazon Village.

Xena met them, gratefully taking Neiromei into her own arms, her blue eyes filling with relieved tears.  “Tai’ - how can I thank you?” said the warrior.

“It’s alright - watch that arm - it’s broken,” said Tai’.

“Romy - how did you do that?’ asked Xena, hugging her daughter more tightly.

“I...fell...” said the child.

“Okay, Little One,” said Xena. “It’s okay - let’s get you back to your meia - she’s sick with worry about you. We’ll discuss everything later - when I’m ready to be mad instead of scared, myself.”

The group approached the Queen’s cottage where Melysë awaited them. She took her daughter first, setting the child on a chair and examining her arm. Melysë held the little girl while Tai’ removed the temporary splint. Fortunately the break wasn’t a bad one and Romy’s arm didn’t have to be set, so the two women merely wrapped it tightly in a more permanent splint while Xena looked on, worried. When they finished, the warrior took her whimpering daughter to her room and laid her down.

After the priestess saw to her daughter, she greeted her sister with a warm hug.

“Thank-you, Tai’,” she said. “Goddess, it’s good to see you - and Kaiyte! Welcome, Little Sister. It’s so good to see you both here. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too, tanti ‘Lysë,” said Kaiyte, hugging the priestess. “Will Romy be able to play soon?”

Melysë smiled. “Yes, I think she will,” she said. “In fact, why don’t you go on in there with her now -  and please tell Xena I need her out here, will you?”

Grinning and nodding, the little girl skipped off to do as Melysë asked her. Kaiyte entered the room and saw that Xena had propped pillows behind Romy. Kaiyte also saw the warrior grin at her daughter and whisper something that sounded like “croisus” and “wildberry dumplings”. Romy nodded, smiling slightly. Xena turned to Kaiyte, one eyebrow raised.

“Tanti ‘Lysë said she needs you - and that I can stay and visit with Romy - is that alright, tanti Xena?” asked the girl.

Xena smiled at the girl, ruffling her blonde curls affectionately.  “Sure, you can, Kaiyte,” said the warrior. “I’ll be back in a little while, Romy.”

“‘Kay,” said the little girl.

Xena left the girls to themselves. Kaiyte approached, smiling, then noticed the silent tears in Neiromei’s dark blue eyes, about to spill over. “What’s wrong?” asked the girl.

“I’m just a dummy,” said Neiromei. “Everybody’s being nice to me - but I’m just....”

“I don’t think you’re so dumb,” said Kaiyte, perching herself on the side of the bed.

“I fell asleep in a baby tree - and then I fell out - that’s not dumb?” said Neiromei. “And I broke my arm, too. It hurts.”

“I can fix that,” said Kaiyte. “If you let me?”

“You can fix broken arms?” asked Romy. “My meia can too, sometimes.”

“Sure - here,” said Kaiyte, reaching over and gently taking Romy’s broken arm in her two small hands. Neiromei felt the other girl’s hands growing hot and then pretty soon, the pain was gone and Neiromei could move her arm again. She pulled off the splint.

“Wow - how come my meia didn’t just do that?” said Neiromei. Kaiyte shrugged.

“I don’t know - but I’m sure she had a good reason,” said Kaiyte.

“Yeah - like I’m so dumb to fall out of a tree - ‘specially after Xena-meia warned me - I deserved a broken arm,” said Neiromei, glumly.

“I don’t like it when you say you’re dumb, Romy,” said Kaiyte, closing her blue eyes. “You’re not dumb at all. You’re really very smart.”

“How would you know?” asked Neiromei.

“I just...know things,” said Kaiyte, opening her eyes.

“My meia and my sister, Selenë are like that, too,” said Neiromei. “I don’t have any magic like they do.”

“Yes, you do,” said Kaiyte. “You just haven’t found it yet. But you will - soon. You can read already, too, can’t you?”

“Well, sure,” said Neiromei, frowning. “Meia taught me. I like tanti  Gabrielle’s scrolls.”

“So, what else do you like to do - besides climb?” asked Kaiyte. “We could play - or something.”

“Okay,” said Romy, excitedly. She climbed out of her bed and took her friend’s hand, leading her into the main room of the cottage where their mothers were talking. “We’re going out to play,” Romy announced.

“Neiromei, what about your arm?” asked Xena.

“It’s okay - Kaiyte fixed it,” said Neiromei, flexing the now-healed arm for her mothers to see. “Is it okay? I promise I won’t fall out of any more trees.”

“Go ahead,” said Melysë, smiling at the girls. “Just be careful.”

“Stay close,” said Tai’.

“Okay,” said Romy and Kaiyte. The two girls looked at each other and burst into giggles, then skipped outside.

“Kaiyte fixed it?” said Xena, raising an eyebrow to Tai’.

“I wondered if she would,” said Tai’.

“Like mother like daughter?” said Melysë.

“So it would seem,” said Tai’, smiling proudly.

“Why didn’t either of you - ?” began Xena.

“Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can’t, Love,” said Melysë. “This time I couldn’t.”

“I tried, too,” said Tai’. “I think I sense Hekate’s hand in this.”

“You mean Hekate wanted Kaiyte to heal Romy’s arm,” said Xena. “Why would She care who did it?”

“Who knows?” said Melysë.

“No, I think I do,” said Tai’. “I almost didn’t bring Kaiyte with me. But she begged to go, so....”

“You brought her - and I’m glad - Romy needs a friend,” said Melysë.

“Yeah,” said Xena, sighing. “Lilia and Terreis like her alright, but...well children can be cruel.”

“Unfortunately, Xena, I have to agree with you,” said Tai’. “Kaiyte and Telaros have certainly had their share of teasing from the village children - being the children of an Amazon seems to carry that curse. I thought Kaiyte might have a better chance of making friends among the Amazons.”

“So - you two will stay for a while?” asked Melysë, hopefully. Tai’ smiled.

“Yes - we can stay as long as you like, Little Sister,” she said.

Neiromei and Kaiyte walked through the Aemetzainê village, hand in hand. “That’s where I fell,” said Romy, pointing.

“Wow - from way up there? No wonder you broke something,” said Kaiyte.  Neiromei shrugged.

“That’s nothing,” she said, pointing to another, taller tree. “I climbed that one, too - only I couldn’t get back down. Xena-meia  had to climb up after me. Boy, was she mad, too!”

“Gosh, Romy, I couldn’t even have gotten up there, let alone back down,” said Kaiyte. “You sure are brave.”

“You really think so?” said Neiromei, looking over at her new friend.

“Yes, I do,” said Kaiyte. “I never say things I don’t mean, Romy.”

Neiromei smiled, pleased. “So, what do you want to do?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” said Kaiyte. “What do you usually do - besides climbing, that is?”

“Well, we could go to the Lodge and ask tanti Gabrielle for a story,” said Neiromei, thinking. “Tanti Gabby tells the bestest stories. And Meg might be there - she always has stuff to eat in the kitchen.”

“That sounds like fun,” said Kaiyte. “Mikala - she stays with us and helps my meia - she tells really good stories, all about the Olympian gods - ‘specially Zeus.”

“Zeus was my meia’s  father,” said Neiromei, proudly. “‘Cept I don’t think he was very nice.”

“Sometimes he was,” said Kaiyte. “Mikala says he tried to be - he just didn’t how sometimes.”

“Like Lilia and Terreis,” said Neiromei, quietly.

“They’re pretty mean to you, huh, Romy?” said Kaiyte.

“Yeah,” sighed Neiromei. “But I don’t think they mean to be - like Zeus, sometimes they just don’t know how to be nice. Oh, gosh! What if they’re at the Lodge? They’ll really give it to me - ‘cause I got stuck in that dumb tree!”

“No they won’t,” said Kaiyte, slipping a protective arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I won’t let ‘em.”

Neiromei looked shyly over to her new friend, then impulsively hugged her. “Thank-you, Kaiyte,” she said. “I’m glad you’re here. Maybe we can teach Lilia and Terreis how to be nice - like you are.”

Kaiyte returned the hug and smiled. “We can sure try,” she said.

“Still,” said Romy, frowning. “Maybe we can go and see my primeia first. I’d like her to meet you. And her treats are excellent!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Tai’, what about Romy’s dreams?” Melysë asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

“I don’t know,” sighed Tai’. “She had one today, too - that’s why she fell - it startled her awake in that tree.”

“She told you?” asked Xena.

“No - just flashes I picked up - something about you and Gabrielle and Eve ... a wagon, going over a cliff?” said Tai’, her grey-green eyes closed in concentration.  Melysë looked to Xena, questioningly.

“Yes,” she said, grimly. “That happened just before Ares put Gabrielle and me “on ice” - so to speak. We faked our ‘deaths’ and Eve’s to escape the Olympian gods.”

“Tai’, how could she know about that?” asked Melysë. “I didn’t even know that.”

“I’m reading it like a...memory? But that’s not possible,” said Tai’, shaking her head.

“Unless she’s picking it up from Xena,” said Melysë, softly, looking to her heartmate. “Have you been having nightmares, too, Love?”

“No, ‘Lysë,” said Xena. “I haven’t even thought about these things in...well, years. Not until Romy’s dreams brought them up. Tai’, Hypsyple said that Romy’s dreams might be from her fear of losing one of us to the babies - you know, our attention, love - some kind of nonsense like that.”

“Well, I wouldn’t quite rule that out,” said Tai’, thinking. “But I doubt it. I know the two of you have been just as loving and attentive to Romy as you always are.”

“Well, it’s easier with Selenë helping out as much as she does,” said Melysë, smiling.

“Ah, yes,” said Tai’, smiling. “Selenë - I must see her before we leave. But that’s for another time. For now, I think we’ll just keep watching Romy and monitor these nightmares.”

“That’s what we’ve been doing,” muttered Xena.

Tai’ reached over and gently laid a hand on the warrior’s arm. “Xena, I know this is very hard for you,” she said. “For both of you. In fact, ‘Lysë, is there a guest hut available?”

“Well, sure, Tai’, but you always stay here with us,” said Melysë.

“I think it would be best if Kaiyte and I took Romy with us and stayed in a guest hut - just for a few days,” said Tai’. “It would give me a chance to see these nightmares - firsthand, if you know what I mean.” Melysë nodded, but Xena frowned.

“I don’t know if I like the idea of anyone getting inside Romy’s mind like that - even you, Tai’,” said the warrior.

“I understand your concern, Xena,” said Tai’. “And I won’t do it without consent from both of you - and Neiromei. But I really think it might help.”

“Xena?” said Melysë, looking up at the warrior, hopefully. Xena raised an eyebrow at the priestess.

“Gonna be like that, huh?” she said, smiling at last. “Make me decide? ‘Lysë, you know I trust you both. You also know I will do anything to make these nightmares stop. Alright Tai’. I’ll see the guest hut is ready for you and Kaiyte - and Romy.” Xena left the cottage.

“She’s going to be patrolling outside that hut all night, you know,” said Melysë, smiling fondly after her warrior.

“Hm, yes, probably,” said Tai’. “She’s very...protective, isn’t she? Of all of you.”

“No more so than my ‘big sister’ always has been,” said Melysë, grinning at Tai’. “But even more, I think she’ll miss not having Romy here. It was tough on her when Arynë left and Selenë will soon be going.”

“To Britannia,” said Tai’.

“Yes,” sighed Melysë.

“Unless she comes with me,” said Tai’. “I would train her.”

“Yes, you could, couldn’t you?” said Melysë, brightening. “Oh, Tai’ - that would be the answer to many prayers.”

“I know,” said Tai’. “And when it is time for her to take her place there, she’ll be ready.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Romy and Kaiyte knocked on the door to the large cottage, and it was answered by a delighted Cyrenê.

“Romy! How good to see you,” said Xena’s mother, picking the little girl up and hugging her close. “And who’s your friend?”

“This is Kaiyte,” said Neiromei, shyly as her grandmother set her gently down and hugged her new friend.

“Welcome, Kaiyte,” said Cyrenê, warmly. “What are you girls up to today - or shouldn’t I ask, Romy?”

“No, primeia, Kaiyte doesn’t get me into trouble - that’s Lilia and Terreis,” said Romy, solemnly.

“You get yourself into trouble, Romy,” chuckled Cyrenê. “Just like your mother. Did I ever tell you about the time Xena....ah, better not. She won’t thank me for telling that tale.”

“How about another one, then, primeia?” asked Neiromei, settling herself into a chair.

“A story?” said Cyrenê. “Well, I’m not the storyteller your tanti Gabrielle is, but I may know one or two.”

Cyrenê went into the kitchen and emerged with a couple loaves of nutbread and some milk.

“Now, you two come over here and have some of this - I just baked it fresh this morning - and I’ll tell you a story my mother told me,” said Cyrenê, settling both girls in her lap.

“Once upon a time, there was a magical tree - an oak tree. Now this tree desperately wanted be special. It wanted to have something that no other tree in the forest had. And so the tree made a wish upon the first star in the evening sky. As you know, the evening star is named after Aphrodite -

“Tanti ‘Dite?” interrupted Romy. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, Romy - only it’s called by her Roman name, ‘Venus’” said Cyrenê. The little girl considered this quietly as her grandmother went on with the story.

“Aphrodite took pity on the poor tree and gave it something very special - something no other tree in the whole forest had - a golden acorn. The tree held tight to the acorn in it’s highest branches, and as it grew, the acorn was lifted up higher and higher, so no one could see it or touch it. But the tree knew that it had the acorn and it clung even tighter, afraid someone would try and take the golden acorn from it.

“This made Aphrodite mad. She stamped her foot and told the tree, “I didn’t give that to you to hide it from the world, but to share it’s beauty with everyone - “

“That doesn’t sound much like Tanti ‘Dite, primeia,” said Romy, doubtfully.

“Now, Romy, I may not be able to talk just like your tanti Aphrodite, but...well, you know how she likes her gifts displayed - especially the beautiful ones,” said Cyrenê.

“Oh, yeah,” said Romy, nodding. “But the part where she stamped her foot - that sounds like her.”

Cyrenê chuckled and continued.

“Aphrodite was angry because the tree refused to share the beauty of her gift, so what did she do? She made the gift even more wonderful. She made the golden acorn magical, so that anyone who could find it and get it, would receive their dearest wish and their heart’s desire. And she told people about it. Soon people were climbing the tree, trying to get the acorn, but the tree hid it higher and higher in its branches and no one ever did get it. And the tree still holds tight to that magical golden acorn to this day.”

“That was a good story, primeia,” said Romy, grinning up at her grandmother.

“Yes, it was,” said Kaiyte. “Thank-you for telling it to us.”

“Why, you’re more than welcome,” said Cyrenê, kissing both girls on the top of the head. “And now, you two scoot - I have work to do here. And Romy, stay out of trouble.”

“Okay,” sighed the little girl as she and Kaiyte left. “But it won’t be easy. Come on, let’s go and see if Meg’s at the Lodge.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaiyte and Neiromei walked through the kitchen door of the Lodge. Sure enough, Meg was there and greeted both girls with a hug. “How’re my sweetings?” she asked, pouring them cider and passing a plate of cookies to them.

“We’re good, tanti Meg,” said Romy, biting into a cookie.

“And how’s yer mother, young Kaiyte? Haven’t seen much o’ her since I came here,” said Meg.

“She’s well, Meg, thank-you,” said Kaiyte. “She’s visiting with tanti ‘Lysë right now - if you wanted to go and see her.”

“Well, you know, I might just do that,” said Meg, grinning. “Sure they won’t mind?”

“No, meia likes you, tanti Meg,” said Romy.

“Well, then, off I go,” said Meg, leaving the girls in the kitchen. Just then, Lilia and Terreis came in.

“Hey, what’re you doing here?” said Lilia to Romy. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Kaiyte,” said Neiromei, proudly. “We just came to see Meg - but she had to go somewheres.”

“Climbed any trees lately, Romy?” said Lilia, giggling.

Neiromei looked down, quiet.

“As a matter of fact, Romy and I were just going to the forest to look for a certain, special tree,” said Kaiyte.

“Better make it a small one,” snickered Terreis. “‘Cause Romy gets stuck in the bigger ones.”

“I do not!” cried Neiromei, jumping to her feet, her little fists clenched at her sides, as Lilia began sing-songing.

“‘Romy, the Dummy, always calls for Mummy, she can’t even climb a tr-’” Lilia’s singing was cut short by Romy’s fist, connecting squarely with her nose.

“Hey, hey,” said Gabrielle, coming into the kitchen. “I better not be hearing anyone called ‘Dummy’! I- “ The Bard stopped short at the sight of the blood streaming from her daughter’s nose. “Okay. I can deal with this.”

“I’m sorry tanti,” said Neiromei, her little head down, all anger forgotten. She knew she was in big trouble now. But Gabrielle merely looked at her and smiled a little.

“That’s okay, Romy,” she said. “I heard Lilia teasing you. I don’t like the hitting, but I can understand it - gods know, I understand it. You’ve got your mother’s temper. You go on home now. Come on Lilia, let’s clean you up.”

Head down, Romy took Kaiyte’s hand and together they walked slowly back to the Queens’ Cottage. “Boy, I’m really gonna get it now,” sniffed Romy. “Meia doesn’t like hitting. ‘Specially other Amazons - and most ‘specially tanti Gabrielle’s kids.”

“Lilia isn’t an Amazon,” said Kaiyte, looking off into the distance. “Terreis might be - someday - but Lilia won’t.”

“How do you know that?” asked Romy, temporarily forgetting about being in trouble.

“I just do - Lilia will find something else that makes her happy,” said Kaiyte, smiling at her friend. “Come on, Romy - better get it over with.”

“You gonna tell?” said Neiromei, looking at her friend, eyes wide.

“Nope,” said Kaiyte, grinning. “You are.”

The girls entered the cottage, Neiromei, her head down. Xena, Tai’, and Melysë were sitting at the table, cups of tea before them.

“Hi, Girls,” said Melysë, rising from her chair. “How was your day?”

“Go on,” said Kaiyte, nudging Romy.

“I slugged Lilia,” said Neiromei, quietly.  Melysë sat back down, quickly.

“Wh - but Romy,” she said. “Why? Was she teasing you again, Sweetheart?”

“Ag - You knew, meia?” said Romy, her blue eyes wide.

“Well, yes, Romy, but Xena and I decided to let you handle it your own way,” said Melysë, casting a look at the warrior.

“Oh,” said Neiromei. “Yes - she called me a dummy - and other stuff. I’m sorry, meia. I know you don’t like hitting. I just got too mad.”  Melysë arose and enfolded her small daughter in a tight hug.

“I don’t like it,” said the priestess. “But I don’t like teasing, either. I hated it when I was a kid, too - and I would have slugged a few of the ones who teased me - but that doesn’t make it right.”

“I know,” said Neiromei. “You got teased, too, meia?”

“Yes, she did,” said Tai’, smiling. “I slugged ‘em for her.”

“Wow,” said Neiromei, looking over to Kaiyte, whose eyes had widened at her mother’s confession.

“So I didn’t have to,” said Melysë, suppressing a very un-queenly giggle. Then she grew more serious. “But you know hitting is wrong, don’t you Romy?”

“Yes,” sighed the child. “Guess I have to say sorry, huh?”

“Well, maybe after Lilia says sorry for calling you names, you might apologise,” said Melysë. “What did Gabrielle say about it?”

“She said I had Xena-meia’s temper and that she understood,” said Neiromei, grinning. “And primeia  started to tell a story about Xena-meia, but she said you wouldn’t ‘preciate her telling that one. Did you get in trouble when you were little, too, Xena-meia?”

“All the time,” chuckled the warrior. “Which is why I know all about what you’re up to, young lady. You’re not quite off the hook yet. But we’ll worry about that later. Just tell me - was it a good punch?”

Neiromei grinned. “Right in the nose - blood all over the - “

“Romy!” said Melysë, glaring at Xena.

“Sorry!” said both her daughter and her warrior.

“What were you saying about ‘Like mother like daughter’?” chuckled Tai’, rising. “Well, are you two tired of each other yet?”

“Gosh, no, tanti Tai’!” said Romy, smiling at her friend.

“Well, that’s good,” said Tai’. “Because your mothers said it was alright - if you want to, Romy - for you to come and spend the night with us in our guest hut.”

“Really?” said Neiromei. “It’s okay even though I...”

“Yes, Romy,” said Melysë, smiling.

“Yeah - if you want to, Romy,” said Xena.

“Yes, I want to!” exclaimed the little girl, hugging Kaiyte.

“Okay, then,” said Tai’. “Let’s get your stuff and go. I’ll make some dinner, so don’t you two worry - Romy won’t starve.”

“You got that right,” said Kaiyte, thinking of the nutbread and cookies her friend had consumed that day.

Melysë and Xena merely looked at each other and chuckled since Romy’s appetite had rivalled the Bard’s since the day she was born.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neiromei slept, cuddled up to her new friend. She had agreed to let her tanti Tai’ help her with her dreams, but she was a little scared. Soon, the dream came and Romy was glad that tanti Tai’ was there with her.

“Okay Romy, tell me what’s happening,” said Tai’, softly to the dreaming child.

“Xena-meia's tied up in some weird-looking chair . Tanti Gabrielle's about to be burned at the stake. Some lady with crazy eyes is saying to Xena-meia, ‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.  It’s a nice fit, don’t you think?’  and Xena-meia answers her, ‘Don’t get too fond of it.’

“Then the crazy lady says ‘How are you gonna get out of this one, Xena-- hmm?’ Xena-meia is still being tough and she tells her ‘It ain’t over till it’s over.’

“And the crazy lady tells Xena meia , ‘Oh, but it will be, soon.  You’re about to watch the

friendship of your life go up in smoke.  Hmm-- I envy her in a way.  She gets to leave this life so pure.  I wonder if I could have been her.  Burn her.  Oh, don’t bother struggling, Xena. Be thankful for that beautiful throne.  It’ll give you peace if you let it.’”

Suddenly Neiromei cried out, “I’m coming, Xena! Oh! I fell! Oh, no! Oh, it’s okay - Xena-meia got her chakram - gee, that looks like ‘Ryn’s, that tandos Ares gave her.”

“What’s happening now, Romy?” asked Tai’, guiding the little girl through her dream.

“They’re fighting,” said the child, frowning. “I’m here to save my friends - oh!”

“Romy - what’s happening?” said Tai’.

Neiromei’s eyes popped open and she and drew a breath to scream, but Tai’ was there, holding her, and Romy felt soothed. “Oh, tanti, I got hit - but Xena and tanti  Gabrielle were safe - that’s the first I ever dreamed they got to be safe,” said the child, breathless. “And I got to help - I really did - if I didn’t come and distract the crazy lady, Xena-meia couldn’t have got her chakram and save tanti Gabrielle. I really helped.”

“Yes, you did,” said Tai’, soothingly. She smiled at the child. “Can you sleep the rest of the night now?”

“Yeah,” said Neiromei, with a sigh of contentment. She lay  her little head back down, snuggling close to Kaiyte and drifted back into a dreamless slumber for the rest of the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning found the girls happily playing. Melysë made her way to Tai’s guest cottage after feeding the babies and Xena. Xena had gone off to ‘Ryn’s hut - ostensibly to check on the new roster. Melysë smiled at the thought. She knew that Xena had decided to “take some time off”, but she also knew the Warrior Queen missed the drill field. ‘Lysë had taken over feeding both babies, since Xena had started working out again - to get back into “fighting condition”. Like she was ever out of it, thought the priestess. Even to the day we delivered, she was ‘battle-ready’.

“Meia!” Neiromei cried, stopping her play and running to embrace her mother. Melysë picked up her young daughter, swinging the child to one slim hip and hugging her tightly.

“Did you have fun, Little One?” said Melysë, beaming at the child.

“Oh, yes - Kaiyte is my bestest friend - can I get down and play, meia?” said Neiromei.

Melysë chuckled, setting the child down gently and watching her run off with her “bestest” friend. “She’s great, ‘Lysë,” said Tai’, approaching from the guest hut.  “Very bright, and very well-behaved. You and Xena have done well with her.”

“Thanks- but I’m afraid a lot of the discipline has been on Xena’s shoulders,” said Melysë, sighing. “I can’t help it - she just looks up at me with those eyes and I melt.”

“I rather guessed as much,” said Tai’, smiling at her friend. “You forget, I’ve known you better than almost anyone and for almost your whole life, Little Sister.”

“That’s true,” said Melysë, returning the smile as they watched their girls playing.

“Romy’s exactly like you, ‘Lysë,” said Tai’.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” said Melysë, softly. “She’s very much like Xena - very strong-willed....”

“And you’re not?” chuckled Tai’. “Since when?”

Melysë grinned over at her friend. “Okay, okay - maybe she did get a little of that from me,” she said.

“A little?” said Tai’, laughing.

“A lot?” said Melysë, joining her friend in laughter. “Aw, come on - I wasn’t that bad - was I?”

“No, Little Sister - not bad at all,” said Tai’, now smiling. “In fact, it’s that strong will of yours - and the patience you have learned over the years - which gives you such strength of character - it makes you a very formidable Queen and Priestess.”

“Thank-you, Tai’,” said Melysë, quietly. “Xena told me a friend she had once - a long time ago - said that ‘The entire world is driven by a will-- blind and ruthless. In order to transcend the

limitations of that world, you need to stop willing-- ‘ “ stop desiring-- stop hating....the thought completed itself in the priestess’s mind, much to her surprise. Where did that come from? “I don’t think I could do that if I tried.” At least, not now ....

“No,” said, Tai’, hearing the unspoken thought. “That’s not your path, ‘Lysë - although it’s been a valid one for many, it’s not who you are.” Not now, anyway.... “And anyway - your will isn’t blind and ruthless - it’s focused - and it’s focused on serving your family and your people, the Amazons.”

“That’s true,” said Melysë smiling fondly at her little girl. “I guess she’s more like me than I thought.”

“Come on, Sis’,” said Tai’. “I’ve got some klafé on inside - we’ll let them play.”

Neiromei watched her mother go into the hut with tanti Tai’, then quickly grabbed Kaiyte’s hand, leading her into the woods.

“Come on,” said Romy. “We’ve got to find - “

“What?” said Lilia, stepping in front of the two girls, Terreis behind her. “Your ‘special’ tree?”

“Leave me alone,” said Neiromei, placing her small hands on her hips, Kaiyte standing behind her.

“Or what? You’ll ‘sucker’ punch me again?” said Lilia.

“Why?” said Kaiyte, quietly “Are you a sucker?”

Neiromei giggled, then grew serious again. “Primeia told me a story about the oldest oak in the forest - and the Golden Acorn and Kaiyte and me are going to find it,” she said. “You guys can come, too, if you want to. But no teasing.”

“I never heard that story,” said Terreis. “And my meia tells us stories all the time - no one knows more stories than my meia.”

“That’s true,” agreed Neiromei. “But primeia said that her mother told her this one - all about how Aphrodite gave this magic golden acorn to the oak, but it wouldn’t share. So tanti ‘Dite got mad and made it even more magic and told people that it would give them their dearest wish and heart’s desire. I’m going to find that magic acorn.”

“This I gotta see,” said Lilia, moving out of their way. She and Terreis trailed after Kaiyte and Neiromei through the deep woods. At last they came to a very old oak, it’s gnarled branches reaching high up into the sky.

“This must be it,” said Neiromei, solemnly.

“Romy - you can’t climb that,” said Terreis, nervously. “That’s way too high. What if you fall?”

Neiromei set her jaw - just like Melysë did when the priestess’s mind was made up - and looked at Kaiyte. “Do you think I can do it?” she asked.

“Do you?” said Kaiyte, looking her friend in the eye.

Neiromei looked up to the top branches. She could have sworn something glinted in the sunlight which poured through the leaves of the oak tree. That decided it. Romy swung herself up onto the lowest branches, climbing from limb to broad limb, rapidly ascending.

“Romy - I’m telling Xena!” cried Terreis, scared for her friend.

“Yeah,” giggled Lilia. “Maybe you better - someone’s going to have to go up there after her!”

“Shut up, Lilia!” cried Terreis. “Just shut up - she wouldn’t even be doing this if you didn’t keep bugging her all the time.”

“So?” said Lilia, unable to counter her sister’s unexpected defence of the princess.

“No,” said Kaiyte, smiling up at her friend. “She’ll be fine - you’ll see. Romy’s very brave.”

Lilia rolled her eyes, but watched as Neiromei swung from branch to branch, ascending ever higher. Romy focused on that glint - she knew she had seen it, now. It was still there, ever before her. For Neiromei, all that existed was this tree and the prize she sought. Forgotten were the nightmares and taunting of her age-mates - Neiromei had turned her dreams around with tanti Tai’s help. She had a new best friend - one who believed in her and sort of told her to believe in herself. And she had heard Terreis - whom she had always really liked - tell Lilia - her own blood sister - to shut up. Suddenly, she saw it - it was true! A golden acorn, just like primeia had said, way up high.....Neiromei faltered a moment, thinking about just how high she must be. Don’t think about that, she heard somewhere in her mind.  Just get it - and come back. You can do it, Romy!

Neiromei reached over to take her prize, but the tree swayed and she missed. Clutching the not-so-sturdy branch upon which she was standing, Neiromei leaned forward again, this time using the momentum of the branch’s swaying to extend her reach - and grasped the Acorn in her little fingers. She grinned widely - until she realised she had to get down. Resolutely setting her jaw, Neiromei tucked the magic acorn into her pocket, and started her descent. Climbing down was slower than climbing up, but Neiromei was determined. She was also terrified, but no way was she going have Xena come and rescue her again. She’d rather fall than face that humiliation. You won’t fall - just keep going, the voice in Romy’s mind encouraged. Neiromei swung her little body at last to the ground, grinning triumphantly.

“I did it!” she cried. “I really did it!”

“Yes you did,” Neiromei turned around to see both her mothers standing there with tanti Tai’.

“Oh,” said Neiromei, her eyes wide. “Um, am I in a lot of trouble?”

“Yep,” said Xena, arms folded across her waist.

“Okay,” sighed Neiromei, but she grinned at her mothers.  “But it was worth it - look what I got!” In vain, Neiromei felt around in her pocket, then frantically checked the other pocket.  “But I had  it!”

“Had what, Romy?” asked Melysë.

“I had the Golden Acorn - the one tanti ‘Dite made magic - it’s gone!” cried the little girl. Suddenly there was a pink sparkle and Aphrodite stood there, smiling at her small niece.

“Yes you did have it, Romy,” she said. “And you got it fair and square. Give it up!” she called up into the tree. There was a sound like the wind, blowing through it’s leaves - or a very sad sigh - and the Golden Acorn plunked at Neiromei’s feet.

“Stingy old tree,” said Aphrodite, wrinkling her pretty nose at it. “Go ahead, Romy - pick it up - it’s yours now. Way to go, Kiddo.”

Romy bent and retrieved the Acorn, gasping at it’s beauty. “Wow,” she said. “It sure is pretty.”

“Of course it is,” said Aphrodite. “I made it, didn’t I? Well, Romy - what’s it gonna be?”

“What?” said the child, tearing her eyes away from the acorn.

“Come on, come on - your dearest wish, your heart’s desire, yadda, yadda, yadda - come on, kid, I don’t have all day,” said Aphrodite, looking at her perfect manicure.

Neiromei thought for a moment. “Tanti, will the tree be sad without it’s acorn?” she asked.

“The tree? Who cares, Romy? Come on and tell me what’s your dearest wish?” said Aphrodite.

“Well, I already got to save Xena-meia and tanti Gabby in my dream,” said Neiromei, thoughtfully. “An’ I got a new bestest friend already. An’ Terreis told Lilia to quit picking on me. I don’t need anything, tanti. But the tree needs it’s acorn. So, my dearest wish is to give it back to the tree.”

Aphrodite rolled her eyes and looked over at Melysë. “She’s your kid alright,” said the goddess, snapping her fingers and the acorn disappeared from Neiromei’s hand. Suddenly, the old Oak, straightened, it’s trunk no longer gnarled and it’s leaves took on a golden tint.

“No that’s what you were supposed to do with it in the first place,” said Aphrodite, smiling, and shaking her head. “Stupid tree. Well, gotta fly! Laters!”

With that the goddess disappeared in a pink poof! and Neiromei looked up at her mothers. Melysë was smiling proudly at her and Xena was trying very hard not to beam - Romy was still in trouble, after all, for disobeying her and climbing the tallest tree in the forest!

“I’m afraid Kaiyte and I have to leave, too,” said Tai’. “Lukos sent a messenger bird.”

“Trouble at home?” asked Melysë, concerned.

“No, not at all,” chuckled Tai’. “He just misses us. Come Kaiyte.” Kaiyte hugged her new friend good-bye. Neiromei looked up in disbelief.

“You have to go?” she said. “But I thought....”

“No, I have to go home, Romy...for now. But I’ll be back,” said Kaiyte, taking her mother’s hand and starting down the path toward Lycastia, their home. Tears slipped from Romy’s blue eyes. Romy, don’t be sad.

“Huh?” startled Neiromei looked up and saw Kaiyte standing down the path, smiling at her. “Kaiyte, did you say something?” Melysë looked startled and glanced over at Tai’, then smiled and nodded.

Silly, I’ll always be with you - we are nykelae just like our mothers are - we are never alone, Sister.

Wow - I didn’t know I could do this! thought Romy to her friend, delighted.

Well, I told you that you had magic - you just had to find it.

Yeah, said Romy, grinning. And I found a friend, too - my bestest friend - that’s real magic!

(To be continued in Part XIX - Coming soon!)

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