Once they were seated, musicians began playing some
soft music and everyone began talking again. “Xena this is my
sister Camilla, Camilla this is Xena,” he introduced Xena to
his sister who was sitting across from Xena. “It’s nice
to meet you, Ulysses has told you so many wonderful things about
you,” Xena said and Camilla grinned at her but the grin
didn’t reach her eyes. “You as well and I wish I could
say the same but my brother has barely spoken of you,” she
said and Ulysses looked at his sister. “Camilla, don’t
be an irritating brat tonight please,” he said with a grin on
his face and she looked at him then picked up her glass. “I
won’t be a brat if you promise not to be an ass,” she
said as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she took
a sip of wine. Ulysses raised his hands in a choking manner as he
looked at his sister, “ooh, I could just choke you
sometimes,” he said and Camilla was getting ready to say
something when Marguerite stopped her before she could start.

 

 

“Please not tonight you two, especially when
we have a guest at the table,” Marguerite said, nodding her
head towards Xena and the siblings looked at each other.
“Fine, I’ll behave if he will,” Camilla said,
“I always behave,” Ulysses said and Camilla rolled her
eyes at him and Ulysses shook his head at his sister then looked at
Xena and grinned. “This is normal,” he said and Xena
grinned as she nodded, “I see,” she said then looked at
the servant that walked up next to her. “Wine my lady?”
She asked and Xena grinned and nodded, “thanks,” she
said and the servant bowed her head in respect then filled
Ulysses’ glass next. Everyone talked among themselves while
they ate some of the appetizers that were brought out, until twenty
minutes later when dinner was brought out. Xena had to admit that
so far she was enjoying herself but that was partly because she
hadn’t met anyone else, she was just getting to know
Virgil’s parents and Camilla who she got the very distinct
feeling from, that she didn’t like her.

 

 

About an hour later when everyone had finished
their dinner and they were beginning to mingle amongst themselves
as well as dance on the dance floor, Julian thought it was time to
announce the reason they all had been brought here. However, before
he did he leaned over and whispered to Ulysses, “are you and
Xena ready?” He asked his son and Ulysses looked into his
father’s eyes, “as ready as we’re ever going to
be,” he said and Julian nodded as he stood and lightly tapped
his eating knife against his glass which caused a clanging noise
and it got everyone’s attention. Once the room was quiet,
Julian began to speak, “everyone seems to be in good spirits
tonight so it must be the food,” Julian said and they
chuckled at him and he grinned as he held his hand up to silence
them. “I’m sure you are all wondering why my wife and I
planned such a special dinner,” he said. “We thought it
was because you needed help eating all this great food,” one
nobleman said and they all chuckled at him, including Julian.