There was silence once more and they looked at Xena
as she petted Gemini who laid her head in Xena’s lap.
“So Xena, it’s just you and your mother and
brothers?” Marguerite asked and Xena looked at her,
“yes, my father left a long time ago,” she said and
Marguerite nodded. “Do you mind if we ask why?” Julian
asked and Xena looked at him then let out a breath as she continued
petting Gemini, “my father, whose name is Atrius, was a
soldier so he wasn’t around much but when he was home, he
made it a habit to spend up all the money mother had made and
getting drunk.

 

 

And when he got drunk or when he wasn’t for
that matter he like to hit on my mother and when he was at his
worse he hit on me. One day he almost beat me to death and that was
the last day any of us saw him,” Xena said and they looked at
her. “I’m sorry you and your family had to go through
that,” Julian said and Xena hunched her shoulders.
“We’ve come out stronger for it,” Xena said as
she looked at them. “Do you mind if I ask you guys a
question?” Xena asked and they shook their heads, “no,
go ahead,” Marguerite said and Xena looked down for a minute
then back at them.

 

 

“What is it about me that you don’t
like?” She asked, “oh Xena its nothing personal about
you that we don’t like,” Marguerite said. “As far
as we’re concerned you seem to be a lovely young lady,”
she said and Xena nodded. “Then why is it that you
think…” Xena said as she looked at Julian, “that
I just want to marry Ulysses for his money and the position that he
holds?” She asked and Julian looked down for a minute,
“Ulysses told you about that,” he said and she shook
her head, “I overheard you talking to him.” Xena said
and Julian nodded as he looked into Xena’s eyes.
“I’m sorry for saying that, I had no right, especially
since I didn’t know you well enough to judge you. But you
have to see what we see and understand where we’re coming
from. Ulysses is our only son and granted he is not the only heir
to my throne he is the best choice simply because he is a man. I
have no doubt that our daughter Camilla could rule and quite well
but problems would occur inside the kingdom and outside as
well.