PROMPT #3 - MEETING THE DEAD
Title: Finding Peace
Fandom: Xena
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Summary: Ephiny doesn't feel at rest, so she goes to the temple of the elders and is given some answers.
Note: This was written for a prompt over on roleplayer.me for a group.
When Ephiny entered the gate of Eternity she was able to see her family again. She was able to speak her peace with them and embrace them but after some time she no longer felt at peace. After some advice, she traveled to the temple of the afterlife; a home for the first Amazons. “You have unfinished business with your husband, you never got to say goodbye.” She went through life knowing she would never see him again. They belonged to two different worlds, two different lands of the dead. So, how could she make peace with him? “We can not give you the peace you seek but he can. Close your eyes, Queen Ephiny and allow your energy to find him. This power must come from yourself,” Ephiny was always skeptical about such things, even in life she didn’t believe in most things.
Ephiny had no idea how long she was sitting in that circle for but she had enough. “This is ridiculous, it’s not working.” When no one answered her, she opened her eyes to see a large wooden door in front of her. She reached out with a shaky hand and stroked its wood finish, causing the scene to change around her. She was no longer standing in the void but in front of her home in the forest, she called home with Phantes. They barely lived in it before they rushed off to Athens, “Phantes?” Placing her hand on the latch she pushed the door open and walked inside. This was the place they shared and everything was as it should be. It was big enough for a small family, one they talked about starting. She walked towards the back and opened the curtain, stepping into the back bedroom and over to her old bed.
They were not like any other couple and people didn’t understand what they shared. They would talk for hours, train, learn about each other's cultures. Both sides had been so blind over the years, filled with hatred and rage and now the decade old wounds were finally healing. They shared a weird love and were judged by both sides but they didn’t care. They held hands, kissed, shared moonlit walks and they fought just like any other couple. Some things were different, they didn’t share the same bed or sleep at the same times. They certainly didn’t have intercourse because it was dangerous for Ephiny, but they planned to start a family and that is how Xenan came to be. People assumed the worst when they found out and Ephiny rolled her eyes at them. Apparently, everyone was okay with them being together, but the idea of them having intimate relations scared the heck out of them.
After she came home from Thessaly and Mitoa, she refused to stay in the home she shared with Phantes. She returned to the Amazon village and shut herself off from the world. If not for Melosa and Solari she would have allowed her sorrow to swallow her whole.
Ephiny heard something moving inside the cabin and it grabbed her attention. She moved back towards the main room and pulled back the curtain to reveal Phantes. He stood in the center of the room and said nothing as she made her way over to him. She reached out her hand and touched his face, this face was the only one she wanted to remember. When Marmax helped her search for his body, they found it a mangled mess of blood, flesh, and bone. The smell of his rotting flesh will forever be burned in her memory. Not only the smells but the sounds that plagued her nightmares, his screams, the dogs snarling, the men laughing, and his voice crying out her name. “Ephiny,” His own hand reached out to touch, “You look good with long hair,” She gave this disapproving look and he couldn’t help but smile. “What?”
“That is the first thing you say to me?”
“No, I said your name first.” He took her hand and kissed it before she could yank it back.
“You haven’t changed since the day you died.”
“We’ve seen each other for less than a minute and you’re already finding something to get mad at me for?”
“You think you can just kiss my hand and give me those eyes?”
“Hasn’t failed me yet,” He snatched her hand back, pulling her against him. “I’ve missed you more than you will ever know.” He brought her hand back to his lips and smiled.
“I missed you too,” She wrapped her arms around him and sighed.
“I’ve watched our son every day since he was born. He’s handsome and I wish I could have been there for you both.” Ephiny wished that more than anything else, she wanted Phantes to see his son grow.
“I can only take part of the praise. Your father took us in and taught me how to raise a centaur child.” Tildus and Ephiny mourned together in a way, he helped her raise Xenan until she was well and able to move on her own.
They talked about everything and about nothing, everything else but what was bothering Ephiny. She could see him watching her with those inquisitive eyes as if he was searching for something. “Are you going to talk to me about what’s bothering you?” Ephiny would normally pour herself a glass of wine for a conversation like this but this cabin had none.
“What makes you think something is bothering me?”
“Perhaps because we’re here in some weird limbo instead of our resting place? We’re here for a reason, so, let me help you. Stop being stubborn and talk to me.”
“You died.”
“I did and so did you.”
“I couldn’t protect you, I couldn’t help save you.” Ephiny cupped his face, “I have never felt so useless in my entire life. I hid and watched as they tore you apart and I couldn’t stop them and-”
“Stop, what happened wasn’t your fault.”
“I could have done more!”
“You saved our son and that is all that matters. Ephiny, my pride almost got you both killed. You tried to reason with me and I ignored your warnings. I thought I could reason my way out of danger and I was wrong. However, if not for my actions I would have lost you and Xenan both.” Ephiny buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes, “I would die a thousand times to keep you both safe and unharmed. None of this is your fault, do you understand me?”
“I do.” Deep down she knew that but it didn’t make this any easier. She knew it was almost time to say goodbye, she could feel the pull of Eternity calling her. “I wish we could stay like this for a while.”
“Me too, I’m going to miss staring into those big beautiful eyes. I love you,” They leaned in and shared a kiss, both taking their time to enjoy what they had missed. When they broke apart she made sure to memorize his face, capturing his image in her mind so it would chase away all those nightmares.
Their home was starting to fade around them, they were out of time. “I love you too,” Ephiny watched him until the last possible second until Eternity opened its door and pulled her back inside. She found the peace she needed and allowed the warmth of Eternity to wash over her.
