'Twas the Night Before Solstice
'Twas the night before Solstice, and in the Queen's hut
Brie paced up and down in a bardic mind rut.
"I must find a rhyme that fits how I feel!
I need words that proclaim all my love to reveal!"
The whole Village was sleeping there was not a peep,
For most of the Amazons were now fast asleep.
The Solstice eve party was over and done
And the duo was home from a night of pure fun.
When they stood on the porch looking up at the sky
Xena mentioned she had to go ~ wouldn't say why.
Then she took off on Argo. "I will be back soon."
She left Brie on her own, staring up at the moon.
With the warrior gone the Bard thought she would write
But along with her lover, her Muse was in flight.
The Queen stood quite alone on the porch of their home,
Wondering why Xena picked Solstice eve to go roam.
On the steps she did sit with her hands on her head.
Inspiration was gone and her heart filled with dread.
She had only this evening to come up with a verse
Or she'd be without gift, tell me what could be worse?
Gabrielle heard a voice that went straight to her heart,
And the Queen cursed her Muse her untimely depart.
Xena gave her old war cry, as closer she came,
And then yelled to the horses and called them by name;
"Now, ARGO! Now, DARIS! Now, PARIS and SYLEUS!
On, COMBE! On CUPID! On, LETO and TYLUS!
We must not wake the Village, though that might be a chore
Please stay off of the roof; let me out at the door.
Xena's voice could be heard as she talked with the man,
Sitting beside her with the reins in his hand.
Down to the hut with restrictions they flew,
With the cart full of gifts, and old Senticles, too.
As the cart came in sight a thought came to the Bard.
"By the Gods this is simple, why'd I make it so hard?"
She did not need the Muse to incite her to write,
Just the voice of her soulmate, as it breached the night.
Then words flowed like water ~ she scribbled them down
And was finished before Xena's feet hit the ground.
Brie held out the poem she had finished in time,
With her love wrapped around every word in the rhyme.
"I don't need you to travel the damp, dark night through
For the best gift of all is the love twixt us two."
A raised eyebrow and smile and the Bard's heart did melt
As her warrior's kiss is what she then felt.
Xena spoke then, "I searched for a gift worth the giving
One to show you, my heart, you're my reason for living.
But I found that there was not a gift worth the buying
That means more than my love, which is death defying,"
Tears welled in their eyes emerald green/sapphire blue
For they knew that their love for each other was true.
It was all that was needed; it was what this night meant.
And they shared in their love with not one dinar spent!
In that magical moment the moon cast her glow,
On the starry eyed lover's who stood there below.
They heard Senticles yell, as he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY SOLSTICE TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"