Chapter One- Sights of the Future
My village was calm, no surprise. My village always seems to be calm. Never expecting anyone never doing anything Potidaea is in short dull. Father asked me to go get water for mother this morning, that was hours before. I sat insead by the river side playing a dull song on my old pan pipe and wishing I was somewhere else, seeing something new. I heard of warriors who travel the lands, not only fighting but living, something that seems scarce around here. So I sit on this perfectly dull day, next to this perfectly dull stream and write of the adventures I would never have, I lay in the grass as the winds blow past, even the wind more adventurous than I, and I am left to recite, the adventures of great kings, soldiers and warriors I only dreamt i'd meet. I was doomed to this life of everlasting peril where I may wed the one i'm told, bear the children I must and grow old and die having no impact on this world. I had a conversation with my sister.
"You're crazy" she said it like a fact.
"I'm different" I countered "i'm not meant for this life, i'm meant for something so much bigger."she looked at me sideways, confusion glossing over in her eyes and her messy dark hair scattered around her face.
"No one is coming to take you away Gabrielle, your home is here i'm content with that, why aren't you?"
"But I swear I saw travelers outside the village yesterday."
"Even if there are travelers Gabrielle what would they want with you? a young naive village girl?" It stung like a snake, no truer words were spoken, no traveler would want a helpless traveling long behind them. But still I was braver than most in my village, no one else ventures beyond the grassy fields and into the woods except the huntsman and even there time there is limited. I loved to sneak away and watch travelers walk by and make up stories about them , mother says this is a terrible waste of time and paper but what else am I supposed to write about? This week's rations? What a laugh or maybe Perdicas, the man I was to marry, a good friend, but to be forced to wed him? ridiculous, I had to believe the travelers would come through I had to believe they'd stop in and announce their arrival with a horn and call a meeting to find the most skilled in the town to apprentice with them on their travels. I would beat each challenge with poise and determination and with overwhelming gratitude they would whisk me away to more exciting places. so I sit here on a dull day with these dull thoughts wishing a traveler, any traveler might pass my way.
I was awakened with a shake, feeling my body flail limply from one side to another.
"wha- whaht!"
"Get up Gabrielle" It was Perdicus standing over me, my sister and mother both clinging tightly to my father, fear immediately stung my soul and was up out of bed and at my sisters side by the door crouched down behind my father. There were noises outside, the sounds of my villagers screams and fire. Never before did I think fire could be so loud, but at this moment its sound enveloped the village and that seemed to be the thing engulfing the houses, the flames seemed weak behind it. I couldn't help but feel shame, laying in wait while my village sat defenceless to whatever was creating such a mess of terror.
"We have to get the girls out of here" my father sounded urgent but there was a shake in his voice, one I feared meant the worst. but who'd want our village? I didn't have time to finish the thought. a yes sir was spoken and me and my sister were swept from the cottage, across the plain and out into the unknown of the forest, I half lead the way as others joined us in our unorganized rush away from our home. I could hear shouts and feel unfamiliar presence all around. angry men who had come only to harm. We kept running but we were no match for the men and soon we were surrounded by travelers in armor. Horror struck me my sister clung to my shoulder. These were the men I had seen just days ago, the ones I begged the gods to bring back to my village. I immediately felt responsible and without thinking stepped forward.
"Take me and let the others go" It came out of me and it was my voice but I don't recall saying it. still terrified I stood strong facing my new rival. he grabbed me and grabbed a wip and the others screamed, if I hadn't been so frightened I could have deciphered the yells and ad a comeback but I was beyond even understanding my own words. I was pulled hard to one side and thrown to the ground.. as I looked up I felt something I had never experienced before, tried to place it but it was impossible. I just watched as a warrior woman in white single handedly took down their entire force. I was in shock. I couldn't look away. she did it with ease and one by one the men dropped. thats when I heard it. The sound that would change my life, a battle cry like none other. The armored men started to hit the ground one after another, one was ordered to take us away and I was suddenly lifted from the ground and just as suddenly dropped again. My first encounter with fighting, I kicked his man as hard as I could, mostly out of reflex if i'm being honest. Soon after the men began to retreat the woman had crossed blades with the leader , she lodged his sword in the bark of a nearby branch and spoke
" Tell draco Xena says hello" And in an instant he hit the ground.
After this struggle she lead our group unharmed back to camp. I followed close behind the warrior woman, I knew her name, I heard her stories. and I now knew my destiny. the gods had sent Xena the warrior princess to take me away, train me and make me a brave and valiant warrior. I followed her all the way back to camp and into the medics home once sitting I started talking and befor I knew it I couldn't stop, giving her a play by play of the fight she had just won every once in a while placing in a "you must teach me that" and "how'd you do it?" I was overwhelmed with happiness. Until my father entered, interrupting me and asking Xena if she would leave as soon as could this be happening, before him sat my destiny the woman i had waited my whole life for and he was acting like she was some sort of villain.
"Gabrielle you should come now" the voice jumped up behind me and i was in no mood for this imposing chivalry.
" just because were betrothed Perdicas, does not give you the right to boss me around, I will stay here and talk with Xena" i didn't plan on leaving and as he exit the hut I felt relieved.
"Xena you must take me with you!"
"I travel alone" my heart sank, but i was not giving up so easily. proceeded to ask where she was headed revealing and using my talents of reading writng and geography. she knew I had plans to follow her and was quick to turn me away, advising me that perdicus had a good soul. but I knew something she had no realization of yet. this warrior wan was my destiny and by the gods I was not going to let the chance to be someone slip from my fingers.
It was the early hours before dawn I had packed the little money I had some clothing and as much food as I could take without being greedy or over encumbered. She had made it clear I wasn't suppose to follow her but I wasn't about to let someone so perfect slip from my life. snuck out late in the night waking my sister as I crept from the hut. I explained to her why I was leaving, and the whole time I prayed that she truly understood my pain. The loathing I had for this place and these walls. she smiled as I left but I could see tears in her eyes.
off I went, Thrase, a couple days journey and I could catch up with Xena in her hometown of Amphipolis. I walked through the night, the beginning of my journey seemed easy, that was until I reached the cyclops's bridge. To be honest I was pretty much afraid of anything I had never done before. So crossing the bridge was an accomplishment, until I found myself in the snare of a blind cyclops. thank the heavens I am good with words, for without them I would have been a main course. but after convincing the dumb brute I could bring him back a better meal than myself off I went. Maybe this talking thing wasn't such a bad idea, maybe I could even talk my way into a ride, and so I did, with an elderly man who strung tales of royalty he may or may not have know it was nice to listen to him though, it gave me many ideas for my own scrolls, but mostly I loved to hear about Xena, even though most of her exploits were of killing and pillage, something about her seemed different, it was like the woman in the stories was not the woman I had met at all, she was so soft and kind so brave and fierce not the brutal unkind woman from the stories. so when I arrived at the tavern of Xena's mother I was shocked to find the villagers very nearly stoning her. My heart ached, I didn't know why then but I stood between her and the villagers, by far the bravest thing I have ever done. Talking to the crowd I convinced them to let me take Xena and leave. and didn't realize that i'd have to even sweet talk my way into Xena's company, even after saving her life. Why did it seem like the world didn't want me to have this? probably because I wanted I more than I wanted anything in the entire world. but I accompanied xena to her brothers grave. Listening to her speak I was glad I had made the decision I had, I was happy to be here with this amazing woman, but it was troubling listening to her say how lost she was, then I told her she wasn't alone, she turned to look at me. Never before had I been looked at right through to my soul until this moment. I don't know how I continued to stand. bravery seemed to be the theme of my day, and it wasn't over.
Back in town Xena explained to me her prior relationship with this town, the wrong she had done to its people and the warlord draco, it lit fire inside me. I immediately disliked Draco, which was strange considering I had no anger towards him for the attack lead on my village, but this seemed personal. She said she would initiate a fight with him, a battle to the death. what a brave woman I thought, but turns out she wasn't just brave she was skilled, and using her amazing sense and flawless fighting technique she soon had Draco on his back. this is the first time I had seen Xena fight to Her full potential, and I think the first time she did it for the right reason in a very long time. after the fight and pardoning Draco on the terms that he left the valley immediately she disappeared, I followed her tracks out and tried to start a fire, realizing I had zero ability to travel on my own I made my way into Xena's camp, she accepted me surprisingly quickly, no more talking or persuading, she understood now, i was on the same journey she was, and together we were going to become two very different people.