Always pt. 3
Varia
lowers herself to the ground, her eyes darting back and forth.
Gabrielle watches the woman move, noticing the tension in her walk
and the fists at her side. Like someone who is being hunted.
But
the grip upon the bard's wrist is strong, it is sure and
welcoming.
"It has been a long time." And Varia lets her
lips curve upward, pulling Gabrielle into an embrace.
It is
unexpected. But so needed...
"I saw you in a vision -"
Varia's hand covers Gabrielle's lips, stilling the words waiting
there.
"Not here. It is not safe."
The bard is tugged
along until they both stand among what is left of the Amazons, a mere
band of women, huddled together under a tent of animal skins.
They
look at her with sad eyes, with angry faces, with the unmistakable
feeling of despair.
Gabrielle feels Varia's stare and finds what
that gaze rests on. The bard slides her hand over the chakram,
fighting the urge to grip it to her and shout 'it's mine' to all of
them.
"Who is doing this?"
Varia crosses her arms
and shifts her eyes to the rest of the Amazons.
"We do not
know. Three months ago, two men came here and began to attack. They
were easy enough to defeat, so I kept one alive to question him."
The
Gabrielle of old would have paled at this mention of Amazon justice,
but the warrior in her keeps silent.
"And?"
"He
shoves this poster at me, telling me that a friend of his got a
thousand dinars for bringing the head of a Amazon from the north to
someone in Greece. No one knows who this person is, what their grudge
might be or where to find this person."
One of the Amazon
warriors from another land speaks up at this.
"We should go
further away. Our camp here is too well known."
"And run
away? What would our fore-mothers think of that kind of disgrace?"
Another Amazon grumbles this loudly.
It is Helicon all over
again. My sisters split apart, running and
scared...dying...
Gabrielle looks to Varia, who is watching
her. The Amazon, once so hot-headed, now seems so calm. The warrior
then turns to the Amazons, who are caught up in their debate over a
course of action.
"Enough!" Varia shouts. "I must
speak to Queen Gabrielle. Alone."
With backward glances, they
file out.
I know you have questions, Varia. And I know about who...I see how every look you give me ends up at this weapon at my side. Surely, you know. Surely, news has spread, no matter how - in my grief - I told no one. Except Eve, she knows everything...
"Are you okay?" Varia's voice
breaks through and Gabrielle blinks.
"Yes. Sorry."
They
stand there for minutes, not talking. Varia shifts on her feet
several times, before sitting down.
"You said you had a
vision of me." Not a question, a statement.
Gabrielle sits
opposite and folds her arms across her chest.
"Yes. We were
at Helicon and you had on the mask of the Queen. You asked for my
help."
Varia smiles a little at that. "Anything
else?"
"No. It seemed rather...intense, so I made my way
back."
"From where?"
"Far away."
Varia
cocks her head to the side and studies the bard. Gabrielle does not
flinch under this scrutiny. Some part of her is removed, is cold
now... This is my home and yet my joy at being here is dampened.
They say you can never go home again...
"You've changed."
Again, a statement from the Amazon.
"I know." And just
saying it makes Gabrielle's body sag with weariness.
They
discuss the attacks. They discuss possible enemies. They go over
strategy and weaknesses and plans. Again, Varia comments on how much
Gabrielle has changed. More like a warrior, eh? More like you?
Like a woman we both know?
"Varia, who do you think is
doing this? Honestly."
A sigh escapes Varia's mouth.
"Honestly? I am fearful for my life, because I truly do not
know. Every shadow is a threat now."
"No one has seem
them, talked to them, heard of them... It is like this person does
not exist." Gabrielle murmurs softly.
Lost in her pondering,
the bard does not notice Varia stand up and begin to blow out the
candles lighting up the tent.
"Queen Gabrielle?"
Startled
again, the bard feels her heart jump and, yet, her body stays still.
Yes, I am a warrior now. No going back.
"What
happened?"
Such a loaded inquiry...with many answers...but
I know the one you want...
"Xena died."
And with
that, Gabrielle stands up and walks out, leaving Varia to extinguish
the last light. The bard walks quickly, finding her emotions tangled
up with her need to be hard, creating hot tears that flood her
cheeks.
Xena died. And everything changed.
TBC
