Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Little Bard: Chapter 14
Gabrielle struggled to keep her eyes open, as she found herself leaning back into Xena's chest. The constant rocking motion of Argo's trot coupled with the aftereffects of the workout Xena had put her through earlier that morning was catching up with her. She felt the warrior's arm grip around her, pulling her closer, which only encouraged her eyes to droop even further.
"She's cute when she's asleep, huh?" Syrus quietly commented as he pulled his horse up next to Argo.
Xena grunted an affirmative, looking down at her small charge and brushing the hair away from the little bard's face.
"I can tell how much you love her. It must have broken your heart last night."
"Last night?" Xena raised a questioned eyebrow.
"Aye, I saw the little one dragging that switch back upstairs…"
Xena interrupted him with a chuckle. "Ah, yes. Not one of my proudest moments, but I didn't use it beyond making a point. She scared the Tartarus out of me when she disappeared yesterday, so I returned the favor." Syrus blinked, his surprised looking earning another chuckle from the Warrior Princess. "When you have a reputation like mine, a threat is a good as the real thing."
"Well you certainly have a unique parenting style," Syrus commented.
"I'm not her parent," Xena returned, "I'm her best friend."
Before Syrus could comment, Xena held up her hand stopping Argo and the rest of the party. She shook Gabrielle awake; making sure the girl was steady enough before dismounting, and leaving her on Argo's back. Whispering something in the horse's ear, she then addressed the rest of the group. "Wait here, I'm going to scout ahead, make sure there are no surprises." Turning back to Gabrielle, Xena put a hand on the bard's leg. "I'll be right back, ok?"
Gabrielle nodded, stifling a yawn, and then watching as Xena disappeared into the underbrush and cover of the dense trees.
"Well that was odd," one of the men from the village, Calix, remarked.
"No that was just Xena, she'll be back soon," Gabrielle answered.
"Should we dismount? My legs are killing me," Dion, the other member of their party, asked. "I'm not used to riding like this."
"Just stay close, in case we need to run," Gabrielle conceded.
The three men dismounted. Syrus stepped forward, offering to help Gabrielle down as well, but the little bard shook her head. "If Xena wanted me down she would have taken me down herself. Besides, she probably told Argo to eat me if I tried to get into any trouble. I'm better off where she left me."
"Little one, are you so afraid of her, that you won't move from where she left you?" Syrus asked, his voice deep with concern.
Gabrielle shook her head, surprising Syrus with a genuine smile. "I'm not afraid of Xena, I love her, and she loves me."
"She told me earlier that she purposely tried to scare you last night," Syrus replied, doubtfully.
Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. "Well, Xena is nothing if not creative. She has a unique ability to get her point across, but I was never really afraid of her, just for my backside," the little bard chuckled nervously.
Syrus frowned, moving to retort, but was distracted by the little bard, who suddenly sat up straight, her face becoming serious. Argo gave a slight wicker and flicked her ears as well.
"We need to get off the road, now," Gabrielle announced, clicking Argo with her heels, and leading the men and their own mounts into the dense trees.
The last man cleared the road just in time, avoiding a trio of rough-looking bandits, tearing down the road at a full gallop.
"How did you know?" Dion asked the little bard.
Gabrielle shrugged. "I could feel them, something Xena taught me. Argo felt it too, didn't ya girl?" Gabrielle patted the horse's neck. "Syrus, would you mind helping me down now? We should send the horses off, less chance of being seen that way. I have a feeling there are more men around and our problem just got bigger than we originally thought."
Syrus gladly complied, brining the bard down, and then helping her retrieve the bag with Xena's med kit, which also was holding her newly acquired slingshot. Sending the horses off, they then made their way back to road, but still stayed hidden in the brush.
"Now what?" Calix asked.
"Plan doesn't change, we wait for Xena," Gabrielle reassured them.
The group waited in silence. The minutes passed slowly. The men shifted nervously, as did the little bard. Gabrielle looked down, fiddling with a rock that she'd kicked up with her boot. Bending over she picked up the rock, and a small handful more, before depositing them in the side pouch of her bag.
"How long do we wait?" Dion asked, after another long stretch of time.
"Until I get back," Xena answered, dropping out of an overhead tree. "They see you?" Xena directed her question at Gabrielle.
The little bard shook her head, "We were clear before then came into view. Sent the horses away too."
"Good," Xena nodded approvingly, earning a smile from Gabrielle. "We have bigger problems though; the remnants of Darnan's gang have acquired allies. A minor warlord name Theron. Use to specialize in the slave market, and it seems like he's back to his old habits."
"An old friend?" Gabrielle asked.
Xena's lip turned into a sneer, "No, although I did turn his men against him once and robbed him blind. Never did care much for slave traders."
"So he has some sort of personal vendetta against you, wants his money back?" Dion asked a little wide-eyed at Xena's confession.
"I think he was more upset about the eye I took," Xena smirked. "But regardless, we have about twenty more men to deal with now, and these are more than just boys."
"We should go back to the village and get reinforcements," Syrus spoke up.
"No time for that," Xena countered. "The sentry I questioned said they were ready to move on Neopolis. As soon as those advance scouts get back, they will attack tonight. The slaver's are going to provide the distraction while Darnan's gang tries to free the rest of them."
"Can we stop them, just the four…er, five of us?" Calix asked getting a dirty look from the little bard.
"It'll be tricky. They already have a handful of women and children they have captured, but if everyone does what I tell them too," Xena paused making brief eye contact with Gabrielle, "I think we can manage it. So, listen carefully, here is what we're gonna to do…"
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"You're not going to argue with me?" Xena asked, waiting for the little bard so somehow try to twist the situation.
"What's the point, Xena? I know that you're not going to let me get involved. You told me that earlier, plus I understand it's more dangerous now. I only want to get close enough so I can see what's going on. Also, that way you can make sure I'm safe."
Xena looked down at the little bard. Her argument was sound, but she seemed almost too willing to obey. Xena studied her carefully, looking for some catch, but try as she might, the little bard seemed sincere. Maybe, just maybe, this one time Gabrielle would actually listen and stay out of trouble. "Alright, I'm going to trust you on this one, Gabrielle. Meet you half way, ok?"
The little bard smiled and nodded her head. "I can do that." She then peered out over their vantage point, which was overlooking the slaver's camp. Frowning slightly at the dozen woman and five young children who were being held in cages that were attached to wagons, her eyes wandered past the make-shift horse corral, to a large tree. "How about that big evergreen?"
Xena narrowed her eyes, briefly studying the tree. "I think that'll work." Turning to Syrus and the other two men she asked, "You know what to do?"
"Aye," Syrus agreed. "Soon as you draw their attention we go after the captives. Simple enough."
"After I get Gabrielle settled, I'll approach from the west. I'm going to try to spook the horses first, and then make my move." Looking back down at the little bard, Xena held out her arms. "Ready?"
"Seriously, do we have to go up now?"
Xena flashed a wicked grin. "You're the one that wants to get close."
Gabrielle groaned but allowed Xena to pick her up. She wrapped her legs around Xena's waist and her arms around her neck. Closing her eyes tightly and tucking her head against Xena's neck, she whispered, "I'm ready."
Xena nodded, and flexing her legs sprung up into the tree above her. Within seconds she'd disappeared.
"So, I guess we just wait?" Dion asked.
"Yep," Syrus answered. "Xena will signal when it's time."
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Even though Gabrielle protested, Xena left the little bard as high up in the tree as she dared. The warrior wanted her as far away from the action as possible, and knew that the bard's aversion to heights would only further deter her from getting involved.
The warrior then wasted no time and made her way down to a lower branch, where she loosened her chakram, and let it fly. Whooshing through the air it bounced once, twice, and then severed the main rope that was securing the horses between two large trees. Another pass cut the row of lead-lines, causing the chakram to whoosh close enough to the horses to make them nervous. Catching the returning chakram, she used the limber branch as a spring board to flip over the small herd. Already on edge, her sudden high-pitched war cry suddenly spooked them into running all different directions.
Men were suddenly on their feet, some of them trying to calm the animals, but most of them just trying to get out of their panicked path. Although a handful of the men seemed to be smart enough to figure out what was going on, and being careful to avoid the spooked horses, attacked the source of the problem instead. Xena let off another war-cry, but this one more out of the sheer pleasure of the fight.
It had been several days since she'd had a good battle and the blood in her veins was hot with desire. The first half a dozen men were dispatched easily, and now lay in multiple stages of consciousness and pain at her feet. Kicking one man that had the audacity to try to rise, back into Morpheus's realm, she grinned and drew her sword, as a second a wave of men rushed toward her.
Gabrielle watched from her high vantage point, slightly jealous of how much Xena was enjoying herself. She carefully crawled down to a lower branch, which gave her a slightly better position. Her eyes drifted across the clearing where she saw Syrus, Calix, and Dion run out of the tree line. Syrus took up point, deflecting the two or three slavers that happen to get into his path, and then played guard while Dion and Calix started working to get the first lock off the a caged-wagon.
From the little bard's superior position she could tell that the three were in no immediate danger, as the Xena had been successful in pulling the attention on to herself. The mood of the camp, however suddenly changed the instant that a large, burly man, exited the main tent. From the look of pure outrage on his face and the patch over his left eye, Gabrielle had a good sense that this was Theron.
"Xena!" Theron challenged, pulling his own sword and marching in her direction. "How nice of you to pay a visit, saves me the trouble of tracking you down."
Xena laughed, twirling her sword in a flourish. "It's about time you showed up, Theron, although I can't say it's a pleasure to see you again," Xena taunted.
Theron growled, but grabbed one of his men by front of his tunic. "You idiot, she's just causing a distraction. Stop them," he emphasized pointing to Syrus and his cohorts, "they are freeing the captives."
Gabrielle tensed as the appointed man gathered a group, and then turned on Syrus, who was desperately trying to keep them away from Dion and Calix. Dion finally managed to get the first cage open, while Calix rushed to the second wagon. Once free the women and children made a break for the tree line, but were cut off by another group of slavers who had circled around them.
The little bard found herself suddenly digging in her pack, and retrieving the Y shaped slingshot that Syrus had gifted her. She'd never used one before, but the mechanics seemed simple enough. The problem was that Syrus and the women were too far away for the weapon to be of any use. She started down the tree, but then stopped; reminding herself that she didn't even have her staff with her. Running into the thick of things was not going to help anyone. Sighing, she returned to her previous branch, with the childish-weapon still in her hand.
Knowing that she couldn't help Syrus, she turned her attention back to Xena. The warrior and Theron had now crossed blades and were taking turns striking and insulting each other. Most of the slavers, at least those who were still conscious, had gone after Syrus, but Gabrielle noticed that Xena and Theron had also gained an audience; the remaining members of Darnan's gang. With a smirk, the little bard got an idea. Reaching into the side pocket of her bag she retrieved one of the stones she picked up earlier.
Taking careful aim, she let the small round stone fly, smiling broadly as it met a target hitting one of the gang on his backside. The man jumped, suddenly startled, and turned trying to determine what hit him and where it came from. Stifling a giggle, she picked up another stone and another target.
The little bard quickly depleted her supply of stones, not always hitting her target, but making the group of men she was aiming wary of the not so friendly fire. Now out of ammo she had to get more creative. She tried a small twig, but it didn't fly every far. A deserted bird nest with two long cold eggs provided a moment of excitement, but also clued in her prey where the ammo was coming from.
She pulled herself higher in the tree as three of men started snooping around its base. When one started to climb, she discovered another source of ammo. The tree was littered with various sized pinecones, and the smaller ones fit perfectly in her toy. A few well place shots convinced the man she wasn't worth the trouble, as he was called away by his comrades to try to round up the escaping captives.
Now not being directly threatened, Gabrielle turned her attention back to the action of the camp. Xena was still engaged with Theron, but she seemed more like she was toying with him than anything else. It also seemed that she'd been busy, as it looked like she chakram had made another round or two by the position of the various bodies littering the field. Counting, Gabrielle only saw four of the men besides Theron still standing, and assumed that some of them had gone after the escaped captives. Dion and Calix were nowhere to be seen and Syrus was trying to herd a group of three children off into the woods.
Syrus was suddenly confronted by two of the remaining men. Encouraging the children to run, the two girls went one direction and the third, a boy of about eight or nine, went another. One of the men turned chasing the boy and causing him to scream out in panic. Gabrielle quickly glanced at Xena; she was still involved with Theron. Looking back toward the boy, she realized with a twinge of her own panic, that he was heading directly toward her.
Cursing she made her choice and quickly started down the tree. Now on one of lowest branches she realized she was low enough to be clearly visible, but didn't have time to dwell on it. She whistled, getting the boys attention. He turned coming even closer, and Gabrielle took advantage of his proximity to raise her weapon.
The first shot missed. The second, however, managed to hit the pursuer squarely in the chest, but pleasure from the shot only lasted an instant as the man abruptly changed his target and headed for the tree instead. Gabrielle managed to get off one more shot before retreating back into the tree. The man, however, was not deterred and began to climb up after her.
He was quick, quicker than she was, and managed to grab her ankle. She kicked loose, but he continued to follow. He grabbed her again, and her hand slipped, dropping the slingshot. With a sudden surge, she managed to twist and kick him in the nose. He cursed, suddenly being pushed away from the trunk by the assault, but his attention was soon brought to a much bigger problem. Gabrielle grimaced as he stiffened and fell from the tree, Xena's chakram deeply embedded in his chest.
The little bard stopped, the adrenaline surging through her body slowing ebbing away as she again surveyed the camp. It was quiet. It was over. Gabrielle looked down seeing the boy and Syrus, who had carefully stepped over the dead slaver.
"You can come down now, little one," the older man called to her. "It's over."
Gabrielle complied, taking only a moment to jump down onto the ground.
"Thanks, you really saved my skin," the boy offered. "My name is Asen, by the way."
"Gabrielle, and no problem," the little bard answered. "Just trying to help."
"Everyone alright?" Xena asked, coming up from behind the little bard and laying a hand on the girl's shoulder. "He didn't hurt you did he?" the warrior continued as blue met green.
Gabrielle shook her head, as the warrior bent to pick up the slingshot that had fallen during the struggle. Raising a questioning eyebrow, she handed they childish weapon back to the bard. Gabrielle accepted it, biting her lip at the icy coldness reflected in the warrior's eyes. The pounding in her chest increased, and could no longer meet the warrior's glaze. She sighed inwardly, letting her hand and her eyes drop, suddenly feeling very small and anything but grown up.
Xena didn't say anything as turned away, and gave a short whistle, brining Argo in from the tree line. She took some rope from one of Argo's saddle bags, handing a coil to Syrus and taking another one for herself. "Need to secure anyone who's still breathing," Xena paused, getting a nod from the inn-keeper, and then turned to Gabrielle and boy. "Stay here, and stay out of trouble."
Again, Xena didn't wait for an answer, only pausing a moment to retrieve her chakram and wipe it on the dead man's tunic, before she moved off and started securing bodies. Ignoring the body only a few feet away, Gabrielle sat down. The boy joined her, albeit, he was more cautious to give the body a wide birth.
"What's the matter? You were great. A little younger than I expect, but so brave. I wish I could be as brave as you," Asen praised her.
"Thanks," Gabrielle gave him a small smile. Her eyes drifted to Xena as the warrior continued to move from body to body. Her body involuntarily shuttered, knowing that Xena was angry with her again. "Yeah, but I'm not as brave as you think."
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