Rewriting the Scrolls

Chapter 21

By Jinxie

Xena arrived to the Amazonian lands in the middle of the night. The border of the land was marked with feathers attached to tree trunks. She expected to find a border patrol, but none had yet shown. She listened intently, trying to pick up any sound that might indicate she was being watched. Nothing.

Then she felt the air pressure around her change. She turned slowly to find spear heads pointed in her face. "I'm not here to harm anyone." She put her hands up so that they could see she was not holding her weapon.

"State your business here."

"I'm looking for my friend. She's short, blonde, and ran away from home." No one spoke after that, but Xena felt someone behind her move. Then, she felt something hard hit the back of her head. Her vision blurred then went black.

xxxx

She awoke with a massive headache; the pounding was relentless as was the burning at the back of her skull. She winced as she opened her eyes; the sun felt blinding. She was tied to a post so she could not escape.

She heard noise out the front door, then a woman walked in. "Queen Melosa is releasing you from custody." She bent down and untied Xena's wrists. Then the woman helped her to her feet. "How's the head?"

"How do you think?" She glared at the woman then moved out of the hut. There were women everywhere; it was as if something huge had happened. None looked happy; in fact there was a cloud of sadness over them. "Where is Gabrielle?"

"Follow me." She led Xena into the crowd of people, who parted easily for them. "Queen Melosa, I've released the prisoner as you asked." She motioned to Xena then moved back into the crowd.

"Xena!" Gabrielle jumped off the dais near Melosa and flew into the warrior's arms. Xena held her so tight she couldn't breathe.

"Are you ok?" Xena said as she examined Gabrielle closely for any signs of abuse. Xena wanted nothing more than to kiss her and hold her forever. However, she couldn't. She first had to make sure the Amazons were friendly.

"I'm fine. Actually, more than fine." She looked back to Melosa, "Here come with me." She took Xena's hand and pulled her up on the stage. "Melosa, you remember Xena?"

Melosa greeted her with a nod. "I'm glad you came to fetch your girlfriend. She's gotten herself into a bit of trouble."

Xena looked over at Gabrielle, who just smiled. "She has a knack for that. What did she do?" She ruffled Gabrielle's blonde hair and tapped her on the nose.

"She became the princess of the Amazons."

Xena's smile fell from her face. She whipped her head around and stared at Melosa, slack jawed. "Princess?"

Gabrielle whispered in her ear, "I'll tell you about it later. They are about to have a funeral for Melosa's mother. Come back here and sit with me."

Xena bowed to the Queen then followed Gabrielle. They sat behind Melosa as the Amazons brought out a body to lie on the pyre. It was tightly bound by linen, no visible body parts or skin. Xena leaned over, "Are you sure you are ok?"

Gabrielle looked at her and smiled, "Yes. Quit worrying so much."

Xena smiled at her then continued to watch the ceremony. Melosa rose to light the pyre and the Amazons began to dance. "They said the ceremony will go on all day and into the night. Look, they are bringing out Princess Terreis' body now too." She pointed towards another group of Amazons.

They set the Princess' body on a different pyre, then Melosa lit it as well. As promised, the ceremony lasted as long as they had said it would. Gabrielle and Xena fought sleep as they stayed in the same position the entire time.

Finally, when the moon was high in the sky, the ceremony ended with the loud thump of drums. A woman approached the teenage girls, "Princess, please come with me to your hut." She held out her hand and pulled Gabrielle to her feet.

Xena hopped up and grabbed the Amazon's wrist. "Don't touch her. She isn't going to her hut with you."

The woman looked to Gabrielle, "I meant nothing by that, except to show you where it is. I'm your guard, it's my duty to protect you." She looked back at Xena and snarled her lips. "Release me."

Xena twisted harder until Gabrielle nodded her head. Her firm grip instantly dropped, then she reached over and held Gabrielle's hand. "Where is the hut?"

The Amazon turned and began to walk towards the living area of the village. They followed at a distance. "You didn't need to do that, Xena. She was being nice."

"I don't trust any of them; we know nothing about them." She whispered, then stopped when they arrived at a hut.

"This is your new hut, Princess Gabrielle. It belonged to Terreis, but her belongings have been moved to Melosa's hut for now." She bowed then moved to the side of the door.

Gabrielle stepped inside, but Xena remained outside next to the door, opposite the guard. The guard looked over, "You are allowed inside, Xena."

The warrior from Amphipolis smirked, "I'm not going in unless invited."

A few moments later, Gabrielle popped her head out the door. She looked around and spotted Xena standing guard next to the door. She giggled, "Xe, are you coming in or what?"

"Yes, please leave me alone to do my duty." The red-haired Amazon stated.

Xena turned around and walked into the hut with Gabrielle. Glancing around, it didn't look that special. There was a bed, barely big enough for one person, and a small table with two chairs. She sat in one chair and pulled her boots off. "This place is weird."

Gabrielle sat on the bed and smiled at her, "I don't mind it. It'd definitely different than home, though." She sat up abruptly, "Xena you are bleeding!"

Xena looked down at her shoulder, which was caked in dried blood. "It's old. I don't think it's still bleeding though." She reached up to the back of her head and touched the spot where she had been hit. "Ssss, ouch!"

Gabrielle brought a bowl of water over to her and put a piece of linen in it, soaking it through. "Where did you get this?" she gently wiped some of the blood away from the wound, which was beginning to look infected. "I think you need to see the healer." she set the cloth down and moved towards the door, but her progress was stopped by Xena pulling her backwards by the wrist.

"Wait, come here." She pulled Gabrielle into a hug and quickly released her. "Ok, now you can go."

xxxx

An hour later, Xena had stitches in her head and had taken a dose of pain relieving herbs. They were finally alone though, so Gabrielle told her about everything that had happened since they saw one another last.

Xena was quiet the entire time, her face only flinching when she heard the name Perdicus. She wasn't sure what to respond to, since all she wanted to do is keep Gabrielle away from home. She knew that it wouldn't be a good idea for many reasons, though. She glanced at her friend and noticed the skirt she wore. "That skirt looks cute on you."

Gabrielle looked down then blushed a little. "Xena, did you hear anything I said?"

"Yeah, but I can still tell you how cute you are, can't I?" her speech slurred slightly and her eyes gradually became more glazed over.

Gabrielle looked at her strangely, since she had never been so outright in talking about Gabrielle's looks. "You feeling ok? You look…tired. Maybe you should lie down." She pulled Xena over to the bed and put her under the covers. She tried to stand up, but Xena pulled her down onto the bed.

"Sleeeep witf me." Her slurred speech was getting worse by the minute.

Gabrielle sighed, "Alright, move over." She slid under the covers with Xena and cuddled up to her. It was silent, other than their breathing. "Xe?"

A snore came from behind her as Xena fell into a deep sleep.

xxxx

The next morning, Xena woke to the sounds of the Amazon villagers. She rolled away from the wall and saw Gabrielle looking out the window of the hut. She watched her for a moment, then greeted her. "I had a dream that you were a Princess."

Gabrielle quickly looked over, a little startled by Xena's voice. She smiled, "It wasn't a dream." She shook her head, "I can't believe all that's happened. What are we going to do?" She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge staring at Xena.

Xena sat up next to her. "I'm not sure. But we can't stay here. We need to get back to Amphipolis. I think Cortese is going to mobilize soon. I can't let him hurt our families."

Gabrielle stood up and began to pace. "Why is this in the hands of a teenager? I don't understand why there are not more adults who can deal with this warlord." A thought occurred to her, stopping her in place. "Maybe the Amazons can help us."

Xena stretched as she rose from the bed. "Maybe. But right now, we need to get home. We'll send word to them if we need help, ok? Your mother is probably worried sick about you." She picked Gabrielle's things off the floor and put them in her bag.

Gabrielle just watched her for a moment, then sighed, "Alright. But you cannot let them send me with Perdicus. Promise?" Now she stood just under Xena's nose and looked up into her blue eyes. "Promise, Xena. I need your help."

"I'm not going to let that happen."

xxxx

"A princess?!" Herodotus shouted. "How is that even possible?" His face had turned red as he read the letter that Melosa sent.

Xena's plan seemed to be working. The letter stated that Herodotus had no rights over Gabrielle because she was now an Amazon by choice. They sent two bodyguards with her to ensure that he abided by the Amazonian law.

"I already told you what happened, dad. I can't take it back or revoke it. Nor do I want to." She sat down next to Xena who hadn't stopped glaring at Perdicus.

"But, I put down the dowry! That's not right, you can't take that away just because you decided to go out and do something stupid. I have a right to be your husband." The sweet, albeit dumb, man she had known was incredibly angry.

Hecuba sat quietly in the corner, staring into the flames that lit the room in the late night hour. She hadn't spoken once, since this was up to the men to battle out.

The warrior looked over at Gabrielle, who was on the verge of tears. She had enough of this stupid argument. Gabrielle's life was no longer theirs to control, nor hers for that matter. Not that she wanted control, per se, but she really didn't have a choice in any of this either. She stood up and looked down at Gabrielle. "Princess, where would you like to stay tonight?"

That received Hecuba's full attention. "What do you mean, stay? She is staying in her home!"

Xena didn't pay attention to her in that moment, "Gabrielle?"

The blonde girl looked up and around the room. "I think I'll camp in the woods tonight with my friends." She stood up and followed Xena out of the house. They both sighed in relief, then glanced at each other when they heard arguing in the house behind them.

"Let's go." Xena led the way and waved to the Amazons to follow. All four of them headed into the woods to find a place for their camp.

"Xe, are you going to stay out here with us?" Gabrielle had caught up with her fast and long stride.

Ares appeared beside her, invisible to all but her. "The time to attack Cortese has come. You must leave immediately so we can surprise him."

She tried to ignore him, but it was hard. He was radiating a power which caused her to feel weak. She looked at him and nodded, then watched as he vanished. "I have to go, Gab. I need to stop Cortese from coming here."

One of the Amazon's whistled, "This is a good spot."

The group stopped and looked around, Xena immediately took charge. "Solari, build a fire. Ephiny, set up a place to sleep for Gabrielle and yourselves." She looked down when she heard a huff come from Gabrielle. Gently, she pulled her into the woods by her arm.

"What?" Gabrielle crossed her arms and had a look that could kill.

"I'm sorry, but I need to go. Please understand that it's to help everyone. I'll be back tomorrow, ok?" She whistled loudly for Argo, who came running from the nearby trees.

"No it's not ok. I don't get what you are going to do? How are you going to stop him exactly?" She watched as Xena's eyes moved away from her own. She looked guilty. "Xena?"

"I'm going to do what has to be done."

"What does that mean?" She scoffed, "It's not like you are going to kill him, right?" The look on Xena's face revealed everything. Gabrielle gasped at the thought of Xena killing someone outright.

When Argo appeared, Xena fidgeted for a moment. She couldn't bring herself to look at her best friend. She leaned over and kissed her on the head, then jumped on Argo and took off.

The newly crowned Princess watched as her warrior departed, possibly down a road of self-destruction.