When Xena and Gabrielle arrive at their camp, the sun is setting, bathing the area in golden light. Inspired by this, Gabrielle takes her friend's hand and pulls her away through the trees.
"Gabrielle!" Xena exclaims in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Just trust me, Xena. Come on", she replies plucking up all her courage.
Xena can't suppress a smile and follows the bard. Minutes later they arrive at the stream Xena fished in earlier in the day. Gabrielle, still holding Xena's hand, leads her to the edge of the water.
She stops and turns to the warrior, "Isn't this sunset beautiful? Let's just sit here and watch for a while, ok?"
She sits down in the soft grass pulling Xena with her. Xena sighs, smiles and sits down beside Gabrielle. They both gaze into the sunset and Xena thinks back to a couple of hours earlier when she sat in this very spot thinking about her time with Marcus.
Gabrielle's voice pulls her back to the present, "Xena?"
"Hm?", the warrior answers.
Gabrielle hesitates a short moment but then says, "Xena, the way Marcus looked at you and that he invited you to accompany him to the feast … I … I think you should really go."
Xena opens her mouth to speak but Gabrielle raises a hand to silence her.
"No, wait! Please … listen to me", she begs.
Xena looks at the bard fondly and nods. Gabrielle takes a breath and continues, "Look, this could be your chance to reunite with the love of your life. I mean, we both know that losing the most important person in your life is devastating." Gabrielle's voice falters and she chokes back a sob.
"Yeah, we do … but Gabrielle", Xena begins taking her friend's hand. "He's not the same man he was and he can't remember me. He didn't even want to fight to defend these people", Xena argues in a soft voice.
"I know he's different but maybe, if you give it a try, you'll discover that it could still be wonderful. Come on, Xena. Give him a chance", Gabrielle finishes feeling her emotions slowly winning over reason.
Xena looks at her and then gazes out over the stream towards the sinking sun. She considers her friend's words and, to her own surprise, finds that she could maybe give Marcus a chance. Unbelievable as she finds it, she still has feelings for him.
After what feels like an eternity to Gabrielle, Xena turns, squeezes the bard's hand and whispers, "Maybe you're right. Different does not have to be bad. I think I'll give it a try."
Xena sees her friend's face split into a wide smile and returns Gabrielle's hug. What she cannot see is that the bard's expression saddens behind her back and she is blinking back tears. However, Xena perceives something else, "Why is Gabrielle's heart beating so fast?" Before she can consider the matter longer, Gabrielle releases her.
"Are you ok, Gabrielle? Your heart's racing like mad", she asks concernedly.
"Ah … yeah. Everything's good. I'm just so happy and excited for you", she reassures her friend.
"Thanks Gabrielle! You are truly amazing!" the warrior says, gets up and offers a hand to the bard.
She takes it and allows herself to be pulled up. Together the two women set off back to their camp.
Back around the fire Xena and Gabrielle prepare the remaining fish for dinner and then discuss the battle plan for the next morning. After a while they are satisfied with their strategy and roll into their furs as weariness overcomes them.
Early next morning Xena is awakened by the sound of Gabrielle's quill.
The warrior sits up and looks around at her friend, "Gabrielle, why are you up so early?"
The bard, so absorbed in her writing, starts and hastily rolls up the scroll as Xena attempts to read it. "Ah, … I couldn't sleep any longer and just thought I'd write up our latest adventure", Gabrielle answers a bit nervously.
Xena senses her friend's unease and is worried. She remembers that Gabrielle was also writing when she came back from fishing the day before. But, after a short pause, the warrior decides to give Gabrielle her privacy, thinking that her writing is usually a way of processing events.
"Gabrielle, I'm always here for you. You know that, right?" Xena says softly, putting a hand on the bard's knee.
Gabrielle covers Xena's hand with hers and gives her a grateful look", I know, Xena and that means the world to me."
After a thoughtful silence Xena gets up and prepares breakfast while Gabrielle continues writing for a while. When the bard has finished, she joins Xena for their meal. Strengthened they leave the camp to set the trap for the thugs.
Soon the two women are busy collecting big branches and leaves to cover a deep pit that Xena found on her way to the stream the day before.
"It's really lucky this pit is here, cause digging one would have been a tough job", Gabrielle says, dropping some more wood over the already half covered hole.
"Yeah, apparently someone had the idea of building a trap here before we came along", Xena replies grinning as she continues covering up the pit.
The two friends work a while longer and when they are happy with the disguise of their trap, they sit down and drink some water to strengthen themselves for the upcoming fight.
After this short break Xena and Gabrielle approach the thugs' camp silently and both smirk at the sight. The men are all still asleep and snoring loudly.
"Well, I think it's time to wake them up, don't you?" Gabrielle asks Xena with a mischievous grin.
Xena nods, "Let's do this."
Together the warrior and the bard draw their weapons and charge into the camp. Upon hearing Xena's battle cry and spotting them the thugs scramble to their feet and get ready to fight. "We outnumber them five to one. They have no chance!" the thug leader shouts encouragingly. Xena and Gabrielle give each other a knowing look and the fight begins. Although they are well rested and really in the mood to teach these thugs a lesson, Xena and Gabrielle hold back. After all, they want the thugs to be able to follow them. And that's precisely what happens.
"Gabrielle, let's get out of here! They are too many for us!" Xena yells and the thugs laugh.
Immediately, Gabrielle sprints after Xena and out of the camp into the forest. As planned, the thugs chase after them intent on catching or killing the women. Soon Xena has disappeared into the trees and Gabrielle can't see her anymore. But the bard races on until she finally comes to a halt on the other side of the covered pit, her back against a large tree. She is panting hard and calling for Xena's help. When the thugs catch up they spot Gabrielle leaning against the tree, clutching a stitch in her side and looking terrified.
"Where's your friend now? Has she abandoned you and fled to save her own skin?" one of the thugs rasps with and evil leer.
"What's it to you?" Gabrielle counters in a mocking voice.
Thinking that, tired and frightened as she is, Gabrielle will be easy prey, the men surge forward to kill her. With a colossal crash they tumble into the deep pit and before they realize what has happened, Xena jumps out of the tree to the other side of the pit. She throws one end of a large and tightly woven net to Gabrielle and both women fasten it securely over the pit. Although the men try their best to break out they have no chance. The hole is too deep. They can't even get at the net with their swords.
"Well, enjoy a little rest before the local authorities come to collect you", Xena says with a smirk. She puts an arm around Gabrielle's shoulder, "We are so good together!"
Gabrielle puts her arm around Xena's waist and responds, leaning her head against the warrior's shoulder, "Yeah", she sighs, "We are a great team."
Xena notices the slightly sad tone and looks down at her shorter friend, "Are you sure you're ok, Gabrielle?
"Yeah, sure", the bard confirms immediately. "Let's go and tell the villagers that they're safe", and, giving Xena's hand a pull, she takes off for the village.
Xena, still looking worried, follows her friend.
When Xena catches up with Gabrielle, she grabs her arm and gently pulls the bard to a stop.
Gabrielle turns in surprise, "What is it? Something wrong?"
Still holding Gabrielle gently Xena says, "That's what I wanted to ask you. Gabrielle … you've not been yourself lately. I … I'm worried about you."
"Xena, I'm fine. Really! Don't worry. I just didn't sleep well last night", Gabrielle answers, smiling softly at her friend.
Because the warrior still looks skeptical she amends, "I'm really ok, Xena. Just a little tired. Come on, let's get to the village."
Xena is not entirely convinced but she agrees that Gabrielle really hasn't slept a lot lately.
Thus, she smiles back, "Ok then, let's go."
A couple of minutes later they arrive at the village square where a large crowd of people is gathered. Upon spotting the two women, the villagers move towards them with Marcus in the lead.
He is smiling expectantly and says, "Accomplished warriors that you are we have no doubt that you've succeeded."
His eyes rest on Xena again so she answers, "Yes, Gabrielle and I have trapped the thugs in a pit in the forest outside your village. Now one of you needs to ride to the king and get the royal guard here to arrest them."
The crowd cheers. Marcus walks forward and spontaneously embraces Xena. The warrior is so surprised that she stands stock still but manages to pat him on the back awkwardly before pulling away. Meanwhile Gabrielle's heart receives a stab. Xena quickly steps away from Marcus but doesn't say anything.
Happy and relieved that the thugs are caught, the townspeople surge towards Xena and Gabrielle, "Thank you so much! You've saved us! Please come to the harvest feast tonight. We'd be so honored!"
Xena and Gabrielle exchange a look.
"Please, Xena, we'd be so happy to see you tonight", Marcus adds.
The warrior looks at her friend again, who smiles encouragingly, and finally Xena says, "Thank you, we'll gladly come tonight."
The crowd erupts with delight as Marcus' face splits into a wide smile and the two women smile back.
"Thank you for the invitation. We're looking forward to the feast", Gabrielle amends.
After a short pause Xena says, "Well, Gabrielle and I should really go now. We'll be back for the feast at sunset."
Both give a polite smile, nod and then walk off together.
Back at their camp Xena slumps down on her furs puts her hands behind her head and takes a deep breath. Gabrielle looks over at her but can't find the right words to say. So she remains silent and joins Xena, sitting down on her own bedroll.
"Gabrielle?" the warrior asks.
"Hu?" the bard says and looks at her friend.
Still gazing up at the clouds Xena begins, "Do you really think we should go to the feast? I … I'm nervous about it."
Gabrielle is surprised and is, just this once, glad that Xena cannot see her face. "Xena, these people have invited us because they're grateful and we'd be rude not to go. And … and Marcus … he … he's really looking forward to spending time with you. … Xena, he really likes you and this could be your chance to reunite with the love of your life", she finishes, a silent tear running down her cheek, unnoticed by Xena.
After a moment's silence, Xena sits up and Gabrielle quickly wipes away the tear.
"Well, I'm not sure but if you say we should go, we go. I trust your judgment more than anyone else's, Gabrielle", Xena says with a sigh.
Gabrielle smiles somewhat weakly but Xena, whose thoughts are already at the feast, doesn't notice.
"Right. So, if we're going to do this, we should wash up and get ready. Sunset is not so far away", the warrior adds getting up and extending a hand to Gabrielle.
She grasps it and both women make their way to the nearby stream. They take a bath and wash their clothes. While their garments are drying they lie down in the grass covered in their towels. In silence the time passes as both women are lost in thought.
"Wow, I'd rather not go to this thing somehow. Marcus makes me uneasy. I kind of want to try to get him back but he's so different. I just don't know how I feel. And Gabrielle is so supportive and sweet. God, what would I do without her? I'm so blessed to have a friend like her."
"God, what am I gonna do? I would so love not to go but Xena deserves this chance. She deserves to be happy. Still, I'm so scared I'll lose her if she gets back together with Marcus. But I love her and have to do the right thing."
Coming out of her reverie, Gabrielle gets up and walks over to check on their clothes.
"They're dry enough to put on. Come on, we need to get moving", she says and hands Xena her leathers.
"Thanks", the warrior replies, taking her things.
To be continued...