Chapter 2
A Wall Between Friends
Somewhere along the way to Athens, which was to be a destination never reached, Gabrielle somehow managed to convince Xena about the need to stop and get a much needed rest in a small village nearby. She hoped to get Xena to see a doctor or medicine man of some sort because now Gabby feared for Xena's life. At first Xena just had strange eating habits, craving a certain food and sometimes in the middle of the night, but now Xena was having pains and sickness in her stomach every morning.
Finally, Gabrielle's concern for her friend outweighed her concern for what her friend might do to her when approached. Somewhat encouraged and a little scared by her friend's seemingly good mood, Gabby decided to approached Xena about her concerns cautiously, like a young horse that is ready to bolt-or attack. These concerns were ever growing and building the wall between them. "Xena", Gabrielle said slowly, "I think you should see a doctor." Extremely relieved, but at the same time distressed of what the reply would be, Gabby turned to look at Xena. She was greeted by a stony expression and deadly silence. "Xena, did you hear me?
"Yes, I heard. My hearing is fine. You think I should go to a doctor. I was just about to say...." Xena was suddenly interrupted by Gabrielle, who expecting the worse, started apologizing profusely.
"What I was about to say when I was so rudely interrupted, Gabby, is that I was thinking the same thing myself", Xena said roughly, her face growing redder and redder from anger and embarrassment. "I realize that I haven't been acting like myself lately, but I don't enjoy it when other people-mainly you- feel the need to point out my temporary weaknesses to me."
Barring Xena's last comment, Gabrielle was immensely pleased with herself. She was also surprised, she expected the widely feared and admired warrior princess to put up more of a fight. "Even the old Xena wouldn't see doctors", Gabby said aloud. Now suspicious of Xena's intentions Gabby vowed to go with Xena to see the doctor- to make sure Xena actually saw the doctor. Deciding not to ruin the nice sunny day, Gabrielle didn't voice her suspicions. Despite Xena's seemingly good mood, Gabrielle had a feeling it was the calm before the storm.
After being left alone for what seemed to be an eternity in her thoughts, Xena finally broke the silence. "As a matter of fact, I will go right now." Gabrielle searched Xena's eyes to see if she was joking, but all she saw where two pools of murky darkness in which Gabby could shed no light.
That night, Xena and Gabrielle started the journey to the village in silence and the mountain between them grew with each mile they walked in silence. To Gabrielle, the mountain had never felt so real; she felt that in the cold darkness of the night, Gabrielle could practically feel the slippery, rough stone surface of which the mountain was composed. She felt that since they had reached a sort of breakthrough, she felt that perhaps she could climb over the mountain, over to Xena's side. A depressing thought entered her mind. "How does one climb a mountain that reaches almost to Mt. Olympus? She asked herself. Growing increasingly tired of both the emotional and physical wear and tear she was facing, Gabrielle gave into the night and fell into step with the stranger that once was her best friend.
A Wall Between Friends
Somewhere along the way to Athens, which was to be a destination never reached, Gabrielle somehow managed to convince Xena about the need to stop and get a much needed rest in a small village nearby. She hoped to get Xena to see a doctor or medicine man of some sort because now Gabby feared for Xena's life. At first Xena just had strange eating habits, craving a certain food and sometimes in the middle of the night, but now Xena was having pains and sickness in her stomach every morning.
Finally, Gabrielle's concern for her friend outweighed her concern for what her friend might do to her when approached. Somewhat encouraged and a little scared by her friend's seemingly good mood, Gabby decided to approached Xena about her concerns cautiously, like a young horse that is ready to bolt-or attack. These concerns were ever growing and building the wall between them. "Xena", Gabrielle said slowly, "I think you should see a doctor." Extremely relieved, but at the same time distressed of what the reply would be, Gabby turned to look at Xena. She was greeted by a stony expression and deadly silence. "Xena, did you hear me?
"Yes, I heard. My hearing is fine. You think I should go to a doctor. I was just about to say...." Xena was suddenly interrupted by Gabrielle, who expecting the worse, started apologizing profusely.
"What I was about to say when I was so rudely interrupted, Gabby, is that I was thinking the same thing myself", Xena said roughly, her face growing redder and redder from anger and embarrassment. "I realize that I haven't been acting like myself lately, but I don't enjoy it when other people-mainly you- feel the need to point out my temporary weaknesses to me."
Barring Xena's last comment, Gabrielle was immensely pleased with herself. She was also surprised, she expected the widely feared and admired warrior princess to put up more of a fight. "Even the old Xena wouldn't see doctors", Gabby said aloud. Now suspicious of Xena's intentions Gabby vowed to go with Xena to see the doctor- to make sure Xena actually saw the doctor. Deciding not to ruin the nice sunny day, Gabrielle didn't voice her suspicions. Despite Xena's seemingly good mood, Gabrielle had a feeling it was the calm before the storm.
After being left alone for what seemed to be an eternity in her thoughts, Xena finally broke the silence. "As a matter of fact, I will go right now." Gabrielle searched Xena's eyes to see if she was joking, but all she saw where two pools of murky darkness in which Gabby could shed no light.
That night, Xena and Gabrielle started the journey to the village in silence and the mountain between them grew with each mile they walked in silence. To Gabrielle, the mountain had never felt so real; she felt that in the cold darkness of the night, Gabrielle could practically feel the slippery, rough stone surface of which the mountain was composed. She felt that since they had reached a sort of breakthrough, she felt that perhaps she could climb over the mountain, over to Xena's side. A depressing thought entered her mind. "How does one climb a mountain that reaches almost to Mt. Olympus? She asked herself. Growing increasingly tired of both the emotional and physical wear and tear she was facing, Gabrielle gave into the night and fell into step with the stranger that once was her best friend.