by Phil D. Hernández
ACT TWO
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Gabrielle is braver than I thought, Xena realized. Brazenly talking her way out of trouble was one thing, but this was something else: loyalty. Gabrielle did not shift her head or her eyes to plead for Xena's aid, and so did not betray the other woman's presence. The Warrior Princess drew her chakram and held it ready, keeping her other hand against the rock for balance. The ledge on which she stood was so narrow that she couldn't keep her feet entirely upon it. However, something in Pylades's voice told her that Gabrielle was in less danger than she appeared.
I'm not working for anyone, Gabrielle denied. The sword point came closer, causing her to wince. It's the truth!
Then tell me who you're working with, Pylades snapped, and stop acting like a daughter of Hermes. His haunted eyes burned with an intensity that brooked no further half-truths. When Gabrielle paled, the marooned man had his answer. It's Xena, isn't it? Now she's seducing young girls with her honeyed words? What did she promise you, huh? Riches? Adventure? Power?
This was enough to make Gabrielle forget her fear. She looked Pylades in the eye, her expression and her stance full of defiance.
was her answer. And it wasn't a promise; it's a fact.
That's what I thought once, said Pylades, his voice softer and sadder. He lowered his sword. I learned differently.
Xena's changed, Pylades. She's the one who rescued me from Draco's men and kept me from becoming a slave. She fights evil warlords now, and she doesn't need an army to do it.
And what's to stop her from changing back? She'll turn on you, Gabrielle, the way she turned on all her friends. Do yourself a favor. If I can't kill Xena, then go back to Poteidaia, or Corinth, or wherever you want, just as long as it's far away from that monster. Now get into the cave. I said I wouldn't hurt you, and I don't want you getting hurt by accident.
No! You don't have to fight Xena! She wants to heal you and take you off this island! You don't have to be alone any more!
Better than owing my life to her. Show yourself, Xena! he shouted.
Up here, the Warrior Princess responded.
Nice trick, sending your young friend to lull my suspicions, but it didn't work, Pylades said as Xena climbed down to his level.
On the contrary, Xena replied, facing him. Gabrielle did better than I expected. Thank you for not hurting her.
Special to you, is she?
You might say that. It's because of her that I'm here.
Pylades winced from the pain in his foot, then spat on the sand. It won't wash, Xena. He raised his sword, this time pointing it at the Warrior Princess, and took a step to the side so he could keep Gabrielle in his field of vision. Only one of us is getting off this rock alive, besides the girl.
Don't be a fool, Pylades. I'm your ticket out of here, and you know it. I can heal your wound, too. That compress was the first step. Wouldn't you rather take your revenge on two sound feet?
I don't believe you. I know your scheme. First you send your friend with soothing words and some pretend cure, then I drink your drugged wine and when I wake up I'm in chains. Maybe a religious scam? The Man Cursed by the Gods!' I'm already cursed without that, thank you. And even if you are telling the truth, haven't you done enough to me? Wasn't ten years alone with my pain enough for you?
One day of it was too much for you. I can't give you back those years. I'm not looking for your forgiveness, only to give you a new start. Keep hating me if you want. I don't deserve any better.
You deserve to die! Pylades shouted.
Then kill me, Xena said. She drew her sword and tossed it aside. Her chakram and the breast dagger she had taken away from Gabrielle followed it.
Gabrielle cried. She would have interposed her body between Pylades and Xena, but the Warrior Princess looked her firmly in both eyes and stopped her before the girl had taken two steps. Then Xena knelt on the ground and lowered her head.
Pylades advanced, seized Xena by the hair and yanked on it to force her to look up at him. He placed his old sword against her throat. Whether his decision was life or death, Xena would accept it with complete calm.
You can't kill her! Gabrielle insisted.
Yes, I can. He reached back with the sword to slice off Xena's head.
Time seemed to freeze for Gabrielle. She berated herself for obeying Xena and not trying to stop Pylades. Now it was too late. It was such a waste that her friend should die here in this lonely place when there was so much good to be done. Gabrielle had only just discovered life, and now she would have to go back to Poteidaia and bury herself again. Perdicas would do her best to make her happy, she knew, but he was so deadly dull. Maybe it was for the best. If Xena is going to throw away her friendship along with her life
Then the younger woman realized that time really hadn't stood still. Although she had been thinking quickly, as people do during such intense moments, Pylades had not moved. Instead, he appeared to be looking beyond Xena to the ocean. Gabrielle looked, too, and saw what he saw.
The dolphins had returned.
Although they did not venture into the shallows near the island, they rose up and splashed, clicked and laughed. The dolphins were true innocents; innocents like Gabrielle, innocents like Pylades and Xena once were.
Pylades released his grip on Xena's long, dark hair and tossed his sword next to hers. If I kill you, I become you, he said. If I let you live, my pain becomes yours as long as you live. That's revenge enough for me. He offered Xena his hand to help her stand up, and she accepted.
Gabrielle rushed to Xena's side. Don't you ever scare me like that again! she chided.
There was nothing to be scared about, Xena replied. You could see for yourself that Pylades kept his humanity.
But he could have killed you!
It was his right. I'm sure he would have seen you safely off the island and even shared the bounty with you.
Gabrielle wondered.
There was a high price on Xena's head ten years ago, Pylades explained. I'll bet it's much higher now.
Enough to buy both Amphipolis and Poteidaia with enough left over for a nice estate near Athens. Let me work on that foot some more, then I'll get the boat.
Pylades shrugged. Why not? Like you said, you're my ticket out of here.
For the first time since he had been wounded, Pylades was free from pain. Xena had used her knowledge of pressure points to numb his entire leg, and also to keep it still while she removed the compress and applied a new poultice to his wound. Now Gabrielle learned the reason why Xena had collected so much sap from mastic trees before setting out. The Warrior Princess mixed it with other herbs to enhance the balm's properties; Gabrielle had only used it as a kind of chewing gum to freshen her breath. Shortly after they met, Xena had teased her with the inevitable joke about not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time; Gabrielle was so annoyed that – also inevitably – she paid no attention to what she was doing, turned to complain to Xena and walked into a tree.
The balm will soothe some of the pain when you regain the feeling in your leg, Xena told him. It should also stimulate your body's natural healing process. When you get back to the mainland, you need to stay off that foot for several days.
A soft bed in a comfortable inn, Pylades mused. Tell me, does your mother still run that place of hers back home?
She does, the Warrior Princess confirmed, smiling. You're going back to Amphipolis, then?
I might as well. It's a good life, or was. You should come with me, Gabrielle. I meant what I said about Xena. She's repentant now, and I'm grateful, but
Xena would never return to being what she used to be, Gabrielle asserted.
You don't know that, Pylades insisted.
He's right, Xena said in a flat voice. Even I don't know that. Of course, I didn't know that I would ever have another friend after I left Amphipolis. At least Pylades had the dolphins.
If nobody took a chance on you, then you would return to what you were, Gabrielle replied. I'm willing to take that chance.
That's why you're my friend, the Warrior Princess said in a voice husky with emotion. Then her mood lightened. Even if you are chattier than a dolphin.
Gabrielle started to protest, but when she caught the merry twinkle in Xena's eyes, she only pretended to scowl. Even that turned into a smile.
I wouldn't have believed it if I weren't here to see it, Pylades observed. If you aren't Hermes's own little girl, you ought to be. It's been many a year since Xena acted anywhere near human. He extended his hand to the Warrior Princess, who clasped it. I guess I can take a chance, too.
I think I'd better bring the boat around before we all get too maudlin, Xena announced, and proceeded to do exactly that.
This left Gabrielle with the unenviable task of trimming Pylades's hair, all the more unenviable since she had never engaged in barbering before. However, Pylades kept himself clean – it was something to do in a place where choices were few – and Gabrielle was long used to the faint smell of fish. She kept up a barrage of stories about Poteidaian fishermen, which helped distract Pylades from the fact that a young girl who wasn't quite sure what she was doing held a razor-sharp knife in the vicinity of his head.
I was always happy (Gabrielle said) that my father picked out a farmer's son for my husband and not a fisherman. I have nothing against fish, but I swear that if those guys could have figured out a way to brew beer from fish, they would have done it. There was one old fellow we all called Garum' because he'd been to Rome and he liked to make that stinky fish sauce they use there. He didn't go out with the boats any more, but he repaired nets for his sons and some of the other crews.
One day my father took me with him to the fish market instead of letting me go to the agora with Mother. My sister and I had been fighting, and you know how parents are. So while Father bargained for the fish, I listened to Garum spinning his yarns. That day, Garum was telling about the mermaids of Lesbos.
Now I thought mermaids were some kind of sea nymphs, but Garum said they were half woman, half fish. According to him, the men on Lesbos preferred them because mermaids were more lively when they cuddled. He meant something different, of course. I was just a little girl then. Anyway, if the men were chasing mermaids, that meant the women had to be each other's girlfriends. I thought that wasn't so strange, but Garum said that the women got so used to it that they didn't want to go near the men.
I asked him if it was because the men had cooties, and he laughed so hard that Father looked to see. Father picked me up and carried me out of there. He said Garum's stories weren't for little girls, and that they would make my ears burn. Then he made my bottom burn!
I'll bet he did, Pylades said, chuckling. I'd say you're still too young and tender for that kind of story, but now that you're with Xenayou two don'tyou know
No, we don't, Xena declared. Gabrielle, her ears burning now, couldn't say a word. Boat's ready, the Warrior Princess added.
I can't say as I'll be sorry to get off this rock, remarked Pylades. Except for the dolphins. I'll miss them.
It's hard to leave your friends, Xena said in soft, wistful tones. Gabrielle had heard her speak that way only once or twice. The girl occasionally felt homesick for Poteidaia, but she could only guess at the depth of Xena's loneliness. The Warrior Princess hadn't needed a companion the day she turned up in Gabrielle's village, but she did need a friend. Now they each had one.
maybe I should gather up everything? Gabrielle offered.
Go ahead, Xena agreed. I'll help Pylades to the boat.
The sea was still smooth, but the wind direction had changed. A slight breeze not only helped to push the boat toward the mainland, but also kept the boat's occupants cool, for which Gabrielle was grateful. If Xena had believed in such things, she would have considered the breeze to be a favorable omen. However, she needed no omens to tell her that she had done the right thing. Gabrielle was sure to do so ad nauseam.
We'll stay with you a few days to make sure that foot is healing properly, Xena told Pylades. I've picked up a few things about nursing over the years.
To add to your many skills, Pylades noted. You know, in some ways you remind me of the girl you were back in Amphipolis. Tell me, did you pick up a few things about cooking, too?
For an answer, Gabrielle made a face, and the other two laughed.
Then the dolphins returned, swimming and playing all around the boat. They tended to stay close to Pylades, for which Gabrielle was not jealous. She got her share of attention from them. Perhaps the creatures understood that Pylades was going away, and this was their manner of wishing him farewell. A few tears glistened in his once-haunted eyes. Haggard no longer, he touched and stroked the grey bodies as opportunity offered.
Goodbye, my friends, he kept repeating. I will never forget you.
The dolphins stayed with him until the boat reached the other shore.
THE END
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Disclaimer:
Gabrielle's delicate stomach was not upset during the writing of this story, for which the dolphins were grateful.
Episode references:
Sins of the Past, Chariots of War, and
Author's notes:
The story of Pylades is adapted from an incident in the Iliad, where one Philoctetes, heir to the late Heracles's bow and poisoned arrows, had accidentally wounded himself with one of the latter and was marooned on Lemnos, improbably uninhabited. When an oracle announced that he had to return in order for the Trojans to be defeated, Odysseus and Achilles's son Neoptolemus went to Lemnos to fetch him back. Not surprisingly he did not care for the idea and sought to kill Odysseus, but the spirit of Heracles showed up and convinced him otherwise. His foot was healed and he joined the battle. One of the Trojans killed by Philoctetes was none other than Paris. Euripides sums up the incidents on Lemnos in his play Philoctetes, which survives to this day and is in print. This Philoctetes is not related in any way to the satyr character in the Disney cartoon Hercules.
There are indeed a few tiny islands south of Antipaxos, which is located off the west coast of Greece.
Despite what viewers saw in The Prodigal, Poteidaia is not nestled in hills (the area is as flat as Nebraska) but a port town with the sea on two sides. It was in fact a major seaport for many years until the rise of Thessalonika. The town's patron god was Poseidon. The series never considered the possibilities these facts offered.
Mastic trees grow all over Greece. Their sap has the properties as described in the story, and the ancients did use it as chewing gum; indeed, another word for is It is likely that the sap Xena collected when she was healing the wound Callisto inflicted on Argo in Intimate Stranger was mastic sap. Like Xena, I could not resist the joke about walking and chewing gum at the same time. Remember, at this time Joxer had not yet been introduced, and Gabrielle pulled extra duty as comic relief.
Garum was not merely a Roman delicacy but apparently a staple throughout the ancient Mediterranean. Oriental fish sauces available for sale in modern supermarkets are nowhere near as malodorous; the smell of garum, which unlike Korean kim chi was fermented in open pots, was a fixture of every seaport.
The story of the mermaids of Lesbos is my own invention.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of USA Network and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is © 2003 by Philip D. Hernández and is his sole property along with the story idea. The character of Pylades is his own creation. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.
Comments:
Unless your sole purpose is to bash Joxer, Ted Raimi or the concept of Gabrielle-Joxer romance, your comments would be greatly appreciated. You can e-mail the author at BroadwayPhil@yahoo.com .
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