Secrets of the Past
DDR
Xena was awake very early the next morning. She had gone out to the stables to retrieve her horse. She had to get to Potedia fast. What if Draco's men had decided to kill Lila and the others? Xena put the reigns on Argo and mounted her. Just as she was about to gallop off she heard a voice say
"Where are you going?"
Xena turned to see Gabrielle standing there. Xena hadn't wanted her to know where she was headed, that's why she was leaving before daybreak. Xena cleared her throat.
"I'm going to Potedia." she said calmly.
Gabrielle looked confused.
"Potedia? Why?"
"There's word that a warlord, named Draco, is headed that way. I'm going to stop him."
"A warlord?!" Gabrielle exclaimed, worried. "I'm coming with you"
Xena rolled her eyes. "Gabrielle, I don't want you t--"
"Can the both of us fit on that horse?"
Xena heaved a sigh, Gabrielle never changed too much. Xena reached her arm down and Gabrielle grabbed a hold and pulled herself up.
"That's strange." she whispered
Xena made a clicking noise and Argo started forward.
"What?" she asked the bard
"I don't know, it just feels like I've done this before, that's all."
Xena smiled "You haven't, but I have." she taunted, wanting to explain what's been going on with her.
"What does that mean?"
"It's a long story…"
Gabrielle smiled and wrapped her arms around the warrior's waist as Argo picked up speed into a gallop.
"Why don't you tell it? I love stories"
Xena chuckled. "Alright. Now, where do I start?" she wondered out loud.
"From the beginning."
Now Xena sighed. "That's a good place, well…"
It was a long day's ride back to Potedia, but with Argo's help they made it there by nightfall.
"So, we're soul mates and you're just reliving the past?"
Xena dismounted and helped Gabrielle down
"Well, I'm suppose to be anyway."
For a whole lot of new, complicated information, Gabrielle was handling it really well.
The town looked deserted as they went further in. The usually bright and cheery Potedia was now dull and grey. Xena knew that they were too late. Xena glanced over at Gabrielle whose emerald eyes were shining with tears.
"I shouldn't have left." she whispered, as they approached Gabrielle's little house. She ran up ahead, the door was open so she went in. Xena was soon behind her.
A dark haired girl, not much younger than Gabrielle, sat at a table crying. Gabrielle ran to her.
"Lila!" she exclaimed. The girl looked up.
"Gabrielle!" she cried. The two embraced.
"What happened?" Gabrielle asked
Lila sniffled "An army came the day after you left. They wanted supplies and stuff. They said that if the people didn't cooperate, they'd take all of the girls. Mother and Father did cooperated, but the men killed Father and took Mother." Lila was sobbing hard. Gabrielle embraced her again.
"What about you? How did you escape?" Xena asked. She had to sort things out now, Gabrielle was too overwhelmed. Lila looked up at her.
"Their leader raped me. He thought he knocked me unconscious, so he left me here." Lila and Gabrielle sat down at the table.
"Xena, Is there any way that you can go after this guy?" Gabrielle asked.
Xena nodded "Yes. I'll go after we check the other houses, make sure no one else is injured. Then I'll go after Draco, I'll bring your mother and the other women back."
"I'm going with you, Xena."
Xena knew that Gabrielle was determine to go, so she didn't tell her no.
DDR
