The crowd of Amazons surrounded the members of the Amazonian Council. Xena, Gabrielle and the rest of their party were among the crowd. Council member Nova stood outraged, demanding that the culprit stepped forward. As the other members knelt quietly in respect to their fallen colleague.
NOVA
(Angry tone) So who was it?! Don't think that you will get away with this. I vow to Artemis herself that you will be found.
No one came forward as the culprit. Nova looked around at the crowd as she tried to spot anyone who would stand out as being the murderer. Then her gaze landed on a target.
NOVA
(Angry tone) You.
As she began walking Gabrielle realized that Nova was staring right at her as the council member came her way.
GABRIELLE
Wait a minute.
Xena noticed that Nova had locked on to Gabrielle as well and stepped in forward.
XENA
(Angry tone) Don't you even try to place this on Gabrielle.
Nova stopped in front of Xena and glared at her.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Step aside Xena, this doesn't concern you.
XENA
(Angry tone) It does if you're going to try and pin this on Gabrielle.
NOVA
(Angry tone) I'm not pinning anything on anyone. I'm just following a logical conclusion to this scenario.
Now Ephiny stepped forward. Also very upset by the accusation of Gabrielle being a murderer.
EPHINY
(Angry tone) And just how is Gabrielle being the culprit for this crime the logical thing?
Nova looked at Ephiny then to the rest of their group who clearly had the same question in mind.
NOVA
(Angry tone) It's obvious that Gabrielle is the culprit.
The crowd began talking amung themselves. Some agreeing with Nova's assessment. While others weren't so easily convinced of their queen's guilt.
NOVA
(Angry tone) The queen not only had means, but also motive.
GABRIELLE
Motive?! No, what reason could I possibly have for wanting Nevaea dead?
NOVA
Simple, she opposed you. And you felt like your rule as queen could soon be coming to an end, but you couldn't let that happen now could you?
XENA
(Angry tone) Are you insane?! Gabrielle is not a killer.
NOVA
Well Nevaea sure didn't stab herself in the back repeatedly.
Velasca was the next to step forward.
VELASCA
Even I can't think of Gabrielle as someone who would simply kill another person in cold blood. She might have plenty of faults but being a murderer certainly isn't one of them. She lacks the mental fortitude to commit such an act.
Ephiny and Xena both made an annoyed growl at Velasca's backhanded way of defending Gabrielle. At that point the other members of the council began to speak up as well. Starting with Gianna and Luna.
LUNA
They're right. We can't just rush to judgment here. After all we have no actual proof that it was the queen who committed the murder.
GIANNA
I agree with Luna on this. We need to do a full investigation and hold a trial before we decide on the queen's automatic guilt. We must ensure that proper justice is done.
Nova growled at her fellow council members.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Why do we need any of that? You must be blind if you can't see the damning evidence that points right to the queen as being the killer.
ALANIS
Nova's right. A trial would be a waste of everyone's time. All logic points to the queen as being the killer. No one else had a motive.
XENA
(Angry tone) Gabrielle is innocent. And if you really think that no one else could possibly have a reason for assainating someone in power then you're even more out of touch than I thought.
Alanis glared at Xena.
ALANIS
(Accusatory tone) You mean someone like you?
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Don't you dare try to accuse Xena for this either.
KAI
(Angry tone) Yea neither of them would do this sort of thing.
FAUNA
Kai's right. Both queen Gabrielle and Xena are good people
A number of the crowd spoke up in their agreement with Gabrielle's innocence.
ALANIS
Of course all of you are going to defend each other. You all probably conspired together once you saw that Gabrielle would likely be removed as queen. Besides with such a lax ruler in charge that gives you free reign to do anything you wish with next to no real consequences.
The council member Gianna had decided that she had heard enough.
GIANNA
You're out of line Alanis. You're just stretching things to fit your own narrative.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Oh please Gianna, why would you defend them after what happened?
A large number of the crowd spoke up in agreement.
LUNA
We have no proof.
Others in the crowd shouted their approval with that statement.
ALANIS
(Angry tone) She never should've been queen to begin with. And the fact that so many are willing to just blindly follow Gabrielle simply because of her title makes you all fools.
NOVA
(Angry tone) The incident with the secret village should be proof enough that Gabrielle is not a fit ruler. She won't even tell us what is in that village.
GABRIELLE
I can't.
NOVA
(Angry tone) But if it truly effects us all don't we have a right to know?! And now with the murder of a council member who opposed her, I think it's clear that you're willing to do anything to hold on to power.
A number of the crowd roared in agreement.
GABRIELLE
You're wrong! I'm not a murderer! And I did everything I could to protect the village!
Tensions in the room were becoming increasingly hostile as everyone began taking sides on the matters of both Gabrielle's fitness of being queen and whether or not she was the one who killed Nevaea. Soon everyone was yelling at each other. As Xena, Gabrielle and the others knew that things were getting very out of hand, very fast. Before anyone had tilme to stop it, people began to push and shove others who disagreed with them. Which escalated quickly into an all out fight between sides. Xena instinctively put herself in front of Gabrielle and drew her sword as some of the violence came their way.
XENA
I think this summit is over. Let's go before we get pulled into this mess.
GABRIELLE
We can't just leave Xena. They're fighting because of me.
XENA
No Gabrielle, you didn't cause this. It's their own foolishness and unwillingness to see reason that did this.
GABRIELLE
We still have to do something.
Xena knew that Gabrielle was right. The whole area was in chaos. They needed to put a stop to it before people were seriously hurt. Xena, Gabrielle and the rest of their group began to try to put an end to the fighting. Everyone spread out as they tried to calm the crowd down. Xena was busy prying people apart from killing each other when her super human senses picked up on something. She sniffed the air.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) Smoke.
She looked up and saw that one of the upper levels had caught on fire from a torch during the chaos.
XENA
FIRE!
Gabrielle looked at Xena when she yelled. She saw where Xena was looking as the flames began to spread.
GABRIELLE
No...
Xena grabbed Gabrielle's arm and began running with her as Ephiny, Valassca, Fauna and Kai followed. Other's who heard Xena's warning began fleeing from the fire too. Soon those involved in the fighting realized the danger and also ran to escape the hungry flames that were rapidly consuming everything within their path. Gabrielle coughed as she covered her nose and mouth from the smoke while Xena and the others did the same as Xena lead their group through the fire and smoke. They ran until they came to the long stairway that they had come up when they first arrived. Xena looked down and knew that the fire would catch them before they could get to the bottom by foot. She looked around and spotted a large banner hanging on a wall nearby. She quickly ran over and ripped it from the wall, came back over and tied one end around a pillar that was at the top of the stairs.
XENA
Gabrielle come here and hold on to me.
Gabrielle didn't need to ask what Xena was doing. She quickly put her arms around Xena's neck as Xena held her with one arm and grabbed onto the banner with her free hand. She looked at the rest of the group for a moment.
XENA
Lets go.
With that Xena and Gabrielle climbed over the railing as Xena stepped off and she and Gabrielle began sliding down the banner towards the bottom of the tree. One by one Ephiny, Valassca, Fauna and Kai climbed over the railing and grabbed the banner as they followed Xena and Gabrielle down. Once Xena reached the end of the banner she and Gabrielle looked down. Seeing that there was still a good drop to the bottom. Having no choice Xena let go of the banner as she and Gabrielle free fell the rest of the way to the ground below. Xena landed on her feet with Gabrielle in her arms. She put Gabrielle down.
XENA
You okay?
GABRIELLE
Yeah.
KAI
Heads up.
Xena and Gabrielle quickly stepped out of the way as Kai, Fauna, Ephiny and Velasca dropped from above. Once everyone was down they made it to the secret entrance. They all began trying to get the door open. It wouldn't budge.
KAI
Damn it you stupid door open!
XENA
Hurry get your weapons out.
Xena drew her sword and pushed the blade flat under the door. Everyone with a thin enough blade did the same. They all then used that as leverage to pry the heavy wooden door up enough for them to get their hands under it and lift it open. As they got the door open enough to get out, Amazon's from upstairs were frantically running down the stairs towards them. Followed closely by the smoke and fire. Xena, Gabrielle and the rest of the group finally made it outside as they coughed as gasped for fresh air. Xena made sure that everyone got a safe distance from the giant tree as more women made it outside. As they moved back, the group heard someone yelling as they came their way. They turned around and saw Nova running right at them.
NOVA
(Furious tone) You traitorous bitch! This is all your fault!
Xena went to move in front of Gabrielle, but instead Gabrielle stepped forward. Not backing down from Nova as she ran right up and punched Gabrielle as hard as she could right across her jaw. Xena saw red and was ready to knock Nova right out of her boots when Gabrielle stuck her arm in front of Xena, stopping her. Gabrielle turned her head back forward as she stared at Nova.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) I'm not the one who started this fight.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Aren't you. You're the one who killed Nevaea.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) I did not kill her.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Whether you actually held the weapon or not doesn't matter. It was either you or someone from your group. So no matter how you look at it, you're responsible for all of this. We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you! This violence wouldn't have started if not for you!
Nova motioned to the sacred tree that was burning.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Just look at the damage and chaos you've caused!
XENA
(Angry tone) I've had enough of you trying to blame Gabrielle for everything. And I suggest you stop before I make you.
NOVA
(Angry tone) Is that a threat warrior princess?
XENA
(Angry tone) It's not a threat, it's a promise.
Nova sneered at Xena as she looked back at Gabrielle.
NOVA
(Ominous tone) You have no idea what you've done. Killing a council member, causing the burning of the sacred tree. That paired with what you allowed to happen in that secret village. This is worse than treason. The events that took place today is an act of war against the Amazonian people. I suggest you find any allies that you can Gabrielle. Because soon you will have even more blood on your hands. The next time I see you or any of the rest of your supporters will be on the battlefield. Once word of what happened today spreads you had better be ready.
With that Nova stormed off. Leaving Gabrielle to realize that horrible feeling she had when this all began was right and they should've just left then. But now it was too late as the group retrieved their horses and made their way back to the village to break the news to everyone there that they all needed to begin to prepare for a civil war amung the Amazon's.
TO BE CONTINUED...