A/N: Last chapter for the night. Decent length for you all! Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy. As always Feel free to favorite, follow, and post feedback/reviews.

Chapter 7

The Amazons prepared Xantippe's body for the ceremonial burning. Ephiny was battling with her thoughts. She knew that the warriors would want revenge for their sister's death, and it was only a matter of time before they went looking for Gabrielle. She partially wanted to rip Gabrielle to shreds for the event that took place in the hut, but she also had a feeling something wasn't adding up. When she saw Gabrielle, the young bard was exhausted and didn't look to have an ounce of energy left in her. She had been so torn on Xena that life left her face.

Ephiny studied the hut over and over again. The tracks on the ground told two stories. The first was that there wasn't any struggle until the two Amazons were in the hut. The second, that Gabrielle didn't greet them when they entered. As if Gabrielle was startled by their visit.

Eponin entered. "The body is ready." She looked around at the mess. "It's sad isn't it...how someone so good to us turned into such a monster."

Ephiny looked at her partner sympathetically. "Eponin, the stories don't add up to the evidence shown here. But I can't confirm anything because Gabrielle isn't here to testify."

"You think she's innocent?"

"I'm not stating whether she is innocent or guilty, but this evidence is telling me a different story then what Emilie told us."

"Would you like me to prepare the questioning for after the ceremony?" Eponin asked wanting to get to the bottom of everything as much as Ephiny.

"Give it a day. Let our sisters mourn for the loss. Tomorrow we will worry about the guilty."

Ephiny left with Eponin following behind her.

"Xena is here and she is asking for you." One of the Amazons greeted Ephiny and Eponin as soon as they exited the hut. The two glanced at each other.

"Eponin, make sure that the others are dressed and prepared for the ceremony. I will talk to Xena."

Eponin nodded and left with hesitation. She was afriad that Ephiny would come back to them in pieces but she also knew that it had to be done. Xena had to know what happened.

"Xena." Ephiny greeted.

Xena was taking in the surrounding and noticed the body prepared for burning. She didn't bother with greetings and was straight to the point.

"What's going on here and where is Gabrielle?" The warrior smelt trouble. Her blood was starting to boil with fear but she knew that staying focused would get things solved faster.

"G-Gabrielle left. She ran away after she attacked two of our Amazons." Ephiny gulped.

"I don't buy that garbage for one moment." Xena glared. "Who was the other, assuming she's still alive?"

"Emilie. She survived the attack, but only because we interrupted. If we hadn't I'm sure she would've been dead, too."

"Show me where Gabrielle was staying and bring Emilie to me."

"Bu-"

"Now!" Xena yelled.

Ephiny tightened her facial expressions and led Xena to the hut and ordered the girl to be present.

Xena examined every inch of the hut, reading every foot step, every wrinkle in the bed. The event played wildly in the warrior's mind and the truth unfolded so easily before her eyes. Gabrielle didn't attack anyone, she was protecting herself from being killed.

"My name is Emilie." The girl gulped. "You wanted to see me?"

Xena turned to face a woman that was decently built. She would have been a decent match for someone like Gabrielle.

"What happened here? And don't you dare feed me the bullshit." Xena's eyebrow rose. As the woman spoke and told her story of what she was doing, Xena made sure to study every emotion that ran over the girls face.

"...And like I said we wanted to be of service to her and she attacked us. Killed Xantippe."

"Now the truth." Xena stood inches from the woman's face.

"That is the truth." She bit back defensively.

"Okay." Xena stood back and turned around.

As soon as the girl let out a sigh of relief Xena whirled back and was at her throat with the pinch.

"You've only got a few seconds before you die."

Ephiny stood in shock she knew that Xena would kill her if she really wanted too but she also wanted to know the truth from Emilie.

"Now, listen closely. If I find out that anything happened to Gabrielle outside of Amazon lands, I'll take you to your grave personally. Now tell me what happened."

"Th-tha-that's the truth." The girl struggled to answer.

"YAH!" Xena punched the girl in the gut to make the pain intensify. She grabbed the girl by the hair and showed her the tracks, "See these. This tells me you attacked Gabrielle. You didn't come to ask her for help you came to kill her. Now I know you're going to tell me the truth, or so help me, I will make sure you die right here like Xantippe."

Xena removed the pinch and waited for the girl to answer.

She took her time and Xena was growing more and more impatient. "Now are you going to tell me?"

The girl spit in Xena's face. "No! You're just as much of a monster as the mutt beast of yours. Those animals murdered my family and our town. Since you obviously don't have the guts to put your dog down someone had to."

Xena gritted her teeth and snapped a punch to the girl's face. The girl flew back and her face was covered in her own blood. The warrior knelt down to the girl and gripped her by the collars of her armor.

"Such a shame Gabrielle didn't kill you off when she had the chance." Xena was so disgusted that she slammed the girl back into the wall of the hut and walked out.

"Emilie, you are being held as prisoner and will be tried for your crimes against Gabrielle the Amazon Princess." Ephiny looked disappointed in her sister. "And as you know, betrayal against the princess or queen is seen as treason and punishable by death."

After taking Emilie to the Amazon jail, the Amazons and Xena regrouped in the ceremonial area.

"Ephiny. I do apologize for the loss and heartache this has caused you and the Amazons, know that I am trying to do what I can to fix this." Xena whispered as they began to light the body.

The Amazon's were in silent mourning as the body burned, and Xena sang the burial song as the flames engulfed the world around them. She wasn't just singing for the Amazon that laid before but she sang for the soul that Gabrielle was losing. She knew that she had to find her before the cold-blooded murderer took over.

When it was all over Xena went to find Ephiny.

"When she left where did she go, do you know?"

"No, she ran into the forest, South from here."

Xena's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach.

"Bring her back home, Xena. And tell her that you love her, she deserves and needs to know."

Xena looked at Ephiny with a sad smile. "Alright."