Gabrielle coughed as she spit some blood from her mouth onto the floor that she was laying on. Still tied up and with no one else but Valassca around, Gabrielle knew that if she didn't think of something quick, Valassca would kill her. But she knew that she couldn't give in and hand over her role of queen either.
VALASSCA
You just say when you've had enough and this will stop Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Why so you just kill me afterwards anyway?
Valassca crouched down in front of where Gabrielle layed.
VALASSCA
How about we make a deal. You give me what I want and I'll make your death quick and relatively painless.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) So you get to be queen and I get to die. Thanks but I think I'll pass.
Valassca scowled as she stood up and put her boot on Gabrielle's head. Grinding her heal into Gabrielle's temple.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) You know you're way too stubborn for your own damn good.
Gabrielle gritted her teeth to not give Valassca the satisfaction of hearing her in pain
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) And you're nothing but a coward.
Valassca stopped grinding her boot against Gabrielle's head and looked down at her.
VALASSCA
Me, a coward? You've picked an awfully odd time to start making jokes.
GABRIELLE
That's because I'm serious.
Valassca got a somewhat amused smile on her face as she took her foot off Gabrielle.
VALASSCA
And how may I ask, am I a coward?
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) How 'bout for starters you didn't even bother trying to actually challenge me for the throne.
VALASSCA
Because I already know that Xena would end up fighting in your place.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Clearly you know that you can't beat Xena. Gah!
Valassca ground her heel into Gabrielle's head again.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) I see no reason to fight her when she has nothing to do with it. Plus I've always hated that rule that allows the current queen to use a champion to fight in her place. A real queen shouldn't need someone to fight her battles for her. And you call me the coward.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You didn't even have the guts to confront me face to face. Instead you built up a little group then you and them tried to assassinate me from the shadows. So why don't you try telling me again how you're not afraid of me.
VALASSCA
(Irritated tone) You can't be serious.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You pretended to be my friend and attacked me while my back was turned. Then once I lost consciousness you tied me up. That sounds a lot like the actions of a coward to me.
Valassca scowled.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) Okay Gabrielle you wanna fight me fine. But just remember, you asked for this.
Valassca pulled out a dagger and cut through the rope that tied Gabrielle's hands and feet together. She then left the dagger on the floor next to Gabrielle as she stood up and backed up slightly. Valassca knew that Gabrielle wasn't nearly as skilled of a fighter as she was and that Gabrielle didn't like to kill. So the crazed amazon wasn't the least bit threatened by the thought of Gabrielle beating her. Gabrielle wiped the blood from her mouth as she slowly reached for the dagger and stood up. Valassca gave Gabrielle an evil grin as she didn't even bother drawing a weapon. Figuring she could easily disarm or take Gabrielle out with her superior fighting abilities.
VALASSCA
Go ahead Gabrielle, make your move.
GABRIELLE
Fine.
Gabrielle threw the dagger which Valassca effortlessly avoided as she continued to smirk and looked back at the weapon that had missed her.
VALASSCA
Wow you really are useless. That has to be one of the dumbest moves you...
Valassca stopped mid sentence when she looked back and saw Gabrielle had took off running.
VALASSCA
(Talking to herself angerly) I can not believe I fell for that.
Valassca snatched up the dagger and ran after Gabrielle. Determined to not let the opportunity to finally become queen slip from her grasp.
VALASSCA
You can't escape me Gabrielle!
Gabrielle raced through the outskirts of the village hoping to find someone to help her. As she ran, Gabrielle bumped into a couple of the Amazon villagers.
GABRIELLE
Oh thank the gods I ran into you. Valassca's gone crazy. She kidnapped and wants to kill me so she can take over as queen.
The women looked at each other for a moment then back towards Gabrielle.
AMAZON
Don't worry we've got her.
GABRIELLE
Oh good I honesrly don't know what I was gonna do and, hey what are you doing?
The two Amazon's grabbed Gabrielle. She tried to pull away when she heard Valassca's voice behind her.
VALASSCA
Well done.
REBEL AMAZON
Anything for our true queen.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Damn I ran right into some of Valassca's allies. I really can't trust pretty much anybody.
Gabrielle quickly stomped on one rebel amazons foot. On instint the woman let go. Then with her one free hand Gabrielle punched the other Amazon that still held her as that one released Gabrielle as well. Then before either could recover Gabrielle quickly ran as Valassca reached the two other Amazon's.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) Worthless, both of you. Now go round up the other's and get Gabrielle and bring her to me! And make sure she's alive. If anyone's killing that poor excuse for an Amazon it's me.
REBEL AMAZON
Yes my queen.
The rebel amazons Valassca had enlisted spread out to set the rest of their allies into action and capture Gabrielle. Valassca watched as they ran off.
VALASSCA
You can run, but you can't hide Gabrielle. I WILL be queen.
Xena let out a frustrated growl as she kicked open a door. Scaring the living daylights out of the women inside the house.
XENA
Gabrielle! Valassca!
Xena looked around and walked inside as the women occupying the house looked at her with a combination of confusion and fear. Amarice followed Xena inside and looked at the owners trying to smooth over the sudden intrusion.
AMARICE
Sorry we're kinda looking for someone and Xena's really impatient. You haven't seen the queen around have you?
The women shook their heads no as Xena came back from searching the other rooms in the small house.
XENA
They're not here let's go.
Xena stormed passed Amarice and out of the house as she continued her search. Amarice looked back at the women.
AMARICE
Gotta go. Sorry again. I'll send someone to fix your front door.
Amarice left, leaving the women of the house completely baffled as to what just happened. Back outside Xena was already heading for the next building when Clover came running over to her.
CLOVER
Xena I just heard that Gabrielle's been spotted.
XENA
Where?
CLOVER
This way.
Xena and Amarice followed Clover. Along the way Ephiny and Skyla met up with them them and followed. As they ran through the village Xena finally spotted Gabrielle along with the rebel amazons chasing after her.
XENA
Gabrielle!
Xena and the others followed the group as Xena grabbed her chakrum and sent it flying. It ricochet off a building, a cart and a couple of barrels before flying in front of the Amazons chasing Gabrielle. Causing them to stop dead in their tracks knowing who the weapon they had just seen belonged to. Then they heard a familiar war cry as they turned to see Xena standing aways behind them as she caught her chakrum when it came back. Gabrielle, who had also heard the sound stopped running as she turned around relieved with the sight she saw.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
The rebel amazons looked at Xena, then at Gabrielle, then each other.
REBEL AMAZON
There's only three of 'em. Even if one of them is Xena. We can't let Gabrielle escape.
The other rebels agreed as one of them whistled and before Gabrielle, Xena and their allies knew it there were dozens of Amazons surrounding them from all sides.
REBEL AMAZON
Remember our true leader, queen Valassca wants us to leave Gabrielle for her. Anyone else who tries to stop us dies!
With that the rebel amazons charged Xena, Ephiny and Amarice. Nor long after the fighting began, the chaos brought Skyla, Clover, Fauna and Iris to the scene.
FAUNA
What's happening?
AMARICE
They're Valassca's supporters, she sent them out to stop us from getting to Gabrielle.
Without need of any further explanation Clover, Skyla, Iris and Fauna joined in the fight. Xena yelled as she kicked a rebel amazon away from her and threw her elbow back into another woman's face who was attempting to attack her from behind. Following the war, Xena had hoped that would be the last time she would have to fight against amazons. And she could only imagine how terrible the whole situation was for Gabrielle. But thanks to Valassca's desire for power, now the very village that Gabrielle and Xena had come to call home was beginning torn apart from within. Xena wondered just what Valassca had said to get so many to join her cause. But she knew that the time to get answers would have to come later. For now Valassca and the rest of her rebel amazons needed to be stopped. Xena yelled as she blocked an incoming attack and pushed the rebel back as another came at her. A little ways off Gabrielle ducked out of the way of a rebels punch. She kicked her shin and tripped her to the ground. Still pretty hurt from the beating Valassca had given her Gabrielle wasn't really in the condition to fight. She was lucky she was able to escape from Valassca when she did. She kept her eyes on the fighting as she slowly tried to keep out of harms way. A task she unfortunately soon found to be impossible when she was grabbed from behind and felt a hand on her throat.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) I told you that you couldn't escape me you little bitch.
Xena dropped another rebel amazon when she looked over to see Valassca had Gabrielle in her grasp again.
XENA
(Angry tone) Valassca!
Valassca quickly grabbed a dagger and put it to Gabrielle's neck.
VALASSCA
You take one step closer and Gabrielle pays.
XENA
You want her dead anyway so why wait?
VALASSCA
I'm not a fool Xena. If I kill her here and now, you'll just kill me right after. And don't even think of trying your chakrum or I will slit her that before it reaches me.
Xena scowled as she looked around to try and see how she could get Gabrielle from Valassca safely.
XENA
So you're not gonna kill her now,
VALASSCA
Not unless you do something foolish. Now I'm leaving this village and she's coming with me.
Valassca backed away with Gabrielle as her supporters formed a defensive shield between her and Xena. She then turned and held the dagger to Gabrielle's back.
VALASSCA
Start moving.
Gabrielle did as she was told until she could figure out how to get away. Once Valassca and Gabrielle turned a corner, Xena pretended to surrender for a moment. Then as soon she saw the rebel amazons slightly drop their guard she let out her battle cry as she jumped and flipped over the group and landed behind them. The rebels looked at her and were about to go after Xena when they heard voices behind them.
EPHINY
You go after Gabrielle Xena.
Xena looked to see Ephiny. Along with Skyla and Clover, who cracked her knuckles in an intimidating gesture,
CLOVER
You screw with our friends and we get mad.
SKYLA
Especially if one of those friends also happens to be our queen.
Xena gave the trio a quick nod to thank them and ran after Valassca who had Gabrielle. The rebels tried to go after Xena, but were unable to pursue her with Ephiny, Skyla and Clover standing against them. Xena hastily followed Valassca. As she tried to escape Valassca headed for the waterfall. Clearly hoping to escape the village. But Xena was not going to let her escape. Not after trying to murder Gabrielle multiple times.
VALASSCA
You won't stop me Xena. Gabrielle dies and I'll take what she stole from me.
XENA
You won't get away with this Valassca.
VALASSCA
I beg to differ. And I'll take out you and anyone else along with Gabrielle who tries to stand in my way.
TO BE CONTINUED...