Valassca held the beaten Gabrielle with a dagger to her side as she hurried her along as she tried to escape the village and Xena. Gabrielle knew if she resisted Valassca wouldn't hesitate to kill her and make a mad dash for the village entrance. Xena was close behind but couldn't make her move without running the risk of Gabrielle being killed. Instead she maintained a little distance as she kept an eye out for any opening to take Valassca out. Or at least get Gabrielle away from her.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) What's the plan now? You know Xena's not gonna just let you leave.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) Be quiet.
Valassca took Gabrielle to the village entrance but stopped short when she realized that the guards were loyal to Gabrielle. Seeing Gabrielle in obvious trouble the guards went into action.
VILLAGE GUARD 1
Stop right there.
VILLAGE GUARD 2
You're not taking the queen anywhere.
Valassca scowled as she pulled Gabrielle back to her and held the dagger to Gabrielle's neck.
VALASSCA
Make one wrong move and she dies. Now let us through.
Seeing the condition Gabrielle was in it was clear that Valassca's threats were to be taken seriously. So the guards kept their distance as they tried to figure out what to do.
VALASSCA
Now move out of the way and open the exit. We're leaving.
VILLAGE GUARD 1
We can't do that. We won't let you take queen Gabrielle anywhere against her will.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) I said let us out, or she dies.
Valassca pressed the blade harder against Gabrielle's throat. The guards quickly drew their swords.
VILLAGE GUARD 2
We won't allow you to harm the queen any further.
Valassca sneered as she heard Xena's voice and looked back to see Xena coming into sight as she ran out from between some buildings and looked around for a moment before spotting her and Gabrielle.
XENA
(Angry tone) Valassca!
Xena ran straight towards them as Valassca realized getting out of the village through the front wasn't going to work. She urged Gabrielle to move as she returned to running. She would have to find another way out. If there was one. The guards watched as Xena ran by them as she followed Valassca with Gabrielle. They would've gone too, but as the village guards they couldn't leave their post unattended. As much as they wanted to. Especially not wanting to give any rebels a chance to escape. Word had spread soon after it was confirmed that Gabrielle was being targeted. So pretty much the whole village was aware of at least the basics of what was going on. Xena ran after Valassca and Gabrielle and saw Valassca drag Gabrielle around a corner. When Xena turned the same corner she was stopped by a number of Valassca's rebel amazons. She saw Valassca dragging Gabrielle along up a head as she gave orders to hold Xena off. Then she and Gabrielle disappeared behind a building leaving Xena with the rebels. They were standing far enough away so Xena couldn't just jump over them like she had done before. She held her sword ready as she sized up her opponent's.
XENA
I don't have time for this. Step aside or else.
The only response from the rebels was to draw their weapons showing Xena that she was going to have to fight her way through them. With her battle cry ringing out Xena ran at the rebel amazons and began fighting them off. Meanwhile Valassca dragged Gabrielle along as she frantically searched for a way out. Knowing that her rebels weren't going to slow Xena down for long. With no other exits to be found, Valassca found herself at a dead end. She stood there with her dagger pressed against Gabrielle's neck as she looked around trying to figure out where to go. She looked back and saw Xena coming her way.
VALASSCA
Already?! Worthless all of them.
Valassca quickly thought of anything that might help her escape. Then she saw the waterfall within the village. Figuring there must be a way out up there she pushed Gabrielle towards the cliffs and made her climb as Valassca followed.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) Climb faster or I'll throw you off.
Gabrielle winced in pain as she climbed. Xena reached the waterfall and was ready to throw her chakrum but Valassca looked down, saw her and grabbed Gabrielle's ankle.
VALASSCA
Go ahead Xena throw it. But if I fall, I'm taking Gabrielle with me.
With Valassca momentarily distracted, Gabrielle tried to kick her off but Valassca tugging her leg almost causing her to loose her grip on the rock she was holding.
VALASSCA
And you do anything stupid like that again and you're gone. Now keep climbing.
Gabrielle looked down seeing how far up they were. She knew that a fall from that height would be deadly with the rocks waiting below. Valassca forced Gabrielle to continue upwards as she followed. Meanwhile lower Xena had already begun scaling the cliff after them. The climb was treacherous as the water from the flowing falls splashed on the rocks making it difficult to get a ferm grip. Finally Gabrielle pulled herself up over a large ledge and crawled a little away from the ledge as she winced and looked back to see Valassca pulling herself up. As Valassca stood she looked around.
VALASSCA
(Angry tone) No! Damn it!
XENA
What's wrong Valassca.
Valassca turned around as Xena reached the ledge and pulled herself up. Xena stood as she looked at Valassca and Gabrielle.
XENA
It's over, you've got nowhere left to run.
Valassca quickly grabbed Gabrielle again.
VALASSCA
I won't have to run, because you're going to let me walk away
XENA
Am I?
VALASSCA
If you value Gabrielle's life you will.
XENA
And if you value your life you'll let her go and surrender, now.
Valassca put her dagger to Gabrielle's neck again.
VALASSCA
I don't think so Xena. I know that once I don't have Gabrielle I'm as good as dead. Surrender means nothing. I tried to kill their fraud of a queen. I'll be changed with treason and executed. That is if you don't kill me first. No, Gabrielle dies today and I take my place as queen.
XENA
Then what? You don't actually think that people will follow you after this do you?
VALASSCA
They'll have no choice. Unlike Gabrielle, I won't be so lax in my judgment of those around me. So whither they like it or not, eventually everyone will learn to respect and follow me or face the consequences.
XENA
That sounds more like the mark of a tyrant than a good ruler.
VALASSCA
Maybe to you. But whither you believe me or not I do care about my people.
XENA
Apparently unless they have something you want. Then it doesn't matter who they are.
Gabrielle struggled in Valassca's grasp. Valassca pressed her dagger harder causing the blade to knick Gabrielle's skin and draw a little blood. Gabrielle stopped struggling when she felt the dagger cut into her a little.
VALASSCA
You know it seems fitting that this ends where Gabrielle was supposed to die originally. Maybe I can just finish this how it started.
Valassca slowly circled around Xena as she moved towards the edge of the waterfall with Gabrielle. Xena pulled out her chakrum and turned to follow Valassca's movements.
XENA
I won't give you the chance.
VALASSCA
It would seem we're at an impasse Xena. It looks like one way or another this all ends here.
TO BE CONTINUED...