A sufficient amount of days had passed for Gabrielle to have reached a point to where she could travel once again, and late in the morning she, Xena and Argo set off to do just that. They didn't leave of course before saying goodbye and giving and receiving many thanks, and it had been insisted that they eat a good meal before they journeyed on. But finally it was time to go, on to the next city, on to the next adventure, on to the next bad guy, and away from the comfort and hospitality of a castle and all that resided inside.
Xena tried to keep Argo at a slow pace for Gabrielle, but the blonde still could feel all of the muscles in her core working hard to keep up. She remained quiet about it, of course, but Xena could sense her companion's struggle and slowed Argo to a complete stop. She reached her hand down.
"Come on," she said simply, looking slightly back over her shoulder. Gabrielle started to decline the offer, but Xena was not going to hear a 'no'. She shook her hand a bit. "Come on, Gabrielle. Don't fight me on this one. I know you can walk but it would make me feel better if you rode with me for a while, at least until the next city." Again, Gabrielle was about to protest, but the look that her companion shot her in that moment told her not to say another word in objection.
"Alright," she said lowly, and took Xena's hand. It was to her utmost surprise, though, when she found herself sitting in front of Xena by Argo's neck as opposed to behind the warrior. "Xena-"
"I want you up here," the blue-eyed woman said. "I can support you better this way." Xena straightened her back, tightening the muscles in her core to keep her posture, and then urged Argo forward before Gabrielle could do anything to change the situation. She wrapped an arm around the bard's waist, careful of her healing wound, to hold her against her. Gabrielle didn't move for a long time, almost rigid where she sat. She couldn't remember a time when she had ridden in front with Xena; it was a rare occasion for her to even be on Argo at all, anyway, so this was practically culture shock. But eventually she grew tired of sitting away from her companion, her healing muscles aching, and she leaned back, letting Xena take her weight. The warrior woman smiled gently. "Took you long enough," she said.