There was a momentary standoff between Gabrielle and Celine. As Kai stood near the still restrained Xena looking on at the fight.
KAI
I wonder just how long Gabrielle can go. My guess would be not very. Especially against someone who isn't taking her lightly. What do you think Xena?
Xena didn't answer as she only glanced over at her with a very angry scowl for a moment before returning to watching Gabrielle.
KAI
Oh right Gabrielle's the more chatty one out of the two of you. Fine we can just watch the fight in silence then.
Gabrielle took a shot to the midsection and then another to her face as Celine resumed her assault. She returned with a hit of her own accross Celine's jaw. Celine was stunned for a moment giving Gabrielle an opening. She lunged at Celine. They both fell to the ground. But the more agile Celine used the momentum and her feet to roll and flip them both so she had Gabrielle on her back. Celine quickly stood and stomped her boot on Gabrielle's chest before she could get up. Gabrielle tried pushing the boot off her when Celine quickly raised it and brought her foot back down hard. Gabrielle yelled in pain as Celine repeated the action a couple more times before dropping to a knee that she placed in the same spot on in the center of Gabrielle's chest making sure that Gabrielle couldn't escape. Gabrielle's efforts to push Celine away failed as the vengeful amazon held Gabrielle's to the ground with one hand and balled the other into a fist as she began striking Gabrielle in the face repeatedly. Xena yelled as she fought to get free while Kai just laughed. After striking again Celine stopped as she looked down at her handiwork. Gabrielle's face was a beaten and bloodied mess. She had blood coming from her mouth and nose. As well as from a cut above her eye. There were multiple red marks that would soon become bruises from where Celine had struck. As Celine was distracted with admiring her work Gabrielle covertly grabbed a fist full of dirt and then threw it into Celine's face. The Amazon let out a painful yell as she got up rubbing her eyes as she tried to clear out the irritation. Though the move only served to anger Celine further as once her vision cleared she looked at Gabrielle who had rolled to her stomach and was trying to get up.
CELINE
(Angry tone) You're gonna pay for that.
Celine stormed over, picked up Gabrielle's staff from where it had been lying and returned to where Gabrielle was still trying to stand. She grabbed Gabrielle by her hair and got her to her feet. Then she let go of her as she took a firm grip off Gabrielle's staff with both hands and swung it. Driving the side inside Gabrielle's midsection. Then as Gabrielle doubled over from the hit, Celine swung the weapon again. This time hitting Gabrielle across her back. The pain instinctively caused Gabrielle to arch back as she groaned from the hit. Celine then followed up by swinging the staff upwards. Driving the end up into Gabrielle's jaw. Blood sprayed from Gabrielle's mouth as she spun to the ground. Xena watched in horror as Gabrielle just layed there. She continued to fight to get free knowing that Gabrielle couldn't take too much more of this continuous onslaught.
XENA
Gabrielle!
Despite to save Gabrielle Xena quickly thought of the only thing that might get Celine to stop.
XENA
Celine stop please. It was me. I killed Valassca it wasn't Gabrielle. So if you wanna take your revenge on someone it should be me.
Celine looked at Xena.
CELINE
Trust me Xena I'm fully aware of who technically ended my mother's life. But killing her will hurt you far more than if I just killed you. Plus while you may have killed her, Gabrielle is still also responsible for taking my mother from me even while she was still alive. If she had just given my mother her title when she first became queen like she should have none of us would be here right now.
XENA
Valassca choose her own fate when she tried to assassinate Gabrielle.
CELINE
And you and Gabrielle chose yours when you killed her.
Celine returned her attention to Gabrielle who had been just laying on the ground as she grabbed her by her hair. Celine yanked Gabrielle to her knees. Gabrielle had a far away look in her eyes as Celine let her go and smacked the stuff she still held across Gabrielle's chest. The hit knocked Gabrielle back as Celine took the end of the staff and drove it into Gabrielle's stomach, grinding it down as Gabrielle yelled and tried to push it off. After a few moments Celine tossed the weapon aside and reached down, grabbing Gabrielle's shirt and forced Gabrielle to stand. Which she could barely do on her own at this point. Trying to get away, Gabrielle stumbled over to a cave wall. She learned against it as she winced from the pain that wraked her whole body. As Gabrielle stood there Celine walked over and picked up Xena's sword that she was forced to discard earlier. An evil smile crossed her face as she gave the blade a quick look over.
CELINE
I gotta say Xena you certainly do have good taste in weapons. Too bad the same can't be said about your taste in romantic partners.
Xena frantically pulled against her restraints as Celine took Xena's sword and began walking back towards Gabrielle.
CELINE
I think it's about time to finish this.
Gabrielle saw Celine coming towards her with Xena's sword in hand resting the flat side of the blade on her shoulder as she walked.
XENA
Gabrielle run.
At that point if Gabrielle could run she would have. But she was so beaten up she was lucky she was even able stand. As Celine got closer Gabrielle attempted to move as fast as her battered body would let her along the cave wall. Celine stalked her menacingly as she moved towards her. Gabrielle tried to get away but Celine was too fast and ran at her swinging Xena's sword. The blade struck the rocky cave wall as Gabrielle just managed to dodge the attack. Gabrielle quickly made a move to grab her staff as Celine swung again. This time catching Gabrielle in the arm. Gabrielle cried out as she felt the blade slice open her skin. She fell as she clenched the wound. Celine stood over her and raised the sword to strike again. She began to swing it down towards Gabrielle who noticed her staff an arms reach away. Quickly with her uninjured arm she reached out, grabbed it and used it to block Celine's hit just in time. Celine continued to push the swordtowards Gabrielle as she attempted to overpower her. The sharp blade dug into the wood of the staff as Gabrielle began to lose the power struggle. She gripped the staff with her other hand and dispite her injured arm tried to push Celine away. Finally during the struggle Gabrielle tilted her staff just right causing the sword to slip, taking a chunk out of the wooden staff with it as Gabrielle managed to deflect Celine's strike. The sudden shift was enough to give Gabrielle an opening as she swung the end of her staff up into Celine's face. Celine backed off slightly rubbing her jaw where she had just been hit. She recovered quickly however as she wiped the bit of blood from her lip from the strike. She scowled as she saw Gabrielle using the staff to help her get up. As Gabrielle fully stood Celine snatched the staff from Gabrielle's grip and kicked her back against the wall. Gabrielle hit hard and slid down to the ground. Celine looked at her for a moment as Gabrielle began pushing herself to stand once again using the cave wall for support. Then she looked back at Gabrielle's weapon that she now held.
CELINE
I guess since i'm going to kill you, you won't be needing this will you?
Gabrielle watched as Celine then took the damaged staff and broke it over her knee. Snapping Gabrielle's only weapon and method of defense in two. Celine looked at the two pieces in each hand then smiled at Gabrielle as she casually tossed them behind her. Xena began to silently panic as she saw that now Gabrielle was left completely defenseless and injured. Their child was still being held hostage and with no weapons and tied up there seemed to be nothing that Xena could do.
TO BE CONTINUED…