It was late in the day as the sun had mostly made its descent from the sky and Gabrielle rode back into the secret village. She returned the horse she borrowed to the stables and got an earful from the woman there about Xena becoming upset with her for Gabrielle leaving.
GABRIELLE
Sorry about that. I'll be sure to talk to her about that.
(Thinking to herself) Yup as I thought, Xena is not happy about my going out without telling her. I'm gonna end up hearing it when I get back to the house. Oh well it's not like I didn't expect that reaction anyway.
So after gathering the satchel of everything that she got while she was out, Gabrielle made her way back home. She opened the front door to the house and went inside. After putting down everything she way carrying on the floor by the couch, Gabrielle walked back to shut the door. As she was about to turn around from doing just that she heard Xena's voice.
XENA
(Flat tone) Must've been a nice day for a trip.
Gabrielle sighed already knowing that this wasn't going to go anywhere good and turned as she leaned back against the door and she spotted Xena sitting on third step from the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper level of their home idly fiddling with the note Gabrielle had left before she had woken up in her hand.
GABRIELLE
Actually it was.
Xena kept her voice neutral but Gabrielle knew that she wasn't happy with her.
XENA
So where'd you go all day?
Gabrielle could feel the tension between them already building but kept up the charade of the plesent, casual conversation that they both knew they weren't really having.
GABRIELLE
Nowhere special. Just decided to take a trip to the city that's not too far from here.
XENA
You must be tired from your long day I bet.
GABRIELLE
No not really.
XENA
So what was so important that you had to run off and get without telling anyone where you were going.
Gabrielle shrugged.
GABRIELLE
Nothing particularly special.
(Thinking to herself) Technically not a lie.
Finally Xena grew tired of playing this little game and switched to the more direct approach for getting the answers she wanted from Gabrielle.
XENA
(Irritated tone) So let me get this straight Gabrielle. You go out all day, don't tell anyone where you're going. Leave some ridiculous note just saying that you'll be back later with no actual timeline for when. And you're saying that you had no particular plan for what you were doing?
GABRIELLE
What I can't go out somewhere if I want to.
Xena crumpled up the paper she was still holding, stood and tossed the paper aside as she moved closer to where Gabrielle still stood.
XENA
(Irritated tone) You know full well that's not the issue here.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated/ Sarcasm) Oh right I forgot to get an esort of some kind before hand.
Xena scowled as she stopped in front of Gabrielle.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Don't play dumb Gabrielle. You know your free to go places on your own.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) But only if you say it's okay first
XENA
(Irritated tone) No but I would like to at least be filled in on where you're going.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You're not my mother Xena. I don't need to tell you or anyone where I'm going or what I'm doing.
That was it. Xena tried to be decently composed about the situation but after the way Gabrielle had been acting recently, worrying where she was all day and now not getting a straight answer for why Gabrielle had just up and left without a word, Xena lost her temper.
XENA
(Angry tone) You're right I'm not your mother, but I am about to be your wife. So I would think that you would at least have the decency to say where you're going in case anything happened to you while you were out.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Oh here we go back to "Gabrielle is incapable of doing anything on her own" once again. You know full well that I can handle myself Xena.
XENA
(Angry tone) This is not the same thing and you damn well know that.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) Oh its not? Okay then Xena since you insist that this is different why don't you tell me just what it is exactly that's the problem with me going out without telling anyone.
XENA
(Angry tone) Because after all the time we've spent on the road you should be well aware of just how dangerous it can be for anyone traveling alone out there. Even for highlly skilled fighters. Of which incase you forget, you are not one of. And on top of that you don't even have anything to defend yourself if you run into trouble. You'd be left completely defenseless and no one knowing where you are if you were attacked. What you did today wasn't just incredibly reckless, it was also very stupid.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) So now I'm both incapable AND stupid?!
XENA
(Angry tone) No I said what you did was stupid.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone)! I fail to see the distinction.
Knowing that at this point they weren't making any progress on the actual problem, Xena threw her hands up in frustration.
XENA
(Angry tone) Oh enough of this.
Xena took a breath in an effort to calm herself down as she went and sat on the couch.
XENA
Listen we both know that there's obviously more to this than you just deciding to leave the village unannounced today. So why don't you finally tell me why exactly you've been acting so differently lately.
GABRIELLE
(Lying) I don't know what you're talking about.
Xena sighed.
XENA
Come on Gabrielle you just got done accusing me of insulting your intelligence. Of which I didn't. So I'd appreciate if you could at the very least do the same for me.
Gabrielle didn't say anything.
XENA
Look after the whole confusion around Aurora's conception I thought we both agreed not to keep things from one another anymore.
Xena reached out and gently placed her hand on Gabrielle's arm as she looked into Gabrielle's eyes with complete sincerity.
XENA
Please Gabrielle. I know that something's been bothering you. Just talk to me. I'm sure I can help you fix whatever it is.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) I don't need you to fix anything Xena.
(Thinking to herself) That's the whole point. How does she still not get that?
Xena rubbed her forehead in frustration.
XENA
So you're really not gonna tell me what's wrong?
Gabrielle didn't say anything.
XENA
Well if that's how it's gonna be, fine.
Xena learned back in her seat.
XENA
Then since we're obviously having trouble communicating at the moment I don't think getting married would be a very smart move right now. So until you wanna either talk about what's wrong or sort things out yourself, I'm not continuing with the test. And the joining ceremony is canceled until further notice. That is if we still even get married at all. But that'll be up to you.
Out of anger, stubbornness and frustration Gabrielle glared at Xena as she said something that she instantly knew wasn't true at all
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You know what Xena if that's how you really feel, then that's just fine with me. Consider the wedding called off.
And with that Gabrielle walked to the front door and left the house. Slamming the door behind her as she walked away. Xena heard the baby begin crying from upstairs and got up to tend to the child as she wondered just how and where things between Gabrielle and herself had gone so wrong.
TO BE CONTINUED...