The next number of days went by without incident for everyone the village. Including Xena and Gabrielle who waited to find out when they were going ro start the final stage of their tests before they would be confirmed to be joined. Once they saw her, their friends and may others in the village complimented Gabrielle on her new look. Things finally seemed to have gotten less tense between Xena and Gabrielle. Xena thought that perhaps whatever had been bothering Gabrielle, she had managed to work out on her own. Though she still wished that Gabrielle had told her about it but Xena decided that if she was fine now then it didn't really matter. But just to be safe Xena made sure to still keep an eye out for anything that seemed out of place when it came to Gabrielle. Just in case Gabrielle had become better at hiding her odd behavior. Of which she had as during the day she was just normal old Gabrielle who along with Xena would go about their daily routines and all was good between them. But at night Gabrielle was silently sneaking out of the house to practice with her new sai's in a quiet, secluded spot she had found within the village. And after her vigorous practice sessions, Gabrielle would return home, clean up, hide away her weapons, get undressed and ease back into bed beside Xena who seemed non the wiser that Gabrielle had ever even left.
XENA
Hey you feeling okay? I've noticed you've been looking awfully tired for the past few days.
GABRIELLE
Huh?
Gabrielle came out of the semi sleep trance she had unknowingly fallen into while packing her bag. She then shook her head to try and clear out the mental cobwebs that were beginning to form due to the lack of decent sleep. Then she smiled at Xena.
GABRIELLE
Yeah I'm fine. I guess I just didn't get much sleep last night. I was up thinking about what the next few days are gonna be like. Plus we're up even earlier then when you usually wake up.
XENA
I figured it would be smarter to get an early start.
Gabrielle continued putting the things in front of her into her pack as Xena watched, noticing that Gabrielle wasn't wearing her new amazon clothes. Instead she had a reddish top and skirt on.
XENA
Did you get that outfit while you were out the other day too?
Gabrielle glanced up at Xena for a moment as she kept packing.
GABRIELLE
Oh, yeah I thought it looked nice so I got it. I figured it might be better for me not to have my Amazon stuff on while we're out there. You know how weird alot of people get about Amazon's for some reason.
XENA
True.
GABRIELLE
You know it's been a long time since we've really been out on the road.
Xena smiled as she learned against the wall on the opposite side of the bed that Gabrielle had her things for the trip spread out on.
XENA
Yeah I guess it has. I think it's been about over a year and a half going on two soon. I can't remember the last time I've even stayed this long in one place. Might not be since I was a kid. Not that I'm complaining. It's a nice change to actually have a physical place that I can consider home.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
Yeah I understand the feeling. I know it won't be forever, but I'll be happy to call this village our home for as long as we're here. Though I do gotta admit It will be nice to be back out there. I mean every other time we've taken any kind of extended trip outside the village it hasn't really been in the best circumstances.
Xena briefly remembered the various reasons that either Gabrielle and or herself had taken leave from the village. The war between the Amazon's. That whole ordeal was a mess. All of which had been sparked by Ares. Who they thankfully haven't had to deal with since thanks to Artemis. Then Xena had ventured out of the village when she became pregnant and needed answers for how that was possible. All of the confusion and trouble around the events leading to Aurora's conception and she had turned out to be a wonderful gift from Artemis who used her power to allow Xena and Gabrielle to produce a child together. Then there was the ugliness that took place when Xena and Gabrielle had to go and rescue Aurora after she had been kidnapped by Celine and Kai. That was one of the most difficult things that both Xena and Gabrielle had to go through. But for Xena it was only a short time later when things took a turn for the worse as Gabrielle took deathly ill after sustaining serious injuries from their efforts to save Aurora from her kidnappers. On the verge of death she named Xena queen. Which ment that when the village received word of a request for the Amazon queen's help, Xena was duty bound as queen to leave Gabrielle's side and go help. The combination of the dangerous trip and knowing that Gabrielle had been lying on her death bed had made that time extremely difficult and painful for Xena.
XENA
Yeah no kidding.
Xena smiled as she walked over to Gabrielle and thought of why the two were taking this trip out of the village.
XENA
But at least this time us leaving the village is for a good reason.
Gabrielle smiled back.
GABRIELLE
A very good reason.
The two kissed and Gabrielle finished packing.
XENA
All set?
GABRIELLE
Yup. Why don't you go drop off Aurora at Skyla and Clover's and I'll have our stuff outside when you get back. Then we can saddle up Argo and head out.
XENA
Works for me. It's a good thing those two don't seem to mind watching Aurora. Then again I think anyone in this village would love to babysit her.
GABRIELLE
Well she is a wonderful little princess.
XENA
I'll bring her in so you can say goodbye before I take her over there and we leave.
Xena left for a few minutes before returning with Aurora along with a small bag of Aurora's things to drop off with the baby. She handed Gabrielle the baby who held and kissed her goodbye telling the little girl to be good, she loved her and that they'd be back soon, before reluctantly giving her back to Xena. Xena smiled knowing that being away from Aurora for a while wasn't going to be easy for either of them. But at least they knew that she'd be safe and well cared for while they were gone.
XENA
Okay I'll bring her over an meet you outside. You sure you can bring this stuff downstairs by yourself?
Gabrielle didn't say anything as she picked up one of the packs with little to medium effort and gave Xena a smug smile who raised her eyebrows.
XENA
(Joking tone) I see someone's been working out.
I guess I'll leave you to it then.
With that Xena headed downstairs carrying Aurora as she left the house and brought her Clover and Skyla. Gabrielle peeked out the bedroom window to see Xena walking away from the house. She then turned away, walked back over to the bed and knelt down as she retrieved the small box that she had been keeping her sai's hidden away in when she wasn't practicing with them. After she stood up and examined the size of the box, Gabrielle realized that it wouldn't fit into her pack with the rest of her things. But she also couldn't just carry them on her right now.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Xena will definitely notice and then start asking questions about where I got these. Then give me the same old lecture about how dangerous it is to carry around leathal weapons. She'd probably end up taking them too, and treat me like I'm a child who's been caught playing around with their fathers sword or something.
Gabrielle sighed as she thought about what to do with the weapons.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Well Xena did complain about me going out unarmed the other day sooo...
Gabrielle smiled to herself as she decided to take the items in question out of the box she'd been keeping them in and tucked them away under a couple things in her pack. Figuring that this way they could remain out of Xena's sight and she'd have relatively easy access to them incase she needed to use them. And with that Gabrielle closed up her pack, picked it up and went downstairs. After bringing both her and Xena's things for the trip outside and shutting the front door behind her Gabrielle saw Xena heading back her way. Before long they had Argo saddled and Xena straped her small pack to the saddle as she always did before picking up Gabrielle's things to do the same. Once everything was situated Xena got up into the saddle and gave Gabrielle a hand up into her usual spot behind her.
XENA
Ready to go?
GABRIELLE
Yup.
With Xena giving Argo the command to go, the two left the village and began making that way to the location that Cora had told them to go the day before. Along with giving them instructions for what to do once they got there. It would take a few days to reach the location anyway so Xena went at a leisurely pace so they could enjoy the scenery that they rode through.
XENA
You know I was thinking since we have the time why don't we stop a couple places see if we can find you a new staff. We should've replaced yours when it got broken a while ago anyway.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Oh I took care of that. But I can't let Xena find out about them. At least not yet anyway. Obviously I'll have to tell her at some point. I just need to wait until the right time.
Maybe we should focus on what we gotta do for the test first. We can see about doing that later. And don't worry I'll be sure to stay on alert for any trouble in the meantime.
XENA
Alright. Maybe we can check on the way back then. So far the time being just make sure you stay close.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) And there she goes again insisting that she needs to protect me.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes behind Xena's back as she decided to change the subject. Not wanting to start another argument.
GABRIELLE
So I was thinking of maybe getting my own horse soon.
Xena glanced over her shoulder.
XENA
Oh yeah?
(Joking tone) What's wrong getting tired of riding with me?
Gabrielle hugged her arms that were already around Xena's midsection a little tighter as she smiled.
GABRIELLE
Never. But I figured when we do eventually leave the secret village it's gonna be a bit difficult for you, me and Aurora to ride together. Especially once she gets bigger.
Xena thought for a moment.
XENA
I suppose you do have a point. Well maybe while we're out we can look into getting you your own horse if that's what you want then.
GABRIELLE
Xena there's no way we have enough money to buy a horse right now.
XENA
True. But it shouldn't be that hard to make some. After all I do have...
GABRIELLE
(Joking tone) Yeah, yeah many skills. Trust me Xena I'm very well aware of that.
Xena smirked.
XENA
(Joking tone) Just making sure that you didn't forget.
The two rode throughout the day. Stopping a few times to give Argo a break as well as to stretch their legs and grab a bite to eat. The sun had begun to set when they rode into a clearing with a stream nearby. After seeing that it seemed to be a relatively safe area, Xena brought Argo to a hault, deciding that this would be a good place for them to stop for the night. So both Xena and Gabrielle dismounted from Argo's saddle and got to work on setting up camp. While Gabrielle was busy spreading their blankets on the ground, Xena went into their packs to get the things they needed to get started on dinner. Knowing that they kept their frying pan in with Gabrielle's things due to the whole incident of Xena using one a good while ago to defend them against a number of armed men who had suddenly attacked them one morning when her actual weapons weren't in her immediate reach. And as a result of the fight Xena had fought off their attackers. However the frying pan became an unexpected causality of battle when it ended completely destroyed in the process. Of which Gabrielle had not been all to happy about. Which was why when they got another one, Gabrielle had insisted on keeping it in with her things ever since. So Xena crouched down and began going through Gabrielle's pack as she looked for their cooking supplies. As she found what she was looking for and pulled it out, Xena spotted something she didn't recognize amung the other items. Curious Xena reached in and pulled out the unfamiliar items that just happened to be the sai's that Gabrielle had hidden in her things while packing.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) What in Tartarus?
Xena examined the items for a moment before becoming slightly angered by the fact that Gabrielle not only had gotten a hold of dangerous weapons that Xena was certain that she didn't know how to use properly. But that Gabrielle had also hidden them from her.
XENA
Acting differently and changing her look is one thing, but this is something that she can't seriously expect me to be okay with. Obviously she knows that or she wouldn't have felt the need to hide them.
Xena grabbed all of the items she had taken out as she stood and carried it all back to the campfire where Gabrielle sat.
GABRIELLE
Oh you were taking so long I was wondering if you needed help. Did you find everything?
XENA
(Irritated tone) Yeah. I did.
Xena let go of everything she was holding and let it all fall on the ground at Gabrielle's feet.
GABRIELLE
Hey watch it.
Gabrielle looked up at Xena seeing the very unhappy look on her face.
GABRIELLE
What's your problem?
XENA
(Irritated tone) You're a smart woman Gabrielle, you tell me.
Xena folded her arms across her chest as she looked at Gabrielle and nudged the items on the ground with her boot, implying for Gabrielle to examine them. Gabrielle looked down and then realized why Xena suddenly appeared to be so upset.
GABRIELLE
Oh you found them.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Yeah I did. Inspite of your obvious attempt to keep them hidden. And now it seems as though we find ourselves in a very interesting situation here don't we?
Just from the sound of Xena's voice Gabrielle could tell that she was very angry. Which was exactly what Gabrielle had thought would happen if Xena had found her new weapons. But what Gabrielle didn't know was what might happen afterwards. But now there they were on their way to prove their trust and loyalty towards one another. Of which might very well have just been shattered before the test had even begun.
TO BE CONTINUED...