The village was in a frenzy as everyone rushed to do what they could to prepare their defenses with very little time. Xena roamed the village square giving out orders to various women who raced around the area. As she shouted commands Gabrielle walked over holding Aurora.
GABRIELLE
I just spoke to one of the guards, she said that the army isn't far. They'll likely be here within the hour.
XENA
Damn. I was hoping to have a little more time. Did they say how many?
GABRIELLE
A lot. A few hundred, at least.
Xena sighed as she gave another order to a passerby before returning her attention to Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
What are we gonna do Xena? This village doesn't have the people or weaponry to take on those numbers.
XENA
We'll figure it out, Gabrielle. We always do. Like I said earlier, we are not going to let whoever these people are take this village. You believe me, don't you?
Gabrielle smiled slightly as Xena placed her hands on Gabrielle's upper arms.
GABRIELLE
Of course, I do. I know that even against odds like this if anyone can save the people here it's you.
XENA
No the people here are gonna save themselves. I'm just gonna help.
GABRIELLE
Everyone else is working to prepare. What do you want me to do?
XENA
Nothing right now. Your job will come when the enemy gets here. These people are gonna need their queen leading them.
GABRIELLE
Good point. Then I'll have to find someone to watch Aurora.
XENA
I've already ordered the non-combatants to gather in one of the large houses in the back of the village. They're over there getting ready to go. Take Aurora to them and she'll be safe.
Xena motioned to where the group was gathering.
GABRIELLE
Okay. I'll go bring her over.
Gabrielle walked away carrying the little girl as Xena continued to help the villagers prepare.
EPHINY
Anything yet?
XENA
No.
It was a little later as Ephiny walked up to Xena and Gabrielle as they stood beside their mounts a good distance from the village with an army of Amazons standing by not far behind.
XENA
According to the scouts they should be coming up over the horizon up ahead. Fortunately, even though they have the numbers and the element of the unknown, we have the advantage of being more familiar with the area, and given that there's only one way in or out of the village, the only real option they have for an attack is a frontal assault. So that gives us a leg up on keeping them out. All we really need to do is hold the line to prevent them from breaking through our defenses.
GABRIELLE
You make it sound simple.
XENA
That's because strategy wise it is. It's the practical execution of the plan that can get tricky.
EPHINY
Well hopefully this time that won't be the case.
The conversation was broken up when the trio heard yelling and looked ahead to see one of the scouts on horseback galloping towards them.
AMAZON SCOUT
They're here! The enemy army is here!
Xena turned to face the combatants of the village as she grabbed Argo's saddle.
XENA
This is it people. Ready or not they're here. So let's give these bastards a beating they'll never forget and make sure that they never even think of coming back here ever again.
The crowd cheated as both Xena and Gabrielle got on their horses. With a number of others doing the same. Then taking their place in front of the others Xena and Gabrielle drew their weapons as they finally spotted the advancing enemy army in the distance. But what they saw was just about one of the worst things that they could have seen in their situation. Gabrielle felt a chill run down her spine at the sight of what was heading their way.
GABRIELLE
Xena, that looks like a lot more than a few hundred soldiers.
XENA
Yeah, it's more like at least a couple thousand.
GABRIELLE
I don't get it, what kind of person sends thousands of soldiers against one single village? I don't care how ready we are there's no way we can defend against an army of this size. What are we gonna do?
XENA
The only thing we can do. And that's fight to the last one standing.
Xena sat watching the advance for a bit until the first line of the enemy forces came closer and that was when Xena looked back and shouted to a large group of women behind them.
XENA
Archers fire!
And with that two-word command, a long row of bow-wielding Amazons unleashed a hail of arrows that they had loaded and ready. The projectiles arched through the air and rained down on the front grouping of the enemy army. The arrows littered the field as the majority landed hits on the enemy, dropping a good number of them with multiple arrows piercing some of them. As they dropped the others behind them continued forward and Xena gave the signal for another volley of arrows to be fired. Another group released their drawn bowstrings and sent the next wave of arrows towards the enemy. Again the majority of the shots hit and took down more of the army. Xena watched as they dropped and was about to give the signal for the next wave of arrows but paused when she saw something that she couldn't believe.
XENA
What the...
GABRIELLE
Xena you're seeing this too right?
XENA
Yes. I guess the villagers weren't kidding about these guys being inhumanly durable.
Xena and Gabrielle couldn't believe their eyes as every single enemy that had been taken down by the arrows rose once again and continued forward toward the village. Xena gave another order for more arrows to be fired. But again as some went down, the same ones soon got back up and carried on as if they weren't even hurt. Xena scowled as she saw this unbelievable phenomenon.
XENA
(Angry tone) I knew something about those bodies before didn't seem right. Just what in Tartarus are they?
Xena got down from Argo and walked over to the nearest archer and took her bow and a few arrows. She then took aim and fired at one of the enemy. The arrow struck the soldier square in the chest and dropped him as she thought it would. But once again the soldier got up. Xena scowled as she sent another arrow at the soldier and this time hit him right through the eye. Immediately the soldier fell. But this time he stayed down. Getting an idea Xena took one more arrow and fired at another one of the enemy, nailing another shot to the head. Xena watched the soldier fall and waited for them to get back up like others had, only this one stayed down.
XENA
Interesting.
Xena gave the Amazon back her weapon and shouted to the rest of the archers.
XENA
Aim for the head if you can that seems to keep them down.
Xena went back to Argo and got back in her saddle.
GABRIELLE
What was that about?
XENA
Just an idea. Despite what they might look like, whatever we're fighting here are clearly not human. At least not normal ones anyway. It seems like they can withstand much more damage than any normal person should. So I decided to check if the same was true for hitting vital points as well. And well when it comes to damage to the head the normal rules that usually work seem to still apply.
GABRIELLE
At least that's something. But still facing an enemy that's immortal unless we hit the right spot. Pair that with everything else and...
XENA
I know.
(Sarcasm) This whole situation just keeps getting better and better.
Xena gave another signal to the archers as the enemy continued to close in. After taking down more of the enemy with less getting up as more of the arrows hit their apparent weak point, Xena raised her sword and looked at Gabrielle, who gave her a nod to signal that she was ready to go. Then with a downward swing of her blade, Xena yelled to the other's.
XENA
Move out. Don't let them near the village!
As soon as Xena finished those words she got Argo moving straight into a gallop, as Gabrielle rode alongside her with the other fighters charging right behind them. And with the first clash, the battle for the village was on. A battle of which while it would only last for one day, it would become a conflict that would drastically change everything for those defending the village forever.
TO BE CONTINUED...