A cold wind blew as Xena stood before Velasca and her followers ready for a fight as the Amazon stepped slightly closer to the Conqueror with a scowl on her face.
VELASCA
This is none of your concern Conqueror, you're trespassing on Amazon lands. Now leave.
Xena stood unintimidated by the other women who had begun to spread out in an attempt to surround her and the small group of soldiers that accompanied her.
XENA
Oh no, I'm not going anywhere. Not until I get what I came here for.
The Conqueror's eyes moved to where Gabrielle laid unmoving in the snow of which didn't go unnoticed by Velasca who smiled.
VELASCA
You mean to say you traveled all this way just to get Gabrielle?
Velasca snickered.
VELASCA
My, my, Conqueror. It would appear that you've begun to grow soft. In fact if I didn't know any better I'd say that you actually care about that worthless piece of false Amazon trash.
The other Amazons chuckled along with Velasca as Xena stood there silently before a devilish smile crossed her face.
XENA
Is that what you think?
The Conqueror drew her sword and twirled it casually in her hand as she continued with a far more sinister tone in her voice.
XENA
(Sinister tone) No. You see I'm not particularly a fan of people taking what's mine. And she...
Xena pointed toward Gabrielle with her sword.
XENA
(Sinister tone) belongs to me.
So I'm afraid that regardless of what you or your queen says, I'll just be taking her back now.
VELASCA
You don't scare me Conqueror. At least not like this.
Velasca motioned for her associates to surround Xena who motioned for Leonidas and her other soldiers to remain in place when Velasca pointed her blade down toward the unconscious Gabrielle.
VELASCA
I have the advantage. You see, I know about your injury, Conqueror. And though you tried to mask it while we were at your keep, it's apparent that you still haven't fully recovered from it.
Velasca smiled as she saw Xena breathing slightly heavier than usual.
VELASCA
Infact though you're trying to hide it, I can see the effects of that said injury as we speak.
Xena growled to herself at how observant the Amazon was as she thought that she had been doing a good job of making the pain that she was actually in due to the fast-paced ride jarring her body and thus affecting the ever persistent injury to her chest. However, regardless of whether the injury was bothering her or not, Xena was confident that it would hold no bearing on this confrontation. Even if these women were Amazons, in regard to combat, the Conqueror was familiar with their typical tactics. And as such knew of multiple ways of combating them injured or not and smirked as the thought of crushing this group of Amazons crossed her mind.
XENA
Well if I was at my full strength it would make this too easy.
Xena twirled her sword in a quick arch again as she moved her feet further apart and assumed a better fighting stance as she held her blade at the ready.
XENA
And I think I could use a good challenge.
Velasca sneered angerly at Xena's confidence.
VELASCA
You've become as much of a fool as Melosa. But if you wanna die right here and now Conqueror, that's fine with me.
The Amazon drew her own sword as the other women allied with her did the same.
VELASCA
It'll actually save me the effort of the possibility of an all out war against you when I become queen.
XENA
It's gonna be awfully hard for you to become queen when you're dead.
VELASCA
Your words are nothing more than threats Conqueror. Threats that I'm afraid that you can't back up.
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) Try me.
VELASCA
As you wish.
And with those words, one of the Amazons with Velasca launched herself at the Conqueror with a swing of her blade. Reflexively Xena brought up her own weapon and blocked the attack as she shoved the woman away as with that first strike a fight between the two groups began. Xena and her men collided with the opposing Amazons as weapons clashed and yells of battle rang out into the night. During the chaos Xena ducked out of the way of the attack of one of the women and retaliated with a kick to the woman's shin followed by an elbow to her face when she dropped slightly from the hit to the leg. The hits drove the Amazon to the ground where Xena was about to finish her off as she raised her sword to bring it down on her but was forced to stop when another Amazon came at her from behind. The woman let out a fierce yell as she leapt at Xena with her weapon poised to strike. Xena quickly stepped aside, swinging her blade upward as she moved and slicing the woman from stomach to sternum in the process. The Amazon immediately fell face down to the ground, the snow beneath her rapidly turned from white to crimson as the blood flowed out of her body, draining her life along with it. Though she had taken out one of her enemies, Xena was unable to find a reprieve from the fighting as another Amazon came right at her. She swiftly blocked the incoming attack with her sword and locked weapons with the opposing woman. The two fought for supremacy for a moment until Xena's senses alerted her to someone coming at her from behind. Quickly Xena drove her boot into the stomach of the Amazon who was in front of her to break the clash between them and attempted to step to the side to avoid being hit but was unable to get completely out of the way as Velasca slashed at the Conqueror with her blade and cut into Xena's arm. Letting out a yell that was honestly more of anger than pain from being hit, Xena swung at Velasca who dodged and swung back. The two clashed for a moment before Xena maneuvered her sword to quickly push Velasca's weapon down and went in for the killing blow with a forward thrust of her blade. Or rather that was what she had intended to do before her arm was suddenly grabbed by one of Velasca's associates, stopping her momentum asbefore Xena could do something about it, she felt a sharp pain in her side as another Amazon plunged a dagger between the Conqueror's ribs. Xena winced as she threw the woman that had grabbed her off and elbowed the one that stabbed her in the face, but was unable to stop Velasca from knocking her back with a sharp elbow to her face. Staggered, Xena stumbled back several steps and gripped at the wound on her side to try to slow the bleeding. Feeling that they had the upper hand in the situation, the woman that stabbed Xena came right back at her as she attempted to drive her blade into Xena once more. But never being someone to be fooled twice, the Conqueror swiftly turned her sword so that her blade was pointing down and then proceeded to thrust her sword back, impaling the Amazon in her stomach as she buried her blade into the woman's flesh. The Amazon let out a painful groan as she folded over the Conqueror's blade before Xena yanked her sword out of the woman and threw her elbow back to drive the Amazon to the ground behind her. Seeing her allies being killed, gave Velasca pause as Xena turned her focus to the leader of the group.
XENA
Well it looks like you're the last one left.
Velasca scowled at the Conqueror, as she stepped back and lowered her weapon, clearly having no intentions of fighting Xena and her men without any backup.
VELASCA
This isn't over Conqueror. I will become queen and I won't let you, Melosa, that little bitch that doesn't even belong here or anyone else stand in my way.
Velasca turned to leave and began walking away through the trees as Leonidas attempted to go after her., but stopped when he heard a noise behind him and saw Xena down on one knee and clearly in a great deal of pain.
LEONIDAS
My lord.
The lieutenant swiftly moved to the Conqueror's side and crouched down beside her.
LEONIDAS
Are you alright?
He looked at Xena's hand that covered the wound on her side covered in blood and looked over his shoulder at the rest of the small group of soldiers.
LEONIDAS
The lord Conqueror's been injured. Get the horses. We need to move.
XENA
The... girl.
Leonidas looked back at Xena who grimaced as she tried to control her breathing so her injury wouldn't hurt so much.
XENA
Be sure to get Gabrielle too.
LEONIDAS
Yes, of course.
Leonidas stood up and looked around for a moment to find where Gabrielle had fallen. After a moment of walking aroud searching for her, he spotted a crumpled form just laying in the snow and after taking several steps closer, the lieutenant saw that it was Gabrielle and moved quickly to her as he crouched down and gently touched her to see if she would respond. But when Gabrielle didn't react he slowly rolled her over and felt a mix of anger and sadness when he saw Gabrielle's bruised and blood smearedface.
XENA
Does she have a pulse?
Leonidas looked beside him to see that Xena had made her way over to them though he could also see a trail of the droplets of blood left behind from where the Conqueror had walked but knew better than to say anything as he instead pressed his fingers to Gabrielle's neck to check if she was still alive.
LEONIDAS
She's alive. Though from looking at her, those Amazons really did a number on her.
He shook his head in disgust as he sighed.
LEONIDAS
Even giving their obvious thirst for power, how could anyone want to harm this sweet young woman?
Xena looked at Gabrielle for a long moment.
XENA
You should know the lengths that people are willing to go for power. You've worked for me for how long now?
LEONIDAS
Yes, but for all the things that I've stood by and witnessed you do, I know without a doubt that you would never do something like this. Not to someone like her.
Xena looked at Gabrielle, feeling a new level of sympathy for the young woman that she hadn't felt for anyone in a very long time.
XENA
No, I suppose I wouldn't.
Xena turned to return to her horse.
XENA
Well, come on. Bring her to the horses and we'll get out of here.
Xena began walking with Leonidas carrying Gabrielle in his arms and the rest of her men following, but suddenly stopped when a sharp pain ripped through Xena's chest, causing her to drop to one knee. The swift motion then caused the open wound in her side to throb painfully as well. The combination forcing Xena to fall completely into the snow as a number of her soldiers rushed to her aid. Still carrying Gabrielle, there wasn't much that Leonidas could do at that moment but moved quickly to Xena's side regardless as he gently passed Gabrielle to another soldier before crouching beside Xena and noticing the Conqueror gripping at her chest.
LEONIDAS
You pushed yourself too hard my lord. We need to get you out of here and bring you somewhere you can rest and both you and the little one's injuries can be treated.
The lieutenant picked Xena up from the ground and held her in his arms as he turned to the others and ordered for them to follow him as he moved through the snow as quickly as he could.
MELOSA
(Slightly annoyed tone) Do you have any idea what time it is Solari?
SOLARI
Apologies, my queen but we have an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention.
The Amazon queen stood in the doorway of her hut after being awoken by a rapid knocking on her door and opening it to see Solari who had come from her rotation of guard duty with an important message.
SOLARI
An army, nearly on our doorstep.
MELOSA
How did they get so close without being detected?
SOLARI
We aren't sure, but I'm afraid that the even worse thing here is who we've identified as the leader of the approaching force.
MELOSA
Draco, coming directly to the source for his slaves.
SOLARI
I'm afraid it's actually far worse than that my queen.
Melosa scowled as she knew that there was only one other person that would be coming for them in the dead of night like this.
MELOSA
The Conqueror.
Knowing that if they didn't act fast, this whole village could very likely end up being torched to the ground, Melosa ordered for Solari to gather every fighter that they had and to prepare everyone to defend the village as the queen herself gathered her boots, winter coat and weapon before leaving her hut to meet the Conqueror's army at the entrance to the village just as Leonidas and the rest of the small group rode up and came to a stop when seeing the group of armed Amazons waiting for them.
MELOSA
Stop right there and turn around immediately, or face the consequences.
The group of riders came to a stop as Xena who was still clutching at her side and trying to ignore the pain in both her fresh wound and her chest spoke.
XENA
Then I guess you don't actually care about your new little princess after all.
The Amazon queen scowled as she looked to see Gabrielle's battered and unconscious body seated in the saddle and leaning against Leonidas.
MELOSA
Attacking Amazon royalty and then bringing her back to the village. You know full well that she hasn't been here anywhere long enough to learn how to defend herself and yet you still savagely attack her this badly because she dared not want to stay with you. Have you no morals at all Xena?
XENA
The fact that you think that I would actually do such a thing, speaks volumes to what you actually think of me Melosa. And even if I had, why would I be bringing her back here to you.
Xena nodded to Leonidas for him to hand Gabrielle over. And as he got down from his horse to slowly bring Gabrielle over to the Amazon's.
MELOSA
I've known you to do far worse just to make a point.
Xena scowled.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Look, do you want her back or not? You can see that she's hurt. But if you don't care about her well-being after all I'll bring her back home with me where she'll apparently be safer than she is staying here.
MELOSA
And just what is that supposed to mean?
XENA
You just assume that I was the one who did this, when what you should be doing is looking within your own village for the actual culprits of this assault as well as those responsible for your daughter's murder.
Not appreciating the implications of Xena's words, Melosa approached the Conqueror.
MELOSA
(Quiet angry tone) You have some nerve Conqueror. How dare you attempt to use my late daughter as a ploy to get whatever it is that you want here. And to make it worse you cast blame on one of us for the attack. You actually think that I would be swayed so easily into mistrusting my own people? It seems that you're the one who doesn't actually know me, Xena.
Xena reached into a satchel on the side of her horse and pulled out the bow and arrows that she had found hidden under a floorboard in the keep and tossed them on the ground in front of the Amazon queen.
XENA
Then maybe these will be enough to prove that what I said is true.
Melosa looked at the weapons in the snow.
MELOSA
Where did you get these?
Xena explained how she came across them hidden in her floor while she was investigating Terreis's murder.
MELOSA
Am I supposed to actually believe this story of yours?
XENA
Believe whatever you want but if I really wanted to take Gabrielle back with me or attack your people do you really think that we'd even be having this conversation to begin with?
MELOSA
Alright Conqueror. I suppose I can't see any holes in that logic.
Melosa motioned for a couple of the other women to take Gabrielle from the soldier and bring her into the village, but cautioned them to be careful in case this was all a trap that the Conqueror had put together. So while exercising caution, a couple of the women approached Leonidas who handed Gabrielle over to them and watched as they carried her over to Melosa who told them to immediately bring her to the healers before returning her attention to Xena who she could now see looked a little worse for wear herself.
MELOSA
So tell me Conqueror, am I to assume that these supposed renegade Amazons are the reason for your current condition as well?
XENA
Well I wouldn't give them all the credit. If it hadn't been for this president chest injury of mine, I would've fared far better against those damned cowards and stopped the ones who got away from escaping.
The injury to Xena's side apparent, Melosa sumised that the Conqueror must've been telling the truth as she couldn't see Xena lying to make herself appear weaker or more vulnerable in order to get what she wanted. Not to mention that the queen could see the blood seeping between Xena's fingers and silently questioned how she had remained conscious with the amount of blood that Melosa was certain that Xena must have lost.
MELOSA
Very well Conqueror. I'll take you at your word, for now. But bear in mind that I will be questioning Gabrielle once she's regained consciousness on what happened to her. So I'd appreciate it if you stuck around in the meantime.
The Amazon looked at Xena's side.
MELOSA
Not that you appear to be in any condition for traveling at the moment anyway.
Melosa called for a few women to escort Xena to the healers and knowing that she would be in serious trouble unless she received healers' javascript:; medical attention soon, Xena accepted and went with the Amazon's after telling her men to move away from the village to make the Amazons move comfortable and make camp until morning when she would send an update on where the situation stood. So later that night as Xena laid in a bed in the healer's hut, she looked over in the darkness at the bed across from her where a treated but still unconscious Gabrielle layed and found herself feeling relieved that she had gotten there in time, but at the same time felt guilty about not having been there sooner to prevent Gabrielle from being attacked in the first place. And as the hectic events of the day took their toll and Xena drifted off to sleep, she decided to pay no mind as to why she was so concerned for Gabrielle's well-being. A concern that Gabrielle would too come to question when the next day came, and she would be faced with a decision that would shock everyone, including herself with the unexpected choice that she would make.
TO BE CONTINUED...