It It was early the next morning as Gabrielle followed Solari through the village after the Amazon had come to get her from the small hut she had been staying in since her return to the village.
GABRIELLE
So you really aren't going to tell me what's going on.
SOLARI
Nope.
Gabrielle made a slightly annoyed groan as she never particularly enjoyed being kept in the dark about things. Especially when those things happened to have something to do with her. Not because she didn't trust people, but because in general she had always been a curious type of person and would usually be able to figure out any kind of surprise that her family had planned for her. Which always drove her sister Lila crazy and gave Gabrielle a good laugh in the process. And as Gabrielle's mind wandered to thoughts of her sister and the rest of her family, the sad realization of just how long it had been since their village had been attacked and her mother and sister had been taken with a number of other villagers. Gabrielle silently hoped that they were all okay as now that she had at last gotten away from the Conqueror, Gabrielle could finally search for them and maybe now due to her new place among the Amazons, she would actually stand a realistic chance of getting them back.
SOLARI
Here we are.
Hearing the other Amazon's voice, Gabrielle was brought out of her thoughts as she noticed that they were standing in front of a large hut that was considerably larger than most of the other buildings in the village aside from the queen's hut that belonged to Melosa.
GABRIELLE
What's this?
SOLARI
The hut that you've been staying in was only temporary until after your induction ceremony, and we finished getting this one ready for you.
Solari opened the door and held it for Gabrielle to go inside.
SOLARI
Welcome to your new home, Gabrielle.
Gabrielle stepped inside and looked around at the fully furnished hut that had been prepared just for her. As to say that it was beautifully decorated to Gabrielle seemed to be an understatement as she looked around in awe or the apparent lengths that the women in the village had gone to just for her. Because though it had been somewhat of a drastic change to go from her simple village life to seeing the wealth and comforts that the Conqueror had amassed within her keep, it was different when those nice things were specifically meant for Gabrielle herself. Of which gave her pause as she wasn't sure how she should feel about having all of this just given to her simply because of the new title that she held.
GABRIELLE
Solari, I, I don't know what to say.
Seeing the odd look that came across Gabrielle's face, the Amazon looked at her with a puzzled expression.
SOLARI
Something the matter? Is there something here that's not to your liking?
Somewhat surprised by Solari's question, Gabrielle turned to the Amazon as she quickly explained herself. Not wanting it seem as though she was letting her new title go to her head and that she was being ungrateful.
GABRIELLE
Oh no it's not that at all. If anything I feel like this is all too much. You guys really didn't have to do all of this just for me.
Solari smiled.
SOLARI
Nonsense. You're Amazon royalty. Next in line to take the throne. It's customary for our leaders to live as such.
The Amazon looked at Gabrielle as the new member of the tribe took in more of the room with a slightly uncomfortable look on her face and thought that perhaps this particular tradition wasn't for the new princess.
SOLARI
Though if it makes you uncomfortable to be given such things we can have the hut redone to fit more to your liking.
Gabrielle returned her focus to the other woman.
GABRIELLE
That's really not necessary. So much work already went into getting this set up. So I'd hate to have more time put into it just to move things around.
SOLARI
Are you sure?
GABRIELLE
I'm sure. And I actually do like it. I just wasn't expecting all of this is all. So there really isn't anything to worry about.
SOLARI
Well if you're certain that it's okay.
Gabrielle nodded.
SOLARI
Very well. I'll just be going then and let you get settled in. And if you need anything just let someone know.
GABRIELLE
I will. Thanks Solari
The native Amazon turned to leave but paused when she heard Gabrielle ask her a question.
GABRIELLE
Hey Solari, now that I'm officially an Amazon princess, what exactly am I supposed to do?
The native Amazon smiled.
SOLARI
Don't worry Gabrielle. In due time, you'll learn everything that you need to know.
Gabrielle gave a thankful smile in return as Solari excused herself and left Gabrielle to get settled into her new home.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Wha?
Some time later a knock on the door to Gabrielle's hut stirred her from the nap that she had drifted into shortly after Solari had left. She yawned as sat up straight from where she had fallen asleep leaning on the arm of the couch that sat in her hut as she happened to look out a nearby window and noticed that the sun had begun to set.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Gee how long was I asleep?
Another knock quickly pulled Gabrielle from looking at the multicolored sky as she looked back at the door.
GABRIELLE
Coming.
Gabrielle stood up and quickly made sure she looked presentable before going to answer the door.
GABRIELLE
Oh Velasca. Good to see you. Was there something you needed?
VELASCA
Gabrielle.
The Amazon gave a slight nod in greeting and stood there silently as Gabrielle noticed a number of other villagers with her and greeted them as well before returning her attention to Velasca as she wondered why any of the women had come to see her.
GABRIELLE
Um was there something you needed?
VELASCA
Well given that myself and the other women I have with me haven't gotten the chance to formally welcome you, we thought that we'd stop by and give our regards to the new princess herself.
GABRIELLE
Oh you didn't have to do that.
VELASCA
Yes well we're here now so...
Velasca paused for a moment as Gabrielle realized that she must've seemed rude to the other women
GABRIELLE
Oh, how rude of me. You came over just to welcome me to the village and I just leave you standing at the door.
She stepped aside from the doorway as she invited the visiting women into the hut.
GABRIELLE
Please, come in.
Still reminding Quiet, Velasca and the others accompanying her walked inside as Gabrielle shut the door behind them and turned to her guests.
GABRIELLE
It was really nice of you to stop by like this. I appreciate the warm welcome Velasca and um...
Gabrielle looked at the trio of women who were with Velasca and realized that she hadn't ever seen any of them prior to them showing up at her door just a few moments prior.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry, I don't think we've met before, have we?
Gabrielle held out her hand to greet her new visitor's.
GABRIELLE
If you didn't already know, my name's Gabrielle. And I know that I'm new here and was crowned princess, but I don't wanna be treated any differently from the way you'd treat anyone else in the village. So I hope we can get to know each other and become friends.
The other women looked at each other for a moment before returning their eyes to Gabrielle as one of the women smirked as she let out a Sarcastic chuckle and repeated the word "friends" in a likewise tone. Which confused Gabrielle as she lowered her hand and looked at Velasca as if to ask what they meant.
VELASCA
Oh don't mind them. They just aren't really the type that likes the whole notion of friendship.
GABRIELLE
Oh, um okay, I guess.
Gabrielle looked back at the other Amazons.
GABRIELLE
It's still nice to meet you, sorry I never caught either of your na...
A sharp pain abruptly cut Gabrielle off as she felt a sudden hard blow to the back of her head. Her vision blurred for a moment as she dropped to the floor. She laid there unable to get up as she saw a pair of boots walk around the stand in front of her as Gabrielle raised her now throbbing head to look up at Velasca standing with the other two women who were glaring down at her.
VELASCA
Huh, I'm surprised that didn't knock her right out.
Confused and in pain, Gabrielle tried to make sense of what was happening as she made an attempt to get up.
GABRIELLE
What's... going… on? Gah!
Gabrielle let out a painful yelp as one of the unknown Amazon's drove a boot into her face. As she instinctively covered the affected area as she turned away just to feel the hard hit of another kick to the middle of her back. And again Gabrielle reacted reflexively as she arched back from the pain and quickly received another blow to her face as the second kick to the area split Gabrielle's lip. She rolled over grabbing at her mouth as she recognized the slightly salty, metallic taste of her own blood and looked up at Velasca.
GABRIELLE
Please stop. Why are you doing this?
VELASCA
(Angry tone) Shut up.
Gabrielle cried out in pain as Velasca drove her boot into her ribs, and she rolled to her other side where she was kicked again by one of Velasca's associates and then stomped on by the other. Though Gabrielle tried desperately to escape her attackers, she found herself unable to do so as she was helplessly outnumbered and outmatched with the three women all being skilled fighters compared to Gabrielle who had no combat training or experience whatsoever. So unable to get away, Gabrielle let out a desperate plea for help as she shouted as loud as she could and hoped that someone, anyone that might've been nearby would hear her as she was continuously struck on multiple places on her body by both feet and fists for several long minutes until Velasca apparently got tired of hearing Gabrielle yell and motioned for the other two women to halt in their assault as she crouched down in front of Gabrielle as she grabbed a handful of strawberry-blonde hair and forcibly lifted Gabrielle's head to look at her.
VELASCA
Stupid girl. You ruined everything that took me far too many moons of trying to come up with a plan that would actually work and not having it get traced back to me. That is until our people began getting attacked by that warlord and Melosa felt it best to turn to the Conqueror for help. That was when I knew it was finally my chance.
Though her body hurt all over, and she had to fight to remain focused, Gabrielle tried to push Velasca away but only received a hard slap across her face as Velasca let go of her hair before continuing to speak.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) But then that little brat who was never even worthy of being next in line for the throne in the first place went and gave you her rite of caste. You, who knows nothing about our people.
Velasca kicked Gabrielle as she heard her pain fueled cry in response.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) Who knows nothing about how to rule.
The Amazon stomped on a now semiconscious Gabrielle who curled up into a ball in an instinctive attempt to protect herself as Velasca continued both her rant and assault as she brought her boot down on Gabrielle again and again.
VELASCA
(Angry tone) Who until yesterday wasn't even one of us!
The enraged Amazon brought down her boot as hard as she could, and Gabrielle cried out as Velasca ground the heel of her footwear into Gabrielle's back as she carried on.
VELASCA
And to think that Melosa just allowed all of this to happen.
(Angry tone) Clearly that woman is an even more of a fool than I thought.
Velasca took her foot off of Gabrielle as she walked around to stand in front of her once more as Gabrielle slowly raised her head to see a sinister smile cross the crazed Amazon's face.
VELASCA
(Sinister tone) Not that really matters, however. Because after I'm finished with you, I'll deal with Melosa next. And this time be sure to finish what I started back in the Conqueror's keep.
The full realization that it was Velasca and her allies that were the ones responsible for the attack that killed Terreis finally sank in for Gabrielle, as she felt a kind of anger she'd never felt before build within her as she gave the woman standing over her a look of utter hatred.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) How could you do that to one of your own people? And all for the sake of power that people like you should never have. You're nothing but a monster.
VELASCA
(Cold tone) You can call me whatever you want Gabrielle. Because in all honesty, your opinion on anything is worth less than nothing to me. So I really couldn't care less about what you have to say.
(Sinister tone) Because soon enough you won't be able to say anything at all, ever again.
Seeing that Velasca and her apartment supporters had every intention of killing her before staging an entire coup to take Melosa's throne, Gabrielle knew that she had to get out of there and with the knowledge that she was unable to fight her way to freedom, she did the only thing that she could think of and proceeded to yell as loud as she could for someone to come help her once again. But now sick of her attempts to yet again ruin her plans, Velasca shouted to her associates to silence Gabrielle before she alerted anyone else in the village of their being there, and they came to investigate. So it was with those orders that as Gabrielle continued to yell for help while struggling to escape, she felt another hard blow to the back of her head which caused her to fall silent as the world around her quickly faded into a haze and her limp, barely conscious body was then taken out into the night and the fallen snow as Velasca and her co-conspirators dragged her out of the village and into the nearby woods where they planned to finish the job of killing Gabrielle and setting it up to look like an accident to avoid suspension until they could proceed with getting rid of Melosa at a later time.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Damn it.
With a look of concern on his face, Leonidas glanced over at the Conqueror who he rode alongside as they along with a group of lower ranked soldiers pushed their horses through the snow that had begun to pile up on the ground as it continued to fall.
LEONIDAS
Everything alright my lord?
XENA
(Lying/ Irritated tone) I'm fine.
Xena grimaced as the fast-paced, rough rides long with the cold, appeared to have an effect on her seemingly ever persistent injury to her chest as she tried to ignore the pain and simply continue forward.
LEONIDAS
Are you certain that you don't wanna stop or slow down? Though I know you're a strong woman and don't like to admit your own limitations at times, you can slow and send some or the rest of us ahead if you're truly in such a hurry to reach the Amazon's village. No one will think any less of you if you arrive shortly after the rest of us my lord.
The Conqueror sneered at her lieutenant, as his perceived nagging regarding whether or not she was pushing herself too hard was making her already bad mood due to the whole Amazon situation and having to travel in poor weather conditions even worse. Of which Leonidas could see on her face as she stubbornly and rebelliously leaned closer to the horse she was riding and urged it to go even faster, leaving Leonidas to sigh at the Conqueror's blatantly wreckless response to not liking to be told what to do as she pulled ahead of him and the rest of the group of soldiers as the group continued making their way toward the Amazon village through the snow as even more began to fall and everything overhead continued to grow darker from the sun sinking from the sky. But as fast as the Conqueror and the rest of her men were going, with Gabrielle's life already in jeopardy, would the Conqueror's unexplainable desire and efforts to reach the village in order to prevent the very crime that she had uncovered and that had been revealed to Gabrielle before she was knocked out and dragged off by Velasca and her cohorts? Or would she be too late to not only save Gabrielle, but put a stop to the plot that if left unstoppable would unintentionally spark even further conflict for the Amazon nation and as a result would give Draco more opportunity to prey on the native women to use as a means to strengthen his forces further to bring up against the Conqueror and finally get rid of Xena for good.
TO BE CONTINUED...