The trip was fairly quiet as the large group of soldiers rode behind the Conqueror as they trekked across the land on their way to the impending battle that they knew layed ahead. All of them focused and ready to fight or even potentially die for their leader's cause. And among the army, though not a soldier, Gabrielle was prepared to do her part to not only help save her sister and anyone else who might have been being held captive by Draco, but to prevent any more people from being hurt by the warlord or his men ever again.
GABRIELLE
Xena.
XENA
Yeah?
Xena glanced over her shoulder at the young woman seated behind her as they rode toward their destination.
GABRIELLE
When this is over, and we have everyone safe, do you think Lila and when we find them my parents can come stay with us at the keep like Cyrene?
XENA
I know you didn't care for it when you were there, but you wouldn't wanna go back to Potidea? I thought maybe after all this mess, you might've changed how you felt about being there.
GABRIELLE
Not really. I mean don't get me wrong I love my family, but like I said I never felt like I fit in there. And after everything I've seen and gotten to experience from my time with you, good or bad, I wouldn't have gotten to experience any of it if nothing had happened, and I was still in Potidea.
XENA
Sure but they're your family. I just thought you'd want to go back home.
Xena felt Gabrielle slightly tighten her hold around her waist as the younger women rested her head against the Conqueror's back.
GABRIELLE
I might have grown up in that village, but it's not my home. At least not anymore. I found a new home and place where I can belong.
The Conqueror smiled.
XENA
I'm glad you can consider the keep your home now.
The young woman raised her head.
GABRIELLE
Oh well don't get me wrong I love it at the keep, but I don't consider that to be my home either.
Xena looked back at the young woman with a curious expression.
XENA
The Amazons?
GABRIELLE
Nope.
Gabrielle giggled slightly as a completely baffled expression washed over the Conqueror's face as she couldn't think of another place that the young woman could possibly consider to be her home as according to Xena's knowledge, Gabrielle hadn't lived anywhere else.
GABRIELLE
Xena, have you ever heard that home doesn't have to be a place?
XENA
No I can't say I've heard that before.
GABRIELLE
Well it's something I heard, I don't remember where, but it's true. Home doesn't have to be a city, village or even a specific building or place. But instead home can be a person.
Gabrielle looked into Xena's eyes.
GABRIELLE
And that's what you are to me Xena. I love my family and I want them to be safe. But my home isn't with them in Potidea or even the keep. My home is wherever you are, because you yourself Xena are my home.
Not expecting Gabrielle to say something so beautiful, Xena found herself momentarily speechless at how much the young woman's words had touched her and smiled as she took one of Gabrielle's hands from around her midsection and brought it to her lips before finally finding the words she wanted to say.
XENA
I guess that's something we have in common.
Gabrielle smiled as the group rode on and Xena returned her attention forward.
XENA
And to answer your question of course your family can come live at the keep. That is if that's what you and they would want.
GABRIELLE
Why wouldn't they? We are going to save my sister after all. Then, when we find my parents, I'm certain they'll be happy to come live in such a lavish place. Especially compared to the modest way we've lived in our village.
XENA
Maybe. But keep in mind Gabrielle given my reputation there's a very high probability that they won't be too keen on the idea of living anywhere near me. Let alone in the same building. No matter how big it might be.
GABRIELLE
Sure maybe at first. But once they get to know the woman you are now and the person I love, then I'm sure they'll be just as happy to be there as I am. You'll see once this is all settled, we'll all be one big happy family living together.
Hearing the hopfull tone in the young woman's voice, Xena gave a tentative smile as she wanted nothing more than for Gabrielle to be happy and was prepared to do whatever she had to in order to make that happen
XENA
I look forward to it.
The group rode on for a while longer until they reached a small wooded area and Xena brought her horse to a stop, leaving her army to do the same as the Conqueror spotted one of the scouts she had sent ahead to survey the area and try pinpointing Draco's location approaching her on horseback.
SCOUT
My lord, up ahead in a valley just to the west. We've spotted what looks to be an army heading to the north-east.
XENA
Draco?
SCOUT
Uncertain. We didn't wanna risk getting too close and potentially be discovered before we could report to you.
Xena thought for a moment as she couldn't think of another army that would be in that area and figured it was very likely that the army ahead did in fact belong to Draco. But still wanting to exorcize caution regardless, Xena wanted to see what they were up against for herself before giving the order to launch her long awaited assault against who she hoped was the warlord and his army.
XENA
Show me where they are.
The scout turned his horse around and trotted ahead as Xena motioned back for Leonidas and the rest of her soldiers to follow her as she got her own horse in motion and with Gabrielle, went after the scout as they all made their way through a series of trees and came out atop a large hill that overlooked a valley where the Conqueror slowed everyone to a stop as the scout stopped beside her.
SCOUT
There, my lord.
Xena's eyes scanned the area for a brief moment before falling upon what was undeniably a very large armed force and as a result brought an icy scowl to the woman's face as she knew immediately from the banner the army flew exactly who those men were being led by.
XENA
No doubt. That's Draco's army alright.
She angerly tightened her hold on her horse's reins.
XENA
Okay Draco It's about time that you get what's been coming to you.
Xena looked back at Gabrielle.
XENA
This is it Gabrielle. Are you sure you wanna do this?
GABRIELLE
I am.
XENA
You remember what I told you?
GABRIELLE
I'll be careful.
XENA
Okay.
LEONIDAS
We await your command my lord.
The Conqueror turned her focus to her army as Leonidas rode up to her, and she drew her sword in response and raised it the air as she gave her command.
XENA
Attack!
Then letting a roar, the Conqueror's army charged down the hill and rode directly toward the enemy as Gabrielle held tight to Xena as their horses galloped among the rest of Xena's men.
HECTOR
Draco, there's any army heading straight for us.
Though not feeling the least bit threatened, the warlord turned on his horse to try and see who would have such a death wish that they would dare to attack him directly and immediately recognized the banner that was being flown by the oncoming force.
DRACO
Xena.
HECTOR
Xena? What's she doing here? And why now?
DRACO
Who cares. Ready the others and let her come.
An evil smile appeared on the warlord's face as he shouted for his men to prepare for battle watched the advancing army for.a moment.
DRACO
(Sinister tone) I think it's about time I finally get to finish what I started anyway.
Bringing her horse to a stop in the middle of the clearing as she let her army stampede by, Xena quickly helped Gabrielle slide from the saddle behind her.
XENA
Be careful and stay as out of sight as possible.
Now standing on the ground with her staff in hand, Gabrielle looked up at the Conqueror who remained seated on her mount.
GABRIELLE
I will. And you be careful too okay.
XENA
I will.
GABRIELLE
I love you Xena.
XENA
Love you too.
Xena smiled.
XENA
I guess I'll see you on the other side.
Though still worried about the young woman she was leaving to her own mission, Xena took one more look at Gabrielle and then got her horse back into motion and rode ahead into the fighting that had already begun, leaving Gabrielle to watch the Conqueror riding away before the young woman hurried off to get around the fighting and behind the enemy back line where Xena had told her that anyone not involved in the actual battle would likely be.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Where would someone even keep a slave during a battle anyway?
Gabrielle quietly snuck through a series of trees as she moved far off to the side in the direction that she had seen Xena and her army ride to meet Draco's army as she tried to figure out if Lila was being kept was nearby, where she might be held.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Come on Gabrielle think. If I didn't want something I had to be found or taken, where would I keep it?
She stood looking around for any kind of clues that might point her in the right direction.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Maybe somewhere out of the way. Somewhere hidden.
The young woman crept as silently as she could as she moved further up the line of trees for a bit before spotting a series of tents that were set up a good distance away from where the fighting was taking place.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Somewhere like that.
Once she made sure the coast was clear as she could still hear the sounds of the fighting nearby, and not seeing anyone around, keeping her staff ready, Gabrielle cautiously walked out from the trees and toward the tents.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) I never thought I'd say this, but I really hope I'm in those slavers camp.
The young woman crouched down as she scurried behind a tent and peeked around the temporary structure to look around at the large campsite. As she looked, Gabrielle saw several horse's tied to trees, multiple weapon racks lined with various deadly weaponry as well as a few men that were casually sitting around, one of whom Gabrielle recognized immediately.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) That's the one who was in charge when we were taken from Potidea. And who we ran into shortly after I first met Xena, and she took me with her as she and her army traveled o Olympia.
Gabrielle remained hidden as she watched Hector and the others for a moment and tried to figure out her next move. Remembering the beating she received from the man after she tried to sacrifice herself to protect everyone else from her village, Gabrielle forced herself to push aside the series of mixed emotions that rose within her as she knew she couldn't afford to become distracted and instead focused on following Hector's and the others movements so she could hopefully find a way to sneak around them.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Okay I definitely found their camp, but I don't see Lila anywhere.
Now looking for any signs of her sister, Gabrielle spotted something else that based off how Xena had her campsite set up, she came to the conclusion that due to him being the leader of the army, the largest tent in the camp most likely belonged to Draco and shuttered at the unfortunate thought she had.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) If that's his tent, then that might be where he keeps Lila for... when he wants her.
Forcing herself to remain calm as the knowledge of what she now knew her sister had been suffering through came back front of her mind, remaining hidden Gabrielle began carefully moving closer to the tent where she hoped she'd find Lila.
HECTOR
And what do we have here?
Suddenly hearing Hector's voice, Gabrielle immediately froze in place as she found herself completely exposed crouched between two of the tents that she was using as cover. Gripping her staff tight, Gabrielle's mind raced as she tried to decide what she should do. The after taking a moment to think of how if she was there, Gabrielle refused to leave Lila again, the young woman prepared herself for a fight. And just as she was about to jump up she heard Hector continue.
HECTOR
(Annoyed tone) You're supposed to be on the east side of the camp on guard duty.
Realizing where his voice was actually coming from, Gabrielle looked over to see Hector talking to another soldier. Then realizing that neither hector nor the soldier he was scolding for apparently slacking off had actually seen her, Gabrielle hurried over and took cover behind the next tent in the line and continued moving toward the big tent, being certain that she kept as quiet as she could be.
GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) I can't believe I actually made it back here without being seen.
Crouching beside the largest tent that she finally reached without being seen, the young woman kept in the shadows and looked to make sure no one was around as she carefully walked to the front of the tent. Then taking the opportunity and not wanting to risk being discovered, Gabrielle threw caution to the wind and quickly darted into the tent without checking who could be inside first as she just hoped she wouldn't come face to face with one of the soldiers or potentially even Draco himself.
?
You're back.
The tent was dim as Gabrielle heard someone speak when stepped inside and saw a figure stand up at the back of the tent. And though hidden in the shadows, just the sound of the person's voice was enough to bring tears to the young woman's eyes as Gabrielle knew immediately who the person now standing before her was.
GABRIELLE
Lila.
TO BE CONTINUED...