Unconscious and unresponsive, Gabrielle laid on the floor of Xena's room as the Conqueror herself worked frantically to get the young woman breathing once again.
XENA
Come on Gabrielle.
Xena again covered the other woman's mouth with her own and blew before resuming chest compressions.
XENA
Just breathe.
When nothing changed, Xena kept repeating her actions as she pleaded for Gabrielle to breathe. The fear of losing the young woman that had come to mean more to her than Xena thought anyone ever could sank in as she continued to get no reaction from anything she was doing.
XENA
This can't be happening. Just breathe Gabrielle, breathe damn it!
The Conqueror kept up her attempts to resuscitate Gabrielle, not noticing when a few healers arrived on the scene to see Xena despitely trying to save the young woman that remained unresponsive on the floor. Not knowing what more they could do at the moment, the healers just moved closer and looked on at the situation and watched Xena's continuing efforts. Though by this time a small part of Xena had begun to question if too much time had gone by and the lack of air had already taken its toll and Gabrielle wasn't going to be able to come back.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) No, no its not too late. Not yet. I can still save her. I WILL save her. Come on Gabrielle.
Again, Xena pressed her lips to Gabrielle's and breathe into her, trying desperately to force air into her lungs before continuing to press up and down on the woman's chest.
XENA
Wake up. Wake up. Gabrielle, breathe. Come on. Come on, breathe. Breathe!
Xena put her ear to Gabrielle's chest and listened for a heartbeat to make sure the younger women still had one, and heard a faint thumping that kept her hope going as she again blew into Gabrielle's mouth before rhythmically pumping her hands in the center of the young woman's chest.
XENA
Come on, Gabrielle. Come on. Don't leave me.
Still getting no reaction from Gabrielle, and at a complete loss of anything more that she could do, sheer panic set in as the normally stoic and logical Xena's eyes began to overflow with tears and in an act of desperation began slamming the side of her closed fist against Gabrielle's chest as she continued her pleas for the young woman to awaken.
XENA
Don't you leave me! Don't leave me! Don't leave me!
Xena's fist came down on Gabrielle's chest again and again with each desperate plea.
XENA
Wake up!
Gabrielle remained unresponsive as Xena again pounded on the young woman's chest.
XENA
Wake up!
Again nothing happened as Xena cried as desperately brought her fist against Gabrielle yet again.
XENA
Wake up!
Crying Xena hung her head as all seemed lost, and her fist hit Gabrielle's chest once more, and she suddenly heard the young woman gasp loudly and instantly looked up as Gabrielle gasped and coughed as she tried to catch her breath as Xena could tell that she was having a very difficult time doing so.
XENA
Just try to relax, it'll make it easier.
GABRIELLE
(Gasping) Xena.
XENA
Don't try to talk. Just keep breathing.
The Conqueror pressed her ear to Gabrielle's chest again and listened to Gabrielle breathe and could hear that something was clearly very wrong as Gabrielle rasped with each breath she took and Xena quickly turned the young woman to her side so she wouldn't choke and let her spit up whatever it was as she breatheda sigh of relief and rubbed Gabrielle's back slightly as she tried to soothe Gabrielle as well as herself.
XENA
That's it Gabrielle. It's alright now. You're gonna be okay.
Still not knowing what had caused the young woman to stop breathing and fall unconscious in the first place Xena began to examine Gabrielle as thoroughly as possible as she glanced over at the healers that were still standing by.
XENA
Well don't just stand there, go get me some herbs.
Immediately the healers moved to gather a verity of herbs, bowls, water and anything else that the Conqueror might need and brought it over to her as Xena continued her examination of Gabrielle to determine what she needed to do. Then as Xena looked around for any clues as to what had happened her eyes landed on the cup that Gabrielle had been drinking from and picked it up to examine its contents. Giving the cider a quick sniff, nothing initially stood out to her as being off and brought the cup to her lips as she took a very small sip and after accessing the taste for a moment something about it quickly stood out, and she spit the cider back into the cup and swore as she put the cup down and grabbed the pitcher of the remaining cider, giving that a quick taste test of that as well.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) Aconite. Damn it. This being put in here is no accident.
A scowl formed on the Conqueror's face as she went through the herbs that had been brought to her, picking several out, and quickly began crushing them up together in a bowl as she heard Gabrielle gasping.
XENA
It's okay, just hold on another minute and I'll have you fixed right up.
Though Xena made herself sound optimistic for Gabrielle's sake, the situation actually had the woman very worried as she knew just how deadly Aconite was. Not to mention what the remnants of the deathly plant were doing in the beverage that Gabrielle had drunk multiple cups of.
XENA
Okay come here.
Finishing mixing everything that she had put together, Xena put an arm around Gabrielle and moved her as she held her up so she was laying at slightly elevated angle and put the cup to the young woman's lip.
XENA
Drink this.
Still not knowing what was happening, Gabrielle did as she was told and took a sip from the cup before pulling her mouth away as she grimaced at the foul taste.
XENA
Ignore the taste and just drink it Trust me it'll make you feel better.
Inspite of the concoction tasting awful, Gabrielle drank it all the mixture that the Conqueror gave her. And once the cup was empty, Xena put it down and stood up as she lifted Gabrielle into her arms and moved to carry her several feet into her bedroom and layed her down in her bed.
GABRIELLE
(Groggy tone) I don't feel right Xena. What's happening?
Xena pulled the covers over Gabrielle and gently brushed a few reddish-gold locs away from the younger women's eyes.
XENA
Shh. You let me worry about that. What I gave you should make you feel better soon. But for now just stay here and rest.
Xena leaned down and placed a light kiss on Gabrielle's forehead before standing up straight and making sure the young woman was comfortable.
XENA
I have something important to do. So you stay here and I'll be back in a bit.
GABRIELLE
(Groggy tone) Okay.
Xena stood watching Gabrielle for a couple of moments as the younger women's eyes slowly closed, and she quickly fell asleep. Then after the Conquerer made sure that she would be okay to be left alone for a little while, the woman left the room as she stormed out of her private quarters and found Leonidas who could see that something was wrong due to the fierce scowl on the Conqueror's face.
LEONIDAS
What's the matter, my lord?
XENA
I don't have the time to explain. But right now I want you to go up and stand guard outside my quarters.
LEONIDAS
Has something happened?
XENA
(Angry tone) I just told you I don't have the time to explain. Now stop asking questions and follow orders. Now go.
Hearing the seriousness in Xena's voice as she pointed behind her, the lieutenant brought his fist to his chest in salute before he began walking toward Xena's quarters.
XENA
And under no circumstances are you or anyone else allowed to go inside unless Gabrielle sounds like she's in trouble.
A confused and concerned expression fell over Leonidas' face as the thought that something had happened to Gabrielle crossed his mind.
LEONIDAS
Did something happen to Gabrielle? Is she okay?
Xena's scowl grew more intense as Leonidas realized that she must've been in a hurry if something had happened to Gabrielle.
LEONIDAS
Right. I'll go to your quarters immediately.
Giving her lieutenant a quick nod, Xena continued on as she quickly disappeared down the stairs and Leonidas went to stand guard outside of her quarters.
XENA
(Stern tone) Alright everyone stop what you're doing immediately.
The entirety of the kitchen froze as the door was suddenly flung open and the Conqueror stormed in and began scanning the room.
ELLE
Your lordship. What brings you here?
Xena glared over at the young woman and sneered. Causing Elle to take a step back as the Conqueror's attention moved on to the others in the room.
XENA
(Stern tone) Now all of you step away from what you're doing and go line up against the wall.
The kitchen staff looked at each other, confused by what was going on, until Xena shouted.
XENA
(Angry tone) I'm not going to keep repeating myself every time I give people around here an order. Now go stand against the wall.
Xena slammed her fist against the table she was standing beside causing a couple of people to jump slightly before everyone did as commanded and moved to the wall that Xena had instructed them to stand by. Everyone that is except for Cyrene who approached her daughter with an unhappy look on her face.
CYRENE
Xena what are you doing?
XENA
Not now mother.
The Conqueror moved passed the older woman as she looked around the room for anything that might stand out as suspicious before beginning to rummage through everything that was on the shelves as well as searching in every container she saw, pushing aside anyone who happened to be in her path.
CYRENE
(Stern tone) Xena! What's wrong with you?
Cyrene reached out and grabbed the Conqueror's arm as she tore a sack of grain open and had begun to dump the contents onto the floor, causing Xena to stop as she looked at the woman with an angry glare.
XENA
Someone here poisoned the cider that was brought up to my room, and Gabrielle drank it.
Cyrene looked at Xena in disbelief.
CYRENE
That can't be possible. I've been here all day. I would've noticed if someone had added something to any of the drinks or food.
XENA
Well they did. And Gabrielle nearly died because of it.
CYRENE
Is she okay?
XENA
She should be now. Though for a bit I thought I was gonna lose her.
Cyrene could see the pain in Xena's eyes that spoke volumes of just how much Gabrielle meant to her daughter. And wondered how it could be possible for anyone to want Gabrielle dead.
CYRENE
I'm so sorry Xena. But why would anyone want to kill...
A sudden noise cut off Cyrene off as both her and Xena's attention was drawn to the back of the kitchen, where they saw a figure hurrying out of a window. Knowing that must have been the culprit Xena moved passed the older woman and rushed over to catch the escapee that was wearing a long hooded cloak.
XENA
Oh no you're not going anywhere.
Xena reached out and grabbed the ankle of the person as she found herself being kicked several times as the cloaked figure tried desperately to get away from her. But for as hard as the person tried to break free, Xena's strength was too much for them to escape from as the Conquerer yanked them hard once more and forcibly dragged the hooded figure back inside the brought the person to the floor, pinning them down.
XENA
Why the hurry?
The figure struggled under Xena who kept them in place and grabbed onto the person's shoulder as she turned them over so she could see the face of the one that it seemed likely responsible for the poison and sneered as their identity was revealed as Cyrene stood behind Xena and gasped in shock as the culprits hood fell back.
CYRENE
(Surprised tone) Isidora?
TO BE CONTINUED...