The forest was quiet with the exception of the soft songs sung by the birds in the trees above a small camp Xena and Gabrielle had set up the night before. And where the pair now peacefully slept with the bard happily wrapped in Xena's arms. At least until Gabrielle rolled over, curling up with her blanket before smiling and giggling slightly as she mumbled the warrior's name in her sleep before settling back down, unaware of the footsteps that were drawing near.
SOLDIER 1
Well, would you look at what we have here?
A couple of men laughed quietly as a group of bandits stepped out from the trees as they happened upon the two women's camp.
SOLDIER 2
Sleeping like a baby.
SOLDIER 3
This is almost too easy.
The group drew their weapons as they approached where Xena and Gabrielle laid and one of the men stopped to stand over the dark-haired woman and smiled menacingly at the easy prey as he raised his sword above his head.
SOLDIER 3
Now, she's ours!
The man let out a yell as he drove his blade straight for Xena's chest, already imagining all the fame he would achieve from being the man who had finally been able to take out the famed warrior princess. However his fantasizing was very quickly cut short when before he knew what was happening, Xena's hands shot up and sandwiched the soldier's blade flat between her hands. The soldier didn't even have the opportunity to react before he felt Xena's foot connect with his face and he was knocked to the ground.
SOLDIER 1
(Angry tone) Get her!
The rest of soldiers that were still standing charged for Xena as she sprung to her feet and dodged out of the way of one the soldier's attacks and drove her elbow into another, knocking him back before she ducked under another sword, and rolled forward to where she grabbed the first things she spotted and stood as she turned to face the soldiers.
XENA
(Sarcasm) Anyone want some breakfast?
The dark-haired warrior spun the pot and pan she held in her hands as the soldiers came at her again, and she smacked one across the face with the frying pan and bashed another on the head with the pot, knocking both of them out cold before spotting another one of the men approaching the still sleeping bard and leapt into the air.
XENA
Rise and shine, Gabrielle.
The raven-haired woman landed not far from the sleeping woman with a foot stomping on a waterskin that sprayed a stream of water into the sleeping blonde's face who was then jarred awake as Xena continued fighting.
GABRIELLE
Gah! What the...
The bard wiped the water from her face as she quickly sat up before finally realizing that they were under attack. Grabbing her staff, Gabrielle hurried to stand and joined in the fight, sweeping at one of the soldiers legs to trip him, and smacking him in the face with her staff to keep him down.
XENA
Come on, is that the best you got?
The warrior taunted the soldiers as she smirked while avoiding another attack and countered by swinging her arm back and cracking the frying pan over the back of his head, taking another enemy out of the fight.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
Hearing the bard shout, the raven-haired woman looked to see Gabrielle had been cornered by several soldiers. Unable to reach her at that second, Xena hurled the frying pan, sending it ricocheting off a rock and a couple of trees before colliding with the side of the soldier's head and dropping him to the ground at Gabrielle's feet.
SOLDIER 1
Forget this. Anything we would get from this isn't worth it.
Seeing how easily Xena had beaten his comrades, as the last of the others fell, the soldier turned to make a hasty retreat but was grabbed from behind, preventing his escape.
XENA
Where do you think you're going?
Xena jabbed two of her fingers into the soldier's neck and crouched down as she let him sink to the ground.
XENA
Okay, listen up...
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Xena, what did you do?!
XENA
(Defensive tone) What?
Hearing the unexpected tone in the young woman's voice, Xena looked in Gabrielle's direction to see an unhappy bard marching over to her.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Look at this.
Gabrielle held up the pan that Xena had used to beat down some of the now defeated soldiers.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) This was our only frying pan. Why do you do things like this? We both know you have perfectly good weapons.
Xena shrugged.
XENA
I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going.
Gabrielle scowled.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Can we cook with your juices?
The raven-haired woman smirked.
XENA
(Joking tone) Extra flavoring.
Unamused by the warrior's suggestive comment, Gabrielle opened her mouth to give Xena a piece of her mind when she was interrupted by the soldier that the warrior had previously put her signature pinch on.
SOLDIER 1
(Gasping) Gah, d-do you guys think you can talk about this some other time?
Xena looked down at the struggling soldier she had forgotten about.
XENA
Oh, right, I've cut off the-
SOLDIER 1
(Gasping) The flow of blood to my brain that'll kill me in about a minute, I know all about it. Just tell me what you wanna know.
XENA
Why'd you attack us?
SOLDIER 1
(Gasping) We're planning to go after a village not far from here that's about to take in a big harvest.
XENA
What village?
SOLDIER 1
(Gasping) Piedmont. When our leader, Zagreas heard you were in the area, he sent us here to stop you before you could get in his way.
XENA
Guess we're going to Piedmont.
The dark-haired woman stood up as Gabrielle let out a disappointed sigh, before tossing the destroyed frying pan behind her.
XENA
All right, Gabrielle let's get going.
SOLDIER 1
(Gasping) Hey! Wait!
The soldier's voice getting her attention, the warrior looked down at the man who now had a trail of blood coming from his nose as he struggled against the grip of death threatening to claim him.
XENA
Oh, right. Sorry, I guess I haven't completely woken up yet.
With another swift jab to his neck, the soldier gasped in relief as the hold was released.
XENA
Thanks for the info.
Xena gave the man one more good shot to the head, and let him fall unconscious to the dirt before walking back to where her and Gabrielle's blankets were now scattered.
XENA
Let's get this stuff picked up, Gabrielle, so we can get to that village and check things out.
Gabrielle sighed as she heard her stomach growl and looked back to where she had tossed the busted frying pan.
GABRIELLE
(Muttering to herself) Sure, it's not like I can make breakfast now anyway
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
GABRIELLE
Okay, so which way are we supposed to go?
The blonde stood looking at the fork in the road she and Xena had come to a stop at, on their way to Piedmont.
XENA
Not sure. I've never been through here before.
Gabrielle gave the warrior woman a blank expression.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you know, you could've just had that guy tell you where this village is when you had your pinch on him.
XENA
Hey, no one stopped you from asking him yourself.
The bard scoffed sarcastically.
GABRIELLE
Oh please, like you would want me butting in on one of your pinch interrogations?
Xena shrugged in indifference.
XENA
Why not? You ask good questions.
GABRIELLE
Really?
Xena gave the woman a small smile as she shrugged once more.
XENA
Sure.
The young woman repaid Xena with a smile of her own.
GABRIELLE
Thank you.
Gabrielle moved to stand on her tiptoes and placed a small peck on the dark-haired woman's cheek before the two returned to trying to figure out which way they should go. It was then that they both heard someone yelling and Gabrielle looked to see a man coming toward them, waving his arms.
GABRIELLE
Look, here comes someone. Good, maybe he'll know where we're going.
Xena shot the bard a suspicious look.
XENA
And just what's that supposed to mean?
Gabrielle looked away coyly.
GABRIELLE
What? You're the one that said I should've asked that other guy for directions.
Despite knowing Gabrielle had actually meant for the comment to be a shot at her typical unwillingness to ask for directions, the warrior decided to ignore it as the man finally made his way over to them.
XENA
Hey there, you wouldn't happen to know where...
?
(Huffing) You're Xena, aren't you?
The man stopped right in front of the dark-haired warrior as he caught his breath.
XENA
Yeah, that's me.
The man smiled as he just stood there staring at Xena for a long moment before Xena raised a questioning eyebrow and broke the silence.
XENA
And?
Suddenly realizing that he had been just standing there in silent awe of the renowned warrior woman, the man quickly spoke.
?
Oh, ah, my-my village is in great danger. Can you help us?
XENA
So I'm guessing Zagreas after your village too?
HOWER
No. A giant wanted us to pay him for protection. But we told him that didn't have the money he wanted. He, he threatened to come today and flatten our village.
Hearing that news, Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other as they now found themselves needing to make a rather difficult situation for which village they were going to help, and which of the townspeople sadly be forced to leave the people to fend for themselves.
TO BE CONTINUED...