EPHINY
Gabrielle. We're here. We got Xena's body.
Ephiny, along with a few other women entered the corridor carrying Xena's coffin. Before stopping when she didn't see Gabrielle anywhere.
EPHINY
Gabrielle?
GABRIELLE
Right here.
Ephiny turned her attention toward where Gabrielle's voice had come from, to see the young woman climbing out of the pit.
EPHINY
Gabrielle, what happened? Are you okay?
GABRIELLE
I'm fine.
The young woman stood up before rushing over to where the Amazons had sat Xena's body.
GABRIELLE
Hurry and open the coffin,
The Amazons did as Gabrielle requested as Autolycus came over to stand beside them.
AUTOLYCUS
But the Ambrosia got destroyed when it fell into the spike pit.
Gabrielle smirked as she reached into her top and pulled out a small piece of the ambrosia.
GABRIELLE
Not quite.
AUTOLYCUS
So that's what took you so long to get back up here.
The thief let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
AUTOLYCUS
And here I was beginning to think the worst had happened and you didn't make it.
The other Amazons opened Xena's coffin as Gabrielle knelt down beside the warrior.
GABRIELLE
To any of the gods out there, please let this work.
Gently, Gabrielle parted Xena's lips just enough to place the ambrosia in Xena's mouth, and then rested both her hands on the edge of Xena's coffin as she waited, hoping that she had given Xena the ambrosia in time.
AUTOLYCUS
What now?
GABRIELLE
I don't know.
The younger woman reached into the coffin and took the warrior's hand in hers.
GABRIELLE
Xena. Xena. Can you hear me? Xena, come back. Please, come back.
The seconds passing felt like the longest in Gabrielle's life as she hoped with everything she had that all their effort to revive Xena hadn't been for nothing.
GABRIELLE
Xena?
Suddenly, Gabrielle felt Xena's hand moving and looked down to see it lightly close around hers before she heard what to her in that moment was the most beautiful sound in all the world.
XENA
Gabrielle.
Gabrielle felt her heart leap with joy as she raised her eyes to see Xena looking back at her and smiled as she fought to keep from throwing herself over the woman and never letting go.
GABRIELLE
It's okay now. Xena. Let's get out of here.
Having not completely regained her strength yet, Xena was helped out of the coffin by Gabrielle and Autolycus as the trio and the rest of the Amazons made their way out of the cave.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
GABRIELLE
I don't really know how to thank you, Autolycus.
The thief smiled as he, Gabrielle, Xena and the other Amazons stood in the wooded area just outside the Amazon village.
AUTOLYCUS
Don't mention it Gabrielle. After all, pulling off such an amazing feat is all in a day's work for...
Autolycus took an overly dramatic bow before standing back upright as he continued.
AUTOLYCUS
The king of thieves.
XENA
You can't take anything seriously can you?
Gabrielle and Xena looked at each other for a moment, as the blonde smiled before Xena returned her attention to the thief.
XENA
But seriously, thank you for helping to bring me back. If you ever need a favor, just ask.
Autolycus scoffed sarcastically.
AUTOLYCUS
Bringing you back? Oh ho! No, no, no. I let you experience what it's like to be Autolycus. You were in there. You were controlling my bodily functions. That's not something I do for everyone. And besides, think of all the fame I can gain for being the man that helped bring the great Xena, warrior princess back to life.
Xena smiled at the man's obviously fake brovato..
X ENA
You know, Autolycus, you might not like letting people see who you really are, but despite all that bluster you like to show, you're a good person. And I should know, I could see everything going on in your head and heart while I was inside you.
AUTOLYCUS
Oh, come on, don't say it like that.
Gabrielle giggled slightly at Autolycus' comment as Xena rolled her eyes and continued.
XENA
The point is. I knew I could trust you. And I will always be grateful to you for helping me.
Autolycus shrugged due to him being a thief, he didn't much care for being called a "good person" and decided to move the conversation forward.
AUTOLYCUS
Yes, well...yes, there you have it. Thank you. And if it's all the same, I think I'll keep that favor
thing in mind. It might just come in handy one day for...
The thief bowed slightly before raising his head and giving Xena a wink and a smile.
AUTOLYCUS
The King of Thieves.
Standing back upright, Autolycus bid Xena farewell as Gabrielle came over and said goodbye to their friend before the thief left and just the two women standing there.
GABRIELLE
Xena.
XENA
Yeah.
The warrior turned to face the other woman and was taken a little by surprise when Gabrielle threw her arms around her and laid her head against her chest.
GABRIELLE
Promise me that you'll never die on me again.
Xena smiled as she wrapped Gabrielle in an embrace and the two stood there in one another's arms for a long while as Xena placed a light kiss on the blonde head.
XENA
I promise, Gabrielle. I promise.
After a few moments, the two separated.
XENA
Now, why don't we go find an inn for the night? I'm pretty sure there's not one far from here and I think we could both use a nice hot meal, relaxing bath and comfortable bed after the last few days we've had.
Xena reached over and brushed a few golden strands of hair from Gabrielle's face.
XENA
Especially you.
Gabrielle smiled softly as she felt Xena's hand linger against her skin just a little longer than necessary.
GABRIELLE
That sounds perfect.
Not saying anything else, Xena whistled for Argo who was munching on some grass not far away and came over when she heard the warrior call. It was only a few moments later that Xena reached down from Argo's saddle and helped Gabrielle up to sit in her usual spot behind her. She smiled to herself as she felt the other woman wrap her arms firmly around her midsection and lay her head against her back, unable to see the look of pure love and contentment on Gabrielle's face as they rode off, happily together once again. And as the horse made a turn onto a dirt road, what neither woman knew was, come nightfall, the past day's events would finally bring everything that had been kept silent between them to light.
TO BE CONTINUED...