Seeing Gabrielle barely holding on to the stampeding Argo, Xena ran her blade through an attacking soldier who charged her before taking off after the bard as Argo disappeared into a series of trees.
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XENA
Gabrielle?
The warrior pushed through the shrubbery to find Argo had come to a stop and quickly moved to Gabrielle.
XENA
Gabrielle.
Taking the bard in her arms, Xena got Gabrielle to the ground as Dorian approached through the bushes and crouched next to them.
DORIAN
I'm sorry. This is all my fault.
Xena scowled at the man as it took everything she had to not drive her fist straight into his face. Knowing that they would not have been in this situation if he had not run from his duty as a soldier.
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) Why don't you go do something actually useful? Go make a damn fire!
Lowering his head in regret, Dorian apologized again before standing up and walking away to build a campfire.
GABRIELLE
It's not that bad.
Xena looked down at the woman in her arms to see Gabrielle grimace as the bard tried to play off her injury.
XENA
Gabrielle, I need to get that arrow out. This is gonna be painful.
The warrior helped Gabrielle sit up a bit more so she could work.
XENA
Ready?
The blonde nodded slightly as Xena grabbed the shaft of the arrow that was sticking out of Gabrielle's shoulder and broke off the feathered end. She then began to push the arrow further into the bard, causing Gabrielle to let out a loud, pain-fueled cry as she felt the arrowhead pierce through the other side of her shoulder. Turning Gabrielle over, Xena took hold of that end of the arrow and began to pull it the rest of the way out.
GABRIELLE
Ahh! That's enough!
XENA
Sorry, I know it hurts, but it has to come out. We're almost there.
With one more pull, Xena completely extracted the arrow from Gabrielle as the younger woman screamed before looking up at the warrior as she tried to mask her pain and watched as Xena examined and sniffed the arrowhead.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
XENA
This arrow's been laced with poison.
GABRIELLE
Is it bad?
Xena lowered the arrow as she looked at the woman in her arms with a saddened expression in her eyes.
XENA
Without the proper antidote, it's deadly.
Carefully, the warrior situated Gabrielle to lean up against a nearby rock before she stood up and went over to the fire that Dorian had gotten going and heated a decently sized stick she picked up in the flames. After a couple of moments, she returned to the other woman's side, crouching down next to her.
XENA
This will help slow the poison's progress through your body. Ready?
The bard nodded and then let out another loud scream as Xena pressed the scorching hot wood against the wound on Gabrielle's back. The warrior then repeated the process and held the stick to the front of the blonde's shoulder, getting another pained cry from the woman.
DORIAN
Will that get the poison out?
XENA
No, it's already moving through her system.
Xena rose and went to Argo as she began rummaging through their bags, and Dorian turned his attention to Gabrielle.
DORIAN
Why did you come back for me?
GABRIELLE
I wanted you to see that waterfall and your son again.
Dorian looked at the young woman, not knowing what to say as after another moment Xena came back with a couple of items in her hands.
DORIAN
Can we still execute your plan?
Xena moved Gabrielle's shirt off her shoulder and began applying the mixture to the bard's wound as she spoke.
XENA
Don't you worry about my plan.
GABRIELLE
Dorian's right to be concerned, Xena. You should leave me and go on ahead.
The raven-haired woman raised her eyes from her task as she set down the rest of the mixture.
XENA
That is NOT an option.
She continued to speak as she took the bandage to cover Gabrielle's wound.
XENA
The advance scouts travel a day ahead of the main force, so we still have time to cut them off before they reach Athens.
GABRIELLE
Be honest Xena. How long do I have with this poison?
Xena did her best to put on a positive heir to mask her actual worry about the situation.
XENA
Well, the good news is it didn't hit a main artery. What I did should delay
the effects long enough until we can get to Tripolis and treat it with an antidote or serum there.
Xena stood as she helped the bard to her feet and back into Argo's saddle.
XENA
You'll see. By tomorrow, you'll be trying those flips again like nothing ever happened.
Grabbing Argo's reins, Xena began walking as she led the mare toward their destination once again, not knowing the true uphill battle they were about to face.
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Gabrielle groaned as she rode slouched over in Argo's saddle, while Xena led the mare alongside her and Dorian as they moved along the hillside.
DORIAN
If she dies…
XENA
She won't!
The warrior sneered at the man as they continued.
DORIAN
Yes, but, if she dies, You'll end up blaming me for the rest of your life.
XENA
You're the one that has to live with yourself. So If I were you, I wouldn't worry about how I feel about you. Because after today, I'll never see or think about you again.
(Quiet angry tone) One way or the other.
DORIAN
But with Gabrielle hurt, what are we gonna do? Doesn't this change your plans?
XENA
It does.
The warrior stopped, bringing Argo to a halt as well, as she turned to face the soldier.
XENA
Look, with Gabrielle injured, we'll be moving too slowly now. So I need you to run ahead to Tripolis. I want you to tell the militia there to come meet me
at the pass at Thermopylae. There's been a landslide.
The man smiled.
DORIAN
You didn't tell me that the pass is blocked. That's great. Finally, some good news.
XENA
Don't get excited just yet. It's risky. There may be more Persian scouts ahead.
DORIAN
I'll be careful.
XENA
Then you better get moving.
Dorian held out his hand and Xena took hold of his forearm as he did the same,
DORIAN
Thanks for giving me another chance. I'll be back with help soon.
He looked at Gabrielle.
DORIAN
This time, no amount of fear will stop me from doing my duty.
The blonde smiled.
GABRIELLE
Your son will be proud. Be careful.
DORIAN
Same to you.
Dorian smiled as he bid farewell to the bard and nodded his thanks to Xena before turning away and jogging off.
GABRIELLE
I think you might have changed him.
The warrior woman remained silent as she watched the soldier moving further away as Gabrielle thought of something.
GABRIELLE
Wait, there's no landslide at the pass.
XENA
You're right. Just like there's no waterfall at Mizola.
GABRIELLE
What?
Xena turned her attention to the bard.
XENA
An interesting thing about Spartan fighters is from a young age they carry around a wooden stake and constantly squeeze it in their hands to callous them. But after I took his hand when I helped our little runaway soldier up this morning, I noticed he only had a few calluses on his sword hand. That man is no Spartan.
GABRIELLE
Then who is he? Where's he actually from?
XENA
Persia. He's a spy.
TO BE CONTINUED