It was quiet as Xena sorted through the various herbs she had gathered from both the supply they kept on hand and what she managed to scavenge from searching the burned-down village. Once she finished taking inventory of what she had available, the warrior began to put some together to make something that she hoped would at least alleviate and slow the poison in Gabrielle's system. Then, gathering the ingredients, the warrior woman moved to get a bowl and grinding stone from her pack and began to break down and mix the plants together. However, her work was soon interrupted when she heard Gabrielle have another coughing fit flare-up and moved to the woman's side with the bowl.
XENA
(Soft tone) Hey. What are you doing sitting up?
The blonde shifted slightly.
GABRIELLE
I was uncomfortable on my back.
The warrior set the bowl down as she helped Gabrielle move to a more comfortable position on her side.
GABRIELLE
The Persians are out there, aren't they?
XENA
Yes.
Xena moved the bard's shirt a bit and picked up the bowl again to resume mashing the herbs down.
GABRIELLE
How many campfires?
XENA
Thirty or forty.
The younger woman did some quick calculations in her head based on the bit of military knowledge she had picked up during her travels with Xena.
GABRIELLE
And that's about ten or so men per fire.
XENA
Something like that. From the looks of things, It's the main cavalry, filled with their best warriors.
GABRIELLE
(Sarcasm) Is that all? And here I thought we were in trouble.
She coughed a bit before continuing to speak as Xena applied the mixture to the bard's wound.
GABRIELLE
Well, we only have to delay them, right? Just give them a bloody nose and a few black eyes.
XENA
You just let me worry about that. I gotta find someplace to hide you before they march through here.
The warrior finished putting on the mixture and re-covered Gabrielle's wound.
GABRIELLE
(Joking tone) I guess this means I'm gonna miss out on all the fun, huh?
You know, if I didn't know any better I'd say that this is just a clever diversion, to make me forget about my boots.
The woman's attempt to even momentarily lighten the otherwise bleak situation quickly fell flat as another coughing fit hit. Which Xena noticed had grown significantly worse, as she did what little she could to help it pass by patting Gabrielle's back. After a few moments, the bard gasped as she tried to catch her breath once the coughing fit had finally ceased.
GABRIELLE
(Breathing heavily) My chest feels heavy.
She looked at Xena and saw a look of sadness and dread in the woman's eyes as she lightly ran her thumb over the corner of the bard's mouth.
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
Blood. The arrow must've grazed your lung. That's why you've been coughing the way you have. Because of that, the poison…
Xena paused, not wanting to vocalize what she feared soon would happen to Gabrielle. But even without her hearing Xena say it, the bard knew from the way the dark-haired woman was looking at her exactly what she was thinking.
GABRIELLE
I just ran out of time, didn't I?
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XENA
All set.
A little time had passed, and Gabrielle watched as Xena tucked away the last of the things she had taken out of their packs to treat the bard. Then after making sure everything was tightly secured to Argo's saddle, she returned to the bard.
XENA
Alright, come on.
She began to help the young woman sit up who coughed as she was moved.
GABRIELLE
What are you doing?
XENA
I'm getting you outta here.
GABRIELLE
Did the Persians pull back?
XENA
No.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you can't do this. We can't leave. You're the only one who can stop them.
XENA
(stern tone) Quiet Gabrielle. I'm not debating this with you. I'm getting you out of here and that's the end of it.
Gabrielle pushed the warrior's hands away.
GABRIELLE
We can't do this, Xena. We can't just leave. If you don't hold them up, who knows how many innocent people will die.
XENA
(Stern tone) I am just gonna sit here and let you die.
She softened her voice as she continued.
XENA
I can still get you to Thessaly and the antidote.
The bard scowled.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) And then what? What happens to Athens? You can't tell me that my life is worth more than all those people.
XENA
(Stern tone) To me it is.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) And what about the greater good? You taught me that there are things in life worth dying for, things that hold a higher meaning
than our own life.
XENA
(Stern tone) Not your life.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Why? Because of your feelings for me?
XENA
(Stern tone) Yes!
Xena softened her tone again.
XENA
Gabrielle you mean more to me than I could ever say. How can you expect me to just stand by and do nothing while I watch you die?
GABRIELLE
You can honor my memory by saving those innocent people who will fall victim to the Persian army. We both know I'm right.
XENA
Gabrielle…
GABRIELLE
No, now you don't argue with me. I want you to promise, Xena, that you will not leave this battle because of me.
Xena's expression turned somber as she took Gabrielle's hand and softly pressed her lips to the back of it.
XENA
(Soft tone) Okay. I promise.
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A large pot sat on an open flame as Xena stirred the big batch of tar she had made before moving to take another look at the assembly of weaponry she had laid out from her old stockpile. She picked up one of the hand axes for one more quick inspection, before in one quick instance the frustration of everything boiled over. She let out an angry shout as she sent the axe into the wall across from her.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) Help.
Hearing the young woman call out, Xena's anger instantly dissipated, and the warrior quickly hurried over to her.
XENA
Gabrielle?
She looked at the bard and saw that the woman was only talking in her sleep.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) Xena.
XENA
(Soft tone) It's okay, Gabrielle. I'm here.
She softly brushed Gabrielle's hair, and the bard's heavy eyes opened partway.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) You've got to take me with you, teach me everything you know. You can't leave me here in Poteidaia. I wanna go with you.
Though her eyes were open, Xena could tell that the young woman was still asleep, even while she continued to speak.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) I've studied the stars, and spoken with philosophers. I have the gift of prophecy. I can be very valuable to you. Take me with you. I want so much to be like you.
The warrior watched as Gabrielle then closed her eyes once again and fell silent as she returned to a deep sleep. Seeing the blonde in this state tore at Xena's heart as she sat there watching over the ailing woman, and a lone tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek.
XENA
(Sad tone) And I want to be like you.
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The sun rose as Gabrielle awoke to a loud rumbling and opened her eyes to see Xena looking out the open doors of the armory.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) Xena?
Not responding, the warrior quickly shut and barricaded the doors with a large board as Gabrielle slowly managed to sit up, feeling a sudden sense of dread fill her.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) Xena.
The rumbling grew louder and the blonde watched as the windows and doors began to rattle, until suddenly the boarded-up doors were busted down, and the Persian army charged into the building.
Though vastly outnumbered, Xena stood undeterred as she drew her sword. Then, with an angry yell, she slashed at the first unfortunate soldier that came within her reach, slicing open his midsection and turning to drive her blade into another enemy before the first man's body had even hit the ground. Another soldier came at her, and Xena responded by kicking his knee, which caused the man's leg to buckle from under him and fall. He looked up just in time to see the warrior woman with her sword raised above her head, pointed straight down, before she swiftly plunged it down, scraping against his sternum as it sank into his flesh. With another yell, the raven-haired warrior woman yanked her weapon out of the now-dead soldier as a spray of crimson spattered the ground and carved her way through another enemy that rushed her. A few more bodies fell to the ground after meeting Xena's blade, before without warning, a man dropped through the roof above and landed on his feet directly behind her.
GABRIELLE
Xena behind you!
But her warning came too late, as everything around the bard seemed to move in slow motion as she watched the scene that then played out before her. Before she could react to the bard's warning, Xena was grabbed from behind by the soldier, and Gabrielle could do nothing while looking on in utter horror as the Persian soldier sliced his blade across Xena's throat.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
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Green eyes shot open as Gabrielle suddenly found herself staring up into the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she worked to slow her panicked, heavy breathing, before it caused another coughing fit, making it even more difficult for her to breathe. Then, finally noticing she wasn't alone, the young woman looked over to see Xena sleeping beside her. Relieved that watching the warrior die so violently right before her eyes had just been a nightmare, Gabrielle felt an incredible sense of relief wash over her. She gently stroked the sleeping woman's hair, hoping that the nightmare she just had was in fact just that, before her heavy eyelids won out again and she drafted back to sleep.
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Just before dawn, Gabrielle awoke again to see Xena pacing around, very clearly deep in thought as she did so.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) Xena?
Hearing the bard speak, the dark-haired woman looked over to her as she moved toward her.
XENA
We're leaving.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) I thought that we agreed that stopping the Persian army was more important.
XENA
I changed my mind.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) There's no other way.
XENA
There's always another way. There has to be. I'm gonna get us out of this.
GABRIELLE
It's too late for me.
XENA
I don't accept that. There are always choices.
Xena walked over and knelt next to Gabrielle as she continued.
XENA
I'm done paying for my past mistakes. My responsibility now is to you. That's all that matters now.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you can't…
XENA
(Stern tone) Don't argue with me. We're leaving and that's final.
GABRIELLE
(Weak/ stern tone) Don't you argue with me! We've been over this already. I know that I'm gonna die, and I accept that, Xena. Why can't you?
The bard softened her tone as she carried on.
GABRIELLE
(Weak tone) I've known for a long time that one day our life together might lead to something like this. And because of that, now that It has, I'm not afraid. Because I'm here with you.
XENA
And to think you always said that I was the brave one. But look at you now.
Xena pushed back the tears that threatened to fall as a sad smile crossed her lips.
XENA
Okay Gabrielle, If this is to be our destiny, then no matter what might happen going forward, let's see it out together.
Reaching over, Xena laced her hand with Gabrielle's as she continued. Making a vow right then and there that no force, mortal, or god would ever be able to break.
XENA
Even in death, Gabrielle. I will never leave you.
TO BE CONTINUED…