"THE PRINCESS & THE QUEEN" series -SCROLL III: MUTINY IN THE MONARCHY

pt.6

As Gabrielle sat in the bed at the village infermery she shook her head in disbelief at what Xena had just told her.

GABRIELLE
Xena that can't be right. Everyone in this village are our friends. Why would someone be trying to kill me?

XENA
I don't know. But I have every intention of finding out who they are and why they're doing this.

GABRIELLE
Are you sure that's what happened? I mean couldn't it have just been an accident?

Xena knew that Gabrielle didn't want to believe that someone she had befriended could be behind the attempts on her life. But unfortunately so far that did in fact seem to be the case.

XENA
I wish it was. But based on what you were poisoned with it's clear that whoever's responsible had every intention of killing you.

Gabrielle looked down sadly for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. Then she looked back at Xena.

GABRIELLE
Do you have any idea who it might be?

Xena sighed as she began running through possible suspects in her head.

XENA
Don't know yet. But I swear I'll find out. And I'll make them pay.

Gabrielle reached over and held Xena's hand.

GABRIELLE
Xena, I know how you get when it comes to me. Please don't go doing anything you'll regret later.

Xena smiled a little as she lightly squeezed Gabrielle's hand.

XENA
Don't worry Gabrielle I'm not doing anything to anyone who doesn't deserve it.

Gabrielle smiled as Xena held her for a while. After a couple days Gabrielle was deemed well enough to go home.

XENA
Damn it open.

Xena fumbled with the front door to their house as she held Gabrielle in her arms.

GABRIELLE
Xena I can walk just fine you know.

XENA
I know.

Xena smiled as she put Gabrielle down and let her stand. Xena opened the door and the two went inside. The next few days Xena was on high alert. She made sure that she kept her eye on Gabrielle as she went about her normal business. As well as watching everyone around her. Xena was determined to find out who was trying to murder Gabrielle. Fortunately Gabrielle had no lasting effects from being poisoned. And seemed to be okay. Everyone appeared happy to see Gabrielle back up and about. She chatted with their friends as she and Xena sat in the mess hall. Xena had inspected the food before hand to insure that there was nothing dangerous in it. Even though she was certain that whoever was behind the poisoning most likely wouldn't attempt to kill Gabrielle the same way again. While Gabrielle wasn't too thrilled about Xena hovering over her a bit more. She understood that was just how Xena was. And Xena did her best not to go back to being too overly proactive. A number of few weeks went by without incident and Xena hadn't come up with any evidence on who could've been behind trying to kill Gabrielle. Other than the fact that she knew that it was someone who was in the village. No one outside would have access. So it was clear that the culprit was someone within the village. And the fact that it was someone they knew who was in close proximity made Xena feel even more on edge about the whole ordeal. Which made her want to find the culprit even sooner.

SKYLA
Did we do or say something to upset Xena?

Skyla, Fauna, Clover and Amarice looked at Xena who was standing a little ways off and every so often glaring at them as they talked to Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
No. Xena's just been keeping an eye out for whoever's been going after me.

AMARICE
Has she found anything yet?