"THE PRINCESS & THE QUEEN" series -SCROLL VII: SACRAMENTS FOR SUBSTANTIATION

pt.4

Birds could be heard chirping outside as Xena and Gabrielle sat down on a couple of cushions inside the small tent where they met with Cora to begin the tests to make sure that they were fit to be married and both be queen together. They watched quietly as Cora stood at a small table grinding and mixing together various plants into fine paste before pouring hot water into the bowl and giving it a final good stir. Once she was done Cora carried the bowl and sat down in front of Xena and Gabrielle, placing the bowl and it's contents on the ground in front of them.

CORA
Are you both ready?

Xena and Gabrielle shared a quick look at one another before nodding slightly that they were indeed ready to take on whatever layed ahead of them.

CORA
Good. Now I want each of you to drink half of the contents of this bowl. Once you do in a few minutes you'll fall asleep. Both of your mind's, spirits and souls will be taken into the spirit realm. Once you're there I'll give you further instructions for what you'll be doing there.

GABRIELLE
But how will you be able to communicate with us there?

Cora picked up a small cup that was behind her.

CORA
This is a similar mixture to what you'll be drinking. But it's not as potent and I won't be ingesting as much as you so while my being will still be here, I'll be more intuned with the spirit realm and thus be able to communicate with you freely.

GABRIELLE
Will you be able to see what we're doing?

CORA
Yes. But I'm not allowed to intervene unless either of you are in serious danger. In which case I'll come back to reality and wake you both. Any more questions before we start?

GABRIELLE
Have you done anything like this before Cora?

CORA
Not this exact scenario, but I've dealt with the spirit realm on numerous occasions. So don't worry Gabrielle both you and Xena are in very capable hands. I did specialize in dealing with spiritual matters back in my village. So I know what I'm doing. I'll do everything I can to make sure you both make it back here safely.

GABRIELLE
Oh I see.

Xena looked at Gabrielle who was obviously nervous about doing this. While Xena had some experience in dealing with the spirit realm and other matter of what some might consider as "the dark arts" and "sorcery", Gabrielle did not. So it was understandable that she'd be nervous about doing something of this nature. Xena placed her hand on Gabrielle's leg and got a small smile in return.

GABRIELLE
It's okay Xena, I can do this.

XENA
Okay. And I'll be with you through whatever we might face in there.

Gabrielle didn't respond as she picked up the bowl and examined the liquid inside.

CORA
You can begin when you're ready. Just drink half of the mixture and then lay down, relax and let yourselves drift into a deep sleep and you'll soon find your contiousness leave your bodies and arrive in the spirit realm, where you'll find your spirit bodies. They'll be just the same as your physical ones. Once there I let you know what to do next.

Gabrielle sighed.

GABRIELLE
Well here it goes.