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

pt.7

Gabrielle found herself becoming angered by the feeling that Xena was trying to shelter her again as she held Xena's arm. Stopping her from walking away from the scene of Xena's past self still fighting and taking down her opponents without giving them a second thought as she carved her way through them and they fell one by one in a mess of blood, guts and carnage around them.

GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You're doing it again. Being overly proactive of me. We're not even in actual danger here Xena. So now you think that I'm so fragile that I can't even handle seeing things like this?

Xena pulled her arm from Gabrielle's grip.

XENA
Forget it Gabrielle. I'm not discussing this any further. We're not staying here and watching this. We're done here.

Gabrielle found herself becoming more angerd and was about to say something when she stopped and realized a painful look in Xena's eyes. It was at that moment when it finally occurred to Gabrielle that Xena's wanting to stop the visions wasn't just for her sake. It was now clear to Gabrielle that actually having to witness these things again was more difficult for Xena than she had realized. And Gabrielle felt terrible for not seeing that sooner.

GABRIELLE
Xena... I'm sorry. I should've known that seeing all of this would have a large impact on you. I guess going from just remembering things and seeing them with you own eyes from the outside must be hard.

Gabrielle reached up to touch Xena's cheek but Xena turned away. Not only from Gabrielle but from the spector of her past self as the vision ruthlessly carved through her opponents without a shred of remorse. Gabrielle looked beyond the Xena she knew as she watched the scene play out. The vision of the past Xena moved through the area as she fought along side her army. She let out an angry and exhilarated yell as she plunged the blade of her sword into one of her enemies. Blood spattered on her as well as the ground around her when she tore the blade from the man's stomach. Gabrielle watched as the man then gripped at his midsection. Blood flowed from his mouth and the gaping wound in his stomach as he dropped to his knees and fought to keep his insides from spilling out. Meanwhile the past Xena looked at him with a completely remorseless expansion. Instead she just gave a sinister and feral smile as she drove her boot into his chin and knocked him flat on his back. Gabrielle was unable to look away as the Xena of the past stared down at the helpless, dying man for a moment before moving on to another enemy and leaving the man to suffer his gruesome fate.

LYCEUS
It's not an easy thing to witness for yourself is it?

Gabrielle jumped, startled by the spirit suddenly appearing beside her and the actual Xena. She didn't know what to say. Xena was right. Knowing about something like this and seeing it truly was different. But even so Gabrielle was determined to not let that change the way she felt about the person that Xena was now. After all the Xena that Gabrielle had just watched brutally kill her opponents moments ago and the Xena right beside her were completely different people. They may have looked the same physically but Gabrielle knew that inside Xena was no longer that woman who had just carved her way through those men without mercy. Gabrielle was about to say something when she and Xena heard Cora's voice echo around them again.

CORA
I think that's enough for today. Give me a moment and I'll bring you both back.

Gabrielle looked at Xena who refused to meet her eye to eye. She then looked at the spirit that had been guiding them.

LYCEUS
I guess I'll see you both later.

The spirit saw the expression on Xena's face that looked like a combination of sorrow, anger, pain remorse and defeat.