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

pt.9

After witnessing Gabrielle being abruptly pulled into the lake that she and Xena had been looking at while within the spirit realm, Xena dove into the water and went under as she began to frantically search for Gabrielle. The water was clear but Xena saw no signs of Gabrielle anywhere. It was as if she had completely vanished. After searching for a bit, Xena couldn't hold her breath any longer and was forced to swim back to the surface. She covered her mouth and nose as she felt a bit of water rush in from her bodies natural response to trying to take in oxygen. This might've been the spirit realm but apparently drowning there was still possible. Xena pushed herself to move faster as her lungs burned. She knew that she hadn't dove that deep but for some reason it was now taken much longer than it should have for her to return to the waters surface. She kicked and pulled herself upwards with long powerful strokes of her arms until finally Xena's head breached the waters surface and she gasped for air. Xena treeded water as she caught her breath and looked around for Gabrielle only to realize that she was no longer in the field where she had dove in after her. But not only was Xena in a different spot from where she had entered the water, she didn't see any signs of Gabrielle anywhere and became very concerned that something might've happened to her.

XENA
Gabrielle!

Meanwhile Gabrielle opened her eyes and found herself laying on the ground looking up at an open, blue sky.

GABRIELLE
What happened?

Gabrielle sat up as noticed that she wasn't at all wet from being pulled into the lake. She then looked around as she also came to realize that Xena was nowhere around.

GABRIELLE
Xena?

She stood and looked around for any signs of Xena as she called out to her again and got no response.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) it's fine Gabrielle you don't need Xena or anyone for that matter to hold your hand. You can figure this out and find your way back to Xena on your own.

?
But can you really Gabrielle? Or do you need someone like Xena to come and save you once again?

Gabrielle jumped as she heard the unknown voice speak from out of nowhere. She then took a moment to calm herself as she looked around but saw no one as she spoke to what she assumed was another spirit like what she and Xena had met before.

GABRIELLE
I don't need anyone to save me.

?
Is that so?

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE
Yeah it is.

?
Hmm then why don't we see just how true that is for ourselves?

Gabrielle was shocked when a figure slowly faded into view before her. But she was even more surprised by who it was that now stood before her.

GABRIELLE
Perdicus...

At the same time Xena was still frantically looking for Gabrielle in the water but having no luck in locating her. She then halted her search when she suddenly began hearing Gabrielle's voice.

XENA
Gabrielle?

She looked around but couldn't see Gabrielle anywhere. That was when Xena spotted a portal appear back on dry land. Thinking that might lead her to wherever Gabrielle was, Xena swam back to shore. Once out of the water she moved towards the strange opening. As she came closer an image came into focus and Xena saw Gabrielle inside. For a moment Xena was unsure if she was seeing the actual Gabrielle or a vision but as she saw the scene behind her and noticed that Gabrielle appeared to be speaking to someone. Xena realized that Gabrielle must've been pulled into another area of the spirit realm.