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

pt.10

Gabrielle stood beside the spector that resembled Perdicus within a blank space she found herself inside of the spirit realm. While Xena continued to view what was happening from the other side of an impassable portal. There was only total darkness around the spirit and herself as Gabrielle looked around to see if she could see anything within the completely black void. But there was nothing. Nothing except herself and the spirit. Finally Gabrielle heard what sounded like the hooves of a horse that was rapidly approaching her way from behind. She turned around just as a vision of Xena riding a fast galloping Argo came into view. She then heard her own voice in the opposite direction desperately calling Xena's name and turned around as the vision of Xena rode by her and disappeared into the darkness.

PAST XENA
Gabrielle!

The next thing Gabrielle saw was a bright flash of light. She closed her eyes against the intense brightness and then opened them when she noticed it fade away a moment later. Once Gabrielle opened her eyes she saw her past self dangling from a rope. Gabrielle sighed as she remembered what it was that she was watching. This was during one of her and Xena's encounters with Calisto. Gabrielle had been captured by Calisto who tied her up and danged her high above some spikes. Leaving Xena to have to fight to save Gabrielle before the flame beneath the rope holding her up was burned through and she fell into the spikes. Gabrielle looked on as the vision of Xena used her expert skills to fight off Calisto and catch her past self as the rope gave and she fell onto the ladder that Xena had set up beneath her. The Gabrielle of the present watched as the scene played out to its conclusion of Xena not only saving her but defeating Calisto and saving her life as well before the mad woman fell to her own death. The scene faded away as another quickly took its place. This time Gabrielle saw herself being shot with an arrow. She then remembered this scenario as well. Though alot of it was a little hazzy due to the poisoned arrow. The scene jumped forward to herself and Xena being held up in a small shack. With Gabrielle feverish and slowly dying from the poison as Xena single handedly fought off an entire army to defend them and stop the army's advance to a neighboring city. The current Gabrielle remembered being barely able to even more at all as she could hear Xena relentlessly fighting to save them. But actually being able to see everything that happened that day was alot. She knew how lucky she had gotten that Xena had figured out that one of the soldiers had the antidote for the poison and had given it to Gabrielle before it was too late.

GABRIELLE
(Thinking to herself) Gods I knew that she fought like crazy that day but I had no idea that it was this bad. And all I could do was lay there.

Another scene change and again Gabrielle saw Xena fighting as she stood behind her unable to do anything. Gabrielle watched as over and over she passed through various points of her life with Xena and saw Xena rescuing her time and time again. Or Xena charging into danger without her as Gabrielle stayed behind for her own safety. As well as Xena's who had explained many times that she couldn't fight as well if she was worried about Gabrielle being caught up in the chaos and getting hurt or killed as a result. Which could lead to a distraction which may very well cost Xena her life as well. As the scenes continued to play out, the spector spoke.

"PERDICUS"
How many times has Xena had to rush in and save you?

Gabrielle looked down in defeat.

GABRIELLE
Too many.

After a moment of thought Gabrielle looked back at the spirit.

GABRIELLE
But eventually I started to learn how to better defend myself.

"PERDICUS"
You did. Let's take a look at how well you were able to do just that.