"EVER ETERNAL" series TWIN SOUL SCROLLS I: AN ANCIENT AFFAIR

pt.3

?
Gabrielle? Gabrielle?

GABRIELLE
Huh.

Gabrielle looked at Ephiny who was seated against a tree after hearing the Amazon calling her name.

GABRIELLE
Sorry Ephiny. Are the pains getting worse? Is there something I can do?

EPHINY
No. It's about the same as it's been.

Ephiny took a breath as she got through another contraction and shifted slightly to try and get a little more comfortable where she was sitting, as she and Gabrielle waited for Xena to return from scouting out the wartorn area that the trio had unfortunately wandered into at the wrong time.

EPHINY
But maybe that's a question I should be asking you.

GABRIELLE
What do you mean?

EPHINY
Come on Gabrielle, I know we don't see each other often but I can still tell when you're not acting like yourself. So, do you wanna talk about what's on your mind?

GABRIELLE
I don't know what to say.

Gabrielle sighed as she walked over and sat beside the Amazon.

GABRIELLE
It's Xena. She. I mean I...

The young woman paused not knowing what to say as she leaned back as she looked up at the sky leaving Ephiny to try and piece together what she was trying to say.

EPHINY
I wouldn't worry too much Gabrielle. I know she's your friend but this is Xena we're talking about here. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Gabrielle shook her head slightly.

GABRIELLE
It's not that I'm worried.

Gabrielle returned her eyes toward Ephiny who she could tell didn't believe her.

GABRIELLE
Okay, maybe I am a little. But that's not anything different from normal.

EPHINY
Then what? Are things not going well between you two?

GABRIELLE
What? No. Things have been great.

Gabrielle smiled softly as she looked down at her foot.

GABRIELLE
Even if I did injure my ankle not too long ago.

Finding herself confused by Gabrielle's expression as the younger woman talked about getting hurt, Ephiny quietly waited a moment for Gabrielle to continue.

GABRIELLE
But you should've seen how Xena took care of me when I got hurt. She didn't even think twice before she was doing everything she could to make sure I was comfortable.

The young woman chuckled slightly.

GABRIELLE
She actually does stuff like that all the time. She always seems more than willing to do things just to make me happy. Even if it sometimes means she has to go out of her way. Xena's just so caring and thoughtful like that. And that's on top of everything else she does with helping all the other people we inevitably come across. You know Xena really is amazing. I'm lucky to be her friend.