Gabrielle's Quest by Nadina Boun

It's been ten years now, since that awful time when Gabrielle witnessed her best friend depart before her eyes, her efforts in bringing her back to life amounting to nothing. Despite her search for peace, her trip to Egypt proved to be fruitless.

She had gone back to her hometown Potidaea for some time, grieving her loss, before she realized her life had changed. She no longer belonged amongst her people, and the yearning inside her to relive the days gone by, had never ceased.

And although she roamed in the places where Xena and her had been, reliving each and every scene if only for but a moment in her memory, Gabrielle knew her life was empty without her Warrior Princess and would never be the same again, for none could replace her beloved.

Then one day, as time went by and she became restless and yearning for peace, having finally accepted beyond hope that Xena will never come into her life again, she decided to go back to that place where it all ended.

The journey was a long one and Gabrielle's heart was torn between anticipation and fear. She had always hoped Xena would somehow come back to life as God's gift to the world for all the deeds she has done, and yet she feared the ghost of Xena was also very real and that it was meant to remain as such.

Japan had changed just like all the places she revisited during those long years, but she knew the way and the passage to that spot where Xena and herself, had watched the last sunset together.

Once her journey was over, and her destination was reached, Gabrielle could not refrain herself from the emotions that overtook her and she plainly began to cry.

Shouting out Xena's name in vain, her tears overflowed until she almost choked.

It cannot be that the feelings were still so strong, she thought, waiting for the sun to set in the horizon.

And as the sun sank into the horizon, until they became one, and dawn came to greet the morning with a fresh breeze, Gabrielle's tears brought her the courage to finally move on.

When morning came, Gabrielle took a dive into the Fountain of Mount Fudji, to cleanse herself of both the guilt and the memory. Her consolation in letting Xena finally be at peace, was a little souvenir she had found at the bottom of the fountain, as she grabbed at the Algae within the waters in fury and took a piece for herself as a closure.

Little did Gabrielle know that when Xena died, she had become immortal in her mind. And though she could not bring her back to life, as hard as she had tried or wished, she was determined after this trip, to follow her footsteps, and regain the person Xena had made her to be. Gabrielle held on to the Algae, turning her back on Mount Fudji, once and for all, and descended the mountain to the nearest town. Her smiles were mingled with a residue of grief, as she envisioned her future days to hold some of the adventure and excitement that she had once lived, until fate revealed itself unexpectedly. What Gabrielle saw next, on her way back to the village, was beyond belief or imagination.

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It was by accident or perhaps by chance, that Gabrielle noticed it as she crossed her way from Mount Fudji to the adjacent town. The murmurs of the crowd drew her attention as she gazed at the multitude cheering and grinning. But when she came closer, the instincts she had acquired from her days with Xena mounting her courage, it was an overwhelming sight that greeted her. Gabrielle had to catch her breath to prevent herself from fainting.

The resemblance was quite striking however, that Gabrielle did not know if it was Xena back from the dead, she was looking at, or another who resembled her. There was an age difference between the Xena Gabrielle knew and this young woman, and if it were not for that, Gabrielle would have ran straight into her arms with tears flowing down her cheeks and a pain in her heart relieved. But the truth wasn't so, and Gabrielle knew it. It was like a Deja Vu and yet she knew it could not be Xena.

The young girl, Gabrielle thought resuming her analysis, must be an enemy to the Japanese, or her crime must have been enormous, for she was meant to have her head severed in the middle of the town. She was dressed in a warrior's outfit though her sword had been taken away. Chained, she knelt down struggling for her life, as guards shoved her to the sacrificial altar. The platform she stood on was high enough for all to see, and the altar was nothing but a criminal's greed in Gabrielle's eyes; greed for blood and revenge. The woman couldn't have done anything that terrible to deserve such punishment, and Gabrielle found herself driven by a new cause.

A hooded man stood over the girl holding his sword high and awaited the command of the crowd to begin the execution.

It was the moment or never, thought Gabrielle, as the jeers of the crowd multiplied.

"Wait." She demanded, making her way through the men and women who stood watching.

The hooded figure looked up, though his face was veiled, and only his piercing eyes were visible.

"What is this woman's crime?" She asked.

"You are Gabrielle," he exclaimed, "the companion of Xena the warrior princess. Is that not so?"

"Yes." She answered defiantly. "Xena would have liked to know the reason for this execution, don't you agree?"

"Well if you must." And with that he called upon one of the men who held the girl down, and ordered him to relate the crime of the accused.

"This woman is nothing but a sham, a traitor to the warrior Xena was." He said as the crowd agreed with even louder cheers.

"Xena was a great warrior who fought for a good cause. She will forever be remembered on this land." He continued.

Gabrielle nodded, and though the tears filled her eyes, she tried to remain strong.

"This woman," the man resumed, pointing his finger at the girl's head, "this thief and lying broad claims to be Xena's daughter, when we all know, Xena never conceived of a child in our land. Her crime must be stopped."

And taking pride to be the chosen one to relate the story, the man narrated the rest of what he knows. "For the past ten years, this woman has been secretly leading an army in the name of Xena's followers. She has led her men with much viciousness, instructing them to steal from the poor, beat the weak, threatening our villages, and claiming to have authority over our people as the daughter of Xena, the princess warrior. But now that she is fatally caught, and Xena is no longer present to defend her cause, it is clear the woman was acting from her own accord from the start, and has nothing of the warrior she claims to be part of, but a similar strand of hair. She must pay for her crime and for her lies." With that, he took a bow and stepped back.

Gabrielle thought the resemblance touched more than just the hair. It was the eyes in particular and the muscular built, that reminded her of her best friend. She tried to recall any little details Xena might have left out about her time here, but she could not remember any mention of a child. She did however remember the story Xena recounted about the emperor, a very long time ago. Could Xena have forgotten to mention a child in this story, she wondered.

"There was an emperor many years ago whose name I do not quite remember, but he was very fond of Xena, I was told." She stated to the listeners. "In fact, he had called upon her help many a time, as I was told by Xena herself. Perhaps if the emperor was present, then we would know whether a child was born to him from the warrior princess or not."

"This is ridiculous." The hooded man shouted. "The emperor would have never acquiesced to such a birth even if it were true."

At that moment, a mighty warrior walked up the platform and removed his helmet revealing grey hair above a wrinkled face.

"Any friend of Xena is a friend of mine. Let her speak!" He ordered. And nodding in Gabrielle's direction, he gestured with his hand for her to speak.

"Are you the emperor Chen?" She inquired calmly.

He did not answer her question, rather, inquired just the same. "What is it that you ask for, Gabrielle? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

"Well, if I could speak to her alone, then maybe I can understand her better." She started saying, her eyes now diverting their gaze onto the girl. "I know Xena very well, better than I know myself, and if anyone can identify a child of hers, I can." Said she, knowing she was taking on, more than she could handle.

"Very well Gabrielle." He nodded in approval. "You can try to prove her worthy of the warrior princess, but you have only an hour to do so, after which, the execution must carry on, should you be unable to provide any proof to her claims."

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Gabrielle was led by a guard through the gate of the arena and into a quiet room devoid of any furniture, if not for a single beat up chair, by the ashes of an unlit fireplace. It looked more like a retreat chamber or simply a torture room; a place where they kept the guilty imprisoned, before their trial. Soon the girl followed, being ushered a little brutally by another guard. She stumbled to the ground and let out a sigh.

"Gabrielle!" She called out moments later with a voice barely audible under her breath. Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment, trying to summon her strength. With her back turned the voice sounded so dear, so familiar, and so real.

It took Gabrielle more time than she was willing to waste to regain her composure, and slowly turning around, with much trepidation, she watched as the girl stood on her feet again.

She shook her head for ever thinking it was Xena, but then she was taken aback as the girl approached and gently held up her hands to touch her face.

"It's me Gabrielle. I was always with you, I was always here!"

"Xena!" She muttered feebly with much confusion.

"I don't have much time; I need your help to bring my soul back to life."

"Anything," replied Gabrielle without a single doubt in her mind. "I have missed you so much, Xena." she continued, tears she thought she had overcome, running down her cheeks.

"My soul can only be in this body for so long. I need you to go to the fountain of Mount Fudji!"

"But," she began to protest, having just come back, then realized she had been protected with the tattoo on her back should anything happen, and nothing could change that. Another trip cannot possibly cause more harm than is already done, she told herself.

"The God has heard your plea, and has punished me enough for my past crimes. But only the Resuscitating Algae will allow my soul to take this mortal's body before it too is taken away."

The question on her lips of whether this truly is her daughter vanished as quickly as it came. "Algae!" She muttered absent-mindedly.

"Yes. And it is deep under the waters." Xena replied.

And without a warning Gabrielle heard her name as a faint whisper now, while the girl's soul reclaimed her body, leaving Xena's soul out of reach.

"And aren't you the one to save me?" She said sarcastically, as though continuing a conversation.

"I intend to, Xena. Wait here. I'm right on it." Gabrielle answered storming out of the room.

"My name is not Xena!" The girl shouted back, watching Gabrielle leave.

Gabrielle, whose sack was taken from her before entering the room, talked her way out into distracting the guard, while she sneaked her hand into her bag and removed a piece of cloth wrapped around an object. The guard did not pay notice, as she handed him her bag, nodding and thinking of the girl, trying to plan her escape by now. But the girl did not have time to escape, for Gabrielle came right back in.

"I have the answer that will free you!" She confessed, un-wrapping the piece of cloth in her hand. "It's funny," she continued with a smirk, "but when I picked this thing up, I had no idea of its powers."

"What are you talking about?" The girl said shaking her head with sarcasm, "and why should I trust you?"

"Because you remind me of a friend of mine!" said Gabrielle, with a smile.

"Xena!" The girl uttered disgustedly.

It was at that moment, that Gabrielle understood, that this woman could not be Xena's daughter. She sounded more like a foe than a friend.

The guards began pounding at the door; it was time for the execution to proceed.

"Time is up. Come on out." called out the guard, as the door cringed and opened, under his touch.

Gabrielle removed the Algae she had found at the Fountain earlier and decided to keep as a keepsake, and shoved it into the girls' mouth, driven by nothing but urgency.

"Quick!" She ordered. "It's your salvation!"

The girl swallowed, as the guard approached, unable to react any different given her lack of choices.

Gabrielle waited, her patience running out, until she heard Xena's hail in her ear. Gabrielle smiled. Xena was back.

And using her skills and strength, equipped with the body she once had if only a little younger, Xena kicked and whipped at her enemies, as one by one they trembled in fear and fled in disbelief.

The guards who followed in a back-up, stormed out of the room yelling loudly "Xena's back," as a hustle and shuffle of hurried footsteps was heard outside.

Once the peaceful quiet returned, and both warrior and bard were left alone, face to face, Xena approached Gabrielle gently, and wrapped her arm around her shoulder like in the old days, with a smile.

"Xena, I can't believe you're back!" Sighed Gabrielle, hugging her tightly.

"Gabrielle," whispered Xena, squeezing her into her side, "I can't believe you brought me back."