If there was anything Gabrielle hated more than rainy days, it was the days when the sun was so bright it felt like she was walking through the heart of a candle flame.  Shading her eyes against the light, she peered ahead, just able to make out the hazy form of her companion. 

Argo needs to run, my ass, thought the bard as she gave a surly harrumph.  Xena needs to go pick a fight is more like it.

Coming from a small town where the biggest entertainment was the annual sheep shearing, Gabrielle easily recognized boredom.

Why can’t she just pick flowers like the rest of us?  I am so not in the mood to scrub brigand blood out of my bodice tonight.  Sighing heavily as the distant ululation of Xena’s war cry trickled back to her, Gabrielle unsheathed her sai and started to run toward the fray.

Oh well, I guess it’s time to do the laundry.

fin

Why does she keep coming after me?  Why can’t she just let me go?  It’s probably the second or third time that Xena’s found herself facing certain death and yet there’s Gabrielle, arguing with the warlord of the week, trying to win her friend’s freedom.

It won’t work, but Xena can’t help but be impressed by the would-be bard’s rhetoric.

“If you kill her now, who are you going to compare yourself to when you’re telling stories for ales at the local warlord’s watering hole?” is Gabrielle’s latest query, which is met with a blank-eyed stare and then laughter from the warlord in question.

“Why, me of course!”

Gabrielle snorts.  “You?  Please, I could kick your ass.  The only reason you have Xena right now is you cheated.”

The warlord’s face darkens, and for an instant, Xena feels the glacial hand of fear stretch its fingers through her chest.  But then, something miraculous happens.

The warlord’s men begin to grumble.  Finally one stands up and says, “The girl’s right, Andrus.  Beat the bitch fair and square or you ain’t worth the clipped coppers you paid us.”

Well I’ll be a blue-eared donkey!  Xena knows that the warlord will have to fight her again, and this time, no matter what, she’s going to kick his ass.  Shooting a glance at her companion, she tries once more to fathom why Gabrielle would risk so much for her, and then, she sees it.

The young woman’s eyes radiate her relief even as she opens her mouth to add to Andrus’ troubles. 

Better put a purple nose on that donkey, because I think someone loves me.  Damn.  Guess I’m just gonna have to get used to seeing her pretty face every day.

fin