Episode Six

Episode Six

Gabrielle and Eve left the town and headed for a small house on the outskirts that belonged to a friend of Eve’s.

“It’s not far” said Eve and she explained that she knew the house would be empty as her friend was in Sparta spreading the word of Eli and wouldn’t be back for several weeks. He had offered the place to Eve to use if ever she was passing through.

Eve quickly found the key and they both settled in. helping themselves to some food and a flagon of wine, making a mental note to replace it before they left. The house was small; two bedrooms but had a nice kitchen and a small table with two comfy chairs around the fireplace. As darkness fell they lit a fire and poured a glass of wine, Eve’s first glass but Gabrielle’s fifth.

“Have you travelled far?” asked Gabrielle

“It feels as though I’ve been to every corner of the earth. But I still haven’t travelled nearly as far as you and mother did.”

Gabrielle smiled at the memory of her travels. Eve smiled in return but her face soon turned serious.

“Mom can I ask you a question?”

“Sure”

“Why did you leave the way of love?”

Gabrielle sighed, realising the gravity of the question and answered honestly.

“Because of Xena. Callisto threw Xena’s Chakram at her back and it broke her spine like a twig and something inside me flipped. I can’t explain it. That was the first time I ever killed without thinking. All I knew was that Xena was hurt and there were people in the way. I’d do anything for her.”

“But you could have gone back to the way of love. Eli would’ve welcomed you back”

“He would’ve. But then Xena fell pregnant with you.” She gave Eve a bright smile. “ And obviously I was more protective of her than ever. I trained harder, thought less about killing and Xena kept reassuring me that I was doing the right thing, that sometimes casualties are inevitable. You know it’s funny; I spent the first few years of our friendship trying to change her but she ended up changing me.”

The drink began to take hold of Gabrielle again and she continued.

“Before I met her I was so naïve. I thought there were good people and bad people and that was that. I was engaged to a man I didn’t love, at the time” Gabrielle hastened to add, “and to be honest I didn’t even know that two women falling in love was even an option! I swear to the Gods the first time I saw her my jaw must have hit the floor she was so beautiful.” Gabrielle’s eyes began to water again, “God I have to stop crying!” Gabrielle managed a small smile as she wiped her eyes.

“Why don’t you come with me for a while. You’d be travelling, have time to think, maybe start writing again. It could be good for you.”

“Eve I don’t know”

“It could be fun. What was your plan? Are you going back to the Amazons?”

“I tried. I couldn’t. I think I’ve been travelling so long now it’s difficult to stay in one place too long.”

“So come with me! Come back to the way of love.”

“Eve I appreciate the offer but that’s not my way anymore.”

“Then what will you do.”

Words from what seemed like an eternity ago echoed in Gabrielle’s head “We could go to the Land of the Pharaohs, I hear they could use a girl with a Chakram”

“I think I’ll head for Egypt. Someone told me they could use a girl with a Chakram”

“Really? Wow well I guess that’s you now.”

“I guess it is.”

“You sure you’re up to it?”

“I hope so” said Gabrielle, clutching at her drink, a move that did not go unnoticed by Eve. “Honestly I think my fighting skills are a little rusty. I tried to train with the Amazons but my head wasn’t in it.”

As Gabrielle said all this Eve began to wonder if how much her Mom was drinking was a factor in this. To subtly ask the question Eve finished what wine was left in her glass and went to refill it from the wineskin she knew to be empty.

“Was this full when we opened it?” Asked Eve, again knowing the answer.

“I think so, hold on, it can’t have been could it? How much have you had?”

“One!” exclaimed Eve.

“No, I can’t have had that much to drink could I, I don’t feel drunk”

“You’d have to be used to drinking a hell of a lot on a regular basis to not get drunk from pretty much a whole wineskin. Have you been drinking a lot?”

“I guess I’ve been drinking a little more than usual lately but it can’t be that much.” Eve gave Gabrielle a look as if to say she knew she’d been drinking heavily on an almost nightly basis for a while. “ Ok there may have been one or two occasions where I had too much.” Gabrielle replied sheepishly .

Images of her one night stand with Ares and of all the times she woke up injured and not knowing why came flooding back to her.

Eve looked very carefully and closely at Gabrielle. She noticed the faded bruises, the bags under her eyes from tears and lack of sleep and how she calmed with a drink in her hand.

“Mom what happened to you?” she said, concerned.

“What happened! My wife died that’s what happened!” spat Gabrielle as she slammed her glass down on the little coffee table and stormed out of the house into the rain. Eve followed straight after, feeling guilty.

“Mom! MOM!” called Eve, “Look I’m sorry ok, I shouldn’t have said it like that. I miss her too”

“You miss her. Talk to me when you get to the stage where you can barely breathe for missing her so much. She was everything to me! Everything! I don’t know if I can go on without her.”

“You can! You have to. D’you think she’d want this for you. She’d want you to live, she’d want you to try and be happy. Write, go to Egypt discover yet more of what this beautiful world has to offer.”

“Eve I’m scared. I’ve never been alone before.”

Eve walked over and hugged her mom. “You’re not alone. I’m here, I promise I’m not going anywhere.” They stood there like that for several minutes before Eve gently led her back inside and helped her dry off by the fire. They sat there in silence until Gabrielle fell asleep. Eve gently laid a blanket on top of her and went to bed.

The next morning Eve woke up around nine, expecting her mom to still be sleeping. Instead she entered the living area to find that she was up, washed and had gathered some fruit and sliced some bread for breakfast.

“Good morning” said Gabrielle pleasantly.

“You certainly seem a lot happier this morning.” Eve replied cheerily as she helped herself to an apple.

“Yeah I think I am. I’ve been up for most of the night actually, just thinking. I’ve decided you’re right. I need to just take some time. I think I’ve been trying to force myself to be okay. I’m going to go to Egypt, see if I can help, if that doesn’t work, well I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. One day at a time right.”

“Right, one day at a time.” Said Eve smiling.

After a hearty breakfast and quickly cleaning the house Eve and Gabrielle set off to find Gabrielle’s horse and to retrieve some things she’d need for her travels that she’d left with the Amazons. A renewed sense of purpose had come over Gabrielle although she was still incredibly nervous. She was to try her hand at being a hero and heroes are strong, resolved and brave, they don’t brake down with grief for someone they lost. They find a place for them in their heart and let the memories fuel future victories.

The ride was pleasant. Gabrielle had taken almost a year to start towards Egypt so she figured there wasn’t much point in rushing there now. Where she could along the way Eve had spread the word of Eli and Gabrielle had listened quietly from the sidelines. She saw the joy on Eve’s face when people asked her questions or thanked her for her message. It was clear to Gabrielle that Eve continuing on with her would lead her from her path and so one day while Eve was preaching Gabrielle sat at the back of the crowd that had gathered and began to write.

“Dearest Eve

Words cannot justly express how grateful i am for your comfort and council these past few weeks but I cannot ignore that I am leading you from your way. I have decided to travel on alone. The villagers here seem to dote on you and I feel you would be happier here than travelling on muddy roads and getting into brawls with me. I will send word to you of my adventures at every opportunity I can.

Blessings of Eli be with you always

All my love, Mom x”

Gabrielle left the note by Eve’s bedside that night and left before dawn, kissing her daughter gently on the forehead as she slept. Gabrielle got on her horse again and galloped away.

A/N ok there’s still be some Xena fans still out there! I’m struggling with this fic here to reviews/comments/advice would really be appreciated. I really want to improve my writing.