With many hours to wait before the audience with Sunal, Gabrielle returned to the Inn. Although exhausted from the running around, Gabrielle couldn't sleep if she tried. She found Esther quietly going about her chores.
"Esther?" Gabrielle wanted to talk to her and her family before the evening's events took place. Esther ignored Gabrielle and entered the kitchen. Gabrielle followed her into the kitchen and watched her pull out a big knife and chop vegetables with great vigor. Careful to approach her, Gabrielle sighed. "Esther, why are you mad?" Esther stopped her chopping and looked over at the young bard.
"What makes you think I am mad?" She snaps back then returns to her chopping with more gusto.
"Nothing" Gabrielle sighed. "...but from the way you are cutting those vegetables, they must have really done something to annoy you." Gabrielle joked. Esther stopped chopping but kept the knife in her grip.
"I am mad at you and I know I have no right." She revealed not looking at Gabrielle. "But I am still mad at you." She blurted.
"Oh, as long as we've cleared the air." Gabrielle joked again. Esther chopped more then stopped to look at Gabriel.
"First, she tried to strangle you, then I see you two becoming real friendly over this Sunmoon thing, then I find her in your room! I can't believe I've been making such a fool of myself over you." Esther grunted and started chopping again. Gabrielle took a risk and held her arm, preventing her from further mutilating the innocent vegetables.
"Esther, Xena and I are good FRIENDS." Gabrielle responded, finding this whole conversation very odd and uncomfortable. But the way things have been going, this conversation was no different from others she had lately.
"Yea. Good friends. You know Gabriel, I thought WE could have been good friends." Esther waived the knife between the two of them. "I thought you were different from any man I've ever met. Gentle, thoughtful, loving. But I guess I should have strapped on some body armor and a broad sword to get your attention." Esther's remarks revealed great hurt.
"Esther...I'm sorry, I never.." The bard was at a loss for words. How could she explain that she was placed under a spell by Hermes and that Esther was a victim of his warped sense of humor?
"I'll be leaving this evening. I wanted to say good bye to you and your family." There was nothing she could say, so Gabrielle told her what she originally wanted to and left the kitchen. Gabrielle walked to the Inn's garden with a heavy heart. This experience didn't just affect her but others she grew to care about. For Hermes to change her was one thing, she did after all treated Hermes poorly after he helped her, but for Hermes to make women fall for her was just cruel.
Riding in the Amazon territory, Xena and Malosa looked down onto Rickas Pass. They lead a band of Amazons to set up their surprises for their Sunmoon guests.
"You're quiet." Xena mentioned, keeping her eyes on the road before them.
"Sorry I'm not as amusing a companion as your friend." Malosa spoke coldly also looking straight ahead. That's an understatement, Xena thought.
"She did what she thought was right." Xena reminded Malosa.
"As will I." Malosa countered, drawing an uneasy look from Xena.
Returning her eyes to the road, Xena thought of her friend. How someone with such a good heart could find so much trouble was truly amazing to the Warrior Princess. They rode on a few minutes before Malosa interrupted the silence.
"You are not going to remain to fight the army are you..." Malosa's comment was more of a statement than a question.
"No." Xena admitted uncomfortably, knowing that wasn't what Gabrielle wanted.
"Good." Malosa responded surprising Xena. "Make sure she doesn't get herself killed before I talk to her." Xena wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a slight grin on the Queen's face.
Harral was digging in the dirt with another child when he saw his friend.
"Gabriel, want to play in the mud?" The boy giggled, recalling the other day.,p>"You know Harral, I think we need to have that discussion on manners." Gabrielle grinned as she saw the boy's eyes roll. The playmate of Harral's looked at his friend.
"My dad's calling me." He quickly departed.
"Ohhh, can't this wait?" The boy whined, annoyed that his friend left.
"I'm afraid not. I'll be gone tomorrow," Gabrielle explained. Harral was out of the dirt and by Gabrielle's side in a flash.
"What? You're leaving? Why? Can't you stay a couple of days?" He asked his many questions quickly.
"I can't stay. I wanted to talk to you before I left." Gabrielle sat down on the bench, followed by Harral.
"What about? Attributes?" Harral asked making Gabrielle smile that he remembered. Ever since his rudeness with Rachel, Gabrielle planned on discussing it with him. "Hey, I already know about the birds and the bees Gabriel." Harral bragged.
"Good. But do you know about Love? Respect? The things that come before the birds and the bees?" Gabrielle asked. Harral frowned.
"I guess I didn't show much respect to Rachel...but did she have attri.." Harral somehow got off track again.
"Harral! You shouldn't be ogling women. That is disrespectful and down right rude." Gabrielle seriousness made Harral think about what she said.
"Even if they have big.." He asked.
"YES" Gabrielle interrupted him. "Have you heard anything I've been telling you?" Gabrielle blurted.
"Yes Gabriel." Harral nodded. Gabrielle wondered how much good this talk really did.
"Run along Harral, I'd like to talk to Gabriel." Esther walked towards them. He gladly complied with his sister's request.
"I heard what you said." Esther sat down next to Gabrielle. "Thanks for taking the time with him." She spoke unable to look in Gabrielle's eyes.
"I hope it helped. Harral is a good...well.. he has great potential." Gabrielle responded making Esther laugh.
"I'm sorry Gabriel. You didn't deserve my tirade." Esther apologized.
"It's OK Esther. I'm just sorry you have been hurt." She said honestly.
"I can see why you love her." Esther finally looked in Gabrielle's eyes. Gabrielle looked down at the ground uncomfortably, than back at her with a grin.
"It's really not the body armor or broad sword you know." Gabrielle relayed to her. Esther nodded thoughtfully. "Its her Chakrum." Gabrielle added. Esther looked confused.
"What?" She asked.
"Never mind." Gabrielle responded with a gentle laugh. Esther shrugged.
"Well, tonight we'll have a big feast for you. I hope you like LOTS of chopped vegetables." Gabrielle laughed hard, then realized she wouldn't be there.
"I hate to ruin your plans but I won't be here for dinner." The news saddened Esther but she quickly countered,
"We'll have dinner early then!"
The Sunmoon scouting party finally arrived at Rickas Pass. Lerus, told the platoon to spread out and keep their eyes open for the Amazons. He and his corporal eyed each other knowing what they were to do next. They each reached into their saddlebags for the Amazon arrows and loaded their cross bows. Lerus motioned his corporal to go right. Once their men were spread out, they were going to kill them off one by one. As the corporal approached his first target, he raised his crossbow. As he aimed at his first unsuspecting Sunmoon target, he blinked and saw the upside-down face of a woman. Sustra, dangling from a tree, smiled at the confused and soon to be unconscious man. The noise of Sustra's punch alerted the Sunmoon who was to be the victim. Before he could pull his sword out, Trayla tapped him on his shoulder and put her finger to her lips to shush him. He stood there confused until Trayla punched his lights out.
Throughout the pass, the Amazons carefully collected the Sunmoon soldiers. Malosa's instructions were clear - not one Sunmoon could be seriously injured - despite the temptation.
Lerus pulled up his crossbow to aim. He fired his arrow at his man with a grin which faded when he saw a metallic blur knock his arrow from its path.
"Huh?" He blurted with confusion. The last thing he saw was another, larger and darker blur somersault over him. Malosa placed the unconscious man down on the ground, looking down on him with contempt.
"Shooting someone in the back. Repulsive." The Queen muttered. Xena placed her Chakrum back in its thong as she approached Malosa's side. The two nodded to each other and sought out more Sunmoon to overpower.
The Queen received reports of success in capturing the Sunmoon from all her Amazons except Sustra and Trayla.
"Take the prisoners to camp and clean up the area. I want no evidence they were here." She ordered. "I wonder what is taking Sustra and Trayla so long." She looked about. "I'll go get them." Xena offered and was off.
In the distance, Xena could see the two Amazons next to a horse looking down at the would-be Sunmoon murderer.
"You weren't supposed to KILL him" Trayla scolded Sustra for not following orders.
"I DIDN'T kill him. He just kinda fell off his horse funny." Sustra responded defensively as she tilted her head at the body on the ground.
"How ELSE do you expect an unconscious person to fall off a horse?!" Trayla asked. Xena came over to the two having heard their conversation.
"You killed him?" She questioned.
"I DIDN'T kill him!" Sustra responded again.
"Malosa will NOT be pleased." Trayla warned, shaking her head. Xena rolled her eyes then checked the man for vital signs.
"He's alive." Xena sighed, then looked up at the two.
"Told you I didn't kill him.." Sustra blurted and walked off.
With the Sunmoon platoon successfully detained, the Amazons regrouped for the next wave of Sunmoon. The wave that could be a tidal wave. In the war tent, Xena pulled Malosa aside to tell her she was going.
"You know you'll be riding right into them." Malosa warned her.
"If they are coming." Xena countered. Malosa grinned at the faith Xena had in Gabrielle, a faith the Amazon Queen could not afford to base her plans on.
"Be safe Xena."
Gabrielle and Leo entered the dining room to await Sunal's arrival.
"Where is his assistant?" Leo asked nervously. "He's never away from his post or very far from Grandfather's side" Leo added. Gabrielle looked around the room suspiciously.
"Don't worry Leo, I'm sure we'll see both of them soon." Gabrielle took particular note of where all the doors, windows and tapestries were.
"Yea, I'm sure you're right." Leo agreed uneasily.
"You are both mistaken." Boean spoke as he emerged from the darkness. Leo almost passed out at the sight of his brother.
"I understand you have something for me?" He asked Gabriel.
"And what, or should I say who, has given you that impression?" Gabrielle asked.
"Well, I have my sources." Boean smiled as Portus reveals himself, armed with two cross bows.
"Aren't you risking everything by coming here with those things? Sunal will be here any moment" Gabrielle eyed him. He laughed and looked over to Portus who hands over a loaded crossbow to him.
"I'm insulted bard. Surely you don't think me that stupid." Boean checks the crossbow as he elaborates. "Sunal changed his plans to have dinner with an old friend he hasn't seen in a while. Oh, and he asked me to relay to you his apologies." Boean laughed at the irony. "So Gabriel, I think the risk is actually small. Sunal won't be here to witness this." Boean's words caused Leo to gasp,
"Witness what???" Gabrielle was still calm. "Boean, you really don't intend to shoot us like you shot Weil and Ral do you?" Gabrielle asked. Boean shrugged and nodded yes.
"It served a purpose before and it will serve a purpose again." Boean noted.
Leo looked at his brother in horror at his admission.
"My Gods brother, why did you have to kill Weil and Ral?" Boean looked sadly at his brother who he would also have to kill.
"So Grandfather would finally wake up and see how ridiculous his pacifist beliefs are. Father died because he didn't fight, he followed Grandfather's way and LOOK where it got us. We grew up without a father! How can the Sunmoon continue to promote the family yet not the means to protect it?" Portus looked at him uneasily. Boean had his own crusade, Gabrielle noted.
Gabrielle looked around thinking now would be a good time for Sunal and Esther's father to come in and stop Boean. However, they were nowhere to be found as Boean lifted his crossbow and aimed at Gabrielle.
"Uh, Boean. Can't we discuss this further?" She asked now getting worried.
"I'm done talking." Boean spoke gruffly and quickly fired his crossbow. Gabrielle focused on the Amazon arrow as it left the crossbow and flew towards her. With no time to think, her right hand swept through the air and plucked the arrow from its intended course.
Esther's father gave up on trying to unlock the door behind the tapestry. With desperation, he took a deep breat and rammed into the door with his shoulder. Sunal and Esther's father finally entered the room.
"Enough" Sunal called out a belated order. Boean, Portus, Leo and Gabrielle all stared in amazement at the arrow in Gabrielle's hand.
"My Gods Boean, how many people did you intend to murder?!" Boean eyed his grandfather who didn't see the amazing feat.
"You have been a thorn in my side since my father died old man." The look of fear and shock on the old man's face didn't make Boean pause.
"Portus, shoot the foolish old man!" Boean yelled as he flung his empty bow away and pulled out a dagger. Portus' mouth dropped at the insane words, unable to move. "Do it for the Sunmoon!" Boean barked, seeing Portus' hesitation.
"You Hydra!" Leo's anger swelled causing him to charge at his brother. Gabrielle turned, restraining Leo to keep him away from Boean's dagger. Seeing an opening, Boean lunged towards the two, thrusting his dagger blindly. The three tumbled to the floor. Esther's father came over and yanked the murderer off the young men. A solid right hook landed on Boean's jaw, followed by a few punches to the stomach. Esther's father easily overpowered Boean who dropped to the ground unconscious. Seeing the bloodied dagger, Esther's father knelt down by the two men still on the floor. Leo held Gabriel's side.
"It will be OK Gabriel." He offered words of encouragement, not sure which one of them needed them the most.
"I'll get a healer." Esther's father quickly left to get help. Sunal looked down at the two in shock.
Xena rode towards Corerik with no signs of a Sunmoon army. That was good news for the Amazons. Xena hoped that meant the same for Gabrielle. After hours of riding, she finally arrived in town. There was no one on the street this early in the morning for her to question. She debated where to go first. Considering Gabrielle was going to go talk some sense into Sunal, she decided the Great Hall would the place she could get answers the quickest.
Xena dismounted Argo in front of the Great Hall, carefully looking about for armed Sunmoon. If there was still a threat, she expected to find that out quickly. There were no armed Sunmoon to be found. She cautiously entered the Great Hall. A service was in progress, the room full of Sunmoon brethren. Her hand instinctively reached for her Chakrum as she proceeded further inside undetected. The ceremony was somber as Sunal spoke at the alter. Listening to Sunal, Xena realized Sunal was sadly discussing the sins of his grandson to the brethren.
Sunal spoke without his usual vigor and enthusiasm, but it was obvious to Xena he spoke from his heart.
"Boean lied to all of us and caused great pain and suffering to many. For that, I must take some blame. As his grandfather, I did not see what I did not want to see. If there is any good to come from this, it is another lesson of what we know to be true.....violence is not the answer to violence." Gabrielle had succeeded in making him see the truth, Xena concluded.
"We can not allow one man's actions destroy our beliefs." Sunal stated. Smiling to herself, she could almost hear Gabrielle telling her "I told you so."
Pleased and proud of the results of her friend's efforts, she searched the room for her friend and Leo. She spotted Leo across the room. As she walked towards him, she caught his eye and smiled at him. His apprehensive look didn't register until she heard Sunal's voice from the alter. "...let us pray for Brother Gabriel who helped us through this dark time."
"Xena" Leo called as he went to her side. She grabbed his arm.
"What happened" She spoke evenly, her eyes boring into his.
"I'll take you to him." Leo answered, rubbing his arm where she had grabbed him. He quickly lead her out of the Great Hall. Xena said nothing as he told her of the showdown with Boean. Her gate was longer and quicker than Leo's, making it difficult for him to keep up. He could see the anger in her eyes after he admitted Gabriel was stabbed trying to protect him when he lunged towards his brother. He deserved more than that glare, he thought. With all her patience gone, Xena broke into a jog. She entered the Inn and immediately saw Esther who pointed upstairs. Within a few strides, Xena was up the stairs and at the entrance of Gabrielle's room.
Xena paused only a moment, seeing her friend unconscious on the bed with a man inspecting the wound. Without a word, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from Gabrielle's side and out of her way in one swift motion.
"What?!...Hey!" The man complained. About to continue in his protest, he received a cold glare. He also saw her skillfully inspect the wound and though better of interrupting the determined and strong woman.
Although relieved the wound was not too deep, Xena found the wound was poorly cleaned and the stitches were haphazard and horribly large. If she didn't do something soon, there was a good chance of infection, not to mention a nasty scar.
"Did YOU do this!?" She angrily eyed him. "I...ah." His fear of this woman grew. "Get me hot water, a needle and thread....NOW." Xena barked. He stumbled back and was too slow. "Esther!" Xena called for and received more competent help.
A few hours later, Gabrielle woke, still groggy. Gabrielle called for her friend who was already at her side.
"I'm here Gabrielle. You will be OK. Your wound wasn't that deep." Xena reported to her friend.
"Did Leo stop the army?" She asked struggling to keep her eyes open and focus. Esther, doing chores, heard the bard wake and went to check on him but stopped at the door hearing Xena's answer.
"Yes Gabrielle. You and Leo stopped the army." Xena answered and corrected her.
"Lerus? Are the Amazons ok?" Gabrielle asked.
"Lerus and his me are now guests at the Amazon camps. Although, I can't really say they are enjoying their accommodations." Xena grinned.
"That's nice." Gabrielle responded before she drifted back into unconsciousness.
Xena sat quietly staring in amazement at the unfamiliar face of her friend. She wondered how her friend got herself in this predicament. She wondered how anyone could go through this and still commit themselves so selflessly to others. She also wondered how Gabrielle would deal with this if she was not changed back.
"With me," Xena promised herself. If there was going to be an argument from Gabrielle on this, Xena was determined that would be the one argument she would win.
"Gabrielle?" Xena spoke softly. When the bard didn't stir, Xena traced her fingers upon her friend's still unfamiliar cheek. Recalling that Gabrielle had stopped her from that same caress when she was awake, Xena quickly retracted her hand. She felt no better than a common thief, stealing that touch. Xena sighed and looked down on the floor.
Hearing the movement of Esther approaching behind her, Xena scolder herself for not being careful about using Gabrielle's name. Xena turned to look her in the eye. Before she could say anything, Esther placed her hand on Xena's shoulder.
"I am not going to believe, understand or like what your are about to tell me - am I?" Xena sighed, shaking her head no. Gabrielle rested well through the night and awoke to the comforting aroma of breakfast cooking.
"This all smells so good!" Gabrielle entered the kitchen surprising Esther and Xena, who intended to bring her some food to eat in bed.
"Don't give me that look Xena, I'm eating at the table and that's final..." Gabrielle responded before Xena could say anything.
"Is he.. she always like that?" Esther asked, surprising Gabrielle. Xena looked at Esther then Gabrielle, who looked a bit concerned.
"I told her...that's not a problem is it?" Xena considered for the first time it might be. Gabrielle thought a moment and realized it really didn't matter since she wasn't able to get to Athens in time. "Nah."
Xena noticed Gabrielle's mood changed from the kitchen to the breakfast table, where the previously hungry bard was picking at her food. Esther was especially quiet as she kept looking at the young bard trying to envision him as a woman.
"I thought we would go by the Amazon camp, on the way to Athens. Unless we don't have time." Xena eyed her friend. Gabrielle sighed.
"We have time. All the time in the world." Gabrielle noted weakly.
"Excuse me." Xena and Esther looked at each other knowing there was something very wrong.
"If you don't tell me what is wrong, I can't help Gabrielle." Xena stated as she joined Gabrielle in the garden. Gabrielle sat on the bench looking at the flowers that Esther had planted.
"You really should start calling me Gabriel, Xena. People will think you are crazy if you keep calling me Gabrielle." Gabrielle had never looked so defeated as this bard did now, which greatly disturbed Xena.
"What are you talking about? " Xena sat down on the bench. With sadness in her eyes, Gabrielle quickly glanced over to her friend.
"I was supposed to meet Hermes in his temple in Athens during the next full moon. There is no way to make it now." Gabrielle smiled weakly and forced a quip to cheer both of them up. "I hope your not too disappointed with this look. You know, I still have no idea what you see." Xena bolted straight up.
"WE are going to Athens." She said with such determination that it made Gabrielle laugh.
"So my appearance is that bad eh?" Gabrielle responded, looking down at herself.
"Gabrielle..." Xena responded with frustration.
"Xena, what do you think I will be able to do when I get there? Twist his arm until he cries uncle? I will just have to deal with this and accept this." Gabrielle got up intending to go back in the Inn. Xena grabbed her friend's arm to stop her.
"What is this "I" stuff? We are in this together, don't you forget that." Xena felt angry her friend was giving up. She felt angry her friend was reluctant to turn to her for help. She felt angry she felt things Gabrielle didn't. She felt angry she felt so angry. When Xena turned, needing to go off and do something about her anger, Gabrielle spoke softly.
"Forget?....that is the only thing that has kept me going."
Xena's anger drained away with the admission of her friend. Not sure she could control her emotions if she looked in her friend's eyes just then, she did not. Xena wanted to tell her not to loose hope, not to give up, not to let Hermes destroy those things in her that made her so special. However, all the Warrior Princess could manage was a question.
"Will you go to Athens with me?" Xena asked with her eyes to the ground and back towards her friend. Gabrielle sighed, unaware of her friend's struggle.
"All right Xena. We will go to Athens."
"Why Athens?" Esther finally got up enough nerve to join them in the garden after hearing the end of their discussion.
"I am supposed to meet Hermes in his temple at the next full moon." Gabrielle responded. Xena eyed Esther who found it very awkward to discuss the young man before them as a "she". Esther looked confused at Gabriel's answer.
"Wouldn't it be easier to go to the temple in Zemal? It's much closer." Esther offered. Xena was about to curtly dismiss the idea until she saw her friend's face. Gabrielle recalled the conversation with Hermes more critically now.