Part 3: Welcome

The cautious tread continues down the forest corridor, this time narrower. Gabrielle and Xena silently scan their surroundings as they approach the next clearing.

It is possible to notice some voices singing a familiar song . This song reminds me of home. Xena tries to accompany the song for a moment with a hoarse whisper, brightening her countenance a little.

“It’s Amphipolys… it’s so different, don’t you think?” Gabrielle looks at her warrior, suspicious of the next challenge that may be coming. “Yes… it reminds me a lot of what it was like before…” She falls silent and narrows her eyes, trying to examine someone familiar from a distance.

From where they are, they can see the center of the village, a lit pyre, and the villagers gathered in the center, in a celebration of harvest day. Near the pyre, a very familiar figure, dressed in a colorful dress, with long dark hair, singing and dancing, accompanying the joy of the moment.

Passing through the entrance to the village, that woman, with a completely jovial air, interrupts her celebration, attracted by the gaze of the two adventurers, and begins to approach, with a radiant smile.

I’ve seen that look before… it’s not possible… could it be who I think it is? Gabrielle raises an eyebrow and glances at her warrior, who remains staring at the approaching figure, her gaze glazed, as if hypnotized. “It’s what I feared…” Xena whispers.

“Xena, do you know her?” Gabrielle felt a chill rise on the back of her neck before she answered. “Yes… It’s me, before I became a warrior…” She gave the bard a desolate look. “I was like you…”

Before they knew it, that figure was just a few steps away, looking at them with a gentle and kind air. “Welcome to Amphipolys! Nice to meet you, I’m Xena…” She extends her hand first to Gabrielle, who greets her, and then to the warrior, who avoids eye contact.

“Are you guys okay? You look tired… do you need help?” Gosh… she reminds me so much of what I used to be like… how scary… how can that be possible? Gabrielle just stares at her, scared.

“Yes, everything is fine… Long trip, thanks for worrying…” Gabrielle interrupts the long silence, admiring both of them greeting each other. However, what caught the most attention was Xena’s costume from the past, not having recognized the warrior.

It was as if the two sides of her were getting to know each other in front of me… Wow… how crazy! They both look at Gabrielle, waiting for someone to say something. “What’s wrong with her…” the young woman asks. “Nothing, she’s been going through a hard time…” the warrior whispers, still a little shy.

“But will she be okay?” The young woman looks suspiciously at the warrior, who responds with an impatient air “Yes… don’t worry.” So that must be how she charged herself to take care of me… it’s so clear… how beautiful… For Gabrielle… concentrate… She’s so tired, I have to calm her down. Gabrielle then addresses the young woman, while offering her arm for the warrior to lean on. “Would you have some fresh water, please?”

“Of course! Follow me.” The young woman turns and guides them to the inn near the center of the village. As they enter, the young woman offers them a comfortable table to rest at while she fetches fresh water.

Gabrielle, in a gesture of tenderness, helps Xena to sit on the chair, and drags the other one to stand next to her. While they wait, the warrior raises her face to probe the place. “Mother…”. The bard, slightly startled, turns to her “Where is she?”. The warrior sighs “She doesn’t seem to be here… this is her inn…”.

The frightened bard looks at her and the place, but doesn’t recognize it. It’s so different… what happened? Wait… not that…”. The warrior sighs and comments “It was like that, before the fire… I remember we had lost everything… and…”. She stops when she notices the arrival of that young woman.

As they turned around, they noticed the young woman in front of them, bringing water and new clothes for the warrior, kindly offering them. “Here you are.” She smiled.

The bard accepts the water and thanks by nodding her head. The young woman then turns to the warrior and holds out her hands with the dress and a pair of shoes, not so new, but very well cared for. The warrior catches them, and for a moment she stares at them.

“Sorry, are they too big? If you prefer, I can get some more, how about that?” His gaze widens a little, revealing a hypnotizing hope and enthusiasm in its glow. The warrior holds that gaze for a few seconds.

Strange, it’s as if they were admiring each other, both sides wanting to know each other better… or is it just me? “Are you okay?” The young woman asks. “Yes, thank you…” The warrior replies.

“You can change over there.” The young woman points to the bathroom next to the counter. “Thank you.” The warrior stands up, walks slowly, still admiring the place, and enters the bathroom.

For a brief moment, Gabrielle remains with the young woman, who appears shy, but full of questions. “What is it like to be a warrior? And your friend, she seems to be a bard, is she okay? Can she tell me about one of her adventures?”

Her gaze seems eager for a yes, while the not-so-bard (!?) glances at herself and realizes. Who am I, the warrior here??? Seriously? Could it be because of these questions that she shrugs her shoulders when telling her stories? Wow… how… incredible!, “That’s almost it… we’re both a little bit of each…”, Gabrielle tries to simulate her beloved’s reaction to the young woman, who receives a sigh of admiration.

Shortly after, his now-changed warrior returns to the room. The young woman quickly stands up, a little embarrassed, letting go of the feeling that she had committed a crime by having started talking to her, without the consent of the warrior, who looks at her with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“How do I look?” asks the warrior, in order to break the ice, and receives a happier smile from the young woman. “Much better, you look like a different person.” Gabrielle jokes with her, who reacts by becoming a little shy and giving a slight smile.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you two alone, but if you need me, I’ll be near the pyre.” They both thank her, and before leaving, the young woman approaches the warrior and whispers. “You’re very lucky, she likes you a lot…”, receiving a smile from the corner of the warrior’s mouth, while she remains looking at the real (!?) bard.

So, the young woman leaves the room, and the warrior slowly returns to the chair. Gabrielle, still confused, remains still, only following her with her eyes. “Hey… are you okay?” Oh my… even though she is still fragile, she remains worried about me… how wonderful… wait… concentrate… “Strange… we are here for a reason… We have to find out what it is.” The bard concentrates and examines the place again.

The warrior follows her, this time examining her, with an attentive but hopeful look to understand what is happening. Her smile seems to be more spontaneous and calm. “I have good memories of this place…” Xena comments, while observing the decoration, attracting the attention of her bard. “I used to help my mother here from time to time, when it was crowded..” Her mother suddenly appears, like the steam of boiling water, preparing the place for the opening of the services, and then, the warrior points at her discreetly, indicating the direction for Gabrielle to look.

This time, the bard is following a beautiful memory of her beloved, while she tells a beautiful story. Her beloved describes every detail of what her daily life was like, in a wealth of detail that completely captivates her. “So, this tea that I like, it was her recipe, the same tea we drank together after the battle… remember?”, the warrior with shining eyes admires this memory, looking at the bard. “How beautiful, Xena… Tell me more, please?” Gabrielle, more entertained and curious, keeps her attention fixed on the narration, while the warrior continues to enrich the story, while it is lived amidst the memories, as if on a theater stage.

“On my days off, the Lyceum would help our mother… In our free time, we liked to play fighting with our wooden swords, it was exciting…” The new storyteller continued, imitating the youthful, clumsy steps of when she was younger, and Gabrielle saw that transformation in her appearance, renewing her… Amazed, she remained attentive to every detail, interested in what was to come.

“So, boom! I caught my first fish with my hand… it was so much fun, oh if… you were there…”, Xena whispers, and pauses for a sigh. “I sure would have loved it…”, the warrior raises an eyebrow, catching the subtext of the answer, responding with a brief smile.

“It must have been wonderful…” Gabrielle adds. “Yes, it was good… while it lasted…” She suddenly pauses, and looks at her deeply, slightly forcing her eyebrows, without understanding what just happened. Did she like what I said so much? People… is this so… normal? Normal… how I missed this, being normal… not worrying about someone flying through the window… to try to attack us… The warrior remains in this introspection for a few more minutes, until she notices an expectation in her beloved.

“Xena, I have to admit, that was the last thing I expected from you…” Xena pauses for a moment, trying to decipher what she meant. Damn Xena… you ruined everything… you should have held back… but, it doesn’t seem like a criticism… it was stronger, I needed to say it, what’s wrong with that?… it was actually good, it lightened the load, right… but wait… am I going to become the bard here? … but it’s actually cool, just don’t get used to it, I’d rather you tell the story! Xena, already feeling like she’s been talking for too long, approaches Gabrielle and sits down, taking a breath. “Me too…” she sighs.

“For a first time, you went way beyond, huh!” Gabrielle says in a good-natured whisper, while Xena smiles and adds, “I warned you, I have many skills…” but I didn’t know I had that, thank you Gabrielle. The bard turns to her and opens an arm, inviting her to recline, the warrior accepts and leans against her beloved’s bust.

In a gesture of gratitude, the warrior holds Gabrielle’s hand, but the bard is focused on something else, probing the place, again, like a talking cricket in her mind. We have to get out of here, it’s too calm, it could be another trap, very strange… let me see the chakra… oh no… it’s still like that… how could I not notice… The warrior feels her adjust a little in the chair, looks at the bard and then follows her, looking in the same direction.

“Sorry… I wanted to surprise you, but… I didn’t have time… to clean it.” Gabrielle took the chakram off her waist and placed it on the table. The shine of that weapon was stained by a very familiar redness. The warrior remained looking at the object for a while and gave a discreet smile. “Look… you used it well, huh?”, the bard, slightly dismayed, put her hand to her forehead. “Yes… it was a bit scary… but I followed what you taught…” Don’t think… just feel, concentrate and let it flow… both of them chanted this phrase, meditating on the meaning of each one.

The warrior turns her gaze to the meditating bard and observes her, this time, she strains her eyes a little, investigating her for a while. Gabrielle notices, and turns her attention to her. “Xena, are you okay?” She doesn’t avoid the lighter tone in her speech, a certain concern. “Yes.. I just wanted to know… what I did to you, you were so…” the bard interrupts her, “fragile?” raising an eyebrow. “Yes… how do you feel?” Xena rests her chin on her hand and observes her.

Gabrielle allows herself to think a little. “Yeah… seeing you in danger awakened a determination I didn’t know I had… is that how you felt…?” The warrior sighs. “A little… at first it was pure adrenaline and impulse, I didn’t have time to think much… with time I learned to concentrate, to stay focused… here, in this place, calm, it’s one thing, but in the middle of combat, it’s very different… one false step and… anyway. I had never seen this side of you… warrior.” The bard continues to observe her warrior with admiration.

“Hmm… I confess that I’ve always wanted to see this peaceful side of you better… it’s so beautiful… it calms me down.” The bard seems to levitate during a sigh, while her warrior, perplexed, blushes. “Thank you, Gabrielle…”, they both embrace each other in a gentle hug, for a few minutes, without saying anything else, just admiring the importance of the moment.

Suddenly, the glasses, candles and candlesticks begin to shake, as if an earthquake had started. Gabrielle turns to the warrior, her eyes widening. Horses… galloping fast… those cracks… are they swords… is this an invasion??? Not this… it can’t be… it’s that invasion! “Xena! Come!” Gabrielle grabs the warrior’s hand and runs with her to keep her in a safe place.

The warrior’s expression seems lost, not knowing what to do, or which direction to take, seeing, without seeing. “The young woman… where is she?” the warrior asks worriedly. “Not that one, she’s on the pyre! Stay here and I’ll go there…” The bard is interrupted by a harsher voice this time, a little loaded. “I’m going too… Let’s face this together, please.”

Gabrielle remains motionless for a moment, but understands the reason and nods her head in agreement. They both head towards the door and, as soon as they open it, they see the army already oppressing the village, which is engulfed in fire.

In front of them, they can only see two shadows, and behind the large bonfire, a younger figure, standing, with a sword in his hand, and a subjugated woman on her knees at his feet, with an imposing appearance, more so than the warriors present there.

Gabrielle feels her warrior reach for her hand, before they can react, or act, they notice the horizontal movement made by the young woman, and the imposing figure, already inert, falling to the ground lifeless.

Still hoping to reach the figure, they quickly approached, in a vain illusion that they would be able to prevent the inevitable that had just occurred.

That youthful form becomes clearer, and finally they can see that young woman staring at her first fatal victim, wielding the sword, with the reddened blade, hands and arms relaxed, looking at that inert warrior, the heat in her hands, but without that brio in her eyes, as if her hopes had been drained.

The warrior, motionless, with a glazed look, repeats to herself “No… no… anything but that…” she stammers, over and over, sinking into a grim trance. That recently renewed strength slowly fades, the warrior and the young woman, seemingly moving in sync, look at their own hands, drenched in that blush. They turn their hands over, finding more of that bright blush, kneel down and continue to stare at the change, in shock.

Gabrielle feels a chill run down her spine. She looks at her warrior, who grimaces and tries to get up, but she succeeds. She then approaches the young woman, still in shock, crouches down and puts a hand on her shoulder. The young woman turns her face to the warrior, and she realizes that the glow is gone. “Hey… it’s okay, I’m here… You didn’t do anything wrong…” The warrior continues to watch her, trying to smile to reassure her.

The young woman raises one of her hands and rests it on the warrior’s jaw, just looking, trying to look inside her. Gabrielle manages to overcome her fear and approaches the warrior, crouching down beside her. The young woman turns her gaze to the bard, still apathetic. Then, she looks back at the warrior, her expression begins to change, her eyebrows curve inwards, straining her muscles, frustration arises, and in a somber tone, she intones “You’re right… I kind of… liked it…” Her eyes begin to reflect the flames of the pyre, and of the houses, however brighter than the fire itself.

The warrior feels a tremor coming from within her, and slowly stands up, with Gabrielle following the movement, they take a few steps back, as the young woman stands up, using the sword as support. “Today… you witnessed… my birth… The Destroyer of Nations has arisen today… and whoever opposes my authority… WILL HAVE MY WRATH!”. The young woman raises a dark smile.

Gabrielle rests her hand on her warrior, moving her back, and grabs the handle of her katana. The young woman takes a few steps towards them, but the warriors’ screams catch her attention, so she does a backflip, chanting that war cry, but higher pitched and hoarse, filled with hatred, and runs towards the army. The fight begins between the invaders and the army of one person. Her sword begins to dance with great strides, taking advantage of each blow given to it. The more they try to attack her, the stronger her sword returns, thirsty for the next kill. Dry, rough and violent blows follow, increasing proportionally to the intensity of the fights, and the number of combatants still standing quickly decreases.

Gabrielle and her warrior remain watching the scene, while they hear that scream echo through the air, accompanied by hoarse laughter. The bard turns her gaze to the warrior, who stares at every movement, as if she were receiving every blow, expressing the pain, her eyes glazed over the scene, they lose their way, and instinctively grabs her beloved’s arm. “Please, let’s go… I can’t take it anymore… ask her to stop! “

The bard gathers her strength and leads the warrior in a run, towards the exit of the village, while she thinks “ What did you do Gabrielle… she couldn’t have seen that… that pain… it was much deeper than I thought… this isn’t fair to her… Gabrielle repeats to herself, while holding her warrior’s hand in the escape. Looking at her face, she notices her teary eyes, still inert looking through the bard, but her face reflects her desire to disappear from her sight, out of deep embarrassment. “Hey… calm down… it’s okay… I’m here with you… Come on… We’re almost there!”. She receives a nod from the warrior, accepting the words of comfort.

Gabrielle leads her away from the battle, still raging, as they hear the young woman improvising the much-feared war cry, which would be the warrior’s trademark, but suddenly , they feel the ground shake in front of them. Gabrielle steps in front of the warrior, who cowers defenselessly. In front of her, her form is very reminiscent of that same young woman, but this time, a little different, with a predatory look, and that same sword, even more reddish, accompanied by a malicious and voracious smile.

“Oh, are you leaving already? Didn’t you like the party? It’s just started!” The young woman begins to approach slowly. Meanwhile, both of them move back proportionally. Gabrielle maintains eye contact. Oh no… she’s out of control… I have to do something… but I can’t fight you… I won’t. The bard stands firm and puts away her weapon. The young woman stops her advance and tilts her head slightly. “Don’t you want to dance?” She says in a sarcastic tone.

“No… you’re not like that, I see you… I feel it here…” She points to her own heart, and continues “don’t deny yourself the right to love… I understand you, the anger and the fear… but there’s no one here who wants you to hurt…” That dark face shows a change of expression, from uncontrolled anger to blinding bewilderment, the malicious smile gives way to relaxation, the sword is released and falls to the ground.

The young woman raises her stained hands and looks at them for a while… tears come out of despair, as she realizes the gravity of what she has done, and panic appears on her face. Gabrielle feels a hand touch her shoulder, and looks towards the warrior. With a serious look, she asks permission to approach and the bard consents. The warrior then approaches the young woman who has not yet realized who is coming to meet her.

Coming closer to her, the young woman notices and looks at her, her blue eyes wide open, dismayed, lost in the distance, anxious to run away in shame from what happened. The warrior interrupts the silence “Hey… it’s okay… it’s over… it’s okay… you were defending yourself… and your family too… I’m so proud of you…”. The young woman shrinks back, trying to hug herself, while sobs start to emerge.

The warrior comes closer and hugs her, repeating the phrase like a mantra until she is free from that familiar tension. In the blink of an eye, the young woman disappears from her arms. The warrior tries to look around, but cannot find her. She feels that something has changed, she feels something heavy wrapping around her wrists, chest and shoulders. Slowly she turns her gaze to herself and notices her armor.

Gabrielle, unable to believe what she sees, remains in the same place, standing still, while her warrior turns to her, with a new look, a smile of relief accompanied by an anguished look, still disoriented, but adopting that so familiar posture, which conveys a natural authority. The bard runs towards her, hugging her with all her strength.

Xena looks at her, dismayed “Forgive me… for having seen this…”. Gabrielle looks at her seriously, but with a gentle smile “I love you, for who you are…”. The warrior, surprised, lets a tear of relief slip. “Shall we go?” Gabrielle invites her to continue the journey, receiving a more fearless smile from her warrior “Let’s go… together…”. They both head to the next passage still in that dark forest, entering the corridor near the exit of the village.