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Xena: Choose Your own Adventure #2

By Allison

"No, I wasn’t going to say anything," Gabrielle said defensively. Sphaerus eyed the young bard carefully.

They sat there for a while in silence, waiting for Xena to meet them at the small overhang. Gabrielle knew that her best friend was alright...

"Gabrielle?" a voice called out from the side of the cavern.

Gabrielle perked up. "Xena!" she said loudly. She was happy her best friend had come through.

"Let’s go before the Horde realizes I’m missing. Long story," Xena said, answering Gabrielle’s question before it was even asked.

Gabrielle and Sphaerus followed the Warrior Princess through the woods, their path open and perfect to know when there was about to be an ambush.

Xena hopped on Argo eventually and hoisted Gabrielle up. Sphaerus looked up at the two.

Xena offered her arm.

"It’s all right, I’ll walk," the man said.

"Get ready to run," Xena chuckled. She pushed Argo to a gallop, with Sphaerus falling behind. Gabrielle looked at her quizzically from behind. Xena felt the eyes on her and answered the unasked question.

"I want away from these woods as fast as we can. The Horde captured me and I made them angry," Xena grinned.

"Shouldn’t we go back and get him?" Gabrielle asked against the wind. She worried about Sphaerus.

"He’ll be alright," Xena said, intent on getting to a very large opening in the woods. She reached it and dismounted Argo.

"Xena, I feel really guilty about something," Gabrielle confessed. A look of fear flickered on Xena’s face.

"What is it?" Xena asked, straightening the saddle on her horse. Gabrielle explained the conversation she had with Sphaerus. Xena listened carefully the entire time.

"What should I do? Should I tell him now?" Gabrielle asked.

"No. Then you would have been lying. You know that expression ‘what they don’t know won’t hurt them’? Well, it’s like that—" Xena started. Gabrielle interrupted.

"No, Xena. I’m not like that," Gabrielle sighed hopelessly. "I’m gonna tell him."

"Why? To hurt him?" Xena asked slowly and quietly, trying hard to change Gabrielle’s mind.

"Why not? I don’t want him—"

"He won’t! What are you so scared about? He won’t kill you over it! He’ll be able to deal with his anger alone if he finds out on his own!"

Gabrielle thought about Xena’s words. The bard opened her mouth to come back with a response.

"Thanks for waiting," they heard a voice call out. Sphaerus approached them from behind a tree. "What do you have to tell me?" he pursed his lips, ready for the worst. His breathing was heavy and fast.

Xena looked at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle looked at Xena.

"Gabrielle has something to tell you. I’ll be ahead if you need me," Xena sad hastily.

"Gabrielle, is this about what you were going to tell me back in that cave?" Sphaerus asked, still breathless.

"Sort of..." Gabrielle started the story, and prepared herself for an unusual reaction. At the end of her explanation, Sphaerus was silent. He was silent until he left the other two at a fork in the road. No one said goodbye, no thanked anyone, but Gabrielle still felt guilty.

THE END