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Xena: Choose Your own Adventure #2
By Allison
| CHAPTER #9 ----- BORED |
H = 2 & 25, X = 2 & 12 |
The days passed, and Gabrielle grew fond of the three children, but felt like she was baby-sitting twenty-four hours a day.
She enjoyed telling stories, but felt like she was in a dream all of the time. Not a nightmare, not a good dream. Just something that she didn't recognize, something she sort of wanted to go away.
Boredom.
She had never felt that with Xena. Everything was always fun around Xena, and Gabrielle missed the adventures they had, and the stories she told along the way.
"Gabrielle, would you clean up Argo? I was teaching Lykus to ride this morning, and I never got a chance to brush Argo down afterwards," Xena said to Gabrielle. They were both in the kitchen, and Xena was making something over the fireplace. Gabrielle had wondered that - lately, when Xena was cooking, the food was actually edible. Gabrielle knew Xena wanted to stay with Darius, but didn't know how to tell Gabrielle. Gabrielle nodded in response to Xena's question.
"Why not? Nothing else to do," Gabrielle muttered under her breath.
"What?" Xena asked.
"Nothing," Gabrielle sighed, walking out of the kitchen.
For the first time in the entire time period they had been at Darius', Xena realized that she was hurting Gabrielle.
The next day marked the two month anniversary Xena and Gabrielle had been there.
In the stables, Gabrielle brushed down Argo and gave him some fresh water. Sarita came in.
"Hello," Gabrielle smiled at the small child.
Sarita smiled back. "I'm bored," she said.
"You and me both," Gabrielle chuckled. She picked Sarita up and sat her on Argo.
"Want to go for a ride?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yeah!" the young child clapped her hands.
Gabrielle couldn't help laughing, and untied Argo, leading the horse out. They stayed out in the field for about an hour, until the sky looked threatening.
Thunder rumbled and echoed in the distance.
"I'm scared," Sarita's eyes went wide.
"I thought you were bored!" Gabrielle tried to lighten things up. Sarita didn't make any attempt to relax.
"Come on!" Gabrielle could hear a faint call. She turned around to see Xena trying to get their attention to come back in the stables.
"Be right there!" Gabrielle yelled back. She heard a low rumbling.
Gabrielle and Sarita turned around at the same time to see a funnel cloud far away in between a mountain and a low hill.
"What's that?" Sarita's voice trembled.
Gabrielle's eyes went wide. "I don't know."
Argo neighed and bucked. Sarita screamed as she was tossed off. By reflex, Gabrielle reached out to catch Sarita, and dropped Argo's lead rope. Sarita fell to the ground, and Gabrielle picked her back up immediately. Argo galloped off towards the barn. Gabrielle looked towards the barn. Then she realized she didn't know where they were. The wind was so fast that it had picked up dirt and was flinging it around in all directions.
Gabrielle covered her own eyes with one hand, and Sarita's eyes with her other hand.
Sarita started to cry. Gabrielle held her close and let go of her eyes to whistle for Argo. No response.
"Xena!" Gabrielle called. Sarita's bawling was loud, and Gabrielle was nervous. What was going on? Gabrielle started walking in one direction, Sarita in her arms.
"Ah!" Gabrielle cried out as she tripped in a ditch. She realized where they were. They were in the ditch right beside Xena's garden of wheat and corn.
"We'll wait here," Gabrielle said to Sarita, trying to comfort the scared girl.
About ten minutes later, the wind had stopped, but the sky still looked like rain. Sarita had fallen asleep in Gabrielle's arms, and Argo poked his head out of the stable.
Gabrielle saw that they were just yards away from the house and barn. She sighed.
"Gabrielle! Sarita!" Darius came running out.
"Daddy!" Sarita woke up and stood up, running to her dad. Gabrielle smiled, relieved.
Xena stepped out of the house and walked jogged over to Gabrielle.
"Are you all right?" Xena asked, helping Gabrielle out of the shallow ditch.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What was that, Xena?" Gabrielle asked quietly.
"I'm not exactly sure, but I have encountered that before when my army once crossed through these parts," Xena answered.
It was then Gabrielle noticed that Xena had her armor on, sword in place, and chakrum in her shotgrip.
"Xena..." Gabrielle tilted her head in question.
"We can't risk putting others in danger. If this was a sign from the gods, then I don't want Darius, Augolis, Lykus, and Sarita in danger because of me," Xena explained.
"You're worth it, though," Darius spoke up, holding Sarita. Xena turned around. Half of Xena wanted to stay with Darius forever. The other half wanted to leave and continue having adventures with her best friend.
"I can't..." Xena shook her head.
Lykus and Augolis ran outside.
"I thought I told you both to stay inside?" Darius scolded lightly.
"We couldn't help it! We wanted to make sure Sarita and Gabrielle were alright!" Augolis spoke out.
Xena smiled. Darius loosened up.
"I'll miss you," Darius put Sarita down and motioned for the three children to go back into the house. Gabrielle took that as her cue and went with them.
"I'll miss you, too," Xena whispered.
"If you change your mind..." Darius stopped.
Xena nodded. "I visited once, so don't worry - there will be a second time."
"Maybe a longer visit?"
"Maybe..." Xena hugged Darius and they stood there for the longest time.
"I love you," they said at the same time. They looked at each other, surprised.
Argo neighed in the barn.
"Goodbye," Xena let go of Darius' hand.
Darius just watched as Xena walked briskly inside the barn. By nightfall, Gabrielle and Xena were ready to go.
"Thank you again," Gabrielle said as all six of them left the barn. The three children just stood there and watched.
"I was just learning to ride, too," Lykus pouted.
Xena chuckled. "I'll be back," she promised.
Darius managed a tight lip smile as the two travelers went out of sight over the hill.
"Xena, you didn't have to do that," Gabrielle said.
"Yes, I did," Xena smiled at her best friend. "I'm not going to put you in that position anymore. I promise," Xena kept walking.
Gabrielle smiled.
This is how it should be, the bard thought.
"Where to next?" Xena asked, stopping at a fork in the road. They looked at the sign.
It said: Left - Caves of the Cyclops; Right - Festival of Hercules.
Gabrielle looked at Xena and shrugged.