The Xena Scrolls
Scroll # 1: Sins of the Past
July 2, 49 B.C.
It was a warm day in Podedia when the bard awoke as she moved softly through the village. It was a time for new beginnings. For old allies to become new enemies and for new friendships to be born. There was this tall dark woman roaming through the lands of Greece seemingly uncertain of who she really was or what life path she was to take. This dark one was known as Xena the warrior princess. It was said that she had a cruel heart and a violent horrific past. Leading army after army into village after village only to leave them in total ruin and destruction. She was known for looting small towns, and killing anyone who dared to defy her passion for rage. That passion was said to be an evil passion among men throughout Greece.
Most feared her and if they did not fear the Warrior Princess they served her dark reign in the hopes that they would reap the riches that she took from many. But this dark woman trusted no one. Even those who appeared to be her greatest allies she did not see as friends. They were only numbers to be controlled and power to take to the next level.
In the recent past word spread throughout Greece that Xena the warrior princess had had a run in with the great Hercules son of Zeus. She defied Hercules and their confrontation was said to have ended in mercy. It would seem that Hercules had seen something other than a cold-hearted war lord within this mighty warrior princess. And thus this day in Potedia began.
It was just as any other day in my small village. Children playing on the farms, wives doing their daily chores of washing, cooking, cleaning, and caring for the brood loving their husbands faithfully while the husbands tended to their farms and shops. Yet there was something about this day that was to change the face of world as I knew it.
I had heard the great stories of this evil warrior princess and of the many other warlords that had terrorized the countryside. Many travelers had often passed through Podedia and so my worldly education was satisfied. And even though these wonderful travelers had stories of great pain and suffering there were always those that carried the stories of triumph and adventure. Those were my most favorite stories to learn of. They gave me a passion and I discovered my calling yet it was seemingly not a permissible lifestyle for a young maid such as myself.
This was a frustrating thought knowing that all of this passion for storytelling would go no further than this small village of Potedia. Who knew if I’d even be fortunate enough to tell my stories to travelers who might be able to pass them on, But then again…what excitement is there to tell about a small village called Potedia? What could the outside world possibly want to hear about us?
All of my education meant nothing more to me than did my daily life in the fields helping my father or in the kitchen alongside my mother. The only time I ever felt alive was when my sister Lila and I would sneak into the taverns late at night hoping to catch those weary yet exciting travelers. Lila wasn’t as keen on going as I, but she always went.
And then late one night as Lila and I were enjoying the stories of one of the great travelers we heard word of a warlord planning to raid our village. It wasn’t the great warrior princess that this traveler spoke of. It was yet another dangerous kind. His name was Draco. It was said that Draco and his army were planning on sacking our village and taking all of the women to sell as slaves to others within the evil field of the warlord. At that moment I came to a realization. No matter what I had to stand up and fight. I had to fight for my village, my life, my family, my friends, and for anything that I had ever loved. The thought was scary at first yet I wasn’t going to let Draco and his approaching army take me for his cause of evil. I had too much to live for to lay down for evil. And so my mind was made up.
Lila and I had a plan. We decided to go through the village and warn every one of the danger which awaited us all. Yet no one seemed interested in the cause. They seemed even less willing to fight for what was important to them. Everyone just brushed off the arrival of Draco and his army as a normal everyday event. But it wasn’t. People were afraid to fight. They were afraid to protect themselves because of what they had heard about the pain and suffering of other villagers just like us. The people of Potedia only hoped that Draco would spare them. They were counting on bargaining with Draco. Villagers had heard of warlords sparing others for a price, donation, or sacrifice if you would want to call it that. It just didn’t seem fair. And it didn’t seem right.
Our village had been fortunate for several years. We had had excellent luck and had been protected by the will of the Gods from these creatures of evil yet today it was different. Draco’s army had moved in through the dense fog during the early hours of the morning. It was just before sunrise. He was calm and cool. In fact he didn’t appear to be threatening at first. Was it true that our village was going to be spared? And then just a few hours later as the sun rose over the valley Draco’s army began rounding up all of the women of Potedia. His army escorted us out of our homes and took us into the forest.
They were going to use us as slaves and sell us to traders. Draco’s men were rough and unkind. Shoving the weak around, and beating the strong as they took us further away from home. During the journey I kept thinking to myself that this couldn’t be. How could the Gods we trusted have let this happen to us? We had always done what we were asked in worship. Potedia had a high respect for the Gods. Wasn’t that what they wanted? Or had we not done enough?
I thought about this all the while as mothers sobbed and young women wept for their husbands. And then I knew that this great pain was only beginning for us. For the moment I was with my sister, my mother, and my father, but once we were sold they would be gone. We would all be slaves to evil. Anger and fire began to burn inside me as I kept running the future over in my mind. Things that seemed unimportant only hours before became very important. My dreams were shattered and my life worth even less than what I had anticipated. I couldn’t take the thoughts that were flooding through my soul and I couldn’t bare to feel the pain of my friends, and neighbors as we walked on.
At that moment I had made a decision. I had decided that I was going to stand up and fight once more. What could I lose? Even if no one else followed it wouldn’t matter because I knew that I would rather die a thousand deaths than to allow evil to take my soul. And so as our group moved on I stopped. I stopped moving forward and stood folding my arms as if I were a dissatisfied customer at the market. And I was. Others within our group began to follow stopping in defiance against Draco’s men who kept moving forward. Then my sister Lila stopped beside me and asked me what I was doing. Of course I knew exactly what I was doing. Lila then beckoned me to keep moving for she feared that they would beat me for my defiant action. She was trying to keep her voice quiet as she spoke to me, but I stood firm and I spoke loudly in response. I wanted Draco’s men to hear me. I wanted them to hear the people of Potedia.
Speaking with great conviction and defiance of the warriors I tried to drive the rebel spirit into the others around me. Then I stepped forward and demanded that the army take me if they were going to take anyone. I demanded that they spare the others. The warrior men didn’t agree to my offer and they began to shove me around. Others in the group began to stand up and they too received the same treatment. And then just as one of Draco’s men was about to raise his hand to me she appeared. It was the dark woman. My heart stopped as I was being restrained by the vagrant warriors. It looked to be a confrontation between warlords. Our lives were hanging in the balance at that moment and who knew which fate would be worse?
And then it happened. The dark one who was unarmed and not in full armor took on the leader of Draco’s men. She kicked him in the face once, twice, three times knocking him senseless. And then she began to take on the rest of Draco’s men. She took their spears from them knocking out two more. She fought with a vengeance. This woman was seemingly fighting for us, and so we began to fight back. As we fought passionately for our freedom and for our lives Draco’s men began rounding up the women again including myself. One of the evil warriors captured me, but my capture was short-lived for the dark one had soon picked up a broken spear and thrust it at my attacker. I was now free from my restraints as I knocked him to the ground. It felt good to be free again.
And as I gazed up to get a better look at this dark woman I saw another of Draco’s men knock her down from behind. Then the leader of evil laughed for his victory was certain. Now the warrior woman was surrounded by the remaining warriors, and just when it seemed that she had been defeated something extraordinary happened. From underneath the earth she suddenly pulled two weapons. One was a sword and the other a round thing known as the chakram. And then she threw the chakram disarming all of the men surrounding her. It was amazing the way that little round weapon glided through the air honing in on its targets all in one throw!
She leaped forward spinning around to face the leader of Draco’s men. The warrior woman grinned with delight. She fought off two more of Draco’s men with her sword and had finally reached the leader of Draco’s clan. The leader shook in his boots for he now had to face this awesome woman warrior alone. He thrust forward attacking her, but his attack was short-lived for with a single move she had disarmed him of his weapon into the tree above. All was quiet for a single moment and then she laughed and declared that he must be from Draco’s army. And then the warrior woman took her sword and ripped off the stripe of the leader. He did not resist her for he was gripped with fear of this warrior woman. Then she gave him a message revealing her identity. She was Xena, the warrior princess!
The small battle in the forest ended quickly with the lone warrior woman being the champion. And what a rush it was! Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe everything I had heard were stories and nothing more. They always say that most great stories only hold a kernel of truth within them. And even if the evil stories about her were truth I could see that there must be more beyond that. She had given her life for us. We were thankful.
Xena had taken us back to the village and reunited us with our brothers, and fathers. Husbands and wives rejoiced and yet with all of this wonderful energy the warrior woman seemed distant. It was like having a celebrity such as Hercules in town, yet there was something different and mysterious about her. Everyone knew Hercules, but no one really seemed to know Xena only her jaded reputation. And then it dawned on me that this was my chance to have a real story to tell travelers. I could tell them of the great heroism of Xena the Warrior Princess and how she was a changed soul. Yet there was still one question. Who had led the evil warrior princess onto a path fighting for the people rather than against them? This I was going to have to find out.
So I invited the great warrior princess to stay with us for a few days to rest before traveling on. But the town’s people, and my father refused. And so did Xena. In fact she didn’t want anything to do with me. She just kept brushing me off. I tried to impress her with my education, but she knew what I was up to instantly. She told me that I didn’t want to make her mad by trying to follow her, but with a little persistence I felt that I would make some sort of break through. I wasn’t the kind to be put aside so easily. Okay so I was only a lowly little bard from Potedia, but I was proud.
Later that day Lila and I spent a lot of time discussing the many possibilities for Xena’ s change of heart. Lila thought that maybe the warrior princess was schizophrenic. But I didn’t feel that way. There was just something about her that I couldn’t put my quill on, but I had to find out. And so I kept up with my persistence and I even decided at one point that I would take Xena’s suggestion. I was going to travel with her. I mean she was probably lonely and needed a companion. All I could think of was the adventure and seeing everything that there is to see. I wanted to meet the Gods, I wanted to meet the greats, philosophers and bards alike. Heck maybe we could even go to Athens!
I couldn’t see straight in front of me. My head was spinning with thoughts of the warrior princess. And then at sunset Xena had returned to the our village briefly to prepare for her next destination. In my father’s barn as she dressed herself with brass armor and sharpened her sword slipping into those leather boots she spoke of a meeting that she had just had with Draco. She told me that he had spared our village only at the expense of turning south to attack her home village of Amphipolis. The warrior princess was serious in tone and with a grim expression. She was focused on her mission at hand. The dark one had been summoned to her roots because she had saved mine.
With this little bit of information I began to see just a little glimpse of this dark one. It didn’t look as dark on the inside as some may have insisted. My heart jumped with enthusiasm. Not only could I travel with her I could show her the path of good. It was my own little cause and with her there what could be lost? Absolutely nothing and so I continued to persist in my suggestion of being her companion. And again she turned me down. As she jumped onto her great white horse she told me that she didn’t need anyone and that I wouldn’t want to go with her to where she was going. And then she rode off.
For a while I was stunned as she disappeared on the white horse in the distance of green hills. I walked back to my home with such great disappointment as my high hopes had just busted into oblivion. My thoughts were that she really did need me. She just didn’t realize it yet. Later that night as I was lying in bed in the darkness I decided that I was going to go after her. So I quietly packed my sack with everything I expected I would need for my journey. I knew once I met up with her I would have much to write about so I took some fresh scrolls and quills.
Just as I was about to escape the dread of my little village Lila had awakened. I couldn’t lie to her so I told the truth. I spoke of my future and of my plans. She needed to understand that my place couldn’t possibly be in the little village of Potedia for the rest of my life. There was a much larger calling for me that I could feel strongly. And I had especially been feeling this since the arrival of the warrior princess. Although Lila was afraid for me and somewhat disapproving she was supportive of my decision. She gave me a tight long hug as the tears rolled down both of our faces. I loved my sister and family dearly, but I knew I had to go through with it all.
The pain of leaving was greater than I wanted to deal with so I cut our good-bye short and exited through the quiet home and out into the darkness of the night. It was a chilly early morning in late summer and there was a thin fog illuminated by the moonlight. There was so much excitement within my spirit yet there was a tinge of fear. I really had no idea where I should start. Of course my education had included geography, but who knew that I would actually have to use it to travel to another village such as Amphipolis.
As the morning twilight began to fade into the sun rise I crossed over the last green hill that separated me from my past. And then I could no longer see Potedia. It was just me and the great forest. I must have walked for many, many miles before I decided that I had better try to hitch a ride. But on my way to the road to Amphipolis I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere for I found myself meeting up with this one-eyed blind Cyclops. I didn’t know that they really existed, but as I had crossed over a bridge and reached the other side he captured me within his wooden cage. At first I was struck with fear for the stories I had heard of Cyclops’s were that they enjoyed eating the flesh of humans. I wasn’t about the allow myself to be this ugly giant’s breakfast. So I did the only thing I could think of. I told him I knew Xena the warrior princess. Surely that would strike some fear into him. But that didn’t work for she had been by earlier in the day and she had been the one who had blinded him in the first place.
Just when it seemed I would be doomed I came up with another idea. I swore to this giant ugly Cyclops that I was out to destroy the warrior princess. That got him. At first it was a little unbelievable to him, but I convinced him that she would never suspect such a youthful girl to be a sworn enemy to her so it would make it that much easier for me to get to her. The fact that he was blinded helped my case for he couldn’t see how small I truly was compared to the warrior princess. But he didn’t have to know that. He demanded that I bring him back a leg of the warrior princess when I had finished my deed. But who needs one leg when you can have them both? Then he agreed to release me and upon my release he demanded more of the warrior princess, but I warned him that he was asking for a little too much.
Luckily for me I knew that there was a main road somewhere near the village of Potedia so I headed in that general direction after my encounter with the dumb Cyclops. Hours went by before a traveler passed and was kind enough to stop for me. Of course I had to lie on the ground in the middle of the road to get some attention, but it worked. The god Hermes had blessed me with this older fellow who was hauling some hay. At first the old fellow wasn’t amused by my clever skill in getting his attention, but I pleaded with him. In fact, I promised him a fresh steed for his services from my father Dolan of Amphipolis, and I promised to tell him some great stories. I was going to tell him the story of Edipus King of Thieves which had been told to me by a great traveling bard once. With a smile he helped me up onto his wagon although he has expressed to me that there were no horse dealers in Amphipolis. Who knew he was a seasoned traveler?
Things were already going very well. I told so many stories, but most of them were my stories about the Gods or stories that weren’t my own. And then after a while he asked me why I was going to Amphipolis and so I told him my great story of my encounter with the Warrior Princess. He couldn’t believe that she had agreed to a travel companion, but he didn’t have to know that the details had not been completely worked out. In my heart I knew they would work themselves out. Besides I was determined.
Finally after many hours we came to my stop. It was just five miles north of Amphipolis for we had to take a detour away from the army of Draco approaching the village. The excitement was building within and as I said good-bye to the gentleman he wished me good fortune. And then I was off on the last leg of my trip. It took a long time to finally reach Amphipolis, but when I finally arrived I knew just where to find the warrior princess. Across the way I spotted her trusty white steed. As I approached her horse there was a commotion just inside the tavern. Deciding to investigate this little event I walked inside the tavern and all of the towns people were in a fury.
They were furious with the one who had saved my village. People cursed her and even her own mother had turned against the warrior princess. They spoke of a great battle which Xena the warrior princess had led them into which had resulted in many village deaths years before. At that moment I felt her pain and anguish although I didn’t fully understand it. It seemed as if she had no one in the world. Even Xena’s mother was angry at Xena. All she wanted to do was to protect her people, family, and friends, but no one wanted to stand up and fight. It was just like my village. Xena was just like me. Only I couldn’t figure out what had turned her to the darkness. I had a few conjectures. Maybe it was her failure to save all of the people in the last battle? Or maybe it was something else.
I kept listening and I stayed low. After Xena’s mother had left Xena to the wolves Xena asked of her people to go ahead and fight her. No one moved and not a word was spoken. Xena then pulled her sword and asked the people of Amphipolis to take their revenge on an unarmed woman knowing that they feared her. And then the towns people began to throw stones and other various objects at Xena. She took all of it. Every bit of anger, and hate that resided within that little village of Amphipolis she took. There was seemingly so much sadness in her heart, but Xena was careful to stand strong. It was as if she was taking responsibility for everything. I couldn’t bare to watch this scene as they descended upon her. She wasn’t going to save herself so that was when I stepped in. I told every one of Xena’s real intentions. I spoke of how she saved my village, and I scolded them for treating her with disrespect for her deeds.
After convincing the villagers of Amphipolis to spare Xena’s life we were asked to leave. Xena was bewildered by my actions, but I knew what I was doing. I picked up her sword off of the table where she had surrendered it for her execution and returned it to her mighty hands. It was quite a strange experience for it was the first time I had ever handled a sword. She took it and lead the way out of the tavern. I followed her with great pride for I was clearly in with her now. But when we reached the outside of the tavern she jumped upon her white horse and was about to ride off again without me. Now this couldn’t be right for I had just saved her life. I suggested that I could jump upon the horse behind her, but she refused me once again. So I played my final card. I reminded her of what I had just done for her in the tavern. I could see that it was not going to be easy to gain her trust. That part of her legendary story was true. But then for a moment she thought about my coming to her defense back in the tavern. When I saw that look in her piercing blue eyes I knew I was in. She reached down reluctantly and helped me upon her horse.
It was my first step in becoming her traveling companion. I was excited to know where we were going to go next so I inquired of her. She had said that we were going to go and visit her brother. I couldn’t wait to meet him because if he was half as exciting and skilled as Xena then I knew we would get along and maybe we would have something in common. He had to be better than Perdicas my betrothed back in Potedia.
When we arrived at her brother’s I came to a sudden dark realization. Her brother Lycious had been killed in the great battle at Amphipolis where it had all begun for Xena. This explained why Xena’s mother had been so angry at Xena. She must have blamed her daughter for the death of her son. At this dark lonely place Xena went inside to pay respects to Lycious. For a moment I stayed outside with her horse, but I couldn’t resist knowing more. I peaked quietly around the corner in an attempt not to disturb her. Lycious’s tomb was beautiful and designed with much love from family and village friends. Xena quietly approached his tomb as small tears began to trickle down the warrior’s cheeks. What a contrast that was. One wouldn’t visualize an evil warlord to have the ability to feel compassion. Yet this warrior woman was feeling something. There was light within her soul still after all of the horrible things that she had done in the days since the death of Lycious.
I was beginning to understand why all of the people of her village were angry at her. They had blamed her for the deaths of their loved ones. Even her mother was angry at her. Again I could feel her pain and I knew that I had to make it known to her that she had someone. She felt so alone. She had to know that someone was there. I approached her. There was a great urge to console her, but I was afraid of what she might do. I was afraid that she would reject me and I felt I needed her as much as she needed me. She was still cold in response to my compassion for her, but there was light seeping through the cracks.
Later that evening Draco came storming into Amphipolis with his army. He made Xena an offer. Xena refused it and she was defiant. She challenged him to a duel. It was to be a fight to the death. This battle of two warlords took place on the heads of the villagers of Amphipolis. It really was a peculiar location for a battle, but then again all great stories have this element of the impossible. But believe me it was possible! The battle was intense as Draco smashed Xena with his weapon. Xena took a few shots, but delivered them back with the same caliber of force. I felt the energy as I cheered my new friend on. And after flipping and tumbling, jumping and leaping, the fight came to a standstill for a split moment. Suddenly Xena delivered the final blow to her opponent the warlord Draco. He fell backwards off of the townspeople’s heads and onto the floor in the middle of the crowd. He was surrounded by the villagers of Amphipolis. Just as he was knocked to the floor Xena maneuvered through the air gracefully flipping to the ground. She held her weapon to him and had chosen to do the unthinkable. She had decided that she would spare his life.
As Draco rose from his defeat one of his men was about to pull a weapon on the merciful champion when Draco struck him down. Though Draco was an evil warlord he showed his humanity by saving Xena and accepting his defeat. It was as if he had a high respect for the one who had struck him down. She had taken two villages away from him in the span of just two days. On a final word of this conflict it was made known to Draco that he was not to interfere in the affairs of the people of Amphipolis ever again. Xena made it known that she would be there if he should ever try his fate again. Maybe next time he wouldn’t be so lucky.
After Draco’s exit Xena’s mother invited me to stay with her. Xena didn’t seem to be too keen on the idea, but she didn’t have a choice because I had traveled all of this way and I wasn’t about to go back to little Potedia. In fact, now I had two great tales of the warrior princess. I wasn’t about to stop there. I had to know more. I had to do more. Xena was the answer to all of my prayers to the Gods for a life of travel and adventure. I was ready.
Xena’s mother was kind and she seemed glad to hear that her child had done some good in the world by saving my village. And of course I had to tell the story once again. Everyone was going to hear about this kind-hearted warrior woman. It was hope for all and it had to be spread throughout the countryside. Yet Xena didn’t seem to carry much hope in her heart. She just seemed more confused about her situation. And she was still very secretive. In the day or more that I spent in the village of Amphipolis Xena kept distant, but was tolerant of my presence.
And so the next morning Xena was off again. She was leaving her village with an uncertain destination. I had to rush to catch up to her because I knew that she would try to leave me in the village hoping that she could get rid of someone who was seemingly a pest to the warrior woman. But I knew I wasn’t anything of the sort. I was a friend and probably her only friend at this point. I followed Xena all day long until nightfall. I was waiting for her to run into some more trouble so that I could prove to her that she really did need me and that I could be a great warrior too. I just needed a little practice and education. And though I had been following her all day she had known I was behind her all along because when I approached her camp I had to admit that I was an amateur at this traveling the high road business.
She then insisted that I was going to be taken home to Potedia on the very next morning. I refused her reminding her that I would just keep following her when she tried to leave me again. I struggled to explain to my new friend of how I didn’t belong back there. She didn’t understand what it was like to be different. And just when I had expressed my disappointment in her rejecting my company once again she understood me. She understood what it was like to be different and out-of-place for she too was different and out-of-place. She had once been evil and now she had a new purpose in life. Xena was just a little uncertain of what that new purpose was.
And then I knew what it was that I must do. I had to show Xena her light. I had to show her what she was capable of and to show her what I could see within her. Of course it was the least I could do for the one who had saved my life beyond the breath in my lungs.
The very next morning Xena and I packed up camp. We walked for a few miles and Xena warned me that we would be facing a lot of danger and trouble. I told her that I expected that. She then asked me why someone would want to follow her into all of that. I told her that it was what friends do for each other. And after what seemed like a very long pause my anticipation was dissolved. Xena the Warrior Princess grabbed my arm and helped me up onto her horse. The strange thing about it was that even though I had traveled a great distance from Potedia stepping upon Xena’s horse felt like home. I grabbed on tightly feeling great enthusiasm for I knew our journey together was going to be a special one. And then as before it was a day for new beginnings. It was acquaintances beginning new friendships and for sins of the past to be forgiven. And if not by the sinner by those who felt great compassion for her.
Gabrielle
The Bard of Potedia