“c1″> 

“c1″>"Pissed? Oh gal, you don’t know half of it.
Gabrielle threw a full-fledged temper tantrum when Theano tried to
tell her that everything would be all right soon. She even accused
her of enjoying what she’s doing."

“c1″> 

There
was a sad smile on Xena’s face. "To Theano doing what
she’s doing today is as difficult as observing it is to
Gabrielle, Anara. But Theano also knows me and that’s why she
knows there is no way out of it. It has to be done. Please, try and
make Gabrielle understand,"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"You can talk to her yourself, Xena, tonight.
Gabrielle was sentenced to a night spend in detention for attacking
the prosecutor."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Let me guess: Theano’s
idea?"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Yes. It’s almost time to continue, now.
Please, don’t be stubborn and answer the questions
honestly."

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

Less
than five candle drops later Xena once again was bound to the
whipping post.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The jury members have some questions regarding
your testimony. First of all: We want you to describe your fight
with Queen Cyane." The Queen announced from behind her
mask.

“c1″> 

Xena
having expected this particular question didn’t need an
incentive to answer. She told them in detail how she fought and
killed the better part of Queen Cyane’s council in the
treetops surrounding the funeral area. When only two of the guards
were left, she knocked Cyane unconscious by jumping unexpectedly
out of a tree. The two royal Guards were worthy opponents but
fuelled by ambition and battle haze she finally managed to overcome
their defences. She even had the time to put some provisional
bandages on the worst of the numerous cuts scattered all over her
body while she waited for Cyane to regain
consciousness.

“c1″> 

“c1″>Xena’s testimony having trailed off too often was
once and again encouraged by Theano’s whip.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Having eliminated all the others I felt rather
cocky but even then I knew that I didn’t stand a chance when
I gave the Queen a chance to take the fight to the trees. I was
good then and I’m good now but I still wouldn’t stand a
chance against her skills. Queen Cyane continued to reason with me
but I was way beyond reasonable. When I fought her, I wasn’t
aware of the injuries I already had sustained. We fought and in my
mind, we were evenly matched. Well, that’s what I wanted to
believe at the time.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The more my own fighting skills were honed over
the following years, the more I began to understand that this
wasn’t true. I used all the skills and all the energy I had
to kill the Queen but she only tried to wear me out. – She
wanted me to face Amazon justice for my crimes and she promised
that my soul would be freed from the evil spirits haunting it, and
that I would find peace. I didn’t listen, I didn’t want
to listen.