Gabrielle's Story
Xena: Warrior Princess had not one but two heroes, thus two stories. "Separated, but forever connected." So said Naiyima in Between the Lines.

Xena's story was that of a power-hungry warlord turned do-gooder trying to find forgiveness and redemption, which she ironically could never seem to allow herself to accept. As the title character, Xena's journey was most often the main focus of the show. However, Gabrielle's presence was always felt, sometimes subtly, other times more prominently.

More than just a side-kick and traveling companion, Gabrielle was Xena's best friend, confidant, conscience, "light", "way", true love and soul mate for all eternity. But look closer and you will find that Gabrielle's own personal journey is just as compelling, and maybe even more heroic than that of Xena's, depending on your point of view.

Gabrielle chose to follow and stay with Xena. She chose to stay on the path to becoming a warrior, despite her belief in love and peace. In doing so, she made the conscious decision to allow her soul to be continually beaten up by war and death and the constant struggles of a life fighting for the greater good. "You're the brave one," Xena admitted to her friend in One Against an Army.

Xena became a warrior as a reaction to the cruel world invading her childhood. As Xena said to Gabrielle in The Price, "You understand hatred but you've never given into it." This is the difference between them. Xena did succumb to hatred and became an evil person as a result. The reformed Xena needed Gabrielle in her life to keep her on her new path, keep her from slipping back to her old ways. Gabrielle brought out Xena's humanity.

Gabrielle had an advantage over Xena. She possessed a loving, brave, pure heart that was able to weather all adversity. Then add to that the knowledge and skills to survive and fight the cruelties of the world, which she learned from Xena and their experiences together, and Gabrielle would inevitably manage very well on her own. It's the love Xena and Gabrielle had for one another that kept them together.

In the end, Gabrielle became the ultimate warrior, who most likely would surpass Xena's abilities towards affecting the world.

The following is a list of essential episodes which canonize Gabrielle's story arch.

Season 1 Overview
Becoming the chronicler of Xena's quest to fight for the greater good,
Gabrielle follows Xena's path in order that she might become like Xena.

"You've got to take me with you, and teach me everything you know." ~ Sins of the Past
Sins of the Past - Gabrielle, an innocent, spirited young girl, meets Xena, the warrior princess, and sets out on a life of adventure, danger, and love. Gabby is unaware of the changes and decisions she'll face along the way.

Dreamworker - In Gabrielle's pursuit to be more like Xena, her "blood innocence" is threatened. With some clever thinking and ingenuity (inspired by Xena's guidance) Gabby manages to keep her hands clean of blood by not killing anyone.

The Titans - Gabrielle gets a taste of power and attention when she awakens three Titans. Of course, she learns that power comes with a price, as well as responsibilities she's unable to handle. However, her cleverness with words and abilities as a bard ultimately help to defeat the Titans.

Hooves and Harlots - Gabrielle selflessly attempts to save the life of an Amazon Princess, who bestows her "right of cast" upon Gabrielle, making her an Amazon Princess, as well. Gabby gets her first weapon, a staff, along with lessons on how to use it. The right of cast also makes Gabrielle Terreis' avenger. By Amazon law she must kill the murderer with Terreis' sword. Thank the gods Xena shows up in time to stop the death sentence from being carried out.

Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts - Gabrielle reacquaints herself with her former fiancé, Perdicus, who's become a soldier.

Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards - Gabby leaves Xena to compete with other bards for entrance into the Academy. She wins the competition, but chooses to rejoin Xena and continue their journey together.

The Prodigal - After a near miss with thugs on the road, Gabrielle questions whether she's suited to this dangerous life with Xena, so she goes home to Poteidaia to think things out. When she gets there she's put into action to save the town from a warlord and give a warrior back his courage, making her aware that she does have what it takes to continue on with Xena.

The Greater Good - With Xena out of commission, Gabrielle takes the lead to save a village from the warlord of the week, learning to focus on the greater good. Gabby faces the reality of a potential life without Xena.

Callisto - Gabrielle declares her belief in ending the cycle of hatred through love.

Season 2 Overview
Gabrielle's innocence and idealism is being tested more and more.
But through her relationship with Xena and their experiences,
she is maturing into a wise, young woman. Where a year earlier,
she followed Xena rather blindly, now she's developing her own ideas
and opinions about what they do and why. She's able to stand up to Xena
when necessary and defend what she believes in.

"That's the price [of war], isn't it? Losing your humanity. Well, you were right, Xena.
If I'm going to die, I'm going to die my way." ~ The Price
Return of Callisto - Gabrielle marries Perdicus only to become a widow the morning after, thanks to Callisto's vengeful blade. Gabrielle gets her first taste of hatred and seeks revenge. In answer to Xena's prayers, Gabrielle stops herself at the last minute from killing Callisto. "I won't take a life... even yours." Xena takes care of it for her.

The Quest - With Xena dead, Gabrielle returns to the Amazons, deciding to stay and take over as Queen. Gabrielle acquires her very own nemesis when she takes the queen's mask away from Velasca. They then fight (with Xena's help) to get their hands on a stash of ambrosia. Gabrielle uses a piece of it to bring Xena back to life.

The Price - Gabrielle takes a stand against Xena, who's reverted back to her dark side while trying to save a fort full of soldiers against "the Horde." Gabrielle becomes the hero of the day when her stand for peace wins out over continued war.

Season 3 Overview
"The Rift" changes not only Xena and Gabrielle's relationship, but each as individuals.
For Gabrielle it's a year of tremendous change. The producers' decision to write the
"deconstruction of a hero" was in reference to Gabrielle, not Xena. With all that happens
to Gabrielle and all that she does in season three, it's clear that the blonde bard of Poteidaia
will never be the same again. Gabrielle has to come to terms with her own actions and decisions,
and how she affects the world around her.

G - "I hope I never disappoint you, Xena."   X - "Impossible." ~ The Debt I
The Deliverer - Gabrielle succumbs to Khrafstar and his peace and love talk, which turns out to be bunk. As a result, Gabby loses her "blood innocence" and is violated by Dahak, the dark one.

Gabrielle's Hope - Gabrielle gives birth to Dahak's child, which she names Hope. Xena realizes the child is evil and determines to kill her. Gabby stands up to Xena to protect her child, whom she believes can be good with Gabrielle's influence. Unfortunately, in order to save her daughter's life, Gab must let her child go, and lie to Xena in the process.

The Debt I & II - Gabrielle betrays Xena by thwarting her attempt to kill the Emperor of Chin. Thus putting Xena in prison. "My reverence for life kept a brutal tyrant in power and lead to my best friend's execution." Then Xena lies to Gabrielle about killing Ming T'ien.

The Quill Is Mightier - A comedy in which Gabrielle's scroll is enchanted by Aphrodite. Whatever is written on the scroll will come true. Gabby learns that words are more powerful than she realized. It's not only what she writes but how she writes it. Another lesson about the price and responsibility of power.

Maternal Instincts - Gabrielle pays the ultimate price for her lie. Hope, now a pre-teen, finds her mother, who still wants to believe in her daughter's innocence. Horrifically, Hope kills Xena's son, the final blow that tears apart the greatest friendship in history. Gabrielle poisons Hope, and Xena and Gabrielle walk away in opposite directions at final fade out.

The Bitter Suite - Xena and Gabrielle learn the power of love and forgiveness.

One Against an Army - Gabrielle is seriously wounded with a poisoned arrow, and must face her own mortality. "A long time ago I accepted the consequences of our life together, that it might one day come to this." Xena has a harder time accepting the potential loss of her partner.

When in Rome... - While saving a Gaelic rebel from Caesar, Xena puts Gabrielle in the unpleasant position of being a part of another man's death. Gabrielle ultimately plays judge and jury by choosing not to help Crassus survive execution. As Steven Sears points out in his DVD commentary, Gabrielle comes of age, not only losing her innocence but her naiveté about the world and her place in it. She realizes that she must take responsibility for her own actions.

Forget Me Not - Gabrielle faces her own guilty conscience by admitting that her betrayal of Xena in Chin had more to do with her jealousy of Lao Ma than her desire to save Xena from her dark side.

Fins, Femmes and Gems - Under a spell from Aphrodite, Gabrielle becomes obsessed with herself - revealing her subconscious feelings of not being more appreciated by others, especially Xena.

Sacrifice I & II - Hope returns to set her evil father's plan to take over the world into motion. In order to save Xena, Gabrielle becomes the sacrifice as she once again must stop her daughter, this time by pulling Hope, and herself, down into a pit of lava.

Season 4 Overview
The first three seasons focus on Xena's quest for redemption,
with Gabrielle following along to help by being Xena's "light" or conscience.
In season four, Gabrielle begins her own quest, to discover what she's meant to do in this life.
Gabrielle has lost her innocence and now begins to question whether
Xena's warrior path is also her path.

"How can I be your way when I'm lost myself?" ~ A Family Affair
A Family Affair - After miraculously surviving the pit fall, Gabrielle must face off with her daughter for the 3rd and last time. Xena and Gabrielle watch as Hope is killed once and for all by her own monster child, the Destroyer. At the end of the day, with all that's happened, Gabrielle admits that she has lost her way. Xena promises to stand by her in her search.

A Good Day - Another encounter with Caesar puts Gabrielle, yet again, in a compromising position... leading men to possible death in battle. At first refusing, Gabby eventually steps up to the plate and does what needs be done to fulfill Xena's plan. Yet, when a soldier needs saving, Gabrielle chokes at the last minute and misses her mark. Gabrielle must deal with the fact that the wounds and scars of war are not always of the flesh.

Crusader - In her quest to find her way in the world, Gabrielle momentarily succumbs to the seemingly favorable path presented to her by Najara, a warrior for "the light." However, this path ends up having some serious flaws that Gabrielle can not condone. Her search continues.

Paradise Found - Gabrielle encounters yet another path option while journeying to India. Through Yoga, Gabrielle finds the peace and self-forgiveness she's been seeking. Unfortunately, her teacher, Aiden, wishes to use Gabrielle's peaceful power for his own dastardly purposes. Ironically, Xena's dark side saves the day.

Devi - Gabrielle's dream of becoming a healer turns into reality. Only, it turns out that her new powers are the result of being inhabited by a demon spirit. Yet, being the positive person she is, in the end, Gabrielle maintains her faith that there is a healing power who's purpose is for good. And their new friend Eli seems to be a conduit for that power.

Between the Lines - Gabrielle discovers that in the next life her reincarnated soul will come back as a male warrior named Shakti. She is also assured that Xena and her souls are linked throughout eternity - past, present and future.

The Way - While Xena commits to her own way as a warrior, Gabrielle takes on the way of peace and love, now being lived and taught by Eli. However, Gabby insists that she and Xena must stay together.

The Play's the Thing - Upon returning from India, Gabby sets out to spread her "message of peace" to the masses by transforming one of her scrolls into a play. She learns that people don't respond well to preachy art, and that folks need to figure things out for themselves in their own way.

Endgame - Upon Ephiny's death, Gabrielle takes over as Queen of the Amazons. With Xena as her commander, they lead the Amazon troupes into battle with Pompey... and Caesar. Gabby shows off her budding abilities as a wise diplomat and powerful leader.

Ides of March - When Xena is struck down by her own chakram (thanks to Callisto's spirit), Gabrielle chooses the way of friendship by fighting and killing Roman soldiers in Xena's defense. Neither of them survive, however, as they are both crucified, side by side... Together forever.

Season 5 Overview
Gabrielle's new found commitment to the way of the warrior comes in handy
when Xena finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.
Gabrielle is required to fight more than ever before. She is Xena's equal partner,
yet Gabrielle has clearly become her own person.

"My path is with Xena, helping her however I can.
I'll do whatever I have to do to protect her." ~ Chakram
Fallen Angel - On their way to Heaven, demons attack the ascending spirits of Xena and Gabrielle, and Gabby falls to Hell. Demon Callisto forces a reluctant Gabrielle into becoming a demon also, but arch-angle Xena arrives, saving both Gabrielle and Callisto. In Heaven, Gabby faces a new, angelic Callisto and finds it in her heart to forgive her old nemesis. Although arch-angle Gabrielle fights to save a demonize Xena, it is ultimately Callisto (through Eli) who saves them both and returns them to life on Earth.

Chakram - Gabrielle gets new weapons, the sais, and becomes instantly proficient of their use... without lessons. She also accepts that her place is with Xena and her way is that of a warrior.

Succession - Ares works his manipulations in order to test Gabrielle's worthiness and offer her a place by his side as his champion. She refuses to play his game.

Little Problems - With a pregnant Xena out of commission (thanks to Aphrodite), Gabby must fight off a band of thugs and find a way to transfer Xena's spirit back into her body.

Seeds of Faith - Because of Xena's pregnancy, Gabrielle has become a woman on guard, ready to protect Xena at any cost. However, Xena thinks Gabby still needs to work on her judgment as to when to fight and when not to. Gabrielle finds herself being pulled in all directions - Xena expects her to save Eli, Eli pleads with her to let him die and fulfill his destiny, and Ares continues his pursuit of her conversion to his world view, "Might is right, even when it's wrong." Ultimately, Gab defies Xena and does what Eli wants, then stands up against Ares to protect Eli's followers.

Punch Line - Gabrielle has been focused for so long on being Xena's protector, she's ignored her writing. Aphrodite tries to help Gabby rekindle her inner bard.

Kindred Spirits - While hiding out with the Northern Amazons, Gabrielle tries convincing Xena to settle down there with her and Eve, Xena 's daughter. This would give Gabrielle the opportunity to help the Amazon nation as their Queen. Xena strongly resists this plan until she reads Gab's scrolls for the first time - realizing that she would love to see Gabby become the wonderful Queen she's capable of being. In the end, Gabrielle understands that she and Xena have things to do, places to see, a life to live... elsewhere.

Season 6 Overview
Gabrielle is in her final stages of becoming Xena's equal as a warrior.
She makes more mistakes and even more difficult decisions.
But her path is set and there's no turning back.

G - "With each battle I lose more of myself."
X - "War's tough on the soul, Gabrielle." ~ To Helicon and Back
Who's Gurkhan? - Returning home after their 25 year absence, Gabrielle learns of her parents' death and her niece's abduction. She sets out in search of revenge, only to realize that murder is not her way, as it would make her a monster just like the man she wants to kill.

Legacy - Xena and Gabrielle meet nomads in Northern Africa who worship "Xena, the Legendary Warrior Princess" and "Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Poteidaia." First Gabby must face the fact that over time her own legendary image has become that of a warrior more than that of a bard. Then Gabrielle accidentally kills an innocent, young man. Incapable of lying about her actions, she accepts her punishment. It's up to Xena to go against the greater good to save her partner. "Gabrielle, in everyone's life there's something that goes beyond the greater good. That's what you are in my life." Once again, Gabrielle must deal with the realities of her chosen path.

The Abyss - Still haunted by the death of the innocent boy she killed, Gabrielle is wounded in a fight. In her delirium, Gabby unknowingly shares with Xena her continued pain over Hope. In the final battle, however, Gab recommits to her warrior path by killing an entire tribe of cannibals with one mighty stroke of her sais. At the end of the day, Gabrielle knows she must learn to live with her mistakes. "That's the way."

The Ring - Knowing that Xena's path is her path, Gabrielle follows Xena, who had left her partner behind in order to right another wrong she did in her evil past. After the two are reunited, Gabrielle finds herself the object of two other warriors' affections. Xena and Gabby's companions, Brunhilda and Beowulf, both fall in love with Gabrielle's goodness, risking their lives in her defense. Gabrielle has to explain to a determined Brunhilda that her place is with Xena. Brunhilda ultimately sacrifices herself by becoming an eternal flame in order to protect Gabrielle from Odin, the Norse god who wants her dead.

Path of Vengeance - As an Amazon Queen, Gabrielle challenges Varia, another Amazon Queen, to a fight for leadership in order to save Eve from execution. Varia wins the fight, but eventually loses her battle for vengeance.

To Helicon and Back - Believing there is strength in numbers, all the Amazon nations join together as one. After an attack, Gabrielle takes command of what's left of their troupes in a war against the son of Artemis, who seeks revenge for his mother's death. Xena tries to help as best she can, but ultimately it's up to Gabrielle. "Half of my tribe lies dead on the beach. Now I have to be as cold and ruthless as I can be. I'll do whatever I have to to keep these women alive." At the end of the battle, it's Xena who must pull Gabrielle back from the brink, after being taken over by blood lust.

When Fates Collide - The eternal connection between Xena and Gabrielle is tested by a manipulative Caesar who escapes from Tartarus to capture the Fates and their loom, and change history in his favor. However, everyone learns that what is meant to be will be, no matter what path they take. Caesar will be betrayed and killed by someone he doesn't expect, Caesar will crucify Xena, and Xena and Gabrielle will meet, bond, and in one way or another, change the world.

Friend in Need II - Upon Xena's death, Gabrielle takes her place as the ultimate warrior, fighting for the greater good.

G - "I love you, Xena. How am I suppose to go on without you."
X - "I'll always be with you, Gabrielle. Always."
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