The Lila Scrolls

By Jim Yuen

August 2001

Disclaimer: The usual. I borrowed Xena and Gabrielle from Ren Pics and USA Studios.

This story is rated G.

Major SPOILERS for A Friend In Need (Series Finale).

This is the first scroll Gabrielle sent to her sister Lila about six months after Xena and Gabrielle visited Japa. This is my conception of the future direction that Gabrielle takes.

Dear Lila,

How are you and Sarah? Are you in good health? Was the harvest plentiful this year? I’ve missed you both so much. I’ve been traveling through Egyp recently, taking care of business, so to speak and I’m heading home to Greece now.

I’m sure that news of Xena’s death in Japa has reached Greece by now. The memory is still painful to me so I won’t dwell on it right now. Maybe later when I visit you. She finally found the peace and redemption that she so longed for all these years. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life to let her go, but that’s what she most wanted. I loved her too much to deny her that.

I’ve written to Eve about what happened. I hope she gets the scroll soon so she’ll know about her mother. But Chin is far away and she travels about so much. Perhaps she’ll come back to Greece some day soon.

Xena will always remain in my heart. Sometimes I can feel her presence, hear her voice, feel her love…but then sometimes I wonder if it’s just my longing and imagination. Some bard I am, huh? Can’t seem to separate reality from dreams.

After Japa, I went to the land of the Pharaohs to honor a commitment Xena and I made to help in a dispute. It’s a long campaign, so I’ll spare you the details. What was enlightening was that although I am, realistically, a seasoned warrior…"The Battling Bard"…what a title. Strange what history bestows upon the unwary, isn’t it. Anyway, although we devised strategies, adapted tactics as needed and fought too many skirmishes, I found myself seeking a peaceful solution more and more. In time, I was able to get both sides to negotiate win-win terms to end the conflict. I think I enjoyed that more than all the battles we won. I am proud of that.

I came to realize that I’m not Xena; our goals are the same, to do good, but our paths vary. As proficient as I am with weapons, and you’ve got to be when you spar with Xena for six years…to her anything is a weapon and you learn to use them all… still I find that words are my best weapon and I’ve come to accept that fact.

Lila, it may be a while until I see you again. I’m heading for the Queens Council in Amazon territory. I need to be in touch with my adopted sisters again. As an Amazon Queen, I need to ensure that the Nation stands strong and secure. Actually, I’m a queen without a tribe. Melosa’s tribe, my tribe, has its own queen…after all; I was "dead" for twenty five years.

Perhaps I can be sort of a peace envoy for the council, visiting the various tribes, helping with treaties and disputes as I travel about. And yes, before you say it, I will be on the road again. I don’t know when I’ll settle down and stay in one place, but for now traveling is best for me.

Of course, anytime I’m near Poteidaia, you can be sure I’ll be stopping by. Your cooking is getting better than Cyrene’s, Xena’s mom, even though she was an innkeeper. I can’t wait until I taste your nutbread again. it’s so good and moist.

Has Sarah settled in yet? I was concerned that her experiences with that bastard Gurkhan changed her. Gods, how I hated him. He killed Mom and Dad and your man, Lila…I can never forget that. Anyway, if Sarah needs time to regroup, I can ask the amazon tribe near Poteidaia to accept her as a guest, sort of as a temporary adopted member. She can stay with them for a while and decide what to do later. Please let me know if I can help. You can send a message anytime via the amazons and I’ll get it.

Well, Lila, here I am twenty five (not counting the 25 years of sleep) and you’re forty eight now. Strange how the gods and the fates can twist our lives at their whim. My little sister older than me…heh, what a twist. Almost everyone I know is dead now, even Xena is gone. I’m glad I still have you.. It’s time to live the rest of my life, to forge my own path and to find my own peace.

And, yes, I plan to stop by Athens again to visit old friends at the Academy of Bards. I find that I’m beginning to enjoy writing again. It’s such a blessing to be able to tell tales and find the audience enthralled by my stories. Besides, it’s still a good way to earn some extra dinars. Perhaps I’ll find some stylish silk chitons at the market and send them to you. You’ve always wanted them since we were kids. Pale blue, if I remember, like the blouse you wore at the harvest dance with that hunk, Icarus. Hah, thought I’d forget did you?

Live well, Lila. All my love to you and Sarah and I hope to see you soon.

Your loving sister, Gabrielle