An Interview With A Bard
by Donald Scott
Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, and Argo all belong to MCA/Universal. Thanks to Anne Rice for the inspiration.
San Francisco Calf. year 1998 time around 9:30 p.m. the reporter was just now inviting the young lady into his apartment which doubled as his office. The reporter took off the leather jacket and placed it on the back of his chair and he motioned for the young lady to come into the dimly lit room. He sat at the desk that had a tape recorder on it, and offered the young lady the chair on the opposite side of the desk.
Jeff:" Hello my name is Jeffrey I'm a reporter. Well I hope to be a reporter. I gather stories about interesting people I see on the streets. Tonight your outfit and your walking stick caught my eye the moment I saw you step out of the shadows in the alley. You've been watching me tonight Haven't you? Because I sensed eyes on the back of my neck since sundown and when I turn around nobody's there."
Gabrielle:" Why yes I have been following you tonight."
Jeff:" May I ask why you have been following me tonight ?"
Gabrielle:" Because I had planned on killing you."
Jeff was shocked by what the young lady had just said then he let out a nervous laugh. "You’re joking right ?"
Gabrielle:" No I'm dead serious but now that I found out that you are a bard I decided to let you live so you can tell my story to the world. Do you want to hear my story?"
Jeff:" Why yes may I record it so I don't get anything wrong?"
Gabrielle nodded Jeff started to search for a tape to the player but couldn't find one "Let me turn on the lights" said Jeff then as he started to get up Gabrielle Said " I'll get it" then in a flash the lights were on. Jeff jumped because he didn't see her move than he saw her fully in the light she was a beautiful young lady she was early to mid twenties but her skin was paler than anybody's Jeff had ever seen her shoulder length strawberry blond hair made her emerald green eyes sparkle but Jeff nothing but sadness in her eyes like she was missing something like a part of her life was missing.
Jeff:" May I ask you a couple of things before you tell me your story?"
Gabrielle:" Yes you may ask your questions but I already know your first question. Why was I going to kill you. The answer is because I'm a vampire and I need blood to survive, was that going to be your first question?"
Jeff:" Your joking there is no such thing as a vampire."
In a flash, Jeff was being raised out of his seat by the girl "YOU THINK I'M JOKING?" as she barred her fangs and her eyes were like a wolf ready to kill it's prey Jeff was scared for he knew he was in danger then all of a sudden she released him he dropped to the floor as he looked up at the person that moments before had him in the air with one arm.
"You’re lucky that you are a bard but don't push your luck do you hear me?" said Gabrielle Jeff got up off the floor and brushed himself off he kept his eyes on her then he returned to his seat and he motioned for Gabrielle to do the same.
Jeff:" My apology for doubting you. What is a bard?"
Gabrielle looked at him in surprise then let out a soft laugh then said "A bard is a storyteller."
Jeff:" Oh thank you for explaining that to me I was wandering what a bard was. How did you become a vampire?"
Gabrielle:" That was many many years ago my friend Xena and I was just walking back to a village well I was walking and my friend was riding her horse we had just finish fighting against some of Caesar’s army...."
Jeff:" You fought against Julius Caesar ?"
Gabrielle:" Yes I did with my friend Xena. Oh how Xena hated him If she ever got her hands on him well letssay Brutus would never have got the chance to kill him because Xena would have done it in a heartbeat."
Jeff:" If you want to we could take a break and get a bite to oops! Forget I ever said that." As he notice Gabrielle's face light up when he said bite." Shall we continual with your story before my interruption."
Gabrielle let out a soft chuckle as she noticed the mistake that Jeff had made but decided to ignore it "Now where was I oh yes on the way back to the village after that battle well it was a peaceful village little did we know what dark terrible secret that it held for us for it was going to cost us both a horrible price. It was a peaceful village kids were playing women and men working in the fields together it was like a story book place I remember like it was yesterday we entered the village I talked Xena into staying a couple of days because we needed the rest oh how I regret doing that now anyway back to the story the inn was nice and pleasant everything about the village was pleasant it was like no violence has ever been there at all no warlord, bandits nothing at all no evil or anything like that at all nightfall came early I asked Xena if it was ok for me to take a peaceful walk in the village she told me it was all right because she even felt the peace and tranquillity herself I took my staff and walked out of the inn oh it was a beautiful night the moon was just coming onto the horizon then I heard it there was a little boy crying I went over to him he could not have been anymore than two years old I bent down to him on one knee to see what was wrong with him."
Gabrielle:" Are you ok?"
Little Boy:" Yes I just can't find my mother and I'm scared."
Gabrielle:" It's ok I'm here and I will protect you and help you find you mother."
Gabrielle picked up the little boy and started walking back to the inn as she entered the door to the inn she saw Xena sitting at the table talking to the innkeeper she went over to the table.
Gabrielle:" Look what I found can we keep him?" letting out a soft chuckle "Sir do you know this little boy I found him outside all alone he said that he can't find his mother and he was scared?"
The Innkeeper:" No this is the first time I have ever seen him and I know everybody in this village."
Xena:" It's getting late do you have a extra room for him ?We will pay you for it ."
Innkeeper:" I'm sorry all my rooms are booked up tonight."
Gabrielle:" He can sleep in my room tonight, as I said finders keepers. "As she snuggled the little boy making him giggle.
They all went to bed Xena felt a little uneasy about Gabrielle taking the little boy with to her room and she woke up at first light and went to check on Gabrielle as she peaked in Gabrielle's room she saw that Gabrielle had spread her bed roll on the floor and was still sleeping but when she looked at the bed where she expected the little boy he was not there instantly she was in the room looking all over for the little boy she went over to wake Gabrielle up as she bent down to wake Gabrielle up she notice two tiny punctures on her neck she shook Gabrielle awake.
Xena:" Gabrielle what happen are you ok?"
Gabrielle:" What happen, I feel weak ."
Xena:" I don't know but were leaving here immediately gather your stuff together now."
We gathered our belongings and left the place like we were being chased by the Horde, I never knew what happen to that little boy. Xena had me up beside her on top of Argo and we both left that village never to return again Xena was worried about me because I was hardly acting like myself not talking nor eating we set up camp at nightfall Xena went hunting for food I stayed behind and set up camp before she left she wanted me to give Argo a treat I told her I will as I went over to give Argo her treat I was hungry I didn't even notice what I was doing and all of a sudden I was biting and feeding on Argo then it happen as I felt Argo's heart stopped I looked back at what I had done for I killed my best friend's horse who was like her companion as I was too her. I collapsed on the ground beside Argo then I felt Xena trying to shake me awake with tears in her eyes she asked me what happen to Argo I told her I didn't know what had happen she started to cry I hugged her trying to make the hurt go away then I felt the hunger again but I resisted it for I knew that I would be feeding on my best friend the next she fell asleep in my arms I gathered my belongings and left her that night I have never seen her again. I lived on the animals of the forest even today I'm still attacking and drinking the blood of animals.
Jeff:" Then why were you going to kill me ?"
Gabrielle: "Because I have not eaten in three days and my hunger is forcing me to hunt so tonight you were going to be my first human for I could not find any animals near now forgive me Jeff but I hunger." In a Jeff was against the wall and he saw the eyes of death as Gabrielle was about to bite him then the door was kicked open and a rabbit was tossed in Gabrielle saw the rabbit and pounced like a wolf on its prey Jeff looked at Gabrielle feasting on the rabbit draining its blood then he noticed a beautiful standing at the door her height was nearly six foot and her beauty matched her elegance her hair was jet black.
Jeff:" Who are you?"
Xena:" I'm Xena her friend."
Gabrielle looked up from the dead rabbit and saw Xena then Jeff saw what was missing from her eyes had return the sparkle of life.
Gabrielle:" Xena how did you become one was it that kid or what?"
Xena:" No it was a friend of ours I'll tell you later are you ok?"
Gabrielle:" Yes I'm fine now thanks for the rabbit."
Xena: "Gabrielle I wasn't talking to you I was talking to him."
Jeff:" Yes I'm fine even though I was scared to death thank you for saving me."
Xena: "Tell her story for it needs to be told."
Jeff:" I will."
Xena and Gabrielle both left the room Gabrielle looking up at Xena "You never did tell me how you became one and don't you dare say it's one of my many skills."
Xena laughed, "No it wasn't one of my many skills take a look."
Gabrielle looked then in the alley way stepped out Argo. Gabrielle ran up to Argo "I still owe you a treat don't I girl ?"
THE END
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