The Judgment
By Kristjan Brezovnik

When Velasca reappeared in the Amazon village, Xena and Gabrielle weren't there.

"What do you want, Velasca?" Ephiny demanded.

"Gabrielle said I could return."

"Are you mortal?"

"Yes."

"Are you prepared to face the consequences."

Velasca bit her teeth.

"Yes."

Ephiny studied her for a few moments.

"Take her weapons and take her to jail. Eponin, send someone to get Gabrielle."

Eponin nodded and assigned two Amazons to take away Velasca's weapons and escort her to jail. Ephiny stared after her, confused. Velasca used to be a goddess, but she had given up her powers and came back to face the consequences and that could easily mean death, but Ephiny doubted that Gabrielle would sentence Velasca to death.

It didn't take long for the messenger to reach Xena and Gabrielle and they returned late in the afternoon. Gabrielle immediately went to see Velasca. They stared at each other for a while, Gabrielle observing, Velasca not sure what to say.

"Are you ready to face the consequences?" Gabrielle finally asked.

Velasca took a deep breath.

"Yes," she said.

"You are aware that punishment for what you did is death?"

Velasca bit her teeth.

"Yes."

Gabrielle thought.

"Why did you return?" she then asked.

Velasca looked away and thought. She wasn't quite sure herself. She had tried to live among people without having to use her powers and she had pretty much succeeded in not frying people for every insult and she had even helped people a few times, trying to see how it felt. It had felt pretty good, but there was something missing. It took her a while to figure it out, it was home. Sure, she was a goddess, but she was also an Amazon, a banished Amazon, and she couldn't go back. She wondered if that was how Callisto felt, empty and alone. But she didn't really care, she just wanted it to end. She knew she could just break Callisto's rules and Callisto would kill her for that, but she wanted to go home one last time and die there.

"I don't know," she finally said. "Callisto set some rules of conduct and they made life pretty frustrating. I guess I stopped caring."

"Do you regret what you did?"

Velasca thought. Did she regret it? She had believed that the Amazons were in danger and she had wanted to protect them. She had believed that she would make a better queen than some bard, even if she was a friend of Xena. She knew now that she was blinded and that she did what she should never have done, she led Amazons against fellow Amazons. But did she regret it?

"I don't know," she said.

Gabrielle stared at her for a few more moments and then left. She passed Xena, who lifted her eyebrows at her, and went to Ephiny.

"Tell the Amazons to gather in one hour."

Ephiny nodded and Gabrielle left the village, she needed to think it over. She was aware that Velasca's life was in her hands and she knew that punishment for what Velasca did was death. At least it usually was. Sure, she was the Queen, but if she wanted to spare Velasca's life, she would have to find some pretty good reason or the Amazons would riot.

She was still confused that Velasca had given up her godhood and came back to be judged, knowing that she would most likely die. But, whatever the reason, she felt that Velasca was sincere. If only she could find a solution which would spare her life.

The hour passed all too quickly and Gabrielle went to the throne. She sat quietly, thinking, while the Amazons gathered. Finally the time came and she looked at Eponin.

"Bring Velasca," she ordered.

Eponin nodded and left with two Amazons. They quickly returned with Velasca. Gabrielle looked around and saw that the Amazons looked upset. She took a deep breath and looked at Velasca. She noticed that she seemed to be calm, as if she didn't care. She sighed.

"Velasca," she spoke and the Amazons, who were talking to each other, became silent. "Would you like someone to speak on your behalf?"

Velasca was a bit surprised that she was even asked that.

"No."

"You are accused of treason, rebellion and attempted murder of the Queen of the Amazons, me. How do you plead?"

Velasca sighed.

"Guilty."

"Would you like to say something in defense?"

"No," she said, she just wanted to get it over with.

Gabrielle looked around.

"Would someone like to say something on her behalf?" There were no volunteers and Gabrielle took a deep breath before proceeding. "I know that death is the usual punishment for what Velasca did." She paused and looked around. "We all know what she did and she admits it. But, she was a goddess and she could do what ever she wanted, yet she gave up her godhood and came back to be judged, knowing full well that the punishment for her crimes is death. I, however, wish to give her another chance." She paused and the Amazons started to talk to each other, upset. "She is our sister," Gabrielle continued, "and sisters forgive each other. But she will not be unpunished." She paused again and looked around. "I have talked to her and after thinking the whole thing over, I believe I have found a suitable punishment." She looked at Velasca. "Velasca, I know you came here to die and therefore I sentence you to life." She paused as the Amazons gasped collectively. "I am stripping you of your rank and privileges. You will be the lowliest of the soldiers and you will remain without rank and privileges for the next five years. After that, you can start earning them again." She looked around. "I know some of you hate her, but if I find out that one of you is trying to deliberately discredit her, that Amazon's privileges will be revoked for a year." She looked back at Velasca. "The same goes for you, Velasca. If I find out you're trying to make someone look like she's trying to discredit you, your privileges will be revoked for another five years." She looked around again. "Does anyone want to comment?" she asked.

The Amazons started to confer and Gabrielle patiently waited for a few minutes and observed Velasca.

"Then that would be all," she said when no one spoke for a few minutes. "Ephiny, assign her quarters and her duties and return her weapons."

"Yes, Queen," Ephiny said and went to Velasca.

"The rest of you may go now," Gabrielle dismissed the Amazons and leaned back.

Xena slowly approached her, feeling very proud to be Gabrielle's friend.

"That was one Tartarus of a judgment," she said and smiled.

Gabrielle smiled back.

"Thank you."

The End