The biggest moment that starts the love of these soulmates is a moment where Xena and Gabs are not around each other. Xena has saved Gabrielle and Gabrielle has saved Xena. And instead of going home to her own village, Xena, having said goodbye to the beautiful young woman forever,
drops by Draco's camp to ask one favor. Spare the village. Spare that girl I can't get out of my head. Spare her family and her friends. Let her live a long life protected from invasion. I cannot know her. But l can keep her safe.
Xena, having walked away from being a warrior, immediately picks up her sword and chakram once more to defend Gabrielle. And, at first, she thinks that's their dynamic. But then Gabs flips the script and saves herself, leading Xena to the place where she has hidden more weapons. Leading her to her destiny as she was always meant to. Gabrielle can't let it go and her village stays protected from Draco. But she can't get Xena out of her head either. And thus their story begins. Everything stands and falls on Xena protecting Gabrielle in her village and Gabrielle coming to Xena and protecting Xena in her village. Their dynamic is always one of equality, even when they disagree or Gabrielle feels like she's being treated as a child. They take care of each other instantly, whether the other knows it or not.
