Gabrielle, an inhabitant of Potidaea, is a spirited soul. Even from her first encounters with Xena, she showed a sense of adventure. Gabrielle managed to talk, albeit pester Xena into letting her tag along for the journey. She had a yearning for something outside the small, simple life of Potidaea. Xena was that key. Innocent and sweet, she had never had to fight with her hands. Instead, she worked out her conflicts with words and her stories. She also had to be Xena's confidant and guide, especially when Xena's dark past would emerge and tempt her back into an evil life. Even with these skills, she managed to learn to fight with a staff that was given to her by the Amazons.

Although she remained clean from shedding blood, she was able to hone her skills and become a valuable asset in a fight instead of a liability. During her travels with Xena, she was reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Perdicas. They parted ways once at the battle of Troy, but found themselves together again following another battle. She made up her mind and the two were married with Xena watching over. Callisto, having escaped from her prison cell, killed Perdicas in cold blood. This destroyed Gabrielle and she nearly took her revenge on Callisto herself. Xena finished the job for her.

On a trip to Britannia, Gabrielle sought refuge in the temple of the one God, trusting a follower of the one God to take care of her. Xena realizes that there was a problem and rushes to Gabrielle's aid, but she was too late. Gabrielle, after having drawn her first blood, was tied to an altar where she was impregnated with Dahak, the devil. After having given birth, Gabrielle named the baby Hope, wishing that it would carry her goodness inside it. Without Xena's knowledge, Gabrielle sent the baby down the river instead of killing it as Xena had demanded. Hope showed up later in the journey as a young child. Hope freed the goddess Callisto to help take over the world. Callisto and Hope teamed together and killed Xena's son Solan. After this Gabrielle realized that Hope was evil and killed her with poison.

Even after this effort, Xena was still upset with Gabrielle and nearly killed her as revenge. It was then that they were transported to the land of Illusia, where they mended their relationship. However, despite her efforts, Hope again came to life, and worked with Callisto and Ares to bring Dahak into the world. Instead of letting Xena kill Hope (and herself) Gabrielle sacraficed herself and both her and her daughter went tumbling down a lava pit.

As it turns out, neither died, and Gabrielle finally saw her Hope die at the hands of Hope's own child. After Gab's first hand look at the evil of killing, she gave up fighting and violence completely and adopted "the way of love" after a trip to India. However, when Xena was to be crucified by the Romans she abandoned her "way of love" and killed seven romans in Xena's defense. Despite this, Both Xena and Gabrielle were crucified. But of course, they returned to life. Since then, Gabrielle has all but abandoned her once "bard" status, and non violent ways. Gabrielle has given up her staff and opted for a new pair of sais. Her and Xena continue to travel the world helping those who need them.