Around the hill...
a warrior's destroying our men.
Gabrielle, no!
I'm so sorry.
Can you ever forgive me?
In a time of ancient gods...
...warlords...
...and kings...
A land in turmoil
cried out for a hero...
She was Xena...
a mighty princess,
forged in the heat of battle...
...The power...
...The passion...
...The danger...
Her courage will
change the world...
Why were you fighting
these people, Dach?
We thought they might
be on their way to Zoras.
You were wrong.
These two are on a journey...
A quest.
And they're our allies in our
fight against darkness.
My name is Najara.
I'm Gabrielle.
This is Xena.
You've suffered much, Gabrielle,
but you've retained
your good heart.
And you have chosen to fight
the darkness within you.
What courage that takes.
Please, forgive us.
How do you know all that?
The Djinn told me.
The Djinn?
Yes, they're my
guides through life.
- Are they spirits?
- They're the Djinn...
That's all I know.
I'd love to stay and
talk more to you,
but I know my men
are anxious to move.
Bonacar!
I hope you find what
you're looking for.
Once again, please, forgive us.
It was an honest mistake.
What's she doin'?
Would you like to join us
on our mission?
What's your mission?
To fight evil,
wherever we find it.
Can you be a little more specific?
- We're riding against Marat.
- Marat of Crete?
- You know him?
- I've heard of him.
- He's a dangerous man.
- Yes, he is.
My men thought you
were working with him.
That's why they att*cked you.
What's he doing in Phoenicia?
Hunting for slaves to
bring back to Crete.
A raiding party of his
men are on their way
to harvest human beings
from the village of Zoras.
About a day's ride from here.
We're going to stop them.
We can do it without you,
but the Djinn think that
you should come...
and I would love that.
What do you think?
I suppose we could travel
with you a while.
Xena's a skilled healer.
I'm sure she could tend to your men.
Since it was all
a misunderstanding, sure.
You're both very kind.
Are you looking
for Marat's men?
No, I'm just enjoying the scenery.
You do that too?
Yes, all the time.
Najara...
How long have you
been hearing the Djinn?
Since I was a little girl.
At first, they frightened me.
After a while, I began
to trust them...
and now they're my best friends.
They're so wonderful...
so full of love and goodness...
Where do they come from?
The light.
They're sent to me so that
I can fight the darkness.
It's quite a responsibility.
Well, I think we've smelled
the flowers enough.
Come on.
Let's get back to the others.
♪ Strive on our labors for thee ♪
♪ Long may our voices sing ♪
♪ Praises to thee we'll bring ♪
♪ Glory to thee ♪
♪ Ever and ever ♪
Well, it's a good thing
our fight against evil
doesn't depend on our singing.
We should all get some sleep.
My men are very grateful
for the care you gave them.
You both would be very
valuable in my hospice.
Where is your hospice?
Up here...
It's only a dream,
now.
It would be a place where anyone
could come to be healed...
Poor and rich alike.
We would care for lepers...
those too old to tend
for themselves...
men and women with diseases
of the mind as well as the body.
It's sole purpose would be
to relieve suffering.
There's so much good to be done,
and so little time to do it...
- About tomorrow...
- Of course.
Marat's men should be
arriving by morning.
We need to move on the village
at dawn if we want to stop them.
How do you know about this raid?
One of Marat's personal
slaves escaped,
came to me and informed me
of his plans.
When?
You don't trust me?
Take my sword and command my army.
Don't let them do anything
you don't think is right.
You can keep your sword.
But I will take command
of your men.
Wonderful.
I can't tell you how much I love
the challenge of
winning your confidence.
And you should listen to her.
Don't trust me too soon.
Xena's wiser in that way.
Sleep well.
Oh, we will.
You're a tough sell.
I'm not going into any
village with any army,
unless I'm sure I'm doing
the right thing.
I understand.
I don't know what to make of her.
- So that's the village?
- It's too quiet.
I'm going in.
Don't move until we get
the signal from Xena.
Quit fighting us!
That's it!
Bonacar!
Gabrielle!
You fought with great courage.
That can be a virtue,
but only when it's used
on the side of the light...
against darkness.
The capture and selling
of people is wrong.
- Listen up!
- It shames both its victims
and those who would
profit from this evil.
sl*very paves the path to darkness.
We can offer you initiation
into the way of the light.
Let us help you.
Do you think it got
through to them?
I hope so.
Turning people away
from their dark side
is the most important thing I do.
Who knows...
Some of these men, one day,
might be great soldiers of the light.
Forgive those people,
they're confused and misguided.
Don't let hatred
poison your hearts.
Now, go to your homes,
and live good lives.
Thank you.
- Bless you.
- Thank you.
I love you, Xena.
It's a great curse to have
seen one's own death.
The Djinn told you?
Yes...
But not everything.
Your vision of death...
- Does it...?
- Yes.
It includes Gabrielle.
Does she know?
No.
That's fortunate for her.
Do you think it can be avoided?
Of course.
I believe our destiny
is in our hearts.
But it will take drastic measures
to change an event
you've foreseen in your soul's eye.
Xena?
There you are.
Listen, I don't know what
your plans are, but...
Marat controls a village
about a day's ride from here.
He uses it as a center
for his sl*ve trade.
That's where I'm headed.
Would you like to join me?
Yes.
Sure.
Wonderful.
Gabrielle...
You've been awful quiet.
You all right?
Yeah, I was just thinking
about yesterday...
Amazing.
Yeah, amazing.
Swans!
Looks like they're
headed for Kuta lake.
Let's go see them up close.
We'll catch up with you
at Revo falls.
Will you join us?
No, thanks.
I'm not one for bird-watching.
I guess I was wrong.
Well, maybe they're circling?
Do swans circle?
I don't know.
Why don't you ask the Djinn?
They're not with me right now...
and I don't think they
know much about swans.
Can I ask you something?
Personal.
Of course.
You seem so happy...
It's like what you're doing has
so much meaning for you.
Am I right?
I don't think about it much,
but now that you mention it...
Yes, I'm very happy.
You're not?
I just...
I don't know if I'm on
the right path in my life.
You fight for good.
What other path is there?
You mentioned opening a hospice.
That would be a good way, too.
Why don't you do that?
I don't mind if you
start without me.
You see, if I do that...
then Xena and I have to go
our separate ways.
She's not the hospice type.
Yes, I see.
She's on a different path.
Well...
Perhaps you need to commit
totally to your life with Xena.
You two do a lot of good.
We do.
Najara...
Does the v*olence
ever bother you?
I assume that you've k*lled before?
Yes, as little as possible,
but sometimes it's inevitable.
I don't think I could
get used to that.
Gabrielle, you need to make
a full commitment to the light.
It will give you faith
that what you're doing is right.
The light...
I need something.
Swans...
Let's get a closer look.
Marat's main sl*ve
center is here.
We'll hit it in the
morning from the east,
so that the sun will
be at our backs.
The most important thing
is to make sure
the people being held
as slaves are not harmed.
Remember...
There are children among them.
Let us move swiftly.
So, where's Marat?
He rarely comes into
the sl*ve center.
He has a stronghold in
the foothills east of the village.
Then that's where I'm headed.
I thought we'd all go after him
once we've taken the village.
He could swoop down while you're
in the middle of freeing the slaves.
It could get messy.
- But going after Marat alone...
- I'll take my chances.
Look...
I've learned you
should listen to Xena
when it comes to
this sort of thing.
All right!
Xena will go after Marat,
while we take the village.
What is your plan of att*ck?
When do we head out?
I'm heading out before dawn.
You stay with Najara.
Are you sure?
Sure.
I need you there to make sure
those children are safe.
Xena?
The Djinn?
No.
I recognized your footsteps.
The Djinn haven't
visited me all day.
Sometimes they disappear
for weeks at a time.
I'm never angry, though.
I understand.
They're very busy.
There's so much darkness
in the world...
Najara, your hospice...
Why don't you start it in the village
you're going to take tomorrow?
Now I understand.
You don't plan to return after
your mission against Marat.
You want a place
to leave Gabrielle.
She'll die if she stays with me.
You said it would take something
drastic to change our destiny.
Maybe this is it.
As soon as she realizes
you've left her,
you know she'll follow you.
I see such joy in her eyes when
she talks to you about your mission.
She's been looking for meaning.
I think you can give it to her.
It hasn't always been good
for her being with me.
I seem to hurt her.
I know she forgives you.
I promise I'll do everything
I can to justify your trust.
You better.
Thanks.
Goodbye, Gabrielle.
There you are, my friend.
You're welcome.
This must have been a very
difficult time for you all.
Don't carry it with you.
Live life to its fullest.
Seize every day as
an opportunity to do good.
And remember...
You're always free
to turn to the light,
that drives away all darkness.
We'll make sure you have some food
for your journey back home.
And some of my men
will escort you.
At least, part of the way.
As you travel, I want you
to tell all you meet,
who are sick and suffering,
that I am here,...
That I am opening a hospice
here to care for them.
Goodbye...
And may the light
illiuminate your way.
Thank you.
- For you.
- Oh, thank you.
You're sl*ve traders...
What shall I do with you?
I'll tell you what
I want to do.
I want to forgive you
and love you all as brothers.
But I can't do that unless
you turn to the light.
And there's no reason
why you can't.
We'll be glad to initiate
you into the way.
Just let the light in and
the darkness will be gone.
Are you really going to
open a hospice?
Yeah.
- Right here? Now?
- Of course.
I wanna be initiated
into the way of the light.
Good morning, Marat.
- Do it. Get it over with.
- Do what?
What you do to all
the people you defeat.
Cut their throats if they
don't turn to the light.
What did you say?
I've heard all
about you, Najara...
How you give your captives
three days to turn good,
before you execute them!
If you think I'm gonna pay
lip service to your mumbo-jumbo,
just so you can k*ll me anyway when
you decide I'm not being sincere.
You're dead wrong!
Where'd you hear all this?
I talked to a couple of men
who escaped the m*ssacre at Tyre,
when you sent twenty
men to your light.
Come on, Najara.
k*ll me now and get it over with.
Do it, you filth...
Flowers cannot blossom
without the light of the sun.
Nor can the human soul flourish
without the warming glow
of the eternal spirit.
Gabrielle...
Walk into the light,
and look no more on the darkness.
- All right.
- Yes.
♪ Show us our course ♪
♪ Lead us to glory ♪
♪ And through the darknest night ♪
♪ Strengthen our will to fight ♪
♪ Justice our cause ♪
♪ Faith is our beacon ♪
Xena?
I'm glad you came.
- Najara...
- I didn't expect to see you.
There's been a change of plans.
- Why is that?
- I captured Marat.
Congratulations.
He told me some interesting
things about you.
He said that you offer prisoners
three days to turn to the light
and then you k*ll them.
He's a sl*ve trader.
You don't believe him, do you?
Come on, Najara...
How about it?
Do you execute unarmed
men without a trial?
Definitely not.
- You see, Xena?
- I liberate their souls.
What does that mean?
Gabrielle, we're talking
about thieves,
sl*ve traders,
murderers and pirates.
Not decent people.
So you execute them...
without a trial?
A hearing?
What hearing or trial
did these men here
give the people they
were going to enslave?
In order for good to triumph,
we must eradicate evil.
I always give evildoers
a chance to turn to the light,
but if they refuse or I sense
their conversion isn't sincere...
I send them to look onto the light.
Najara...
- Come on, Gabrielle.
- No!
Gabrielle has turned to the light.
She's my responsibility now.
As you said yourself
you hurt her.
That's not going to happen again.
Najara, don't do this.
Get out of the way, Gabrielle.
This is between Xena and me!
Stay out of it.
The light will triumph, Xena.
Quit preaching and fight.
All right...
Xena!
In the name of the light!
I smite the darkness!
What?
No!
You'll have to k*ll us both.
You don't understand, Gabrielle.
That darkness inside her
will destroy you one day.
Put the sword down.
Najara...
You and I, we'll walk out
of here together.
You're just saying that
to protect her.
Xena's dark side frightens me.
I need to move on,
but I could never
live with someone
who k*lled her.
There would be no
going back from that.
All right.
All right.
Get the sl*ve traders
and let's move out.
Some water...
I hate that.
I got my butt whipped, didn't I?
Well, it serves me right
for trusting someone
who talks about being
good all the time.
You know what?
She's a tough girl...
but she's got a weakness.
It's the same one I've got.
What are you thinking about?
You're so close to being this
ultimate force for goodness...
but that little bit
makes you so wrong.
What should I do with those
sl*ve traders, Gabrielle?
What would Xena do?
She would make sure
they were out of business.
She would turn them over
to the local government.
But what if the local government
supports sl*very?
Probably not a problem
because Xena
kills most of them
in combat anyway.
Xena only kills if it's
absolutely necessary.
And I only k*ll evil people.
Why is she better than me?
Don't you think those people
deserve a fair trial?
But some fool may
find them innocent.
But with your way,
innocent people could die.
You're right, Gabrielle.
I'm sure I've made
mistakes before, but...
all I've done is send
them to the light.
The eternal powers will correct
any mistakes I've made.
- Gabrielle?
- Xena...
Are you all right?
I lost one of those
good chewing teeth,
but other than that, I'm fine.
Xena, we should get out of here.
No.
She's too dangerous a girl
to leave on the loose.
She likes k*lling too much.
But she b*at you up so badly.
Well, that's another reason.
Xena...
That's gonna hurt.
Najara!
So glad you could make it.
Be careful, Najara.
She's snapped.
Do you expect me to believe
you're going to let her die?
Well, let's just see, shall we?
I just asked her to come with me
right now and you know what she said?
She said she'd rather stay here
and try to reform you.
Seems that your zealotry
is less scary than my dark side.
Sniveling ingrate...
But if I can't have her,
nobody's gonna have her.
It's part of that drastic
change you talked about
and it's sure gonna
change by my destiny.
I knew you were no good for her.
You see, it's a little
more difficult with
a millstone like her around
your neck, isn't it?
You probably wouldn't care
if one of your soldiers d*ed.
They'd just go up to that big,
old light in the sky.
But you might miss Gabrielle, huh?
Najara, hurry!
If ya don't mind my saying,
your focus is a little off.
Xena!
Don't k*ll her.
Looks like she saved
both our lives today.
Xena...
Can you get me off this thing?
You take her from here.
The sl*ve traders are
going to get a fair trial.
They'll probably bribe
their way out of it.
The soldiers say that you
wiped out a village last year
and many innocent people d*ed.
They lied.
- Could be a bit of a problem...
- Those men were pirates.
They sunk many passenger
ships for sport.
They had to die.
But you believe what
you want, Gabrielle.
Be happy.
Well, these people
aren't your biggest fans.
Can't please everybody.
Did you tell her about the vision?
No.
That would hurt her
and I don't ever want to do that.
That's your job.
I forgive you, Gabrielle.