XENA - ANOTHER SEASON 5 - Episode 8

SOULMATES

by Andreas Hloupy (andreas.hloupy@siemens.at)

Follow the whole TV-like series on http://members.tripod.com/XENA_Another_Season5/index.html

Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent

INT. Amphipolis, Cyrene's Tavern - Day

The tavern is empty and quiet. The remains of last night?s business are already taken care of. CYRENE seems busy preparing everything for tonight, putting candles on the tables right now.

She wears a simple blue and white dress and her hair bound back. She seems concentrated, serious in her work with a general melancholic tone in her aged face.

Cyrene freezes in her movement, tears forming in her eyes.

XENA has in the meantime entered the tavern. She still wears the roman armor she received in the Roman war camp, carrying a sword and her Chakram in the belt. She seems tired, travel weary - but her face shows great joy, even so tears fill her eyes, too.

Cyrene slowly turns around and when she sees Xena she stumbles back a step, her look turning into disbelieve ? and again sadness. She lifts her hands to hide her face.

Xena walks to the next table and drops down onto the bench next to it.

Cyrene now also sits down on the nearest bench and listens ? fascinated, scared, hopeful.

Cyrene seems almost ready to believe it.

Cyrene stands up and slowly walks towards the sitting Xena. Their eyes lock ? both filled with tears, Xena?s showing hope and joy while Cyrene still seems doubtful.

She stops in front of her daughter and slowly, testing, touches her face. She looks deeply into the eyes of Xena and finally acceptance and joy take over Cyrene?s look.

Xena silently buries her face in Cyrene?s chest, hugging her. Cyrene gently strokes her daughter?s hair.

Xena breaks the hug and leans backwards, looking up into Cyrene?s face - questioningly.

Xena jumps up, hugs Cyrene, kisses her and than turns towards the door.

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INT. Stables - Day

It?s the small stable next to the tavern, mainly used by the guests to provide shelter for their animals.

XENA and CYRENE enter through the door that leads directly into the tavern. Xena looks around, searching ? a little suspicious. Cyrene?s face shows pure joy.

And really ? Xena?s trusty horse is the one animal in the stable right now, occupying the last box.

Xena rushes forward, towards the box, while Argo is immediately excited, seemingly recognizing the warrior princess instantly. Xena hugs and strokes the animal while it rubs the head against Xena?s body.

Xena, truly happy, steps back, letting her eyes wander over the horse.

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EXT. PoteiDaia - Day

The people of Poteidaia, at least all the adults, have assembled in the middle of the village. Loud, mostly uncontrolled discussions are running up and down thru the crowd. Amongst the villagers there are LILA, HECUBA and HERODOTUS, Gabrielle?s family.

Herodotus is actually the one that is desperately trying to get a little order into this meeting.

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TITLE SEQUENCE

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!

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INT. GABRIELLE?S PARENTS HOUSE - DAY

The interior of the house is simple, functional, with only a few decorations. HERODOTUS is sitting alone on the large table that stands in the middle. He has his elbows on the table and his face hidden in his hands. It?s silent.

Than, slowly, the door to the outside swings open ? and GABRIELLE enters.

She wears Roman armor, dirty and damaged on a few spots. The sandals are covered in mud and seem roughly repaired. Gabrielle?s face is dirty under a leather headband and looks tired. Patches of dried blood and dirt cover her short hair. She holds a pair of chobos ? yard long fighting sticks ? in her right hand and a bag in her left.

She stops in the entrance and looks around ? smiling, with tears in her eyes, when she sees her father.

Herodotus voice sounds sad, angry.

Gabrielle drops chobos and bag and steps towards her sitting father. She looks confused.

Now Gabrielle?s face shows shock, disbelief. She stops in front of her father, grabs his shoulders and turns him around, so that he has to look at her.

Herodotus ? his face looks as if he has cried quiet a while ? stares at Gabrielle, surprised and shocked himself.

Herodotus stares into Gabrielle?s face and starts to cry. He pulls her towards him and hugs her, burying his face into her body.

Gabrielle seems touched, but a little insecure. She carefully removes the arms holding her and makes a step backwards. Than she goes down on one knee, bringing her father?s and her own face level.

Herodotus drops his head.

Gabrielle now has tears in here eyes, too ? but her look is serious, determined.

Gabrielle quietly looks at her broken father for a moment. Then she stands up and lays her hand on his shoulder.

Not waiting for a response, Gabrielle turns, picks up her chobos and walks thru the still open door. Her father has raised his head and watched all this. When she is gone he stands up, whipping the tears away with the back of his hand.

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EXT. Forest, near PoteiDaia - Day

XENA, still in the roman armor, is riding Argo thru the wood. The loose standing trees allow them a fast trot and Xena as well as Argo seem to enjoy the ride.

Reaching the top of a small hill Xena suddenly stops Argo and looks around, searchingly. After a few moments she slowly guides Argo towards the right side, down the hill again.

At the foot of the hill she stops again, looking around. She seems to remember something ? and really, this looks like the place where Xena first saw Gabrielle, dragged along by , Draco?s men.

Xena smiles ? and seems to think back.

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EXT. Forest, near Mantineia - Day

In the middle of a dense wood a clearing, only occupied by a few scattered trees, opens up and allows the sun to reach the ground.

On one side a dozen armed men, lead by PELASGUS ? a strong, athletic men in leather armor and a large axe, long, black hair and a full beard - and PERILAUS ? a smaller, older men, bold, wearing black leather clothing and carrying a sword ? have surrounded a larger group of peasants, men and women.

Perilaus seems to handle the talking.

One of the women, actually a young girl, not older then 17 or 18, wearing a simple green dress, storms forward, towards Perilaus, only to be stopped by Pelasgus. She wears her long, black hair open and her eyes show courage. He grabs her with one hand, holding her neck like he could break it with a simple snap of his fingers.

Perilaus looks at her, intrigued.

Perilaus nods towards Pelasgus. Pelasgus starts grinning and lifts the girl up into the air, choking her.

Leona grabs his arm with both hands, but is unable to free herself. There is unrest amongst the villagers, shouting ? but the soldiers surrounding them don?t allow any action.

Everybody with the exception of Perilaus seems to turn towards the voice coming from the other end of the clearing.

A woman, riding a large, black horse, slowly approaches the two groups. She wears a black leather outfit acting as armor in parts, but mostly giving free room to move ? a sword seems her main weapon.

It?s CALLISTO, wearing her blond hair long and free, looking serious, a little angry maybe.

Pelasgus looks over to Perilaus. Perilaus in turn stares to the ground and after a few moments he nods. Pelasgus opens his hand, letting the girl simply drop to the ground.

Leona falls hard, but doesn?t seem to care. She just stares at the incoming Callisto.

Callisto finally stops her horse right behind Perilaus, letting her look go over the frightened villagers.

Callisto finally looks at Leona, who in turn still lies on the ground, staring at her. The girl?s look shows fascination, admiration, confusion. For a moment Callisto seems to show some emotion too, curiosity, maybe a little appreciation. But her face quickly turns back to arrogance and disinterest.

Perilaus has finally turned to face Callisto, which now leans forward towards him.

Perilaus seems angry, defiant ? but he doesn?t resist.

Callisto sits back up straight and turns her horse around. Throwing a last look at Leona she rides away, leaving the clearing the way she came.

Perilaus looks over to Pelasgus.

Perilaus gestures the soldiers to follow him and walks away into the direction Callisto disappeared.

The soldiers fall into a loose marching order and after a few moments the clearing is empty with the exception of some very happy peasants ? and a very thoughtful Leona, still lying on the ground.

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INT. GABRIELLE?S PARENTS HOUSE - DAY

The house is empty and silent. The door to the outside is open as is the door to the back ? the sleeping rooms.

On the table, next to remainders of food, Gabrielle?s roman armor lies around, looking like carelessly thrown onto it. Her chobos are also there.

Suddenly HERODOTUS comes running into the house, visibly excited.

He stops in the middle of the room and waits. Moments later GABRIELLE enters from the other door.

She now wears boots, a brown, knee-length skirt with a front and back part that is going down almost to the ground, a short rust-red top and brown leather straps around both lower arms. She looks refreshed, determined.

Gabrielle stares at her father, thoughtful, suspicious. Than she grabs her chobos and runs past him, out of the door.

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EXT. Two-oak hill, near PoteiDaia - Day

The green sides of that hill rise high above the surrounding fields. High, green grass covers the whole top, with only two trees interrupting. The sky above is blue, with the occasional cloud scattered around. A light wind sweeps over the hill and bends the grass a little bit.

The two trees on top stand about 20 or 30 yards apart, both old and large oaks. Someone has put wooden stakes into the ground next to each of them, small fields of sharpened, upwards pointing sticks, covering the ground below the branches.

Above the sticks, hanging on a rope, on each tree a person is swinging in the wind. With their arms tied to their back and a loop of rope tied around their chest and leading upwards into the tree each person swings about 5 or 6 yards over one of the fields of stakes ? a drop would mean certain death.

Unable to free themselves, LILA and HECUBA are the two victims that were prepared that way. Both are gagged.

But that?s not all. Both ropes holding them above the ground - are burning. It can only be a matter of minutes before both are plunging to their death.

Both Lila and her mother avoid most movement, but still try to stay turned towards each other. Their eyes, tear filled and showing fear, maybe more for the other one than themselves, are locked.

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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EXT. Field, near PoteiDaia - Day

GABRIELLE is running across the field. She looks exhausted ? her face shows fear, a shadow of dark premonitions covers it.

Suddenly she stops, staring in surprise and horror at something in the distance. It?s two-oaks hill ? and the two bodies, hanging from the trees with the rope burning. Looking hard even the stakes in the ground can be made out.

Gabrielle immediately starts running again, now driven by panic, fear for the lives of her loved ones.

After a few steps Gabrielle throws away the chobos she still held in her right hand and tries to run even faster.

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EXT. Forest, near PoteiDaia - Day

XENA, still riding Argo, has reached the edge of the forest. She stops Argo to take a look at the fields and hills before her. At the same time she pulls a leather water skin out of one of the backs behind her, opening it and leading it towards her mouth.

Before she can drink her whole body freezes. She stares straight at a hill in the distance ? yes, two-oaks hill. Even from this distance the two bodies and their peril can be seen.

Xena throws away the water skin and drives Argo forward, galloping towards the hill.

She approaches the hill from the side opposite to Gabrielle.

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INT. Prison, Mantineia - Night

The small, stone build cell is dark, getting light only from a candle on the other side of the metal bars forming on wall while the small holes in the stone walls on the other sides only show the dark sky.

A wooden bunk and a bucket are the only furniture available. CALLISTO sits on the bunk, with her back towards the wall and her legs crossed. She still wears her black leather outfit, but she looks beaten ? cuts and bruises cover face and arms.

Her eyes are closed and she seems thoughtful.

A sound, coming from the other side of the iron bars interrupts her. Someone is slowly opening the door that leads to the room in front of the cell.

Callisto opens her eyes and tries to see who is coming.

It?s LEONA. The girl, Callisto spared before, still wears the green dress. She acts very carefully, avoiding any noise.

Callisto is actually surprised, moving forward to the edge of the bunk and putting her feet to the ground.

Leona closes the door behind her and than steps to the cell door, also build of vertical iron bars, closed by a single lock.

Leona now looks frightened, but she stays in front of the cell, staring at Callisto like at a dangerous but fascinating attacking animal.

Leona holds up a metal key ? her eyes seem to beg now. Callisto stands up and steps to the bars, opposite of Leona.

Leona doesn?t seem to know what to say ? she just stares into Callisto?s eyes, frightened and fascinated.

Callisto waits a moment, than she grabs the key through the iron bars and quickly opens the lock.

When Callisto pushes open the door, Leona moves back, stopping when her back touches the wall on the other side.

Callisto walks to the door, Leona came through, carefully opens it a little bit and looks outside.

Callisto turns towards Leona.

Leona looks straight back at Callisto and her fear has given way to defiance.

Callisto thinks for a moment.

Leona pushes herself away from the wall and, happily smiling, walks past Callisto through the door.

Callisto just shakes her head, part angry and part curious, and than follows her.

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EXT. Forest, near Mantineia - Night

It?s a small clearing in a dense part of the forest. CALLISTO is looking through a pile of equipment ? bag, bed rolls, weapons, water skin, and so on.

LEONA stands at the edge of the clearing, a few steps away, watching her.

Callisto leaves the pile of her belongings and starts collecting wood, obviously to make a fire.

Leona stands there for a moment, than she starts picking up wood herself.

Callisto stops for a moment, looking over to Leona ? than she continues collecting wood.

Callisto by now has an arm full of loose wood and now piles it up in the middle of the clearing. Than she gets some tinder, her sword and a flint stone to make fire.

Callisto knees down next to the pile of wood, puts the tinder under it, sticks the sword into the ground next to it and hits it with the flint stone. The resulting sparks light up the tinder and the fire is started.

Leona stops collecting wood, watches Callisto starting the fire and than drops the pile she has collected so far next to the campfire.

Callisto throws flint stone and sword back onto the pile of her belongings and looks up at Leona.

Leona looks back at her with begging eyes.

Callisto seems surprised. She doesn?t answer immediately. Instead she stands up, walks to her equipment and picks up a bedroll.

Callisto opens the bedroll and spreads it out. Than she sits down on it, warming herself at the fire.

Leona herself stands next to the fire, warming herself, too.

Callisto looks up for a moment, than she kicks out with her right leg, sweeping Leona from her feet. When Leona hits the ground next to the campfire, Callisto rolls over and leans over the girl, holding her face right above hers.

Leona stares upwards into Callisto?s eyes, scared, unable to move or talk.

Callisto pushes herself back up into a sitting position, turning towards the fire again.

Leona slowly stands up and, with hanging head she walks towards the edge of the clearing.

Leona stops and turns around, looking at Callisto.

Callisto looks up from the fire, straight into Leona?s face.

Leona makes an unsure step back towards the campfire.

Leona stares at Callisto for a few more silent moments, then she turns away again, ready to leave.

Before Leona leaves the clearing, Callisto leans back and grabs a second bedroll out of the pile of her equipment and throws it towards Leona. It lands right next to her and the girls freezes.

Leona slowly turns around. When she looks at Callisto the warrior woman just nods towards a point on the other side of the campfire. Than she lies back on the bedroll, covers herself up and turns to the side.

Leona picks up the bedroll and slowly walks towards the spot Callisto showed her. She spreads out the roll and sits down on it.

Than she turns her head towards Callisto and opens her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

Leona closes her mouth shut and lies back on the bedroll, quiet. With a happy smile she looks upwards towards the star filled sky.

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EXT. Two-oaks hill, near PoteiDaia - Day

XENA is still galloping towards the two trees were LILA and HECUBA are hanging from the burning ropes. She has already reached the foot of the hill and now drives Argo forward to gallop upwards.

Her face shows anger, concentration. She seems to think about a solution for the given problem.

When she has reached the top of the hill, maybe 40 or 50 yards away from the two trees she now can see GABRIELLE, too. The bard is running up the hill on the other side, but by foot she is much to slow and won?t reach the top for another minute.

Xena rides towards the middle between the two trees and her look switches between the two tied up women, forth and back.

The ropes holding them up, above the spikes in the ground, are almost burned through ? it could only be a matter of seconds before both are going to drop down.

Xena?s look now has changed into unusual desperation ? she seems to have no solution for the problem.

Gabrielle now sees Xena riding towards her mother and sister and her voice has a tone of happy optimism ? it seems she is confident that all will end well, now.

Xena, looking nothing like optimistic, closes her eyes and tears appear in the their corners. She gives Argo a small signal and the horse turns to the side, now heading straight for one of the trees.

Gabrielle sees that and looks surprised, but doesn?t slow down in running up the hillside.

Xena now has almost reached the tree she was heading for ? she pulls up her feet, preparing to jump from the horse, most likely when it passes the tied up hostage.

Than it happens ? both ropes rip at the same time. Lila and Hecuba drop down, towards the stakes in the ground. They desperately struggle with their tied up arms and their free legs to stabilize the fall ? but both drop forwards, flat towards the ground.

Xena, at the same time, jumps forward from Argo?s back towards the falling body.

She is able to grab her ? Lila ? in midair and the momentum of Xena?s jump carries them sideways, beyond the stakes.

Xena and Lila drop hard to the ground and roll a few yards further. Xena immediately jumps up and looks for the other tree.

But Hecuba has fallen down simultaneously ? and nothing could have saved her. Her body is slumped over the ground and at least half a dozen stakes have penetrated her body.

Xena turns away, horrified. Her eyes are filled with tears, sad and angry.

Lila lies next to her, still tied and gagged ? she stares at her mother, tears running down her face. She shakes uncontrollable and muffled sounds can be heard under her gag.

Gabrielle in the meantime has stopped, freezing the moment the bodies dropped. Now her look moves from Lila and Xena to her mother and back. She cries, too. Finally she drops down to her knees, hiding her face in her hands.

Finally Xena stands up and slowly walks over to Hecuba?s dead body. She carefully steps between the stakes and lifts her up. There she stands for a few moments, just looking into the dead face - the horrified look under the gag.

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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EXT. Forest, near Mantineia - Dawn

The campfire on the small clearing has died down. Only LEONA is still there, Callisto as well as her equipment is gone.

A sound from the forest finally awakes Leona and she slowly, tiredly, opens her eyes. She turns to the place Callisto had slept and when she cannot see anyone she throws away the cover and sits up on the bedroll.

She quickly looks around, turning her head forth and back, but everything is empty ? silent.

Leona?s look turns from surprise to frustration and sadness. She falls back on the bedroll and again stares upwards into the sky.

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EXT. PoteiDaia - Day

It?s the main path leading towards Poteidaia ? as small, dirty road. XENA and GABRIELLE walk side by side, Xena leading Argo. LILA is sitting on the horse and all three look very serious, mourning silently.

Argo also carries a sledge, on top of which Hecuba is lying under a cover.

Villagers, on seeing this small procession, stop in their work and watch them, silently.

When they are near Gabrielle?s home, HERODOTUS storms out of the house and towards them. He looks happy.

When he sees the serious faces of his daughters he stops, a few steps before reaching them, looking worried. Finally his look falls onto the sledge ? recognizing his wife.

His face turns to stone and he drops to his knees. He starts to cry uncontrollable, falling forward to the ground.

Gabrielle runs forward to comfort him, while Xena stops Argo and helps Lila, still weak from her ordeal, down.

Lila now also was on the side of her father and hugs him.

Gabrielle looks up to her friend, standing next to Herodotus and his two daughters, all three still kneeing on the ground, hugging and comforting each other.

Herodotus now slowly gets up, his daughter following his example. He looks into Xena?s sad eyes.

Xena just nods.

Herodotus drops his head and slowly marches past Xena to the sledge, kneeing down next to Hecuba?s body. He carefully strokes her face, smiling silently, with tears in his eyes.

While Lila continues to cry, kneeing on the ground, Gabrielle stands up and steps next to Xena. She leans her head towards the big warriors shoulder, silently crying. Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle?s shoulder and closes her eyes.

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EXT. PoteiDaia - Dusk

The villagers have assembled outside of Poteidaia, forming a loose circle around an open grave. Hecuba?s body was covered in white sheets and placed into a square hole in the ground. Different things have been placed around her ? pots, tools, clothes and jewelry.

HERODOTUS, LILA, GABRIELLE and XENA stand next to the open grave, silently mourning. They all look down onto the body while some women of the village sing a sad, dark song in their local language.

When they are finished the circle of people slowly dissolves, everybody leaving thoughtful and serious. A few man stay behind with shovels, ready to close the grave.

Herodotus, Lila, Gabrielle and Xena also stay behind, continuing their silent guard.

Herodotus lays his arm around Lila and closes his eyes, not able to hold back his tears anymore. Lila is already crying.

Gabrielle holds back her tears and finally turns away from the grave, walking away a few steps. Xena turns and follows her, stopping next to her.

Gabrielle turns her head towards Xena.

Gabrielle and Xena now look deep into each other?s eyes.

Xena strikes through Gabrielle?s hair.

Gabrielle turns back towards the open grave, leaning against Xena. Now, finally, tears come down her face and Xena tries to comfort her friend.

Herodotus, still holding Lila, nods to the man with the tools and they start closing the grave.

Herodotus, Lila, Gabrielle and Xena are the only one?s left to watch.

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EXT. Forest clearing, near Mantineia - Day

It?s the camp of Callisto?s former band. Half a dozen warriors can bee seen sitting around. A loose collection of sleeping places, two campfires, a few tied up horses, food and other supplies carelessly spread out, make up the camp.

PERILAUS and PELASGUS sit at one of the campfires and seem to seriously talk about something.

Suddenly a warrior stumbles onto the clearing, holding his bleeding throat. He falls forward, flat to the ground. His body struggles for a moment, than he lies still.

Perilaus and Pelasgus jump up, grabbing their weapons ? so do the other men.

A second warrior flies head first onto the clearing, from the same area the first one entered. This one flies head first into one of the campfires, rolls to the side and jumps up again, shouting for help as his upper body has caught fire. Blindly he runs towards the other end of the clearing and stumbles into the forest, disappearing from the view.

It?s silent again and everybody on the clearing stares at the area where the two unlucky guards have appeared.

Leisurely, CALLISTO enters the clearing from that very spot. She wears her black outfit and a sword in the belt. She holds a bloody dagger in the right hand and wears a broad, sadistic smile on her face.

Callisto stops after a few steps, next to the corps of the first guard.

Pelasgus looks over to Perilaus, who has a grim, determined look on his face.

Pelasgus again looks over to Perilaus.

Perilaus actually smiles for a moment, than he gestures his man to attack. Pelasgus and the four others look at each other for a moment, but than they storm forward, weapons raised.

While Pelasgus leads the charge against Callisto, Perilaus stays a few steps behind, switching his sword from the right to the left hand.

Callisto manages to avoid Pelasgus? axe and easily blocks the attacks from the other fighters. With one fluent motion she cuts the throat of one of them and rams the dagger through the chest of the second.

Than, finally, she draws her sword, blocking the next few attacks. A kick finds one of the fighters reeling backwards and a head butt downs the other one.

She whirls around and barely blocks Pelasgus attack with his heavy axe, falling down onto one knee because of the sheer power.

Perilaus in the meantime has pulled out a throwing knife with his right hand and now, with Callisto down and busy, he uses it.

The knife buries itself in Callisto?s right shoulder. She grabs her shoulder in pain and pulls out the knife while she gets up and stumbles back a few steps, followed by Pelasgus with raised axe.

Callisto now switches the sword into her left hand and is able to redirect the next blow to the side. But her face has lost its smiling confidence.

Suddenly LEONA enters the clearing, stopping at the edge and looking around, observing the situation.

Callisto is barely able to defend herself against Pelasgus, while Perilaus has again switched the sword hand and advance towards the injured warrior. Nobody has yet noticed the girl.

Leona looks around, desperately searching ? and finally she picks up one of the swords the other fighters have dropped, dying.

She raises the weapon, obviously a little to heavy for her, and storms forward towards Perilaus.

Callisto has lost her standing after the last attack by Pelasgus and has dropped to the ground, holding her left arm with the sword up to defend herself ? but it doesn?t look good.

Pelasgus stand over her, the axe raised, while Perilaus stands next to them both and actually just lowers his weapon, obviously sure that this axe blow is the last attack needed to stop Callisto.

At that moment Leona reaches him and carries out an awkward, but deadly blow against his head. The sword only glances along Perilaus? ear, but cuts deep into his neck, killing him instantaneously. He falls forward while Leona stares at him, horrified over her own action.

Pelasgus turns his head to his fallen friend and this moment of distraction is all Callisto needs ? she pushes her sword upwards, through his chest. When he slowly falls backwards she lets go of the weapon which is sticking out of his body.

Now Callisto slowly stands up and looks at Leona ? surprised, angry, uncertain.

She walks up in front of her and looks straight into her eyes. Leona is crying and Callisto takes the sword out of her shacking hand. Leona drops down to her knees and covers her face.

Callisto looks down at her and slowly points the sword she has taken at Leona?s throat. For a moment, Callisto seems determined to kill the girl.

But then she throws the sword to the side. She continues to look at the girl for a few moments and finally she goes down on one knee, feeling for the wound in her shoulder. She winces in pain for a short moment when her left hand probes the cut.

Callisto looks at Leona in a strange mixture of anger, care and sadness. She lays her left hand on the girls shoulder and kind of comforts her. When Leona looks up into her face she matches the look.

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EXT. The void - Darkness

There is total darkness ? and total silence ? except for two voices.

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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EXT. Forest, near PoteiDaia - Dusk

XENA and GABRIELLE sit next to each other at a campfire in the middle of a small clearing. They seem tired, but relaxed.

Xena and Gabrielle look at each other, lovingly.

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EXT. Forest clearing, near Mantineia - Dusk

LEONA and CALLISTO are still on the clearing with the killed traitors. Leona sits at one of the fires, staring into it.

Callisto in the meantime prepares one of the horses, putting all her equipment and weapons onto it. A bandage covers her right shoulder and the work seems difficult for her. When she is finished she leads the horse with her and stops a few steps away from the sitting Leona.

Callisto moves again, leading the horse towards the clearings edge. She stops again after a few steps.

Callisto is silent for a few moments, than she continues to lead her horse away from the clearing. Before she crosses the edge to the forest, Leona jumps up.

Callisto, obviously not surprised by this, stops again.

Callisto turns towards Leona, looking at her, thoughtful.

Callisto shakes her head.