FADE IN: EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT - PRESENT Xena pulls slightly away from Gabrielle when she notices the tears trailing silently down her soulmate's face. XENA (cont’d) Why are you crying? Don't cry. Shaking her head, Gabrielle swipes at the tears. XENA (cont’d) Sweetheart, please, don't cry.  What happened to me back then was no less than what I deserved.  I was a greedy, selfish, foolish bit.... GABRIELLE I don't care.  No one deserves to be treated like that, Xena. No one. XENA Gabrielle.... GABRIELLE I love you, Xena, all of you.  Who you were then is part of who you are now. Please don't ask me not to grieve for you being hurt.  Please.  I just can't do that.
	Xena sighs. XENA All right.  I won't ask. GABRIELLE Thank you. XENA I think it's time we get some sleep. GABRIELLE No!  Not yet!  I've got so many questions! Xena smiles. XENA They can wait.  The story's not going anywhere, but we are.  You did want to make it to Selopolis in time to catch Homer's performance, didn't you? Gabrielle nods reluctantly. XENA (cont’d) All right, then.  Time for bed.  I'll pick it up again in the morning after we've hit the trail, okay? Gabrielle nods again. GABRIELLE Okay. Xena rises to her feet, gently pulling Gabrielle up with her, and both head for their bedroll.  Within moments, they're snuggled into their furs, and the only sound is of crickets telling their own stories to the night sky. CUT TO: EXT. TRAIL - MORNING - PRESENT As usual, Xena and Gabrielle are up early and on the trail before the sun has fully risen.  Xena is atop Argo and Gabrielle walks beside her, munching on some travel rations.  Finishing her breakfast, she wipes her hands on her skirt and looks up at Xena. GABRIELLE Nice morning.
	XENA Mm. Gabrielle sighs.  Xena has been uncommunicative since they woke up, and she suspects that the story she so wishes to hear will be forgotten. Instead, Xena surprises her.  Looking off into the distance, she begins to speak. XENA (cont’d) I don't know how long it was, but I eventually woke up in the temple.  My wounds were well tended, so I knew that whoever had taken care of me planned to keep me around for a bit. CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST Xena opens her eyes to see the smiling face of an old, gaunt, gray-bearded man looking down at her.  He is dressed in a red robe with a black belt and sash.  Beyond him is a small, immaculately kept room with space enough for a cot and small bedside table bearing a pitcher of water and a wooden cup. XENA (hoarsely) How... long? MAN Several days, warrior.  You were badly injured when you crossed our threshold. Xena lifts an eyebrow in surprise. XENA You speak Greek. The man's smile broadens. MAN Fortunate indeed, since I am Greek and serve in a Greek temple besides. Xena struggles to her elbows. XENA How...?  Where?
	The man puts a restraining hand on her shoulder.  It's a strong hand, despite the man's apparent frailty. MAN Fear not, warrior.  You are in the same place where you fell unconscious from your wounds. XENA A Greek temple? On the steppes? MAN Indeed. XENA (suspiciously) A temple to whom? The man raises an arm and sweeps it grandly. MAN To Ares, of course.  What better place to honor War than where it is always so gloriously practiced? Xena continues to look suspicious. XENA What's your name? MAN Aeneas. XENA (smirking) "Praise-worthy". Think a lot of yourself, do you?
	Aeneas laughs. AENEAS Once, perhaps.  Now I am but a lame, old man good only for keeping the altar cleaned. XENA Mm. AENEAS And look!  My mind slips from me even now. He reaches for the pitcher and pours a mug of water, handing it to Xena. AENEAS (cont’d) Drink slowly. Your body is still healing from its wounds. Xena heeds his words and sips the water.  It is clean and cold and slakes her thirst admirably. She hands the empty cup back to him with a nod. AENEAS (cont’d) You are a woman of few words, yet I see many questions burning in your eyes. Xena narrows said eyes at him, causing him to grin. AENEAS (cont’d) Well, then, may I at least have your name, warrior?  It's good to know for whom one is invoking blessings. XENA I don't need your blessings, Priest. AENEAS You'll receive them, nonetheless. It is my job, after all. (beat) Your name?  Please? Growling, Xena relents. XENA I'm Xena. AENEAS Ahh.  I've heard talk of you.  It is said you left this land a cripple, yet aside from your most recent wounds, even an old man like myself can see that you are strong and fit of body. XENA (smirking) I had a little help. AENEAS Indeed.  A story well worth hearing, I'd wager. Xena's smirk broadens, but she remains silent. AENEAS (cont’d) Another time, perhaps.  For now, you must rest and regain your strength. If you have any needs, you need only call out and I will return. Still silent, Xena lowers herself back down to the cot and closes her eyes, almost instantly asleep.  Aeneas smiles at her; it is one filled with glee and calculation.
	AENEAS (cont’d, whispering) You'll do, Xena of Amphipolis. You'll do very well indeed. CUT TO: EXT. TRAIL - MIDDAY - PRESENT Xena and Gabrielle have stopped their traveling to help a merchant whose wagon has lost a wheel.  Having turned down the offer of a live chicken, Gabrielle waves to the departing merchant. Xena wipes the mud from her neck and face with a wet rag. GABRIELLE Well, that was our good deed for the day. XENA Don't speak too soon. Gabrielle grins. GABRIELLE You're right. The way our lives are, we'll be rescuing a king and his family from a well before dark.
	Rolling her eyes, Xena stows the rag, then hops aboard Argo. XENA C'mon. The faster we go.... GABRIELLE The faster we can avoid that king and his wells, I know. So... what happened after you woke up the second time? XENA Glutton for punishment, aren't ya? GABRIELLE Hey!  I happen to think it's a very interesting story.  The delivery could use a little work, but.... XENA Excuse me?  What's wrong with my delivery? Gabrielle pats Xena’s leg. GABRIELLE Xena, Xena, Xena... it's nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens to all novices. XENA (growling) Novice, huh? See if you get another word outta me. GABRIELLE Oh, come on, Xena, please? Xena hides her grin. XENA Hmph. GABRIELLE Pretty please? XENA Nope. GABRIELLE Pretty please with those little dumplings with the red stuff inside on top? XENA For dinner? Tonight? Gabrielle laughs. GABRIELLE Walked right into that one, didn't I?
	XENA (smugly) With both feet. GABRIELLE All right, all right, I promise. Story now, dumplings with red stuff inside tonight. Deal? XENA Deal. CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE - DAY - PAST Xena sits on the edge of the cot, looking herself over.  Her broken arm is neatly set and wrapped and doesn't pain her all that much.  The arrow wounds, scrapes and cuts are already starting to heal, and she nods with satisfaction. She rises to her feet, not letting herself sway as a temporary dizziness takes hold.  Teeth bared and jaw clamped, she takes a few tentative steps then relaxes as her body is well able to support her weight and activity. Aeneas is standing by the door, watching. AENEAS You are a very determined individual. XENA Determined to get the Tartarus outta here, yeah. AENEAS Why? Has your care been so poor that being here repulses you? XENA This is a temple. I bow to no god. Not even the god of War.
	Aeneas smiles. AENEAS I don't recall asking you to bow. Is my mind slipping away from me again? Xena growls. AENEAS (cont’d) Xena, Ares neither wants nor needs your worship. Xena snorts. XENA Yeah, right. He's a god. That's what all gods want. They're capricious, egotistical little slimeballs who like to meddle in the affairs of the mortals they're supposed to care for. The priest hides a chuckle behind a cough. AENEAS Xena, you are a warrior. Ares is War. Don't you realize that every time you draw your sword, you are invoking him? That every time you feel joy in battle, you are feeling joy in him? XENA Any joy I feel, Priest, is my own. My strength is my own, my will is my own. I don't need some two-bit god claiming credit for what I do. I decide my own destiny. AENEAS And yet, if you had not been fortunate enough to literally fall into one of his temples, you would be dead now.  If not from your current wounds, then certainly from the barbarian horde intent on displaying your head as a trophy. XENA I wouldn't feel all warm and cuddly about that if I were you. AENEAS Oh, believe me, I'm not. (beat) Please, stay. Khan's army roams at will over these lands. As you are now, your chances at getting through one of his many patrols is slim at best. What can a little time spent regaining your strength hurt? XENA You’re a lot worse than me if you insist on trying to turn me into one of your little Ares-worshipping puppets. AENEAS Believe me... that thought never crossed my mind. Please.  I obviously cannot hold you here against your will.  But I would like to see you stronger before you leave here. XENA (calculatingly) What's in it for you, Priest?
	AENEAS Only the satisfaction of restoring a warrior to her full potential. Nothing more. XENA And I can leave any time I want? AENEAS Any time. Xena looks around the small, neatly kept room, considering. XENA All right, but I want my weapons and armor brought to me. I'm not about to walk around this place half-naked. AENEAS (sotto voce) Pity. XENA What? AENEAS I said, right away. Xena stares coldly after him as he leaves, then she sits down on the cot. XENA Right away, my a.... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO