FADE IN:

3. EXT. BRITANNIA COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

Laborers, under the watchful eye of Roman soldiers, work to clear carnage from a battlefield.

Broken chariots, charred wagons and animals lay strewn among the battle dead. Acrid smoke from rises pyres and drifts in the breeze. 

Xena raises a hand, shielding her eyes from the sun.

What is that?

From the look of the mess out there, I'd say that was Boudicea's army.

Xena slowly moves her head from side to side.

There has to be thousands of dead on that field. 

I don't understand, Jules.

Xena points at the long sloping hill before them.

Why did she commit to battle here? You can see where the Romans encamped on that hill, with their backs to the woods. They dug a few ditches, put up some palisades, and sat defending one flank. 

She shakes her head, staring at the battle field.

What set the Romans against Boudicea? She was keeping the peace. 

It's a long story. For that we need Boudicea's daughter, Ivonne. She'll be able to answer your questions.

Where is Ivonne?

The last time I saw Ivonne she was at a village near here directing the survivors to safety.

Xena looks over the battle field.

The road here runs north south. Boudicea's territory is to the east? 

Yes that is right. The village is not far. 

They swing south to cross the road, carefully skirting the Roman soldiers. 

Xena, once we're there, maybe we can trade for another horse. It'll help get us around faster. 

Besides, I sure have missed these things.

Xena nods and smiles.

Yeah, someone should think about sending a few of these to our friends overseas...

Well, I think I can throw together a few little maps for anyone interested!

CUT TO:

4. EXT. BOUDICEA'S TERRITORY - AFTERNOON 

Xena and Jules guide the horses along a worn dirt road that cuts through a patchwork of fields and sheep paddocks. The village is nothing more than a few round buildings.

The whole country must have been at that battle.

She turns around to look at Gabrielle. 

Are you all right? You've been really quiet. 

Xena, the death and destruction back there... What gives men the right to conquer others? 

Xena scans the deserted village. Worn thatch on the roofs, weeds growing in the herb gardens and grass over growing the paths.

Greed for one. The knowledge that they can for another. But freedom has a high price. 

Boudicea's people must have been desperate. Did you notice the fields. They didn't planted crops this year. What ever happened, it started a long while back...

She scans the forest edge on the far side of the village. 

Romans have been bred to conquer ever since Caesar. 

If the Iceni had possessed a leader who knew how to conquer, those people would be alive right now. 

Wisdom from a conqueror?

No. The conquered. 

Gabrielle sees a sadness in the warrior's blue eyes. 

Xena straightens and peers through a doorway. She brings her horse to a halt and Gabrielle slides off. 

Xena jumps down as Jules and Ceanard dismount.

Jules, where is Boudicea's daughter?

She was here. Maybe she was forced into the forest, as we were.

If Boudicea had stayed in the forest none of this would have happened. She should never have fought out in the open.

A woman steps from the doorway. Dressed in leather and metal armor, her bearing is regal. She eyes Xena closely.

You take liberties, stranger. 

She would have won, were it not for the Roman witch. I'm Ivonne, daughter of Boudicea. 

She didn't lose the battle. I did.

Gabrielle steps forward to greet her.

I'm Gabrielle and this is Xena. We knew your mother. She was a great leader. Britannia knew peace for many years because of her.

The Iceni lower their heads.

Thank you. I'm sorry I have little to offer for hospitality. Roman patrols have been raiding everywhere since the battle.

Right now, we could do with a hot bath and some dry clothes.

Ivonne nods her understanding and steps aside, making way for them to pass.

CUT TO:

5. INTERIOR OF HOME - DINNER TABLE - LATE AFTERNOON: 

Xena, Gabrielle, Jules, Ceanard, and Ivonne are seated around a wooden table. Before them is a modest setting of food; a bowl of browned potatoes and a cauldron of stew. 

Xena is now dressed in her familiar battle gear, and Gabrielle in her top and skirt. 

A fire dances in the fireplace. 

They are eating and talking.

We'd like to offer you our help. 

They fight well, my Queen. They would make good additions to our forces.

Even the little one is powerful!

Xena, Jules and Ivonne laugh.

Well, you know what they say... it's the little ones you've got to watch out for!

That is most gracious of you, Xena.

Where are the people of this village?

On the battlefield you saw. Their blood spilled by the legions of Governor Paulinus. 

Those who survived, hide in the woods throughout our territory. 

We were with your mother when she defeated Caesar. She was the greatest warrior in Britannia. How did the Romans beat her?

How is that possible? That was many years ago, before I was born.

It's a long story, but it's true. Maybe when this is over, I'll tell you about it. 

But we were with her army, when Caesar marched on Britannia.

So, tell us... how did all this happen? Who's this 'witch' you mentioned earlier?

Our troubles began there a year ago... 

DISSOLVE TO:

6. EXT. SOUTHERN BRITANNIA - ONE YEAR AGO 

A woman runs through a razed village. Her screams go unaided. 

Behind her a Roman soldier on horseback unravels a whip. He draws the whip back. It cracks and wraps around the woman's ankles. She falls heavily to the ground. The soldier leaps from his horse and binds the woman's hands. 

From a thicket of bushes in the woods, a young boy watches as the woman is captured, thrown over the saddle of the Roman's horse and taken away. 

The child steals himself from sight as the rider passes by his hiding place at a slow canter. He looks around and slowly emerges from the foliage. 

He shadows the soldier, careful not to be seen. He follows him to a temple not far from the village. 

Toppled stones and rubble provide the boy another hiding spot. 

He watches helplessly as the temple doors open, and the Roman brings the struggling woman inside. The temple doors slam shut. 

He huddles down behind the rubble, knees up and arms wrapped around them. He lowers his head onto his knees. 

7. EXT. TEMPLE - LATER 

The day is pierced by a scream. 

The boy, startled, jumps. His breath caught in his throat. His eyes are large with fear. 

He looks around. Nothing. He begins to breath again. 

The temple doors swing open and a Roman dressed in robes walks out. He is accompanied by a beautiful woman with red hair.

The boy watches as other Romans appear and leave. 

He recognizes the soldier who took the woman, dragging out a body. The soldier drops it just beyond the gate. 

The boy remains frozen as the soldier looks around. The soldier shudders, runs to fetch his horse and gallops from the scene moments later. 

The boy creeps from behind the rubble. His hand touching the cold stone of the solitary column. He takes a deep breath and goes to the body. 

A look of confusion clouds his face. 

A temple priest lies in the dirt. The head oddly out of shape and the face bloody. 

The boy turns and runs, fear propelling him from the temple grounds.

DISSOLVE TO:

8. INT. OF HOME - DINNER TABLE - EVENING 

Xena and Gabrielle sit listening intently. Jules pours them each another tankard of ale. Ceanard reaches for another handful of bread.

Procurator Decianus defiled the Circle of Giants with murder and sacrifices. He lied to the governor and turned all of Rome against us.

Gabrielle stiffens and looks at Xena. The look on her face hidden from the Iceni.

This Circle of Giants where is it? 

In the south, near the village of Sarum. 

Hold on. You're saying the Romans sacrificed in the ruins of the Temple of Dahak. Hades only knows what's been released.

Gabrielle and Xena lock eyes.

Xena, you don't think...

No. Don't even think it.

They came up the ancient road. Procurator Catus Decianus and his witch. My family was captured and taken to the garrison at Camulodunum. My sister Rhianne... 

Her words trail off. Anger and tears come at the same time. 

Jules takes Ivonne's hand and squeezes it. 

Rome increased taxes and demanded all money lent to our noble families be repaid. The wealthy of Rome stole our land, and let their slaves plunder and destroy our homes. They now own every person in Britannia.

No one was spared. I was released and forced to raise my family's ransom from people who had nothing.

Ceanard grumbles under his breath.

The battlefield was the worst I've ever seen. Was that your entire force?

Most of it. The Romans took no hostages. The survivors are scattered across what's left of Iceni territory.

And your mother?

My mother never recovered from the wounds she received in captivity. The slaughter on the battlefield had begun and she was powerless to stop it. She knew there would be no mercy shown if she was captured. She raised a cup, and breathed no more.

You mean she took her own life? That doesn't sound like the woman we knew...

No... it doesn't.

Is there no way to reconcile with the Romans?

Ivonne shakes her head.

There can be no reconciliation. The Governor seeks battle glory and Imperial Procurator Decianus is the slave of greed. The witch walks them both like dogs.

Who is this witch?

Ivonne takes a deep breath.

When she looks you in the eyes you can feel her burrow into your soul like a worm. You are paralyzed, you can't scream. I'm sure she held the poison to my mother's lips. I never want to meet her again.

Ivonne holds her eyes closed, steadying her emotions.

Ivonne, you are exhausted. Please you must preserve your strength.

I'll be alright Jules. Put Ceanard on first watch, we still have much to discuss.

Jules and Ceanard get up and leave the table. They each take their cloaks from hooks by the door.

Rest tonight, my queen. We will guard well.

Both men nod to the women and leave, closing the door behind them.

DISSOLVE TO:

9. INT. IVONNE'S HOME - NIGHT

Ivonne rises and walks to the fireplace as a young servant comes in to clear the table. 

Beside the fire, Xena and Gabrielle's bedrolls lie, drying.

Xena leans back in her chair. Gabrielle, elbow on the table and head resting in her hand, continues to listen.

Without leadership, I fear my people are lost to slavery or worse...

the sword.

Your people can't hide out in the forests all winter, and neither can you. Would you be safe with any of the neighboring tribes? 

No. With no crops, people everywhere will be starving. They would trade me to the Romans for a basket of turnips.

Where are the legions now?

The main legion headed west to the Cirencester fortress. Smaller forces are scattered throughout the midlands. 

Then we go to Cirencester and find the witch.

FADE OUT: