The following episode written for The Xena Warrior PrincessVirtual Season is a work of fiction based upon the television series Xena:Warrior Princess. The original characters are used strictly for fan purposesand not for profit. There is no intent to infringe upon or violate anycopyrights held by Studio USA, Renaissance Pictures, Universal Televisionor any other organization that owns the rights to this series. 

The script, story ideas, and any characters created bythe authors that are not part of the original series are copyrighted andremain the sole property of those authors. Also, any original artworksare copyrighted and remain the sole property of those artists. Permissionto use any of the written or drawn works herein must be submitted to theoriginal author(s) and artist(s).

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1. EXT. OCEANSIDE - WESTERN BRITANNIA - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle race their horses at full gallop along a beach trail.Sheer bluffs rise up out of the sea to block the way ahead of them.

Come on Gabrielle, we have to get to the top of those cliffs!

Xena reins her horse right, and heads off the beach onto rising hills thatlead to the top of the cliffs. Gabrielle spurs her mount, and leans overits shoulders to give it the bit. Xena throws her hands forward to giveher horse better balance. Neck to neck they thunder up the slope, theirhearts beating faster than hooves. Xena glances back over her shoulder,four Roman soldiers still behind them, riding hard to close the groundbetween them.

Ha-yah!

Gabrielle slaps the reins. Surging ahead, she takes the top of the hillfirst. She sits up and slows her horse into a tight turn. Xena cantersher horse in a wide turn around Gabrielle. They both face the enemy. Xenaraises her sword and holds it high. The soldiers come up the hill straightat them.

IYIYIYIYIY! YAH! YAH!

HA-YAH! YAH!!

Xena and Gabrielle take the charge to the Romans. Xena rides hard at them,splitting their formation in two. Her sword shrieks as it deflects offa short sword. Gabrielle guides her horse at the soldiers on the left.She ducks a sword that arcs above her head and leans in to grab the closestsoldier. She pushes off her horse and lets the momentum carry them bothto the ground. She reaches to her boot for a sai but her hand comes upempty. Quickly she recovers and strikes the soldier below the nose, knockinghim senseless.

Too close!

Xena approaches the edge of the bluff and pulls on the reins, pivotingher horse on its hind legs. Stopping inches before the edge. Seabirds skewand wheel in the air in front of her. She looks down at the waves poundingthe shoreline below. Two soldiers face her.

COME ON, YOU WANNA PIECE OF ME?

Xena slaps the reins and kicks hard.

IYIYIYIYIYIA!

Xena charges, riding straight between the Romans. As they near she leapsup out of her saddle into a forward flip. Swords whoosh beneath her. Offbalance, the soldiers slice into one another as they pass under her. Xenalands back in the saddle and looks around for Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE!

Gabrielle dodges the last mounted rider from the ground. The soldier swingshis sword high as Gabrielle somersaults to safety. She lands ready to defendagainst the next attack. Xena whips her chakram up and throws it at therider. The chakram pings off his helmet and he slumps off his horse ontothe ground. The chakram whirs back to Xena as Gabrielle hurries to collecther horse.

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2. EXT. ROMAN SEAPORT - BRITANNIA - DAY

Roman centurions mill around and watch as legionnaires unload ox cartsonto waiting ships. A centurion rides hard through the streets of the town.He brings his horse to a halt beside a tent erected on the wharves.

He dismounts and announces himself.

Urgent dispatches for Governor Paulinus.

The centurion stands patiently at the entrance of the tent. Soldierswork busily around him. Finally the tent curtains open. The camp quaestorbeckons him to come in. The centurion enters, removes his helmet, and waitsto be acknowledged.

Provincial Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus will take yourdispatches now.

A Roman general sitting behind a desk reading maps looks up from the papers.The centurion salutes.

Centurion what news have you brought from Rome. Tell me howdoes the city fare these days.

The Emperor forbids you to enter Hibernia. There are no Icenirebels there. You are to return with the Legion to Londinium. Rebuildingthe outpost must commence at once.

The governor rises from his chair and glares at the centurion.

How could he know?

His hands slap down on the desktop.

Spies!

He rages at the centurion.

He forbids me! Camulodunum, Londinium, Verulamium, burned tothe ground because of the Iceni. I'm poised to gain complete advantageover them, yet he forbids me to crush them! MADNESS! You have the dispatches?Give them to me!

The centurion steps forward and hands the governor the pouch. As he stepsback, a figure cloaked in a wool cape appears from behind a screen. Intenseeyes bore into the centurion from beneath the dark hood.

Three cities razed, eighty thousand Roman citizens slaughtered.There must be no thought of rebellion left in these islands.

He stares at the messenger, his lips forming into a sneer.

The Second Augusta can go to Londinium. They'll gladly puttheir backs into that battle to atone.

The cloaked figure steps forward and reveals herself. Lashing out, shegrabs the startled soldier by the neck. The centurion's nose starts tobleed and his eyes roll back. He gasps and drops to the floor dead. Paulinuswatches wide eyed.

Ethne ARE YOU POSSESSED! What is this outrage?

The woman glares at the governor and raises her hand at him.

YOU WASTE YOUR TIME TALKING! I suggest that you get the legionembarked on those ships instead of asking stupid questions. We are to closenow for mistakes.

The governor shakes with rage.

QUAESTOR!

The officer bolts through the tent curtain.

This man is having a seizure. Call for the litter and get himout of here at once. Then have this tent taken down. We sail before noon.

Ethne smiles and watches Paulinus squirm. The quaestor salutes and hurriesout of the tent. Ethne pushes past Paulinus and arrogantly strides towardthe waiting ships.

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3. EXT. WESTERN BRITANNIA - DAY

Xena and Gabrielle follow the paths along the sea cliffs. As the daylengthens, they come to a road that leads down onto the low lands. Theystop and scan the road.

The port is just up the coast. You can see it from here. Ifwe're lucky, we're still ahead of the legion.

That's probably a Roman town Xena. Do you think we'll haveany trouble leaving?

Those soldiers were the last of Decianus' men. We'll sell thehorses and cross on a smaller vessel to be safe.

I just got used to this horse Xena!

Don't worry I'm sure we'll be able to find decent horses inHibernia. Come on Gabrielle, we need to be on a boat before the next tide. 

They urge their horses on, and head down over the green hills toward theseaport.

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4. EXT. SHIPS IN HARBOR - BRITANNIA - DAY

Roman legionnaires march quickly in their ranks to board the waitingships. Governor Paulinus, accompanied by his bodyguard, leads a group oftribunes and centurions onto the flagship. The Captain of the Roman fleetstands on the helm of the galley. Roman sailors scurry about preparingfor departure.

Signal the fleet. Cast off, ahead half sail.

Ethne joins Paulinus on deck as the fleet pulls out of port. She scansthe row of ships as they catch the tide.

We'll be in Hibernia before the new moon Ethne. How bode thestars for our crossing. Better yet, will the stars be with us against theCelts of Hibernia.

Oh yes, there will be great triumphs for us both on this journey.I foresee the destruction of many enemies.

She laughs sarcastically. Eyes squinting to form pin points as she peersfar out to sea.

Many enemies will fall in Hibernia.

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5. EXT. HIBERNIA VILLAGE - MORNING

A beautiful, stately looking woman steps from a doorway. She stretchesand breathes in the fresh fall air. She surveys her village. Smoke risesout of roof holes to mingle with the morning mist. Cattle low and a roostercrows to announce another day. The woman looks east into the sunrise andclutches at her chest.

Enya! Enya darling, come quickly.

Mother! Are you all right? What's wrong?

WOMAN

I feel a great storm coming. There is much sorrow headed toIreland. Summon the council and prepare for a seeing. Go quickly my darling.

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