FADE IN

A cave with a small fire burning in it. Aaron, the escaped Israelite prisoner, sits by the fire finishing a meal. Two of the goatherds, a boy and a girl of about twelve, stand by; the girl is holding a basket.

AARON:
     Thank you.

Hearing a noise, he lifts his head. Xena and Ares come into the cave.

AARON:
     You're back! Any word of John?

XENA:
     If my plan works, he'll be free tomorrow. (to the goatherds) Where's the Roman convoy?

BOY:
     You're just in time. They cleared the road this morning and moved out--about an hour ago.

XENA (to Aaron):
     You're looking better. Think you can hold a sword?

AARON:
     Against the Romans? Any time.

ARES:
     The three of us--against a couple of hundred Romans? (He pauses) Uh--good odds.

XENA:
     Oh, it's not just the three of us. We're going to have an army on our side. (Off his and Aaron's puzzled looks) A small army.

CUT TO

Dusk.

The Roman convoy has settled by the river. Two sentries playing dice on the perimeter of the camp when a strange noise gets their attention. They jump to their feet and look up, drawing their swords.

Suddenly, the camp is invaded by dozens of bleating goats and barking dogs. They run through the convoy, wreaking havoc. Pandemonium breaks out as children run after the goats, pretending to try to catch them but actually goading them on. In a few moments the camp is in complete disarray.

Pan to Xena, Ares and Aaron running through the camp to the roped-off area where the prisoners are held. Several guards draw their swords. One of them shouts, trying to raise an alarm, but he cannot be heard over the noise of the animals and the children. Two of the guards fall, knocked out by rocks; pan to two of the boys holding slingshots, grinning.

Xena cuts the ropes and the still-chained prisoners pour out.

XENA (to Aaron):
     Take them to safety. We'll hold off the Romans.

More Romans attack. Xena splits her chakram and uses the two pieces to do battle. She disarms a Roman, cutting him with his own weapon in the process, then sweeps his legs out from underneath him. Ares slices a warrior on the side, then begins parrying with another. He easily holds his own. A child's scream catches his attention. He turns to see a Roman soldier grabbing one of the boys and trying to drag him away as the child struggles.

Distracted, Ares gets knocked down to the ground. He kicks his attacker away, then throws his sword at the Roman who is dragging away the boy, hitting him in the back and killing him.

Ares nimbly leaps to his feet and makes a move to retrieve his sword, but another Roman charges at him with a battleaxe. Ares deftly sidesteps the lunge and grabs for the axe, wrenching it from the hands of the soldier. He swings wildly and the Roman crumples to the ground. He looks at the axe, impressed.

ARES:
     Well, it's not a sword, but it'll do.

He fights off some more Romans, then looks over to Xena, who's fighting several men.

She does a jumping V-kick, knocking two Romans out, then spins and slices a Roman across the chest with the chakram halves. As he staggers back, she sees another Roman behind her and, with a furious yell, buries the chakram halves in his chest. He collapses as she yanks them out.

Joining the chakram together, Xena sees a group of Romans charging after the escaping prisoners.

XENA:
     Chee-YAH!

She throws the chakram. It bounces off a rock, then flies toward the Romans, taking down several; as they fall, their comrades stumble and fall down as well. The chakram flies back to Xena and she catches it. Pan to the prisoners as they run for the hills.

Xena looks around for Ares and sees him bring down another Roman with his sword. The camp is still in full pandemonium, the Romans trying to get things under control as the animals stampede through the area.

XENA:
     Come on--we need to get out now before the Romans regroup.

Ares nods breathlessly. Xena gives a birdcall and the children start pulling back with the animals. A quick succession of shots of children running out of the camp with the goats and dogs, and racing for the hills in the same direction the prisoners went; then, pan to Xena who is fighting off two more Romans.

ARES (off-camera):
     Xena!

Xena turns around to see Ares on his horse, holding hers by the reins. Xena swings up onto her horse and looks around, making sure the prisoners and the children have escaped. Then she brings the reins down on her horse and kicks its sides.

XENA:
     Hyah!

Xena and Ares ride off at a gallop.

CUT TO

Evening. Among some cliffs, Xena and Ares are facing the children and the freed prisoners, whose broken chains lie scattered on the ground.

XENA (to the children):
     Thank you again for the help. Remember, the Romans are still in the area--stay safe.

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY:
     We will.

The twelve-year-old boy Ares saved steps forward.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY (to Ares):
      Sir... (he pulls Ares' sword from under his cloak) I brought you your sword.

Ares' eyes light up when he sees his sword. He takes it from the boy.

ARES:
     Hey--didn't think I'd get to see this again. Thanks, kiddo.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY (with feeling):
     Thank you, Sir! You saved my life out there.

Xena gives him a warm and slightly amused look. Ares looks back at her and shrugs a little, then turns.

ARES:
     All right, kids. Run along.

As the children leave, Xena turns her attention to the freed prisoners.

AARON:
     Xena--I don't know how to thank you. I know I doubted you before, but--

XENA:
     It was the least I could do. (she pauses) The best thing for you now is to scatter in small groups and go to Petra. If you're lucky, you may find your families there.

With a disjointed chorus of thanks to Xena and Ares, the Israelites start to walk away.

DISSOLVE TO

Dissolve to images of the sun rising and setting, to indicate that a night has passed.

CROSS-FADE TO

Xena and Ares sit by the fire. Xena looks worried.

XENA:
     Wonder what's taking Haimon so long. He should have been here already.

A brief silence.

ARES:
     So. Are you going to tell him?

XENA:
     Tell him about what?

He gives her a reproachful look as if to say, 'Come on, you know what I'm talking about.' Xena sighs.

XENA:
     I don't know. I just--want to do what's best for Gabrielle. (looks away) I wish I knew what that was.

ARES:
     The guy sort of deserves to know about his kid, don't you think?

Xena gives him a look.

ARES:
     What?

XENA (wryly):
     You're doing sensitive chats. Obviously, Gabrielle has been a good influence.

ARES (makes a face):
     Don't push it. I still haven't forgotten that whole "can barely kill a chicken" business.

Xena chuckles and squeezes his hand; then, suddenly, tenses and rises to her feet.

The camera pans to Haimon riding up. The expression on his face is grim but determined. He is followed by John and the other five prisoners, also on horseback. They dismount. Haimon stands aside as John walks up to Xena. His face is unreadable.

Close-up on Xena. She looks uneasy.

For a moment, Xena and John stand facing each other. Then, in an almost brusque motion, he extends his hand and they clasp forearms.

JOHN:
     I knew you wouldn't let us down in the end.

He lets go of her arm.

XENA (moved):
     But I did. Jerusalem has fallen to the Romans--nothing can change that now.

John lowers his head grimly. There is a brief silence. Then Xena speaks again.

XENA:
     Remember one thing--history is fickle. Who knows; maybe some day, the nation of Israel will still stand when the Roman Empire is just a memory.

He ponders her words, then nods, looking a little less gloomy.

JOHN:
      Maybe--with friends like you. Thank you for your help.

XENA:
     You might want to lie low for a while.

JOHN:
     I know. Rome is everywhere and we're in no position to take them on. I think we'll head to North Africa--maybe join up with your nomad friends. Nothing like a common enemy to bring people together.

XENA (with a restrained smile):
     Sounds like a great idea.

He puts a hand on her shoulder, smiles, and turns to his men.

JOHN:
     Let's go.

He mounts his horse, and the Israelites ride away as Xena, Ares, and Haimon look on. Then, Xena turns to Haimon.

XENA:
     Thanks, Haimon. You kept your word.

HAIMON:
     I did what I thought was right. (he pauses) And now I'm a hunted man--the Romans don't take kindly to deserters, let alone traitors.

XENA (her face impassive):
     Having regrets?

HAIMON (shakes his head):
     No. I believed I was going to be part of something great. But in the end this turned out to be... (he trails off) I guess you were right about Vespasian after all.

Xena says nothing. There is a brief, tense silence.

HAIMON (looking away):
     Now, I have to figure out what to do next.

Another long pause. Xena looks conflicted; she glances at Ares, who looks at her meaningfully. Finally, she speaks.

XENA:
     Haimon...you need to see Gabrielle.

HAIMON (alarmed):
     What do you mean? Is she all right?

XENA:
     She-- (stumbles a little) She's fine. She gave birth to your son two weeks ago.

Haimon stares at her, stunned.

HAIMON:
     My--son?

XENA:
     He was born in Jerusalem the day the city fell.

Haimon digests this for a moment, various emotions--bewilderment, joy, excitement, distress--struggling in his face.

HAIMON:
     She--she never said anything, or--sent me word after I left--

XENA:
     You two have a lot to talk about.

Haimon stares at her a moment, then turns around and walks off.

ARES:
     That's a hell of a way to find out.

XENA:
     There was no easy way to do it.

Xena stares grimly after Haimon. Ares watches her for a moment, then raises his arm and places it comfortingly around her shoulders. Xena lets out a tiny smile of acknowledgement and appreciation as she continues to watch Haimon's figure recede into the distance.

FADE OUT

THE END

[No goats were harmed in the production of this motion picture. The same, however, cannot be said for the Romans.]

Xena: Warrior Princess Shipper Seasons Season 10 Episode 1 From the Ashes Story By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Written By: Aurora and toxic64 Edited By: LadyKate and Sais 2 Cool Collage By: Aurora Images Gathered By: Aurora Cast Xena Lucy Lawless Gabrielle Renee O'Connor Ares Kevin Smith Darion Alexander Gandar Haimon Michael Vartan John of Giscala Eric Bana Sabina Jennifier Garner Original Airdate June 2, 2008 No goats were harmed in the production of this motion picture. The same, however, cannot be said for the Romans. DEDICATED TO KEVIN SMITH All characters and storylines that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess are a copyright and trademark of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement was intended during the writing of this script. All original characters and storylines are a copyright of the respective authors and of the Shipper Seasons. No script may be reproduced on a website elsewhere without the author's consent. © Shipper Seasons www.shipperseasons.com

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