Chariots of War Episode Recap

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Synopsis

Xena is shot by an arrow defending a small, peaceful settlement from a ruthless warlord and his son. While she recuperates in the care of a local family, Gabrielle is left to fend for herself against cutthroats and thieves in a tavern, while awaiting Xena's return.

Full Recap

Xena and Gabrielle are in a tavern, and Gabrielle is telling Xena a story. Xena then leaves to check out the path ahead, leaving Gabrielle behind. Meanwhile, in a little town, a man and his children and working hard to build something. The man's young daughter then notices a group of men heading their way to them, seemingly ready for a fight. Xena then notices the brawl, and so she steps in to help. While she is acting to save the people, she gets shot by an arrow in her torso.

Darius brings her to his home where he tries to help her get back to full health. Darius tells Xena that the men were working for Cycnus. Xena then instructs Darius on how to get the arrow out of her, and then she tells him he must cauterize the wound. Meanwhile, the group of men who were terrorizing the people of the small town are watching their fellow men play fight. A father and son (Cycnus and Sphaerus) start fighting. Sphaerus tells Cycnus of beating a warrior woman, and his Cycnus is disappointed that he could only take down a woman. Cycnus then wins the little play fight.

Back at the house, Xena wakes up, and tells the children a story of one of her past battles, and they are very amused by it. They ask her personal questions, and she then explains to the children how lonely her life is. The family then tells Xena that the little girl has not spoken since her mother passed away. One of the town goers tell Darius to make her leave, and Darius refuses, telling him that he will not send out Xena because she helped his son. The townsman then tells Darius about Xena's past, and the man says then says that as soon as she is well enough, he will make her leave. Xena, overhearing this information, gets ready to leave, but not before the group of men who were terrorizing the people earlier come to set the small house on fire. And back at the tavern, Gabrielle starts worrying about where Xena is.

The next day, Gabrielle is still wondering where Xena is. She then tells a man in the tavern that she is looking for Xena. The man starts to get a bit too creepy for Gabrielle's taste, so she lies and points to a man, Sphaerus, and says he is her boyfriend. She then goes to Sphaerus to start acting for the creepy man and asks Sphaerus to play along, and he obliges. Gabrielle then tells Sphaerus about looking for Xena. They then share stories of their past and Sphaerus then leaves quickly. Back at the small town, Xena is frantically looking for her weapons when Darius tells her that the group of men who have been making trouble want to make a peace agreement. He then pleads with Xena to not fight and to let the peace happen. Xena gets her armor on anyways and Darius tells her that she should not wear it to the meeting of peace, and instead offers her one of his wife's old dresses. Cycnus then tells his son that there will be no peace.

Back at the house, Darius is getting his children ready when Xena walks in, wearing the dress. They then make their way to the meeting. At the meeting, Xena notices that men are trying to sneak in to attack the unsuspecting villagers. She then quickly starts to fight them. Darius is furious at Xena for fighting. Cycnus is furious Sphaerus for retreating. The then tells one of the townsmen that he will not have peace. He then tells Sphaerus that he is going to kill Xena, because she actually killed his other son. Sphaerus tells Cycnus that he wants the chance to avenge his brother's death.

Gabrielle then meets with Xena and tells Xena that she will not sit back and wait, she wants to go to the fight with her. Gabrielle starts telling Xena about Sphaerus. A chariot then comes racing towards them, and Xena asks Gabrielle to get on Argo and ride to distract the men. Xena then waits in a tree, and jumps onto the second chariot as is passes underneath her. Xena then ride up alongside Gabrielle, and Gabrielle then jumps into the chariot. Gabrielle then recognizes Sphaerus. They then crash. After they are all out of the chariots, Cycnus and Sphaerus run to Xena and Gabrielle and Xena tells Cycnus that his son did not die by her hands, and in fact died trying to make peace. Not believing this, Cycnus then starts to fight her. Sphaerus then steps in and tells Cycnus that the fighting needs to stop. Cycnus then starts to fight Sphaerus. Sphaerus then throws down his sword and tells Cycnus that he will fight no more. When Cycnus tried to kill Sphaerus, Xena steps in and takes down Cycnus. Sphaerus then tells Darius to call another meeting, and this time for real peace.

Gabrielle tells Sphaerus that he did a great thing, and the two then talk about how he did the right thing. The two then say goodbye. The townsman who wanted Xena out of town comes to her and apologizes. And she says goodbye to the children, the little girl talks. She asks Xena to stay. Darius then tells them that she has to in order to help others. Darius and Xena then say goodbye, and then Xena and Gabrielle leave the town.