On the way back, the trio listened if there was any sign of the monster's survival, but the journey was pleasantly eventless. Fortunately, their torches were also enough until reaching the exit.

"Never thought I'll be so happy to see the sun again," said Damian with a tired smile. Xena leaned against a tree with clenching teeth.

"I… can't go further."

"We need to get to the village," told Gabrielle, although she was also exhausted from helping Damian.

"You're the least wounded," said Damian, and sat down. "Tell them we've won and to bring us back. We'll rest until then."

"But…"

"Hurry! Let's not waste any seconds."

Gabrielle gave a concerned glanced to Xena, then ran toward the village.

"Hopefully, she can convince them to come here." The young man sighed. "They may think it's the monster's trick."

"Gabrielle is very good at talking," replied Xena. "I'm sure she'll find a way."

Damian nodded, and his face flinched. He looked at his arm and grimaced when he noticed the fabric Roxana tied on it.

"Oh, so that's why it hurts so much!" He was searching on his belt. "That damn thing keeps pressing a bruise!" He found his dagger and cut the fabric off. "Ah, that's better!"

After a brief silence, Damian looked up at the sky.

"Well, so much for your warrior's death. As we are, we would make a rather pathetic show."

"I think you had your fight with me already."

"Taking your form was a serious mistake on this monster's part. That was about as close as I could get to pummeling the old Xena." He turned to the woman. "You look awfully pale. How's that wound?"

"The bleeding won't stop. My bandage soaked through already. I… felt blood streaming into my boots as we left the cave."

"What? And you're only telling this now?" Damian crawled closer to examine her injury. "Damn, woman, have some consideration! You wanna cheat the executioner?"

"Ever the optimist." Xena smiled weakly. "The wound should be sealed but… by the time we make a fire and…" She took a few deep breaths. "If… there would be a few plants around… like…"

"Yes, I know." Damian looked around to see if there were any he could use. "Keep talking!"

"About what?"

"Anything. Just stay conscious while I get what you need."

Collecting plants was difficult in his condition. Damian suspected he had a few cracked bones, and no matter how he positioned himself, his entire body was aching.

"Can't hear your voice!" he said while examining some leaves.

"Whatever happens, Lyros gets its justice," she answered. "Before I met Hercules… I rarely pondered over my decisions. I lost myself on that path. Then… all came rushing back, overwhelming. For a while… I didn't know what to do. I could see… no direction."

Damian inspected a blue flower while listening to Xena's confession.

"Only after meeting Gabrielle… I found purpose. I don't know… if I can ever right all the wrongs I've done, but… I got to try."

"So, where do you think you stand now?" asked Damian as he placed the collected plants on a bigger leaf and crushed them with a rock."

"I… don't know."

"Neither am I."

Damian smelled the mixture, then crawled to Xena. He took the dripping bandage off of her and pressed the blend on the wound.

"It may get itchy, so resist the urge to mess with it. You can also feel nausea later but it's better than bleeding out."

"I didn't know… you're familiar with herbs."

"Well, after my travel with Iolaus, I've learned that these things can be useful. I just hope Gabrielle––"

They heard footsteps and soon, a group of villagers showed up, led by Gabrielle.

"Damian!" Chloe ran forward, kneeling down to her son. "Damian, are you alright?"

"Yes, I just need a little rest."

"Is it true?" Theron asked with a hopeful tone. "Did you really kill that thing?"

"We did," he answered. "That nightmare is over."

The villagers looked at each other, relieved.

"Let's take them back," nodded Theron. "The Warrior Princess will remain unharmed and shall stand trial later."

Luckily, the villagers were too happy to argue. They put Damian and Xena on makeshift stretchers and brought them back to the village, where they joyfully told everyone the news.

They took Xena and Gabrielle to the dungeon. The villagers were reluctant to help the Warrior Princess, but they gave Gabrielle water, thread, and everything else to tend to her friend.

"We rid Lyros from that thing," said Gabrielle as she treated Xena's wound. "That has to be enough to spare your life."

"Maybe."

"I've collected everything I could in your defense. If Damian convinces them that you changed, it's gonna be alright."

Xena had her doubts about that, but did not want to take away Gabrielle's optimism. After all, maybe it was her doing that the monster harassed the village. And as she imagined all the misery she caused, Xena did not believe she deserved any mercy.

During the night, a young man brought them some porridge and glanced at Xena with a mixture of curiosity and caution before leaving. Gabrielle slept very little. She checked her scrolls and wiped off the sweat from Xena's forehead as she had feverish dreams.

The next day, Damian showed up with some food. He was limping and the bruises on his face healed little, yet Gabrielle was relieved to see him.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Considering I was beaten up by a Xena, I'm fine. What about you two?"

"Xena's not fit for a trial yet. She needs rest."

"I know. I've managed to postpone it by a day, saying that I'm not fit either, but it can't be delayed any further. My people are relieved now that this fear-feeding parasite is gone, but soon, their thoughts will turn toward Xena's crimes. The longer we stretch this, the more likely they will lose any objectivity they might have."

"I know she did terrible things," argued Gabrielle, "but she also helped to save Lyros."

"That doesn't bring back the dead or erase past suffering. This is not easy, that's why I hoped that Judge Kleitos would handle this. So, make the most of the time you have."

He limped to the door, then turned back to Gabrielle.

"I promised Xena to take you home if things don't turn out well. I…" He wanted to say something more, but eventually he just gave a slight nod before leaving.

Gabrielle did her best to speed up her friend's recovery and kept examining what she wrote together in her defense. Fortunately, Xena was tough and though she still had a fever, Gabrielle believed she could endure the trial.

After noon, Damian showed up, accompanied by rough-looking villagers. Xena already sat, steeling herself for the coming ordeal.

"It's time," the young man said without expression.

Xena and Gabrielle were escorted to a big hall where the people of Lyros already gathered. They whispered to each other when Xena entered the room and the two women could already feel the increasing tension.

When everyone had taken their places, Judge Theron stood up.

"We gathered today for an event few of us believed to be possible: the trial of Xena, the so-called Warrior Princess who committed vile crimes against us. Xena," He turned to the woman. "Damian said you came willingly, ready to answer for your misdeeds. Do you accept judgement, whatever the outcome will be?"

Gabrielle looked at her friend. She saw sweat on her eyebrow as she held herself despite of her injury.

"I do," she replied.

"Then let us begin!"

Chloe was the first witness to be summoned forward.

"She and her army came out of nowhere," she told. "They burned our homes, killed and wounded many in the village. It was unspeakable. I could not bear the sight and something came over me. I ran before her, begging to spare the village, to stop the bloodshed. It was a surprise when she agreed to show mercy if we gave her army everything we had. At first, I was thankful that the village survived, but I had to realize that she knew we were dead anyway. She knew we won't survive the winter with our village stripped bare. But we did… at great cost." Chloe looked at Xena with teary eyes. "But now, my son brought her back to answer for her crimes. The dead and the tormented deserve justice."

The trial was tougher than Xena thought. Villagers stepped forward one by one, explaining the hardship and misery they went through, thanks to Xena's pillage. The hate Damian had at the beginning of their journey once again appeared on his face as he listened. After the stories became more and more repetitive, Theron spoke up.

"We have heard the atrocities the Warrior Princess committed against our village. Before inviting Damian to speak as well, however, let us hear the other side of the events. Since Damian traveled with Xena in the past days, he may be able to confirm or deny the defense's claims."

Gabrielle took a deep breath. Things could explode easily, so she had to choose her words carefully.

"There is no excuse for what Xena did. During her youth, the warlord Cortese destroyed her village, and afterwards she made all the bad choices. However, I can assure you, she is not a monster. Under all the evil, there was goodness buried deep, and this goodness was the reason she came back to help to rid Lyros of the creature that tormented you for so long. She was even willing to accept the consequences of her past crime against you."

She looked around. Many of the villagers seemed uncertain, and Gabrielle hoped they were weighing what she said.

"The Xena you see now is a different woman. Her change began when she met Hercules…"

Surprised whispers followed the mention of the name. Gabrielle allowed a moment of silence before continuing.

"Hercules showed her a new path. I met Xena when I and many other women in my village, Potidaea, were captured by the men of the warlord Draco. What would have done the Xena you know? Turn a blind eye? Share in profit for the enslaved? The Xena before you saved us all. I traveled with her and I've seen her intention to make amends for her past actions. She stopped King Gregor from murdering a baby because of a misunderstood prophecy, prevented a war between the Amazons and Centaurs…"

Gabrielle summarized Xena's most believable deeds. Although she planned to be concise, Theron stopped her halfway through.

"So, in short, she turned from a life of murder and pillage to a more heroic path?"

Gabrielle grimaced. She had no intention of putting it that way.

"She intends to help those in need," she said.

"Very well. Damian, please tell us your experience with Xena during your travel together."

The young man went forward, though he had to sit down due to his wounds.

"I also heard many of Xena's adventures. Gabrielle is a bard, but I've not known her for a liar. I wasn't there during the mentioned exploits, so I can only vouch for what I've seen myself. I was away when Xena first came to our village. But I saw the devastation that followed and my father died resisting her army. I never forget the endless, inhuman labor it took us to survive. Most of you already told the details."

Damian took a deep breath before continuing.

"When I've encountered Xena, I was determined to bring her back for justice. Hearing about our new calamity, she was quick to agree to help, even knowing that a trial would likely follow. She had no intention of avoid responsibility and without her, I doubt I'd have succeeded defeating the monster. I can see no deceitful gain from her actions."

He closed his eyes, and Gabrielle almost thought he finished when he looked up again.

"However, I doubt that Gabrielle's list of good deeds is too relevant. Whatever good she may did mean little to us. She also did unspeakable things, many are far worse than what we experienced. But this trial is not about her whole life; that judgement will be Hades' job when the time comes. She caused us great suffering, yet she also ended one. However, it would be a very simplistic view that the two negate each other. At least, in my opinion."

Gabrielle's throat tightened. Damian's words hardly helped Xena's case.

"You are right," nodded Theron. "We cannot judge Xena's entire life. Still, our decision can affect others. Assuming Xena walks away and returns to her old ways, it would be our responsibility. So, before making a verdict, we must know if that can happen."

"I would say no," replied Gabrielle. "But we can't see the future to prove it."

"And based on your knowledge of the Warrior Princess," Theron turned to Damian. "do you agree?"

The young man looked at Xena.

"I've heard that Xena was once Ares' favorite. Ever since he lost her, he was scheming to get her back. Once, he almost succeeded."

Nervous chatter broke out between the villagers.

"Order! Order!" yelled Theron. Gabrielle felt her throat drying and the fear for her friend slowly grew into panic. Xena, on the other hand, just blankly stared forward.

"Tell them, Gabrielle!" Damian crossed his arms.

The bard looked around. The people seemed suspicious and watched her, waiting for her response.

"Once, Ares disguised himself as Xena's father. He intended to fake his death to push back Xena into rage and bloodlust." She turned to Damian. "But he failed!"

"Thanks to your intervention."

"Nobody is perfect. Xena's committed to her new path, but everyone needs guidance once in a while."

"And if she loses that guidance?" asked Theron. "You were there to prevent Xena's fall, but what if she loses you? What will you do then, Xena?"

"I… don't know," muttered the woman.

"You can see our dilemma."

Gabrielle no longer could restrain herself.

"You can't judge Xena based on speculations about the future! Can she slip? Perhaps. But she can also save countless other lives. Damian often mentioned his hope for Judge Kleitos, who always looked at cases objectively." She looked at Damian. "You said you want justice more than revenge. You––"

Theron banged the table.

"That's enough!"

It took all of Gabrielle's strength to remain silent. She was certain that Theron wanted to condemn Xena, but if the trial ends up being unfair, she wasn't sure they could stop Lyros from carrying out their sentence.

"She's right," said Damian between his teeth. "We don't know what the future holds. I refused to pursue Xena before, not giving in to revenge that may set me on the same path she walked. But I can promise if Xena leaves Lyros and becomes her old self again, it won't be vengeance anymore. I have a friend, a Warrior of Light, with an army who would be more than happy to help me hunt down the Warrior Princess."

The villagers nodded to each other with relief.

"Then all that remains," said Theron, "is weighing Xena's actions for and against us. As Damian said, the two do not cancel each other. Ultimately, however, her contribution to removing this monster of fear pales to her wanton violence that nearly destroyed us. The way I see it, the terror and deaths caused in these weeks were more endurable than the harsh winter years ago that scarred us forever. Therefore…"

Gabrielle's heart was racing. She looked at Damian, whose eyes kept darting toward Theron.

"If I may have a few words before the sentence," he finally spoke up. The judge stopped and nodded. "I was away during the monster's reign of terror, so I can't compare it to our previous hardship. But I feel we should not neglect the reason of a trial. When I was a child, Judge Kleitos once said: the justice system is not merely about the retribution of a crime, but an attempt of reformation. The sentence should discourage or prevent future crimes. In Xena's case, the condemnation would achieve neither."

Confused and indignant voices filled the room, and for the first time, Xena looked up. Damian pressed his lips together and clenched his fists so hard they were shaking. This time, Theron had a hard time restoring order in the courtroom.

"Judge Kleitos died," Damian continued. "But I have faith that his sense of justice lives on. After Xena's pillage, I suffered with the rest of you. I lost my father because of her. I hope you believe me when I say, I hold no love for that woman. I can't even say I've forgiven her. But what I've learned during our way back home is that Xena is tormented by her past. This is already a punishment and the least she deserves. She takes her atonement so seriously that she was ready to return and help us, even at the cost of her life. Her death would gain us a fleeting satisfaction, but I doubt it would make the world a better place. If anything, it would rob others, also deserving of reparations."

Chloe looked at her son with wide, teary eyes.

"I don't know if there's a proper sentence," Damian admitted, "but whatever the decision is, I only hope it's motivated by justice, not revenge. Not for Xena, but for ourselves. Revenge brought Xena on the road that led to our misery. If we also give in, we lose whatever we preserve from our past. And that's something we should never give up."

He sat down, intensely staring at the ground.

"Something Judge Kleitos would have said for sure," muttered Theron then he looked up as if he'd snapped back into reality. "Not an easy decision. Nevertheless, I stand by what I've said: her help does not outweigh the harm she caused. Therefore, my sentence is death!"

Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat. Chatter began erupting, but Theron raised his voice.

"However, her action and willingness to face her crimes should not be ignored. Because of this, I will postpone the sentence. Xena, you will leave Lyros immediately. If you linger too long or ever return, the sentence will be carried out. Case closed!"

The relief was like a great weight removed from Gabrielle's chest. She happily grabbed Xena's arm, who looked at her with tired and confused eyes.

Some villagers nodded to each other in agreement, but many weren't happy. Even judge Theron himself seemed displeased.

Xena had to use Gabrielle's staff for support. He still couldn't believe the final decision. She hobbled outside, but as the villagers were leaving the courtroom, someone, accidentally or intentionally, kicked the staff and Xena fell on her knees with a painful groan.

"Xena!" Gabrielle took her friend's arm on her shoulder and as she tried lifting her up, Xena's body suddenly rose. Gabrielle noticed Damian, who supported Xena on the other side.

"I'll escort you out," he said. "The sooner you leave, the better."

Damian himself needed to lean on the staff, but together they could move faster. After a few steps, however, Chloe stepped before them with disdain on her face. She tried to say something but was too angry to form words.

"Mother…" Damian began. "Mother, you have to––"

The woman slapped him and flashed a last hateful glance toward Xena before walking away. Damian sighed.

"Let's go."

This time, nobody threw anything at Xena, only watching her silently. Some peasants held clubs and knives in their hands, but despite their menacing look, they seemed unwilling to make a move, maybe because of Damian's presence. The trio reached the edge of the village without further incidents.

"Thank you," said Gabrielle, as the man leaned against a tree. "It must have been hard speaking up for Xena."

"I didn't speak up for her. I spoke up for the truth." He looked at Xena. "I wanted your condemnation. But when it finally came, I felt it was not true to Judge Kleitos' memory. Many of my people disapprove but I can't think of a more reasonable verdict."

"I'm sorry about your mother," Xena finally spoke.

"She'll come around," answered Damian, though he was more hopeful than convinced. "I'll try to make her understand."

"Are you feeling better now?" Gabrielle asked Xena as her friend took the staff and tried standing on her own.

"A little. I can't change what happened, but at least Lyros is safe for now. Hopefully, the trial and sentence eased your mind as well." She said to Damian.

"The burning hatred I felt during our travel has finally ended." He sighed. "My head knows that you're no longer the same woman who ravaged our village, but… I have a lot to think about and I need time to truly accept this closure."

"I understand. It is never easy."

"I meant what I said during the trial. If your past proves too irresistible, Najara and I would correct that. You won't get a third chance."

Xena nodded. Maybe it was a good thing, knowing that there are forces that could stop her if that ever happened.

"I go forward," she said when she saw Gabrielle and Damian looking at each other. "We'll meet ahead."

They watched her limping farther, then Gabrielle turned to Damian.

"You know, you could come with us," she said. "Maybe you'd get used to Xena. I'm even willing to teach you the 'Joxer, the Mighty' song."

"Tempting offer." Damian smiled. "But I think it would be unwise and inappropriate to travel with her again. After these days, I need some distance."

"Are you sure you won't tag along, at least for a while?"

Damian shrugged.

"Maybe, if you can sit Xena down somewhere for a couple of weeks. But truth is, I wanted to return to my village. It's been a while and now I need to measure up how this closure with Xena will affect them. And I'll also try making things clear with Roxana at last." He tilted his head. "Don't worry. Our next meeting is a matter of when, not if. You won't get rid of me that easily."

Gabrielle nodded, then stepped closer and leaned toward him to kiss his cheek, but stopped as Damian turned his head toward her.

"Oops." He lowered his gaze with a sheepish smile. "A little misunderstanding."

Gabrielle pondered for a moment, then stepped closer and lightly kissed him. After the initial surprise, Damian kissed back, gently brushing her cheek. When they look at each other again, Gabrielle gave a worried look.

"Please, lay off the hearts. I fear it won't end well."

"I can't make promises," Damian replied. "I'm quite tempted by one."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes.

"I thought you already settled this thing with Xena."

"Who said anything about Xena?" Damian grinned. "See you around."

As he walked away, Gabrielle was puzzled for a few seconds. Finally, she lowered her head and smiled before going after Xena.