Xander's world went white hot with pain. He looked down and saw an arrow sticking out just under his ribs on the left side. One of the soldiers smiled and motioned the others to advance. Xander, in pain, without a thought, struck out with his power. The soldiers were incinerated. 'Oh, gods'. He thought, 'What did I just do?' He leaned against a nearby tree. He theoretically knew what to do to get the thing out of him, but he wasn't sure he could do it himself. And he couldn't heal with it stuck in him.

Xena half carried both Gabrielle and Ephiny toward a temple in the distance. Once there, she carefully lowered them both on to tables for the wounded.

"What is this place?" Cordelia asked.

"Healing temple. Your friend, Alexander, he's badly injured. In his condition he probably won't be able to keep fighting. And he probably won't be able to get that arrow out himself. Will you watch over my friends if I go back to help him?"

"Yes. Xena, I have some power too. Not on Xander's level and mostly what I have is premonitions. You have a plan to try to stop this war. You need to go through with that plan. This war will end very badly if you don't."

Xena narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why are you two being so helpful? You might have an idea who we are, but that doesn't explain why you're helping us."

"Because it's what we've been charged to do, by our parents. We were sent out to help. When we see a need, we have to try. It is the purpose given for the life we have. If you don't want our help, then we'll help others."

"I have more questions, but first I'm going to go help Alexander. We'll talk when I get back."

Cordelia nodded and turned to a young man in robes. "I need clean, hot water and clean rags."

"For what?" He asked.

"To clean Gabrielle's wounds, of course. They could get infected if they're not cleaned."

"You know something of medicine? Are you a healer or a midwife?"

"I'm someone with common sense. Go! Now!" She barked. The young man jumped and ran to do her bidding.

Xena found Alexander leaning against a tree, tears running down his face. She could smell the burned bodies.

"They attacked." He said softly. "When they saw I was hurt. They were smiling. I killed them. It was self defense, I know that. And it's not the first time I've killed in battle. But this way doesn't feel clean."

"It's not. But what else could you do? Let them kill you?"

"It wouldn't have mattered if they did. I don't stay dead. A gift from my father. I killed them because I was in pain."

"In shock and pain. You reacted. It's understandable. And forgivable." Xena assured him.

"I hope so. Thor forgive me, I hope so."

Xena was surprised to hear Alexander call out to Thor. Most people around here would never have even heard of the gods of the north. These kids must have traveled a long way.

"This is going to hurt." She warned him, but that was all the warning Xander got as Xena broke the shaft on the arrow and then shoved it through. Xander half swallowed a scream and then sagged against the tree panting through the pain. Xena's eyes widened as she saw something she'd never seen before, lightening dancing across the wound. She checked and found the back was healed as well. "So that's what you meant. That's some gift."

"Yeah, it is." He said standing up right. "Thank you for coming back for me. Where are the others?"

"Thessilian healing temple about half a mile from here. Your friend, Cordelia, was it?"

"Yes, my girlfriend. My Queen. My everything."

"Ah, like that is it?" Xena said, somewhat amused by the young man's dramatics. She'd been that way once too. "She said she has premonitions?"

"She does and if she had one about you, you need to listen, she's never been wrong. Granted she's only had the gift for a few months."

"She knows I have a plan to try to end this war, she told me I need to follow it or the war could turn out very differently."

Xander tried to remember the particulars of this episode, but wasn't sure his knowledge could even be applied here, especially since Gabrielle was injured later in the episode. So he simply said. "Like I said, she's yet to be wrong."

"Go to the temple, it's in that direction. Just follow the path. I'm going to get started on my plan." Xander nodded and headed in the direction of the temple, too spent to try to teleport. Xena set out to find the Mitoan General in charge of the attacking troops.

Xander followed the path and found the temple. He entered to find Cordelia arguing with a man in robes.

"You do not know what you're doing, woman! Mind your place!"

"My place is where I choose it to be. That man will die without help and it will be your fault. You claim this is a healing temple. It's a nightmare, is what it is. You're the one who has no idea what he's doing. People are dying because of you!"

"Guards! Throw this woman out!"

"Oh, I don't think so!" Xander said and raising his arm, flung the guards back against the wall. "That's no way to treat a lady. Behave yourselves. And you, you yell at her again and I'm going to hang you upside down by your ankles until you beg to be allowed to apologize to her."