[FLASHBACK]

Night. Haimon emerges from the underbrush, illuminated only by the glow of an unseen fire. He stops and looks around, then approaches Gabrielle, who is seated before the campfire, her legs drawn up to her chest. She barely turns her head to acknowledge him as he drops to his haunches beside her. The silence is long and awkward between them until Haimon stretches his hands out to warm them by the flames.

HAIMON:
     Where's Eve?

GABRIELLE:
     She needed some time alone to think.

HAIMON:
     And Xena?

GABRIELLE (sighs and making a sweeping gesture with her hand):
     Off scouting the area for signs of Sabina's men.

HAIMON (looks off into the woods):
     I've been around the perimeter of this camp at least twenty times. There's no one but us within five leagues of here.

GABRIELLE (smiles bitterly):
     Xena only trusts herself when it comes to certain things.

HAIMON (frowning):
     Things haven't been...right between you and Xena lately.

Gabrielle glances at him anxiously out of the corner of her eye.

HAIMON:
     Is it me? Ever since that night she found us together up on the colonnade--

GABRIELLE (almost sharply):
     It doesn't have anything to do with that. It's just...everything. Sabina and Corinth. Xena isn't used to losing.

HAIMON (shakes his head sorrowfully):
     She told me once that anger and hatred clouds the mind. And now she's let herself give in to that.

GABRIELLE:
     If you knew her like I did, you'd realize it isn't anger. It's humiliation.

HAIMON (he looks at her intensely):
     What about you?

GABRIELLE (arches an eyebrow at him):
     What about me?

HAIMON:
     Gabrielle, you've been walking around in a rage for days now.

GABRIELLE (shakes her head vehemently):
     I don't get angry.

HAIMON (laughs lightly):
     Oh sure, you try to cover it up, but I've been watching you. Don't you think I see what's going on?

Gabrielle flushes deeply and looks away. It's apparent that the idea of Haimon's attention is unsettling to her.

HAIMON (nods and exhales wearily):
     So it's me you're angry at.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon, I'm not--

HAIMON:
     I thought we were--that there was something between us. When I kissed you that night, I thought you wanted it too. (he stops and looks away in frustration) Look, if I was mistaken--

GABRIELLE (lays her hand over his and squeezes it insistently):
     Haimon. I'm not angry at you.

Haimon looks down at her hand holding his and--as if suddenly remembering herself--Gabrielle quickly withdraws it.

HAIMON (sighs):
     Then what is it? You've barely spoken ten words to me since we left Corinth. You're using Eve as your personal messenger to go between us. You can't keep avoiding me forever, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE (reaches up and rubs her temple contemplatively):
     It's not you, Haimon. It's not. It's just...it's me...something I'm not sure I can explain. (she laughs self-derisively) I'm not even sure you would understand it if I did.

HAIMON (reaches out and takes her hand, in a friendly more than romantic gesture):
     Try me.

GABRIELLE (she looks down at his hand, a sad, longing expression on her face):
     I care about you, Haimon. I do. But... (at a loss, she looks away, unable to meet his gaze. She struggles for a long moment to find the words. Unable to do so, she finally tries a different approach) If I asked you to do something, would you do it?

HAIMON (nods):
     Of course I would.

GABRIELLE:
     And promise not to ask why?

HAIMON (deep furrows of confusion appear on his forehead and his tone betrays a hint of suspicion):
     What do you want me to do?

GABRIELLE:
     I'm going to lead the Amazons into battle against Sabina. (she pauses a moment to let Haimon digest that.) Don't follow us. I want you to get as far from Sabina as you possibly can.

HAIMON:
     What the hell kind of thing is that to ask?

GABRIELLE (looks at him tentatively):
     Would you do that--for me?

HAIMON (shakes his head fervently):
     Dammit, Gabrielle! No! Not until you tell me why--

Haimon breaks off when he looks up and notices Xena standing broodingly silent on the other side of the campfire. Gabrielle quickly leaps to her feet.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena!

XENA (glaring):
     We need to talk. (she casts a swift glance at Haimon.) Alone.

GABRIELLE (nods, grateful for the distraction):
     Yes! Yes, of course! (she turns slightly towards Haimon.) Would you excuse us a minute?

Haimon makes no response except to stare resentfully. Pretending not to notice, Gabrielle turns and circles the campfire, following Xena out through the underbrush.

CUT TO

Xena standing with her back to the camera, looking off into the distance. Gabrielle steps up behind her. She lifts her hand as if to touch Xena's shoulder and pauses. After a moment's deliberation, Gabrielle tiredly lets her hand drop to her side with a barely audible sigh. Xena turns, glowering at Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Were you ever planning on telling me that you were going to war with Sabina?

GABRIELLE (lifts an indignant eyebrow):
     Well, I see your hearing is as good as ever.

XENA:
     Don't turn this around, Gabrielle. I wouldn't have to eavesdrop on your conversations if you had let me in on your plans. After everything we've been through, don't you think I had a right to hear it from you?

GABRIELLE (she looks up at Xena apologetically):
     Xena, I was going to tell you--

XENA (gruffly):
     Really? When?

Gabrielle looks away, not quite sure of the answer herself.

GABRIELLE:
     I don't know...maybe when I was sure I was doing the right thing. I didn't want--

XENA (nods resentfully):
     Oh sure, I get it. You didn't want my help. Amazons only, right? Just like every other time.

GABRIELLE (shaking her head, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes):
     No! That's not it at all! (she covers her eyes a moment, getting her emotions under control. Finally, she is able to look at Xena again.) I didn't want you talking me out of it, okay?

Xena turns angrily and stalks a few steps away. Gabrielle takes a step towards her and stops, thinking better of approaching Xena. She raises her hands in a futile gesture.

GABRIELLE:
     I know you're hurt, Xena--and I'm sorry for that. But this is something I have to work out on my own. The Amazons are counting on me to lead them. I can't do that if I have to turn to you every time I make a decision.

Xena doesn't respond.

GABRIELLE:
     Nothing is certain yet anyway. All I can do is convene the War Council and give them my recommendation. It's up to the Council to decide.

Hesitantly, Gabrielle moves closer to Xena. She reaches out and tentatively strokes Xena's arm.

GABRIELLE:
     If we do go to war, I'm going to want you there. I couldn't do it otherwise...you know that.

Xena sniffs indignantly and keeps her back to Gabrielle. Close-up on Xena's face; her expression reflects feelings of betrayal, anger, sadness and vague tenderness.

XENA:
     What makes you think you can defeat Sabina when Ares is backing her?

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe I'm not convinced that Ares is backing her.

Xena turns to Gabrielle, gaping at her. She shakes her head and snorts in disbelief.

XENA:
     I can't believe it. After all these years, after everything you've seen, you're still an idealist.

GABRIELLE:
     You say that like it's a bad thing.

XENA (frowning sadly):
     It is. A good leader can't afford that, Gabrielle. You could be leading the Amazons straight into a massacre. The price of your idealism could be the death of your own people. Are you really prepared to pay it?

The camera slowly pulls in tighter and tighter on Gabrielle's face as she silently ponders this.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

[FLASHBACK]

The palace in Corinth--the headquarters hall from "Divided We Stand Part I". The hall is in disarray. The camera glides over a statue lying on the floor, a smashed vase, a pile of half-burned parchments and scrolls by the fireplace; then pans over to the desk, meticulously neat with scrolls and maps laid out, an amphora and a goblet, and a bowl laden with fruit. Finally the camera pans to Sabina, who stands at the window with her back to the viewer.

Ares materializes in the usual flash of blue light. Sabina tenses slightly and slowly turns around. She grins gleefully, almost letting her self-control slip for a moment. Then she gets hold of herself, the grin changing to a self-satisfied smile.

SABINA:
     Ares.

ARES (glares at her):
     You know, I've fried people on the spot for much less.

SABINA (leans back slightly, resting her hands on the windowsill):
     Less than what? Taking one of the greatest cities in Greece without your permission-- (pauses) or your assistance?

ARES:
     Try lying about having my patronage.

SABINA (smiles slyly):
     Oh, I don't think that was lying. Just--being a little premature.

ARES (snorts, impressed in spite of himself):
     You're good. (glares at her again) But not good enough to get away with this.

SABINA:
     Well, you haven't fried me yet, have you? Could it be because you--like my style?

ARES (in a quiet but menacing tone):
     You're getting to be more trouble than you're worth.

SABINA:
     Trouble? Let me guess...did you get a dressing-down from--one of your fellow gods? Or... (pauses and gives Ares a sly, questioning look) ...from somebody else?

ARES (scowls and points a finger at her):
     Hey, hey, hey. I don't answer to anyone. You'd better remember that.

SABINA:
     Oh, I will--as long as you don't forget it.

Still scowling, Ares walks over to the desk. He sprawls in a chair, puts his legs up on the desk and tilts his head back.

ARES:
     So. You've taken Corinth. Now what?

SABINA (comes closer and places her hands on the other side of the desk, leaning forward and flashing a little smile):
     Told you I was only getting started. Trust me, I'm aiming pretty high. (she lowers her voice to a half-whisper, her eyes sparkling) I won't stop until I've conquered Rome.

Ares stares at her, then takes his feet off the desk and sits up.

ARES:
     Rome. (thoughtfully) You're a Roman, aren't you?

SABINA (a touch of passion in her voice):
     I could have been the Empress of Rome now--if my father had been given his due!

ARES (sarcastic):
     Really.

Sabina straightens up, walks around the desk and comes up to Ares.

SABINA (standing over Ares):
     Before my father served in Xena's army, he was a Roman officer. He was rising fast through the ranks...a little too fast for Caesar's liking. (Ares looks at her attentively) Caesar plotted against him, and he lost his post and had to go into exile. That's why he joined Xena--he knew no one hated Caesar as much as she did.

ARES:
     So this is all about avenging Daddy.

There is a momentary flash of emotion in Sabina's face, but then she laughs lightly.

SABINA:
     Oh no. My father didn't raise me to be a sentimentalist. I just want to claim what should be mine.

ARES:
     Just like you claimed that you had my favor.

SABINA:
     I have it now, don't I? (off his silent glare) If you wanted to stop me--all you'd have to do is appear to my troops out there and tell them that I'm a liar. (She reaches over to the tray of fruit on the desk, picks up a peach, bounces it a couple of times in her hand, and finally bites into it.) They would desert me at once, the fools! Everything I've worked so hard to achieve over this past year, all my victories--everything I gained without (meaningfully) asking anyone for help--it would all be undone in one moment.

Ares stands up and stares at her, pressing his lips together. She calmly meets his stare and takes another bite of the peach.

SABINA:
     Or--you could let me dedicate this victory to your glory. (Takes another bite as she moves closer to Ares) You could let me give you everything you've ever wanted from Xena. (moves even closer and takes another bite) And I mean everything.

Ares stares at her intensely. A close-up on Sabina's face as she slowly licks the half-eaten peach, then parts her lips slightly in a seductive but chilly smile as we: