BLIND FAITH

Xena heads into a tavern to grab some grub while Gabrielle does some shopping. Suddenly, Gabby is attacked! Next, we see Xena discover that her friend is missing, and is told by the man who abducted her (Palaemon) that he's killed Gabrielle -and Xena is next! During the fight to follow, some oil gets sprayed into Xena's eyes. We learn that Palaemon wants to be known as the one to kill Xena in a fair fight. And he's not telling where Gabrielle really is. Xena's eyes seem to be bothering her. Xena and Palaemon run into trouble. A fight! Xena eventually goes blind from the sumac in the oil! (She has 1 day to get treated before the damage is permanent.) She chains Palaemon so that he can be her eyes. We all soon learn that Gabrielle has been sold as a bride/Queen. Xena thinks it unusual that a commoner be chosen. Hm. Back in the castle, Gabrielle confesses that her heart belongs to another. She goes to talk the king out of the wedding only to find him dead! Turns out, she's in the middle of a power play and our Gabrielle is headed for the crematorium after the wedding! Xena warns Palaemon that "we all eventually become what we pretend we are." (He's not such a cold guy.) Xena steps in just in time, saves Gabrielle, and luckily finds the remedy for her blindness there in the castle. She's even convinced Palaemon to change his ways.