THE EXECUTION

Remember Meleager the Mighty? He's sent for Gabrielle (and Xena, I suppose.) Something urgent. Turns out, not everyone's a friend of his. A fight! A Judge Arbus has sentenced him to death for cold-blooded murder. (Well, he was drunk, anyway.) Apparently, there was an eye-witness. Xena hears the account and basically gives up. Not Gabrielle. She brings a "last meal" of a feast for Meleager -which the guards eat (as planned.) They sleep while Gabby takes the key, unlocks the accused, and gives him the chance to find his eye-witness so he can clear himself. She gets busted for this, of course, and the judge agrees to let Xena and Gabrielle bring Meleager back. "But even I can't hold this town back forever," he says of the angry citizens. (Gabrielle actually TRIES to stand in Xena's way....) The winning argument with Meleager is that if he doesn't go back, Gabrielle will pay. He then confesses his guilt! Disappointment. They all camp for the night and make peace again. Soon, Xena has her suspicions. They make a stop to check out some evidence. Uh oh! Xena killed that man!!! (Defending another.) She splits up with the other two. And we find out that Judge Arbus is corrupt! He only protects his reputation. Gabs and Meleager get captured. He's hanged! (But not really. Xena caught his fall from beneath the gate.) Judge Arbus is exposed.