GABRIELLE'S HOPE

Gabrielle awakes after having "that dream again" where she loses her blood innocence. It makes her sick but Xena tries to bring some comfort. On their way off the island, Xena is attacked by a group of banshees. (They won't beat up on Gabrielle. They call her "the chosen one.") Gabrielle questions her goodness but Xena interrupts such thoughts. They head indoors to get some food. Xena then heads out to try and find a boat back to Greece while Gabby, feeling better, orders a meal fit for a pregnant woman. But soon Gabby finds herself under attack by villagers who are calling her a witch and wanting her dead! Xena intervenes but then the banshees take Gabrielle! They inform her that she carries a child that will bring a new order to the world. "The child of darkness." Xena and Gabrielle escape to some sort of fortress. Gabrielle gives birth to Dahak's daughter (dubbed "Hope") and gets quickly attached. (The child grows just as quickly.) During the night, Hope seems to have killed one of the fortress' warriors. But Gabby won't let Xena kill the child in return. She runs off on horse. By the time Xena catches up, she finds Gabrielle claiming that the child turned on her and so she threw her off of the cliff. Once Xena's finally convinced, we learn that, in truth, Gabrielle sent the baby down a river in a basket. Xena has no idea. That night, Gabrielle pleads to the skies for Hope to be good.