4. Who's Gurkhan?

Complete story — includes the ending

Visiting Gabrielle's homeplace, the intrepid pair discover that during their absence, Gabrielle's parents have been killed and that Gabrielle's niece Sara has been captured and taken into the harem of the warlord Gurkhan. They set sail to " Mogador " in Morocco. To keep a vengeful Gabrielle from endangering her own life, Xena slips her a sleeping potion in the guise of a sea sickness cure. While Gabrielle sleeps, Xena has herself sold into the Gurkhan household as a member of Gurkhan's harem, and is planning Sara's rescue. When Gabrielle awakens, she also has herself sold into the harem and performs a belly dance in the presence of Gurkhan and the undercover Xena. As Gabrielle dances closer to Gurkhan, Xena notices a glistening knife on Gabrielle's person; she obviously intends using it to get her revenge. Xena jumps on Gabrielle and neck-chops her unconscious for her own protection. Unaware of the assassination plan, the guards club Xena into unconsciousness and she falls atop her sidekick. After a torture session, Xena escapes and leads Gabrielle into Gurkhan's chamber. Gabrielle learns she is unwilling to kill even for the man's horrible crimes, but she still hates him enough to knock him unconscious and leave him with his face covered in Sara's prison cell. The guards come to behead Sara; after realizing it is Gurkhan they have executed, they run away panic-stricken, expecting severe repercussions from their mistake. Xena, Gabrielle and Sara escape in the confusion.