ACT 4

FADE IN

Ares Temple in Thrace.  Several Regiments of Christian Soldiers and Two Dozen Knights of the Faith, all totaling approximately one hundred fifty men, have surrounded Ares temple, and are trying to break down the door.  Suddenly, they are all thrown back in a sonic boom, as Hades chariot comes to a stop.

Once they've recovered their senses, the Christian Soldiers and the Knights of the Faith climb to their feet, draw their weapons, and surround Hedda.  Hedda looks around till she finds the leader of the men, the same Knight that she fought when she broke out of the Corinthian prison and who ordered the Christian's retreat at the Battle of Corinth.  Smiling, he steps forward, holding his men back and drawing his own sword to confront Hedda one on one.

Hedda:

     (leisurely pulling her own sword) Ah, you again?!  I was hoping we'd get to finish our conversation from the other day.  You know, I thought your god was supposed to be about non-violence and reverence for all living things.  What happened?  Where's the peace?

The Leader of the Knights begins circling Hedda, who follows his lead.

Leader:

     (fervently) Our Lord brings the greatest love and the greatest peace imaginable.  I still do not understand why you continue to fight him?

Hedda:

     I am the Defender of Olympus, and (smirking) it's what I do!

Hedda charges the Leader, who just barely manages to parry her strike.  Hedda and the Leader fight it out for several minutes, until finally, Hedda drives her sword into the Leader's stomach and he falls to the ground.  Everyone, including Hedda, stands dumbfounded, as she hadn't intended to kill the Leader, just wound him.  With his last ounce of strength, he holds up a hand to prevent his men from attacking, and gestures for Hedda to hear his last words.

Leader:

     You fought with honor.  Your Athena would be proud of you.  I only wish we could have met under better circumstances.  I promise I will pray for your soul…(his voice fading) in heaven.

Sorrowfully, Hedda watches the man die and then sees Celesta appear.  She looks at the dead man and then at a Christian soldier raising his sword behind Hedda.  Celesta silently mouths the words 'Watch Out', and Hedda rams her leg back into the Soldier's gut, starting a fight with the entire Christian army.  Hedda holds her own against the men for several minutes when she is finally brought down by a group of Knights.  One is just about to decapitate her when, suddenly, a javelin emerges from the Knight's chest and he falls over.  Hedda looks across the battlefield where the javelin came from, and sees Kalcian, who nods to her as he and the Proxidicae take some of the heat off of her.  Todonius, leading ten of Ares priests, runs out of the temple and join the fight.  He and Hedda fight back to back, taking out nearly a quarter of the Christian force by themselves.  Suddenly fireballs come raining down from the roof of the temple, and we see Ares throwing them.  He easily ducks a volley of arrows from the Knights' and keeps up his assault, setting clusters of Christians on fire, and causing them to scatter.  As she continues to fight, Hedda shakes her head in bemusement at the look of childlike enjoyment on her father's face when one of his fireballs explodes upon its target.

From a window in Ares temple, we see Celesta walking around the battlefield, collecting souls.  The camera swings around to show that it is Thanitos who is watching her, his eyes lighting up with longing.  Quickly, he scurries away.

CUT TO:

Outside the temple.  The Temple doors open a crack and Thanitos runs out, pursued by THREE OF ARES PRIESTESSES.  Unnoticed, Thanitos charges recklessly across the battlefield towards Celesta.  Todonius and Hedda see him.

Todonius:

     (terrified) Thanie!  NO!  Go back!

Several of the Christians now notice Thanitos and charge at him.  Hedda and Todonius shield Thanitos, as the Three Priestess are slain, but he keeps trying to get around them.  Finally, while a particularly skilled Knight keeps Todonius busy, Thanitos sees an opening and sneaks through their legs, catapulting himself at Celesta from behind.  Shocked at having been touched by the living, she instinctively grasps Thanitos' little hands to remove them from her neck. 

Hedda:
     (believing Thanitos as good as dead) NOOOOOOO!

But nothing happens.  Thanitos is fine and continues to maul Celesta in joy at being with someone he knows.  A Knight reaches Thanitos and strikes, but his sword goes straight through him and Celesta, who now has a firm grip on her young nephew. 

Todonius:

     (in understanding) They can't kill Celesta so long as her candle burns, and her immunity is protecting Thanie as well.

With renewed focus, Hedda and Todonius synch up, easily taking out dozens of Christian Soldiers and moving as one, unstoppable, killing machine.  Realizing their defeat, the eight surviving Knights attempt to retreat, letting the Soldiers buy them an escape with their lives.  Hedda finishes off her last of the Christian Soldiers, then looks around and is warmed by the image of the smiling Thanie and the happily tearful Celesta.  Getting an idea, she returns her attention to the retreating Knights and smiles feraly.

Hedda:

     Not this time, boys!

With a loud warcry, Hedda flips into the air, landing flawlessly in the chariot.  She grabs the reigns and takes off after the Knights.  Hades' immortal stallions race after their prey, obviously trained in pursuing a target. 

CUT TO:

In the Woods surrounding Ares Temple.  The Eight Knights are so busy running for their lives that they nearly run into the confident Hedda, as she casually leans against the side of the stationary chariot, having gotten here minutes before her prey.

Hedda:

     You can kill innocent women, but you run from a fight when confronted with someone who can fight back?  Figures.

The New Leader of the Eight Knights slowly steps forward and drops his sword, raising his hands in surrender.

The New Leader of the Knights:

     It's well known that Athena raised you, and Athena didn't believe in killing a surrendering enemy.  (smugly)  So, you can't kill us if we are waving the white flag; it would go against your code of honorable battle.

The remaining Knights confidently drop their weapons and surrender.  Hedda sighs.

Hedda:

     You know, you're forgetting one thing.

New Leader:

     What's that?

Hedda:

     Athena may have adopted me and taught me everything she knew, but at heart I'll always be Daddy's little girl!

Grabbing her chakram, Hedda throws it.  It goes around the clearing, ricocheting off rocks and trees, ultimately slicing all eight men's throats.  They fall to the ground, grabbing their necks and gasping as the blood pores out.  Hedda kneels down beside the New Leader, and runs the tips of her fingers through the soft locks of hair at his brow.

Hedda:

     (to the bleeding soldier) The rules of honorable surrender only apply when you're fighting an honorable adversary.  You would have repaid my mercy with treachery. (thoughtfully, coming to a conclusion) Honor is earned through word and deed, not given to you by the god whose alter one bows down at.

Hedda gets up and walks back to Hades' chariot, leaving the New Leader alone to bleed to death. 

CUT TO:

Outside Ares Temple in Thrace.  Celesta, waking hand in hand with Thanitos, is finishing up her work, taking the Christian Soldiers and Ares' Priests, who are meant to die this day from the world.  Kalcian and the Proxidicae, who all survived, are moving about around the battlefield, checking the dead Christians to make sure they are all really dead.  The Two Priests of Ares that have survived this battle are walking back towards the temple, patting each other on the back, while Ares and Todonius discuss the situation.  Hedda arrives on Hades' chariot, only not as dramatically as she did last time.  Opening her arms, she and Ares hug briefly.

Ares:

     This is MY girl!  (to Hedda) You were magnificent, (to Todonius) both of you! (cuddling Hedda) But especially you.

Ares holds Hedda tightly so that she can't get away, and begins tickling her ribs. Not to be subdued so easily, she elbows her father in the stomach, and tosses him over her shoulder onto his back.  As Ares climbs to his feet, the three laugh to their hearts content, letting off steam for the first time in weeks.  Once they have calmed down, Hedda's eyes fall on Thanitos and Celesta who look as happy as clams together.  Thanitos sees Hedda smiling at them and tries to pull Celesta towards her.  Celesta picks Thanitos up into her arms and carries him over to Hedda.

Celesta:

     (tears of joy streaming down her face) I never thought anyone would ever be able to hold my hand like this!  (gently ruffling Thanitos' hair) We make a good team, don't you think?

Hedda nods, their joy infectious.  She realizes what Celesta is saying and her face falls as a part of her is saddened that she has to part with her little cousin, probably the closest she'll ever get to a child of her own.  She feels a small, cool hand caress her face, and she looks up suddenly to see Thanitos brushing away an escaping tear.  Again, Hedda is marveled that Thanitos is being held by Death herself and touching her face, and no one is dying.  Taking Thanitos' hand, Hedda gives it a small kiss, then lets it go.

Hedda:

     (fighting back sadness) Don't think you're getting rid of me that easily, kid.  I'm gonna come visit you so often you'll be sick of me!  And, I'm taking you to the Panathenea in August; you can bank on that.  I may not know much about children or babysitting, but every kid should see at least one Panathenea.

Celesta:

     I'm sure he'll love that!  Won't you Thanie?

Thanitos looks like he wants to speak, but no matter how hard he tries, he just can't.  Too happy to care, he gives up and just nods enthusiastically.  However, Celesta, Hedda, Thanitos, and Ares have all noticed Thanitos' inability to speak and concern crosses their faces.  Before Hedda can say anything, Ares puts a hand on her shoulder.

Ares:

     He's been through a lot.  Give him time. 

Hedda takes a deep breath and nods.  Kalcian walks up to the group and clears his throat.

Kalcian:

     Ma'am, my men have finished inspecting the dead, and ending the misery of those who survived.

Hedda: 

Good.  You and your men can return with Lord Thanitos and Lady Celesta to the underworld. 

Kalcian bows deeply before Thanitos.

Kalcian:

     It is an honor to meet you, my King.

Thanitos looks at Kalcian briefly, before turning back to Celesta and placing his weary head on her shoulder, the excitement of the day having sapped his energy.

Hedda:

     (to Kalcian) Don't take it personally.  He's only three, and it's been a long day.  He'll grow into his father's crown eventually, but for right now, he deserves to be a kid, as much as he can. 

Kalcian:

     (nodding respectfully) You are very wise, Defender.

Hedda:

     (smiling) No, I'm just looking out for my cousin.

As Hedda rubs Thanitos' back, her eyes meet with Kalcian's, and we get the feeling that the two might be headed for romance.  Todonius notices the sparks between them, and looks uneasy.  He will always love Hedda, but from what he can tell, Kalcian is a good guy, and getting all jealous and caveman really isn't his place anyway.  Ares, who also saw the look, watches Todonius, and bows his head in commiseration, before speaking up.

Ares:

     Well, I have business to attend to, (to Celesta) and I think you'd better get the little ankle-biter home and to bed.  He looks like he's already closer to Morpheus' realm than our own. 

Celesta smiles but nods in agreement, before looking Hedda straight in the eye.

Celesta:

(heartfelt) Thank you.

Hedda:

You're welcome.  (to the lethargic Thanitos)  Bye Thanie!  You be good… and if you can't be good, be fast!

Everyone chuckles, and Ares ruffles Hedda's hair, irritating her.  She shoos her father away, and gives the sleeping Thanitos a kiss on the cheek before he and Celesta vanish.

Ares:

     (reassuringly to Hedda and Todonius) He'll be safe now with Celesta, and when he's old enough, I'll go down to the Underworld and teach a few lessons in the art of survival.  (chuckling) Besides, I can't wait to see the look on Old Charon's face when Celesta appears holding a living Thanitos.

Seeing that Ares and Hedda are moving into private 'family' territory in their discussion, Todonius turns around and starts walking towards the parked chariot to inspect the historic vehicle and its horses.

Hedda:

     It will probably look more like relief than anything else; Charon didn't want to raise Thanie.  I had to twist his arm even to consider it seriously.  Who wouldn't want to keep Thanie is beyond me.  (gravely) All I know is that his reaction to this crisis, yours, Lucina's, it's all symptomatic of a greater threat to Olympus than the Christians could ever be.  Our people lack unity, and without it, we're easy prey for Michael's god.  If these past few days have taught me anything, it's that being the Defender of Olympus has less to do with being a warrior and more to do with teaching our family how to protect itself.

Ares:

     Unify the gods?  That's a tall order!  Zeus, Hera, Athena… they all tried for ions and failed.  What makes you think YOU can change the entire universal order in a single mortal lifetime? 

Hedda:

     (with conviction) Because it is the only way we are going to survive, and the Fates wouldn't have decreed my life's purpose if there wasn't even a possibility I could succeed!  They didn't give prophesies just to make the gods feel better.  Say what you will about the Fates, but they were earnest.

Ares:

     (under his breath) To a failing.

Hedda:

     (defensively) Never the less, they gave me this job, this destiny, and I'm grateful; (trying to express difficult feelings) Before Corinth, I was drowning in heartbreak and I had no direction.  That was why I was willing to come home despite my anger with you for being so pathetically weak when it comes to Xena.  Your continued sponsorship of Livia, even after her raid on Varia's village, hurt me; I won't deny that; but I meant what I told Gabrielle in your temple.  Despite my pain, I could still love you even though I was furious at what you had let that Bitch do to my Amazon sisters in your name. But what you did on Olympus tore my heart out, destroyed everything I was, and I wasn't going to let you back into what little of a life I still had until I heard about what the Christians were doing here in Greece.  I'm not sure I can ever forgive you, but at least now I have my own vocation and it means as much to me as being the God of War has meant to you all these centuries, as being the Goddess of Love has meant to Aunt Dite.  I can protect the rest of our people the way I never got the chance to protect Athena, and despite the enormous personal cost being the Defender will likely take on me, when I saw Thanie and Celesta safe and together, it just felt right, like this was who I really was, that maybe my life still had a purpose after all.  The Fates gave me a great gift in making me the Defender of Olympus.

Ares studies his daughter a few moments before speaking.

Ares:

     (seriously) Just make sure you don't loose yourself in the role.  It's an easy mistake to make and I say this from experience.

Hedda throws her arms around her father and hugs him reassuringly. 

Hedda:

     I won't.  I promise.

Hedda finally withdraws from the embrace and Ares takes a good look at his all grown up girl, marveling at how perfect she turned out in his usually cynical eyes. Shaking off his sentimental thoughts, Ares straightens up.

Ares:

     (with professional distance) So, do you want me to take you to Olympus, so you can start cleaning house, or what?

Hedda:

     Not yet.  I need to work out a plan of some kind before I make my move on Olympus.  If I appear even the least bit power-hungry, or worse preachy like Uncle Hercules, nothing I say will get through to any of them.  For better or worse, we Olympians don't like to be told what to do or how to live our lives, and we can smell a power play like a fart in a bathhouse.

Ares chuckles at Hedda's last comment.

Ares:

     True enough.  So, where are you going?

Hedda:

     Back to Amazon Lands.  I have something I need to take care of there.

CUT TO:

The Amazon Village.  Just before sunset.  Amazons go about their evening chores. 

Inside the Amazon Prison Hut.  Francis kneels before a crudely designed wooden cross and prays.

Francis:

     Dear Lord, make me an instrument of peace.  Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Hedda:

     You don't need your god for that.  The ability to be an instrument of peace, or an instrument of war for that matter, is part of everyone.

Startled, Francis spins around to see Hedda, her mask perched on top of her head, standing at the doorway to the hut.  Realizing by her dress that she is here in an official capacity, Francis stands up and bows to her.

Francis:

     I was merely asking My Lord for guidance.

Hedda:

     I have to tell ya, depending on ANY god for guidance is a risky proposition.  They all have their own agendas and if yours conflicts with theirs, you're likely to find yourself up a creek in short order.  If you really want peace, Francis, you have to make it happen yourself.  (joking) Oh great, now I sound like Uncle Hercules!  As soon as I finish up here, I'm gonna have to wash my mouth out with soap!

Francis grins broadly at Hedda's joke and she decides that Francis' earlier tension is sufficiently broken for her to proceed.

Hedda:

     Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if I let you go?

Francis:

     What do you mean, what would I do?

Hedda:

     If I decided to free you, and as the new Queen of the Amazons, it is within my power to do so, what would you do with your freedom?

Francis:

     (taking a deep breath) I will not lie to you.  I would return to my flock and minister to their needs.  I would feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the imprisoned, serve my fellow man and woman as my Lord Jesus Christ has commanded.

Hedda:

     And if your Lord commanded you to kill me and my sisters in cold blood, or maybe my father, Ares or my Aunt Aphrodite, would you do that as well?

Francis:

     No.  My Lord would never command such a thing!

Hedda:

     (getting angry) If he hadn't, I'd still be with my army in Chin instead of here talking with you!  (calming herself) You told Gabrielle, that you don't agree with Michael's militaristic approach to conversion, but that is not enough to convince me to free you.  Recent events have made me see the need to hold to the honorable ideals I was raised with, but I have also learned that the Archangel Michael and his breed have little or no respect for fighting fairly or honorably.  And yet it isn't right for me to keep you in a state of uncertainty, for I believe that despite the actions of your brethren, you are an honorable man.  What I really need to know is if push came to shove and you had to choose, would you follow the dictates of your god or your conscience?

Francis:

     I do not believe that that is a choice I will ever have to make.  However, I can tell you this.  I will not take life or participate in the cycle of violence and death that has taken so many lives since the beginning of time, under any circumstances.  I seek only to help and to heal, living as Jesus Christ taught.  Barnabas and his followers do not understand this, but be assured, I do.

Hedda considers Francis' answer for several moments.

Hedda:

     At one time, the predecessors to the Amazon Nation were hunted to the brink of extinction by a massive tribe of cannibals, but it was the mercy shown to one honorable cannibal, by the first Amazon Queen, Cyane, that ultimately changed his tribe, and the vast majority of the human race, forever.  I'm not a seer.  I can't tell with absolute certainty if you're being truthful or if you'll ever succeed in becoming that instrument of peace you aspire to be (looking Francis in the eye) I can only follow my heart and offer you the wisdom of the first Cyane (stepping aside, so Francis may leave the hut) "Go.  Lead your people.  Show them a better way."

Francis smiles and nods in acceptance.

Francis:

     These past few years, I have tried to live a pure and simple life of service, but maybe you're right.  Maybe it's time I do more than serve.  Maybe it's my duty to teach them, or at least unteach them the brutality Michael and Barnabas are manipulating them into.  (smiling) You're Cyane was a wise Queen… and her people are in good hands today as well.

Hedda:

     Damn right.

Francis and Hedda clasp arms and shake on it before he finally exits the hut.  Hedda watches him walk off, and smiles, before exiting herself, and running right into Gabrielle who has obviously been listening at the door.  Hedda gives her an annoyed look and tries to walk off, but Gabrielle blocks her path and places a gentle hand on her forearm to stop her.

Gabrielle:

     I didn't mean to eavesdrop.  Callia told me you had gone in to speak to the Christian Prisoner, and I just wanted to make sure he was in one piece when you came back out again.  But I heard what you said, and I just want you to know that right now, I'm proud to call you my sister.  (getting misty eyed, but holding back tears)  Maybe there's a little of Xena inside you after all.

Hedda:

     (rolling her eyes) Bugger off, Blondie; I've got things to do! 

Having said her peace, Hedda storm off, leaving a sighing Gabrielle in her wake.

Gabrielle:

     (to herself) It's just buried under all those many layers of Ares.

Shaking her head, Gabrielle walks off in the opposite direction to help with the preparations for dinner.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT 4

End of 'The Destiny of the Weak'

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