Gabrielle knelt down beside Xena, not knowing where to begin. Soaking a rag with water, she gently began to wash the dried blood and sand from Xena's shoulders and back, carefully, so as not to cause renewed bleeding.

Three times the bucket of bloody water was replaced with clean water. When she had finished with Xena’s back, buttocks and the back of her legs, Gabrielle instructed guards to make a pallet with the clean rags and straw, and then gently turned her over.

As she began to wash away the blood from her face, Xena suddenly awoke, but with the tips of the spears threatening her, she lay still, yet her eyes flashed fire.

Gabrielle continued to clean the side of her face, then softly tried to turn Xena’s head to wash the rest of her face. But Xena was not cooperative, keeping her head rigid. Gabrielle leaned over to reach the far side of her face. She then proceeded to wash and rinse the front of Xena’s body, and arms and legs, being particularly careful with her severely lacerated wrists.

When she was finished, she ordered the guard to bring more clean water and a ladle. But when she offered the water Xena wouldn’t drink.

"You are very stubborn, aren’t you?" Gabrielle said to her. So she poured the water slowly over Xena’s lips, and despite herself, Xena found herself drinking. Four times Gabrielle filled the ladle, and each time it was emptied.

Looking around, Gabrielle asked the Captain, "Where are her clothes?"

"They were shredded by the whip, my Lady."

"Then I will get her something of mine. I will return shortly."

When Gabrielle returned to the cell, she found that Xena had been shackled to the wall, with chains so short that she was even unable to touch her mouth, which had mysteriously acquired yet another laceration, staining her teeth red.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gabrielle asked the Captain.

"When we entered the cell to rechain her, she fought us, so I thought it best that she be held with the shorter chains."

"Open the door." As she entered the cell, Gabrielle set down a basket she had brought, and then unfolded a blanket she also brought.