Between the Lines
| Xena: Warrior Princess episode | |
|---|---|
| “Between the Lines” | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 15 |
| Writer(s) | |
| Director | |
| Production no. | #V0616 |
| Original airdate | 1999 Nov. 15 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Devi" | "The Way" |
The third in four episodes set in Xenaverse-India.
The episode starts with Gabrielle & Xena shopping for Indian-style clothes. They see a procession, which turns out to be a ritual sati (aka "suttee"); Xena interrupts it.
- X: What has this woman done?!
- Man: Naima's husband is dead. She must join him.
- G: Has she been found guilty of murder?
- Man: Her? Our custom has been passed down and can only be changed by a darsham — an enlightened one. Her husband died. She must join him. That is the law.
- X: Well, the law is about to be broken!
After rescuing the woman Naima, the three run into a nearby building to evade pursuit. Suddenly Naima begins a magic ritual, with strange lights toward Xena, and a voice is heard: "Have courage, Xena. I'm sending you on a journey into your future — a journey to save your karmic circle."
Suddenly Xena wakes up in "A future life", as the old woman Arminestra; negotiating with a warrior woman. Xena/Arminestra is an advocate of peace, and her rival is a warrior. Battle breaks out, and Xena/Arminestra realizes that the woman warrior Khindin is her old enemy and mentor, the shamaness Alti. As Alti murders her followers, Xena/Arminestra is sent to safety.
Back in present-day, Gabrielle, too, has a mystic encounter with Naima. She begs to be sent into the future, too, but Naima tells her she must learn the art of mehndi, the path to enlightenment, and that will help her save Xena and defeat Khindin. The crowd starts to break down the doors, and Naima sends Gabrielle into the future: now she is Prince Shakti, whom Xena just helped.