Season 1 Episode 18 - The Prodigal
Gabrielle and Xena are attacked by an opportunistic bunch of robbers but manage to foil their threats. However at the crucial moment Gabrielle freezes in fear; something, which leads her to feel that she, is a danger to Xena's safety. Deeply troubled she decides to return to her home village, discovering on the way that it is about to be attacked by a warlord who has already destroyed other villages in the area. She further discovers that her village has hired a renowned soldier, Meleager the Mighty, to protect them, but when he appears in person he is drunk and less than impressive.
Gabrielle decides to organise the defence of the village herself, with all the skills she has picked up from Xena she finds this not to hard and has a great defence set up, but then the main warlord gets though it all, as Gabrielle is no fighter Meleager has to help and he get there in just the right time, and save Gabrielle's life along with the village. Please with what she managed to do at her village Gabrielle decides that she is good enough to go around with Xena and goes back to find her.