While travelling to return the Helmet of Hermes to the King of Thebes, Xena and Gabrielle rescue Genia, a virgin who is about to be sacrificed willingly by religious zealots in exchange for protection from a warlord. Xena and Gabrielle think that introducing Genia to Aphrodite would convince her that throwing away her life for a god is a bad idea but it backfires on them.
Xena is as an infamous warrior on a quest to seek redemption for her past sins against the innocent by using her formidable fighting skills to now, help those who are unable to defend themselves. Xena is accompanied by Gabrielle, who during the series changes from a simple farm girl into an Amazon warrior and Xena's comrade-in-arms.