Is Windows XP free now?

XP is not for free; unless you take the path of software pirating as you have. You will NOT get XP free from Microsoft. In fact you will not get XP in any form from Microsoft. But they still own XP and those who pirate Microsoft software are often caught.

Is Windows XP free to download?

Windows XP is no longer sold or supported by Microsoft. So there is no legal way to download it for free.