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| A Last Request |
| Disclaimers: Unfortunately, the characters of X:WP do no belong to me. Nor will they ever. They are the rightful property of MCA/Ren Pics. This story is for entertainment purposes only. I originally had something else in mind when I began to write this. The muses had ideas of their own and sent me in a different direction. There is a reference made to something that happened in Memoirs of a Bard: Translated by Melinda Pappas. You really can get through this story without having read that, but reading it would help and it certainly wouldn't hurt. I promise. |
| Please feed the bard at [email protected] |
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| Post FIN |
| "...And so, Gordius tied his wagon in the grove of Zeus' temple as a dedication to the god for making him the new king of Phrygia. The knot was made of a rope of bark that was so intricately entwined that no one has been able to untie it. The legends say that he who unties the knot will become the ruler of Asia." The bard finished to thunderous applause. Later that evening... "Do you really think that there is a Gordian Knot? I mean, if I had heard of this thing when I was a warlord, I would have been on it in a heartbeat," the warrior asked as she sat down on her bed and began removing her armor. The bard thought for a minute on this. "Well... they say that there is truth behind most legends. So, yeah... I think it could really exist." "You said it was in Phrygia, huh?" The warrior raised an eyebrow at her traveling companion. "Yeah, I did." A raised eyebrow from the bard in return. "I don't want to rule Asia... but... I would like a crack at that knot." The warrior shot her friend a sly grin. "I guess we're headed for Phrygia then. Hey," the bard prompted, "I wonder if Autolycus is still alive? I bet he'd love a crack at it." She allowed a wistful smile to cross her face at the thought of their old friend. "You know... he probably is. We should look him up, AFTER I try the Gordian knot myself." "Either way, if he is still alive, I would like to see him," the bard finished as she crawled into her bed and laid down for the night. After about two weeks of travel, the warriors rode into Phrygia. The city was bustling with commerce and the bard couldn't wait to stable the horses and hit the markets. "I promise we can go shopping after we hit the temple of Zeus. Ok?" "Uhg, ok, ok, it's what we came for. Let's do it." The pair headed out into the streets and straight for the temple. When they entered the temple's grove, they found an old man dressed in familiar green clothing standing in front of the old, weather beaten wagon scratching his head. "I don't believe it," was all they heard. The voice was oddly familiar also. Xena ventured forward, "Autolycus?" The old man turned and a large toothy grin crossed his features. "Xena! Gabrielle!" He held open his arms and met them halfway. He held both women for a long time in a strong embrace. "I had heard that you were alive, but I could never find you. Then I heard that you... well... I guess that story wasn't true." "It was," the bard began. "But we got through it... as always." She noticed that he still stood straight and tall. Though he walked a little slower than he used to, the years had been kind to him. He looked about ten years younger than she knew he was. "I can see that. Say..." He stroked his gray goatee, "what brings you two here?" "I wanted a crack at that knot, but I see you've beaten me to it," the Warrior Princess replied with a slightly annoyed undertone in her voice. "Well no, actually, we were both beaten." The King of Thieves turned partially and pointed to the broken knot. "What happened?" the bard asked in disbelief. "It seems that Alexander the Great couldn't figure it out... so he cut it in half." The thief's words sounded irate at the very least. "I mean the knot was good, but... well... I am the... King of thieves," he said with a flourish. "Are you saying that you could have untied the Gordian knot?" the bard asked. "Of course. I'm no amateur you know." Autolycus turned to the wagon and began walking back over. "Here let me show you." He held the two halves together. "Look at how the twine seems to go in one direction. It actually doesn't though. The pattern of the bark creates an illusion. Now look at this." he turned the knot over. "This is the spot where you'd begin to untie the knot. It doesn't look that way at first, but when you remember the pattern of the bark... well, you get the idea." He finished with a grin. "Autolycus, I am almost impressed," the warrior stated. "Almost?" the thief exclaimed in wonder. "Well, I would expect nothing less from the King of Thieves," The Warrior Princess stated with an amused grin. She enjoyed goading him when she could. It was too easy at times, but fun, nonetheless. "Well, yes of course." He looked over to the bard chuckling beside him. "Gabrielle, any harder and you're going to burst at the seams." "Autolycus," the bard began, "I have really missed you." Xena and Autolycus made their way to the nearest inn to secure rooms for the evening while Gabrielle went off to "browse". After spotting a temple to Aphrodite, Gabrielle found a flower vendor and had a lovely arrangement made up. She was ready for some serious haggling, something she enjoyed, but the price was more than fair and accepted it. She paid the old woman and went to the temple. It was typically beautiful inside. The Goddess of Love's temples always were. And, as usual, there was a wall depicting lewd pictures of people in positions that she still could not fathom, no matter how many times Xena explained them to her. The bard placed her offering amongst the many others and whispered, "thank you Aphrodite." "Hey, don't mention it Gabby." The goddess appeared in a burst of gold glitter. She looked over to the alter and saw the flowers. "Oh, flowers, I love flowers. Thank you." "Well, it was the least I could do. I owe you so much for helping us. I just wanted to say thank you." "Oh, Sweet Pea, you don't owe me anything. You're my favorite, besides..." She walked over to the bard and put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. "The world is a much better place with you two in it." "Thanks, coming from you that means a lot," the bard said with a lopsided grin. "So anyway, what brings you two here?" The goddess asked as she looked over her offerings and inspected some of the notes attached. "Xena wanted to try and untie the Gordian Knot, but... Alexander the Great got to it first." She finished in a sigh. "Oh yeah, that guy. Yeah, he was in town about a week or so ago and he couldn't figure it out. He got drunk that night in one of the local taverns and decided to go back and have another go at it. And he failed again, of course, so he cut it." The goddess finished with a slight shrug of her shoulders. The smell of raw fish hit the goddess' sense of smell as she neared the far end of the offerings table. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she made the offending platters disappear. "Were you there when it happened?" the bard asked. Aphrodite turned to face the bard. "Nah, Cupie was working on this cute little couple that was way in the back of the grove at the time. He saw it," she said matter-of-factly. "Oh. Well, I have to tell you, Xena and Autolycus are not happy about it. They both showed up here to have a go at it," she stated as she fixed up some of the flower arrangements that had been left and set them up into one large, striking display. The goddess made her way back over to Gabrielle. "Hey, you know you have a real talent for that." "Thanks, I used to love picking flowers when I was a kid," the bard reminisced as she placed the last small bundle of flowers in place. "Now wait a sec. According to legend the one who could untie the knot would go on to rule all of Asia. I thought Xena didn't want that," the goddess said quizzically. "She doesn't. She just wanted to do what no one else had done before... as usual. You know how competitive she is. And Autolycus... well, he's just Autolycus," the bard said with a slight chuckle. "Yeah, don't I know it. Well listen, Sweet Pea, it was nice of you to come and see me. And I really appreciate the flowers. And hey, don't be a stranger, I want you and Xena to stop by more often ok." "You got it. Every time we cross a temple, we'll stop in," the bard said with a big smile. "Good. I gotta go do the goddess thing..." She stopped for a second and became serious. "Keep Xena away from my brother. Alexander refuses to follow him and I think that Ares will try to manipulate her into something. She's usually pretty good about that stuff, but Alexander... now he's not really a bad guy, but he's done a few things that she won't like." She received a nod of affirmation from the bard. "You listen to your goddess now." "I will," the bard said with a smile. "Good," the goddess said happily. "Gotta go, bye." She vanished in a fall of glitter. "Bye." Gabrielle turned and exited the temple. ********** The Warrior Princess was in the process of inspecting her room when the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her skin began to crawl. "What?" She ground out. "Oh, c'mon Xena," the God of War said as he appeared behind her and put both hands on her shoulders. "Can't I just say hello once in a while?" "Not likely," she said as she shrugged of the offending hands. "Well, anyway... I heard what happened," he said moving in front of her. "And I'm glad your back. I was almost surprised to find out that Apollo actually gave his advice, but knowing my sister, well... she can come up with some really good threats sometimes." "Such as?" "Well, her best one, and my personal favorite, is sending the followers of Dionysus into my brother's temples and organizing huge orgies." The warrior found this amusing, but showed no sign, "A bunch of drunks frolicking... yeah, I could see that scaring him." She then gave the god an intent stare. "So why are you here?" "I already told you." the god said, attempting to sound innocent. "Spit it out Ares!" "Fine. You came here to untie the Gordian Knot. Xena... I have an army waiting for you to take command..." "What makes you think that I am going to take over an army for you?" she asked looking sideways at the god. "The one who unties the knot, goes on to rule all of Asia. You wanted to untie the knot, so I thought that you might have had a change of heart," he said, pacing across the room. "No," she began in disbelief. "It was something to do. I don't want to rule Asia." "Are you sure? You looked very unhappy when you saw that the knot had been cut," the God of War prodded. "Yes I'm sure." The warrior was becoming very annoyed. "And yes, I was unhappy, we traveled all this way for nothing." "This army I have, with the right leader, could defeat Alexander, especially now. His army was attacked by King Darius III a few days ago." "The Persians?" "Yes. He will defeat them," the god of war stated matter-of-factly. "He is a brilliant tactician, but I don't think that you want him ruling all of Greece, Macedonia, Persia and Egypt. He's the kind of butcher you don't like." "Really," the warrior stated flatly. "Really. I guess you didn't hear about what he did to Thebes for revolting after his father had been murdered." "No, I hadn't. As you know, I haven't been around for a while," she said with mock boredom. "Well, he razed it to the ground. Anyone left alive was sold into slavery. It was his way of letting the other cities that were trying to claim independence know that he wasn't going to stand for it." He sauntered over to Xena and stood behind her lightly running a finger down her arm, then whispered into her ear, "and that is something that I know you wouldn't stand for. Think about it." He was gone. The Warrior Princess took a deep, shuddering breath and left her room in search of Autolycus. ********** The bard browsed the crowded market for almost a candle mark before Xena and Autolycus found her. "Hey, it's about time you guys... Xena what's wrong?" the bard asked earnestly. "I'll tell you later," the warrior said waving off the question. "So what did you buy?" "Just a new quill and some ink," the bard said showing Xena her newly purchased wares. "Hey Gabrielle," the thief began. "I'm glad to see that you're still writing." "Yeah, I thought I had lost it for a while, but Aphrodite helped me out of my slump... oh, that reminds me. I spoke to her earlier." "Xena looked at her friend quizzically for a moment. "When did she appear to you?" "Oh, a little while ago. I bought some flowers and made an offering at her temple. I just wanted to say thanks.... then she appeared and we talked for a little while. She made me promise to stop in at her temples to visit more often. There's one other thing...." "What?" the warrior sighed. "She said to keep you away from Ares. Alexander won't follow him, so she was afraid that he might try to manipulate you into going after him." "He already tried," the warrior stated flatly. The thief looked sidelong at the warrior. "Does he ever leave you alone?" "No," the warrior sighed. "Well, Xena," the bard pressed on, "she said that Alexander has done some things that you wouldn't like and that Ares might attempt to use that against you." "Been there, done that. And she is right, I don't like it." "She said that he really isn't a bad guy, he just did some things...." "I kind of figured that. Look, I really don't want to get into this right now. Ares made another desperate attempt and failed." "Xena, I do not envy your god problems," the thief said before changing the subject. "Are you ladies hungry? Because I am famished." "Well..." the bard began. "Lunch is on me." The thief chimed in. "You're on," Xena said with a hint of enthusiasm. Any reason to leave the crowded marketplace was a good one. Three days later the trio of friends began the slow trek back to Greece. Xena insisted on Autolycus riding while she and Gabrielle walked. He was too old for a trip such as this and she knew it. "Hey, ladies," Auto began after they had arrived back in Greece. "How about visiting the big guy?" "Sounds good, We've been meaning to stop by and see him." Xena stated. "He's immortal you know," the thief offered. Gabrielle looked up at him on his perch atop the horse. "Yeah, we ran into him about two months ago. He didn't seem happy about it, though." "No, he isn't. But he'll learn to live with it," the thief said staring off into the distance. After a few more days of travel they arrived at Hercules' doorstep. He was nowhere to be found. "Alright," Xena began. "I think I know where he might be. There's a small lake just past that tree line." She motioned across a large field. "He might be fishing. You two wait here." "Not a problem princess," the King of Thieves replied. He took a seat on a small stool near the door. The Warrior Princess made her way across the field and through the small wooded area to the shore of the lake. There she found the demi-god peacefully skipping rocks across the water, landing them in the woods at the far side of the lake. Hercules turned at the sound of Xena's approach. "I was wondering when you would get here," he said with a broad smile. "Yeah, well... we picked up a passenger along the way." "Oh, really. Who?" the big man asked before capturing the Warrior princess in his strong embrace. "Autolycus." "Well then, I think that I should be a proper host and head back. C'mon." Hercules led the warrior down a short path and out into the field. "Hey big guy," Autolycus began with the arrival of his friends. "It's been a while." "Yes it has," Hercules answered. "Come on in everyone. I have plenty of food if anyone is hungry." He finished the last as he rested his gaze on the bard. "What are you looking at me for?" the bard said with a sly grin. "Oh, no reason... c'mon, get in here." Hercules noticed that the thief was having difficulty getting up. He waited for the two women to go inside and helped his friend. "I didn't think you'd want me to give you a hand in front of the ladies." "Thanks. I've been trying extra hard lately just for that reason." "Autolycus... there is no reason to be that way. Do you honestly believe that they would think any less of you?" "Well, I don't know. The last time they saw me I was in the prime of my life. I'm 59 years old, Herc. and I'm not doing well. But I have to say, I am thrilled to death to be around you guys again. You don't know how much this means to me." "No, but I can guess," the demi-god said showing the thief into the cottage. Over the course of the next few days the friends reacquainted themselves and enjoyed their time together. On the fourth day, early in the afternoon, Xena and Hercules went to the lake to catch dinner. The bard stayed with Autolycus and began writing down some of his adventures during she and the warrior's 25 year hiatus. After about a candle mark she went out to the well to fetch some water. Upon reentering the house, "AUTOLYCUS!" she yelled. The thief was doubled over clutching at his heart. She helped him into a bedroom and onto a bed. "I'll be right back, just hang on," she said, then ran to the door. Gabrielle screamed at the top of her lungs, "XENA!!! XENA HURRY!!!!!" "Did you hear something," the warrior said as she cocked an ear. "There, that was Gabrielle. C'mon," she said worriedly. Praying that Xena had heard her call, Gabrielle made her way back to the bedroom. "Autolycus, just hold on, they're on their way." There was great fear in her voice that she tried desperately to mask, but it was to no avail. "Gabrielle, it's ok. I knew this was coming for a while..." The bard clutched at the thief's hand. "Autolycus, don't talk... save your strength." The first tears made their way down her face. "Oh Gabrielle, don't," the thief began. "I'm just happy that I got to see you guys one last time." "Please don't talk like that." "You've grown into a fine woman, Gabrielle. You know that?" "Thanks. You have a..." "Don't say it... ok, say it." he said with a bashful look. "You have a good heart." Xena and Hercules blasted through the front door. "Gabrielle!" the Warrior Princess called out. "In here," the bard yelled back. Xena entered the room first with Hercules right behind her. "What happened?" the warrior began as she took over Gabrielle's spot on the edge of the bed. "Autolycus... talk to me, what's wrong?" The thief looked fondly at the Warrior princess. "There's nothing you can do, it's my heart." He took a deep shuddering breath then looked over to the demi-god. "Hercules, you've been a great friend. You've always been there when I needed you. Thank you." "Oh Autolycus," Hercules said with a sigh. "I can say the same and more about you." "Let me finish." The thief took another labored breath. "Xena..." Turning his attention to the warrior. "Remember when I called you a diamond in the rough?" "Yes," she said allowing a small smile to form at the memory of that night so many years before. "I remember it well." The first tear escaped the corner of her eye. Autolycus reached up to brush the tear away. "The rough edges are gone." From lack of strength his hand fell, only to be caught by the Warrior Princess who held it tightly. "I just have one thing to ask you Xena..." "Anything Autolycus," she said as she tried in futile desperation to reign in her emotions to keep the dying man calm. "Sing at my funeral pyre." "Of course I will." The King of Thieves closed his eyes and took his last breath. His three surviving friends seemed frozen in place. Hercules fell to his knees, Gabrielle seemed rooted to her chair and Xena couldn't let go of Autolycus' hands. Unable to comfort one another, they wept silently and alone for what seemed an eternity. Later that evening Hercules laid his friend's body atop the funeral pyre he had built. As he lit it, he whispered, "goodbye my friend." As soon as Hercules had finished lighting the pyre, Xena began her song of the dead. Her voice carried high and proud. The emotions that coursed through her came to light in the words she sang. Though she cried through the entire song, she never faltered. It was his last request. A short while after finishing the song, Aphrodite appeared, dressed in black. She looped her arm around her brother's. "Xena," she began through her own tears. "You reached Mount Olympus." Xena merely nodded and gave a slight smile. "I just came here to tell you that I went to Persephone on behalf of you guys as Autolycus' advocate. I was afraid that with his being a thief that he wouldn't get into the Elysian Fields." "Aphrodite..." Hercules whispered. "Wait," the goddess said putting a hand up. "He was a good man with a good heart. I told her how he helped all of you countless times and that I thought that he belonged in the Elysian Fields." "Thank you Aphrodite," Xena choked out. The goddess let go of her brother's arm and walked over to the warrior. "I hung around while she weighed everything out. He's in the Elysian Fields. I went to him when you finished singing... Xena, he looked like a kid on Solstice Eve. He said to tell you that it was the greatest gift that he had ever received and asked me to thank you." "Aphrodite, I don't know what to say," Xena said as fresh tears fell. "You don't have to say anything Xena," the goddess whispered as her own tears began to fade. "You know, as cocky as he was, there was something about him that you just couldn't help but like. I had to do it." Disclaimer: Autolycus was permanently harmed in this story, but his memory was not. The legend that was the King of Thieves will live on in the hearts of his friends and the stories they tell. |