The Xena Scrolls
By: Gabrielle Bard of Podedia
Scroll#8: Prometheous

November, 49 B.C.

Once a long, long time ago all people had four legs and two heads. And then the gods threw down thunderbolts and split everyone into two. Each had then two legs and one head, but the separation left both sides with a desperate yearning to be reunited. Because they each shared the same soul. And ever since then all people spend their whole lives searching for the other half of their soul.
I told this story to a very special and very brave man, but before I met Iolas I had been awakened by Xena shouting at me to awaken from my late morning slumber. It seemed a regular occurence that at least twice maybe even three times a week now we were victims of an unexpected ambush by bounty hunters seeking the head of Xena. Obviously word had spread very quickly of her choice to switch sides between good and evil. Many of the local warlords and thugs were not satisfied with this for now Xena was threatening to shut down their entire business and way of life.
I looked about to notice that there had been a short battle between Xena and the now three unconscious men lying around me. One of them was badly injured and bleeding from a terrible neck wound obtained by a knife flying through the air. It appeared to me that one of his own had thrown the knife intending to hit Xena, but she was much too good to be taken down by that simple move. As I tried to assess the situation and come into the world from a wonderful dream I realized that Xena was trying to save the man who was on the verge of death. This act of goodness amazed me for it made me realize just how wonderful of a person Xena truly was though she never believed in herself. The darkness of her past constantly haunted her and it made me sad to know that she could not see within herself all of the wonderful things I could see.
I quickly responded to her demand for her knife and some old rags for she was going to cut him a new hole to breathe through since his windpipe had been severed. Xena took great care in nursing his wound and making sure that he did not have to suffer more pain than necessary. She was so much more compassionate than people had heard. But I knew the truth about the warrior princess. People would one day know of her greatness. I would make certain of it for it was my own inspiration in life. There was nothing else in the world more valuable to me than Xena.
And then after Xena had nursed his wound one of the other bounty hunters had awakened and attacked once more, but Xena quickly thrust her kick behind and defeated him easily. After that the attempt on Xena’s life was contained, and Xena and I took the wounded killer to the nearest inn. We stayed there with him all day and into the night. Xena seemed upset at having almost killed another man despite his dark intentions against her. What was even more amazing was that he seemed to have learned something very valuable from Xena.
To ease her guilt Xena then began to tend to others whom were sick or injured staying at the inn. The inn keeper himself was quite confused and impressed by her compassion without judgement. Yet as the sun set something very strange occurred. The man who was breathing through a new windpipe made for him by Xena he began to choke and struggle to breathe once more. Xena rushed to his aid, but was unable to save him. He died right there in the inn. She was heartbroken for it was the first time that her technique for a neck wound did not save a life. Yet there was little time to feel guilt for another sick man began to cough and hack as if he too were on the brink of death. And then suddenly he fell over into silence.
This was rather strange that two men had died right there in the inn and the inn keeper himself was quite disturbed by the omen. When I asked Xena what was going on she could only say that the second man had also died. And then there was an unusual howl of wind in the night that came through the open window. It was almost like the wind too was crying and suffering just like those men who had died. And then Xena stood up and walked closer to the window. She then proclaimed that it was not the sound of wind that we had heard, but the sounds of Prometheus.
It was a serious situation for Xena then stated that Prometheus had been captured by the Olympic gods most likely Hera. Hera had many adversities against man kind and it was obvious that she was punishing mortals for her husband’s many known infidelities with them. Legends told that if Prometheus were ever captured that man kind would lose all of the gifts which he had bestowed upon us. And so that meant that we had lost the power to heal from our mortal wounds and we would lose the gift of fire as well. Xena became cryptic and suggested that we leave immediately to go visit an oracle.
We traveled through the night and I wondered why we had not stopped back at the first or the second oracle temple that we had seen. Xena then told me as the morning sun rose that there was only one special oracle that she could see who would know how she could find and free Prometheus. I found myself dumbstruck for how could Xena know of this seemingly sacred information? When I asked her who had told her she said that it had been a friend. I was instantly intrigued for I had to know what friend of Xena’s would know this valuable information about a mysterious oracle. But Xena would not reveal her secret friend and so I could only imagine who he might be. It sounded to me like maybe a passionate lover from the past perhaps.
Soon we had reached the temple of that special oracle with all of the answers. Xena handed over Argo’s reigns to me and then said that if she did not return to me by sunset that I was to leave the area without her. Those were serious instructions and I realized that Xena was doing something so dangerous that she did not want me to get involved. Although most things Xena did I would classify as dangerous. I often knew the warrior princess to over exaggerate a situation hoping to deter me from trying to intervene. And so I watched the tall dark warrior in leather walk into the temple disappearing behind the doors.
Once she had gone inside she had met with the oracle who had presented her with a strange challenge. The challenge required that Xena prove her willingness to free Prometheus. Of course Xena had not found it amusing that she was asked to try to obtain a scroll that had no value, but she had indeed passed the test of the oracle. Xena had been willing to lose her hand to obtain the key that would free the great titan Prometheus. Once she had passed the test the oracle then revealed to Xena what she must do to find and free Prometheus. Xena was told that she must go to the cave of Hephaestus and find his sword for it was the only weapon that could free the giant. Yet the oracle warned of the warriors who would be loyal to Hera that would try to stop her. Once Xena had obtained the sword then she was to go to Vulcan mountain where she would find Prometheus bound in chains upon its peak.
Naturally Xena accepted the challenge bravely and was willing to give her life in order to restore Prometheus’s freedom and his gifts to mankind. As we journeyed onto the first destination Xena asked me a very strange yet eerie question. She wanted to know what I would do if she ever did not come through and make it back to me. I laughed at her for I could not believe she was even asking me that question. I had seen the power and the great skill of the warrior princess. Most of all I had seen her determination to succeed no matter the costs. There was no doubt in my mind that Xena would always return to me. Yet Xena would not let it go for she wanted to know what I would do if she ever did leave me unexpectedly. I then told of how I would most likely become a traveling bard for I had always thought of doing that. Xena then asked me if I should get some schooling for that. I told her that it was probably wise, and that I would if the day ever came that she did not return to me.
Then we stopped at a peddler’s tent. He was very intent on making a sale for he presented us with many wonderful offers. Of course everything he showed us from Vulcan mountain to a forged map to the cave of Hephaestus had all been fake. Xena quickly became irritated with the salesman though I found him to be quite entertaining. She demanded that he tell her where the cave was for she was obviously certain that he knew where to find it. The salesman warned of the danger there, but Xena was always willing to face danger without a second thought. Some days I often wondered if maybe she had a death wish.
Once Xena got the information that she seeked she instructed me to stay there and wait. As I waited for her to return the salesman showed me some more of his wonderful inventory including a piece of the shell that he claimed the goddess Aphrodite had arrived upon. Then we were interrupted by the entrance of a brave young man. His name was Iolas and he was looking to find Hercules. Now this was a peculiar development for I had never known anyone who knew someone famous. I was suddenly intrigued and I asked this man how he knew Hercules. He said that he was Hercules’s best friend.
How wonderful it was that I had run into this Iolas for he was someone I could relate to. I had a burning question to ask of him for it was something that had been on my own mind recently. The salesman tried to sell some more products to the newcomer, but Iolas was not interested. Then I asked Iolas what how he felt about traveling with Hercules and standing to the side while Hercules performed all of his heroic deeds. Iolas chuckled for a moment and responded by telling me that he never just stood by and watched. He had always been involved and fought right alongside Hercules. Iolas seemed proud of his place and of his purpose in life. It made me think that maybe it was time that I myself became a little more proactive. I realized Xena did not want me to do that, but only I was stopping myself.
Then Xena returned as I told Iolas about my friend who was like his. When Iolas asked me who my friend was I pointed to the warrior princess who stood behind him. Then I asked Xena if she knew who Iolas was good friends with. She wasted no time in answering my question for she was quite familiar with Hercules and Iolas’s relationship. I was stunned yet again for she seemed to have all of the right answers no matter what the scenario. Then I noticed the tension between the two as if they exchanged surprised glances. Suddenly, Xena drew her sword and asked me to come with her. I found myself confused because Hercules was on our side. Yet Xena was very certain that she did not want Iolas to follow us and tell Hercules of our whereabouts.
Xena and I escaped from Iolas into an old abandoned barn. Yet we were not only running from Iolas, but we had also been running from Hera’s warriors. They had chased Xena out of the labyrinth in Hephestas’s cave that had once held the special sword. Xena now held it and there were many others who wanted to take it from her. There were so many questions I wanted to ask Xena about her mysterious past with Iolas and Hercules. It seemed as if there was romance involved, but Xena wasn’t much for girl talk. Instead we were suddenly interrupted by an attack of Hera’s warriors that had caught up with us. Xena drew the mighty sword of Hephaestus and began to fight them, but she was careful not to draw any blood for it meant certain death with even the smallest wound.
Naturally she ordered me to get out-of-the-way and I did, but I felt like I could do more. I searched the barn for something that could be a weapon and picked up an old wooden rake. Of course, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it once I picked it up, but it made me at least feel like I was working toward becoming involved. Just when it seemed that Xena was outnumbered a pair of old friends showed up just in time to assist Xena when I could not. Hercules and Iolas had also caught up to Xena and jumped into the battle against Hera’s warriors. I watched the two men fight alongside one another. They were a unified force and surprisingly they fought without weapons. It was impressive to watch Hercules in action for his godlike strength was so great that not even Xena could seemingly match it though she was very skilled in her own right.
As the battle came to an end Hercules smiled and was seemingly glad to have reunited with his old friend. But just when everyone thought the battle was over one of Hera’s warriors rose from the rubble and grabbed Hephestus’s sword from the ground preparing to strike Hercules. The legendary hero reacted quickly thrusting his broad arm into the air blocking the attack with his gauntlet. Now I had heard of the power of the gauntlet, but to see it actually used was amazing. As the sword struck the gauntlet there was a surge of blinding energy and then the warrior was suddenly turned to a pile of ashes and a sword. It was a shocking outcome, but then Iolas spoke. He told Hercules that he now understood why Hercules did not want to allow Xena to strike the blow upon Prometheus’s chains. Suddenly, I too realized what Iolas was trying to say. Xena and Hercules were fighting to complete a suicide mission. Hephaestus had made the sword, he had made the gauntlet, and he had also made the chains which bound Prometheous.
Of course there was little for me to worry about because Hercules had retrieved the sword before Xena could get back to it. He was half god and probably had a much better chance at surviving that did Xena. Then I couldn’t resist the instant attraction I felt to Hercules’s powerful charisma. I had so much I wanted to ask him about his adventures and deeds. Of course he was as modest as Xena and suggested that I talk to Iolas about that subject for he knew all that I wanted to find out. Then he walked on ahead with Xena. I could see the chemistry they had with one another and I knew what I would ask of Iolas.
Yet as Iolas and I went to catch up he told me to go on ahead and that he would catch up to me later.
There was something strange with that Iolas, but I didn’t bother him with anymore questions for a while. He didn’t appear to be feeling too well. Eventually he did catch up to me and he began to tell me all about how he and Hercules had first met Xena. He told me the beautiful story of how Xena had been bad when she came to them, but Hercules had shown her the light of goodness. So it had been the great Hercules that had saved my friend from her darkness. It was him that had turned her onto the right path which led her to me. I was grateful for that meeting between Hercules and Xena.
As we walked on I could see the love that the two heroes had for one another yet they were modest. I could see how Hercules had helped a confused warrior princess turn her turbulent life around. Their love and respect for one another was so great that they were both determined not to allow the other to complete this most dangerous mission.
Soon we reached Vulcan mountain and went inside through the dark caverns beneath. Hercules said that it was these caverns and their passage ways that would lead us to Prometheus at the top. Now I was certain that it was Hercules who had told Xena of the oracle. And as we walked through the darkness I noticed that Iolas seemed to be in great pain. I stopped and asked him if he was going to be okay. Iolas shrugged off my question and insisted that he was indeed fine despite his heavy breathing. I had only met him that day, but I knew that he was as stubborn as I was for he traveled with Hercules. Then I pulled back his brown leather vest and saw a flesh wound on his chest. It was bleeding quite badly for his body could not heal. I was concerned for his well-being and I wanted to tell Xena and Hercules about his misfortune in the barn. But Iolas insisted that I promise not to tell. He wanted to be a part of this mission just as I did and so I couldn’t go against his wishes.
We continued on catching up to Xena and Hercules, but suddenly there was a huge rock slide within the cavern. Dirt and stone fell all around us as we tried to escape injury. Then Hercules used his mighty strength to stop a large boulder from blocking the path to Prometheus. He held it up with his muscular back allowing us all to pass through to the other side. Just as we had escaped one catastrophe I accidentally ran into Iolas crushing him up against the rocks. He screamed in pain and it was then that I realized that I could no longer keep his secret. I confessed to Xena and Hercules the truth of the matter, and then Hercules told Iolas that he must stay behind.
Iolas was still stubborn and tried to convince everyone that he was just find and could continue on, but we could all see that he had little time left. Xena then suggested that he stay behind and rest for if he was going to survive it would be because he had rested. Hercules agreed with Xena, and that was when I decided that I too would stay behind with him so that he would not be lonely. I knew that there was nothing more I could do to help Xena and Hercules for they had to work together to succeed in freeing Prometheus. Then everyone said their good-byes as if it would be the last time that they would see each other. I had faith that Xena would return for she always returned to me. Xena told me to be brave when I asked her not to strike the blow. I had to believe in her.
Iolas said his final good-bye to Hercules who would not accept it for he too had faith that his friend would pull through. And then the two brave heroes left their best friends behind to save the world. As Iolas and I sat there he told me to make sure that I let Xena know that he had forgiven her for all that had gone on between them in the past. I promised Iolas that I would let her know as my heart began to break for this brave man dying upon my lap. Then I asked him what Xena saw within me for I could not understand why she was so determined to protect me from everything. Then Iolas said that it was because Xena had seen in me a pure heart. He told me that he too could see that within me. And then the light went out. Our torch had been robbed of its flame leaving nothing, but darkness. It was clear to me that Iolas was about to let go, but I could not let him leave Hercules behind. I could feel the bond that they had for it was like the one I felt with Xena. No pair of people could be without their other half. And so I began to tell Iolas a story hoping that I could keep his attention.
His body shook within my arms and I could feel that it was starting to cool. His forehead was full of sweat from his struggle to stay alive. His loving eyes looked up into mine as I continued my story. I heard him let out a weak laugh and so I knew he was still with me. Tears began to well up within my eyes for his chest was barely moving, and his eyes began to close softly. That peace that falls over a person at the time they leave was beginning to set in his face. As I spoke the last words of my story I called his name in desperation. And then the flame came to life once again. Xena and Hercules had been triumphant in freeing Prometheus. Iolas’s eyes began to open once again and a smile spread across his face.
The best part of it all was that no one had to die to save Prometheus.   Xena and Hercules had found a way to free him without having to sacrifice their own lives. As they had arrived at their destination Xena tried to leave Hercules behind. She knocked him out, but he awakened from the blow just in time to arrive and help Xena escape death. Hera’s warriors had been at the top of the mountain waiting for the mortals to come to save Prometheus. She had also sent a large bird that had captured the warrior princess forcing Xena to throw the sword back down to earth. Hercules had then picked up a large rock letting the sword bounce off of it and thrust through the chains freeing Prometheus and the world.
What an adventure this had been. And I had learned so much more about my friend that helped me understand her more. Of course there was still a lot of mystery surrounding the warrior princess and her past, but I knew that she was of goodness and of compassion. Hercules had known that too. He had saved her soul, and now he had saved her life. As the two shared in their good-byes I too said good-bye to my new friend Iolas. He thanked me with a soft kiss for being there for him in his darkest hour. When I asked him if he had remembered the story I told him he said that he did not. And so I wondered if indeed it was true that all of us have a missing piece of our soul or is it only a beautiful story.