"Charon"
By Lexington Wyvern
lexington@the-lair.com

Disclaimer:  Actually, and don't cry, but this one doesn't have a 
single Disney/BVTV character in it.  It's important backstory, 
however, for the Gargrave thread.  The original ideas and 
inspiration are Greg Weisman, but that's as far as any of this gets.

Typical Warning:  This story is probably not suitable for younger 
readers and probably should not be read by them.  Mature Readers, 
Only, please.  Also, please don't read this if you are easily offended 
by violence and sex.  I know what you're thinking, but to this story 
they are important.

Synopsis:  The story of why King Frederick hated the gargoyles so 
much.

Charon

Gargrave, 936--Summer

The boy looked up to the sinking sun, then turned to the dog 
standing beside him.  "C'mon, Beowulf," he said to the mutt.  
"We've still got lots of time."
	The dog looked into the forest and gave a slight whimper.
	"It's not that scary," Frederick, the boy who would one day 
reign over Gargrave, said.  "And if you won't come with me, I'll 
just have to go by myself."
	Frederick started into the forest.  Beowulf hesitated a 
moment, then trotted after his young master.
	The forest closed in densely around the pair as they moved 
deeper into the woods.

"Frederick!" the teenaged girl called out.  "Frederick!"
	"Have you had any luck, Elisabeth?" another girl of about 
the same age asked.
	"No.  I fear he's gone off into the forest, Abigail.  I should 
have known better than to leave him--even though I was only gone 
for a moment."  Elisabeth sunk to the ground.  "What will I do?"
	"Did he take Beowulf with him?" Abigail asked.
	"He must have.  I haven't seen the dog either, and Frederick 
had him when I left."  She looked up at the rapidly sinking sun.  
"Those monsters the king insists on keeping here will awaken 
soon.  How can I possibly find him before *they* do?"
	"They aren't monsters, Elisabeth.  They may be able to help 
us find him."
	"What do you mean they aren't monsters?"

Frederick looked up.  "I wonder how late it is.  I don't want to be 
out here when the sun sets."  Beowulf whimpered.  "Maybe we 
should go back... but I do want to see what's in that cave over 
there.  Come on, Beowulf."
	The dog whimpered again, but trailed behind the young 
prince nonetheless.

"Elisabeth, just let it be."
	"Abigail it's unnatural for you to be courting one of those 
beasts!  It's disgusting!" Elisabeth said, sickened.
	"Hush!  I don't want my father to hear about this."
	"Mark my words, Abigail; you're going straight to hell for 
this," she said, turning away.
	"Elisabeth, wait--" she started, then saw the sun was 
setting.  She turned away from Elisabeth's retreating form to meet 
with her gargoyle lover.
	Abigail rushed to her lover's usual perch, but on reaching it 
found he had been destroyed.  "*Father!*" she hissed.  She picked up 
the mace left behind and turned to find her father, rage flashing in 
her eyes.
	At that moment, the sun set.
	The gargoyles around her awoke to find the youth standing 
near the pile of rubble, holding the stone-shattering weapon.
	"What have you done?" one of them roared.  Before she 
could say a word, he seized her slight form and flung her over his 
shoulder.  Two other males and a gargoyle beast joined him as he 
leapt from the turret and glided into the forest.

"I think we stayed too long, Beowulf," Frederick mumbled.  "How 
are we to find our way back to the castle now?"
	Beowulf whimpered slightly.
	"I'm all turned around.  This isn't good."  He looked up to 
the sky.  "It looks lighter over there.  And it looks like there's some 
of those nasty gargoyles coming from that direction.  Come on, 
boy, we'll go that way.  I do hope they don't see us."

Charon landed, still holding tightly to Abigail.  "I'd imagine you 
had a great deal of fun with my rookery brother," he snarled.  
Aeacus and Caius landed beside him; Caius allowed Titus, the 
beast, to leap to the ground.
	"Did you enjoy destroying him?"
	"First you prevent him from thinking of finding a proper 
mate during our breeding season," Aeacus said.  "Then when he 
finally does begin to consider finding a proper female and ending 
his... *recreational*... mating with you, you shatter him in his sleep."
	"No, I--"
	"Quiet, wench!" Charon snapped, his eyes flashing white.  
"My brothers, what do you feel is a proper punishment for this 
human mongrel?"
	Caius smiled demonically.  "The punishment should fit the 
crime."
	"Then it's decided," Charon said, mockingly running a talon 
across her cheek before using the same claw to slit open her tunic.

Frederick and Beowulf continued to plunge through the forest.  
The dog abruptly stopped, looking off into the forest.  His ears 
cocked upward slightly.
	"Do you hear something, boy?"  He stopped to listen for a 
moment.  Hearing faint voices, he continued.  "We must be close.  
Come."  The boy started in the direction of the voices.

Caius held Abigail in place while Charon finished stripping away 
her clothing.  Aeacus tore a strip of cloth from her skirt and tied it 
across the girl's mouth.  She tried to scream for help, but the hand 
Charon slapped across her mouth choked the sound.  "Keep quiet, 
bitch.  There's nothing you can do."  The massive blue-grey 
gargoyle stood and unbuckled his belt.  He dropped his loincloth to 
the ground, then pressed his body against Abigail's.

Frederick continued in the direction of the voices, Beowulf trotting 
along beside him.  "They must be close."  He looked ahead and, 
only a short distance from where he stood, discerned the forms of 
Caius and Aeacus.  As he looked closer, he saw Charon on top of 
the naked Abigail.  He gasped.
	Aeacus heard him and turned.  He moved forward and 
seized Frederick's arm.  "So the young prince thinks he'll make a 
difference."
	"What do we do with this one?" Caius asked.
	"We can't kill him.  The girl is expendable, but this one..."
	"What of our brother's opinion?"
	Both glanced at him.  "He's busy," Aeacus said.
	"It would seem to be a poor idea to kill this one, but should 
he speak of what he's seen..."
	"He will not speak," Aeacus growled.  "And if he does, who 
will believe him?  The poor girl was attacked by wolves.  She 
should not have asked to be brought into the forest after dark."
	"I'll tell my father that *you* killed her!"
	"But you will have no proof.  And after we return you 
safely to the castle, no one will believe the words of a frightened 
boy who witnessed a girl being devoured by wolves.  Especially 
when he speaks those words against his saviours."
	Finishing with Abigail, Charon savagely bit into her neck, 
draining her of blood and life.  He stood and dressed, leaving her 
lifeless body for the forest beasts.
	Frederick scowled.  *I'll not let you get away with this,* he 
thought.  *I'll remember what happened here.  I'll remember what 
your beastly race is capable of.  And I swear I'll make you pay!*

Finis