GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:JASON RETURNS

Fifteen, long years had passed, since Pelias seized the kingdom of Thessaly. In those fifteen years, the land, which used to be peaceful had been bled dry and turned into a place of suffering and violence.

Aeson and Medea, the former king and queen, were cast into prison. There they had languished day and night, surviving off no more than gruel and water, while Pelias reigned terror over the land.

Acastus was just as bad. He never protested and was set dead against anyone who tried to stand up against his father, in any way.

However, as devastating as things were, a ray of hope still shone and that was Jason – the son of Aeson and Medea.

Over the last fifteen years, Jason had been raised to adulthood, faraway in the mountains of Thessaly, by Heracles and Atalanta.

There he had learned how to wield the sword, throw the javelin and fire the arrow. Now he was a fine hunter and a handsome young man of twenty-five.

Heracles and Atalanta had told him many things about the known world. Other lands they had visited, kings and queens they had met, voyages they had been on, treasures they had found.

They got wind from time to time, of what Pelias was up to from passersby and forwarded it onto a furious Jason.

Furthermore, Jason regarded Heracles and Atalanta as family. Heracles was like a second father to him and

Atalanta a sister.

In the present moment, the three of them were out in the forest, hunting a small deer for their dinner.

Atalanta poised and fired an arrow at the deer. A perfect shot.

“Well done,” said Jason.”

“Yes, well done,” Heracles said.

“Thanks.”

“Now we must head home,” said Heracles.

He picked up the deer and walked with Jason and Atalanta back the way they came.

Eventually, they reached a small cave, over-looking a lake, surrounded by hills and valleys. On the other side of the lake, about two miles away, there was a small settlement.

“You two go fetch some water, while I prepare dinner,” Heracles said.

Jason and Atalanta stashed their bows and arrows inside the cave, which was mostly dark inside and fetched three large skins. They then left the cave and headed to a stream to get some water. When the skins were full, they went back and put them inside the cave.

“Dinner’s all ready,” said Heracles, who had just finished roasting the deer on a spit over a warm fire.

“Lovely,” Atalanta said.

“Let’s tuck in,” said Jason.

“Yes, let’s tuck in,” Heracles said.

The three of them began to dine.

“I have something to tell you, Jason,” Heracles said.

“Go on.”

“The time has come for you to go to Iolcos and make yourself known to Pelias.”

“Finally,” Jason said. “I’ve waited fifteen years for this moment.”

“We know you have,” said Atalanta.

“When do I go to Iolcos?”

“Tomorrow, at dawn,” replied Heracles. “But you will not go alone.”

“We will come too. Iolcos is a very long way from here,” Atalanta said.

“Yes,” said Heracles. “We don’t want you running into trouble along the way. And besides, Atalanta and I swore on oath, that we will always protect you.”

Jason was relieved to know that he wouldn’t be going alone.

“How long will the journey take?” he asked.

“About two to three weeks,” replied Atalanta.

“We’ll have to stop off several times along the way,” Heracles said.

“How far away is Iolcos?” Jason asked.

“Over two hundred miles,” replied Atalanta.

“That is a very long way.”

Indeed it was a very long way, but Jason was prepared to make the journey.

“Now remember what we told you, Jason,” said Heracles. “It is forbidden by royal law for you to shed a single drop of blood from any member of the royal family. You will not be allowed to harm Pelias and he will not be allowed to harm you.”

“I remember,” Jason said. “But what if he refuses to release my parents and hand the kingdom back over to them?”

“Well, we’ll cross that bridge, when we come to it,” replied Heracles.

“If we come to it,” Atalanta said.

“Time to turn in for the night,” said Heracles.

“We’ve got a very long journey to begin tomorrow,” Atalanta said.

“Yes,” said Jason. “We have.”

The three of them went inside the cave. Heracles spread out several large pelts for sleeping on. He then lay down with Jason on one side and Atalanta on the other.

The following day, Jason, Atalanta and Heracles, readied themselves for the trek.

Jason and Atalanta sheathed their swords, put on bronze coats of armour, grabbed shields of bronze and slung their quivers over their shoulders.

Heracles grabbed a skin of water, a bag of food, including berries and dried meat and last of all, his mighty club.

“Off we go,” he said.

So Heracles, Atalanta and Jason left the cave, for the very last time and set out on their journey.

Along the way, they stopped off at settlements, inhabited by the poor, stayed at declining farms, crossed rivers, walked around lakes, travelled along roads, hunted and spent nights in the wilderness.

There were many other travellers about too – either riding in carts and chariots, riding on horseback, or simply walking on foot.

The weather wasn’t always perfect. Some days were windy, others misty, others stormy.

In the end however, they reached Iolcos, though Jason’s feet were very blistered and sore. Never before, had he walked so far.

“There it is,” said Atalanta. “Iolcos.”

Jason gazed at the great sailing vessels coming and going.

“I always dreamed of going to sea, when I was a boy,” he said.

“Maybe you will one day,” said Heracles.

After covering the last two miles along the coast, Jason, Atalanta and Heracles entered the city and made for the palace.

Jason didn’t like what he saw in the city. Building walls were chipped and stained all over with dirt, doors half-hung off their hinges, shutters were missing from the windows, people were sitting, or lying around in old clothing, women were comforting crying children, the streets were filthy, dogs and cats were wandering about, stalls were falling apart and food was scattered everywhere.

The Iolcos, which Jason had known as a boy was no more.

Jason was fuming inside, as were Atalanta and Heracles.

“Pelias will pay for this treachery,” said Heracles, who certainly was not going unnoticed.

When the guards outside the courtyard gates saw him, they became afraid too.

“I don’t like the look of this,” said the left-hand guard.

“Neither do I,” the right-hand one said.

“We should inform the king.”

“I agree. I certainly don’t want to face that monster.”

Meanwhile, Pelias and Acastus were in the throne room, in the company of guests. They became annoyed when the guards burst in.

“Well, what is it?” Pelias asked.

“There are three unknown strangers approaching the palace my lord,” said one guard.

“Two men and a woman, my lord,” the other said.

“Are they armed?” asked Pelias.

“Yes, my lord,” the guard replied. “One of the men stands about eight feet tall and carries a huge club.”

The sound of that disturbed both Pelias and Acastus. Even the guests felt on edge.

“We dare not stand up to him, my lord.”

“What will you have us do, my lord? Get rid of them?”

There was a moments silence.

“No, admit them. If this man is as formidable as you say he is, then Acastus and I will face him.”

“You’re mad, my lord,” the other guard said.

“I may be mad, but my decision is final.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“I do wish. Now be off with the pair of you.”

“Yes, my lord,” the guards said in unison.

They left the throne room with haste.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Father,” Acastus said with unease in his voice.

“So do I,” Pelias said in the same tone of voice.

When Heracles, Atalanta and Jason reached the palace, the guards became very afraid. They didn’t block the gates. Nor did they ask them to state their business.

“We’ve come to see the king,” Heracles said.

“We know,” said the left-hand guard.

The guards cringed away as Heracles led Atalanta and Jason into the palace.

Pelias and Acastus were feeling on edge too, as were the guests.

“Well, we’ll just have to see it through,” Pelias said.

“I hope we won’t have to face the strangers, whoever they are, for long,” said Acastus.

“Neither do I,” Pelias said.

At that very moment, the throne room doors burst open and in marched Heracles, followed by Atalanta and Jason.

For years Pelias had ruled Thessaly, reigning terror over the people. But the sight of Heracles struck a chord of fear inside him. It showed on his face too.

The same went for Acastus and the guests.

“Leave us,” Pelias said to the guests.

The guests didn’t need to be told twice. They left the throne room as quick as they could.

“Well, who – who are you three?” Pelias asked fearfully.

“I am Heracles.”

Heracles could tell that Pelias and Acastus feared him.

“My name is Atalanta.”

“And I am Jason – the son of Medea and your brother, Aeson.”

Pelias and Acastus were shocked by that news. Never had it occurred to them, that Aeson and Medea had a secret heir.

“Come again,” Pelias said.

“I am the son of Aeson and Medea.”

“This is inconceivable,” Acastus said.

“My brother never told me he has a son.”

“Heracles and Atalanta took me from the palace before your arrival.”

“What are you going to do, Father?” Acastus asked with concern in his voice.

“Well, I can’t kill him, just as he can’t kill me. It is forbidden by royal law, as you very well know.

“What are you going to do then?” Acastus asked.

“I will just have to hear him out.”

Pelias knew he had no choice. He didn’t want to step out of line in the presence of Heracles, who was going nowhere.

“Very well,” said Acastus.

“So, Jason, what is it that you want?”

“I want you to release my parents and hand the kingdom back to them.”

Pelias half expected that.

“You want me to stand down as king?”

“I do.”

Pelias was silent for a moment. He certainly was not prepared to free Jason’s parents, not to mention hand the kingdom back over to them. Yet he didn’t want to say as much in front of Heracles.

“What are you going to do, Father?” Acastus asked, with an edge to his voice.

“Let me think.”

As Pelias dwelt on the matter, a cunning idea came to him and he decided to play a very deceitful game.

“I shall do as Jason says.”

“No, Father,” said Acastus, who was most taken aback.

“I will hand the kingdom back, if Jason brings me the Golden Fleece.”

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