Xena Characters Doomed By The Narrative Pt. 2.....
Name: Lyceus
Death: It's complicated.
All right, so Lyceus was doomed by the narrative outside the scope of the show. In the normal world, Lyceus died when he joined Xena in standing up to a warlord--can't remember which one--so, by being a decent brother, he ended up dead. Rude.
Anyways, we're here to talk about the 2nd occurrence of him being doomed by the narrative, and this one is a doozy. Xena travels to the Temple of The Fates for annual ritual of honoring her deceased brother Lyceus. Gabs joins her on this pilgrimage, and as they make their way to the temple, there's discussion about Xena and her yearly trip. It's all touching and a wonderful bonding moment between the two. They get to the temple, and Xena goes through the motions of honoring her brother's memory, and just as she and Gabrielle are wrapping up another tender moment, the temple gets attacked.
Our heroine hops into action to save the temple, it's priestess, and it's faithful. Gabs is also fighting. This is the beginning of season 2, so she's still swinging the staff and her top is showing midriff for better maneuvering. I guess. The fight is winding down, Xena kills one of the attacking underlings. Gabs walks up to her just as the underlings helmet falls off and he instantly reminds Xena of her brother and Gabby says he's just a boy. It's a sad moment, and Xena is showing all sorts of remorse, so she heads back into the temple to compartmentalize. The Fates appear and thank her for saving their temple before offering her a wish. Full of remorse Xena says she wish she hadn't killed the boy and then she really says she wish she had never picked up the way of the sword. This the fates grant, telling her the moment she picks up a sword and kills in anger, things will go back to the actual reality. Why they didn't grant the one about the boy? No idea. This won't be the last time I say that, and this is our first alternate universe episode.
WE HAVE ENTERED THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!
In this alternate universe, Xena is still her normal self and knows everything that had before The Fates changed everything. All right, this is getting long, so I'm going to try to make this as short of possible. Xena run her mother in with her brother Lyceus, who she is over the moon to see. She's engaged to man, and has pushed their engagement back 3 times. Warlords are running rampant, and when Xena runs into the thugs of these landlords she finds creative solutions to deal with them instead of picking up a sword. Then she sees Gabrielle, and boy, oh, boy. She is not happy. Gabs is the slave to a warlord. One, Xena had killed in the real world. Not willing to let this stand, Xena finds a way to free Gabrielle. It involves a chimney, the creative hanging of a man in loose noose (say that 3x fast); and perfect timing.
All right, so Gabs is free. They're at Xena's house, and Gabrielle is changing whilst talking to Xena because this version of Gabs is harden, bitter, and angry at life. This is important. While they're talking Lyceus shows up, and Xena introduces them. The sparks fly between Lyceus and Gabs, and this is probably the only time in the series where Xena will be happy that a man is interested in Gabrielle. She's like if I can't have her, then my brother is an acceptable choice. Go ahead and launch a thousand fics off that.
Anyways, the thugs of the warlords come barging in, led by Xena's soon-to-be husband. The lead thug instructs his minions to apprehend Xena, Gabrielle, and Lyceus. Xena's idiot former husband-to-be is all aghast bc the warlord told them all they would take is Gabrielle and not Xena and Lyceus. Because warlords are known to be men of their word.
Anyways, the trio is hanging out in a dungeon, each in their own locked cage when 2 guards come in. The 2nd guard knocks the first one out then takes off his helmet and lo and behold, it's Xena's idiot former husband-to-be. He says his apologies and what not. As they're making their way out of the warlord's compound a fight ensues. Xena is being creative in disabling thugs without picking up a sword, and Lyceus is telling her to pick up a sword and actually engage, but she doesn't.
Now, quick reminder here, remember the reason why Xena is in this alternate universe is because she was remorseful about picking up the sword, which resulted in her brother's death. This is muy importante.
Back to the fight.
The fight is ensuing, Lyceus is all but pleading for Xena to pick up a sword and actually fight, but she isn't doing it because she doesn't want lose the new world she's in.
But then Gabrielle picks up a sword....
(This episode occurs before Perdicas's death, so in Xena's eyes Gabrielle is still an innocent, carefree girl in her eyes)
Xena watches in utmost horror as Gabrielle drives the sword into one of the wardlord's goons with absolute glee on her face.
At this, Xena nopes the hell out of this alternate universe where her precious cinnamon roll is a ruthless killer, and enjoys it.
Picking up a sword, Xena says goodbye to her brother and stabs one of the warlord goons.
RETURN TO REALITY
The alternate universe ends, Xena returns to the point where she is fighting the wanna be thugs outside the Fates temple. Gabs tells her to watch out, and instead of killing the attacking thug, Xena disarms him. He takes off his helmet, and it's the boy she killed at the start of the episode. She tells him to go and never come back or something like that.
I can't remember how the episode ended exactly, but it was in a cheery way and Xena was glad to be with her soft cinnamon roll whose innocence is intact.
So, while he is already dead. Xena willingly sacrificed her own brother to save Gabrielle's innocence. At least in an alternate universes.
