Paying One's Dues

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Fanfiction
Title: Paying One’s Dues
Author(s): fawatson
Date(s): 31 October 2010
Length: 563 words
Genre(s):
Fandom(s): Mary Renault
Relationship(s):
External Links: http:// maryrenaultfics.livejournal.com

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Paying One’s Dues[1] was written in response to the Spooky Halloween Challenge in 2010 on the maryrenaultfics community (prompt: lurking). The story is told from the perspective of Nikeratos’ father (who died very early in the novel); interred without a coin to pay the ferryman he lingers as a ghost wandering the earth but periodically drawn to check on his son. When Nikeratos’ flying engine is sabotaged during a play putting him in danger (an incident in Renault’s novel) he spots Apollo, in the form of a bird flying overhead, and prays to him. His prayer enables his soul to pass over the Styx (offering the broken hemp strands to Charon in payment).

Comments by readers include:

  • I love the use of the prompt, too - and the idea that whenever he thought of me, I felt a tug and found myself there, at his side, watching over him. Not a haunting, but a guardianship. That bit is perfectly lovely.

my_cnnr

References