"I don't like it here, Cassim."
"I don't either, but until this sandstorm ends we have to stay here."
"I don't care about the weather! There's danger here! I say we should go right now!
People looked over at them.
"Quiet, Iago. Besides if we do get into trouble I have my sword and Hand of Midas dagger Aladdin gave back to me before we left."
"You're not the only one with a weapon here."
Iago looked around at the men with weapons in the tavern. Suddenly six armed men grabbed Cassim from behind! One grabbed Iago until he could barely breathe! He was thrown into a cage. Three men were holding Cassim. The other two beat him until he was unconscious! Something was put over the cage so Iago couldn't see. He soon found himself in the marketplace of the town he and Cassim were staying at.
The next morning he saw a boy about fifteen years old. The boy saw came over and looked at Iago, whose beak tied.
"You poor thing."
"Like him, kid?" asked the merchant.
"How much is he?"
"Five gold coins."
The boy paid the money and took Iago to the inn he where he stayed. Once in his room he untied Iago's beak and gave him some water.
"Thanks."
"You can talk?"
"Yeah I can talk."
"What happened to you? You look like you saw ghost."
"Well, my friend and I..."
Iago suddenly realized something.
"Cassim! I've got to fine him!"
He would have tried to fly, but the boy held him down, though.
"Who's Cassim?"
"My friend."
Iago told him what happened.
"I'll help you find him."
"Thanks. I'm Iago."
"I'm Ahmed."
Two weeks went by before Iago was well enough to look for Cassim.
"Lets go look for your friend. I say we start at the tavern."
Iago took Ahmed to the tavern.
"Sorry, kid. We're closed."
"I'm looking for someone. Two weeks ago a man named Cassim was attacked here."
"Ah, yes. I remember. It was quite pathetic. We caught the King of Thieves without a problem."
"Where did they take him?"
"Off to prison."
"Thank you."
Ahmed went into an alley with Iago on his shoulder. He brushed the parrot off his shoulder and looked at him.
"The King of Thieves?!"
"Former King of Thieves. He threw that life away and is a honest treasure hunter."
"He's where he belongs."
Ahmed started to walk away.
"Ahmed, wait!"
"What now?"
"He's changed. He hasn't stolen anything in three years! He vowed never to steal again."
Ahmed stood for a moment.
"Alright. I'll help you get him out. Lets go to the prison and find him."
With Iago perched on his left shoulder, Ahmed headed to the prsion. He was stopped at the front gates by the guard.
"What are you doing here, kid?"
"I'm looking for someone. His name is Cassim."
Iago had asked Ahmed not to reveal that they were looking for the King of Thieves.
"We have many men named Cassim."
"I'll know the one I'm looking for when I see him."
"Follow me."
The guard led them to where they kept the prisoners. There were hundreds of cells! They stopped at many of them. Each time Iago indicated to Ahmed that this was not the right man.
"Come on, kid. There are only three guys named Cassim left. Well, two actually. One was executed early this morning."
Instantly Iago was filled with fear!
What if Cassim had already been executed for his crimes?
"Show me them."
The guard led them to the cell at the end of the hall on the right side.
"The guy in this cell isn't as active as the other prisoners. He just sits against the wall with his knees close to his chest, his arms folded over his knees, and his face buried in his arms."
They looked in, and Iago nearly gasped. He indicated that this was the right man. The guard gave Ahmed the keys and told him to lock the door after he left the cell.
Iago didn't wait for him to unlock the door. He slipped through the bars and landed in front of the man.
"Cassim." he whispered.
The man's head jerked up, and Iago could not keep from gasping aloud.
Oh! His handsome, bearded face was battered and bruised!
Cassim looked over at the sound of the door opening and closing. A look of confusion crossed his face at the sight of Ahmed. The boy, too, gasped at the sight of Cassim's battered and bruised face.
"Cassim." Iago said louder.
Cassim looked down at him. A look of joy replaced the look of confusion.
"Iago!"
Cassim picked Iago up in his hands.
"I thought you'd never come!"
"How could I not come? You're my best friend."
"Right back at you!"
Iago looked at Cassim's battered and bruised face.
"What happened to you?"
"It's nothing. The men who attacked me did this."
Iago then noticed that Cassim was allot thinner.
"What have they done to you?! You're skin and bones!"
"Iago, calm down."
"Uh, Iago."
Cassim and Iago looked up to see Ahmed. Iago introduced the boy to Cassim.
"Thank you for helping Iago. I don't know what I'd do without my best friend. Even if he is a loud mouth parrot."
"Hey!"
Cassim laughed for the first time in two weeks! Iago couldn't help but smile at the sound of the deep, hearty laughter he had grown to love. Cassim finally stopped laughing and ruffled the feathers on Iago's head.
"You little feather duster!"
"I'm still waiting for an answer as to why you're skin and bones."
"Since I'm the King of Thieves, or was, they didn't give me any food. They gave me plenty of water. For that I am thankful. If no one bails me out in another week I'll be..."
Cassim paused, put a hand to his throat, and gulped.
".. executed."
We can't let them do that to you."
"Don't worry, Iago. We'll think of something." Ahmed said.
Iago flew over and landed on his left shoulder.
"What are we going to do?"
"Nothing."
"What?" Iago and Ahmed said as they turned to Cassim.
"You will do nothing. I'm tired of running away. I've done it for too long. It's time I stop running and accept my fate. I deserve to be executed."
Iago flew over to Cassim and landed on his knee.
"Cassim, you're talking crazy! Snap out of it!" he exclaimed.
"Shhhh! Someone will hear you."
Iago looked away from his best friend.
"Iago." Cassim said softly.
Iago turned back to him."
"I'm the most wanted man in the Seven Deserts. I brought this punishment upon myself."
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I want you to keep this with you always."
Iago unfolded the paper and found himself looking at a portrait of Cassim and himself. The reality hit him.
Cassim wasn't going to run this time! He was going to take his punishment!
"Iago."
Iago looked back at Cassim.
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Will you stay and watch the execution?"
Iago didn't answer at first.
"I know it's the last thing you want to do, but I want to know that I have at least one friend in the crowd. I want you to be able to tell the other back in Agrabah how I died." Cassim said, his voice begining to quiver.
"Cassim, I.."
"Please! I want to die knowing that someone I know is watching! I want to die knowing that someone who cares is watching! I want to die knowing that someone who knows me is watching! I want to die knowing that at least one of my friends is watching!"
Cassim was near tears now!
"I.."
"Please, Iago! I want to die knowing that my best friend is watching!"
Cassim couldn't hold back his tears any longer! They began to flow down his face unchecked!
"Iago, please. I want to die knowing that you are watching." he sobbed.
Iago was shocked. Here was his best friend, a strong man, sobbing!
"I want to die with you watching. Please, Iago. Please." Cassim begged, still sobbing.
Iago looked down at the picture he was holding. Then he looked back up at Cassim.
"Of course I'll stay and watch."
Cassim looked at him.
"You mean it?"
"Of course I mean it."
Cassim wiped away his tears.
"Thanks."
The week passed quickly. Ahmed and Iago went to the trial.
"Cassim, King of Thieves, charged with all crimes save for attemppted murder or murder, how do you plead?"
"Guilty."
Everyone gasped in shock. No one had ever admitted that they were guilty! Cassim, when asked, listed all the crimes he had committed. He was found guilty and setenced to death by beheading!
Everyone followed as he was led outside. Before he placed his head on the block, Cassim looked at Iago one last time. His eyes spoke for him. He was asking Iago to tell Aladdin and the others afterwards. Iago nodded. Man and parrot locked gazes. Cassim saw tears in Iago's eyes.
If only he had seen just beyond that to what Iago was planning to do!
Cassim lay his head on the block and closed his eyes. A moment later he heard people gasp, Ahmed call Iago's name, and a cry of pain that made his heart pound wildly with fear!
"Open your eyes. The parrot has taken your place." someone said.
Cassim's eyes sprang open. He let out a yelp and jumped back. Laying on the block was Iago! He was a bleeding! The people left, and Ahmed rushed over.
Cassim gently picked Iago up and held him in his arms like he would a baby.
"Iago." he whispered sadly, his voice choked by tears.
He held Iago's face close to his. Tears began to trickle down his face. One fell and hit Iago's face.
"Cassim?" came a voice so weak Cassim barely heard it.
Cassim looked at Iago to see that the parrot's eyes were open!
"Iago! You're alive!"
"Cassim, will you sing to me?"
"Sure. What song do you want to hear?"
"Our song of friendship and partnership."
Cassim cleared his throat and began to sing. Ahmed listened intently. Once Cassim finished Iago spoke again.
"One more thing."
"What's that?"
"Take me back to Agrabah. I want to say bye to the others."
"Okay. Just hang in there."
Once Cassim reached Agrabah he found Aladdin in the marketplace.
"Aladdin! Aladdin!"
"Dad? What are you... Iago! What happened?"
"I'll tell you later. Iago wants to say good-bye to the gang."
Everyone said a tearful good-bye to Iago. The only who hadn't said good-bye was Cassim. He looked down at his best friend in his arms.
"Cassim."
"Yeah?" Cassim asked, choked by his tears.
"Thanks for all the adventures these past three years. No matter what you're still my best friend and always will be."
Iago took one last breath and was gone! Cassim very gently rubbed his face against Iago then put the parrot down. He looked at his little friend's body and wept.
Jasmine put her hand on his shoulder.
"At least he got his wish."
"What do you mean?" Cassim asked, still crying.
"His wish was to die in the arms of his best friend, and he did. He died in your arms."
"Dad, please stay in Agrabah."
"I'm not going anywhere, Aladdin. Not now."
The Executioner's Block by Cassim fan
Author's Notes:
Note: I don't own Cassim, Iago, Aladdin, Jasmine, or the gang. The new characters are mine. A loved character dies at the end.