"Aw, Mother. I promised Hercules we'd go fishing today. I was going to show him my secret fishing hole, and Alcmene promised to send those pastries along with him."
"I know, Iolaus, and I'm sorry you have to do this, but I really have no other choice. My aunt is ill, and I promised to look in on her this morning. You know I can't take Adriana with me. She could get sick too." She looked at her young son and mourned his lost childhood. Life didn't seem fair to Iolaus. He was so young and still had to take on so much adult responsibility, and here she was expecting him to look after his little two year old sister. It was too much for a 11 year old to take on. She sighed and tried to take the sting out of his disappointment, "Hercules can come over here and keep you company. Just don't wander off too far, and please watch Adriana carefully. She's into everything now." His mother gently stooped to kiss his wild mop of curls and give him as much of a hug an 11 year old would allow. She gave Adriana a hug before handing her over to her big brother who looked absolutely thrilled to be baby-sitting this fine spring morning. Iolaus watched pitifully as Adriana waved happily at their mother as she disappeared from sight.
He frowned as he looked at his little sister. He tried to look stern and angry toward her, "What are you smiling at?" Adriana continued smiling up at the brother she adored with huge blue eyes that rivaled her brother's. She reached up and gave him a wondrous smack of a kiss on his cheek, and he melted. He loved his sister and would never allow anyone to mistreat her. "Okay, okay, I guess Herc will just hafta enjoy baby-sitting if he wants to hang around here." He took her to the porch to wait for his friend. He was caught up in playing a hiding game with Adriana; she would hide behind a small chair on the porch, and Iolaus pretended to not see her. Her giggles echoed through the small valley when she hopped out from behind the chair. Iolaus feigned great fright when she did this, and this sparked another explosion of laughter from them both. It was in the middle of this game that Hercules appeared approaching Iolaus' house. Iolaus caught sight of him and straightened up becoming so serious. Adriana jumped out and received no response from her big brother. She was completely confused now and started pulling on his leg to get his attention, but his attention was now on his best friend and appearing quite adult on his behalf. He stooped to gather Adriana up in his arms and whispered, "Sh. Be quiet."
"Hi Iolaus," he said turning his attention to Adriana. "And how is my favorite little sister?" He reached out and tickled her toes as she squirmed and laughed in Iolaus' arms. "Well, if you're going to show me that terrific fishing hole, don't you think you need to let this one go. She's much too small to keep. Come on, Iolaus, where's your mom?"
"Well, she's not here, and I have to baby-sit 'your favorite little sister'; if you want to stay here for awhile you can, but it doesn't look like fishing is in the near future for me. I'll understand if you want to go home," Iolaus said dejectedly. Adriana looked up into the sad face and tried to give his chin a tickle. Iolaus tried desperately not to blame this little one for his misfortune, but after all, he was just a child himself. "Stop it! Adriana, No!" She started to cry as her heart broke from his blunt voice . Iolaus immediately felt bad for causing this torrent and looked guiltily at Hercules. "Maybe you'd better go home," he said as he tried to comfort his little sister. Huge sobs tore through her little soul as he hugged her to him and patted her gently on the back. This only made it worse, and she started wailing.
Hercules stepped forward and tried to quiet Adriana as well, "Hey, little one, don't you want to play with the big boys today? Mother sent some pastries; would you like one?" he asked as he pulled a pastry out of his pack. She grabbed it from his hands and granted him a smile of gratitude between the great shuddering gasps running through her. "There now, isn't that better?" She scrambled out of Iolaus' arms and sat satisfied on the porch gobbling down the flaky bit of sweetness. Iolaus really felt guilty now. Hercules said, "Hey, don't worry about it. We can go another day; anyway, I'd rather stay around here. Mom will just have me doing chores if I'm home." And so their day began much differently than they had planned. They sat on the porch and traded stories as Adriana snuggled next to Iolaus signaling that all was forgiven. Listening to her big brother's stories were always a delight to her. She didn't understand them, but she loved the way her brother could make his voice change and look scary, or giggle and look silly. She was trying very hard to concentrate on this last one, but her eyes grew heavier and heavier.
"Sh, look Iolaus," Hercules whispered with a grin. Iolaus looked down and saw Adriana leaning against him with her eyes closed and gentle snores escaped her tiny mouth. He smiled, but he was determined to look unaffected by the sweet picture before him. "Ooo! Baby drool. Ick, Herc, hand me that cloth." He gently laid her head down on the cloth and wiped her little gift to him on Hercules' shirt. Sensing what was coming next, he jumped off the porch and took off. "Hah! What's that on your shirt? I always said the girls would drool over you!" Iolaus danced around taunting his best friend. Though Hercules was slightly younger than Iolaus, he was almost a full head taller, stronger, and could at times out run his wiry friend. So it was no surprise for Iolaus to find Hercules one step behind him as he ran. They looked like two young colts playing in a field. Hercules caught up with him and grabbed him by his wrist and twirled him around. Iolaus fell to the ground laughing as he tried to rise to his feet. "Hey! Herc, this feels pretty cool. You ought to try it. Makes ya feel kinda woozy." So following the advise of his slightly older friend, he did just that. Only with his strength, Hercules twirled much harder and faster and found himself planted one hand's width into the ground. This only got Iolaus to laughing harder as Hercules tumbled to the ground.
"I don't think this feels cool at all. My head hurts, and I'm really dizzy; I might throw.....," and Hercules dashed off to some close rocks to lose his big breakfast he had enjoyed the first time around.
"Oooh, now that's disgusting!" commented Iolaus. "Hey, it's not my fault..." Now that Hercules regained his footing, he took off after Iolaus again. They ran all over the small fields when they finally felt exhausted. "Herc, do you have any more of those pastries? I'm starving!"
"Oh yeah, I think there are two left; I left them on the porch. You can have mine if Adriana hasn't gotten to them. I'm not so hungry now."
"Adriana, oh no! She'll have eaten them all, and now she'll be sick all afternoon. Come on, Herc. I think I'm in big trouble now." And they dashed back to the porch suddenly aware of how far their playing had led them. Iolaus hoped that she was still asleep. She usually slept a long time especially after she had been crying. He picked up his pace as he imagined how terrified she would be if she woke up and found herself alone. But surely he would have heard her cry. They weren't that far away.
Hercules and Iolaus reached the porch, and their young hearts froze. Adriana was no longer on the porch!
Iolaus and Hercules searched frantically for her. They checked every favorite hiding place Iolaus knew of, and they still couldn't find her. They made their voices hoarse from calling her name, yet she never acknowledge them. "Where could she be?" Iolaus asked with a catch in his voice. Something told him to calm down and look for the signs. This was his internal tracking skills kicking in. He remembered some of the lessons he learned from the elder hunters in the village. As his own father wasn't around much, some of the elders had taken him under their wings, and Iolaus was becoming quite a hunter at a young age. He began to consider tracking a two year old couldn't be that much different than tracking a deer. He studied the porch and could see her tracks leading off the porch and heading down the small hill. "Herc! Look! She went in that direction!" Iolaus called over his shoulder as he was already following the tracks. Hercules quickly began following him. Surely she hadn't gotten that far. Hercules stopped as it occurred to him where the tracks seemed to be leading.
"Iolaus! She's going toward the river!" Hercules whispered in a panicked voice. Suddenly, they became aware of a runner coming toward them. The runner was a servant from Iolaus' great aunt's household.
"Iolaus! Your mother is needed to spend the night at my lady's house. She sent this message to tell you to take Adriana and go to Alcmene's home tonight. She'll be expecting you. Where's Adriana?" He looked around suspiciously.
"Oh! We're glad your here. She's.." quickly Iolaus punched Hercules in the abdomen to silence him.
Iolaus said very calmly, "She's asleep right now. Thank you."
The runner looked at him through wary eyes then just shrugged and returned.
Hercules turned to Iolaus, "What was that for? We could have a search party looking for her."
Iolaus looked at Hercules pleadingly, "Look by the time we waited for them, something bad could happen to her. Besides, I'm the reason she's lost. I'm the one who should find her. Mom doesn't need to know this just yet." And with that he continued to track his little sister through watery eyes. If anything bad did happen to her, it would be his fault. Hercules recognized the anguish in his friends face and against his better judgment, continued on with Iolaus. They only had a few hours of daylight left, and they knew they had to take full advantage of it.
Adriana had awakened to the sounds of her brother and his big friend playing. Of course, she wanted to play too. So she decided it would be fun to play the hiding game. She giggled as she watched Iolaus spin like the toy her father had brought back from his last campaign. She squiggled off the porch and began running as fast as her little legs could carry her down the hill. She yelled at the two, "Catch me! Catch me!" Totally unaware that they couldn't hear her, she ran even faster to the trees by the big water. She hid behind a big rock waiting to jump out and scare her brother and Hercules.
When they didn't come immediately, she began to notice the soft squishy mud between her toes and giggled with glee. It was then that her eyes widened at the green salamander scurrying in front of her. It stopped long enough to consider this giant with golden curls and blue eyes; then it started along its way just as She reached out and touched the slimy feeling animal. She followed him for a long time stopping when it stopped. Each time she tried to grasp it in her tiny fingers, and each time it slithered just out of her reach. Finally, when it was just an arms length away, a huge owl swooped down and clutched it in its talons. This caused Adriana to topple over and begin a slide into the big water. She cried out her brother's name as her toes hit the icy water.
The tracks led right to the river as they had feared. They could tell where she had been walking along the muddy bank, and they followed the tracks barely breathing. "No!" Iolaus mouthed the word but no sound would come out. Hercules looked at what caused his friend to turn white. The footprints were gone, and in their place was a muddy slide to the river. Hercules watched numbly as his friend jumped into the frigid river. Snow from the mountains had been melting which left the river quite icy. Iolaus was frantically diving under the water. "Adriana! Adriana!" was his cry every time he emerged from the chill. Hercules jumped in after him since he could see Iolaus tiring and turning blue. Iolaus fought him as Hercules dragged him out of the water.
"She's not there! The current would have pulled her..." Hercules stopped as a painful knot invaded his throat. "Come on, Iolaus, let's go to my mothers. She'll know what to do."
"No! I know what to do! I have to find my little sister; she'll be cold and wet and scared. She's alone out here, and I'm not leaving until I find her. You can do what you want, but she's my sister, and I'm going to find her!" Iolaus was trembling, but Hercules didn't know if it was because he was cold or terrified. Huge tears spilled onto Iolaus' cheeks as he stooped to pull a wet ribbon tangled in some roots at the rivers edge.
She felt her toes slide into the river first; then before she knew it, she was waist deep in very cold water. She tried to remain standing, but something was pulling her under, and she slipped under the water. It was carrying her swiftly along the current. Sometimes she would be pulled under, but at other times she bobbed up to catch her breath. She tried to call for Iolaus again, but everytime she opened her mouth, she got a mouthful of cold water. Adriana cried and began struggling against the water, but it was to no avail; she just couldn't fight this big water. So, she gave into it, and allowed herself to slip under the water completely.
Hercules tried to get Iolaus to build a fire to at least dry off. Iolaus refused to cease his search for anything. He couldn't describe the horrific pain in his heart to his friend. Iolaus was experiencing the desperate possibility that his little sister was lost to him. Hercules ran back to Iolaus' house to get some blankets because he knew that Iolaus needed them now and his sister would need them when they found her. His friend wouldn't accept the inevitable so Hercules wouldn't accept it. Though when he closed his eyes, all he could see was Adriana's lifeless body. When he caught up with Iolaus again, Hercules noticed Helios' retreat. It would be dark soon, and they still hadn't found her.
"Iolaus, I think we have to go to my mother's now. I don't think we can find her by ourselves, and Mother is expecting us." Hercules volunteered as he laid a hand on Iolaus' shoulder. The cold flesh made him shudder. "At least take one of these blankets. You've got to be freezing!" And he draped one blanket over Iolaus and kept one for himself. Iolaus just kept walking along the bank of the river searching for some kind of clue as to Adriana's whereabouts. "Come on, Iolaus; let's go home and..."
"No! Don't you see? If I can't find her, if she's not okay, I can NEVER go home again. My father already thinks I'm useless; my mother will HATE me if she's not okay!" Iolaus shouted through his frigid tears. Then he just continued muttering, "It's all my fault...all my fault...all my fault." It was at that moment that the reality, the probability, the fact that she probably didn't survive hit him. He sat on a muddy rock and screamed out his anguish to the approaching darkness. "Hercules, did she call out my name before she...Did it hurt her? Did she feel all alone? I can't...I can't..breathe." And the extreme sadness that enveloped his soul caused Iolaus to pass out. Tears gathered in Hercules' eyes. He had never felt so helpless, but what was he going to do now? He knew he had to get his mother. Alcmene would know what to do. Surely, Iolaus' mother wouldn't hate him. Hercules laid his blanket on top of Iolaus and pulled him away from the river. He ran as fast as he could to his mother's house. She could help. She could make things better.
Alcmene was on the edge of her lands searching the horizon for two boys with an infant. "It's not like Hercules to be late. But maybe they were caught up in playing one of their games." She couldn't help the slight smile that crawled across her face thinking of Iolaus and Hercules running through the fields. Iolaus was so good for Hercules. A frown replaced the smile as she realized her son was running up the field alone. She craned her neck to try to see if Iolaus and Adriana were any where else in sight. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she saw the look of despair on her young son's face. Something terrible had happened.
Iolaus came to wrapped in two blankets all alone. He began to believe all the things his father had belittled him with his young life. Even Hercules left him. He must be beyond contempt, and he looked around to start the hunt again. By now, though, it was dark, but since the moon was full, Iolaus could see well enough to try to track some more. Convinced now that there was no hope, he decided that at least he could bring her body back before leaving forever. He was getting his first taste of being alone, and he despised it. "Don't think about that now, Iolaus. Think about finding what's left of Adriana, the little sister you didn't want to baby-sit this morning," he thought bitterly. He was completely oblivious to the huge owl tracking HIS every move.
Her world was turning strangely dark as she slipped into the water. Her eyes were closing to the sleep and darkness encompassing her. Adriana was jerked almost convulsively out of that peaceful sleep by someone jerking on her tunic. Strong talons grasped the back of her garment as she floated face down in the river and pulled her out. The jolt brought her back to the wakening world as she sputtered and choked emptying her little body of the excess water that had been filling her world. When her eyes focused, she found herself high above the ground, and her world was filled with wonder as she could see for miles. She was afraid at first, but the silent strong wings carrying her through this world sang like a calming lullaby her mother would sing. So, she relaxed and took in the scenery. A little giggle tore through her as she looked back and could see Iolaus searching where she had been hiding. Since she couldn't see how terrified her brother was, she was well satisfied as to how this game was playing out. Yes, this was the perfect hiding game. She looked up at the beautiful owl that lifted her out of the cold water and smiled, and she could have sworn this beautiful creature had smiled back. Adriana hoped they would reach their destination quickly as she suddenly became aware of how cold she was. She outstretched her hand to touch the soft feathers underneath the owl and felt a little warmer. As they flew, Adriana thought she would be able to touch the moon now rising up to greet them. Instantly, as she reached out to try, the owl made it's rapid descent. This partially scared and partially thrilled the little one.
As they came closer to the ground, the owl glided to a clearing that had an odd glow to it. She swooped and abruptly dropped Adriana. Just as Adriana was going to make her displeasure known, she realized that she had been deposited into the lap of a beautiful lady. Her eyes spoke of wisdom and grace when she gazed down at her gift. "Now, my friend, what have you brought to me now?" she said gently laughing at the wide eyes staring at her. "Oh, you are cold, little sweetness. Well, I can remedy this." And with just a thought, Adriana was clothed in a dry tunic of the same soft gold her benefactor wore. She marveled at how dry and warm she felt in this lady's presence. "And what is your name sweet one?" She held out her hand and produced a small plum for this beautiful child. This one had instantly captured Athena's heart. The golden curls, sweet face, and incredibly blue eyes shot straight to her heart.
Adriana greedily took the plum and grinned through the juice running down her face as she devoured this offering. "Adriana," she said trustingly to this lady. She was rewarded with a smile that made here feel warm all over.
Athena looked to her companion and told her to find this child's family. The owl nodded knowingly and noticed her patron's unusual interest in the child. The owl knew in her heart that Athena had secretly hoped there would be no family. The owl blinked her huge beautiful eyes and thought of Athena adding this one to her nest.
Hercules guided Alcmene and the rest of the search party to where he had left Iolaus. "Where is he, Mother? I left him right here!" Alcmene pulled her son closer to her as the hunters of the village jumped into tracking this young boy. They had looked at each other knowingly when Hercules told the story to them pulling them to this place. They had pulled many people from the river in the past, and sadly each one thought of who would be the one to tell Skouras and his wife of the loss of their infant daughter. Atrayus had become close to Iolaus during their lessons. He noted early on the giftedness of this young boy, and he considered what this tragedy would do to Iolaus. He led the group in tracking Iolaus.
Iolaus was cold and feeling extremely numb in his fingers and toes, but still he pressed on. The fear and sadness wouldn't release him. Once he thought he saw her shadow in the water trapped beneath the roots of an old tree. He jumped once again into the freezing river. He felt horrified at the thought that it was her, and he felt increasingly desperate that he had not found her when he discovered it was just some discarded rag. His hoarse voice called out again, "Adriana! Adriana! Where are you?" This sound alerted the hunters continuing their search for him, and they found him sitting on a rock, shivering, and clutching the small ribbon.
Atrayus was the first to reach him, and he threw his huge muscular arms around him. "We'll find her, lad. You go back with Alcmene; I believe you could use some dry clothes," he observed tenderly. The shock of those blue eyes stained with red pierced his soul. Atrayus could see all of the hurt, despair, and fear that ran through this young man, and he wondered if Iolaus would ever recover from this or if Skouros would ever let him recover from this.
"I have to find her, Atrayus. I have to be the one to take her back to Mother...it's my fault...it's all my fault. Mother told me to watch out for her, that she was into everything, but no, I had to play away from the porch," he recounted a litany of accusations against his own heart. "Let me come with you. You know what a good tracker I am. Let me be the one.." his words were halted by a great shiver as he saw Hercules and Alcmene. Alcmene rushed to his side and gathered him into her warm arms and outpoured a mother's love to him. This was more than Iolaus had bargained for. He had figured that Alcmene would hate him too, and here she was giving him love, acceptance, and sympathy. He just lost it and sobbed in her arms.
She soothed him and stroked his hair uttering comforting words to him as she wept herself. She, too, feared Skouras' reaction to the news and what he would do to the boy. She desperately hoped that Automedusa wouldn't lose two children this day. As she felt a shudder not born of sobs run through this child, she pulled away gently and laid her hand on his cheek and forehead. "Young man, you're coming with me. Atrayus, this child has a high fever; I've got to get him to my house." Iolaus protested, but Atrayus insisted that he return with Alcmene as they continued the search. An exhausting resignation tore through him, and he finally agreed. Alcmene wrapped him tighter in the blankets he had been carrying, and he was not even aware of his best friend walking by his side.
The owl circled overhead; then she followed silently the three sad humans to a house on a hill. She stopped only to snag a tasty fat field mouse before she returned to her patron.
Owlharp soared silently through the great woods to the clearing, and what she saw there amused and confused her. Her keen ears picked up the squeals of laughter even before she made the clearing. As she neared, she saw Adriana and Athena chasing each other, jumping out at each other, and tickling. Owlharp wondered at that; she didn't know that Athena was ticklish. Just as the chasing began again, she decided to join in and landed just in front of Adriana as she was looking over her shoulder to see if Athena was following her. She plowed into the great golden owl and bounced off. She looked startled; then the laughing overtook her again as she threw her arms around Owlharp pulling her into a hug. Athena blinked then smiled as she saw her loyal friend spread her wings and gather the child against her as she would a baby owl. Snuggled against the soft down, Adriana yawned a great yawn and fought to keep her eyes open.
"Come, Owlharp, it looks as though our little charge needs some sleep. Don't you think she'd be more comfortable at my temple in Athens?" Owlharp blinked her huge eyes at the suggestion. "We'll talk about your little scouting mission after this little one is safely bedded down for the night." Athena called for her chariot, and with this lovely child tucked under her arm and the reins in her other hand, they sailed into the night to the warmth and safety of her temple.
When they arrived, Athena took the sleeping child to a special room. Again with just a thought, she lit the fires for the room, and the room was bathed in a low comforting yet warming light. She gently disengaged this precious treasure and pulled a silken coverlet over Adriana. In her sleep, she looked at total peace with the world. Only once had she stirred in the chariot to ask for her mother and someone named Iolaus. How could anyone leave this child to drown in a cold river? Athena decided that the child would be better off with her than with a family that would neglect her. She kissed the top of the little golden curls and gifted the child with special dreams.
She turned to face the gentle inquisition found in Owlharp's eyes. "Yes, I'm keeping her. Don't look at me that way! She'll be better off here, and she'll want for nothing." Athena tried to justify herself to the great owl, but found this to be a losing battle. "Okay, take me to this 'loving' family, and then I'll make my decision. Wait. I'll make sure she sleeps a little longer since the sun will be up soon." With that she blew a warm sparkling kiss that drifted over Adriana and settled as a crown to her curls. Athena gave strict orders to those attending the temple to watch over her, but they were not to disturb her sleep. Owlharp did not trust these humans and called to her compatriots. Four pure white owls sailed into the temple and sat at each bedpost keeping watch over this child. Athena smiled at her friend's concern and agreed that now Adriana would truly be kept in safety.
Iolaus had tossed and turned all night as the fever surrounded him. He had nightmares of Adriana screaming his name and being pulled under fighting the current. The dream ended the same way with Hercules, his mother and father, Alcmene, and a lifeless Adriana saying, "It's all your fault...all your fault." This last dream was punctuated with an agonizing scream. It was his mother's voice pulling him into his waking nightmare.
"No! No! Not my baby! Not my little Adriana! Oh gods no!" Automedusa's world was crashing in around her. She, too, pictured her little one struggling against the cold and being all alone. "Where's Iolaus?" she demanded. Iolaus heard all of this and rose shakily from the bed Alcmene had tucked him in a few short hours again. He would face her anguish, her hatred, and then disappear forever. He made his way to the door and fell to the ground. Hercules was passing and heard the crash and immediately ran into the room. His friend was on the floor shaking. He could hear his friend's mother in near hysterics and could imagine what Iolaus was heading to do.
"Iolaus, what are you doing out of bed? You're sick, and mother's been very worried about you." Hercules said over the tumult in the kitchen of his home.
"I have to.."Iolaus stopped as he heard bits and pieces of what was going on.
"It's all ...fault! Please take me to my son." drifted in and out the bed chamber.
Tears of regret, guilt, and anguish tore through his young soul. He knew whose fault this all was, and obviously his mother did too. Hercules helped Iolaus back into the bed and covered him up as he turned to the wall. Just then, the door burst open once again. Iolaus turned to see the loss in his mother's face, and felt such loss himself. He knew he had not only lost his sister, he lost the love of his mother, and he felt totally empty inside.
Iolaus sat up in the bed bracing himself for what would come next. Fully prepared for a well earned slap across the face, he was stunned to find his mother's arms around him as she sobbed into the top of his head. This pushed his resolve over, and he joined her tears with his own. He didn't feel recrimination in her embrace. He felt great sorrow, but he also felt her love for him through it all. "I'm sorry..It's all" but before he could finish he heard her voice.
"Oh Iolaus, can you ever forgive me? It's all my fault...it's all my fault. I shouldn't have left you with so great a responsibility; now she's gone, and you're dreadfully ill, and it's all my fault." she continued through the sobs.
"No mother, it's my fault. You asked me to watch her, and I'm grown enough to take on that responsibility. It's my fault." Iolaus felt her pull him into a tighter embrace. She couldn't stand that along with losing Adriana, Iolaus may never forgive himself or that he might try to carry this incredible burden his whole life.
Suddenly, they all felt an imposing presence in the room. There stood Skouras glaring at the scene before him. He was confused as to where his family had been so he went into town. At an inn, he ran into many people who offered their condolences. He didn't have a clue until one of the hunters who had been searching for Adriana told him of what happened. He felt the loss, too, but he was Spartan trained, and he wasn't about to let these 'villagers' know of his anguish. Skouras just pushed through those gathered around him and headed for Alcmene's house. Where was Iolaus when this all happened? Where was his wife? She should have been watching over their child. His grief turned to anger and contempt for those left behind.
And in this doorway, his Stoic sensibilities were shocked at the easy outpouring of emotion between his wife and his son. His eyes narrowed to this scene and his voice rumbled through the small house. Hercules jumped at the anger he heard as Skouras shouted, "What in Tartarus is going on?! Pull yourself together, boy! You're not some little girl who has lost her ribbon!" Iolaus winced at the reference as he looked at the ribbon he'd found in the river. "What are you, anyway? Some little sniveling crybaby who isn't responsible enough to look after a two year old. It's not like your mother asked you to slay a hydra. Your sister is dead because of your ineptness. How can I call you a son of mine?" Alcmene, Atrayus, and Automedusa were pushing, pulling, and pleading to get him out of the room. Both mothers were shattered to see the assassination of the heart they had just witnessed. They finally got Skouras to calm down as they led him to the common room.
Iolaus sat there with his head down. He was agreeing with everything his father had said about him. What was he doing in bed while Adriana was still out in the river somewhere? He rose and put his boots on even though they were still wet and shivered. Hercules ran to help him because he was sure Iolaus wouldn't make the door. "Don't try to stop me, Herc. I'm going to find her if I have to die trying." Hercules recognized the determination in his friends voice and went along with him.
They got as far as the common room when something stopped Hercules in his tracks. He saw a beautiful lady dressed in all gold including a brilliant helmet. Beside her was a great golden owl. "Who is she?" he asked Iolaus. Iolaus stared but didn't see anyone there. Either Hercules was hallucinating or he was. Given how he was feeling, he was sure that it had to be him. Instantly, something he heard drew him into the common room. Alcmene saw Iolaus and Hercules and moved swiftly to their sides.
"You boys go back to Iolaus' room. Where do you think you're going? Just look at you! Your eyes are clouded over with fever, and I can feel your heat from here. Now turn around and leave this room immediately!" Alcemene whispered in desperation. Iolaus knew what was coming; he'd seen his father's violence before, and he wasn't about to leave his mother alone with him.
Athena couldn't believe what she was hearing. At first, she was quite surprised to find herself in the home of her little half brother. She originally smiled as she considered how much he had grown and how much he would grow in the future. Her amusement was quickly replaced by extreme annoyance. Judging by the father of this little family, she was right to keep Adriana. Owlharp begged for Athena to make her visible so she could protect the young human from the bitterness that flowed there. Athena became aware that Hercules could see her, and she just put a finger to her lips to suggest he not say anything as yet when she was drawn into the tragedy taking place. The children's mother was in agony as she tried to protect her eldest from this 'warrior'. Yes, Athena had recognized him; he was pledged to Ares, and while he was a brilliant general, this Skouras was not known for his depth of feeling.
"Quit trying to protect the sniveling little brat! And what were you doing away from the house? Isn't it the duty of a general's wife to spend time with her children. You should be training him to be tough; he should be hard, yet you've made him quite the little darling haven't you? Maybe this is all your fault after all. Maybe if you had used a little discipline with him, he wouldn't have been off playing with this little bas..." He measured his words so as not to bring the wrath of Zeus on himself, but it was too late. Alcmene was stunned; Hercules felt awkward, and Iolaus burned with anger toward his father. Skouras whirled around to find himself under the judgment of the other people in the room. His grief and anger was making him say things he knew he would be sorry for later, but he couldn't seem to control it. "You! What are you looking at? Well, I won't make the mistake she did. I'll show you discipline!" and he started pulling at a leather strap on a chair. Automedusa was frantic. She began pulling at his arm to keep him from injuring her already ill son. He struggled against her and shoved her back to the ground.
"Skouras! Stop! Think about the baby! You'll hurt the baby!" screamed Alcmene as she reached Automedusa's side. Skouras was even now more furious. Did the whole village know his wife was with child before he did? He started to move toward her. All he intended was to help her up, but when she flinched, she ignited an explosion in her young son.
Without thinking, Iolaus charged his father. Even in his weakness, he was not going to see his mother abused like this. He attacked Skouras with all of his might kicking and punching even biting his fist when Skouras tried to quiet this hysterical child. Then in reaction to this barrage, Skouras pushed him back and punched him full in the face. Iolaus tumbled helplessly to the floor and raised his pain wracked head to glare at his father. This attack would prove to be one of the defining moments in young Iolaus' life. Athena wept silently as she considered this one of many turning points he would be forced to make. Atrayus moved swiftly to stand between his young student and this general. He'd never considered the life his young friend had to bear.
"Why should I think about the baby? She'll just grow up to be murdered by this whelp!" He was saying everything wrong.
"So, I'm a murderer! Are you going to call me a thief next? Maybe that's all I'm cut out to be huh? Just a criminal." He shouted as he picked himself up and ran from the house. Just as more was about to erupt, Athena stilled a moment in these humans' lives. She walked over to Hercules and said, "We need to talk, little brother."
"Adriana is safe in my temple. She is a very special child, and I think as she grows, you'll become more aware of this," she said with a smile. "I think she, Iolaus, and the unborn boy would be better off with me than in all of this violence. Tell me why I shouldn't gather Iolaus along with the others to raise in my temple?"
Hercules looked down at his feet; he didn't like this question. He had never seen Skouras in all of his wrath. It was true that he often wondered at the bruises Iolaus would have when his father would appear on his rare trips home, but he always accepted his friend's explanation. Iolaus always seemed to suffer with bouts of clumsiness when his father was home. "I don't want him to go away, Athena. I'll miss him, and look at his mother. If this is how she is with one child she thinks is dead, how will she feel with all of her children gone? Can't you just protect him from his father? Wait! Did you stop Iolaus too? He still thinks Adriana is dead, and he's gone off to find her. You've got to stop him, Athena. He's really sick!"
Athena looked at Owlharp, "Owlharp, please follow Iolaus and try to keep him out of trouble while I straighten this mess out. Now, Hercules, I know she would miss them for a time, but she'd forget in time," Owlharp loosed a shriek. Her patron was only trying to fool herself. "Okay, Okay, I'll return her, but I'm also going to make sure this general never hurts them again!" She released the chaos again, and the arguments started again.
"Skouras, I can't believe the man I fell in love with could be so cruel to his only son. I understand you're grieving, but have you considered what your child, and yes he's still a child, is going through right now?" Automedusa said through painful tears. He sat down in the chair with the leather strap and covered his face with his hands. This went against all of his training, but he allowed a small part of him grieve openly. Atrayus had helped Skouras' wife up off the floor and steadied her. She walked over to her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder; she watched him grab her hand in disbelief. Just as she was sure she would witness a pure feeling from him, a messenger appeared at Alcmene's door with a message for Skouras.
He wiped his face and grabbed the scroll from the messenger's hand. "Well, it looks like I'm being called back to the fighting. Automedusa, I'm sure you'll handle Adriana's funeral well when you find her. Remember, show the boy a little discipline." And he kissed his wife almost ceremoniously on the forehead, gathered what things he brought to Alcmene's, and headed for the door. "You will let me know when the child is born?" he said as he left the house.
Atrayus, Alcmene, Automedusa, and Hercules stared in shock as this man just left in spite of the enormity of the tragedy around him. "How could he leave, Mother? Iolaus! Iolaus is out there still." Hercules said. Atrayus jumped into action. He shook his head before starting out to find the lad. Skouras was an idiot for leaving his family in the midst of this crisis, and this was with Automedusa with child. He left with Hercules to track Iolaus while Alcmene tried her best to comfort her friend.
Iolaus had stumbled around near the river again. He was making plans to run away from home after finding her body. He'd show Skouras. He'd show him that he was going to be someone important. If only he could stop those tears streaming down his face! He'd never gain his father's respect by being a crybaby. But after this, did he really want his father's respect? A part of him did, but another part wished he'd never see him again. He started a coughing fit that drove him to his knees. He couldn't seem to catch his breath, and his head felt as though he had been kicked by a horse. The fever was running rampant in his body, and he fell face down into the mud unconscious.
Owlharp saw him falter and fall into the mud. She swooped down to cover his shivering body with her warm feathers. She knew he was delirious from the fever when she felt him giggle, but judging from what she had just witness, she wondered that the child still knew how to laugh, fever or no. She wanted to carry him as she had carried his sister, but she was afraid that he would waken and struggle causing her to drop him. She called out to Athena who was on her way back to the temple. Athena materialized in front of Owlharp and assessed the situation. She called once again for her chariot and lifted this very ill youth onto it. Athena cradled Iolaus much as she had his little sister. Her immortal heart ached for this young man destined to become Hercules' greatest friend. She thought she felt her tunic getting wet, and when she looked down, she saw this poor child crying through his delirium. Yes, she'd make sure that general never touched Iolaus or his family again. Thinking of his family reminded her of his mother. She had seen the anguish, the protectiveness, and goodness of heart in this woman. She would have to speak to her in a dream very soon. She deserved much better than she was getting. Perhaps once this general was out of the way, she could find a nice gentle poet for her. "Oops!" she giggled, "I'm getting into Aphrodite's territory, mustn't go there!"
When they arrived at the temple, Athena lifted this young man and carried him into the same bed chamber as Adriana. Owlharp was proud of her friends still standing guard despite the fact that it was daytime, and they should have been nestled in some tree somewhere sleeping. Athena laid him on the bed next to Adriana. She was amazed at the resemblance, and her heart ached for what this child went through while she was playing games with "her" little one. She called for the temple healers to attend to his fever and cough. She was happy to see that the chill had left him, but she knew she didn't have much time to try to at least partially heal him. Adriana woke with a start to find her brother with her. She squealed with delight to play with his curls. He rarely let her do that when he was awake. Athena saw this and knew that with Owlharp's prodding this was the right thing to do. She belonged with her family, and her family belonged with her.
Athena went to the clearing where she first was charmed by Adriana and prepared it to place Iolaus and Adriana. She made sure the ground was warm and dry and that there was a pile of soft leaves and owl feathers to lay him. Then, with Owlharp's help, she moved the two to the clearing. She could tell that a search party was nearby. She waved her hand and Adriana's original tunic, though dry this time, appeared on her. She giggled at the change. Athena bent down and whispered in Iolaus' slightly fevered ear, "Time to wake up, my brave one." Iolaus' eyelids fluttered just as Athena became invisible. Owlharp watched the scene from high atop one of the trees.
Iolaus thought he was having another nightmare when he saw Adriana, but when she gave him another sweet smack of a kiss on the cheek, he went wild. "Adriana! Adriana! You're alive! You're alive!" he snatched her up in his arms and danced a little jig with her. He then fell to the ground very dizzy. He felt better, but he knew he still wasn't well. Adriana filled the clearing with her laughter. She ran to the nest Owlharp and Athena had created and grabbed a beautiful golden feather from it. She ran back to Iolaus and tickled him with her feather. The laughter brought the search party straight to the clearing where they were astounded to not only find Iolaus but Adriana alive as well. Atrayus and Hercules dashed to the two and gave them great hugs.
"Iolaus! You found her! You found her! See, Hercules, I've been telling all of the hunters of the village that if anyone could find her, Iolaus could. And son, you found her alive! I'm so proud of you." Iolaus was trying to blink back the "unmanly" tears when he looked into the face of this well respected hunter and saw huge tears rolling down his face. "You're a real hero, Iolaus," said Atrayus. Iolaus wondered if he'd ever hear that from his father.
Hercules danced around Adriana too. She tried tickling him too, though not as ticklish as her brother, Hercules faked it for her sake, and he could see Athena at the edge of the clearing smiling with tears in her eyes. He sent his thanks to her mentally, and was surprised to see Adriana waving good-bye to her. Iolaus quickly grabbed her up. He wasn't sure if he'd ever let her go again, and he laughed when he though how his mother would feel when she saw them walking through the doorway of Alcmene's house. He even imagined what his father or what he hoped his father would say. "Just wait until he sees me now. Maybe he won't call me a murderer now!" he said in a low voice.
Hercules revealed, "He's not there anymore. He's gone back to the fighting." Iolaus looked dejected. He wanted to prove something to him, but Skouras even took that away from him.
Just before they left the clearing, Athena stepped forward and whispered in Adriana's ear, "I will always watch over you little one. Maybe someday we'll meet again." and she kissed her softly on top of her curls. "I'll watch over you, too, my brave one." and she reached down and messed up his mop of curls even more.
"Hey! Where'd that wind come from?" asked Iolaus as they left the clearing. They were headed toward a celebration that would be spoken of in years to come.
20 YEARS LATER
"Come on, Herc! I don't want to be late for the ceremony. Hoo boy! I'll never hear the end of it if I'm late this time. Is it me, or is Athens getting bigger?" Iolaus was obviously nervous as the reached the outskirts of Athens. They were nearing the temple when a figure jumped out at them. Immediately they went to a defensive position, but they were both glad that they had withheld their punches when they saw who it was.
"Gotcha! You guys were always easy to scare," laughed Adriana. She didn't look like the chubby little two year old but in her heart she still loved those hiding games. "Well, have you come to see your little sister shine? Or are you just here to chase the women at the festival, Iolaus?" Her giggle could still send sparks through their hearts. Hercules found it quite disconcerting it felt different this time. Not quite the brotherly feeling Iolaus had for her.
Iolaus jumped out and put her into a mock headlock and proceeded to thoroughly ruin her hair that Automedusa had spent hours on. "Easy to scare, huh? I'll show you a thing or two." Just then Automedusa came dashing to find Adriana. She laughed with delight to see her children still at play, and she ran to give Iolaus a great hug.
"Ooh, you're in trouble now, Iolaus," teased Hercules. "Hello, Automedusa. Have you seen Mother?" he asked as he kissed her on the cheek.
"Yes, she's here too. Come on you two. Let's visit while I fix Adriana's hair. We can't have the next high priestess of the Temple of Athena looking like a wet mop, can we?"
The four headed back to the temple under the watchful eye of a giant golden owl circling overhead, and a smiling goddess.
Some images, characters and other things used in these works are the property of others, including but not limited to Renaissance Pictures and Universal Studios. Everything else remains the property of the artist or author. No money will be made on anything appearing on this webpage and no copyright infringement is intended. This site was created by fans for the enjoyment of other fans.
For information on reprinting text and/or artwork (including privately owned photos, photo manipulations, and other images) from this website, please contact IolausianLibrarians , who will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Do NOT reprint, republish, or in any way link to items on these pages without obtaining permission from either the original creator of the piece or the webpage owner. A written one-time use statement may be issued to you at the discretion of the artist or the author. Please respect the legal and artistic rights of our contributors.