She laughed as her small, blond, whirlwind son excitedly tore off down the dusty track towards Hercules' house. He hurried, as if he were afraid she would change her mind should he linger too long.
'No,' Eryetheia corrected herself. That was not exactly true. He would have run anyway. Her sons' approach to everything in life was damn the spears, full speed ahead. He had a certain vitality. Even when he was sitting still, which she granted was not very often, he seemed to give the illusion of movement; something his school teachers had often brought to her attention as being a character flaw. He pelted down the road to Hercules' house because it was inherent to his nature. She watched, a smile tarrying on her pretty face, as the boy quickly disappeared from view. He certainly was fast she mused. No wonder he was able to keep up with Hercules, his best friend.
Iolaus had not been happy when she had insisted he come to town with her and help with the shopping. Iolaus didn't know it yet, but his father, General Skouros, had sent word that he would be arriving home in a few days for a visit. Iolaus and his father did not get along and Eryetheia wanted to talk to Iolaus about the estranged relationship before the General arrived. Maybe she could get Iolaus to hold his temper for once around his father, so that--- well--- things didn't happen. She thought the walk to town together might afford her the opportunity to broach the subject with her son.
Iolaus had grumbled, complained and dejectedly followed after her when she set off for Thebes. However, Iolaus could not remain despondent for long. About the time she had finally worked up the courage to discuss the delicate subject of his father's upcoming visit, Iolaus had recovered his spirits and had bounded off down the road. The day was too nice to sulk and besides, she walked too slowly for him. He started exploring this, poking at that, and examining all those things that peak a young boy's imagination. His wanderings soon took him out of her sight around a bend in the road.
All of the sudden she heard a "kewl", followed by an "ut-oh", and then a splat. A few seconds of silence ensued before a giggle wafted in the breeze. The giggle told Eryetheia that whatever trouble Iolaus had gotten himself into now, it wasn't too serious, at least not from his perspective. She found herself chuckling. There was something about her son's giggle that made you want to join in. She idly wondered what had set him off this time though, not that it took much to make her son laugh. He always seemed to be able to find the lighter side of things.
She rounded the bend and discovered him off to the side of the road sprawled in the thick brown mud on the edge of a pond. He looked up when he heard her coming and quickly sprung to his feet. His grin slowly faded when he glanced down and saw that a good portion of the mud from the lake's edge now clung to his clothes. He snuck a fugitive glance at his mother from under his unruly blond mop, trying to gauge how much trouble he was in. "I didn't mean to Mom," he said plaintively.
Eryetheia could not keep a straight face and she smiled at her son. It seemed half of the sentences that came out of Iolaus' mouth started with the phrase "I didn't mean to." I didn't mean to talk in class; break old man's Sidous' fence; get in a fight; chase that pig through the temple; fall off the roof; rip my pants; paint the cow; fall in the mud--- again.
Encouraged by his mother's smile, Iolaus raced on to provide his explanation. "You see Mom it was like this. I was walking along and I saw the biggest frog you could ever imagine. I mean this thing was as big as a cat."
He stopped talking for a second when he saw his mother frown at him. She, in the past, had warned him about his tendency to exaggerate while telling stories. "Well, maybe not as big as a cat," he self-corrected, "but it was the biggest frog I have ever seen. And you know I have always wanted a pet but you have never let me have a dog and so when I saw this frog and besides we have to bring something interesting in to class next week to talk about and I thought that this frog would be a kewl thing to bring in so I tried to catch it, only it hopped away, really quickly, and I chased after it and it headed towards the pond and it was nearly in the water and I made a dive after but I slipped and I fell in the mud and the frog got away," he concluded finally coming up for air.
Eryetheia gazed at her panting, flushed face child. When he got excited he usually babbled. She was often amazed at how long he could seem to talk before taking a breath.
Iolaus, unsure whether his mother was amused or mad, decided to play the school card again. "It was for school Mom," he reemphasized. "I wasn't doing it for like fun, well maybe it was sort-of for fun 'cause I do want a dog but you haven't let me get one, but it also was for school. I know you want me to try harder in school and I thought this gigantic frog might help my grades."
Eryetheia laughed quietly to herself at her son's logic that a gigantic frog would enhance his grades. She had serious doubts that his teacher would see it in the same light that Iolaus did. She reached over and plucked a piece of marsh grass from the boy's mud-plastered hair. Taking a scrap piece of cloth from her bag, she motioned for Iolaus to follow her to the pond's edge. Avoiding the muddier parts, she knelt down and dipped the cloth in the pond's serene blue waters. She gently attempted to scrub the mud off his face. Her efforts produced only a slightly cleaner child than when she had started the task. Giving up, she sat back on her heels and thoughtfully regarded her son.
"Well, I can't take you into town looking like this and I don't have time to go home so you can get cleaned up. I could make you take a bath right here in this lake---."
A look of utter disbelief crossed Iolaus' face. Bathe, in public view? In a lake right along side the public road that everyone used? Just how old did she think he was!
"---and you wouldn't be muddy anymore. But you would still be wet and look like a drowned rat," she chuckled as she gently clipped him on the chin with her fist.
A wave of relief washed over Iolaus' face when he realized his mother was not going to suggest he take a bath in the public lake.
"So I guess you will not be going to town with me after all."
Iolaus could not stop a happy smile from dancing across his face. "Can I go to Hercules' instead?"
"Covered in mud? What will Alcmene think of me?"
"Ahhh, nothing Mom. She is used to me being dirty. She knows it is just--- well--- my nature. Besides, I'll get Herc and will go down to a 'private' pond we know of and I'll bathe there. When you come home I'll be squeaky clean. I promise."
Eryetheia relented and allowed her son to head off to Hercules' house as she resumed her journey to town.
Eryetheia moved with purpose through the market place examining, haggling and eventually purchasing the supplies that she required. She also picked up a few extra treats. Iolaus' birthday was coming up and she wanted to make things a bit more festive. They didn't have a lot of money but still she wanted to try to brighten his day a little bit. She wistfully gazed at the daggers in one vender's stalls. She knew how much her emerging hunter-son would love to have one, but the price was too steep. She sighed and moved on.
As she was nearing the end of the line of stalls, she felt something cold and wet press against her bare hand. She looked down and saw a medium sized dog. It sat on its' haunches when she stopped to stare at it. Its' tail brushed a crescent in the dust as it regarded her with its' intelligent, amber eyes. Something made her reach out and pet its' furry head. The tail beat a quicker stiletto as she scratched it. "Nice dog," she said. It raised its' head to offer her a better angle at which to scratch its' ears.
Eryetheia looked about the market wondering to whom the dog belonged. It appeared clean and well kept. She gave it a final pat and announced "I have to get going. Go on home fellow." She turned away and started across the market square. She had only gone a few paces when she felt that cold, wet sensation on her hand again. She stopped, turned and looked down to find the dog sitting by her side again.
"You are a very nice dog but you have to go home."
The dog pitched its' ears forward as if to better decipher her words. Then, it cocked its' head to one side and seemed to thoughtfully study her.
"Shoo," she said as she waved her hands in the dog's general direction.
The dog remained seated.
Eryetheia sighed and not knowing what else to do, simply turned and walked away. The dog got up and tagged along after her. It followed her from booth to booth as she went about her shopping.
Seeing that her fuzzy shadow was not leaving, she started asking the various merchants if they knew whose dog this was but no one could ever remember having seen it.
When she completed her shopping, Eryetheia turned towards home, her four-footed companion still trailing behind her.
"Shoo," she tried again. "Go home," she yelled in what she hoped was an authoritative tone.
But the dog just wagged its' tail harder.
Eryetheia decided to continue on home. She was sure that if she ignored the dog it would eventually get bored and head back to town.
She was nearly home and the dog still had not given up. If anything it had gotten bolder, striding along by her left knee instead of trailing behind her. Eryetheia stopped, put her purchases down, sat on a rock and stared at the dog.
"What am I going to do with you? Surely you don't mean to come home with me?"
The dog flashed her a grin that said that that was exactly what it planned to do.
"Oh no you don't. I have enough problems making ends meet without another mouth to feed."
The dog lay down in the afternoon sun, patiently waiting.
Eryetheia continued to contemplate what to do. Knowing it was cruel, but seeing no other alternative, she picked up a small rock and showed it to the dog.
"Go home," she said sternly as she lobbed the rock in the dog's general direction.
The dog sat up and looked at her, but made no move to go.
Eryetheia picked up a second rock and repeated, "Go home!" and threw the rock closer to the dog's proximity.
The dog stood but still did not leave.
Taking a third rock she yelled, "Go home!" and lightly hit the dog in the side of the rib cage with the rock.
The dog yelped in surprise and high-tailed it off into the woods.
Eryetheia sighed, sorry that she had to do that, but she couldn't afford to take a dog home. She was barely making ends meet to feed the children and she knew Skouros would be furious if she brought a dog home, even if Iolaus had been pleading for one. She picked up her purchases and continued on down the road to home, alone.
When Eryetheia reached the cabin, she thanked her neighbor for watching Kelliode. After the neighbor left, she started putting her purchases away. It was then that she remembered she had never gotten the opportunity to talk to Iolaus about Skouros' impending visit. Later, she thought.
Later never came and it was the day her husband was expected to arrive home and she still had not gotten around to mentioning his visit to Iolaus. As it turned out she never did get the chance. Skouros came marching down the road and Iolaus, who was working in the barn, was the first to spot him.
"Father?"
Eryetheia heard her son's tentative question and looked out the window. Skouros was walking down the path to the house. Eryetheia did a double take when she realized that the dog that had followed her in the market place was now trailing along behind her husband.
Astonished, Eryetheia rushed outside. "Dear," she said as she dutifully placed a kiss on his weathered cheek.
Iolaus silently crept around the edge of the house and stood in the shadows watching his mother greet his father. He was not happy to see the man. Iolaus' hands involuntarily formed into fists. He wished his mother had told him his father was coming so he could have made plans to stay over at Hercules' house and avoid the tongue-lashing and beatings he knew that were inevitable. Damn it to Hades. Why did the old man have to come home? Iolaus had been looking forward to his upcoming birthday but he now knew that with his father home, it would not be fun. Sighing and deciding to get the inescapable over with, Iolaus stepped out of the shadows and headed over to greet his warrior father.
The last rays of the day's sun glinted off his blond hair as he stepped into the light. The dog, previously unnoticed by Iolaus, streaked across the yard and leapt on the boy knocking him to the ground. A giggle escaped Iolaus as the enthusiastic furball proceeded to wash his face with its' long, rough tongue.
"Father," Iolaus said excitedly. "You brought me this dog for my birthday? She is a kewl dog Father. Thank you. Thank you." Iolaus figured it must be a present. Why else would a dog follow his father home? Wow, Iolaus thought. His father did care about him. He must if he brought this great dog as a present.
Skouros started to open his mouth to deny the fact that he brought the dog home as a gift but his wife elbowed him and discreetly shook her head.
"I did not bring that beast here," he whispered intensively to his wife. "The mutt must have followed me home. The boy can not keep it."
"Please Skouros," Eryetheia pleaded. "Let Iolaus keep the dog. He has always wanted one. It will make him so happy, especially because he believes you brought it for him."
Skouros watched the boy and the dog wrestle in the dirt. The voice in his head that always seemed to be giving him advice about his son spoke up. /"Go ahead. Let the boy keep the mutt. Don't look a gift horse or in this case dog in the mouth. Notice how your son is looking at you with respect. I say go with the flow. After all, if the dog becomes a bother, you can always kill it./
"All right. The boy can keep the dog," Skouros said. "But if it becomes a problem, it goes. Do I make myself clear Eryetheia?"
Eryetheia nodded her head, simultaneously happy that Skouros was allowing Iolaus to have the dog but also apprehensive. She felt cold icy fingers brush along her spine but she firmly pushed the feeling aside and ran over to where Iolaus and the dog were playing tug of war.
"Son, thank your father properly for this wonderful birthday present," she prompted him.
Iolaus got up off the ground, brushed the dirt off himself and walked over to where his father stood. He stuck out his hand and said, "Thank you father for this magnificent present. I shall take good care of her."
Skouros looked down at his son. "Do not let that dog interfere with your chores boy," he grunted ignoring the proffered hand. Skouros sharply turned on his heels and headed into the house leaving his son standing there, hand outstretched to emptiness.
Iolaus shrugged his shoulders and withdrew his hand. He didn't even care that his father had snubbed him again. He was too happy to have the dog.
He looked at the dog as she stood there wagging her tail at him. Her ears were erect, coat of medium length, and when excited, she carried her tail curled over her back. The hair on her tail and chaps was lightly feathered but it did not mar the overall smooth lines of the powerful dog. She had large patches of red on her white body. Her head was covered by a red hood that ran from mid-muzzle, over both ears and was punctuated by a small blaze. She had long legs and looked sleek and fast.
"You need a name girl," he reflected.
She stood there patiently waiting for him to bestow one upon her.
"Ya know," he confided in the dog. "A lot of people call me runt. So what do you say to me calling you Ty? That way when they call us together, it will be Ty-runt."
Iolaus giggled at his joke and the two raced off across the meadow to play.
Iolaus and Ty became inseparable. Where one was, the other was sure to be near. Ty slept along side of Iolaus' bed and when Eryetheia was not looking, in it too.
The first day Iolaus went back to school after having Ty, the dog followed him right into the classroom and lay by his feet. However, the teacher did not approve of this new student in his class and Ty was forced to wait outside the building while her owner took classes.
Ty was friendly to everyone she met, but she only got that certain look of love in her eyes when she gazed at her one true owner, Iolaus. She was known to come to his aid when he got into fights, knocking into his opponents and flattening them to the ground, though she never used her teeth on them.
Only once, did she ever harm a human and that was when slavers on the road set upon Hercules and Iolaus. Ty seemed to know this wasn't one of her owners' normal rough and tumble for fun fights and she had sunk her teeth into one of the slaver's legs. The slavers had decided the two boys weren't worth the efforts, had given up and ran off into the woods.
For the rest of that summer Hercules, Iolaus, and Ty were like the three musketeers. They fought together, played together, ate together and slept together.
Hercules, if the truth were told, was a little jealous of Iolaus' relationship with Ty at first. Sometimes he felt like he was the odd man out, and that Ty had taken over his spot as Iolaus' best friend. He had complained to his mother once that Iolaus seemed to like his dog better than him. Alcmene had laughed at her son's wistful tone and assured him that Iolaus' heart was large enough to love two best friends, one two-legged and one four-legged.
Hercules came to realize she was right and it was simply his jealously that had momentarily clouded his vision. Iolaus hadn't changed a bit towards him. The small, blond boy was always by Hercules' side when he needed him, no matter what the odds, no matter what the personal risk. Ty hadn't changed that at all. In fact, when he truly looked at the relationship between Ty and Iolaus, without the green-eyed monster of jealousy sitting on his shoulder, he could see how the dog was actually improving Iolaus.
Before Ty had come into his life, Iolaus had started to hang around with some of the gang members in town, which had worried Hercules. He had tried to talk to Iolaus about the subject but for once his friend had closed down to him, told him to mind his own business and that he, Iolaus, did not need any advice on who he chooses as friends. Though he was still concerned, Hercules had let the subject drop knowing his friend too well; knowing that arguing at that point wasn't going to solve anything other than making Iolaus very mad at him.
However, since Ty came on the scene, Iolaus had stopped hanging around the gangs. Hercules also noticed that Iolaus' confidence in himself was growing. Oh, Iolaus had always appeared brash and brazen on the surface, but Hercules knew a lot of it was an act to cover for the lack of confidence the boy had in himself. Since the day he had been born, Iolaus' father had beaten into the boy that he was a worthless runt, and years of that had left wounds on Iolaus' psyche. Ty seemed to be healing some of those wounds. Hercules wasn't sure how or why, but he was grateful to the dog none-the-less.
Those first four months after Ty had come to live with Iolaus and his family were nice and peaceful. Skouros had come home for another visit, about two months after he 'gave' Iolaus the dog and much to Eryetheia surprise, it had been a quiet visit.
Usually, when Skouros came home she could count on him and Iolaus getting into some sort of fight that would leave Skouros furious, Iolaus hurt and Eryetheia upset. However, Skouros last visit had been amazing peaceful. Iolaus did not end up running away from home. This time the boy remained home for the entire length of his father's stay. It was as if Ty calmed the boy down when his father taunted him; Iolaus did rise to snatch the bait his father always seemed to be dangling in front of him.
Eryetheia could see that this new calm demeanor of Iolaus' confused his father. Skouros knew how to handle a defiant child, with the back of his hand. But how to handle a child, who didn't fight back, who gave in even though Skouros suspected the boy was not really sincere, this confused the General. So he resorted to ignoring the boy which was fine with Iolaus. Iolaus figured it an improvement over getting hit.
Secretly, Iolaus foolishly hoped that maybe, just maybe his father was finally coming to respect him. Iolaus had been doing better in school since Ty came and he had grown another whole inch. Yes, perhaps his father was slowly coming to realize his worth.
"Ares, I just don't get it. I thought that stupid mutt was suppose to be the downfall of that runty mortal. Well, if you ask me, the dog seems to be boosting the fool's confidence level, making him even more repugnant."
"And that, dear Discord, is why I am the God of War and you--- aren't." Ares draped his muscular arm over the lithe Goddess' shoulder. "My plans have a vision of the future," he said as he waved his free hand in the air as if sliding open a portal. "You are focusing on the here and now. I am focusing on the grand plan." Ares removed his arm from Discord shoulder and sauntered over to examine one of the artifacts in his temple.
"Well," pouted Discord, "would you mind telling me what this grand plan of yours is?"
Ares gave her one of his disarming smiles. "Since you asked so nicely," he said in his smooth, oily manner. "It is like this. To miss something, you have to first have it. Take this vase for example," he said as he held the aforementioned article aloft. "Pretty, isn't it? Good craftsmanship, interesting shape, pleasing color scheme, a piece I will truly enjoy looking at for years to come."
With a sudden viciousness, Ares hurled the vase at the stone wall where it smashed into a million pieces. "On my," he said in a false-mocking tone. "It is gone, broken. I will not be able to enjoy it anymore. That makes me sad," he said as he wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
He rounded quickly, and strode over to where Discord stood watching his show. "Now," he growled at her. "Imagine how much more painful it will be when that mortal loses his precious four-footed furball to the gates of Hades, especially if the death of that mutt is caused by his best friend, Hercules," he laughed evilly. "Who knows, maybe the little runt will get so mad at Hercules, he'll kill him. Nah, that would be too much to hope for. Still he should be mad enough to end his friendship with my pesky half-brother and that will be one less headache I will have to worry about in the future.
He pointed a finger at Discord. "Go get rid of that flea-bitten animal and make sure you lay the blame at Hercules feet, " he commanded his minion.
"Yes Ares," Discord purred even though she resented being sent on a mission that she considered to be beneath her. "Can I kill Iolaus at the same= time?"
"No," he barked at the Goddess. "That will be my distinct pleasure. Now= go."
Discord disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Ares went back and sat on his throne, stroking his beard and planning his next move.
Discord watched as Iolaus and Ty romped along the river bluff. Deciding it was time to take a break, Iolaus flopped to the ground. Ty jumped on top of him, scrubbing his face with her tongue.
'Yuck, dog germs,' she thought disgustingly she watched the two play in the grass.
She debated about the best way to kill the dog. She could zap it with a lightening bolt but there was no fun in that; besides, Hercules had to be involved in the dog's death too.
She looked at the river bluff. Yes, a fall from there should snuff the life out of that furry creature. Plus, she had the perfect way to involve her half-mortal brother Hercules.
As for Iolaus, she would make sure he saw it all unfold. That ought to rip the little runt's heart out, she laughed cruelly. She knew Ares' had forbidden her from killing Iolaus but that didn't mean she couldn't make the small, blond mortal suffer while she killed his faithful companion. After all, girls just wanna have fun.
Ty stopped licking Iolaus' face and had settled on the ground by his side. Iolaus sat idly chewing on a piece of grass looking over the river bluff and waiting for Hercules to arrive. He carelessly tossed a few pebbles into the river far below, counting to see how long it took for them to hit the water.
Suddenly, Ty stood up and growled over his shoulder, the hair raising along the entire length of her spine.
Iolaus rolled to his knees, his back to the river, to see what Ty was growling at. "What's a matter girl? I don't see anything."
Ty continued to growl deeply in her throat and stare into space.
Without warning, the earth began to tremble. Iolaus felt himself losing his balance and he flung his body flat on the ground to stop from toppling over the bluff's edge. The ground had other ideas as it started to crumble out from under him. He hopelessly clutched at the grass but to no avail. He felt himself starting to slide over the edge.
"Help," he yelled in terror.
Ty stopped growling, whirled, and grabbed her owner's shirt in her teeth, trying desperately to arrest his motion. Her nails dug deep into the earth trying to gain purchase; her powerful hindquarters strained; her flanks quivered. But it was a losing battle and both the boy and the dog ended up plunging over the cliff.
Discord laughed wildly as the two disappeared from sight. "Ok, dear brother. Come rescue them."
Hercules' was nearly to the river when he felt the earth tremble. He was momentarily knocked to the ground but quickly regained his feet when he heard the voice of his best friend screaming for help. Hercules rushed to the scene in time to see Iolaus and Ty disappear over the cliff's edge.
"No," he screamed as he rushed forward, too late to stop their decent to the river.
Discord let out another evil laugh when she saw the anguished look on her half-brother's face. This was turning to be a lot more fun than she anticipated.
Hercules rushed to the edge of the cliff, being careful to avoid the unstable area. He dreaded looking down, fully expecting to find his best friend's body sprawled lifelessly on the jagged rocks below.
He almost toppled over the cliff himself in relief when he saw that Iolaus and Ty had not plunged all the way down to the river, but instead had come to a halt on a small ledge about 30 feet below. Iolaus lay face down, unmoving. Ty was nosing the inert form of her beloved master.
"Iolaus!" Hercules yelled.
Ty glanced up at his voice and wagged her tail. Iolaus remained still.
"Iolaus," he yelled again but the boy remained stationary. "Ty, lick Iolaus. Lick him on the face girl."
Ty cocked her head and then began scrubbing the unconscious boy's face with her tongue.
Iolaus moaned and weakly fended her off. "Alright, alright. I'll get up and get ready for school," the groggy boy groaned. In a flash, he remembered what happened. He cautiously looked around him and then gingerly sat up. The ledge he was on was only a few feet wide. He had been lucky he hadn't hit it and rolled right off the edge.
'Not luck,' my dear mortal Discord thought.
"Just remain still Iolaus. I'll go get a vine and haul you up."
Iolaus had no plans to move anywhere. He wasn't feeling too well and wondered which one of the two Hercules' he saw was going to get the vine. His left arm also hurt.
Hercules' faces disappeared from view and Iolaus leaned back against the cliff to wait for his rescuer's return. He started stroking Ty, who appeared to be unharmed, in an effort to divert his mind from his body's pain.
"This is certainly a fine mess we have gotten ourselves into. Don't worry, I'll get you out of it," Iolaus assured Ty.
Ty snuggled next to her owner, protecting his shivering body, with her furry one.
It did not take Hercules long to find a good vine. He tied a loop in one end of the vine big enough for Iolaus to slide up his body under his armpits. He didn't think Iolaus was in any condition to climb up the face of the cliff under his own power.
After testing the loop, he secured the other end of the vine to a tree and dropped it over the edge to his friend.
"Slip the loop over your body and I'll haul you up," he instructed.
Iolaus looked up. His first thought was not for himself.
"What about Ty?" She can't climb up. I'll put the loop around her and you can haul her up first."
"Iolaus, I think we'd better get you up first and then-"
But Iolaus wasn't paying any attention to him. Iolaus carefully reached for the rope but a wave of dizziness washed over him and he nearly toppled off the ledge. Ty pushed him back against the wall with her body.
"Iolaus!" Hercules screamed in a panic.
Iolaus waved a weak hand up at his friend. "Just a little dizzy Herc. Nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about," Hercules muttered to himself. "You almost fell over the edge."
Iolaus tried again to reach the vine. He did not get as dizzy this time but he discovered his left arm would not obey him. Never the less, he succeeded in snagging the vine.
He struggled to get the loop over the dog, but it wouldn't fit. Undeterred, he tried to untie the loop in the vine to make it bigger. But with only one working hand, he was unable to undo Hercules' strong handiwork.
"Herc, we have a problem. The loop is too small to fit over Ty's body and I can not get your knot undone to make it bigger."
"Can you slip it around yourself?" Hercules queried, hoping his friend would listen to reason.
"How is that gonna help get Ty up the cliff?" A stubborn gleam entered Iolaus' eyes. "She is going up first Hercules," he said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Iolaus frustrated Hercules. Yes, he wanted to rescue Ty, too but given the instability of the ledge, logic dictated that he concentrate his effort on saving Iolaus first. Knowing he wasn't going to be able to dissuade his headstrong friend, Hercules decided his best plan of action was to lower himself towards the ledge, grab Iolaus, haul him up and then get the dog.
"Ok. Just sit tight and I'll come down."
Hercules secured his grip on the vine and started to repel down to where Iolaus and Ty waited. When he got to the ledge he cautiously put a foot on it. An ominous creak rose from the ledge. Hercules immediately removed his foot.
"Iolaus. I can not risk putting weight on this ledge. You are going to have to move closer where I can grab you and help you up the cliff."
"Take Ty first," came the defiant reply.
Hercules hesitated. He simply could not take the risk that the shelf would give way on Iolaus while he took Ty up first. Nor was he strong enough to take both up at once. Iolaus had to come first.
"Iolaus. I'll come back for her. I promise."
The small battered boy got an intractable look on his face. "Her first," he insisted.
"Iolaus, we don't have time to argue about this. I promise I will come back and get Ty the minute you are safe," he pleaded. He couldn't risk the life of his best friend for a dog.
"No. Ty first!"
Discord was bored. "Let's get this over with," she said as she made the shelf give way.
Hercules heard a noise and saw the shelf give way.
"Iolaus," he screamed as he made a desperate lunge for the boy. He caught the back of Iolaus' shirt and hauled him over, one handedly, to rest against his chest. Once there, using his legs as support, he shifted his grip on the smaller boy until he could securely wrap his arm around the blond boy's chest.
"Ty!" Iolaus screamed in horror as he watched his faithful dog plunge to the ground, 100 feet below.
The two boys hung in space, gently swinging to and fro. They watched in disbelief as Ty landed on the jagged rocks by river's edge. There was no doubt as to her fate. Iolaus turned his head away into Hercules' chest. Hercules could feel his friend's body shaking uncontrollably as Iolaus' hot tears coursed down Hercules' chest.
"Hold on Iolaus," Hercules said as he began to work his way back up the vine.
Hercules released his hold on Iolaus when they reached the top of the cliff. For a moment Hercules thought his distraught friend was going to rush over the cliff. Iolaus scrambled to his feet as soon as he was free of Hercules' grasp and ran over to the edge of the cliff. He flung himself to his knees, clutched both hands around his mid-section and stared mutely over the edge at the carnage below.
Hercules stood quietly watching his friend's anguish. Slowly, he walked over and placed a hand on Iolaus' good shoulder. "I'm sorry---."
Iolaus sprang to his feet, wincing as his battered body tried to obey his grief-torn mind. "Get away from me. Don't touch me you--- you--- bastard. I asked you to save her," he screamed at Hercules as he advanced towards him. "Begged you, too but you wouldn't listen and now she is dead and it's your fault Hercules. ALL YOUR FAULT," he shouted as he rushed head long at his friend.
Hercules was so stunned by his friend's accusation that he made no move to protect himself and both boys tumbled to the ground. Iolaus moaned as his injured shoulder hit the unforgiving earth. He curled in a tight ball and tried to will away the pain in his body, his heart and his soul.
Hercules slowly sat up and looked at his tormented friend. "Iolaus, I had no choice. I couldn't choose to save Ty over you. I loved Ty, too but she was only a dog. I couldn't let you die."
Iolaus slowly uncurled his body and cursing, rolled to his knees. He rested there for a minute before heaving his way to his feet. He stood unsteadily, swaying like a young sapling in the breeze.
Hercules leapt to his own feet and reached out a hand to stabilize his friend. Iolaus angrily batted his hand away.
"I told you to leave me alone. You don't understand. She is dead. DEAD. She trusted me and she now is gone. My best friend. I told her everything would be alright. But it isn't--- it isn't."
He looked accusingly at Hercules. "You never liked her. You wanted her to die. You were jealous, jealous that she liked me better than the mighty Hercules. You wanted her to die. You don't care---. Are you happy Hercules? Happy now that she is dead? Are you? Are you!?"
Iolaus gasped for air, trying to reel in his mind. "Ty didn't think I was stupid or clumsy or short. She didn't tell me I was worthless." Iolaus closed his eyes, took a few steps then collapsed to his knees again.
Iolaus stared unseeingly at the earth in front of him. "She didn't judge me. She just loved me because I was me. Do you know what it is like to be loved unconditionally by someone? Do you? Do you!" Iolaus demanded, his voice raising in an unfettered pitch.
Hercules bowed his head in silence as Iolaus continued harshly. "Silly me. Of course you do, oh great son of Zeus. I'm not so sure about your father but yeah, your mother loves you-"
A bitter laugh escaped Iolaus' lips. "My parents on the other hand--- my father hates my guts and my mother, well, I don't even know what she thinks---maybe--- at times---." Iolaus slammed his fist into the earth. "Damn it I don't even think my own mother loves me!" Iolaus beat his fist into the ground until his knuckles were raw and bleeding.
"But Ty loved me. I know she did. She is the only one who has ever loved me and now--- now she is---dead. I wish it had been me that went over the cliff instead of her," Iolaus sobbed, his heart breaking for his loss. He didn't care if Hercules saw him cry. He was too numb to care about anything or anyone. He wanted to curl up in a ball and die. One of his best friends was dead, the other had betrayed him.
Hercules stood stunned by Iolaus' words. He knew it was mostly grief talking but still, his friend's words upset him. He started to reach out a hand to Iolaus again but stopped when his friend violently recoiled and surged to his feet once again. Only he didn't remain standing. He took a few stumbling steps and then sunk to the ground, unconscious.
Hercules rushed over and felt for his friend's pulse. It was weak, but steady. He gathered up the smaller boy in his arms and started to carry him home, tears falling unbidden from his eyes. He took one last glance at the cliff over his shoulder; the cliff where his best friend's heart had been smashed to bits and perhaps their friendship as well.
Hercules tenderly carried Iolaus to his parent's house, trying not to jar the injured boy anymore than necessary. His heart sank as he approached the cabin and saw Iolaus' father on the front porch.
Hercules had the distinct impression from the few times that he had met Skouros that the General did not like him at all. Hercules was also pretty sure the General was going to be very displeased with his son--- again. He debated about turning around and bringing Iolaus to his mother's house but it was too late; Skouros and Eryetheia who had joined him on the porch, had spotted him. With much trepidation, Hercules carried his burden to the cabin.
"What did the stupid boy do now?" Skouros demanded harshly.
Not 'is my son OK', Hercules noted ironically.
Hercules cleared his throat and tried to sound authoritative. "He and Ty fell off a cliff when the earthquake struck. They landed on a ledge about 30 feet below. Using a vine, I climbed down to help him but the ledge gave way. I was able to save your son. Ty fell to the rocks below."
"What earthquake are you talking about boy. There was no earthquake," he growled at Hercules, suspecting the boy was lying to him.
/'Maybe he is', the voice in Skouros' head said. 'Being part god and all, can you really trust him? Look at your son's knuckles. Hmmm, bruised and bleeding. More likely he was in another fight. Come to think of it, Hercules has a few scratches on him too. Maybe he had the audacity to beat Iolaus up and then bring him back here.'/
"More than likely the foolish boy got hurt doing something dumb and you are trying to protect him with that cock-and-bull earthquake story. Bring him into the house, boy and I'll have no more of your stories.
"Hercules. My name is Hercules."
Skouros turned his back ignoring Hercules' comment on his name.
Hercules looked to Eryetheia for support. She would not meet his eyes but indicated he should proceed her into the house. Hercules carried Iolaus into the modest cabin and Eryetheia pointed to a bed in one of the tiny rooms. Hercules gently laid his precious bundle on the clean sheets.
"I think he needs a healer," Hercules said addressing Eryetheia. "His shoulder is hurt and he hit his head pretty hard, too."
"I have helped dozens of injured men on the battlefield. I don't need a healer," Skouros announced his he strode into the room. He went over to the unconscious form of his son and began to roughly examine him. Hercules could have sworn Iolaus winced, though he was not yet awake.
"His shoulder is dislocated. Easy to fix. You, boy, hold him like this."
Hercules bristled but did as told. As he held his friend he thought he noticed his eyelids fluttering. "General, I think Iolaus is coming around."
Iolaus eyes fluttered open and his dazed blue orbs stared up at Hercules. "What-," he started groggily as his father jerked his shoulder back into position. Iolaus let out a blood-curdling scream and fainted again.
Skouros showed no reaction to his son's bone-chilling shriek other than to examine his work and say "Humph that should do it. Eryetheia, wrap it with a bandage to keep it immobile."
Hercules wanted to hit the uncaring man but he controlled his anger. "What about the injury to his head?" he said in an as even tone as he could muster.
Skouros grunted and peered under each one of Iolaus' eyelids. "He'll be fine," the General pronounced as he turned on his heels and started to leave the room. He halted and looked as his wife. "Get some bandages and bind that arm," he ordered. "And wipe those tears from your eyes. No wonder the boy is such a crybaby," he said in disgust as he exited the room.
Eryetheia wiped her tears on her apron and walked to her son's side. She tenderly laid a hand on the boy's fevered brow. She looked at him with such compassion and pity in her eyes. Hercules stood quietly, observing her.
"Thank you for bringing my son safely home. And Ty-," she asked hesitantly.
Hercules sighed. "She is dead. It is going to break his heart you know."
Eryetheia nodded her head mutely in agreement.
"I'm going to go get Ty's remains and bring them back to my barn. That way when Iolaus is feeling better, we can give her a proper burial. He would want that I know," if, Hercules added to himself, he ever speaks to me again. Eryetheia smiled gratefully at Hercules. "Thank you," she whispered again. "For everything. I think you'd better go now and let Iolaus rest," she said with a fearful glance in her husband's direction.
Hercules agreed. He didn't want to leave his best friend's side but he knew Skouros wanted him gone. Skouros did not even acknowledge his presence as he left the house.
As Hercules walked down the road he mused to himself. 'Iolaus, you were right about your father. If he cares for you he has a funny way of showing it. But your mother, oh my friend you are wrong there. She loves you very much. I could see that in her eyes. But she is scared of your father and I can't say I blame her.'
He struggled to break free but he couldn't. Was he in water? He desperately tried to force himself--- upwards? A great sense of urgency lay upon him; he didn't know why but he knew he had to find a way out of this darkness. There. He thought he saw a bit of light in the gloom. He strived to achieve the light. Every time he thought he had made it, he got swept back down. Over and over the struggle went. He shook his--- head? trying to clear the darkness away. Finally, he reached the beacon and hung on for dear life.
He opened his eyes and realized he was lying in a bed, his bed. His head felt funny; it didn't quite hurt, but felt like someone had stuffed his skull full of old rags. Nothing seemed to make sense. He lay still for a moment, simply blinking his eyes. Then, like a flood-swollen river, the dam broke and all the memories of the past day swept down the channel to swamp his befuddled brain. The rags were washed away and replaced by a relentless throbbing. He tried to sit upright in the bed but an agonizing pain in his shoulder forced him back down; a scream escaping from his parched lips.
She was gone. Dead. Forcing himself to ignore the pain, he struggled to sit up again. He scanned the floor along side his bed. It was empty. No dark, amber eyes stared lovingly up at him. He involuntarily moaned as the pain in his head traveled to his heart.
Eryetheia rushed into the room when she heard her son scream. His pain-clouded eyes wildly sought hers, begging her to say it wasn't true, that it was all a nightmare; that Ty was still alive. It only took him a second to realize that her eyes confirmed his worse fears. With another moan he sunk back to the bed, lapsing into a comatose state. He could see and hear what was going on around him, but chose not to partake in it. He just wanted to lie here, alone, in his misery.
Eryetheia fussed about him, straightening the covers and tucking them up under his chin. Her hand brushed the sweat dampened blond curls back from his hot forehead. Iolaus dimly registered a dark shadow in the doorway. Maybe it is Hades, come to take me, his fevered brain thought.
Skouros glared down at his son, a scowl permanently embedded on his face. /Ever the weakling, his companion voice said./ Skouros' scowl deepened. He looked at his wife fussing about the boy.
"That does him no good," he told her harshly. He walked to the bed and felt his son's feverish brow. "He has a fever. Bathe him with a cool rag if you wish, or simply let it run its course. The boy will survive." He turned to leave the room, then hesitated.
"I told you that keeping that stupid mutt was a bad idea. I should have killed it the day it followed me home. Nothing good came out of it and now the boy will be laid up and unable to do his chores." Skouros shook his head in disgust. He muttered, mainly to himself but certainly loud enough for the others to hear as he left the room. "A runt, a girl and then the son I finally want taken from me before he can grow into a man. I have fought hard and well for the Gods all these years. Have they abandoned me? Why do they deliver these curses on me!?" He had had enough of family life. It was not for him. He was going back to the army, where he belonged.
Eryetheia hung her head at her husband's sharp words. A single tear escaped from Iolaus' eye and ran down his cheek. He, too, had heard his father's words.
/Ares laughed. Oh Skouros. If you only realized how much attention from the Gods you have had my friend./
Two days later, Iolaus, much to his mother's dismay was up and out of his sick bed. Skouros had left to rejoin the army and Eryetheia for one, was not sorry to see him go.
She watched as her son struggled to dress himself. She had pleaded with him to rest but he ignored her. In fact, since Ty's death he had barely spoken to her. He climbed unsteadily to his feet and limped towards the front door.
"Please Iolaus. Where are you going? Go back to bed. You still have a fever. You are not fit to be wandering around," she pleaded.
Iolaus stopped and reached a hand out to steady himself against the door jam. He turned and looked at her with his haunted eyes. "I am going to get Ty. She needs to be properly," he swallowed the acid bile that rose in the back of his throat, "buried." He turned his back on his mother and continued out the door.
"Wait," Eryetheia said urgently as she hurried out the door after him. "Hercules already brought her--- body back. She is in his barn. He said he would help you give her a proper--- send off when you are well. But you are not well enough yet, son."
She saw his shoulders cringe in pain, when she mentioned Hercules name. Iolaus let out a deep breath and continued walking. Eryetheia moved in front of him so as to block his way. "I told you Ty is," she struggled for a word, "safe. You can take care of her in a few days when you are= stronger."
Iolaus stared up at her. She mentally cringed at the empty look in his blue eyes; as if someone had removed his very soul and left nothing but an empty husk behind. Gone was the spark of life that had made her son what he was. She involuntarily shivered as she gazed upon him.
Iolaus looked straight ahead and said in a voice totally devoid of emotion, "Then I will go to Hercules' house and take care--- do what--- see--- she gets the proper burial that she deserves. Get out of my way."
"Son---"
"Don't call me that," Iolaus growled at his mother. "You knew. You knew all along that Dad did not bring Ty home as a present for me. Yet you didn't tell me. You let me believe that Father was changing, coming to like me. Well, I have always hated him and as for you I--- I--- just leave me ALONE!"
With that the boy started off across the meadow. Eryetheia didn't bother trying to stop him again. She knew she would not be able to. Why? Why did the Gods seem to pick on her son so? What had he ever done to them?
/Ares chuckled to himself. He didn't normally like to watch these pathetic emotional scenes between mortals. But this one held his interest because he hoped it was the beginning of the end of Hercules' and Iolaus' relationship. And to answer Eryetheia, what was Iolaus' crime? Simple. The little blonde mortal had the tenacity to love his half-brother Hercules. Well, that was about to change--- forever--- Ares fervently= hoped./
Alcmene thought she heard a noise and she looked up from her weeding in the garden. There it was again. It sounded like it was coming from the barn. She thought it sounded like someone--- sobbing? But why would someone be sobbing in her barn unless--- oh no---, not so soon. Could it be him already? It had only been two days and from what Hercules had told her, she didn't see how the child could possibly be up and about. Then she realized whom she was dealing with. Yes, if anyone could be up---.
Two days ago, Hercules had sadly brought Ty's body home wrapped in a blanket. He had taken the dog to the barn and gently placed her inert form on a bale of hay. She could rest comfortably there until Iolaus was well enough to bury her. Hercules could have buried the dog by himself, but he knew that if the roles had been reversed, he would want to be there to bury his own dog. Hercules had latched the barn door so no stray animal would disturb Ty's final rest.
Hercules had dragged himself into the house. Alcmene had no idea what had transpired and was curious about the bundle she had seen her son carry so carefully into the barn. Her instincts, sharp as ever, told her to wait for Hercules to broach the subject. So when her tired, emotionally battered son came into the kitchen, she simply gave him a hug and asked him if he wanted something to eat.
Hercules sank onto one of the chairs by the kitchen table and rested his head on his hands. Alcmene waited, puttering about the kitchen until he was ready to speak.
"She's dead," Hercules said in a pain filled voice.
Alcmene immediately moved to his side, drawing up another chair.
"She is dead and I couldn't stop it and now Iolaus hates me. I don't blame him. I am supposed to be a half-God and I couldn't stop it." Tears of frustration welled up in Hercules' blue eyes.
Alcmene gently covered her son's hand with her own. "Perhaps you should start at the beginning and tell me the whole story," she gently prodded.
Hercules, staring at the tabletop, related the events of the day. Finally, as he neared the end of the tale of woe, he raised his tear-rimmed eyes to meet those of his mother. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe if I hadn't spent all that time arguing and just rescued Ty first as Iolaus wanted this would not have happened."
"And maybe if you had gotten there sooner you could have stopped them from falling over the edge in the first place. Or if you had found the vine quicker. Or if you weighed less maybe the ledge would not have given way. Perhaps you should stop eating? Better yet, maybe you should have never been friends with Iolaus in the first place. After all he does cause you a lot of problems," Alcmene stated as if arguing a case in court of law.
Hercules eyes opened wide in shock at what his mother was suggesting. "Mother! How can you say such things? I tried--- tried my best to help them. I did what I thought was right! Iolaus is my best friend. He is the best friend a guy could ever ask for. Maybe he gets in a little trouble but I don't care. I like him just the way he is. It is stupid to say we should never have become friends. I would do anything for him and he for me."
"So what you are telling me is you believe in your heart you did all you could, correct?"
Hercules looked at his mother, realizing he had been trapped.
"You had a hard decision to make, son, but you made the right one. And being a half-god has nothing to do with it. Hercules, the sooner you learn that you will not always be able to save everyone and everything just because your father was Zeus, the better off your heart will be. Yes, you are special and the Gods have given you more strength then most mortals, but it still doesn't mean you will always win. Life isn't like that. You must use your heart and brain as much as your brawn to solve problems and that is what you did today. You listened to your heart and your brain, which told you to save Iolaus first. And you were right in your actions."
"But Iolaus hates me. He told me so," Hercules whispered, his head bowed in grief.
Alcmene reached over and forced her son to look at her. "Hercules, he was upset. Very upset. He didn't mean what he said. Give him time to get over his grief and you will see. He will come back to your side."
Hercules searched his mother's eyes, looking for and finding the conviction of her words in them. He tentatively smiled at her.
She got up and wrapped her arms around him. "I am glad the Gods gave you a heart as strong as your strength." She held him at arms length and looked at him. "Hercules, it is not going to be easy, but Iolaus is going to need you, now more than he ever has needed you before. He loved Ty very, very much and he is going to need your support to get through this. Remember son, he is hurting, and he may say things that he doesn't mean. But give him time; just be there for him. That is what he is going to need from his best friend."
Hercules nodded his head. How did his Mother get to be so smart? He could certainly understand why the King of the Gods had come to his mother. She was a Goddess herself in her own right.
The sounds of the sobbing brought Alcmene's thoughts back to the present. She laid down her gardening tools and brushed the dirt from her hands. Standing, she took a deep breath and headed for the barn. It was now time to see if she could help the son of her heart.
Iolaus hadn't meant to cry but when he had drawn back the blanket to reveal the stiffened form of his beloved pet, he could not help himself. Deep sobs of sorrow ripped from his tortured soul. He stood there, stroking her lifeless body as the tears coursed down his face.
Alcmene hesitated in the door of the barn, unsure if she should intrude on his grief. She had known Iolaus for many years, watching him as he grew. She often felt she knew as much about this boy as she did her own son.
She knew how he felt about his father; that he wanted the man's respect but never got it. And for as many times as his father had beaten him down, the boy still held on to the hope that someday he would make his father proud of him.
She knew the boy was sharp of mind, though often he simply chose the easier path because it was convenient.
He had a lot of pride, and this often got him into situations that could have been avoided. But the fact that Iolaus always felt he had to prove himself was a direct offshoot from the relationship with his father. Perhaps she couldn't blame the child for his actions.
A more loyal and true soul you could not ask for. If he felt an injustice was being dealt, he would fight with every part of his being to right that wrong.
He took life as it came, seemingly happy and carefree. Yet under it all, beat the heart of a gentle man; a heart that when touched, could feel as much compassion and sorrow as any man. She knew his heart was made of gold, but he protected it with battlements that were as thick and strong as the best fortified castle walls. She wondered if she could breech those walls now and help ease his suffering.
"Iolaus," she said gently.
He flung the blanket back over Ty's remains and moved across the barn, away from her. He kept his back to Alcmene and she could see his good hand trying to wipe away the evidence of his tears.
"It is all right to cry you know," she said as she moved further into the barn towards the small boy.
"Warrior's don't cry," he stated flatly.
She walked over, placed her hand on his good shoulder and gently forced him to turn around and face her. She knelt on the straw in front of him. "Yes they do, when one of their best friends dies. Don't ever let anyone tell you different. Crying is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of compassion and compassion is what makes us human."
She scanned his eyes to see if she had gotten through to him. He stared back at her, biting his lower lip, wanting to believe what she said, wanting so badly to believe. Finally, he gave in, rushed into her arms and start sobbing again. She stroked his blonde head, and let him cry.
When he was ready, he pulled back from her and like a cautious, wild animal, looked at her face again to see if there was any sign of disgust there for his behavior. He only saw love. She reached over and brushed an errant curl off his forehead. He gave her a tentative smile that almost reached his eyes.
Alcmene rose and walked over to a nearby hay bale. She sat down and motioned for him to join her. They sat in silence for awhile, her eyes resting on him, his eyes resting on the blanketed bundle across the barn. Knowing that the tears were only the first part of healing, Alcmene mentally took a deep breath and nudged Iolaus towards the next stage.
"Hercules brought Ty here," she said lightly. "He decided it would be best to wait until you got better to bury her. He thought you might like to be there."
Iolaus leapt like a tightly coiled spring from the hay bale, wincing as he jarred his injuries. "He shouldn't have even thought of burying her. She was mine. I have to be the one who takes care of her. It was bad enough I could not retrieve her from the river myself. I don't want his help anymore. He could have helped to keep her alive but he choose not to and I hate him--- I hate him."
Suddenly, Iolaus remembered whom he was speaking to and he slowly turned around expecting to see reproach in the eyes of the woman whose son he just misaligned. He blinked in surprise when he only saw compassion and understanding, not the hate or pity he expected to see.
"Do you really believe what you just said Iolaus?" she asked gently. "In your heart?"
Iolaus sank to the floor, his back resting against the hay bale that was holding his beloved pet. He pulled his knees up tight to his body, wincing again as his injured shoulder got jarred.
"Did perhaps, Hercules have no choice? If he had saved her first, what would have happened to you, his best friend?"
Iolaus scowled at her. "Well, of course you are going to defend him. Choose him over me. He is your son." He regretted the minute the words left his mouth and he looked ashamedly at the floor.
He was surprised to hear Alcmene laugh. "Iolaus, you know me better than that. I do not think my son is a saint any more than I think you are. And I certainly do not automatically 'choose him over you'. I seem to recall many arguments I have settled for the two of you, with you winning as often as he."
Iolaus couldn't help himself. "Well, I still think I should have gotten that last piece of pie the other week. After all, Hercules is already big. I need to eat more if I am to have any hopes of catching up."
Alcmene smiled in return. It was a good sign that boy was able to make a small joke.
Iolaus smiled, then the seriousness of the situation came back to him and he frowned. "But I still think Hercules could have saved us both. He is a half-god after all."
"Yes, he is a half-god, but he is half human too. He is not all-powerful. You more than anyone knows he has his human frailties like the rest of us. He could not save both of you and he made the choice to save you and I, for one, am glad he did. I would be heart-broken if something happened to you, son of my choice. You may not be a son of my loins, but your are a son of my heart and I love you."
Iolaus looked up from the floor and met her loved filled eyes. She had called him son; said she loved him. He looked at her with awe. No one had ever said that to him before.
But he couldn't deal with the emotions that her statement of love brought right now. Ty's death was still too new and was burdening his already confused soul. He filed what she said away, to examine and understand at a later date. A slight smile on his face was the only acknowledgement he gave to her proclamation of love. Alcmene gave a slight nod back in confirmation. He had heard and she knew one day he would deal with what she had told him, when the time was right.
"Look deep down in your heart Iolaus. Do you really hate Hercules?"
Iolaus let the tears flow down his face again. No. He didn't hate Hercules. He was his best friend and he had honestly done what he felt was best. Had the situation been reversed, Iolaus would have made the same choice that Hercules had. It just hurt so to lose Ty though-
"No, I don't hate him," he whispered slowly.
Alcmene sighed in relief. She had managed to scale those walls and reach his heart. Now it was time to force him further down the path of grieving.
"You must remember all the good times you and Ty had and not let the sadness of her death over shadow the pleasant memories."
"I wish I'd never met her. I wish she had never come into my life. Do you know she wasn't even a gift from my father? She just followed him home and he decide to pass her off as a great gift from him," Iolaus spat. "And my mother knew, and never said anything."
Alcmene chose to ignore the part about his father and mother. There was nothing she could do to help that situation. But she could address the other part of his anger.
"Iolaus. You are not really sorry you met Ty."
"If I never met her, I wouldn't be hurting now," he said defiantly.
Alcmene moved over and knelt by him in the straw again. She cupped his chin and looked deep into his eyes. "It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all." She saw the defiance drain from his eyes.
"You have to let people love you and love them back, Iolaus. It is part of life and one of the best parts. To deny yourself love is to deny yourself happiness. And yes, with love comes sorrow, but trust me, it is worth it in the end." She leaned over and kissed him gently on his warm forehead. "Think about what I have said and you will see."
With that, she stood up and brushed the straw from her dress. "When you are done here, come up to the house for something to eat. By the way, you still have a fever you know. You really should be home in bed resting."
"I won't go back there," Iolaus said forcedly. "Not yet."
"Fine, then come up to the house and I'll make you an herbal infusion to bring the fever down. You can rest at my house for a couple of days if you like. I'll send Hercules to let your mother know where you are."
"Don't bother," he laughed bitterly. "She won't care."
Alcmene sighed. She could patch up the relationship between Iolaus and Hercules but she knew the one between Iolaus and his family was out of her hands.
Good to her word, Alcmene sent Hercules over to Eryetheia's to tell her that Iolaus was safe.
Alcmene made Iolaus go straight to bed when he came up from the barn, on the promise they would take care of Ty's burial first thing in the morning. She made him a vile tasting concoction and made sure he drank every last drop of it. She watched as the physically and emotionally wrought child fell back into the pillows and was instantly asleep.
She checked on him throughout the night, watching as he twisted and turned in his fever induced dreams. With Hercules help, she bathed the small boy with cool clothes to lower his body temperature.
By the next morning, the child's fever had started to abate, but it was by no means gone. However, she had made a promise and under grey-leaden skies, the three of them buried Ty in the corner of Alcmene's garden. No marker was put in place, but rather, on Iolaus' request, they planted a rose bush on her gravesite.
When all was done, Hercules helped his exhausted friend back to the house. Alcmene lagged behind and watched as the two boys wound their way up the path. The scene at the gravesite had reminded her of another scene, from the past at a gravesite, that had involved she and Iolaus. Only he would not remember it, for it was still in his future. Watching the two boys lean on each other for support made her heart glad. She knew the special relationship these boys would have as they grew with one heart and one soul.
Hercules helped his ailing friend back to his bed. The smaller boy's face was ashen by the time they reached the house. It was only his stubborn nature that stopped Iolaus from letting Hercules carry him.
"Get some rest. I'll see you later," Hercules said as he turned to leave.
"No Herc. Wait. Please."
Hercules stopped.
"Hercules, I'm--- I'm--- sorry for what I said to you at the cliff. I don't hate you. I could never hate you. If anyone has the right to hate someone it is you, to hate me, for the way I acted," Iolaus said in a voice wrought with remorse. He swallowed painfully and stared at the floor, waiting for Hercules to brush aside his pitiful excuse for an apology. He had no right to expect Hercules' forgiveness after what he had said.
Hercules let out a strangled cry and rushed to his friend's side. He got down on his knees forcing his friend to look at him.
"Iolaus. I could no more hate you than you hate me. You are my best friend, no more than that, you are my brother. Maybe we don't come from the same parents, but you are as much, if not more a brother to me then any of my blood brothers. You were upset, and we all say things we don't mean when we are upset. If you feel you need to hear me save I forgive you than fine, Iolaus I forgive you. But you have no reason to apologize in the first place."
Hercules reached out his hand and offered it to Iolaus. "Brothers?"
Iolaus reached out and completed the warrior handshake. "Brothers, fighting back to back."
"Fighting back to back forever," Hercules amended.
The End
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