Xena Fan Fiction ❯ The Amazion Gift ❯ The other 3 days ( Chapter 11 )

Hi again. I'm working on 3 other fics at the moment and I had severe writer's block on what to do next. I'm working on a Labyrinth fic (First chapter out on the weekend) a pre-quell, but can also be a stand alone to this fic. And a prison break spoof (First chapter is on fanfiction .net)

 

I have just read over the story on Adultfanfiction. Net and I desperately need a beta. (Even though I proof read 5 or 6 times) I'm not sure how the process works so somebody would have to explain to me.

 

Pairing: Hercules/Iolaus at the start. Could end either Herc/Iolaus or Ares/Iolaus. (The votes are 5-1 for a couple so far.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Hercules: TLJ. Nor do I make any money of this fic.

Rating: NC-17.

Beta: Myself, but I'm looking for one. If anyone is interested let me know.

Warnings: Mpreg, Violence, Slash, Gore, and Lemons.

 

A/N: Isn't `As the world falls down' by David Bowie in `Labyrinth' the most beautiful song you would ever hear? www.youtube. com/watch? v=Yt2zoY45508

 

Also, Marga's dead :p Its Varia that's the queen. As by the episode `Dangerous prey' in Xena. (I should do more research. I know more about Hercules' verse than Xena's.)

 

**

 

_____Three day's earlier_____ Xena and Gabrielle _____

 

Gabrielle sat cross-legged on a small grassy mound in a huff, she looked down at a bandage wrapped around her left thigh. Her head was resting on her hands and she turned to watch Xena standing waist deep in a tributary that was connected to the Axius River. In just a few more days they reach Varia's village. The warrior princess had insisted they collected some fish for the next two-day journey. Their rest last night had been bliss and much needed, but Xena had woken up and promptly began the worlds biggest bitch-fit.

 

They had overslept for more than two hours than Xena would have liked. Xena had roughly shaken her awake and had ordered her to pack their belongings. Now Gabrielle would have normally retorted with `I'm not your slave' or `pack your own flea ridden bed', but Xena had began to mumble angrily while sharpening her sword. Not the best time to pick a fight.

 

After Xena's sword was sufficiently limb slicing sharp, they had set out once again. After a few more hours of no breaks, blistering feet, and `by the gods' the heat. They heared the most wonderful sound ever, the sound of rushing water. Gabrielle had let out a rather high-pitched squeal of joy, dropped their gear and dashed towards the sound. She had ignored Xena's orders to come back.

 

There it had been in all its glory. The invitingly cold river. The current didn't look strong so Gabrielle pulled of her boots, shucked her Sais to the side and dived in. Luckily it was about 1.5 meters deep so she didn't hit her head. She blindly crawled along the river floor feeling the rocks and moss and allowed the weak current to push her a few meters. When she felt her chest begin to tighten through lack of air, she pushed herself up and her head broke the surface. She heared someone clearing her throat and Gabrielle looked to see Xena standing next to the brook with her hands on her hips.

 

“What? I was feeling grimy after three days.” She was softly kicking her legs to stay afloat.

 

Xena nodded and sat down, she took of her own boots and placed her feet in the water, she released a silent sigh and wiggled her toes, the cold water feeling divine on her overheated feet.

 

“Ah Xena stop.” Gabrielle screamed and made a break to get out of the water.

 

“What?” Xena asked, quite obviously bemused. She pulled her feet out of the water and drew her sword, assuming Gabrielle was being attacked from the depths.

 

Gabrielle clamoured out of the water, shook her body like a dog, sending droplets Xena way. Then sat next to Xena on the grassy bank, she crossed her legs and began to wring her shoulder length hair. “You bath even less than me. Your feet probably infected the water.” She couldn't help holding back the smile that kept creeping onto her face.

 

Xena rolled her eyes, she tossed her sword to the side and sat back down and expertly kicked some water upward towards her partner. Gabrielle shrieked and rolled backwards to dodge the attack, only to roll onto one of the tips of her Sais. “AHH OW.” Gabrielle looked down at the metal fork; the middle tip was embedded half an inch in her left thigh. “Xena!” She cried out in both pain and fear. Xena expecting the worst, jumped up and ran over to her blonde friend, who was crumpled in a heap, holding the handle of the Sais, not sure what to do.

 

“You're an idiot Gabrielle. Don't pull it out.” Xena went to retrieve her friend's medicine pack, the ground squelching underneath her soaked feet. It was to hot for her friend's clumsiness and Xena was in no mood, but it could've been worse. `Joxer could be here. No, I'd probably have strung him from a tree by now.' Now Gabrielle will probably have to ride Argo, she hated people other than herself riding her faithful horse. A memory of Argo abandoning her for apples suddenly appeared in her head. `Oh yeah. Well Gabrielle can ride her then.'

 

She walked back over to Gabrielle, who was now mumbling in pain and sat down next to her. She cleaned the wound and gently took out the small metal pike. She heared her friend hiss in pain. Xena looked to see crystalline tears flowing down Gabrielle's pale cheeks. “You have survived beatings, arrows, getting thrown of high places, attacked by monsters, being poisoned, and you cry over this.”

 

“It really stings.” The bard gasped. Xena cleaned the wound and bandaged it up.

 

“You should rest. But I'm letting you ride Argo for the rest of the journey.”

 

Gabrielle miserably nodded in reply. `Hay! At least you don't have to walk now.' Her inner voice cheered. `Yeah, I know, but I'm going to feel guilty now. Xena's going to be worried about me. Sure…of course she is. Well right now she is fishing.' Gabrielle finished her little talk with the voice in her head and looked up. Xena was now waist deep, concentrating, with her hands poised and ready to pounce at any suspecting eels, perch, or shads that mistakenly come her way.

 

Gabrielle manoeuvred herself to the edge and began sulking; she knew when Xena got in the mood she could fish for hours, she hoped this wasn't one of those times. “If you even dare even think about throwing a fish at me I'll put hemlock in your next meal.”

 

Xena didn't even glance at her sulking blond friend, but she did smile to herself.

 

A half hour later and Xena had a small but sufficient pile of perch, a few bass and two or three trout's. She wadded through the slight current and jumped out of the river. While looking through her catch of the afternoon she glanced at Gabrielle and slowly shook her head.

 

The bard, turned amazon, turned warrior was sitting in the lotus position, her head raised towards the sun. “Gabrielle! Help me sort these fish.” The blond didn't move. “Gabrielle!” Still no movement.

 

Xena rolled her eyes; she began sorting through the fish herself, throwing the ones to small back into the river. She came across a rather slimy looking eel at the bottom of the pile `I don't remember catching this. Maybe it's a sign.' Xena took the two foot long fish in her hands. `Yep defiantly slimy. This will show you what happens when you ignore me Gabrielle.'

 

Gabrielle smiled to herself, the sun felt wonderful on her face and she wondered if she had dozed of for a minute or so. She sighed happily, for just a moment all her worries had left. Suddenly something slightly heavy landed on her ruby coloured skirt with a wet swollop; she felt droplets of something cold and gooey land on her chest, neck, face, midriff and knees. She cringed and prayed to the gods it wasn't what she thought it was. She reluctantly peeked an eye open and looked down. A small glassy eye looked back up at her. Her breath hitched.

 

They stared each other down. Finally, the eel, which was unfortunately still very much alive, started flapping around in panic. Gabrielle's stretched skirt acted like a trampoline and it started bouncing, spattering more slime onto her clothes and body. Gabrielle screamed and stumbled to her feet, her injured leg forgotten. The eel was flung onto the grass but it didn't stop its twisting.

 

Xena couldn't help laughing at the sight and was rewarded with Gabrielle glaring at her. “XENA! Hercules and Iolaus are in peril and you act immature. It's nice to see you are taking their disappearance seriously.” The blond rummaged through her pack for a cloth and limped over to the river.

 

Xena stopped laughing. It was true, but she needed a laugh. Xena had spent the past few weeks in a constant depressed state, snapping at everyone and getting on Gabrielle's nerves. She desperately needed the outlet. It helped her forget the worry about Hercules and Iolaus' safety and the constant pain of being parted with Eve for so long, if it was only for thirty seconds. Xena placed her mask on again and put the fish in a small ration basket, she hoped the sun wouldn't spoil them.

 

After Gabrielle had cleaned the slime from her skin and most of her clothes, Xena had helped her onto Argo and they had set off again.

 

“At the next town I want to send a letter to Joxer. If he knows whats good for him he will still be in Thessaly.”

 

By nightfall they reached a thick outskirts of a forest, Xena didn't need her cloak during the night as there was a laying dead heat, kept in from the covering tree-tops and luckily they were only stopped thrice by bandits, but each group were hastily dispatched and sent running. Xena and Gabrielle barely talked through the night, and they only stopped once so Xena could cook a few fish. By daybreak they reached the other side, clear baby blue skies greeting them, and the sun was already sending its warm rays down. It seemed Apollo was punishing/rewarding Greece with another hot day. Xena cursed him under her breath.

 

The sun was at its fullest and Gabrielle sat still perched on Argo, munching away on some fried bass on a large leaf. She groaned and rubbed the cramp that began to set into her left thigh. “Xena, can we rest a minute? I have a cramp.”

 

Xena didn't slow her pace from in front of them as she answered. “I'm sorry Gabrielle, you are just going to have to live with it. I want to make Neapolitis by nightfall. They have an excellent messenger service. They promise five-day delivery or your money back to anywhere in Greece.” Gabrielle wrapped the bones in the leaf and tossed them aside. “I don't want Eve to think I abandoned her.”

 

“Xena, shes not even one yet. They don't remember these things.”

 

They were keeping schedule, and by the evening they entered Amphipolis. Xena had decided to visit her mother, Cyrene in her tavern. Cyrene had been delighted to see her daughter again, but was disappointed Xena did not take Eve to meet her grandmother. For once there was no people threatening the city so they restocked their supplies in the market and set off again.

 

“Come back anytime. I want to meet my granddaughter. Perhaps next time you can leave her with me when you set off on your dangerous journeys.” She said while grasping Xena in a tight hug.

 

“I will mother.”

 

Cyrene gave Gabrielle a hug aswell. “Your always welcome here Gabrielle.”

 

“Thank you Cyrene.”

 

Xena helped Gabrielle onto Argo again. “I will come here on my way back.” Cyrene waved a tearful goodbye as her daughter walked away yet again into the unknown.

 

They did make it to Neapolitis by nightfall and Xena was more then happy to see the messenger offices still open. She wrote her letter, gave the man behind the counter fifteen dinars and they left.

 

Finally, after another day of walking in the blistering heat, Xena led Argo through the dense amazon forest. Xena kept her senses sharpened. And sure enough, it didn't take long for Xena to hear someone in the treetops above, following their every move. Careful not to show her watcher knew that Xena knew about her, the warrior princess began talking away to Gabrielle. Gabrielle, who had not coped on yet happily talked back to her unusually talkative partner. Xena gently slid one hand to rest over her chakram. Xena's eyes closed when she heared an arrow being drawn and poised.

 

The arrow was let loose and Xena blindly and quickly judged the distance. She unhooked her chakram and threw it against a tree. It sparked as it ricocheted and just before the arrow-tip entered Gabrielle's right shoulder Xena's chakram intercepted and cut it in two. The pieces fell to the ferny floor silently. Gabrielle shrieked and began looking in all directions. “What was that!”

 

Xena had no time to answer as a loud whoosh signalled the attacker descending from the trees. Xena spun around and deflected a kick aimed at her stomach. She couldn't see her attackers face as it was covered behind a hawk mask. Although, once the amazon attacking Xena seen the warrior's face she backed off and lifted her mask.

 

“Varia?” Xena asked.

 

The black haired amazon smiled back at her. “Yeah, that's me.” Xena smiled and they pulled each other into a hug. Varia looked up at the stunned Gabrielle. “Hi.”

 

“Um…Hello.”

 

Xena stopped smiling and looked at her friend. “Your tribe has never been a shoot first and ask questions later type. Whats with that?”

 

Varia sighed. “Things have changed Xena. We are at war.” Valasca sat on a boulder and motioned for Xena to the same on the one across from her. Gabrielle guided Argo over to be closer to them.

 

“There is a small tribe a day's travel North, called Kalos. Their queen Valasca was Marga's cousin. Forty years ago when Marga's mother, Cynara, was queen, she only ruled for a few months before her sister, Damia, murdered her. Damia didn't like the way Cynara ruled. Damia wanted to continue to worship Hera, while Cynara wanted to change to Hestia. Our tribe broke and thirty or so amazons went North with Damia-”

 

“Now Valasca wants to reclaim your land.” Xena interjected.

 

Varia nodded. “That's not all Xena. They declared war a day ago. Most of my tribe has gone to attack them. I am staying here because…well.” Varia, who been wearing a brown robe until now, opened it to reveal an extended stomach. “I'm with child.” She said solemnly.

 

Gabrielle smiled and swung her leg over Argo and jumped down. She limped over to Varia and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Having a child is a wonderful thing, there's no reason to sound upset.”

 

Varia laid her hand over Gabrielle's. “Not when it stops you from protecting your tribe. My general, Ursa ordered me to be on lookout. Image that. Ordering her queen.”

 

“Who's the father?” Xena asked.

 

“A man from a village on the outskirts. He doesn't know I'm an amazon. Anyway, what are you two doing here?”

 

Xena stood up. “We are here looking for two men. They were taken from Corinth one month ago. All the clues so far have led to believe its Amazons.”

 

Varia looked outraged as she pushed herself off the boulder. “And you are blaming us? There are twelve other Amazon tribes and maybe seven rogue tribes. What makes us the first suspects?”

 

Gabrielle took a step back when it looked like Varia was reaching for her sword. “Stop Varia!” Xena ordered. “The clues pointed North. The lack of tracks led me to think of amazons. We came here to know if you knew anything. Not to blame you.”

 

“Oh.” Varia let her hand's rest over her bump. “You say two men?” Xena nodded. “There have been rumours that Kalos has a king.” Xena looked doubtful. “I know, that's why they're called rumours Xena. Perhaps you should try there.”

 

“Thank you Varia. We better go. Oh and congratulations. You will make a wonderful mother.” Xena offered.

 

Varia smiled at the women. “I wish we reunited under better circumstance's. It was a pleasure seeing you both again.” Not sure of outside traditions, and not an affectionate woman by nature, Varia awkwardly hugged them both. “Good-bye.” She turned and expertly began climbing the tall tree behind her. Her pregnant stomach not showing any signs of hindering her.

 

Xena once again helped her blond friend onto Argo's back and they headed North. Xena felt she was getting closer to saving Hercules and Iolaus inside her. She picked up the pace to a near run. Argo having to fast trot after her. Xena wasn't sure if they would be heading into a war zone so a couple of miles from where Varia had told her the village was, she tied Argo in an abandoned shed and broke Gabrielle a staff to use.

 

Gabrielle looked it; it reminded her of her old one she used to use. “Just like old times.”

 

Xena smiled at her and led the way. They weren't as fast as they would have been with Argo but two hours later Xena saw the outline of the village wall. She hushed Gabrielle and stayed alert for any sounds, but there was nothing. No sounds of war cries or the clashing of swords. As they drew closer Xena noticed something. Smoke was rising from the boundaries and flowing into the cloudless sky. Turning the skies above grey and dull.

 

Xena drew her sword and rushed forward. Gabrielle cursed her and tried to hobble at a faster pace after her. Finally, when she entered the village, it was complete ruin that greeted her. The war had obviously come and gone, and had not left any known survivors. Dead bodies of fallen amazons, bent in all directions littered the blood stained earth. Gabrielle held her hand over her mouth in horror. A hut to her right was on fire, as were few others. She saw the temple at the end; smoke was billowing from the open doors.

 

Xena emerged from a hut in front of her. Gabrielle went to her friend, nearly tripping over an upturned cart and strewn baskets of food.

 

“They have been dead for over seven hours.” Xena said while looking around for any signs of life.

 

“I never get used to this sight.” Gabrielle felt tears run down her cheeks. She looked at the body of an amazon with numerous arrows imbedded in her back.

 

They suddenly came alert as they heared a weak cough, what worried them was it sounded male. Xena ran towards the sound. It came from underneath another overturned cart. Xena lifted it to see a man clothed in Corinthian armour, he had an open wound from his shattered armour just under his rip-cage where a gold dagger hilt was sticking out and his body was covered in various other lacerations. Xena quickly kneeled next to him tried to cover the wound with cloth she found by his side.

 

“It's going to be alright now. My name is Xena, whats yours?” She tried to stop the blood flow in his side. Gabrielle saw a barrel of water by and took another cloth and went over to it.

 

“Ahh….Art…axes.” He looked up with unseeing eyes at Xena. He turned his head and violently coughed, blood dribbled down his already crimson chin. Xena wiped it away with a damp cloth Gabrielle handed her.

 

“Did the *cough* king…survive?” His voice sounded gravely and dry. Xena poured some water from a jug into his mouth.

 

“Yes he did. You did your duty.” Xena said kindly. She just prayed they wouldn't find Iphicles' body amidst the destruction.

 

The man started a violent coughing and afterwards, his head flopped to the side, lifeless. Xena checked his pulse, finding none, she closed his eyes and stood back up.

 

“We should search every hut. I'll take this row. If you find anything Gabrielle, call me.” Xena walked away and entered the next hut.

 

Gabrielle searched each hut; it seemed every home had also been ransacked. She came across another Corinth guard, but he wasn't alive. She was reaching one of the last huts. She opened the flap and entered. Once again, one dead amazon and a devastated home. She turned to leave when a girl jumped out behind the bed wielding a sword. She also had cuts and bruises and her long brown hair was in total disarray.

 

“Go away!” She jumped on the bed a waved the sword two times too big for her. Gabrielle took a step back. "Its ok. I'm here to help.”

 

“No you aren't! You want to kill me!” She cautiously took a step towards the blond. It's was when she noticed the girl was clutching something in her hand. It looked like a pendant. It looked like…

 

“Can I see that?” Gabrielle pointed at the hand holding it.

 

“NO!” She clutched it to her chest and tightened her grip. She tried to hold up the sword with one hand but failed, it slipped out of her grasp and landed by her feet. But the girl didn't reach for it. Her other hand came to wrap around the object and she began to cry. Gabrielle took a cautious step forward, but the girl looked up and like a frightened deer, she turned and jumped onto the bed.

 

“It's just I think I know who owns it.” The girl looked up, her bottom lip trembling and her cheeks wet.

 

“Who then?” She gasped out.

 

“His name is Iolaus.” The girl's heart skipped a beat at the name. She opened her hands to let Gabrielle see.

 

`It is his. He was here!' Gabrielle felt a wave of relief and fear sweep over her. “Where is Iolaus?” She said softly.

 

“Bad guy took him.”

 

“Who?”

 

“He had a crown.” `Iphicles has him. Phew.' “Well, I'm Gabrielle. Whats your name?”

 

“Iantha. I was Iolaus' best friend here.”

 

Gabrielle seemed confused for a moment. “Wasn't there another man with Iolaus? A really big guy, and strong to.”

 

Iantha nodded. “That's Hercules. But our queen said he left us three days ago.”

 

“So Hercules is gone?” Iantha nodded. “Which way did the bad guy take Iolaus?”

 

Iantha wiped her eyes and shook her head. “I don't know. My mommy said to stay in here.”

 

“Your mommy?”

 

“Um huh.” Iantha pointed over to the dead amazon body. She was sitting with her back against the wall. Her brown eyes open and her hands folded on her lap. It looked like she was resting, only the sword pinning her to the wall through her stomach gave it away. Gabrielle gulped.

 

“I left this morning. I was walking around and I found Iolaus' necklace by the royal hut.”

 

“Gabrielle? Where are you?”

 

Iantha squeaked and ran behind the bed again. Gabrielle walked over to the flap and opened it. “I'm in here Xena. I've found somebody.” Xena soon entered the hut. She stood behind Gabrielle. “Where?”

 

Gabrielle looked at the bed. “Its ok Iantha, its just Xena. She won't hurt you either.” The girl soon stood up and walked around the bed to look at them. Xena gasped. She had found other small girls who had perished in other huts. She wondered how this girl survived.

 

“She has Iolaus' pendant. They were here. But Hercules left a few days ago and Iphicles took Iolaus away this morning. Show her Iantha.”

 

Iantha opened her hands again to show Xena. But when the warrior reached for it she clutched it and held it to her chest. “I'm looking after it for him.”

 

“Alright, you can keep it for now.” She looked at her blond companion. “We should go then. Iphicles is obviously going heading back to Corinth now.” Xena went to leave the hut but Gabrielle grabbed her arm. She whispered. “What about Iantha? She is the only survivor and has no family. She's a kid Xena.”

 

Xena thought for a minute. “Maybe I should take her to my mothers.”

 

“Oh come on Xena. Cyrene isn't going to believe that's Eve.”

 

“I know that! I'm just saying that my mother could look after her for a while. She won't mind at all.”

 

“Are you two talking about me?”

 

They both looked to see Iantha standing at their feet. She looked annoyed. “If you are I want to know what you are saying.”

 

Xena lowered herself to Iantha's level and looked at her. “You can't stay here. It's too dangerous. So I want to take you to my mother, Cyrene's home in Amphipolis. It's only a day away.”

 

Iantha looked around her broken home. “Ok, but can I get some clothes first.”

 

“Of course you can.” Gabrielle helped Iantha pack the few belongings she owned that were not broken. An hour later Gabrielle swung one sac of clothes over her shoulder while Iantha dragged the other to the entrance. “We have a horse called Argo, she can carry this stuff.”

 

“Ok.” Gabrielle lifted the other bag and took it outside. It was awkward since she had to limp. Iantha took one last look at her home. She walked over and kissed her mother on her forehead. “Bye mommy.” She reached around and unhooked the leather strand that held Anazilea's necklace together. It had a small flat rock hanging from it. An owl etched into the smooth surface. She took one last look at her mother's face and smoothed her curly, sand-coloured hair. She placed Iolaus' pendant over her neck, the rock rested on her stomach and she tied her mother's necklace around her neck. With one last glance she left the hut.

 

Gabrielle was waiting for her outside. She knew Iantha needed privacy to say goodbye. “Xena's getting Argo. She left about a hour ago so she should be here soon.”

 

Sure enough, when they left the boundary they were only waiting five minutes before Xena showed up on Argo. She dismounted and lifted Iantha up. “Wow, shes beautiful.” She said while stroking her silky mane.

 

Xena fastened Iantha luggage onto Argo's rump. She looked at Gabrielle. “We better find Iphicles. I found some tracks leading south; I'm sure there his party. We will follow him. There's no time to bury the dead, I'm sure Varia's tribe will take care of that.”

 

Gabrielle nodded and Xena helped her onto Argo aswell, she sat behind Iantha and took the reigns. “We better get going.”

 

 

 

_____ Three days ago ____ Iphicles and Jason _____

 

 

They trudged through the forest, the sun hot on their backs and everyone parched from the heat. They had a break a few hours before, but it wasn't enough to replenish their strength fully.

 

Iphicles once again took the lead. He was once again feeling confident and Jason had been happy to relinquish control back and seeing the king smile for the first time in weeks. The king eased his steed up a steep ridge and carried on. They kept a good pace and Iphicles was sure they were keeping good time.

 

They had travelled to the Coast City of Stagira, a large city East of Potidaea known for its well-built furnaces. They had talked to many people gathering information. It was in a small tapestry shop that Jason had been asking in that they had received information. The man who owned the shop had said when he was younger he had gone on a hunting trip up North. It was in a dense part of the forest where he had been ambushed by ten attractive amazons (He had gone on to talk about how scantly clothed they were) and how they had shown him no mercy. They stabbed him in the gut and threw him into a nearby river. More commonly known as the Strymon River.

 

The gods had looked after him, and he had helplessly followed the current and was taken out to sea. It was a few hours before a fishing boat came across him. He was also thankful the sharks weren't around.

 

So they were heading towards the mouth of the River and were going to follow it up. When dealing with amazons Iphicles knew they could be mighty warriors. Although he refused to believe they could be nearly as strong as men.

 

It was the next day when they heared the sound of the flowing river. Iphicles ordered his horse to follow the sound. Sure enough, there it was. He stood looking down upon the violent rapids. He stood on a Cliffside looking down into a twenty-foot gorge. The others caught up and they immediately headed North.

 

Jason's horse trotted alongside Iphicles'. “We are getting close then?”

 

“Yeah. I can feel it Jason. My heart has quickened and my mind is uneasy. I am not sure if it is a good sign or a bad one. If it gets dark we shall rest. I am expecting a battle, and I need my warriors at full strength.”

 

“Yes. Amazons are said be brilliant swordswomen.” Jason smiled proudly.

 

“I know you have an Amazon daughter Jason. So I will keep my real opinion's to myself.”

 

“I know what you think of Amazons, Iph. Its what all men who don't know them think. Women can be just as determined as men, if not more.”

 

Iphicles snorted in amusement and looked away. There was the sound of a commotion behind them and the men turned around. Their chaperone was being attacked. Jason and Iphicles hopped of their horses and ran back. Amazons were attacking their warriors.

 

“Cease attack!” Iphicles called out. The soldiers stopped attacking but continued to just parry their opponents. The Amazons became confused and also stopped. They backed off. One of them stepped forward, a tall brunette with grey eyes. She saw Iphicles and walked up to him. His guards went to intercept her but the king held up a hand to stop them. The woman stood in front of him.

 

“I am Ursa. General to Varia's Amazon tribe.” She made a fist and tapped her heart once. “You are invading our territory. State your business.”

 

“I am Iphicles. King of Corinth. This is Jason, captain of the argonauts. These are my men. We mean you or your land no harm. We are just passing through. We are looking for the Amazon tribe who have taken some of our comrades.”

 

“I do hope you are not blaming our tribe.” Ursa said. Iphicles could hear the threat in her voice. “Tell us who your friends are for we do not have any captives in our village.”

 

“The half-god Hercules and Iolaus of Thebes.”

 

Ursa looked stunned for a moment. “There is defiantly no Hercules in our village. But there are rumours of our ex-sister tribe North who have men in their village.”

 

“Do we have permission to continue through your land to reach them.” Iphicles asked. Trying to hide the desperation in his voice.

 

“No. We have declared war on them and we shall be attacking this day. We are at final preparations.” Ursa turned to leave.

 

“We could help.” Jason called out. His answer was rewarded with a chorus of laughter coming from the other Amazons. Ursa walked back up to the king.

 

“We do not need help from men. Your guards could barely hold of our attacks, never mind going into battle against a whole tribe of fully trained Amazons. If you are a good king you will go home and forget about the half-god.”

 

Iphicles resisted the urge to tackle or hit the woman in front of him. He tried to bite his lip to stay silent, but it didn't work. “Hercules is my brother! If one of your sisters were being held in a town past Corinth, I would gladly give you permission to fetch her. I know whats its like to lose family, and I would like to keep him alive. If you do not give me permission, I won't go home, I wouldn't even consider it an option. I will march onwards. And if you try to stop us we will fight back. My brother is taken and I have to get him. And you are all standing in our way. Would you give up on finding your sister, after a month of searching and finally getting closer, stop just because I say you cannot enter my land. No it would not. And it will not stop me. So give me permission or prepare to fight!”

 

Iphicles was answered with eight notched bows aimed at him. But Ursa held ordered them to withdraw. “Fine. You seemed determined, and anger can be one of the best motives to fight. You can fight with us. Surely a man who is good with words can also be good with a sword. But we will not watch you or your people's back. We leave now.”

 

She walked passed the men and the rest followed their general. Jason smiled at Iphicles. “Good job. If it were I, I would have probably frozen in that situation.”

 

“No you wouldn't have.”

 

“Your right.”

 

Iphicles' guards and attendants breathed a sigh of relief and they once again followed the cliff edge after the Amazons.

 

They had headed inwards and after a few hours of walking they had rondez voued with another group of Amazons. After a quick introduction and briefing, around forty Amazons and fifteen men began to make their way to Kalos.

 

They had sneaked attacked from the East, and in a large group the Kalos Amazons had been caught off guard. But being trained fighters they quickly gained their composure and grabbed anything sturdy they could find for weapons.

 

A woman using a spade as a weapon charged for Iphicles, but he quickly parried it with his sword, with her momentary stunned, he stabbed her in her side, she gasped and dropped dead. The sounds of battle invaded the small village and curious inhabitants were drawn towards the sound. Seeing the commotion they quickly joined the fight.

 

A woman brandishing a javelin dodged a swing from a Corinthian claymore and ran up the stage in the middle of the town. She jumped on it and looked around. The chaos was only at the entrance. If she didn't warn everyone they would die, they were outnumbered at the gates already. She picked up an oxen horn from the stage and blew it. The tune of war was heared all over the village. Still not seeing any signs of her queen or guard captain she hollered as loud as she could.

 

“OUTSIDERS”

 

The Amazon gasped as an arrow pierced her heart and she fell from the stage. Gasping her last breath. The huts at the back of the town opened and armoured Amazons appeared with real weapons, they ran towards the fight.

 

Iphicles saw a hut that was bigger than the rest. He thought the queen would probably be cowering in her home. And he needed to find his brother. He ran for the entrance only to have it open in front of his eyes. He lifted his sword. Although it wasn't the queen that emerged. `By the gods.' He recognised the golden mop immediately.

 

“Iolaus?” The king said in disbelief.

 

The blond stopped still. Looking at Iphicles in shock. Iolaus took one look at the fight and pulled Iphicles into the hut. He was still stunned as he looked over Iphicles' armour and stunned face.

 

“Um…Hi Iphicles.”

 

Iphicles suddenly smiled and laughed. He ran forward and grabbed Iolaus by the shoulder blades. He looked him over to make sure the blond was uninjured.

 

“I cannot believe this. After a month of searching you just pop out looking healthy. No rope burns or anything.” He looked around at the lavish home. “If this is yours then they have been treating you well.”

 

“You have no idea. But we will get to that later.”

 

Iolaus grabbed his friend into a tight hug. They quickly let go when the sounds of clashing swords came close to the hut. “We have to get you out of here. Where is Hercules?”

 

Iolaus shook his head. “I don't know. I've been looking for him all morning. I think he escaped in the middle of the night. I better go looking for him.” Iolaus went to the back of the room and grabbed a sword that had been attached to the wall. He judged its weight.

 

Both men looked up in shock as a Valasca entered the hut. She stepped in and held her sword in front of her. Iphicles stepped back to be beside Iolaus. The woman was pointing her sword at Iolaus. Iolaus held his own up.

 

“You have ruined my village!” She seethed at him, baring her teeth. The sword trembled with the force of her anger. She took a step closer. Her sword aimed for Iolaus' neck. “I don't care what Hera has planned for you. The blood of my people is on your hands my king.”

 

Iphicles looked on confused. “My king?” He questioned Iolaus.

 

Iolaus quickly licked his lips and his eyes kept focused on the furious Queen. “Yeah. I'll explain that later.”

 

“That's if you're alive!” Valasca ran for Iolaus. She swung her sword, aiming for Iolaus' neck. But, Iolaus ducked and kicked out at her shins. Valasca screamed in frustration and jumped back a pace.

 

“Where's Hercules?” Iolaus demanded. He still held the weapon before him. Iphicles stepped back against the wall. He knew it was a private battle between the pair.

 

A demented looked came upon the queen's face. He pulled up her sword to be side-ways in front of her face. “I killed him last night.” She said sweetly. “And he didn't even put up a fight.” Iolaus looked at her disbelieving. “You don't believe me. I'm hurt.” She mocked. “His half-divine blood is all over my throne room floor if you don't believe me.”

 

Iolaus charged but Valasca quickly parried, their clashing swords sending sparks over the dusty floor. “You bitch!” Iolaus screamed. Again and again he went for her. Valasca struggled to deflect the blows. Finally she saw an opening, she swung he sword and she sliced Iolaus' chest, it wasn't deep, it probably wouldn't even scar, but it bled. And that was what Valasca wanted, to see the man responsible for the blood of her woman repaid. They didn't notice Iolaus' pendant falling to the ground.

 

“Ow.” Iolaus saw red. The bitch in front of him managed to draw his blood. Before Iolaus could retaliate, a flame stated on the wall behind Iphicles. The dry straw could do nothing to stop the fire and the room began to fill with the fires thick smoke. Valasca saw Iolaus was distracted by the fire and took her chance. She raised her blade above her head and went for him.

 

Iolaus slowly turned around, he knew it was to late to defend himself with his sword, but before he had time to act he saw Iphicles go by him, he own scimitar ready. He charged at her. Valasca's sword swooped down just as Iphicles sword pierced her middle.

 

They shouted in union as their blood spilled on the floor, mixing into each other's. Valasca fell forwards onto her knees, the sword still inside her. She looked down, she knew it had gone through her body. Iolaus had fallen backwards, though luckily he landed on the bed. The new opening down his chest a ever constant flow of blood. He blindly reached to stop the flow. Valasca gurgled up some of her lifeblood and fell on her face. Her head landing beside Iphicles' steel boots.

 

The king ran over to Iolaus. He grabbed some blankets and pushed them onto the wound. Iolaus hollered in pain. The hut was getting really hot from the now intense flames and Iphicles began coughing from the thick smoke. The placed one arm under Iolaus' knees and the other under his neck and lifted him up. He gingerly made his way towards the exit, avoiding the dead queen in the process.

 

He pushed open the leather flap with his back and finally gasped in fresh air. He laid Iolaus by another still standing hut and stood up. He saw his guards finishing of the last of Kalos' amazons. He called one of his guards over to stay with Iolaus He needed to check something first.

 

Iolaus gasped as the soldier began checking his wounds. Thankfully his vision blurred and he mercifully passed out.

 

 

**

 

_____ 3 Day's later ____

 

Iolaus came back to his senses. He first noticed he was lying on a bed, a very soft and warm bed. He opened his eyes. He could see a white marble cline above him. He sat up expecting pain, but when it didn't come he looked down at his chest in curiosity. There wasn't even a bandage and there was no cut and not even a scar on his chest. It was then he noticed his state of nakedness.

 

He looked around the room trying to spot his clothes, but he couldn't see them. It was defiantly a bedroom. The walls were a beautiful shade of amber, as was the carpet. It looked very regal and large. There was a beautifully carved wardrobe and vanity with various items on the table across from him, a door to his left, and a window to his right. Iolaus sat up fully and looked out, he could see hills and fields filled with different coloured poppies. The clear skies shone a brilliant shade of light blue.

 

He pulled the azure velvet blanket up to cover his chest for comfort. The bed was queen sized, there were four posts on each side and translucent blue material connected to each other in wavy designs. He sat propped up against ten or so plump white cotton pillows.

 

`I'm pretty sure this isn't Iphicles' castle. It isn't this warm.' Iolaus grew worried and uneasy. He suspected he must've been out longer than he first thought. He sat back against the pillows and covered his face with his hands. He sighed into them. He didn't hear the door opening.

 

“Ah. So you are awake.” Came a warm caring womanly voice.

 

Iolaus shoot up into a sitting position. She was a woman who looked in her forties. The woman had her brunette hair pulled out of her face in a bun. She was wearing a long black gown embodied with small violet peacock feathers. A black corset and cape that trailed softly against the carpet as she walked to the chair next to Iolaus. The aged, but still beautiful face was smiling kindly as she took a seat. She had an onyx headdress and there were two elegant peacock feather's jutting out from the bun in her hair.

 

“You were nearly on Hades' doorstep. But thankfully I got you to Asclepius in time.” She smiled.

 

`No…it can't be.' “Um…Where am I?” Iolaus managed to stutter out.

 

“On Olympus of course.”

 

“Olympus?”

 

The woman nodded.

 

“And this is just a guess, you are Hera, right?” Iolaus wasn't certain. He certainly didn't feel as confident as he hopefully sounded. When she nodded again Iolaus had to strongly resist the urge to faint. He could see the dark light beckoning him closer. He feel back against the pillows and he jumped when a hand touched his forehead.

 

“It's ok. You aren't dead again.”

 

“Why am I here?”

 

“I want to keep you safe. You are my first worshipper who has only prayed to me and has never asked anything in return.”

 

“Wait…prayed?” Visions of knelling next to Hera's shine in Kalos appeared in his head. “Oh yea. But that wasn't me. It was `Kratos'.”

 

“Nether less. I want you to be safe. You aren't leaving Olympus until you are fully healed. My supposed faithful follower Valasca has been feeding you a potion. One that has been slowly killing your body slowly. Unfortunately Asclepius hasn't been able to devise a cure yet. So you will need to stay here until you are fit enough. Ok?”

 

`NO! I want to go home and look for Hercules!” He silently nodded his head.

 

She began to gently rake her long nails through his golden hair. “When you are fit enough to walk around, you are not allowed to leave the house of healing. We have a strict rule about no mortals allowed up here and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. Zeus would be most displeased.”

 

She stood up to leave but Iolaus quickly grabbed her wrist. When she turned he let go. Her fierce gaze made him turn away. “Um…What happened to Hercules?”

 

Her smile was replaced with a convincing mourning look. “I'm sorry. Valasca somehow managed to kill him. His brother buried him already.” And she left the room. After the door closed her sad look was replaced with one of malice. `Well, my plans have changed a little. But I shall keep him here until the birth. With no Hercules to go back to, he won't have anything to go back for.' She walked away.

 

Meanwhile as soon as Hera closed the door Iolaus pulled his legs to his chest and rested his head on his knees. `Hercules isn't dead. It's Hera that told you this. Hercules will come for me. I just have to wait and be patient. Or I can try to escape myself. I'm only in God central. Wait…Maybe I could find Aphrodite. She'd help me.'

 

Iolaus wrapped the blanket around his waist and swung his legs over the bed. He pushed himself off and wavered unsteadily. He gathered his strength and awkwardly made his way over to the door. He pushed his weight up against it breathing heavily. It seemed a mammoth task just to reach the door. He gripped the handle and turned. It was locked.

 

`Of course it's locked you idiot. You think she'd leave it open for you to just wonder out.'

 

He leaned against the door trying to catch his breath. After a while, when the room stopped spinning a little he followed the wall with his hand and went over to the window. He looked out to see it was no longer a field full of flowers, but a Cliffside. And it looked the room was right on the edge. He heared the waves crash against the rocks sixty feet below. `This is hopeless when I'm in this state. Don't give up Iolaus. There's always a way.'

 

Iolaus was about to walk over to try to force the door open when a sudden wave of tiredness crashed into him. He fell to the carpeted floor and blacked out.

 

**

 

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