********
Zeus was gone but even dead he managed to torment Hercules with acts of interference; possibly even vengeance.
"I don't know what to say, Iolaus." he grieved, taking his friend's hand in his own. He could only watch helplessly as the man, his best friend, lay on the narrow but plush bed in his mother's home, his expression hard yet the eyes filling with unshed tears, "I'd give anything to take it back ... anything."
"Even if it costs Xena the life of her child?" the blond man asked tightly, staring past him. He genuinely hadn't meant the question to sound bitter but he was in shock. The news was still fresh and Iolaus knew his life would never be the same again.
Hercules could not answer immediately which stunned even he. He bowed his head in shame when he realized, for a few moments, that he was - indeed - willing to sacrifice Xena's Eve for Iolaus.
But ... but ... Xena needed him and Iolaus was visiting family. All should have been well.
"Hercola," Aphrodite, who had been standing a bit away from the friends, placed a hand on her brother's shoulder and spoke softly. It was she who brought the news. Being a goddess and Zeus' favorite daughter, she was aware of her father's plans. Had been for a long, long time. But Zeus swore her to secrecy. Aphrodite now regretted that she was able to keep this one surprise hidden. Amazing, she thought, that the birth of one mortal child and the giving of Zeus's gift was causing so many problems for so many different life forms. "I know how bad this looks, guys, but there is an upside ..."
Hercules suddenly stood erect and turned on her, "Upside!" he shouted, uncharacteristically furious that she - the spoiled little goddess she was - could possibly make light of this situation.
Usually not so intimidated by her half mortal sibling, Aphrodite stepped back a few paces and stared gape-mouthed at Hercules. She'd never seen him look so angry, especially at her. But she understood. What had Zeus been thinking in those final moments of existents? He was so smart so why didn't he just say it - toss out his magic - in plain simple Greek and not tempt The Fates with all that poetic mumbo jumbo? "I just mean ... Well, you have time, little brother." she quickly reasoned, "So, you know, if a cure is out there you'll find it and - well - Curly isn't going anywhere." The goddess winced at her own poor choice of words, "You know what I'm saying?" she implored.
From his bed, Iolaus looked over at Aphrodite and almost laughed. As terrible as he felt he had to admit she had a good point. And, beyond that, he thought it a wonderful and selfless gesture on The Goddess of Love's part to come here and explain what was going on, how Iolaus found himself flat on his back, unmoving, two weeks after his illness. After all, like all the gods, Aphrodite had more pressing problems right now.
The birth of Xena's little girl meant the end of a dominion in some strange way none of them really understood, the beginning of the end of the gods. Aphrodite was not immune and, for all they knew, not even Hercules was entirely out of danger. Who really knew what was going happen?
Hercules expression softened as he looked back at Iolaus then to his sister again, "I'm sorry Aphrodite." Yet the gentleness was short-lived as Hercules took in a deep breath, his visage stern. If either of them had been aware in Sumeria years before, just after Hercules lost Iolaus to Dahak, they would have recognized his expression as something not to be trifled with. "The Light as my witness," he looked hard at his best friend, "I will not rest until I've found a cure, Iolaus. I swear."
Again, Iolaus found himself in awe. Leave it to Hercules to unexpectedly bring up a time in his past he himself had nearly forgotten, "I know you won't let me down, Herc." Then, amused and warmed by something only he thought funny, Iolaus smile and closed his eyes, laying his head on the soft pillows on the comfortable bed Aphrodite had materialized for him.
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**Twenty five years passed.**
She could never quite hide her tears from him. He was one of the very few men - especially now when she considered herself a rough and tough warrior - who could reach down deeply inside and pull up emotions she thought long dead. He touched her soul as no man ever had (even Eli) and, without words, made Gabrielle face who she was and what affected her deeply. 'Stop it.' she scolded herself, 'Just stop it ...'
But it was so unfair.
Gabrielle turned from his concerned expression, looking anywhere but at his handsome, gently lined face. She then reached up with a restless arm, allowing nervous fingers to run through her short-cropped blond hair. She was embarrassed by her own fragility. There was a time when she might have dedicated a carefully pondered and well written verse to the emotions she was now feeling but now ....
"Gabrielle, it's not as if I'm invincible. I'm not a god." Iolaus said with a warm and somewhat sad smile, "At least not entirely." he chuckled. Yet he knew of the weight which lay so heavily in the young woman's heart. "And it's no ones fault. Get that thought out of your head now. Not Hercules', not Xena's and especially not yours," a beat, "especially when you visit me while wearing an outfit like that." He spoke quickly, nodding to her scant warrior-leathers. Familiar humor punctuated his tone but there was also pain - of a long suffered variety - in his eyes, whether the one time hunter was willing to admit it or not.
"I guess I just always thought ...." she gazed, the words catching in her throat, out at the freshly plowed fields about Iolaus home. What had she thought?
She and Xena had slept for a quarter of a century, thanks to interference from Ares. Now awakened, both Gabrielle and the Warrior Princess were being re educated. So much had changed and they were curious.
Eve, Xena's daughter, and that foolishness in Rome had reached its zenith and now, relieved of whatever obligations they felt, both women decided it was more than important to see how things had changed in Greece. It was home, after all.
Poor Joxer and his bride, Meg, had been a shock. Neither aged well. Sad but true. Yet, they had somehow managed to produce a very handsome and gifted son, Virgil. Ah, but dear Joxer had always been her friend; a bumbling comrade to trust, and when he died Gabrielle began to think of all those she loved and missed so much. Her mother and father, her sister Lila and .... Iolaus.
It hadn't been too hard to track him down. Everyone in this time period was ready for a tale. Mostly about a great Herculean adventure. Yet, once in awhile a cryptic note about Iolaus would filter in. Word of mouth was that he had broken off with Hercules years ago, for reasons no one really understood. It seemed the blond hunter had gone into virtual seclusion and Hercules, as the years passed, grew more stern and less affable.
Yet, he was still Hercules, willing to help those who could not help themselves.
It hadn't been a bad breakup, she and Xena were assured. A familiar food merchant with tattered clothes and discolored teeth told her that Iolaus and the demigod were still the best of friends. They just couldn't travel together anymore. Iolaus had settled down, was raising a couple of sons, but needed a good woman now that his wife had died. But no one, even the talkative food merchant, was willing to elaborate beyond that.
Twenty five years. Naturally, it was his age, Gabrielle guessed. Iolaus had parted from Hercules because he had grown too infirm to keep up with the halfgod. It was a natural progression. How could a mortal hope to keep up with a man who was possibly eternal?
Xena agreed with Gabrielle's supposition and found herself thinking deeply of Hercules. What had he been doing for the past twenty five years? Curious, she decided to find him while Gabrielle and Iolaus had their own reunion. Hercules was said to have been checking out warlord problems in Thrace ... and he was looking for something.
"He's always looking for something." the food merchant said, recalling a time when Hercules eyed a green pendant he wore on his vest. Hercules expression had lit up and he asked him eagerly where it was he had gotten the stone. The demigod was then very disappointed by the answer. A clear stone filled with green food coloring. An entrepreneurial project.
"Thank you for coming to see me, Gabrielle." Iolaus said, his voice strong and deceptively jovial. "I just wish .... I mean, I thought you knew when you saw me and well ...."
He was as handsome as she remembered ... those blue-gray eyes, golden hair and a wonderful physique that was well muscled, free of sag and wrinkles yet not at all intimidating. And he was still in his prime.
How was it possible?
"It's a long story ...."
Zeus had granted Iolaus a long life, free of conventional aging. It was his final gift to Hercules before "the twilight" supposedly saw an end to the Greek gods and the death of Zeus himself ... but who could have known the price?
How could Zeus know while Hercules - his favorite son - was killing him with the Rib of Chronos that Iolaus had been fighting a battle all his own?
When The King of the Gods had inwardly wished, with his dying breath, that Hercules would never be left alone - Iolaus would always be "as he is" ... that Iolaus had been laid up, the victim of a terrible fall, which had left him bed ridden ...
... his legs temporarily paralyzed.
Temporary except for Zeus's words:
" ... and Iolaus will remain as he is for all time ...."
In his prime, never aging and theoretically healthy, to roam the known world with the immortal Hercules for the rest of his days .....
Yet ....no.
Who could have known that a "blessing" from the unaware King of the Gods - worded so badly - might become a mortal man's eternal torment? Iolaus would never walk again. He would live for an indefinite time in a chair with wheels or leaning heavily on crutches.
"It's so unfair." Gabrielle whispered her thoughts, brushing the tears from her cheeks, the opinion pounding through her head.
"I'm used to it." Iolaus smiled once again at his lovely friend, sorry more for her discontent than his situation. "I stopped whining over my bad fortune years ago, especially after I met Marta and we married. We were very happy, Gabrielle. And because I would never age or get sick I could, even though I couldn't walk, plow fields, seed the ground and water my land. I watched as things grew, outside and inside my home. My sons are ..."
"But how, Iolaus? How can you do these things?" Gabrielle cried and immediately regretted the outburst.
"I have two strong teenage sons and have a talented horse." he nearly joked, "We do wonders together. Xanya, my fearless beast, would even give Argo a run ..." He paused, thinking the comment might unintentionally produce pain. Xena had loved Argo and perhaps Gabrielle had as well? "Anyway, the boys are off for a week exploring and hunting through the countryside. They're getting into trouble, I expect, and doing good where they can."
"Another Hercules and Iolaus." Gabrielle chuckled and, for a moment, she wanted to reach for him. She wanted to hold Iolaus in her arms and tell him how proud she was of him. He was a wonderful human being and she was so pleased, all things considered, to see him doing well, despite what Zeus did to him.
Again he smiled and looked out to his land. He had hated farming in his youth but was amazed to learn he could like it after all, once he got past certain prejudices. "Hercules comes to see me and the boys often. He helps to work the land each season, that's when he's not off rescuing people and searching ..." The smile faded slightly and his eyes became focused over the space beyond Gabrielle's shapely shoulder, "And he feels guilt -- but he shouldn't. He's dedicated his life to finding a way to get me on my feet again." Iolaus concentrated again on her sorrow, at her stricken expression. He could almost read Gabrielle's thoughts and his tone grew firm, "I'm like this because Zeus thought he was doing something good but, as usual, interfered with mankind ... and I paid the price. End of story, Gabrielle." .
"Not quite." Gabrielle whispered, somewhat in awe. "Immortality."
Iolaus nodded, "But disabled." There was no sorrow in his tone. Only fact.He gently and thoughtfully rubbed the wooden arms of the wheelchair he was sitting in
"Unless Hercules ...."
"He's been searching for twenty five years and hasn't found a cure yet. I don't think he ever will. But I won't tell him that. It seems so important to him."
"What is he searching for Iolaus? What does he hope to find?"
"A magical cure-all, I suppose." Iolaus looked away and snorted a laugh.
But he knew more. Gabrielle could see it although Iolaus attempted to hide the knowlege. She urged him to say what he knew, all the while admiring his inner strength. His legs might be shut down but Iolaus was still one of the most gorgeous and beguiling men she knew.
Iolaus relented, "The Chronos Stone. He's looking for a piece. 'Any shard will do.' he keeps telling me."
"He wants to go back in time?" Gabrielle questioned, "To help you?"
"To prevent what's happened. But I'm only guessing. Hercules is very closed-lipped about his plans. It kind of scares me." and Iolaus instantly looked troubled.
"But if he does that he'll change history and ..."
" ... he won't be there for you and Xena when she gives birth." Iolaus eyes met Gabrielle's. "Unless someone else steps in Zeus will succeed in his quest to kill Eve." he said, honestly.
Thus insuring the continuation of the Greek gods.
Gabrielle pondered seriously, "And he'd have to kill Xena and myself because ..."
Before he would be allowed to kill the child, the two women would make every effort to thwart Zeus' plans. There was no stopping it and no way a mere mortal, even Xena, could defeat Zeus.
It would take someone with god-blood to defeat him. Therefore ....
As with Hera before them, Zeus would feel he had no choice. The gods had to continue.
Only death would bring an enduring existence, even if Zeus had to kill every mortal in Greece to keep it that way ...
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