As she walked the path she heard a scream in the distance and smelled the unmistakable stench of burning wood, stone, hay and a possible despoiler or two. It had to be Thrace.
Xena also heard a familiar and harried voice. Despite the pandemonium that now greeted her as she raced into the small city, she was gratified to see Hercules. He appeared the same - handsome and helpful - as he had twenty five years ago. With a grin of inner satisfaction, Xena momentarily watched the hero at work. Immortal, she thought, and expected as much.
"Out! Everybody out!" the demigod shouted as he helped some men and women remove small children from a burning building that was preparing to collapse upon itself. Just as the last child was tossed into the arm of her sobbing mother, a board creaked and the structure fell in, becoming nothing more than rubble.
Moments later Xena spotted a marauder on horseback riding up behind the demigod, his sword drawn for a quick kill. Hercules was still half mortal. She didn't have to think twice. The Warrior Princess unclipped the chakram from her leather clad hip and threw it without question. The rounded blade bounced off the side of a stone stacked retaining wall and hit the rider forcefully against his helmeted head.
He fell from the horse as Hercules turned and the chakram made its whirring way back to its gratified owner.
Their eyes met briefly over the chaos of smoke, shouts, running villagers and looting warlords. There would be time to talk later.
*******
Gabrielle picked at the food on her supper plate. It wasn't that she couldn't find her appetite or that the excitement of being reunited with Iolaus was too overwhelming, although that was part of it (she had to concede), but Gabrielle could not stop giggling or being distracted by a few of the humorous stories Iolaus had told her while they ate. They were mostly about his children and his own initial efforts at parenting. Iolaus was attempting to cheer the warrior-bard up after the scare he'd thrown at her earlier in the day. Gabrielle had to admit it was working. A little, anyway.
"Look, Hercules is an honorable man. You know that. I honestly don't think he'd put either you or Xena in jeopardy just so I might walk again. It's not his style. Never was." Iolaus had assured before they had entered into the small but well kept home.
Impressed upon entering, expecting a shambles, Gabrielle examined her surroundings. Manlike but clean and homey. Very nice. Curious, Gabrielle noted a long, rounded wooden pole that traveled from one side of the home to the other. It was up high, near the ceiling support beam. She would have to ask Iolaus about this later.
As they ate Gabrielle was once again drawn to thinking of Hercules and his plans. Twenty five years can change a man, she thought, again anxious. In Hercules and Iolaus cases, maybe not physically but mentally ....? And Hercules really did want to see his best friend walking again, perhaps even joining him on the road occasionally, especially when the children had grown. Still, Iolaus had a good point. They were talking about Hercules here. The known world's greatest hero. And besides, if Xena managed to catch up to him maybe an old flame would be re-ignited and he'd realize whatever plan he had with a Chronos Stone shard was ill advised.
"You with young children ..." Gabrielle pondered, shifting thoughts again and lifting a piece of buttered bread to her lips. "I'm sorry I missed seeing that, Iolaus."
Iolaus smiled fondly and stabbed at a cooked carrot on his plate, "You'd like them, Gabrielle. Ages fourteen and seventeen now. The oldest is getting ready for the academy this Fall and the youngest has decided he wants to be an artisan. And, when they have time, they want to travel and do some of the things Hercules and I did. How could I tell them no?"
With a chuckle, Gabrielle nodded and continued to eat, "If I ever have a child I would be hard pressed to tell her she couldn't go off wandering when I did enough of it in my foolish youth." Gabrielle sat back a bit in her chair and, suddenly a little leery, broached a subject she wasn't certain Iolaus was comfortable sharing. "Tell me about Marta."
Iolaus pursed his lips and was silent for a moment, "Kind, pretty, level headed, even-tempered but with a resolve like nothing I'd ever seen. In many ways she was my savior." Then, unsure if he should say more but knowing Gabrielle was probably a little curious, "When we became close I told Marta I wasn't sure we'd be able to have children or if I could even .... Well, I didn't know if I was ...." he struggled for words a moment, " ... impaired. I hadn't been with anyone since it happened."
Gabrielle looked down at her plate, more amused than embarrassed. Poor Iolaus.
"As we found out, I wasn't in any way - er ...."
"... unable to fulfill your husbandly duties?" Gabrielle offered, trying hard not to laugh.
He nodded, laughing himself. "When Asterus was born, well, I just can't tell you about the emotions running through my mind; my soul. He was a perfect baby. I really began to see how my problems paled in comparison to the new life my wife and I created. That feeling didn't go away when Imules was born. It was as if I suddenly realized I had a family and needed to do so much more than worry about what I could and could not do because of my paralysis." He glanced briefly down at his limbs, placing the palms of his hands firmly on his lap. "My legs were gone, not my brain. I had good use of my hands too. I could build and ..." Iolaus looked steadily at Gabrielle, suddenly wondering if he was boring her. It seemed not, she was staring at him, an odd look in her eye, but she didn't appear wearied. "Well, I guess all those years of traveling with Hercules, listening to his words of wisdom, finally paid off. I really got my act together and Marta and I did well. As the boys grew we did even better. But ..." His expression wavered a bit and Iolaus paused.
"What? Tell me." Gabrielle urged.
"I also began to see something else. I watched as Marta began to grow older. She still appeared younger than me but I knew that would change over time. I hadn't really thought about it. My kids were growing yet I was the same ... It was sobering."
Gabrielle bit her lip gently, unsure if she should ask. "What happened to Marta?"
Smoothly pushing his empty plate away from him, pausing to contemplate, Iolaus spoke lowly. "Four years ago she became ill during the Winter freeze. It didn't seem that bad at first, just a cough and cold. But just before Spring she was overcome with a terrible fever. The healer came in time to save her life but, health wise, she never really recovered. Marta was so weak and could only stay in the house, doing the simplest of chores. She hated it but had no choice." Iolaus gulped a bit, remembering that time in he and children's life with a deep melancholy. "The following Winter she just finally ... surrendered. The boys took it better than I thought they would. Better than me. I think she'd been preparing them for some time, telling them they had to be brave and take care of me."
"I'm so sorry, Iolaus." Gabrielle reached out across the table and placed a hand atop his.
He turned slowly and smiled at Gabrielle, warmed by her sympathy. He squeezed her fingers gently. Then Iolaus cleared his throat, "Now it's your turn. I've got an idea how you managed to suddenly return from the dead, after we were told you and Xena had died at the hands of the gods twenty five years ago, but you've got to give me some details ...."
********
" ... and you found Eve in Rome. That's amazing, Xena." Hercules spoke lowly and sat with her, in a wide cushioned chair, in front of a warming fire. They both stared somberly into the flames.
Order had been restored to Thrace and now that night was falling both heroes were allowed the luxury of resting. An hour ago they were fed, allowed to wash themselves and their clothes were cleaned, ash and that smoky smell removed by grateful families that happily volunteered their services. A little uncomfortable with the fuss but grateful never the less, the heroes accepted the village's kindness. The inn they were resting in was quaint and, considering the carnage earlier that day, little worse for wear.
The inn keeper, the man who was also keeper of the town tavern, was delighted to have both the legendary Hercules and the mysterious Warrior Princess as his guests.
"Gabrielle and I are to meet up with Eve soon. She's so much like me, Hercules. Feeling horrible guilt over all she has done. If only I had been there to stop it before it got started ..." Xena pulled at the blanket wrapped around her shoulders a little more snugly. It was going to be a cold night and Xena was grateful she wasn't going to have to spend it camping out in the woods.
Hercules shook his head, "It was meant to be, Xena. I had heard of Rome's Livia but never connected her to Eve. As far as anyone knew, Eve died with you and Gabrielle ... but now it makes an odd kind of sense." He turned to look at her, "You'll guide her right, Xena. You're one of the strongest women I know. And I don't mean physical strength."
She returned his smile, "I think that's one of the nicest things a man has ever said to me." Almost shyly, Xena looked down into the small mug of ale she held in her free hand, "So ..." she piped and decided to change subjects. "We found where Iolaus now lives and Gabrielle has gone to see him. How's he doing?"
Hercules met her eyes. Was it possible she didn't know? "You didn't see Iolaus yourself?"
"No, Gabrielle and I parted at a fork in the road. I figured if I found you here we might walk back to see Iolaus together." Xena examined Hercules troubled expression closely. "We heard his wife passed away ..." she spoke slowly, still studying Hercules. There was obviously something wrong and Xena almost blanched. Was Iolaus dead? Was Gabrielle visiting the vacant home of a dead man? Had she been greeted by a gravesite? "Hercules?"
Turning to stare into the fire before them, Hercules told her the entire story. His voice was low, almost a monotone, and his expression was haunted.
Stricken, Xena also looked into the fire, "I feel like I'm at fault in a way." she murmured, "If it hadn't been for what you were forced to do to your father ... If you hadn't saved my child ...."
At this, Hercules look at her. He said nothing for a time. Then, "I have always been there for Iolaus as he's been there for me. I allowed myself to get distracted. Zeus' death seemed final to me back then but it never occurred to me that there may be consequences. He loved me, I discovered, even when I was killing him." Hercules took a breath and looked down at his hands, willing them to stop shaking. He'd been over this so many times. Why did it still cause him such grief? "It was out of his love for me and my own lack of intuition that Iolaus found himself harmed. It's not your fault at all, Xena. It's mine."
Xena placed her mug on a side table then reach over to touch his arm. She spoke softly, "No it's not, Hercules. The gods ..."
"I understand the gods and the way they worked!" Hercules unexpected shouted, "I should have guessed this would happen!" He stood suddenly in frustration and looked down at her, "Tomorrow I'm leaving here and will go to Makrenaut. Hermes hid a shard of the Chronos Stone there."
"How do you know that?"
"The Cabiri told me." Hercules turned without further explanation. "It's Iolaus only chance for ... for a normal life."
'He's fighting an inner demon.' Xena's mind supplied as she watched the demigod struggle for control of his emotions. She knew of such things from her own personal experiences. He's confused, she thought, and he has been for a long time. Confused but not necessarily misguided.
"I'll see you in the morning." Hercules said, a little lost but with a forcefulness in his tone that spoke of his own conviction.
Xena understood. Without saying it, he was inviting her to come with him on the search. It both honored and frightened her. She inwardly shivered. The power of said stone was immense and what had Hercules promised the Cabiri, that powerful force older than the gods themselves, for this information? His soul? The Cabiri was the last straw for any being, either mortal or a god. After twenty five years Hercules had grown desperate. She would have to tag along just to make certain he didn't do something he'd regret, if he already hadn't.
With sorrow, Xena's head tilted back a bit. Hercules had changed. He was still a hero, of course, and cared for people but something had left him. It was almost as if he acted on impulse, a sense of duty, not with his heart. She longed to see that softness come back into his azure eyes.
She felt someone behind her. He touched her shoulder, gently.
"Goodnight, Xena."
She smiled, warmed by the gesture. "Goodnight, Hercules."
And she felt him move away yet again.
*******
She slept in Iolaus room while he rested in the children's room. Naturally, Gabrielle told him not to fuss, that she could just as easily camp out in front of the hearth with her blanket, but Iolaus assured her it was no trouble at all.
Now, as the sun came up and Gabrielle slipped into her leathers, she was curious. It was early but she could hear some odd squeaking noises coming from outside her door, probably from the living room. Gabrielle cracked the bedroom door open and looked out.
What greeted her was fascinating. Iolaus, naked from the waist up, was working out. He had somehow gotten himself out of the wheelchair and was doing chin ups on the long wooden pole she had seen but didn't question last night. Yet, he didn't stop there. As Iolaus did his chin ups he also used the strength of his hard stomach muscles to lift his legs in a crunching motion.
He might be immortal but he didn't want to be a fat immortal, she thought with a silent laugh. Also, instead of giving in to his disability, he was allowing it to work for him in the most positive way possible.
Gabrielle made a private confession to herself that she would never admit to anyone except - perhaps - Xena: Iolaus determination - not to mention that slightly sweat-sheened chest - was rather sexy.
******
They woke early, packed their belongings and walked to Makrenaut.
Xena left her horse, Argo's progeny, in a stable in Thrace. She didn't know what they were facing and didn't want the beast in danger. Besides, Hercules would be walking, not riding, and there was no point in her galloping ahead of him when she wasn't entirely certain how he wanted to get the Chronos Stone chunk or in what way he intended to use it.
There was something bothering Hercules, an incident which was plaguing him, Xena was sure. It was more than an obsession with Iolaus' disability and his need to see his friend well. He had something on his mind that was eating at him and Xena was sure her return was a part of it. He hadn't said anything, obviously not wanting to hurt her feelings, but he displayed an odd temperament. When she started to talk about the gods, saving Eve from their destruction and what it meant not only to her but what it could mean to mankind, Hercules could not spare a comment.
They walked in an odd but comfortable silence for awhile then, when a few riders passed them on the road with calls of "Eli be with you!", Xena turned, with a smile, and looked at her companion. She was little surprised, not realizing the word of Eli had reach this far into Greece. Gabrielle would be delighted to hear of it.
Xena was a little astonished to see Hercules staring ahead, not smiling or interested in the words of the strangers. If she could just get through to him, discovering what was wrong. "So ... " she started, "Tell me what has been happening in Greece for the last twenty five years, Hercules." Xena said in a half joking manner.
"Nothing that you haven't already heard or experienced. Warlords still sack villages and if the people in them aren't kill then they grow older and die. No one is immune. No one who hasn't been touched by the gods, that is."
Xena was a little stunned by this pessimistic statement, the bitterness in Hercules which he suddenly did not bother to hide. Hoping she was over-reacting Xena tried again for a bit of humor, "Now that Ares is a mortal it will be interesting to see how he does."
"He won't last long. Ares has made many enemies as The God of War. More than a few will want his head for their trophy cases." Then, turning to look at her as they walked, Hercules added, "I guess you never considered that when he sacrificed his immortality for your happiness. On the other hand, you can always step forward and protect him as you have Eve."
Xena's eyes snapped up to look at Hercules, her stride slowing. Was that contempt in his tone? "Why are you acting like this -- and saying these things?" she finally demanded.
He paused a moment as they walked, indecisive, then the demigod shrugged: "It's nothing, Xena. Never mind. I'm just not in a good mood."
"No," she grasped his muscular upper arm and turned Hercules to look at her.
They stopped walking.
Hercules noted the challenge in her eyes. That hardness of a warrior that could be transformed into the tenderness of a lover if she was approached the right way by the right person. He'd always liked that about Xena. As much as she might try to hide her feminine side she was still a woman with a soul and an immense capacity for love. He was one of the few people in the known world who had seen it.
"I want you to tell me what's wrong. This isn't just Iolaus. You're behaving as if I've done something to you personally. Have I?"
"No, not personally, Xena." Hercules commented and looked down the road they were traveling, "You did what you had to do to save your child. Just as I did the same thing twenty five years ago for that same child. It seemed like the right thing at the time. I'm not really sure how much I believed in it, that Eve would cause the passing of the Greek gods, especially after we thought you, Gabrielle and Eve had died ...."
Xena's eyes narrowed. There was still something he wasn't telling her.
Then, Hercules looked purposely away at a space beyond Xena, near a clump of lush trees in the distance. "I lied to you when I said I didn't know Livia was Eve." he finally said, "I discovered who she was when my friend Jason and I took a voyage to Rome five years ago."
"Jason?" Xena questioned, anxiously. "You mean, King Jason from the Argonauts? You and he saw Eve back then?"
"He stopped being "King Jason" a long time ago." Hercules reminded her, "But we had learned that Livia found a chunk of the Chronos Stone in The Black Sea of Detius, near Crete. Instead of presenting it to Ares she gave it to Augustus Caesar as a gift. She was buttering him up for marriage even back then. Who knows, maybe it was Ares who told her to do it but I doubt he knew about the stone," Hercules reconsidered, "because Livia didn't know of its powers and if Ares had he wouldn't have let it go." Hercules closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head back and forth, "I wanted it for Iolaus. Jason and I went to speak with Caesar, asking about the stone but never really telling him about its powers. Augusts had heard of me and when I told him I just needed it for a short time and would give it back in a short while, he agreed. He took me at my word. He trusted me."
Xena nodded, recalling her friend but hating him for what he'd allowed Eve to become. "What happened to the Chronos Stone, Hercules?"
"As we were leaving we ran into Livia, who was approaching through the front gates of the palace. She saw Jason and myself carrying the shard. She became infuriated ..." Hercules gulped at the memory, "Jason never had a chance. He was elderly even then but she caught him by surprise. Livia drew her sword and slashed him through the heart without a question. As I fought off her army she took the stone from Jason's dying hands and crushed it into dust." Shaking slightly, Hercules took in a quivering breath, "It was then that I realized who she was and why she was able to destroy the stone with her mortal strength. She was Eve, the bringer of The Twilight."
Xena pulled her gaze away from Hercules, unable to bear the torment in his eyes. Not only had Eve, the mortal Hercules had saved as a baby, taken away one of Iolaus' few opportunities to be a normal, healthy man but she had murdered one of Hercules best friends. For a moment Joxer flashed through Xena's mind then he disappeared.
"And now," Hercules cleared his throat of emotion. "five years later Livia is responsible for not just turning gods to mortals but killing them, grinding them all into dust as she did that Chronos shard."
"But you had to know this might happen, Hercules. The twilight was foretold."
"I thought the gods of aggression would be destroyed: Demois, Discord, Ares and even Athena. Part of me even understood why Poseidon and the powers he wielded had to be done in ... but the other gods who were merely afraid? Hades, who has helped us both. Artemus, who loved both Amazons and hunters. And Hephestus? Was there nothing that could be done to spare them, Xena? Nothing? And what about Cupid, Demeter, Bliss and Hermes? What about Fortune and The Fates? What will happen to them?"
Trying to control herself, not wanting to verbally explode, Xena bit her lower lip then: "I tried to negotiate, Hercules. But they wouldn't listen to me." She spoke quickly and unapologetically, pushing back on fury.: "They wanted Eve dead. She's my daughter and I couldn't let that happen. You have to understand, Hercules. You had children and it was a goddess, Hera, who killed them ...."
"Yes, Hera. Another casualty of Eve."
Xena stared at Hercules in disbelief.
"You can white-wash it as much as you like, Xena. But a lot of good people, mortals and gods, died because of Eve. Hephestus ..." He looked away from Xena again, "He was afraid but he was a good god, one of the few. He was my friend and when Aphrodite came to me in tears ..."
"It could not be helped, Hercules!" Xena finally shouted, furious that Hercules wasn't able see her side and - in a manner she never thought possible - seemed to be taking the gods side in all of this. Hercules, who always battled the gods for the rights of mortals! "If it could have been done a different way, I would have did it."
Then Hercules looked at her, his blue eyes meeting hers. "The interesting thing out of all of this ..." he spoke calmly, "... is that the one god who should have been first on your hit list was never really harmed." He began to walk again, leaving Xena to stand in stunned silence as he spoke, "Strange how Ares came out of this situation mortal but pretty well unharmed while all the others had to die ..."
*******
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