Hi All! This is my first foray into Atlantis fanfiction. I love the show and hope I do it justice. This story is set after episode 2.2. It goes off-canon, I hope you can forgive.

Chapter 1

The men ate their evening meal in awkward silence. At least Pythagoras felt awkward, Hercules and Jason seemed entirely oblivious, lost in their own thoughts. Two days after the siege of Atlantis had been lifted, the Colchean army defeated, life was definitely not back to normal. Jason was brooding and sour, understandable given the decisive rebuff delivered by Ariadne, extinguishing any hope of a future together, and his mood not helped by the archer's wound in his side which was proving slow to heal after the aggravation of battle. But Hercules was of a similar temper, and Pythagoras couldn't quite understand it. He had considered many theories about what might be troubling the big man but could only speculate that the events of the past week, the near disaster to both them and Atlantis, must have taken a toll and shaken him to the core.

"It's lucky that we weren't looted," Pythagoras mused out loud, trying to fill the silence. "We didn't have a lot on the shelves but it should be enough to feed us for the next few days. After that we may have to travel outside the city for food, until the merchants start selling again."

"Hmm," Jason agreed half-heartedly and Pythagoras was grateful for even that small effort.

All of them were startled by a knock at the door. They exchanged a tense glance before Hercules rose to answer. It was uncommon for people to call at this hour, even more so with the city in disarray, misfortune seemed to bring out the worst, looting and violence was wide-spread, and it was no accident that the largest of them answered.

Hercules opened the door and took a step back to reveal a dark haired woman.

"I'm looking for Jason," she said, eyes searching the room and when they settled upon Jason she seemed to know he was her intended, even though they had never met. "The Queen requests your presence."

Jason's brows flew up in hopeful delight. "Ariadne?"

A look of distaste flitted across the woman's face. "Queen Pasiphae."

There was a moment of stunned silence, which Pythagoras broke by pointing out, "Technically, Pasiphae is no longer queen."

The woman ignored the comment, reached into her tunic and produced a folded parchment with a waxed seal, which she proffered in the direction of Jason. He rose from the table and took the few steps toward her to accept the parchment.

"Pasiphae wishes to see me?" Jason asked in confusion, as he examined the official seal, then broke it to examine the contents of the letter, which was only a few lines revealing nothing more than that Pasiphae requested his presence.

While Jason was distracted by the missive, Hercules asked the woman, "And who exactly are you?"

"Medea."

"Oh yes, the great Medea," Hercules commented sarcastically. "How did we not recognize you?"

Medea gave him a withering glare. "I am a princess of Colchis, blood to Pasiphae."

"Right." Hercules put a hand on her shoulder and started ushering her toward the door.

"Wait." Jason put a restraining hand on his friend's arm.

"If she is blood to Pasiphae then she is no friend of ours," Hercules pointed out.

"I know, but just… wait," Jason pleaded gently, and Hercules clicked his tongue in annoyance. Jason examined the woman cursorily. His entire experience with princesses was Ariadne, and this woman appeared disheveled, her garments were worn, her hair was unfashionably matted and tied to one side, and she lacked the grace and femininity of Ariadne. Indeed she wasn't equal to Ariadne in any way, which made him wonder if she really was as she claimed. She looked more like a warrior. "Why does Pasiphae want to see me?"

"I don't think we need to know," Hercules commented in exasperation, desperate to get the woman out the door before something was spilled about Jason being Pasiphae's son.

The woman regarded Jason evenly, her eyes sizing him up as much as he had her. "She wishes to offer peace to Atlantis."

Jason furrowed his brow, shook his head in bewilderment. "I can't… That is nothing to do with me. She should speak with someone from the palace."

"She will only speak to you," Medea insisted.

Jason removed his hand from Hercules arm, took a step backward and Medea felt herself being edged toward the door again. She added quickly, before she could be dismissed, "Meet me at dawn, near the main gate and I will take you to Pasiphae. If you care about Atlantis you will come."

"Not happening," Hercules stated, and finally managed to shift Medea far enough that he could close the door on her.

The men gazed at each other, Hercules grim, Jason uncertain and Pythagoras wide-eyed. Jason moved back to the table, sat slowly down and ran a hand pensively across his mouth.

"That was odd," Pythagoras commented, in his usual understated manner.

"Yes, it was," Jason agreed, and lifted his eyes to Hercules in silent question.

"Don't even think about it," the big man said. "Pasiphae is defeated. There is no need to meet with her. Lets not speak of it further."

"Peace with Atlantis…" Jason began.

"There is already peace in Atlantis now that Pasiphae is defeated," Hercules interjected.

"Not lasting peace," Jason countered evenly. "Pasiphae will try to take the city again, there's no doubt. But maybe we could prevent it."

"No!" The vehemence in Hercules tone surprised his friends.

Jason didn't heed the warning tone, too used to his friend's sudden burst of anger, and persisted, "Surely there can't be any harm in meeting with Pasiphae, seeing what she has to say."

"There can be harm," Hercules growled, and the Oracle's words his heart will blacken echoed in his mind. If Pasiphae was minded to tell Jason who he really was, it could mean disaster. "Obviously, Pasiphae means to execute you."

"What?" Jason's eyes widened in alarm. "What makes you say that?"

"Think about it. You were instrumental in her defeat. If she disposes of you then her chances of taking Atlantis are much improved next time she tries."

Jason digested that for a moment, considering the sense in it.

"I don't think that's it," Pythagoras offered thoughtfully, and Hercules could have hit him. "The timing is all wrong. Her army was soundly defeated only a few days ago, she must be travelling with a very small retinue and quite poorly guarded. Given Jason's skill there is real danger in meeting with him. He could kill her as easily as she could kill him. I think she really does mean to speak with him, although whether it's about peace with Atlantis or something else I couldn't say."

"Nonsense," Hercules spat.

"Surely she wouldn't be so devious as to lure me under the false pretenses?" Jason ventured.

"Are you kidding?" Hercules exclaimed. "It's Pasiphae!"

"There is some honour in royal blood," Pythagoras stated, always trying balance his friend's views.

"The whole thing is a set up and a trap and I'll hear no more about it," Hercules roared. "I'm going to the tavern." He stormed out, slamming the door behind him before another word could be spoken.

"That was unhelpful," Pythagoras muttered.

Jason nodded mutely, wishing his friend had remained because he was deeply conflicted about the course of action he should take and would have liked the opportunity to collectively discuss the matter further.

As if reading his thoughts, Pythagoras asked, "What will you do?"

"I don't know," Jason admitted, grim-faced.

"How may I help?"

The Oracle was curt, she sounded annoyed by the interruption and Jason considered saying Don't worry about it and slinking away, but he took a breath and said, "I need your advice."

The woman turned sharply, her eyes softened when they alighted on him and a smile ghosted her lips. Jason couldn't fathom why she always seemed pleased by his presence.

"Of course."

Jason took a few steps toward her, and ducked his head self-consciously not sure how to begin. She waited patiently on her haunches for him to speak. "Pasiphae wants to meet with me."

The Oracle frowned. "I see."

Jason expected her to say more, tell him whether it was a good idea or not, but instead she gazed impassively at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I don't know if I should go." He flicked his eyebrows up and down, and suddenly felt silly. Surely he could decide whether to meet someone without the guidance of a seer. All the lofty talk of his destiny and he needed to consult with her on the smallest matter.

The Oracle got a far away look in her eye, considered for a moment. "I can see the future two ways. I cannot tell you which road to take."

"Can you tell me if one road is better than another?" Jason probed, his tone light.

But humour was lost on the Oracle, she gazed at him seriously and said, "Whichever road you take, the Gods will be by your side. But you must be wary of Pasiphae. She presents danger to you that is beyond the physical." And on that alarming note, she turned her attention back to the altar, effectively dismissing him.

Jason didn't pursue the conversation, he knew from experience that no amount of coaxing would sway the woman to say more, and he quietly left her alone. As always the Oracle was frustratingly oblique. But he interpreted the advice to mean whether he met with Pasiphae or not, he would be okay, the Gods would be with him. But he wasn't sure about the warning. Not at all sure what danger beyond the physical might be. And it actually resolved him to meet with Pasiphae. If she posed an unknown threat, he wanted to know about it. And he would provide a full report to Ariadne on his return.