(As told to Arianna by Iolaus)
For all of my life, my best friend's been Herc,
Even when other kids thought him a jerk.
As the years roll along,
His myth grows in legend and song,
But being half god's not really a perk.
There always some fool, some danger to answer,
Some villager somewhere, it doesn't much matter,
Who draws us away, from hearth and homefire,
Forgetting, as always, even demigods tire,
So, I try to amuse, with meaningless chatter.
Herc's brave, so strong and as tall as a tree,
At least, on most days, he seems so to me.
Always compassionate, he's calm, and he's kind,
Whether I'm singing or stubborn, he seems not to mind,
I've never quite known why, but he seems fond of me!
Of monsters, there have always been plenty,
Not sure how many, we stopped counting at twenty,
Flying ones, scary ones, ones breathing fire,
Poisonous teeth and dangers quite dire....
But, Herc only kills, if of souls they are empty.
Warlords and bandits, an evil Sovereign, too
None are too tough, or too skilled, for us two
We stand side by side, fight back to back
Cover each other from all kinds of flack,
It's who we are, what as partners, we do.
When gods, or goddesses, run all amok,
From bolts of fire, we often must duck,
I know if they get me, and I die on one day,
I'll be back by the night, if Herc has his way...
Still, he says I'm too careless, trust too much to luck.
I've died now so often, it's all clear to me,
Whether Elysium or Light, with friends we will be,
It's just that I hate to leave him alone,
Who'd make him laugh? Who'd draw him home?
As strong as he is, I know he needs me.
I'll stand by his side, as long as I'm able,
And, I care not at all if I'm not in the fable,
I'm lucky, I know, to have such a friend,
I don't mind dying, I have no fear of the end,
So long as he holds me, his arms like a cradle...