Dirce
and Hercules watched Iolaus as he stepped into the room and
walked towards the podium in front of the judge and the assembled
jury. He turned his head and tried a confident smile at the
demi-god, but he knew that this wasn't good. To be called as
a witness against Hercules was not his idea of helping his friend
and he wondered what the prosecution had in stock for him. But he
was determined to do his best. Dirce moved on her chair in
obvious discomfort as she watched the prosecutor step forwards
and pause in front of the blond hunter.
"We've
been talking about how Hercules' deeds inspired others, who
are not so strong, not a half-god to follow in his footsteps and
so endanger others and themselves."
Iolaus
kept looking at him, waiting for a question. The prosecutor
leaned against the podium and smiled.
"Iolaus.
As Hercules best friend and traveling companion, what is your
opinion on this?"
Iolaus
shrugged his shoulders. "I think that what Hercules stands
for is an ideal to aspire to. If anybody wants to follow his
ideal then that's great, but everybody must know their
limits. He's Hercules. Son of Zeus. Everybody with a little
sense should know that because of his powers, he can do things a
normal mortal can't."
The
prosecutor nodded solemnly. "Yes, everybody with a little
sense should see that." He looked at Iolaus. "And you
inspire to Hercules heroic ideal, do you?"
Iolaus
nodded. "Of course I do! It's about helping people and
if I can help, I will."
The
prosecutor smiled as he looked down at a pile of parchments in
his hand. "So when a stranger is attacked on the road by
bandits, you naturally jump to his aid?"
"If
I can, yes"
"So,
inspired by Hercules' heroic deeds, you see a man being
attacked on the road, jump to his aid, help him get away from
those men only to find out later that the man was in fact
Autolycus, a well known thief, who'd just plundered the King
of Cyros' vault!"
Iolaus
throat suddenly went dry as he noticed how he'd just dug his
own grave. How could he have not seen this coming?
"I
didn't know who he was. I just saw a man needing help and
"
"And
inspired by Hercules' heroism, you jumped in to be a hero
just like your friend and effectively helped a criminal escape
from justice!"
Iolaus
pressed his lips together as he glared at the man in front of
him, but he couldn't say anything. The prosecutor smiled
viciously.
"And
not only did you help Autolycus escape, you also were prosecuted
and sentenced to death for aiding him!"
The
jury started to whisper amongst themselves as the prosecutor
continued.
"In
fact, Iolaus, isn't it fair to say, that you are very much
like Gasancus?"
Iolaus
laughed out dryly. "There is no comparison. I'm nothing
like him. I don't pretend to be Hercules!"
"Maybe
you don't use his name, but you are trying to be like him.
For example when Hercules had lost his family and people came to
him for help, did he help them?"
Iolaus
looked over his shoulder at the demi-god then returned his gaze
at the prosecutor, trying to figure out where he was trying to
lead him to next.
"Hercules
was upset. Hera had just killed his family in front of his eyes
and he ."
"So
in other words, he didn't help them?"
"No,
he didn't. Not at first." Iolaus whispered painfully.
The
prosecutor turned again at the jury. "Then who went to help
those villagers against the dangerous She-Demon?"
Iolaus
cleared his voice. "I did." he said firmly, fearing
where this would lead.
The
prosecutor turned around. "*You* did? And did you
succeed?"
Iolaus
swallowed hard. "No." he answered. "I was turned
to stone."
The
prosecutor looked into the azure eyes of the blond in front of
him. "So you're saying you died?"
Iolaus
bit his lower lip and nodded. "Yes, I did."
The
prosecutor turned back at the jury and lifted his arms.
"Dying while trying to be a hero like Hercules!" He
turned back at Iolaus. "But of course, you didn't stay
dead, because when Hercules finally decided to show up, he
defeated the She-Demon and you returned to life."
Iolaus
nodded. "Yes."
The
prosecutor turned at the jury, who had started to whisper amongst
themselves. "How good for you to be a close friend of
Hercules!"
Dirce
stood up. "Objection your honour!"
The
court looked at Iolaus. "Sustained."
The
Prosecutor turned and smiled at Dirce, then returned his
attention to the blond in front of him. "No further
questions."
Dirce's
eyes where full of anger as she rose and stepped in front of
Iolaus. "What is it like to be the friend of Hercules? It
must be dangerous. Constantly being in the firing line, being
hunted by the Gods."
Iolaus
looked at Dirce in confusion at the tension in her voice.
"There is nothing I wouldn't do to help Hercules. He
fights against evil and helps the innocent and those who
can't help themselves. I'm proud to be a part of
this."
Dirce
circled around him, her eyes focusing at the jury. "And you
willingly sacrifice your life for this?"
"I
believe in what Hercules fights for and yes, I would defend it to
the death."
"And
sometimes, you do risk your life to protect Hercules and
others?"
"If
it is necessary, yes."
"Did
you ever feel sorry about that?"
Iolaus
shook his head. "No. Hercules saved my life more times that
I can count. I'd do anything for him."
Dirce
looked over at the prosecutor.
"So,
your readiness to sacrifice your life for Hercules comes out of
this long-term friendship with him?"
Iolaus
smiled. "He's like a brother to me. He's helped me
turn my life around when I was younger. If it wasn't for
Hercules, I don't know where I'd be today."
Dirce
smiled. "No further questions"
The
prosecutor stood up again. "You might be Hercules' best
friend, but still, my point here is that Hercules'
friendship and his ideal of heroics causes people to
suffer."
Iolaus
shook his head. "Hercules' friendship never caused me
to suffer! It was rewarding."
The
prosecutor turned at him and raised his eyebrows in bewilderment
as he looked back down at his parchments. "Rewarding?
Let's see. When Hercules killed Demetrius, his brother came
looking for Hercules, wanting revenge. And did he find him? No.
But he found you, Iolaus, didn't he?"
Iolaus
nodded unsure where this was going. And he wondered where the
prosecutor got all the information from. He must have dug really
deep.
The
prosecutor led his arms behind his back "Can you explain to
the jury what happened to you when Macius found you?"
Iolaus
swallowed hard as the mentioning of Macius' name brought
long buried memories up. It was as if he could still feel the
agonizing pain when the warlord broke his arm in an attempt to
force the blond to reveal Hercules' whereabouts.
"Iolaus?"
the prosecutor asked into the hunter's thoughts. "What
happened when Macius found you instead of Hercules?"
Iolaus
took a deep breath. "He wanted to know where Hercules was so
he could kill him."
"And
did you tell him?"
"No,
of course not. He's a murderer and his brother had
"
"And
did Macius take *no* for an answer?"
Iolaus
looked down at his arms, which still bore a small scar from the
torture he had endured by Macius' hand. "No he
didn't." he whispered painfully.
"What
did he do to you?"
Iolaus
tried to sort through the thoughts whirling through his head. The
memory of the agonizing pain and the feeling of helplessness
suddenly seemed too recent and fresh.
"He
tried to get me to tell him where Hercules was."
"Yes,
you said that already. How did he do that?"
Iolaus
clenched his lips together. "He tortured me." he
whispered. His voice was merely a breath as he tried to control
his voice from displaying what pain these memories brought up.
The prosecutor leaned forwards.
"What?
I didn't quiet hear that."
Iolaus
head shot up. "He tortured me!" he said, his voice loud
and desperate. "He beat be up and then, then - when I still
wouldn't tell him, he broke my arm."
The
prosecutor straightened his back as he looked at the jury
obviously shocked by the outburst. "And this wasn't the
only time you got hurt protecting the son of Zeus, was it?"
Iolaus
stared at him. "No, but it's not important. It was
always about "
"In
fact when Hera had send an Enforcer to kill Hercules, you got
hurt again, didn't you?"
Iolaus
sighed heavily. "I was trying to protect my friend."
"And
when you faced her in the inn, you knew that she was alive
because Hercules failed to defeat her."
"She
was made out of water and re-formed when he'd pushed her
into the ocean. He couldn't have known "
"So
you took her on even though you knew Hercules couldn't kill
her. What made you think you could?"
"I
don't know. I just had to stop her."
"And
did you? Of course not. She beat you up. You almost died."
Iolaus
swallowed hard at the memory of the severe beating he'd
received from the Enforcer. "It wasn't that bad. I
managed to warn Hercules and Nemesis and "
The
prosecutor laughed dryly. "Ah, yes. Nemesis! And may I ask
you what happened to Nemesis after she heard about the Enforcer
trying to kill Hercules?"
Iolaus
sighed. *Nice going Iolaus* he thought. *you played right into
his hands!*
The
prosecutor leaned forwards. "Iolaus? What did Nemesis
do?"
"She
went after her. "
"Did
she? On her own? What chance did she – a mortal woman - have
against something neither Hercules not you could defeat?"
"None.
She was knocked unconscious, but then Hercules came and
"
"So
in your own words: another person got almost killed trying to be
a hero like Hercules!"
"It
wasn't like that. The Enforcer had to be stopped."
The
prosecutor stepped up in front of the hunter. "The
Enforcer." he said coldly. "This wasn't your only
encounter with one of Hera's Enforcers, was it?"
Iolaus
remained silent.
"In
fact, soon after this water Enforcer there came another one. Fire
- was it?"
Iolaus
took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"And
this time, you didn't walk away, did you?"
Iolaus
lips did not move.
"In
fact, you died, is that not right?"
The
blonde's eyes sunk to the ground and he nodded heavily.
Iolaus felt awful. In the pit of his stomach grew a feeling of
betrayal and he was afraid to turn around and see the hurt in
Hercules' eyes what must surely be there. Everything Iolaus
had said so far was working against the demi-god. Every word,
which left the hunter's mouth in support for the demi-god
was turned into a nail in Hercules' coffin. The prosecutor
stopped pacing in front of the hunter and stared down at him.
"And
of course Gasancus wasn't the first man to pretend he was
Hercules, was he?"
"I
don't know what you mean!"
"Oh
but I think you do! Was it not that you and Hercules where called
to help a village against an evil warlord only to find out that
Hercules' own brother has been impersonating him?"
Iolaus
was speechless. "That has nothing to do with this! Iphicles
was just "
"It
has everything to do with this! Not only did his own brother
pretend to be Hercules, but what happened to you then? Did you
not take on a group of soldiers on your own?"
"I
couldn't just stand there and watch them "
"So
you defeated them?"
"No."
"No.
They took you hostage and Hercules had to come to your rescue.
Don't you think that Hercules surely wouldn't have had
any problems getting out of this one?"
Dirce
stood up resolutely. "Objection, your honour. The
prosecution expects Iolaus to assume what Hercules would or
wouldn't have done."
The
judge looked at Dirce. "Sustained. The prosecution will
focus on its case of argument!"
The
prosecutor nodded in appreciation. "Very well. Iolaus,
let's get back to Gasancus. I agree with you. You and him
have little in common."
Iolaus'
eyes narrowed in renewed suspicion. What came now? The prosecutor
crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"In
fact you carry the Herculean ideal further. On top of you paying
the price to follow Hercules' ideal, you pull others down
with you!"
"I
would never endanger anybody "
"So
when you dropped that woman on the bridge you didn't realize
afterwards, that your trying to be a hero like Hercules got
innocent people killed?"
All
eyes suddenly stared at Iolaus and Dirce exchanged a shocked look
with Hercules. The demi-god gasped painfully as the memory of
that coursed day returned and he could almost see the sunken form
of his best friend sit on that well in the village centre.
Hercules looked up at Dirce and his eyes carried a shadow of
helplessness.
Dirce
jumped up and slammed her hand on the table.
"Objection,
your honour! Iolaus is not on trial here!"
The
judge looked from Dirce to Iolaus and then over at the prosecutor
and finally rested his eyes on Hercules.
"Objection
overruled. The court will hear Iolaus' answer."
Iolaus
looked over to where Hercules was sitting on the bench, his eyes
pleading helplessly at the demi-god.
"Herc?"
he whispered silently.
"Answer
the question, Iolaus!" the demi-god said calmly.
Iolaus
swallowed hard and turned back at the prosecutor. "Yes, I
did."
The
jury's voices turned from a mere whisper to a loud mumbling.
The prosecutor smiled confidently as he turned at Dirce.
"Your
witness!" he said, looking triumphantly at Dirce.
The
woman took a deep breath and stood.
"Iolaus."
she said as she walked over to the blond. "Tell us about
your friendship with Hercules. How long have you known each
other?"
"We're
friends since we where kids. We went to the academy together and
then decided to travel together."
"And
in all those years, have you ever regretted your friendship with
Hercules?"
"No,
I haven't."
"And
has there ever been a reason for you not to trust him with your
life?"
Iolaus
shook his head, carefully watching the jury. "Never. We are
best of friends and would never abandon the other. We have sworn
to always cover each other's back and we've never
broken this promise. There have been times of pain and doubt, but
that's what friendship is all about. Together we can go
through anything."
Dirce
smiled as she returned to her table. "And a legendary
friendship it is. No further questions."
The
prosecutor stood up and walked to stand in front of Iolaus.
"Let's talk about your friendship with Hercules."
Iolaus
nodded. Whatever the man would throw at him on this, he could
take. Their friendship was true and honest. He could not turn it
against Hercules.
"Is
it not true, that when it comes down to him or you, he'd
choose what's best for himself and then leaves you
behind?"
Iolaus
creased his eyebrows. "Hercules would never do that!"
The
prosecutor raised his eyebrows in amazement. "So, when his
mother died, he didn't join his father on Mt. Olympus and
left you behind even though you told him you thought that it was
a bad idea?"
Iolaus'
mouth dropped open as he violently protested. "It
wasn't like that. Hercules did what was best for the greater
good!"
"That's
not true and you know it! He did it out of selfish reasons
because he has this neurotic obsession about proving himself to
Zeus! Stepping out of his father's shadow!"
"Zeus
is his father and he was never there for him. There is nothing
wrong with seeking your father's appreciation!"
"And
you would know all about that, wouldn't you?"
Dirce
stood up again and looked hatefully at the prosecutor.
"Objection, your honour. Iolaus' father "
But
the prosecutor waved his hand. "I withdraw that comment.
Iolaus tell me about the way you feel when you travel with
Hercules?"
"What
do you mean?"
"I
mean how does it make you feel? Standing there and watching him
while he does all these heroic deeds?"
Iolaus
straightened his back. This conversation sounded awfully
familiar. "I don't just stand there, I'm right
there with him, fighting by his side!"
"How
does it make you feel?"
Iolaus
thought for a moment trying to spot the trap in this question.
"It makes me feel like I can make a difference. We help
people. We fight back-to-back. He's my best friend!"
"So,
if you feel so strongly about him, then why did you betray
him?"
Iolaus
stared at him in disbelieve. "I never "
The
prosecutor raised a piece of parchment in front of his eyes.
"Xena, I believe her name was?"
Iolaus
gasped. "How did you ?"
The
prosecutor ignored him as he continued. "There was Xena and
what about that time you decided to go your own way and not
follow Hercules for a change, what happened then? You ended up
under sentence from the Gods for – pride? Let's face
it, Hercules friendship is causing you pain, grief and puts you
in danger!"
Iolaus
was silent. He wanted this to end. This wasn't meant to be
like this. He had hoped to step up onto the podium and prove to
the jury and everybody in the room, that Hercules was a hero, an
honourable man and that his friendship with the demi-god was the
best thing that could happen to a man.
But
he'd failed miserably and now .
The
prosecutor watched the display of emotions on the hunter's
face.
"You
are a brave man, Iolaus." he said as he placed a hand on the
hunter's shoulder. Then he let go and paced up and down in
front of Iolaus. "You face the same dangers as Hercules does
with a fraction of his strength. And you've managed to walk
away from the pain and enjoy the rewards your work and your
friendship with Hercules brings you. You're a lucky
man."
Iolaus
looked up at the man in front of him. The prosecutor nodded in
support.
"Let's
face it, Iolaus. You have been luckier than most people, because
you have been Hercules' best friend and every time you try
to be a hero like him and you fail, he's there to bail you
out!"
Hercules
couldn't listen anymore. Seeing his best friend in obvious
dispair, being psychologically brought to his knees was like a
knife was plunged over and over into his heart. The demi-god
jumped up, his eyes full of rage.
"That's
not true! Iolaus can take care of himself! He's had many
adventures without me! He's brave and strong and loyal, the
best friend a man could "
The
prosecutor flew around. "Yes, *loyal* That's exactly
the point!" he interrupted. "And where does this
loyalty lead him?"
He
returns to the table behind him and picks up a pile of
parchments, waving single sheets in front of him.
"You
had to save Iolaus from a dragon, when he went to fight it
against your advice! You had to bail him out when you were under
Siege at Naxos! You saved him from the She-Demon, and if it
wasn't for you, Iolaus would have been executed in Syros for
robbing the King's vault, or would have started a war over
some golden apple!"
The
prosecutor picked up one of the parchments.
"Women,
warlords, monsters, sentences from the Gods! Can you honestly
deny that Iolaus got into these troubles, because he wanted to be
a hero like you? And don't tell me *Iolaus is his own man*
It's his free choice, which leads him to follow your example
and to try and be like you!"
Hercules
had grown silent and stared down at his feet. Even though the
words sounded wrong, deep down in his heart, the son of Zeus knew
that the prosecutor was right. For years, Hercules had worried
about his best friend's life as he faced everything Hercules
faced with bravery and loyalty. But at what cost to himself?
The
prosecutor smiled. "And your friendship has cost Iolaus his
life more than once already, we have heard that! Am I not
right?"
Then
he turned back at Iolaus. "Let's talk about your family
here for a moment."
A
knot grew in the pit of Iolaus' stomach as he stared at the
prosecutor in front of him.
"What
about them?"
"When
was the last time you've seen your mother?"
Iolaus
grew silent and his eyes sunk to the ground.
"You
go with Hercules to visit his mother Alcemene all the time. What
about your own mother? Did she not get married a couple of years
ago?"
Iolaus
grew more and more uncomfortable. "Yes, she did. To Pandion.
He is a ."
"It
must have been a beautiful wedding!"
Iolaus
shoulders started to sag. "I guess it was. I wasn't
there."
The
prosecutor turned around and stared at the jury. "You
didn't go to your mother's wedding?"
Iolaus
looked over where Alcemene sat next to Jason. "No, I
didn't."
"And
why not?"
"Hercules
and I where in Massini and "
"So
you missed your own mother's wedding?"
Iolaus
shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably. "I meant to go and pay
her a visit, but we where busy. Every time there seemed to be
something coming up and "
"Obviously
you weren't too busy to attend Alcemene's wedding, were
you?"
Iolaus
flinched visibly at the comparison. Even though his head told him
to spit into the prosecutor's face in defiance, his heart
grew heavy. The man in front of him was right. How could he have
done to his mother what he did? He knew that he and his mother
not always got along, but he should have been there for her,
there with her.
Iolaus
opened his mouth and wanted to say how wrong the argument was and
how the prosecutor twisted everything around. That no matter what
it looked like, he had always loved his mother. But Alcemene had
always been more like a mother to him.
The
hunter wanted to turn around as he could feel Alcemene's
piercing eyes on his back and in his head he could almost hear
her gentle voice "Everything will be fine, Iolaus!"
But
Iolaus knew this was a lie.
The
hunter knew that everything he'd said had not helped his
best friend, but added more weight to the accusations against the
demi-god. All Iolaus hoped for now was for the earth to open up
beneath him and swallow him.
The
prosecutor turned back at Iolaus and smiled.
Well,
you know the rest !