Sooo, sorry for the delay. I've really just been lacking in inspiration. Thank you to all who reviewed. You are seriously the only reason I bothered to update. :)
Hercules arrived in Corinth a couple of hours after he and Iolaus had parted, and bombarded his way towards the castle. The guards recognized him, and wisely let him pass through the gates unheeded. Once inside Hercules headed straight towards the family quarters where he saw his stepfather and friend.
"Jason!" Hercules called out.
"Hercules!" Jason yelled. "Thank the gods. We've been worried sick. Is Iolaus not with you?"
Hercules gave him a confused look. "What? Why have you been worried? ...Oh nevermind that." Hercules said impatiently. "Where is Mother?"
"Alcmene?" Jason questioned. "She's in the dining room with Iphicles. Xena and Gabrielle are in there as well."
"Good, so she's ok?" Hercules questioned, a relieved look quickly taking over Hercules' facial features. However, his relieved look quickly turned into one of confusion. "Did you just say Xena and Gabrielle are here?"
Jason, seeing that his stepson was worked up spoke to Hercules slowly. "Hercules, your mother is fine, why wouldn't she be? And yes, the girls are here. They came to warn us and you about some warlord named Xerces; you know him?"
"Yes!' Hercules exclaimed. "That's why I'm here, Mother is in danger. Xerces is after her because he thinks it is my fault that his brother is dead...which it is my fault, but that's beside the point."
"Wait." Jason said, raising his hand for silence. "You are saying that he's after Alcmene?"
"Yes." Hercules huffed impatiently, nodding his head.
At this Jason put his face into his palm and muttered, "This is all getting way too confusing for me."
"What do you mean Jason?" Hercules asked, exasperated. "It's not all that complicated. Xerces wants to hurt mother to get back at me for killing his brother."
Jason just shook his head. "I think we should go talk to the others."
"Fine." Hercules said. "I need to see mother anyway."
Upon entering the dining room, Hercules strode straight towards Alcmene and embraced her.
"Mother it's so good to see you." Hercules said as he turned her around and examined her. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine." Alcmene replied puzzled.
"Hercules is under the impression that this Xerces character is intent on taking his revenge out on you Alcmene." Jason explained.
Alcmene let out a gasp and put her hand to her mouth, "Oh my."
"Don't worry mother," Hercules said forcefully. "I won't let him anywhere near you."
Hercules then turned to question Jason, "And how do you already know about Xerces?"
"I already told you," Jason sighed. "Xena warned us."
"Yes," Iphicles said, standing up. "But she failed to inform us that mother was in danger."
Xena who had been sitting silently, now also stood up, facing Iphicles with an angry stare. "You weren't informed," Xena said, piqued, "Because that's not what we heard."
"What exactly did you hear then?" Hercules asked, somewhat relieved that Alcmene might not be in danger after all.
"Xena, I think you should start from the beginning so as not to confuse him even more." Gabrielle spoke up.
"Why don't we all take a seat?" Alcmene suggested sweetly.
Everyone nodded, and took their seats around the dining table waiting for Xena to begin.
Xena cleared her throat, "Well Gabrielle and I were in the general area about a month back when we heard that you were having some trouble with the warlord Donovan. So we decided to come help out, but probably not in the way you would expect."
At this Hercules gave Xena a confused look, and gestured for her to continue.
"You see, I left Gabrielle in a small village where she would be safe." At this Gabrielle crossed her arms, and looked extremely annoyed. "And then I proceeded to try and find Donovan's camp. After a couple of days I was successful. So I walked straight in, found Donovan, and offered so sign up to be one of his warriors."
"You did what?" Hercules almost shouted, barely managing to control his volume.
"My sentiments exactly." Gabrielle muttered.
Xena shot a glare at Gabrielle before continuing. "By joining with Donovan I though I'd be able to get inside information, and be able to help you and Iolaus out, and I was right."
"You two didn't see me," Xena illiterated, "But I was there at all of the skirmishes; I saved your hide plenty of times, and sabatoged several of Donovan's attack strategies." Xena paused for a couple seconds then continued, "I was also there when you," Xena struggled to find the right words, and with a smile settled on, "took care of Donovan."
Xena looked up at Hercules, "To be honest, I wasn't sure if you were going to finish him."
"I didn't have a choice. I'm sure you saw what he was capable of." Hercules said, getting angry just thinking about the atrocities Donovan had committed.
"Yes I saw plenty," Xena remarked. "I also saw the reaction of Xerces when he found out about Donovan's death...''
"Wait." Hercules interrupted, "I think I know what happened from here. A man stopped me outside of a village Iolaus and I were resting in, and said that Xerces is Donovan's second in command and brother. When I asked why I had never seen him he explained that Xerces was out recruiting more warriors on Donovan's orders."
"That's all correct," Xena said nodding. "He was out looking for more memebers, but he came back the day after you defeated Donovan."
"Yes," Hercules said, "the man told me Xerces was very angry, and that he overheard Xerces saying that he was going to take revenge on me by going after my mother."
Xena looked confused. "That is not correct, did you get this man's name?"
Hercules nodded, and thought for a moment. "Um...James, yea it was James."
Xena groaned, and put her face in her hands. "Skinny guy, about medium height, brown hair, and a thin scar on his cheek?" Xena asked.
Hercules looked dumbfounded, " Yea, how did you know?"
"James," Xena snarled the name, "is apart of Donovan's, now Xerces' gang. I think it's safe to say you were fooled."
"But why?" Hercules asked. "What does Xerces gain by making me think my mother is in danger?"
"Maybe he just wanted you to worry?" Jason suggested.
"Possibly,'' Xena commented. ''But I can assure you Hercules, Xerces does not have his sights set on your mother."
"Where are you going with this Xena?" Hercules asked warily.
"Like I said, I was there when Xerces found out you killed Donovan, and it wasn't pretty." Xena looked at Hercules seriously. "He swore revenge on you Hercules, and he won't rest until he either gets it or he's dead."
"Well, like I told James," Hercules snarled. "I'm not hiding. Xerces can come find me whenever he wants."
"I don't think he's going to go for you personally Hercules." Jason said. "Or at least that's the impression I got from what Xena has told us."
"And that would be?" Hercules prompted.
"Well, in Xerces' own words," Xena said, "He is more of an eye for an eye kind of guy."
"What?" Hercules asked, "I killed his brother so he's going to kill mine?" Hercules snorted. ''Yea right, they will never be able to get past the royal guard, especially now that they are forewarned."
Everyone was silent. Hercules looked at each of them. "What?" he asked. "Oh no," Hercules said, "please tell me there isnt more to this that I don't know about."
The continued silence that Hercules was met with was enough of an answer for him. Hercules put his face in his hands, tired of all the twists and turns. "I see how you thought this was confusing Jason." Hercules remarked.
"Uhm...no Hercules...I don't think you do." Jason said miserably.
Hercules just look at him with a confused and almost scared expression. "What aren't you all telling me?" Hercules asked.
"Xena, just tell him." Iphicles sighed."
"Yes Xena," Hercules said annoyed. "Tell me."
Xena let out a breath. "Hercules, where is Iolaus?"
Hercules waved his hand dismissively, "He'll be here later, how is that relevant?"
"Because," Xena said slowly, as if what she was about to say was going to cause her physical pain. "Donovan wasn't Xerces' brother...he was his best friend."
Alright...was that too confusing? Donovan and Xerces were so close that it seemed they were brothers, but in actuality they were best friends. That's where the title comes in; An Eye for an Eye. Well please review and tell me what you think. Was it a good confusing? hahaa, or did you not get it at all? Let me know. :)
