Author's Note and Thanks : Sorry for the delay in updates. As some who have read my profile page may know, my computer suffered a major crash and I lost a whole lot of things. Things seem to be okay, for now. Here's to hoping at least. Thank you to my loyal readers and reviewers, both new and old. I hope this part lives up to expectation.
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Heracles left Megara and Admeta with the Amazons with mixed feeling. Admeta had become quite a woman, capable of ruling both justly and with the fierceness needed to protect her people. Eurystheus could rest well, knowing that his kingdom was at last in hands of a wise ruler.
At least, that was the opinion Heracles had formed over the course of their long journey.
Well, if he could convince her to leave the Amazons that was. As they had entered the camp, they had heard several tales of the weeding out of candidates for the new Queen of the Amazons. To her surprise, she was one of the choices. As Hippolyta had said, she couldn't go on forever.
And she didn't want to.
What she wanted was to leave her women in the hands of someone who would do right by them. Who would protect and serve them with ferocity and honor, while retaining the dignity and character that categorized them among those who really knew them. Admeta's actions had led to her being one of the few choices, the much younger but far more experienced Penthesilia being the other option.
But she was from another tribe of Amazons, sent to learn the older ways. From what he heard, this had been an unprecedented move. For her tribe was a Trojan ally – and as Hippolyta's was affiliated with the Spartans, they were rivals.
It seemed that, in an effort to preserve their heritage, Hippolyta was making a move to solidify the two into one tribe. But only if Admeta chose to go home.
But Megara…knowing that it would be the last time he'd see his friend, he felt sad. While he'd argued with her that her home was now in Tyrins, she had steadfastly refused to return with him. Even to say good-bye to the friends she'd made there, she would not return with him. The last view of her he had was of her waving at him, her words ringing in his ears.
'I have found my peace here, Heracles. Ask no more from me for I wish to remain with my sisters. There is much that I have to make up for – and Hippolyta needs me here with her. I didn't realize what the loss of Lycia had done to her. I owe it to both of them to help. As you have had your labors to perform to heal, this one is mine for I can no longer follow after you. But this…this I can do.'
His heart hurt as he turned his little boat towards home, hoping to have a bit of a rest before the next adventure began. She was his oldest and wisest female friend. Truthfully, he wasn't quite sure what he would do without her and her wisdom – and her kicking him in the pants when he got to behaving like an egocentric jerk.
Looking up at the sky, he noticed the mournful grey and wondered if his mother was shedding tears for him. He found himself doing that a lot more lately. Found himself wondering more and more about his mother, what she was doing and feeling, he wished that he'd been able to confide in Meg. Of all people, she deserved to know the truth.
Titans, but he could use his mother's advice right now.
Changing course, he decided to visit one of the lesser known Oracles of Apollo. She had said if he ever needed her advice, to consult with Apollo. It was with some trepidation that he made this decision for he'd foolishly lost his temper on his one visit to such an Oracle. They hadn't been willing to answer him and he'd reacted stupidly. Creating a situation where the god himself had to come down and see to him.
His penance then was rather comparatively light in comparison with some of the other tasks he'd been required to perform. He'd had to exchange his normal robes and club for a woman's veil and shuttle, living in their quarters. While serving with Omphale, he had learned to focus his temper to make it work for him instead of against him. Truthfully, he'd actually learned that if he didn't want to live as a woman, he'd better keep his mouth shut.
And temper in check.
Entering the Temple after a trip of three days on sea and two across land, he made a small offering and walked up to the Priestess there. The beautiful, dark skinned woman waited for him by the statue of Apollo, her brown hair encircled about her head in several braids. Though not the High Priestess, she had the markings of an apprentice.
She bowed to him respectfully, a cautious smile on her face. Though she'd lived in Achaea for most of her adult life, a faint trace of her Libyan accent remained behind as she asked, "How may I be of aid to you, Heracles?"
Even after all the times of seeing and being seen by Oracles, he was always surprised that they knew him without an introduction. Most everyone he ever met didn't know him until he introduced himself. He knew they were expecting a more godly figure and was rather grateful not to have one. It would make travelling about rather difficult if he was always known.
Still, it made dealing with Oracles a shock. "I was wishing to hear advice from Lord Apollo."
"Ah," there was only a momentary fear in her eyes as she said, "I'm afraid that their will be no rituals today. My purification ceremony will not begin until tomorrow. Until then, I cannot speak to the god."
"But I need some answers," he almost whined.
She stepped back, eyes darting about fearfully. Everything was secure but that wouldn't hold against a man of his strength. And she was completely alone. Would anyone be able to come to her aid should she scream for it? Or would they all be too afraid of this man?
"Will the questions not wait until a safer time for me to speak with the Lord Apollo?" she tentatively asked, striving to appear firm.
"What if I said no?" his question was belligerent. And his look challenged her to say no to him again. But there was something in his eyes that spoke of a deeper desperation behind his presence here, one that asked her not to fear him.
She feared him anyway. It was hard not to fear the man who'd done so many things, fought so many monsters, - and stood against the god Ares in several battles and won. While he did not have the same kind of imposing presence that the Lord Apollo had, there was still that sense of power about him.
"Anaya Koreas, it's all right. I shall see to Heracles' needs," a low voice spoke from the right. The both of them looked over, noticing the robed woman standing there. Only her eyes showed above the white veiling, a startling green that looked at him in disappointment.
He recognized those eyes with a wince. Shame filled him. Hera.
"Have you not learned that there is no point in demanding for the things you want? That doing so only reveals a character of inner ugliness that detracts from the true spirit and beautiful soul that you possess?" she lectured him gently but firmly. "One that has been the real reason for your success for your love of humanity has granted you allies and aid that otherwise would have been denied you? Had Bellerophon been half so humble, he would not have met such an untimely and inglorious end."
Flushing, he looked down momentarily and then at Priestess Koreas. What did she think of him now? Would she be ashamed to call him son now? "Forgive me, Priestess," he sincerely said. Truly meaning it, his eyes remained chastened. "There is no excuse good enough to be a reason for being rude to you."
She nodded, recognizing his honest sincerity. "I forgive you." It was easy to say the words because she meant them. After all, it couldn't be easy to be the son of a god and have people always demanding more from you than you could rightly give them. One only had to think of Asclepius and what had become of him when he tried to help and heal all who came his way.
"You may leave us in peace," the woman said, noting the curious stare she was receiving from the both of them. One of them had gone from curiosity to knowing while the other remained fearful, if appreciative for what she had done to help her out in this situation. "I shall be quite all right alone with Heracles."
Still, it took the priestess a few more moments to leave them alone.
"Come into the garden," she invited him, stepping aside so that he could walk in front of her. Waiting until he was sitting under an olive tree, she knelt on the ground, tending to one of the sickly plants. After a moment of working to reassure herself that they were truly alone, she looked up at him. A hand pulled back the veil and she smiled up at him. "I had not expected you to want to see me so soon, Heracles."
"Hello, mother," he greeted her with a smile. Tilting his head, he asked, with regret. "Is this how it is to be? I only met you in disguise?"
After so long of questioning, of doubting if anyone really cared, it hurt to have to hide it away. He wondered how his mortal mother had handled the secrecy with such grace and compassion. Truly, he would have to thank her when he returned home. This must have been hard for her, keeping such a secret inside.
Knowing the truth and yet, she had to remain silent and full of grace in the face of all the lies. Silent amongst the accusers. Alcmene was a woman who raised him right but he lacked her strength for he wanted to reveal the truth to the world. It only made him love Alcmene more for being so loving and devoted to both him and his real mother.
"Will I ever be able to tell anyone the truth?"
"I thought it would always be in shadow, kept between us. But…" she trailed off, looking up at the heavens. For a moment, her eyes went distant, lost in memory. Looking at him, she quietly said, "Zeus knows."
"What?" he gasped, forgetting his own desire to end the secrecy with those he was closest to.
Anger and fear quickly came over him and he studied her intently. While he couldn't see any injuries, not seeing them did not mean that they weren't there. This he knew from painful experience. Luckily for him, though he had offended Apollo, the god of healing was also a forgiving god.
"Are you all right? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, quite the opposite. He and I had a long talk," she paused momentarily, shaking her head with an almost lusty chuckle. "Well, talk isn't quite the word I should use for it was more like a bit of vocal soul searching, mixed in with some debating, on both of our parts. He wants to recommit to our marriage. In fact, he asked me to marry him again."
"And you said yes?" he asked, almost in disbelief.
"Well, I didn't exactly say no," she said, "Nor did I say yes."
"So, what did you say?"
"That he needed to be careful with my heart so as not to break it again," her reply was simple. "Heracles, I know that this is hard for you to understand in light of everything that you know of him, but Zeus does love me. Really, truly, deeply, slightly madly, but he loves me. It isn't quite in the same way as a mortal man would love his wife – or lover, so it is rather hard to explain. But that does not mean that his love for me doesn't exist.
"I no longer question that reality.
"And he is my husband. I have to obey the dictates of my heart and conscience in this. To do otherwise would be contrary to my nature. I've never wanted to be anywhere but at his side, though in the beginning it was never to be as his wife. Always as a councilor to him, aiding him as he ruled the heavens but I became his wife for he taught me to love him as he loves me.
"I truly believe that we can make this work. We are no longer the young, impetuous gods we once were. As all beings must occasionally do, we grow and change. The fates have decreed that Zeus and I change and grow together or apart. He does not desire a life without me, nor I one without him. So, we're going to try being a little more honest with each other, a little more lenient. In order to test him, I told him the truth."
"What did he say?" he asked, listening to her and trying to really see as she was seeing. Unfortunately, with all that he knew of Zeus, he was quite defeated.
The god that she was describing did not match any of the tales or even the reality of what he had seen of Zeus. After all, it wasn't his shot that had killed Porphyrion.
"He has called my son his son. Had he answered otherwise, we would not be talking now. Apollo would be in my place, letting you know where I was. For I would be living quietly somewhere – or preparing to fight him for he would have gone after you. As he did not, I know that he is earnest in making this work."
"And can you trust him not to cheat on you again?" This was one point he wanted to find out the most about for it was Hera's destructive, jealous side that threatened humanity. And as she had pointed out, he loved humans. If he had to fight his own mother to protect mortals…well, he wasn't sure if he could do it.
He'd be torn between two loyalties and knew that his mother would be the one he'd end up fighting.
"Oh, I know that he will. The difference now is that I know it isn't a reflection on me," she shrugged to hide her uncertainty. For while she really believed it, she wasn't really sure it would be that easy. "This time, he will be more honest with me. I hate that he can't be faithful.
"But what I think I hated more was the dishonesty he perpetuated when caught. It was an insult to my intelligence when he would try to hide it from me even though I could clearly see what he was doing. When he asked me to recommit, he said that he might not always be faithful but that he would always be mine.
"This is something I can trust." Even if I hate it, the words went unspoken but they both could clearly hear them.
Heracles shook his head, unable to wrap his mind about her almost blind devotion to Zeus. After all he had put her through, she was willing to give him another chance. Another chance to break her heart and throw her vows in her face, and here she sat, seeming to be quite accepting of her eventual heartbreak. Even resigned to the inevitability of Zeus' cheating ways, she should be angry enough to walk away from him.
Yet, he could also understand why she wished to remain in this union. It was a little bit of pride but it was mostly love. If she loved Zeus half as much as her eyes said she did, then he would give him the benefit of the doubt.
But heaven help the King of the gods if Zeus ever hurt her. She may have been Zeus' wife, but she was his mother.
And he would protect her to the best of his ability, even against his mighty stepfather. "Well, you have my support," he replied. "Not that I think you need it."
"I may not need it, but I do want it," she softly told him. "It means a lot more to me than you can imagine. Thank you for trying to understand. Now, what is it you wish of me? Surely it was not to hear of my situation with Zeus save for what applies to you."
His head shook, knowing he'd never even thought about the two being parted. It was a non-issue in his mind. For, in reality, the two of them had never really separated. Even her vacation when she'd met the man who fathered him, she had always intended to return to Olympus.
To Zeus, even if she couldn't admit to the truth then.
"No, it wasn't," he paused, trying to find the words he needed to say. Trying to explain something to her when he barely understood it. "I'm…lonely and confused for I've lost Meg. She stayed with the Amazons."
"And you think this was a bad choice?"
"I don't know," he rubbed his neck. "Part of me gets her reasoning, she has found peace and purpose there, found the home she lost when Lerna was destroyed. I can't help but feel…" he trailed off, unable to put words to his conflicted and confused emotions.
"Betrayed?" she guessed.
Heracles looked at her in shock. "Why would that word come to mind?"
"She's been a part of your life for a long time, though not as long as Iolaus has. As such, she is your friend and has been a part of your labors. Now, she leaves you behind to start life anew in a place removed from your side. A trail of her own choosing and design," she explained, reaching out to rest her hand upon his knee. "You had always thought that she'd be there for you when you needed her, never thinking otherwise. She no longer will be. It's natural to feel betrayed and let down."
"Am I wrong?" he asked softly, staring at her. "I feel that if I could just convince Iolaus to see her as she sees him, she would come home."
"But she still would not be in the same role as your best friend. She would become wife to your cousin," she pointed out, rising to sit beside him. "That would change the dynamic between you for his loyalty would move from you to her. You might find yourself in the middle of their marital woes, not an easy place for any friend to be. It isn't bad to want to keep her in your life but if you try only because of selfishness, you make light of everything the two of you have shared with each other. She isn't that far away."
"It feels like she is for I have this feeling that I won't be seeing her again. At least, alive," he said, staring off to the right before kneeling on the ground. Resting his head in her lap, he remembered the last time he'd been in this position. Though the grief was different, he still needed the comfort of his mother.
With care, she ran a hand through his hair, soothing him as she would Ares, Hephaestus, or Hebe. Though the older they had gotten, they had not sought her comfort as often as they once had unless truly grieved. Even Ares had returned to her, though he always made sure she was completely alone. In return, she never betrayed him by letting others know of his need for solace.
In later days, it had become something she had done for Apollo or surprisingly for Artemis, even on very rare occasions Hermes.
It was not something she'd ever tried on Dionysius – too much bad blood between them to ever let them be truly comfortable with each other – or Eris for that particular goddess had never wanted nor needed comfort from her mother. She'd often preferred the company of Strife or Deimos and their chaotic existence to want peace and comfort.
There was a part of her that hurt to not have a deeper connection with her youngest child. But as she had been conceived and born during one of the worst parts of her marriage, she had a hard time looking at her with any kind of affection. She wished that it wasn't so but had given up trying to bond with her in any meaningful way.
Finally accepting the truth – Eris didn't want her to be a part of her life.
"I could always point out that you would be able to visit her in the Realm of Hades," she softly said, "But that isn't true for she would not be the same woman you know in life. While the dead have a semblance of life, they lack the vitality of it. I remember wondering what it would be like to visit, wanting to see Philon again."
Heracles didn't stiffen or pull away at the reference to this stranger. He relaxed, listening to her tender voice, the very real affection there. The hand in his hair felt real, calming, strong, and he envied his siblings that they had this touch all of their lives. The touch that reassured them that they were loved, were valued, and that they were real.
It reminded him that even the gods grieved and felt the need to be reassured, of their need for love.
The touch also reminded him of Alcmene's love and constant support for him. Though he'd often doubted his place in this world, the touches of both of his mothers assured him that he was known and loved, that he was valued as more than just a strong warrior. Truly, he was blessed to have such loving and wonderful parents – even Amphitryon deserved praise for accepting him into his home when he didn't need to. A part of him wondered about Zeus, about how she'd said that he accepted him, and wondered if it was true.
Hera smiled, a gentle smile as she felt him relax. "To walk up to him in the Elysian Fields talk with him as I once did, and knowing that such a desire was futile. Even should I find him, he would not be the Philon I knew when he walked on earth. For while I do not doubt that I would be included in his happiest memories, I am not his wife. Sarapessa had been the love of his childhood and for most of his young adult life.
"It would've hurt to have to see him with another. But I wouldn't trade the love and life he gave me for anything for he gave me you," she paused. A laugh burst forth, "I never would've thought when I met him that we would've been anything more than distant neighbors. He was…rather irritating."
"Really?" he asked, tilting up his head to look at her.
With a nod, she explained, "I was new to the community. Not only that but I was newly mortal in body and perception. There were many things that I didn't understand about the way things worked in the mortal world. I had to learn about haggling, about the way mortals truly worshipped the gods…I'm afraid that the extent of my ignorance appalled him. I think he was afraid I was going to bring Zeus' wrath down upon them with my rather clumsy attempts at doing anything regarding proper rituals.
"Or even the causal observances towards the gods," this was said with a slight laugh.
"Somehow, I doubt Zeus would bring wrath down upon the city if you hadn't properly observed him," he dryly said.
Her laugh agreed with him. "About the only thing I was good at was treating visitors with reverence and respect. I was lucky in that Alcmene was travelling with her husband's army during my early days living upon Gaea's surface. They'd been passing through, finished with whatever war he'd been commanding. They decided to rest for a while, not knowing if they'd be welcomed back at home. You may not know it but she married him against her father's wishes. As a result, they were driven out.
"So, I benefited from her company. There were so many things she taught me. I never would've made it without her patience, her understanding, and her friendship. She was still in that newlywed phase when everything was fresh but settling into a comfortable pattern, just fresh out of the Temple – but she knew me instantly. I don't really know how, covered in mud and animal feed as I was," she laughed again.
"I was really bad at feeding animals," she confided. "Even goddesses make mistakes – especially if they are pretending to be something they aren't and refuse to use their abilities. Most of the time, the animals were accepting of my clumsy efforts – they've always known the presence of divinity, no matter how disguised. Of course, pigs proved to be the exception and weren't above jumping me in an attempt to get their food. In fact, that's how I also met Philon."
A dirty Hera? Heracles had a hard time seeing the composed woman as anything but immaculate. "He saw you covered in muck?"
She nodded, "I'd fallen into the mud, chasing after one of my pigs. I was more angry than embarrassed to be caught so by a man. It could've been worse. At least he only got a glimpse of me in an irritable mood. My first impression of him was that he was a loathsome toad for he couldn't even be bothered to help me up. All he did was stand there, laughing at me. The other men in the town had thought I was some kind of nymph for I couldn't quite rid myself of my godly beauty. For all his devotions, he could care less. I was both angry – and intrigued by this man. As a result of those conflicted emotions, I was nasty.
"He just ignored my attitude, said something about it being a part of woman's nature. That it would take more than a tongue lashing to get rid of him," she shook her head. "I'd never met a more pigheaded mortal. Now, he wasn't quite as stubborn as Zeus. No one is that stubborn, although he would argue – and quite affectively – that I'm far worse than he is. And he's right. I am."
It was her matter of fact tone that made him comment, rather surprised. "Do you think that's something to brag about?" Most women tried to avoid admitting to such a thing. Even he tried to avoid admitting to it, something that was patently ridiculous as Meg and Iolaus were often to say.
"I don't see it as bragging," she replied calmly. "It's quite true. I'm stubborn and sometimes have to be kicked in the rear in order to change my ways. That's not something I can deny, so why should I even try? Since it is such a part of me, I feel that I'm not so much bragging about it as warning people of the type of woman I am. Not all people like surprises," she added, thoughtfully. "I'm in the category of it depends upon my mood – and the person behind it."
"Did Philon ever try to surprise you?" he asked.
Her hand paused briefly, thinking it over. Trying to decide which one would be the most acceptable to tell him. It wasn't as if they were scandalous, but some weren't ones she could think of with any degree of distance yet. "Yes, he did. This was after we'd officially been introduced but were still in that state in which we weren't sure what to make of each other.
"But I think he decided that he rather liked me and wanted to get to know me better but wasn't sure how to go about doing it. Or that he was sufficiently intrigued by my presence that he wanted to find out how far he could push me. Anyway, I went out one morning to find my fence had been moved. The strangest part of it was that there were no traces on how it had been done. Fences do leave traces of where they were. But I believe you know something of fences?"
Heracles laughed, "I'm not going to live that down, am I?"
"Not anytime soon, I'm afraid," she agreed, her hand resuming its soothing pattern.
"I guess there's worse things to be teased about," he said in resignation. "Have you any moments like that?"
"Several – but not all of them are appropriate for your ears," she dryly said, clearing her throat. "So, about Philon's surprise. I find out that not only has my fence been relocated but that all of my cows were on the other side, mingling with his bulls. His bulls mind you, not his cows. All I could do was stand there, mouth agape, staring at our animals and wondering if he was trying to hint at something."
"Was he?" he interrupted.
"If he was, it was truly hidden within his subconscious. He actually had the audacity to suggest that I was the one who'd decided to bring about this mixing of breeds. I was in the midst of yelling at him about how he'd stolen my cows and that I should bring him up on a charge of some kind when he started to laugh and asked me if I knew how absurd I sounded.
"Then asked me if I thought Hermes would be impressed. For a moment, I froze, thinking that he knew. He pointed out the cleverness of the trick, I couldn't avoid thinking of how right he was. The whole situation had such an air of absurdity to it – especially my reaction to it. I just couldn't help myself. I started to laugh," she stiffened and looked up.
"Greetings and salutations, Lord Zeus."
Heracles stiffened as a direct result of her reaction. All of the words she'd said about Zeus were forgotten and he rose, moving to stand in front of Hera, defensively. His searching eyes studied the piercing black of Zeus' own, noting that there was soft affection for the woman behind him before they looked at him.
Shockingly, even after hearing his mother's words, they held almost nothing for him. Not even a shred of hatred or burning anger, Zeus simply looked at him. It should have relieved him that she'd been telling the truth. Still, his mind struggled to take it in.
How could he not feel even the remotest feeling for the living proof of his wife's adultery?
"Greetings, my Lady Hera. I know that I promised you an entire day in which to talk with Heracles, but Demeter has put the ice on Troy," he stopped when she rose.
"Best see what I can do about heating it up," she said on a sigh. "I knew that it was going to get bad. Foolishly, I hoped that it wouldn't start so soon. Heracles, I have to go – but I will come should you ever call upon me. You need never fear upon that for you are always in my sight and in my heart."
Facing her, he smiled. Though the presence of Zeus made him nervous, he couldn't regret spending this time with her. Even if it had been cut remarkably short, "Thanks." He had the feeling that they were speaking of war and wondered if he would be called to join in the battle. For all his vast experience, he didn't think he'd ever fought in a mortal war.
The thought filled him with dread.
Hugging him tightly, she whispered, "Don't worry, my son. No matter what happens or what you choose to do, I'm always proud of you." Veiling herself, she vanished from sight, leaving him and Zeus alone in the garden.
"She's quite a woman," Zeus observed, voice heavy with affection. "And she's right to be proud of you."
Turning around, he studied him intently. There was no way he could deny the true care in the god's voice. But it was hard to picture this man – god, he corrected – as loving towards a woman he so often ignored. "Since I'm sure that you mean that, I thank you."
"But you have questions regarding the sincerity of my emotions towards my lady wife," he said, facing him again.
"Shouldn't I?" he retorted, arms crossing his chest. "It wasn't too long ago that you cursed a small, water god for lusting after her. By doing that, you left a town defenseless against a rampaging centaur. If she had not sent me on that mission, they would still be tormented." And I would never have known the joy of Deianeira, he silently added, knowing that Zeus didn't need to hear that.
"Now, you seem all to willing to let go of that possessive attitude and embrace her adultery – to embrace me."
"Love is a gift, Heracles," he coldly said. "Don't squander it." The words floated towards him on a breeze as he was left standing alone in the garden, a faint perfume in the air.
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"Mother, I'm home," Heracles called as he walked into the quiet home.
The layer of dust covering the furniture was surprised him. Filled with trepidation, he dropped his bag to the ground and hung up his cloak. Walking through every room, he quickly became aware of how lonely the house seemed, how empty it was. Turning around, he walked out and down the lane towards Iolaus' home. Knocking sharply, he waited as patiently as he could for it to open.
Breathing deeply, he tried to ignore the knots of worry filling his belly as his mind played out all the scenarios that could have resulted in his mother's disappearance. It wasn't like her to just leave her home, leave it without any kind of letter to him. She knew he'd worry over her.
"Heracles," Iona greeted him. Though she was the same age as Alcmene, the care of the years seemed to wear more heavily upon her than it ever had upon his mother. Her blue eyes held that faded quality of one who had seen to much pain and not enough joy and he was glad that he'd never seen Iolaus' so shadowed. "What can I do for you?" she asked, brushing a strand of gray hair behind her ear and rearranging her veil.
"Has something happened to my mother? She wasn't home," he said.
Iona blinked, "She left you no note? Strange," she murmured.
Heracles waited for a moment for her to continue before clearing his throat, counseling patience. As much as he wished to demand answers, he wouldn't get very far with it. Iona was not above shutting the door in his face. She'd done that to him once or twice.
More like half a dozen times because he still got tetchy with her. Of course, she was also rather fond of setting her dogs upon him. Though she was aware that he could easily harm her mutts, she still did it.
"Aunt Iona?" he gently prodded. "What happened to my mother?"
"Oh, she's gone to stay with Iphicles and Rena – that's his wife's name, right? I can never remember since he was engaged to that other girl before she left him for that soldier. I'm sure he met her later on that year, at that harvest festival. Or was it that wedding?'
"Aunt Iona?" he gently prodded.
"This pregnancy of hers is a bit more complicated than expected," she came out of her thoughts quickly, though she loved a good piece of gossip as much as the next person did. Living in small towns – even things in a big city – very little changed. One needed to hear and repeat all the stories one came across, even if they were exaggerated.
He breathed a sigh of relief. At least something bad hadn't occurred. Well, bad to his mother. He supposed that a complicated pregnancy was a bad thing and felt sorry for the couple. Anyway, he'd have to offer up a prayer and an offering to Artemis and to Hera to make sure that everything went as it should.
It was the least he could do for them especially since Artemis appeared to be protecting his mother. Though he supposed that under those circumstances, he should think of her as Artemis' stepmother. He didn't know this for sure but since there hadn't been a problem between them when Hera had come down to talk to him during their rescue of the hind, he felt safe in believing this was true. Though he had to wonder why when they both stood on opposite sides of the female perspective.
"Thanks, Aunt Iona. I'm going to go see them."
"Iolaus wanted to see you about something," she remembered to tell him before he stepped away from the step.
"Is he here?" he asked, stepping back towards the house. Best to get it out of the way now before things got to hectic and he completely forgot about it.
Shaking her head, she gestured towards the hills. "He received a missive and left. I haven't seen him in days."
"That's not like him. He's usually more conscientious than that," he murmured. Debating for a moment, he made a quick decision. The only one he really could under the circumstances, "I'll talk to mom before going to find him."
"Thank you, Heracles." The relief was obvious in her voice.
"Just out of curiosity, do you still have the missive?" he asked. "It may help me determine the state of his mind and where he may go to work off his tensions. If he was sad, then his pattern of behavior is different than it would be if he was angry. And there's no telling how he'll act if he's heartbroken."
Iona thought it over for a moment before shaking her head in regret. "I'm afraid that he took it with him."
"Don't be," he said. "The fact that he has it with him tells me more than reading it would." Walking into the palace, he made his way past the courtiers quietly and as quickly as possible. They were the last people he wanted to deal with, though he did take a moment to speak with Eurystheus. Knowing that he knew of the journey he'd so recently undertaken with Admeta, he knew his insight into the girl would be desired by the king.
After leaving his chambers, he went to the quarters his family was staying in. Iphicles was no where around and Rena was resting peacefully. He found Alcmene sitting in front of the window, her once vibrant, curly blond hair a soft gray. Still, for all the lines of worry and care that crisscrossed her face, she remained his graceful and beautiful mother.
"Thank you," he softly said, hugging her tightly.
"For what?" she asked, returning the hug.
"For having the courage to face the gossip of vindictive, jealous women and the town's condemning you for your unfaithfulness to your husband. They say I have strength and courage, it is nothing compared to yours for all that you did for me over the years. Nothing compared to what Amphitryon did in allowing scandal to be attached to your name and standing by you. I can't begin to understand how he must've felt, hearing all of the mud slung upon you.
"The both of you gave me so much at great cost to yourselves. Most of all you for you had to walk through the sting of gossip was continually heaped upon you and you said nothing. Thank you for watching over me, for loving me, and – most of all – thank you for indenturing me to Hera. If not for that, I don't think I'd ever have learned my mother's true character," he whispered, the confession for her ear alone.
Alcmene relaxed. After so long of waiting, she could finally relinquish her burden. She could stop looking for that sign that he knew, that he suspected the truth. From his reaction, he'd not only taken the news well, but that he had met her and had not been disappointed – not that she'd expected anything less of him.
It was everything she'd hoped for when she arranged for him to do penance under Hera's name and standard.
Still, she had worried that he wouldn't be able to see beyond the rumors. That he would hold onto the more vicious stories that circulated. For while they were true, she wasn't going to deny that such actions were a part of Hera's character, they weren't all that Hera was.
Limited by man's perspective of what a woman was, the real flesh and blood goddess that she was had been hidden from sight.
"So, she finally was able to tell you. I'm glad," she said. "And it was no hardship to me to care for you, troublesome though you at times could be."
"Couldn't have you getting complacent," he teased. They sat there for a while, exchanging tales before he rose with regret. "I have to find Iolaus." Though he just wanted to rest, he knew that he had to find his friend. Oh, Nebula, why couldn't you just leave well enough alone? For only the pirate queen had ever affected him so deeply.
"Of course you do," she smiled. "He would do no less for you." She watched him disappear from her window, waving the whole time. There was something else going on, she could sense it. But she'd long ago resigned herself to living with secrets being kept from her – and by her.