An arrow flew straight and true, striking the small, barely visible knot on the tree. Heracles waited before moving forward, wondering what he'd find. It was highly understandable that Iolaus would take out his frustrations in hunting and staying away from people. But the fact that he was merely shooting arrows at a tree spoke of deeper troubles, something that he wasn't quite sure he knew how to handle.

In all of Iolaus' moods, he'd never done anything like this.

"Iolaus?" he asked, remaining partly in the shadows of the clearing. The last thing he wanted was to startle his friend – or get an arrow in the chest. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have worried. But the arrows Iolaus used had been a gift, tipped with centaur blood. The only thing both men knew of that could physically harm him. It was something the both had found out on one of their many side trips.

"She's getting married, Herc. Married," he laughed bitterly. His blood shot eyes were wild in grief and anger. It was hard to determine which held the most sway over him. With his scraggly beard and unwashed clothes, he truly looked like the wild man who had scared the people in the town that he'd passed through – it was how he'd found him.

"And she wants me to come," he continued, as though Heracles had asked him for more information, "To give her my blessing with regards to her union. Not only that but she wants me to give her away, says I'm the only one she considers family. How do you like that?"

"That's cold," he said hesitantly. While he'd known it had something to do with Nebula, he hadn't thought it would something this bizarre and heartless. "It doesn't sound like her."

"Oh, bizarre as it seems, it's her all right," he said as he notched another arrow in his string and pulled it taut. "The messenger was none other than Xenon. I asked him after it and he said it was true. That every word written had happened, he was only truly sorry to be the bringer of bad news. What am I to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Force her to come away with me and think about what it is she's doing," he said, taking a deep breath to regain control and aimed carefully. "But my question wasn't about wants, it was about what I need to do. I wish Meg were here."

"You do know that she's in love with you, right?"

Iolaus let the arrow fly, watching as it sank into the wood with a resounding thunk, andthen faced him, eyes pained and resigned. "Yes, I know. I've tried to ignore it because I don't feel the same kind of feelings for her. It would have been so much easier for me if I had."

"Perhaps, but you've never done the easy thing," Heracles observed, watching him place another arrow on the bowstring. "Have you been doing this the whole time you've been out here?"

"No, sometimes I actually shoot food," he replied, a bitter smile on his face. "Food isn't what I need right now. I just need the distraction this provides. Tell me of your travels, Herc, and I'll stop shooting for a while. I've got a rabbit from earlier today as well as some figs and olives."

"Admeta isn't quite a brat anymore," he said, watching Iolaus lower the bow.

The blue eyes stared at him, incredulously. "You're kidding."

Walking over to sit on a log, he shook his head. His hand twisted a twig in his hand. "Yeah, that was my reaction to actually meeting up with her again. But the more I travelled with her, the more I realized that it was no joke. She's really done some growing up. The Amazons trained her and changed her heart. Not that she's changed that much, she's incredibly vicious against her enemies," and he had to pause, thinking of the way she'd beheaded the Captain who'd nearly killed the hind.

The relish on her face was understandable – and frightening to behold at the same time. "But she tempers that with compassion. Of course, I think she's going to have to find a husband who thinks compassion and mercy first because she doesn't."

"Not many men fit that qualification, Herc," he dryly pointed out. "And Orestes already has a wife and a kingdom. His son is already betrothed, not to mention he is the heir. There is no way they could combine the kingdoms into one, seeing as how there are several principalities between them."

"I wasn't thinking of them," he murmured. "Perhaps she just needs several good advisors, ones she can actually trust to do the right thing, not the most expedient."

They were silent for a while as Iolaus built up a fire and started to cook the rabbit. As they ate, he cleared his throat, "So, tell me, how did you find the Golden Hind? I won't bother to ask if you were successful – it's obvious that you were – but what kind of threats did you run into?"

"She was already captured by some members in the small community," he paused, thinking over how they had found her. The cage that held her, trapped and at the mercy of men she had known nothing about – and feared.

"What?" Iolaus asked, noting a familiar look in his eye. It was that half feral, half lost look that had been in his eyes from time to time. "Did Hera do something against you at last?"

"Don't you ever say something like that about her! She deserves more respect and honor than that!"

The furious roar of his voice and incensed eyes startled his friend. So startled that he dropped the plate he was holding, almost looking around for an escape. Never before had he been afraid of his best friend for they had been through far too much together. It had never occurred to him to be scared for this was Heracles, the guy he grew up with. Though he'd seen him in battle, it never changed his perception of him.

Until that moment.

All of that anger, that leashed menace was staring him straight in the face and he shivered. Truly at a loss on how to recall his cousin to himself. "Heracles?" he timidly asked, hands held out in a silent appeal. He watched as the hero visibly regained control over himself.

"I'm sorry, Iolaus. I never should have yelled at you. How could you know? How could you know what I've only just found out?" the last was whispered, barley heard above the sounds of the forest.

He put the plate aside and bent his head, holding it in his hands. His fingers twitched in his hair, trying to bring some sense of comfort to his mind. Reality set in at that moment as he realized that he was going to have to get used to people making comments like that one – possibly even worse ones – and he wouldn't be able to explain away his reaction to them. This was just one more thing that he was going to have to get used to. It was strange that when people thought that Zeus was his father, he could care less about what they said about him.

But when they spoke – or referred – to Hera in a negative or degrading manner, he felt the need to smash things and knock heads into the ground. To hurt them until they treated Hera with the respect she deserved, not because she was the Queen of the gods, which was only right, but because she was his mother.

Iolaus studied him. Once he was assured that nothing was going to happen, he rose to sit beside him. "Heracles, what happened?"

Raising his eyes to meet his, he drew in a deep breath. This was one person he knew he could talk to, could trust. "Zeus isn't my father."

"So, which of the gods is it?" he asked, not sure he understood what that had to do with Hera. And if Zeus wasn't his father, why had Hera tried to kill him?

"None," he replied. "Swear to me that you won't tell anyone what I am about to tell you without my consent. No matter what, you cannot tell anyone."

Iolaus was silent. Heracles had never spoken to him in this way. He'd never frightened him like this – outside of battle that was. Whatever else this was, this was serious. His eyes widened as an idea formed.

An outrageous one, true, but the only thing that made any sense with Heracles' reaction to his words.

"Hera's your mother, isn't she." The silence and the tense shoulders, the way Heracles wouldn't quite meet his eyes were the only answers he needed. "Oh, what are you going to do? I mean, Zeus will…he'll use you for lightening practice.

"Or something," he added uncertainly.

Actually, he wasn't quite sure what Zeus would do to any mortal child of Hera's. There was no precedence for it because there had never been a reason for him to react. There was a security in knowing the kind of goddess Hera was for one always knew where one stood with her.

You kept true to your vows, she was supportive and helpful. If you crossed her, she would make your life a living nightmare. Faithful and devoted, she wasn't known for her roving eye. Or her forgiving manner of those who strayed and broke the vows they made.

But then, he thought some more about it. Hera's actions towards mortals had become far more kind, more open, and loving towards her followers ever since that mysterious disappearance of hers he'd heard people speak of. There was a sense of true acceptance towards mortals. There was more forgiveness and kindness towards the mortals who followed her – especially women who faltered in their vows.

Could the birth of Heracles be the reason for the change?

"Mother says that he won't do anything," he replied.

"And you believe that?" Iolaus asked, skeptical of Zeus being lenient towards him. It was not something he'd take at face value, that's for sure. And the nonchalance in Heracles' voice didn't do much to inspire confidence in his words. It was usually a bad sign when Herc hid his emotions so casually.

"Until he gives me reason to believe otherwise, I don't see that I have much choice." There was a break in his voice as he let Iolaus in. And it was clear from the doubt in his voice, the uncertainty there, that he was not sure of his words, no matter how accepting they sounded. It was such an odd sound. For even when he'd had some idea that he was Zeus' son, Heracles hadn't been bothered by the idea that Hera had the power to do anything she wanted to him with little objection or interference by his father.

But now that it was Zeus in the position of the betrayed, of the vindictive spouse, the questions of his fate were left completely open. There was more to fear.

"So, she just came down and told you that she was your mom," he said, voice heavy with skepticism.

Heracles shook his head. "She just confirmed what I had been feeling for a long time."

Iolaus was hurt, deeply hurt by this secrecy. He knew that he wasn't the most closed mouthed of people, but he thought that Heracles knew that he could trust him to remain quiet about the important things. Even if they were speaking of it now, it didn't remove that stinging pain that they'd never talked of it before.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what? That I had a theory that what everyone was saying about who my father could be was a lie? No, I couldn't do that," he said. "I never even told Deianeira what I thought. And if I couldn't tell my own wife – a priestess of Hera – that I felt everyone was mistaken, how could I tell you?"

"That's true," he was silent, thinking. Trying to swallow back his hurt and process all that he was saying. It was no easy feat but Iolaus was nothing if not loyal and honest. He knew that, when push came to shove, he was the only one Heracles would turn to. As such, he needed to continue faithful in that course.

Even if he was hurt by the fact that he'd never even been told about his speculation.

And then he remembered something, a talk they'd had about the voice that had sometimes come to Heracles in his times of need. A voice that was not stern like Athena's but it was a woman's voice, calm and authoritative. "You did once hint about it though."

"Yeah, I did at that." He recalled once talking to him about the voice that had often guided and offered comfort to him. A soft, female voice that had never seemed angry even if there was disappointment in it at times, he remembered saying that he felt it was the voice of a mother.

"But if she's your mother, why did she try to kill you? That makes no sense," Iolaus pointed out.

Heracles shrugged, "I can only offer a theory on that. It may be nothing more than trying to distract others from noticing her strange behavior. If you remember, that's the only direct attack that was aimed at my family and it was more towards me than them. All of those on Olympus must've been excepting something – especially in light of my name – so, she had to do something.

"Otherwise, Zeus might've been more curious. He might've pressed her about what she was up to in regards to me or did some private searching to find out what really happened to her."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I don't have any other theory," he shrugged. "Iolaus, I just found out about this. And only recently did I find out my father's name, Philon. I'm struggling to make sense of what doesn't make any sense at all. Which means that I have no answers except for what makes sense to me," he added.

They were quiet before Heracles offered him his plate, "Did you want to finish this? Yours is quite inedible now."

Shaking his head, he recognized Heracles' need for privacy. In truth, this whole conversation was making him uncomfortable for he didn't know quite what to think. It was one thing to think that your best friend was the son of the King of the gods.

To find out that he was the son of the Queen…well, that was another matter entirely.

Although, he did wonder what Jason would think if told that Heracles was Hera's son – the woman that Jason pledged eternal devotion to. It was sure to be something that would shock the younger man should he ever hear of it.

But Iolaus was a man of his unspoken word. As far as he was concerned, Zeus would remain Heracles' father.

"So, the Hind was captured," he hinted.

"It was a situation of touch and go for a bit for neither of us was prepared for that. The last I'd heard of the Hind, she was running loose in the hills and valleys, free of human contact and touch. But as I said, that's not how we found her…

Athena stood in radiant glory, aegis and helmet bringing out her fierceness. Staring down at the girl before her, more interested in her than in the son of Zeus, she took note of all that she did. Of how she acted in her presence.

Heracles was nothing to her at that moment.

She'd met enough of these half-blooded heroes – though mostly she associated with the children of her father and uncle – in her life to know that they needed no real personal attention. Perhaps a bit of advice as with Perseus, a hand to guide them in the right direction – such had been the case with Bellerophon – but the divine biology within them always gave them greater courage and insight. They didn't always listen to common sense, got to full of their own self-importance, but hopeless they were not.

They inevitably found their way through.

The fully mortal heroes, on the other hand, she had her doubts about. Many proved flighty and far too prone to flights of hubris for her taste, though she admitted that demigods had that problem as well. Bellerophon had been such a promising man in his youth but the tempestuousness that Poseidon was known for, he also had.

But mortals were often more so, all she had to do was recall Ariadne and her vain pandering. For all of their hubris, there was something about them that was intriguing. As such, she was always more demanding of them and far more strict. If they wanted her help, they would have to prove themselves worthy of it. With the exception of Megara, Iolaus, Cassiopeia, and Jason, she'd found the lot of them rather uninspiring.

Though Odysseus was promising to be both cunning and interesting enough to gain her favor. His wife was also proving to be an interesting woman, quite above the regular simpering fools she'd often seen below. She thought her name was Penelope.

Finally, she raised her eyes and glanced at Heracles, noting the humble pose.

But the intensity in his look, the compassion for both the Hind and the girl surprised her. This was the woman who had caused him to perform an act that had nearly led to the annihilation of her people. If not for Hera's surprising interference, forbidding him from doing anything, she knew that Ares would've attacked and destroyed Tyrins.

As it was, they'd had to hear him rant and rant – and RANT – for months afterwards about the atrocity of what had occurred to his Amazons.

"Lady Athena, I am willing to hear your counsel. This beautiful Hind is trapped and no solution presents itself to my mind on how best to save her," the girl's voice cut into her thoughts.

She narrowed her grey eyes as she looked at the imprudent girl who'd spoken before she'd finished making her study of the both of them. "I am fully aware of the delicacy of the situation. But you would be advised to keep hushed until I have made an accurate judgment upon matters for myself. Save your breath on an apology, it is worthless to me for you do not truly mean it. You are only sorry that I scolded you not that you have done any real wrong."

Admeta subsided, sparing a glance at Heracles. For all that he seemed to be there with them, the man also seemed to be thousands of miles away. It could only have been as a result of his visit earlier than night. Who was that strange goddess?

She couldn't help but wonder now that she was looking at Athena and seeing the clear differences between the two deities. From the way the other goddess had been dressed, she knew that it couldn't have been Artemis. But the only other goddess who came to mind was Hera for the outfit she wore and the regal way she moved was not the way of Demeter.

Yet, that idea was laughable at best for if it had been the Queen of the gods, they would not be here now.

Besides, Heracles was no longer fully in her service as her indentured servant. She had no guiding place in any of his adventures unless he performed an act that returned him to her service. Admeta understood from her father that his release was contingent upon his good behavior.

Well, mostly upon his ability to remain in good faith with all men and gods.

"As I understand matters as they stand before us, the Hind is to be sacrificed. If she is not, these men will be in her stead. No matter the reason for why the Hind was chosen, the sacrifice must be kept. A blood debt must always be paid," she paused and looked at them. "This is something that neither of you want, am I correct?"

"Yes, Lady Athena. If at all possible, I would like to spare lives and prevent to much bloodshed. I am aware of the fact that some blood may fall but I do not want the losses to be more than a victory is worth," she quietly replied.

For the first time, the goddess' face softened. Though the girl had grown older in years and had become a woman over time, she was still just a child. "A wise answer and a just one, worthy of a ruler," she complimented her. "So, have you any ideas on how to perform such a feat?"

"The only one that comes to mind is unpalatable to me. I hate that it is the only thing that comes to mind," Admeta paused. The sound of such anger and rage disconcerted her for it didn't seem right that she should expose that side of herself to the goddess after being paid such a compliment. So, she took a moment to regain her composure before meeting her eyes evenly. They dropped away quickly for even she did not have the audacious courage to stare a goddess eye to eye for long.

"And that would be?"

"To allow the sacrifice to happen," she couldn't stop the tremble in her voice.

"Would that not defeat the purpose of saving the Hind?"

"That is why that solution is not one that I would recommend. But Heracles is not capable of moving fast enough to make it look as though the sacrifice has happened and yet to save the Hind from death. Nor am I. Such a thing is the domain of the gods and I would never presume to ask such a favor."

"If I were to offer to help you in this deception, would you accept that aid?" she asked, more impressed by the humility in the girl. Her mental processes could use some work though.

"Forgive my impudence but is that not the kind of thing the Lord Hermes is known for?"

"Have I said that I would work alone?" she asked, glaring behind her at the snickering god. "Shut up, Hermes."

"Not very nice, Athena. I may just refuse my aid for that," he replied.

"That's not much of a threat when you enjoy a good prank," she dryly responded, turning back to Admeta. "You would need more aid in redirecting the attention of those who are truly aware of the gods than Heracles can offer. Make no mistake, you are going to a town in which they have a true seer prophetess. Hermes is fast but he is not fast enough to escape attention from one with the sight."

"I would humbly and with a grateful heart accept any aid the gods are willing to offer. I thank you for caring enough to come in person to help us in our time of need for I know that you did not have to. And I am truly sorry for any offense I have given unto you," she said, bowing low.

"Then you will continue your journey with these men. Call upon us only when the time comes and no sooner," she warned. "For we are not always able to help. Should the Fates decide otherwise, we must heed their counsel. It is not right for us to play fast and loose with fate."

"Thank you," Heracles said, noting Hermes staring at him with a faint sense of trepidation. Of all his divine siblings, he was the one who didn't have any real attachment to either Zeus or Hera – as far as he knew – thus, he'd be the one to figure out the truth if he put his mind to it.

Heracles did not squirm under the look, though he wished to with all that he was. He did not like the way Hermes kept looking at him. It was as if something had finally clicked in his mind. Hermes looked like all the pieces of a mosaic had finally been put together and he had a complete portrait of the state of things.

Athena nodded and disappeared. Hermes remained, intently studying Heracles with his strange blue grey eyes that were often so dark they appeared black. Feeling very awkward and out of place, Admeta made her excuses and left the two half-brothers alone, quite sure they didn't even notice her leaving.

"So, Hera's your mother. I never would've guessed it," he finally spoke into the silence.

Heracles stared at him, refusing to answer.

"Oh, don't be like that," Hermes expelled an angry breath. "If I had meant to gossip about it, do you think I'd be here right now?"

"I don't know. You are the god of thieves and liars," he shot back, unable to hold in any kind of comment. "Not to mention you love to play tricks on people as Lady Athena wisely noted. It's one of the things you are most noted for among people."

"But I've never done so to you."

"Yet," he replied.

"Hera's never given me a reason to hate her," his voice was quiet. "In fact, it is not known but she was the goddess who breast fed me as a baby because my own mother couldn't be bothered to do so. Maia, though I love her for defending me against Apollo's anger at my harmless prank, gave birth to me in a cave and wrapped me up in a blanket, falling to sleep shortly afterwards.

"Why in the name of the Titans would I wish Hera pain?"

Heracles stared at him, processing his words. There could be some truth in what Hermes said. Certainly, he never knew of any case where Hera had been angry with the messenger. Even after he'd killed Argo, setting Io free from his watch, she had not gone after him as she could have.

On the other hand, Hermes was almost as close to Zeus as Athena was. Why would he really care about Hera? It wasn't as if he hadn't worked against her a couple of times – and all at Zeus' request. "Because you may have some resentment, thinking that it was because of her that your mother had no interest in you. It is possible."

"Are you determined to be difficult?"

"I don't know," he shot back. "Are you?"

"That must've been awkward," Iolaus interrupted the tale.

"You have no idea," Hermes' voice suddenly interposed itself into their midst. "And I'm hurt that you would trust him over me."

Heracles glared, angry to see him.

Angry to find out that he'd followed after him and listened to a conversation that didn't concern him. "I don't see why it should. I've known Iolaus and loved him for most of my life. He's one I count as brother. You aren't even really mine except through marriage.

"The only time I ever meet you, you've only brought news of labors to me. And the one time it wasn't, you had a message from Lord Zeus about helping the gods fight in the war against the Gigantes. So, why would I trust you over someone who has stood by my side my whole life? Who has fought many of my greatest battles with me?"

"Because Hera breast feeding me made me your brother through adoption," he snapped, hurt. While he knew that he had no real reason to be, he thought that Heracles had some measure of affection for him. A startling measure of trust, enough that the demigod treated him – not as a hindrance as many had – but as one he could count on to come through for him.

Heracles had been one of the few to treat him normally.

Now, he had to wonder, was it all pretence? Was it only because Heracles had thought they shared a father? If that was so, had he only been making the best of a bad deal? Had he only been trying to get along with him so that he wouldn't have any more godly enemies at his back? And if so, who was the real liar here?

For Hermes had loved Heracles as a brother.

"I thought you considered me a friend," he softly said, landing to sit across from them. The caduceus he often carried rested beside him as he stared at them, a hurt he couldn't quite hide in his eyes.

Heracles struggled for words, unable to find any to say. This was not a situation he was prepared to deal with. To him, everything still seemed to new for him to be able to handle any more stimuli. "Hermes, I do – Iphicles is my brother. He is also one I consider a good friend.

"Yet, I would not tell him of this.

"I would not even mention the possibility of it to my wife, the woman I loved – still love. Why would I tell you? I barely know you, though I do admit that you have been very kind and helpful." It didn't sound convincing even to his ears, though he meant every word of it. Hermes had been nothing but helpful to him and often gave him advice – mostly unsolicited, true. But he had been willing to help him.

Hermes sniffed dismissively, trying to shrug off his mood. Why should it bother him that he'd been so rejected, so ignored? To feel as though he wasn't trusted?

And yet, he couldn't help the fact that it did.

It hurt deeply.

"Are you here with a message?" Iolaus asked. "Because if not, I could leave the two of you to talk. I'm beginning to disgust myself."

"No," Hermes said. "I was just in the area – really. My son's nearby, expecting his first child. I thought it would be a nice touch if I visited him. I'll see you around."

"Hermes," Heracles started but stopped, unsure of what to say.

"Save it," he replied and left.

Iolaus looked at Heracles and noticed the thunderous expression there. As a result, he held his tongue, though he could not help but wonder what that was all about. There was something in Hermes' manner that reminded him of his own feelings of jealousy at the family Heracles had.

Was it possible that the god was envious of Heracles?

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Author's Note : Bellerophon is Poseidon's son here. When I first heard of him and his story, he was the parent attached to him. Hermes' situation and totally uncharacteristic emotional reaction will be explained in the next part.