Redemption of the exiled one
"Herc, I want you to sit in on the interview with this man," Hebe asked of her beloved who looked up from the wall he was bricking. She smiled, Herakles sure loved to work with his hands, and no matter that the man was a god, an Olympian god, no task seemed too menial to him. In that sense he reminded her of her beloved brother Hephaestos.
"Okay," Herakles dried off his hands on a rag, not that it helped much, it was as grimy as everything else around. Another Hephaestos deja-vu. "Tell me about him!"
"Ehrm…" Hebe began, a bit distracted. "He's… I've seen him once and I asked him to come back today. He's… peculiar in a way that I find… I don't know how to describe it, but the man is intelligent and he carries wisdom of the ancient kind. He seems… old."
"He's a god?"
"Yeah – well – he's immortal, if that's what you mean. He's…"
"What, Hebe?"
"I have a feeling there's something familiar with him. As if I ought to know him for some reason. Or at least recognize him. Perhaps he has been at Olympos at one time, still I cannot for my life figure out when that can have been."
Herakles regarded Hebe as she searched for words again, her lovely brows a bit wrinkled and her lover lip undergoing a hard chew, something Hebe did without being aware when she thought hard of something. And he sure wanted to cuddle her, because she was so incredibly charming when she lost herself in puzzlement this way. And he – he had just learned the difference between an immortal and a god – the latter being more like a profession while the former being a biological status. And now he placed his hands upon Hebe's shoulders, trying to help her along.
"Honeybabe… don't try to tell me. I'll come with you instead, make up my own mind about this – god. See if he's a good teacher. Although I do admit having another immortal at the Academeia could always be a benefit. Then we don't have to be around constantly to ensure the safety of the compound."
Hebe nodded, both were thinking about the same thing. The attack against the Academeia on Cyprus last month, when an enraged mob had ascended the hill, believing outlandish and dark witchcraft being performed up there. Someone – they had never learned whom – had started to spread the rumour that there were evil things being taught up at the Academeia, that black magic was in use and that it was endangering the whole island of Cyprus. So the mob had lit torches and started their marsh up the hill to root out what they feared was evil. And it could've ended in distaster, hadn't one teacher being quick of mind enough to call for Hebe and if she in turn hadn't been fast to drop what she was doing, grab Herakles and set off for the original Academeia.
The appearance of two Olympians had calmed the mob quite a bit and sent most of the mortals back home like punished dogs with their tails between their legs in shame, but Hebe feared what might have happened if she and Herakles hadn't been so hasty to arrive, if the mortal mobs had managed to break the gate to the Academeia, which wasn't really that sturdy, but more a symbolic marking of a boundary. People might've gotten wounded, even killed. People she cared about and wanted with her whole being to protect and keep safe.
Now, Herakles squeezed her shoulders lightly, bringing her back to now again.
"When is this mystery teacher due," he asked of her and she smiled.
"This afternoon. We can have lunch now and I'll let you in on what I know of this man and why I want your second opinion about him."
"What is it you're concerned about?"
"It's his... I'm not sure if it's him or me, but it seems like he's the one measuring me instead of the other way around, as it should be. And it's not just because he's so much older – he said he'd been around since the Titan war, for faith's sake - but there's something he does all the time. Trying to look into my soul and trying to enquire about Olympos and about your father and all those things."
"Just tell him, that's not what this is about," Heracles said with his down-to-earth voice. "Tell him to stick to topic. And if you feel intimidated by him, just call off the interview and tell him 'don't call us, we call you'. After all this is your place, it is you who call the shots, Hebe."
"I know that but – at the same time I feel he could be a valuable asset, even if he's peculiar. He seems intelligent and cunning and…"
"You must show him you're the boss, Hebe!"
"Yes, I know that. I'm no rookie in this, but…"
"I can't believe I'm telling you this! You've always seemed to secure in this role, so why the hesitation now? Over one man, my dear little heart. One teacher to might-be. Even if he's a god, I mean it's not like we don't have a whole mountaintop full of them if we should need more divine help here!
"Yes, I know. That's why I'm asking you to come too, to see if you feel the same around him or if it's just me."
As they sat down opposite of each other at the lunch table, with a grilled chicken, freshly baked bread and some corn cobs between themselves, Herakles asked Hebe to tell more about the mystery man. Hebe broke some bread for herself and fingered upon it a bit, using it to soak up some juice from the chicken meat. Then she felt she had stalled long enough and put the piece of bread in her mouth and chewed and swallowed it fast, finishing with a gulp of watered wine.
"Herc, he was one of those applications we got in the second round. He came around here two days ago, was the last one in. He was looking for that position in engineering, but he said he could teach philosophy as well."
"An odd combination," Heracles pointed out and Hebe nodded her head.
"I agree. And that's where it started. I mean, it was when I pointed out that he started to behave strange. He said…"
O0O0O
"It is not a strange combination. Your father can do both. And has been doing both. And a lot of other things as well. And he sure trusted me to perform the same. Once, he did so.
"You know my father, Iapetionidês?" Surprised, Hebe looked up at the man who in spite of having dark skin like an Ethiopian had oddly pale eyes, even lighter than those of Athena.
"Yes, I do, a marvellous man, although he and I didn't hit off that well back in those days. But I guess we both were at fault back then, being young and eager. And not just a little bit competetive. I thought I could overtake him, win the popularity contest with the mortals…"
"Oh I… from where do you know him?" Hebe had to ask, even if she felt that this charming man was trying to stear the conversation off the main subject, which was about his ability to teach.
"Oh, from Olympos of course!" Iapetionidês grinned and leant back in the chair, tilting it and putting his hands behind his neck and he didn't seem to be bothered with the fact that the chair was creaking alarmingly.
"You must be misstaken," Hebe shook her head. "Elderon's never been to Olympos."
"Who's been talking about Elderon? I'm thinking of the illustrious one himself. Zeus. King of the Gods, God of the Kings. Zeus all father, almighty."
Hebe sighed then. It sure wasn't the first time that happened, that people misstok her for yet another daughter of Zeus. She folded her hands in front of her on the desk, trying to stear back the conversation to the open teaching positions of the New Academeia instead.
"Zeus is not my father," she said with her best 'end of discussion'-voice. "He's Elderon, god of animal health. Now, about this position of teaching engineering…"
"Why are you bothered by being called Zeus' daughter?" Iapetionidês pushed her. "I know that he didn't father you for real, but you're a daughter in his household. And as such the greatest honour resides with you, Hebe. And I'd be delighted to serve a daughter of Olympos. Especially since that would finally give me an opportunity to make up for old mistakes and redeem myself in the eyes of the Olympos. No," he said and held up an index finger, when he heard Hebe drawing breath, "let me finish. These days most people do not remember either me or what I managed to cause, but rest asure, not a day passes without me remembering what I did, the lifes I destroyed. The screams and cries tormenting my ears. Mortals, so many they were and so innocent they were. So much things I destroyed in my hast to excel. It sure has been pecking on my conscience like that eagle your father threathened me with when…"
"Now, Iapetionidês," Hebe then raised her voice. "I am very impressed by what you told me earlier, and I'm quite sure that you would be an excellent teacher, but I cannot take you in solely because you want to clean off some bad conscience of yours. This is an academy for children, not a bureau of catharsis. And just to imply…"
"But then simply forget these things, daughter of Zeus. And let me just teach! Let me just show that I am someone worth counting on again."
Under normal circumstances Hebe would have threwn out this man out on his ass, ticking him off as one of those divine dingbats who either had a bone to pick with Olympos or wanted to suck up to it. She sure had met her fair share of these oddballs as well along her walk of life, however brief it yet was, but there was something which felt different with this Iapetionidês. There was an odd honesty in his pale eyes, and he didn't appear half as self-absorbed as those other pipsqueaks. And what was it Palaistra used to say – 'normalcy is overrated'. That was something Hebe was well ready to agree with, especially in a place like this, a school for children with special talents. They sure needed special teachers, not the regular Joe and Janes who tried to sort the kids in the designated slots. No, the pupils were going to need someone like this Iapetionidês, who was thinking way outside the box. Even if thinking outside the box appeared to have been his downfall once. But perhaps he had learned a few things since.
"Listen," the goddess said and leant forward, regarding him with curious brown eyes, meeting those gray which looked almost like they lacked irisies against the dark lashes and the slightly dilated pupils. "I am convinced that you're a great teacher and that you'll do great training young children in engineering. But! I am not willing to give you a try yet, I want you to meet my collegue first. He'll have a talk with you as well, and then he and I will think this over."
"Do not let my past get in the way for these children's future!" Iapetionidês insisted.
"I will not, their future is my foremost aim. But I need clearheaded teachers for them, because they can be unruly quite often. Therefore I'm going to need personell who don't take the easy way out called discipline, but can meet them on the narrow path of respect and co-operation instead. And that takes stable men and women to achieve. That's why I'm a bit reluctant to hire someone who let his or her history with the Olympos getting in the way of doing a good job. That is why we need to think this over. Finally, do remember that I am not Zeus' daugther. And I have a very personal reason for stressing that matter. Am I making myself clear?"
She had finished it there, and stood up to mark that the interview was over. Then she had perhaps expected another outburst from Iapetionidês, but he had just stood up himself, taken her hand and said good bye in a very polite manner, as if there never had been any discussion of Zeus or anyone else.
O0O0O
"Hmmm…" murmured Herakles when Hebe had finished. She could see that he was thinking her story over, as he chewed on the chicken drumstick. Finally he put it down and asked: "So what was it he did at Olympos? Which had upset father?"
"He never really told," admitted Hebe. "He just said that mortals had died because of what he did. And that it had angered Zeus."
"You bet it had. There's nothing father hates as much as unnessecary deaths. He's always considerate with sentient lifes, that was one of the first things I learned about him. Even before I knew he was my father to be true."
"Imagine I never asked it, how old were you when you found out?"
"I was… twelve," Herakles told. "I was strong as an ox already back then and I encountered these big guys who tried to bully me because I was living alone with my mother, whom they said was a witch. I felt I had to defend her so I – well I beat them up. End of story – or so I thought. I had expected mother to be happy because I had defended her honour, but she was furious. Not only because I had beaten those guys almost to pulp but because I had shown off skills I wasn't allowed to let anyone see. Or we might be really in trouble."
"Oh – what happened? No, let me guess, these kids ran home to their parents and told about you and all chaos broke lose."
"Yes, under normal circumstances it would. But I guess they were ashamed of having being beaten up by a younger lad. Especially when they were three of them as well. Or perhaps they did tell, but no one believed them. Nevertheless that event made me push mother to tell the true story of my ancestry."
"And how did you take it?"
"I dunno. First I was proud. Then I became sad. Because everyone I knew had either a present father who were there for them or someone who couldn't because he was dead. Killed in action in that war which had ended just two years earlier. Who came home 'on his shield instead of with it' as the Spartans say. But I had a father who was a god and who couldn't care less about me."
"Which wasn't true."
"I learned that later. But enough of me now, what do you want me to ask of this Iapetionidês? Not what really happened between him and my old man I hope."
"Nope, forget that part, Herc. After all if it's important, I have no doubth he'll let us know later. No, concentrate on his teachings, and have him doing so as well! Try to find out if he'll fit in here with us. And if he gives this Olympos angle a spin again, just don't do my mistake. Tell him off immediately!"
"I will," Herakles nodded. "Still, I am curious about him."
"Yes, I understand that. At the same time I'm convinced we'll learn sooner or later. If we decide to hire him that is."
O0O0O
"Iapetionidês, Right?" Herakles took his hand, and regarded the dark-skinned god with the peculiar, almost luminiscent eyes. There was something familiar with him, but the Olympian couldn't put his finger upon it.
"Herakles," Iapetionidês grinned. "So you've moved in with the family finally? Good for you, lad!"
"Do we… know each other?" Herakles furrowed his brows, guards up against any fool play from the other god.
"We've met!" Iapetionidês grinned even wider. "Although I looked a bit different then. A bit more like minding my own business. But you know, son of Zeus, that gets tiresome in the end. And when I saw this opportunity, so…"
"You went for it." Herakles nodded knowingly. "Well, I can understand that. Let's talk about your teaching experiences…"
That had triggered a rather lengty discussion between the two men and Herakles became more and more convinced that Iapetionidês was a man they couldn't be without at the Academeia. He had all the dexterity which both Hebe and Herakles appreciated. He was a teacher who seemed to be able to inspire and awoke curiosity. He knew the importance of concentration and repetition and of telling a story worthy of capturing the listener. Not once did he mention Zeus and Olympos, perhaps he had been warned off by Hebe's curt replies to his tries at nearing that subject. In the end Herakles felt convinced that Iapetionidês would fit in the equation. Thus he sent a telepatic message to Hebe. A picture of a seagull, the secret code they both had agreed upon, which meant acceptance. (A crow was their code for rejection.)
Later, when the men stood up and went out to Hebe in the sitting room, Herakles couldn't help asking where he and Iapetionidês had met earlier.
"You was on your way to the garden of the Hesperides. On a quest for one of the golden apples which grew there. You stopped by at my place to buy a special armour which would protect you against dragon fire, remember? Although I looked a little bit – different back then."
Herakles almost dropped his notescroll at that disclosure.
"Prometheus!"
"The very one!"
"That was quite unexpected, I have to admit. Who would've expected you to show up here, at the Acacemeia of Hebe? The 'Persona non grata' at Olympos for such a long time. May I ask the reason why? The reason for you to want to come here to teach?"
"Oh, Herakles! So many questions," the old Titan tut-tutted. "It's a challenge of course, coming to a place like this and teach, something I once loved to do. I want to see if I still have it."
"Does it matter that we are Olympians?" Herakles couldn't help asking. "Is that part of the challenge?"
"If you like," Iapetionidês/ Prometheus smiled and Herakles had to fight to not become annoyed.
He had liked Prometheus upon their earlier encounter, almost 40 years ago now. And he couldn't help doing so now as well; still there was a grain in the cup. And that grain was the Olympian connection. Herakles was after all the son of Zeus. Zeus, who had had a fall-out with Prometheus once, which was so bad that both gods and mortals were still talking about it. The mortals had even given that story an extra spin, adding a cruel punishment to Zeus's dismissal of his old chancellor. Herakles didn't want that old grudge come between himself and this man. Or affect Hebe in any way.
Hebe, yes, she looked up with curious brown eyes at the two men, when they arrived at the place where she was sitting restfully with her read. Herakles regarded his beloved as she rose gracefully.
"An acceptance?" she smiled and reached out with my hand. "My collegue has usually a good character judgement. Welcome aboard, Iapetionidês."
"I think you should know," Herakles said at that moment and nodded to their newest employe. And Prometheus didn't hesitate this second this time. With an open face and honest voice he told who he was and that he had come to the Academeia foremost to teach. To be a part of the divine society again and to see if he could still reach acceptance in spite of what had passed earlier.
O0O0O
"I know what you mean, father," Herakles looked at Zeus from across the table. Upon his brief return to Olympos he had told about the latest recruitment at the Academeia. Taken together how could he not? First of all it was a stirring piece if news, that Prometheus had returned from his self-chosen exile. Then Herakels thought his father had the right to know, even if it was none of his business really who Hebe and Herakles hired at her Academeia. Finally he just couldn't wait to see the reaction of his father when he told. Herakles had been the good boy at Olympos for so long, and now he guessed he wanted somehow to rebel a bit by hiring a man his father might not approve of.
"Do you?" Zeus rose a brow and rested his arms on the table, leaning forward slightly, his blue eyes locking with Herakles'.
"I'm certain I do. You're seldom the rancourous one. You rage a bit and then you get over it. Why should this be different."
"Herakles, you don't know the whole story, do you?"
"Hebe told most of it. How Prometheus thought he could teach the mortals how to handle divine fire. How he borrowed of Hestia's magnificent flames and brought them down to the town of Naimeda, and the disaster it caused. The devastating fires, the death toll, the burnt down crop fields and storage barns, people's lost homes."
"It was terrible enough, son," Zeus nodded his head. "But still it was just the grain to tip the scales. I had warned Prometheus earlier. Told him to not rush ahead, to not push the mortal society forward with such a frenzy as he was doing it."
"But is it wrong to teach mortals things?" Herakles asked although he knew his fathers's reply, and he was not surprised to see Zeus shake his head.
"No, teaching and guiding is one thing. Fixing all and everything for them without letting them think for themselves, is a completely different story. Because then you cripple people and make them dependent of you. They just do as told, end of story. On top of that, Prometheus was too eager, to hasty in both his decisions and his actions. I feared that if he didn't slow down the pace of the development, it risked running out of control and the mortal society would be bound for a disaster. Like a chariot tied to a bolting horse. Prometheys was – and is - an intelligent man, but what made him rush ahead so often without thinking was the one-sided competition he had taken up against me."
"Did he want to take your position?" Herakles asked, suddenly worried. What if he had played his father's enemies in the hands, what if his actions would in any way endanger Zeus' station? But once again Zeus shook his head.
"No, I don't think that's what he had in mind. He didn't want to rule."
"But what did he want to achieve then?"
"He wanted popularity. He wanted to be the good guy with the humans. The one who said 'aye' when Zeus was the cruel one who said 'nay'."
"Father? Are you mad at us for hiring him?" Herakles couldn't help asking.
"No, not in any way. It's completely up to you who you employ at the Academia, that's nothing I involve myself in. You and Hebe are doing a good job, and I think giving Prometheus something reasonable to do is going to benefit us all in the end."
"Yes, Hebe sent him to the Cyprus Academeia to give teaching a try, before we all made up our minds about Prometheus' future employment with us. I think she perhaps felt a bit insecure after learning who he was. But he's been doing excellent down there. He sure has a way with kids. And perhaps he has learned one or two things during the centuries since these fires."
"I hope you're right, lad," Zeus nodded his head. Then further discussions became interrupted by Selene and Hecate, who came storming into the sittingroom, upset at each other for something they apparently wanted Zeus to straighten out between them.
O0O0O
Prometheus was lingering in the classroom after the pupils had left, staying to wipe off the blackboard and to make sure everything was in order and that none of the children had forgotten anything. And he was just beginning to stack up his books to put them down in the backpack when there was a soft knock on the doorframe, and he felt a divine presence. A presence he hadn't felt in centuries, but which he recogniced immediately in spite. And he felt how his stomach knotted itself at the recognition. Slowly he put the books back on the table again, and turned around.
"Zeus?"
"Yes, Prometheus, I must say I'm surprised at your sudden change of heart?"
"Because I refuse to stay hermit anymore?" Prometheus became slightly surprised at the anger in his voice, after all Zeus had sounded nothing but polite. He swallowed, ready to apologize while he regarded the man who was standing in the door opening. Zeus still looked like that magnificent and awe-inspiring appearance Prometheus first had seen back during the Titan wars. The vibrant and carismatic man, the one who just had to enter a room to grab each and everyone's attention. The brilliant and natural leader. It was no surprice that Zeus had become exactly that in the end, voted King of the Gods at the end of the Titan wars. It was not only because he was the one who had lead the gods against the tyrant Chronos and sent him down to Tartarus. It was because Zeus was a natural in the chief position. He had that certain something which made him so able. That certain something Prometheus once had envied him for more than anything.
But Zeus had changed as well. Over the centuries he seemed to have grown more mellow and mature. The warrior and the zestful fighter had turned into a more discerning nature. A rock steady and noble soul to hold on to when feeling lost and confused. He seemed less pushy and self-centered, the arrogance which had tainted his behaviour was gone. Now he regarded Prometheus as he was thinking the latter's foul mood over, before continuing.
"No," he said. "But because I'm surprised that you approached my youngest son and my adopted daughter. I thoght that you'd chose a more direct tangent, when you decided you were ready to move on with your life and stop behaving like I had chained you to that mountain edge."
"What do you mean, you expected me to storm Olympos or something?"
"Sort of. Or at least seeking some kind of audience."
"You know what, Zeus?" Prometheus responded and took up his books once again, stacking them like he had planned to originally, before he finalized what he was going to say. "You've changed and so have I. Doesn't it occur to you that the – ehrm – mistakes – I made are… well in the past. That we both have moved on. I realized I screwed up. Big time. I have no exuses for doing what I did. It was unforgivable and these days I'm fully understanding that you were enraged and I don't try to excuse myself any more. I didn't forsee the consequences and for that I take all the blame. At the same time, it cannot be undone, no matter if we two behave like two old harpies, not letting go of old grudges. So doesn't it occur to you that I'm here and that I'm doing this because I like to teach? I have missed that. I have missed sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas. And I feel so glad that I finally dared to take this step for real."
"You're telling me you're content teaching children in a neat but small school in a rather insignificant corner of the world?" Zeus asked, sounding almost amused. "Am I to believe that?"
"Chose for yourself, Olympian. But rest asure I am not going to stir up any trouble."
"I do not think you will either. As you said we have both changed. Moved on. Learned a few things along the way. Including not being competitive for the wrong reasons. I'm willing to give you the credit for your bravery and your never ending flows of ideas as well. You did screw up, and I did fire you. But since you're working for my children now, I do feel it's due time to finally put the past behind us and move on into the future."
By those words Zeus took three long steps into the classroom and up to the desk where Prometheus was still figeting with his books, not really knowing what to say. Then Zeus reached out with his right hand, smiling slightly. Prometheus hesitated a heartbeat, but when regarding the honesty in the blue eyes of the king, he reached out with his hand as well and took it.
"You're right, Zeus," Prometheus said. "The future deserve that we both move on into it now. And I do intend to stay and teach, although not here but on Rhodos. Whatever that matters."
O0O0O
So passed a bit more than half a year. Seven months during which Herakles and Hebe managed to keep their love affair covert. Hidden from everyone but Aphrodite, who in spite of Hebe's worries kept the secret. In fact Aphrodite didn't mention their affair even once. And just a few times did she give Hebe that quick glance which told the latter that they were both in on something no one else knew about - save for Herakles himself of course - and this made the women feel tied together in a special way. Not even Palaistra got to know what was really going on at Rhodos, although Hebe was convinced that her friend suspected something. And Hebe knew she would have to tell her friend eventually.
O0O0OO0O0O
A/N Iapetionidês (Son of Iapetus) is another name for Prometheus and the myths tell about how Heracles liberated him from his punishment for the theft of fire and eventually Zeus forgave him and they reconciled. Upon including this myth I changed it a bit to fit it within my story.