A/N Thank you once again for the lovely reviews.

Once again I have to apologise for taking liberties with the festival of Apatouria - any rituals and observances I have mentioned have been completely made up by me!

I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint too much. Please let me know if you liked it...


Hercules growled as he stared long and hard at the chief priest. It was a quiet, guttural sound that started in the back of his throat, building in volume as his anger grew. He was acutely aware of the surprised looks he was getting from his friends and of the way that Melas almost unconsciously took a step back from him but right now he was too cross to care. It was only when Jason took a half-step away from him, the tension clearly building in the young man again, that Hercules realised what he was doing and began to tone down his anger, remembering what had happened the last time he had lost control of his temper. Without looking he reached out and placed a reassuring hand on the back of Jason's neck, wordlessly letting the young man know that everything was still alright and that he was not angry in any way with him.

"No," he said, never taking his eyes off the priest. "He's not going anywhere with you. We are going back to our friend's house now and you can tell your 'mistress' that Jason is not available to go off on whatever cockamamie mission she wants him for."

Melas bristled.

"The Oracle will not be denied," he said firmly. "She is the representative of the gods. Poseidon's most faithful servant. She speaks with his voice. Would you defy the gods?"

"I honour the gods as much as the next man," Hercules declared, "but there are times when there are things that are more important. You can tell Her Vagueness that it's the first day of Apatouria – a day for family – and we have a family feast to be getting back to. Now if she's as all seeing as everyone says she'll know that he hasn't been all that well," he nodded towards Jason, "and he needs just a bit more time to get back to normal."

Melas half smiled, his eyes flicking towards Jason with a sympathetic and questioning look. Jason shifted awkwardly. He really wasn't all that comfortable with being spoken about like he wasn't here. More than that though he was growing increasingly uncomfortable and anxious with the number of people still on the streets and the sheer noise they were making. His heart was beginning to thud uncomfortably in his chest and his head was beginning to ache – a dull throb behind his temples that he knew from past experience would soon multiply until his entire head was pounding. At least it was just a headache and not migraine, he hoped. He'd suffered from occasional migraines for years now but he'd been lucky so far since he came to Atlantis and managed to avoid them altogether.

Right now though all he really wanted to do was to get back off the street; to return to Meriones' house and relax. Pythagoras would undoubtedly know of something that would ease his headache and perhaps no-one would mind too much if he went and laid down for a little while before they ate. And yet his own sense of duty would not let him refuse Melas' urgings. The Oracle had always been kind to him in her own way – even if he rarely understood more than half of what she was saying given the vagueness of her pronouncements – and he did not like to think he might be letting her down. Jason grimaced. He really didn't like the thought of letting anyone down, if the truth be told. Perhaps if it were just a quick visit it would not be so bad.

"Hercules it's alright," he said softly. "What does the Oracle want me for?" he asked turning towards Melas.

"I do not know," the priest responded, his deep voice kind. "She did not confide in me. I do not believe she would have requested your presence lightly however. She has been concerned for you… we both have."

"I'm alright," Jason answered, looking a little awkward.

"But you were not at our last meeting," Melas countered.

Jason sighed softly.

"No," he agreed. "I probably wasn't."

"Will you come with me?" Melas asked.

"Yes," Jason nodded.

"Jason," Hercules growled.

The young man turned towards his older companion.

"It'll be fine Hercules," he said quietly. "I'm just going to go and listen to what she has to say. I'm not planning on going off anywhere… I promise."

Hercules glowered at him.

"Fine," he said shortly, "but we're coming with you."

If Melas was in any way surprised or disapproving of the fact that Jason's two friends were choosing to come with him he wisely decided not to show it.

The journey from the agora to the Temple was not a long one but for Jason it was a distinct relief to step away from the overcrowded streets into the cool darkness of the Temple. For a moment he paused inside the doors and allowed the cool air to wash over him, closing his eyes briefly and rubbing at his temple with one hand, trying to ease away the throbbing headache that was still assaulting him. Opening his eyes he saw Pythagoras watching him speculatively.

"Are you alright?" the young blonde asked.

"Yeah," Jason murmured.

"I have a tonic that will help with your headache back at Meriones' house," Pythagoras said firmly.

Jason smiled, not even bothering to attempt to deny the fact that his head was by now pounding – Pythagoras knew him simply too well.

"Thanks," he said.

Melas ushered the three of them onwards towards the steps leading to the chamber where the Oracle delivered her visions to the faithful. As they descended the bunches of herbs and flowers burning in braziers gave off a sweet heady smell that lifted the spirit and cleared the mind. Jason smiled softly to himself. He had trodden the path to visit the Oracle many times now – it had become a familiar part of his everyday life – although it had to be said that he had never visited here in the company of others before. Just how the Oracle would react to the presence of his friends, both hovering protectively behind him, was anyone's guess, but Jason didn't have the heart or the inclination to ask them to leave and let him go on alone.

At the bottom of the stairs the Oracle was standing with her back to them, her hood thrown back over her shoulders, busying herself with cleaning her sacrificial knife. As they reached the bottom step she turned and stepped towards them her hands outstretched and her face lit with a warm smile. For Pythagoras and Hercules this was something of a surprise. They had known, of course, that Jason visited the Oracle – perhaps even more frequently than either of them had realised – but neither of them had even imagined that their housemate had such a clearly close relationship with the seeress. As she reached the trio, the Oracle caught Jason's hands in her own, flicking a brief but not unfriendly glance at his companions she led the young man to the far side of the chamber and sank to the floor with him alongside her. Pausing for a moment her eyes searched Jason's face and perhaps unconsciously she reached out and tucked a stray curl of dark hair back behind his ear. Pythagoras jolted at the gesture. His own solitary encounter with the Oracle had been tense and highly charged with emotion and yet the woman had seemed eternally impassive – untouchable. He had never imagined he would ever see her make such a motherly gesture. Then again Jason did seem to have the knack for drawing out the nurturing instinct in the strangest of people he mused, thinking about both Hercules and Meriones. He supposed it was because his independent, oft-times heroic, strong willed friend displayed at times an unconscious air of vulnerability that he was clearly unaware of.

"I am pleased to see you," the Oracle said gently, never taking her eyes from Jason.

"You sent for me," Jason murmured softly.

"I was unsure you would be able to answer my summons," the Oracle stated. She looked searchingly at Jason. "Last time you were here your mind was in turmoil. I am glad that you chose the right path."

"I don't understand," Jason admitted.

"When you last visited me I told you that two paths lay before you. One led to your destruction and the other to your salvation. I am truly glad that you have chosen the right one."

Hercules snorted in the background making the Oracle whip her head around to look at him, her eyes a little frosty.

"If you were so concerned why didn't you just tell him which 'path to choose'?" the big man grunted.

"Because I did not know which the correct path was," the Oracle bit back sharply. "I see only that which the gods permit me to see. Besides the choice had to be Jason's and his alone. It was not a choice that anyone could make for him." She turned back to the young man sitting with her and smiled again. "I told you then that you were embarking on a journey of the soul… that journey is nearly complete. There is only one last mountain to climb. I wish there was more I could do to help you but all I can do is give you some advice."

"And what is your advice?" Jason asked sounding almost choked.

The Oracle was silent for a moment, her fingers gently stroking the hands which rested in hers.

"You already know what I am going to say," she answered softly looking seriously at Jason.

Jason closed his eyes briefly and drew a long shuddering breath.

"I can't," he whispered.

"You must," the Oracle answered. "For this is a journey that only you can take and only you can finish. You have come further than you know already. There is nothing left to fear. This is my advice to you. Trust your heart," she looked over at Hercules and Pythagoras and smiled faintly at them, "and trust in those who love you. They will not let you down and they will not see you come to harm."

Jason looked down at his hands but did not say a word. The Oracle smiled sadly. She placed two fingers under his chin and tilted his face up until she was looking directly into his eyes, her hand gently cupping his face.

"Trust is not easily given when the heart has been damaged before," she said. "But you must learn to trust again."

"I trust my friends with my life," Jason protested.

"Yes," the Oracle agreed, "but you do not trust them with your heart. You do not trust anyone fully with that."

"I'm not sure I know how," Jason admitted softly.

"When the moment arrives you will know," the Oracle said with certainty. She stood and smiled at all three men.

Jason pushed himself up to his feet.

"Thank you," he said, "for all you've tried to do for me."

"No," the Oracle answered, "it is we who should be grateful. We waited so long for you to return and you are everything we hoped you would be. Our prayers truly were answered."

"I don't think I'm really who you want me to be," Jason said. "I'm nobody special – just me."

"And that is why you are special," the Oracle answered softly. "You are not like other men. One day you will come to see that. One day that which is hidden will be plain for all to see."

"What do you mean?" Jason asked.

"You will learn in time," the Oracle said as she swept on silent feet from the chamber and into her private sanctum.

Once she was gone Hercules let out an explosive breath.

"And that's the problem with mystic Oracles," he grumbled. "Nothing they ever say makes all that much sense. Now that we've got that particular little interlude out of the way could we get back to what we were doing and head back to Meriones' house for this feast?"

Jason smiled vaguely, his mind still trying to work out exactly what the Oracle had meant, and nodded. He instantly wished that he hadn't as his headache returned with full force and he grimaced before he could stop himself.

"I think returning to Meriones' house is an excellent idea," Pythagoras ventured, "and then one of us can take a headache remedy and lie down for a while until supper is ready." He gave Jason a long look as though daring his friend to argue.

"That might actually be a really good idea," Jason agreed as they mounted the steps that led back into the main body of the Temple.

Once at the top of the stairs the three friends turned towards the main door.

"Jason," a light and feminine voice called out, making them stop.

Jason turned, smiling more brightly than before.

"Ariadne," he said.

"There we go. We've lost him again!" Hercules grumbled to Pythagoras. "Oi," he said, snapping his fingers in front of Jason's face, "I thought we were going home."

Jason looked pleadingly at him.

"Just give me a minute?" he asked.

Hercules stalked off, grumbling under his breath. Pythagoras rolled his eyes good naturedly at Hercules' antics before following after his older friend. Jason watched them move away to give him and the Princess some privacy and then turned back to Ariadne with a smile.

"This seems to be the only place we see each other these days," Ariadne remarked.

"You are a princess of Atlantis and I am ordinary," Jason answered. "I do not think your father would be very happy even with us meeting here."

Ariadne smiled mischievously.

"I came here to pray and what my father does not know will not hurt him," she said as she caught hold of Jason's hand and led him behind a convenient pillar.

Once they were out of sight and sitting more comfortably on the ground, the girl continued.

"I am aware of the risk we take simply by speaking to one another and I know that if we are caught it would be you that my father would punish… and yet when I am with you all those thoughts fly from my mind. I feel more safe with you than I ever have with anyone else and I do not think of the risks we take. I am sorry. My father has forbidden me to see you and I know that I am endangering your life simply by being here… but I do not seem able to stop myself."

"I don't want you to," Jason said earnestly. "I've never known anyone like you. No-one as perfect or as beautiful. I would gladly risk my life to spend any time with you."

Ariadne sighed.

"I know that our position seems impossible and yet I dream of a day when we can be together. I still hope for that above all things and it is that hope that keeps me going," she admitted softly. "My father is not a cruel man. I know he can seem hard and cold at times but he is a good man at heart and I know he loves me and wishes for my happiness."

"I can't see him ever being happy with you wanting to marry an ordinary person though," Jason said.

"No," Ariadne agreed, "but I still believe that there will be a way for us." She looked down at the tanned hand gently holding her own and smiled softly. The secret of Jason's parentage was one which she must keep at present – even from Jason himself – and yet it gave her hope for the future. If Pasiphae could do as she desired and find a way to make Jason acceptable to Minos without the King seeing him as a threat, then there was everything to hope for; everything to play for. Her uneasy alliance with her stepmother might ultimately give her everything she dreamed of.

They sat for a short while in silence, drinking in each other's company. Presently Jason stirred.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"What for?" Ariadne asked in confusion.

"I promised to meet you here last time we saw each other. I let you down."

Ariadne sucked in a breath.

"No," she said forcefully. "It is I who should be sorry. I did not listen to you. I allowed my hatred of Pasiphae to blind me to the truth. I asked you to commit treason for me. Practically forced you to promise to help me. Implied that you did not truly care for me when you tried to refuse. It was wrong of me. Especially when it was for a man who I have since learned was guilty of everything he was accused of."

Jason paled slightly. Ariadne could not know the truth could she? The very thought made his guts wrench.

"What do you mean?" he asked, trying hard to keep his voice steady.

Ariadne swallowed hard seeing her companion's turmoil, in spite of his attempts to appear calm. How had she failed to see just how upset Jason was the last time they had met? He would be mortified if he realised that she knew that it was him Alektryon had attacked of that she was certain. No, she could not do that to Jason. She must keep that knowledge to herself.

"I overheard a conversation," the Princess began, "between Pasiphae and a servant from the kitchens. The woman was begging to be allowed a place near the front for Alektryon's execution."

Jason shuddered. He still could not really reconcile himself to the awful fate Alektryon had been condemned to. The man must surely have been executed by now, he thought, although he had not been aware enough of his surroundings at the time to know. He made a mental note to ask Pythagoras about it at some point – although he wasn't entirely sure he really wanted to know the answer.

"Why?" he asked. "Why would someone want to see that?"

"Because her son had been attacked by Alektryon," Ariadne answered. "He was left for dead. Eventually he could not take the shame of what had happened and took his own life. He was only sixteen. When I heard the story that the woman told I knew it had to be the truth and I knew I had made a mistake. That I had allowed my distrust and my hatred of Pasiphae to blind me to the possibility that she was for once acting in the best interests of the people of Atlantis. I am truly sorry for what I asked of you. I should have made further enquiries instead of naively believing every word Alektryon told me. I was unfair to you."

"I still promised to be here though," Jason muttered, "and I still stood you up."

"Stood me up?" Ariadne asked, uncertain what the phrase meant.

"I didn't turn up when I was supposed to," Jason said. "I arranged to meet you and I let you down."

"Your friends met me here that night," Ariadne answered. "They told me that there had been an argument and that you had left very upset. They were worried about you… I have been worried about you too," she added in a small voice.

"Worried about me?" Jason responded. "Why? I'm fine."

"But you haven't been fine have you?" Ariadne said. "I can see it in your eyes."

Before Jason could answer Hercules came puffing around the pillar.

"Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds," he huffed, "but there's a group of guards heading this way… I think the King is with them."

Ariadne grimaced.

"My father is due to visit the Oracle," she said, "but I did not think it was that time yet. It must be much later than I thought." She turned towards Jason. "I must go," she said, briefly lacing her fingers through his. "We must not be caught together," she paused. "I do not know when we will see each other again."

Jason smiled.

"We'll find a way," he promised.

Ariadne offered him one last sweet smile and danced lightly away to meet her father. Jason and Hercules stayed out of sight for a few minutes, hiding in the shade of the pillar until the King and his guards had passed. Once they had gone Hercules let out an explosive breath.

"Now can we go?" he grumbled.

Jason smiled as Pythagoras came back to join them.

"Yeah," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "I could probably use that headache tonic," he admitted with a look at Pythagoras as they made their way to the front of the Temple and back out into the streets.


The room was dark when Jason awoke in the groggy aftermath of his headache. By the time they had reached Meriones' house his tension had once again skyrocketed and the pounding in his skull had reached almost blistering proportions. It still wasn't anywhere near as bad as one of his migraines but was bad enough that all he had really wanted to do was curl up somewhere dark and quiet until it just stopped damned well hurting. Pythagoras hadn't even paused for breath as they had come in through the door. He'd simply taken one look at Jason's pale face and furrowed brow, eyes squinted against the light, and had ordered his friend off to his bedroom, following behind him quickly with one of his tonics. That Jason hadn't even bothered to argue and had acquiesced without a murmur spoke whole volumes to the mathematician. He had twitched the curtains at the bedroom window closed, not missing Jason's soft sigh of relief as he did so, and handed his friend the tonic to drink. By the time he had returned with a cool cup of water and a hot cloth to use as a compress – both things that helped him when one of his own headaches got bad – Jason had stretched out on the bed, his eyes scrunched shut, with one hand massaging his own temples and forehead. Pythagoras had batted that hand away gently and laid the compress in its place. He knew that his friend's headache most likely stemmed from tension and had long since discovered that a hot cloth laid across the forehead in these circumstances could bring relief. Then he had quietly left the room to give Jason the chance to relax.

Once he was fully awake again Jason stretched, cat-like. He dislodged Isosceles from her place at his side as he did so, and the small creature emitted a distinctly disgruntled squeak of admonition. He hadn't really intended to go to sleep – hadn't thought that he would be able to given how badly his head had been pounding – and had simply meant to lie down in the darkness for a while until the headache started to die away. He had to admit to himself though that the nap seemed to have helped and, although his headache had not been completely eliminated and he still felt a little groggy, the combination of sleep and Pythagoras' remedies had reduced the throbbing to a much more bearable level – a level where he could pretty much ignore it.

Looking at the window he was surprised to see how dark it had become outside. While not being full night yet it was quickly heading that way and Jason hurried to get up, worrying that he had held up the feast that his friends had planned to celebrate the start of Apatouria. In the corner was a bowl and a jug of water which he used to wash the dust and grime of the day away from himself. The next question of course was whether or not his regular everyday tunic was really suitable for the occasion. On reflection Jason decided it probably wasn't. Pythagoras had given him that dark green tunic to use for special occasions and he had the feeling that tonight fell into that category. Fortunately the mathematician had packed it in the small bag of things he had brought from home on the first day he had come to see Jason at Meriones' house. Not that the brunette had been aware of that fact at the time – he had not really been very aware of anything – but he had found it carefully folded in the bag several days since. Shaking it out now and hoping that it wasn't too creased, Jason couldn't help but pause for a moment and rub the soft material in his hands. It really had been incredibly kind of Pythagoras to give it to him. Yes, the last time he had worn it had not ended well – he shuddered at the memory of Alektryon's hands against his face – but it did not alter the thoughtfulness that had been behind the gift. And Proerosia had been such a good day, Jason thought – Alektryon notwithstanding of course. Still, standing here daydreaming was not going to do him any good. The young man pulled the tunic on over his head and belted it, noting almost absently that he had to pull his belt just a little tighter than he had the last time the garment had been worn. Hercules was right, he realised – he had lost a little weight. He sighed. That of course would mean that he would be subject to his friend's inevitable scrutiny and nagging for the foreseeable future. It wasn't that Jason didn't appreciate the sentiment – the affection – that was behind Hercules' concern, but he really could do without the nagging.

Peering into the small mirror that stood on top of a shelf in the corner of the room, Jason started to tug his comb through his dark curls, wincing every so often as the teeth got stuck in the small knots and tangles at the nape of his neck. There were definitely days when he wished his hair was dead straight and cut short, just so he could avoid the ritual of trying to drag a comb through the tangled mass of curls. He wondered briefly how Pythagoras managed to keep his own fluffy blonde curls relatively tangle free – it was something he himself had never mastered. It would have been easier if he had simply had his hair cut short, but ever since the incident with Mrs Johnstone and the kitchen scissors he had never really been comfortable with getting his hair cut – tended to put it off for as long as possible – and had never been particularly bothered with his own appearance. Getting dressed up made him feel distinctly uncomfortable and ill at ease, especially since it meant that it was usually a social occasion where he was expected to be on his best behaviour and make small talk – something he had never really been much good at. If he were being completely honest he would have to admit that most parties or social gatherings he had attended over the years had usually seen him tuck himself away in the darkest corner of the room and engage in the ever entertaining sport of people watching. No, he was far more comfortable in casual clothes, things he could really relax in, and there had always been far more important things to do than worry about how he looked.

With one last tug of the comb, and one last wince as the teeth caught in and pulled out a particularly vicious knot, he decided he would probably do. Putting the comb down on the shelf he noted to himself that he would need to think about purchasing a new one the next time he visited the agora. This one was beginning to look distinctly toothless. Peering into the looking glass one last time he decided that he was probably as neat and tidy as he was going to get. As he crossed the room towards the door he grabbed his wrist cuffs, tying them in place as he went and making sure that the knots were tight with one last tug of his teeth.

Supper was far more formal than anything Jason had experienced since arriving in Atlantis. There were little rituals and prayers that the other three went through that he didn't understand and couldn't join in. It all made him feel a little awkward and out of place, although his friends were clearly trying to include him as much as they could. He was glad that he had chosen to wear his best tunic though, given that both Pythagoras and Hercules were dressed in their own best clothes and Meriones was wearing a formal chiton of fine red silk bordered in gold. Jason knew his face must have registered his stunned amazement when he had seen it from the way Meriones had laughed and clapped him on his shoulder (nearly driving him to his knees with the force of it) and asked if he was trying to catch flies.

Finally the formal parts of the meal seemed to be over and everyone began to relax. For a while the only sounds that could be heard were the polite passing of dishes and the light cheerful banter of good friends. Then Meriones got to his feet, resplendent in his fine robes. The soft candle light accentuated the richness of the fabric he wore.

"My friends," he said. "It is traditional at this time and on this evening to give thanks to the gods for the blessings of home and family. My own family is long since gone and in years gone by I have found few people who I wished to celebrate Apatouria with. Many times I have passed the festival in the tavern in the company of strangers. This year has been different. This year I have been blessed by the presence of good friends – both old," he looked towards Hercules, "and new." He turned towards Pythagoras and Jason with a smile. "I am truly grateful for the blessing of friendship that I have been given. So my friends I wish to make the traditional libation and offer up the traditional prayer." The giant paused and poured some special wine into a chalice and lifted it reverently. "Great Poseidon, Earth Shaker and Lord of the Sea, I make this offering to you in thanks for blessings you have granted us this day. In thanks for the blessings of family and friendship and in the humble hope that these blessings will last through the year to come. We gather together this night to honour our fathers, both those who are still with us and those who have passed to the underworld. We ask you to look favourably upon them and to grant them your blessings also." He uttered a ritual phrase in a language that Jason did not understand and poured the contents of the chalice onto the marble floor near his feet, droplets of wine splashing up and marking the hem of his chiton.

As Meriones sat down again Hercules raised his cup in a salute to the others around the table.

"To family and friends," he said. "May the gods bless you as this day ends…"

"And may your hearth always burn brightly to lead you home," Pythagoras answered raising his own cup.

"May the gods grant you the gift of dutiful children," Meriones responded, also raising his cup.

"And the memories of loving parents," Hercules finished, motioning Jason to join the others in their toast.

For a moment Jason felt awkward and embarrassed. He simply did not know the wording of the toast that his friends were making and could not join in. Within seconds, however, it became apparent that he was not expected to speak or to know the words and that his friends were simply happy for him to be there with them. He smiled. If this was what being part of a family felt like then Jason was more than happy that his family had chosen him.


The second day of Apatouria, Anarrhysis, dawned cloudy and dark, the air heavy with the promise of a coming storm. Pythagoras had told Jason that it was a day given over to quiet contemplation and prayer; a day for making private offerings to the patron god of the house. Most Atlantian people rose with the sun and made small offerings at their household shrines. The royal household would of course make more extensive and impressive offerings at the Temple of Poseidon on behalf of both their family and the people of Atlantis, but for most this second day of Apatouria was a quiet, personal affair; a time to give personal thanks for the phratria and, if there were any male children of appropriate age, to prepare for Cureotis and the ceremonies where these boys would become citizens.

Jason looked out the window at the people hurrying by as the storm clouds broke and the first raindrops fell. Pythagoras had been worried. Apparently the weather was not auspicious and indicated that the gods were not happy. Jason had refrained from raising an eyebrow or snorting derisively knowing just how much the gods meant to his younger friend. He couldn't help privately thinking, however, that the incipient storm had more to do with atmospheric pressure than any divine interference. He had seen too much since arriving in Atlantis to completely dismiss the gods and their power but he did have to admit that his own faith was somewhat tidal – it came and went. Not that he would ever say any of that to Pythagoras of course, it would only hurt the young mathematician and Jason had no desire whatsoever to do that.

Soon he would have to leave the window seat. The wind was blowing from the east again and Jason was beginning to get decidedly chilly sitting here. He had to admit that, while the weather was generally still much warmer than what he had been used to growing up on the sleepy south coast of England, the winds that whipped in from the east and rattled the doors of the city, creeping in through the window shutters, were more than a little cold and raw – particularly with the light fabric that clothes were routinely made of here.

A clatter of feet on the outer stairs made him turn and look towards the kitchen with a smile. That would be Cassie and her father. While he knew that a time would come soon when Talos would have to get back to his everyday life and would not be able to devote the hours to visiting people for pleasure, Jason had to admit that he did enjoy seeing them. Cassie's games were becoming a little more boisterous now than they had been and the young man did not necessarily enjoy taking part in all of them, but he was willing to acknowledge that he generally found the little girl delightful. She was clever and funny and inquisitive about the world around her. Cassie had taken to bringing her little wax tablets with her most days and spending at least part of every visit sitting and trying to read to Jason. She did not do it very well yet but the young man still enjoyed listening to her attempts. He wondered just how much she could learn if she were to be allowed to be taught by the right teacher – someone gentle and kind who would answer her questions seriously. Of course her sex precluded her from school and Talos was unlikely to be able to afford a tutor for her so her education would always be limited by her circumstances. Jason sighed. It was one of the aspects of life in Atlantis that he could never quite get used to – that girls simply did not have the same access to education or the same rights as boys.

Still he would very much like to introduce Cassie to Ariadne one day; not least because the little girl clearly idolised the Princess, even going so far as to have her beloved doll, Arisbe, dressed in a miniature replica of Ariadne's court dress. Jason thought that Ariadne would probably be charmed by little Cassie too. The child was free-spirited and full of life. He sighed. As things stood it was unlikely that the two would ever meet. But his status with Cassie had been confirmed when Pythagoras had accidentally told the little girl that Jason was friends with the Princess before Jason had rescued him from playing house the day before.

Right now Cassie came barrelling into the room in search of her friend as her father went in search of Meriones to talk business. That was one good thing about the recent situation, Jason supposed. At least Talos was being repaid for his kindness in bringing Cassie here each day with some sort of business deal instigated by Meriones. Jason still felt a little guilty for the amount of inconvenience everyone had been put to one his behalf. He hated to think that he had caused any of his friends any trouble at all – and he was rapidly coming to count both Talos and his daughter in that small and select group.

Actually Jason wasn't entirely sure where Meriones was right now. Earlier in the day he had disappeared into the formal chambers adjoining his dining room to discuss business with some important merchants and hadn't been seen since. Perhaps they were still there. As though thinking about him had summoned him, the giant merchant stepped through the doorway from the dining room, smiling and rubbing his hands together.

"Well," he said spotting Jason, "it has been a good day indeed. A little more effort and I will have the deal I want."

Jason smiled.

"Your meeting went well then?" he asked.

"Indeed it did my friend," Meriones boomed. "But it is not over yet. I have merely stepped out to see to some refreshments."

The enormous man ambled away towards the kitchen, mind clearly still fixed upon his negotiations.

A persistent tugging at the edge of his tunic made Jason look down.

"Hello Cassie," he said softly to the child.

"I want to play," Cassie said insistently.

"What sort of game are we talking about here?" Jason asked suspiciously. He had been caught out a few days prior and made to attend a dolls party – if Hercules were ever to find out about that one… he shuddered. The teasing would be endless.

"Hide and seek," Cassie said. "You count."

Jason rolled his eyes but nodded. He couldn't see any harm in that and at least it meant that the girl would not be trying to tie a ribbon in his hair this time. He shuddered again.

Closing his eyes he started to count out loud, hearing the child giggle and the scuffling of feet as she darted off to hide – in the dining room if he wasn't very much mistaken. He continued to count slowly, allowing Cassie ample time to hide. The sound of a throat being pointedly cleared behind him made him open his eyes and turn around in a hurry.

Pythagoras was standing watching him with his eyebrows raised in confusion.

"What are you doing?" the young blonde asked.

"Hide and seek," Jason answered, more than a little embarrassed. "Cassie's hiding somewhere and I'm supposed to find her."

Pythagoras opened his mouth to say something and then thought better of it, remembering how easily the little girl had persuaded him to play house with her the day before.

"It's alright," Jason added. "She's in the dining room. I heard her go in there. I'll give her a bit more time to hide and then I'll wander in to find her."

Before Pythagoras could respond to that a sudden squeal came from somewhere through the doorway to the dining room; a squeal that could only have come from a small girl.

The two young men exchanged an anxious look and raced off to find her.

Once they were inside the dining room it quickly became apparent that Cassie was not there. A door in the far wall – the door that led to Meriones' formal chambers – was ajar, clearly left unclosed by the merchant when he had come to fetch refreshments. Jason raced through it and into the rooms on the other side – rooms he had not yet seen – with Pythagoras somewhere behind him. The scene that greeted him made his blood run cold. A large man loomed over the little girl, having caught her arm in a tight grip, and he was saying something to the child in a husky voice.

Jason raced over and forced himself between the man and the girl.

"Get away from her," he hissed. "I won't let you hurt her."

If he had stopped to think about it Jason might have noticed that the man's grip on the child's arm was firm but in no way cruel – more like he was trying to stop her falling that trying to restrain her – and his eyes were kind. By this point, however, his brain had shut down and he reacted only to what he thought he could see – a large man attacking a young girl. He put his hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him backwards.

"You're not going to hurt her," he said again still pushing the man.

"Are you mad?" the man said.

By now the rest of the occupants of the house had entered the room, as had a couple more merchants. The merchant who Jason was shoving turned to appeal to Meriones.

"I wasn't doing anything," he said. "You have to believe me. The child ran into the room and ran straight into my legs. She fell over. As she fell she squealed. I was trying to put her back on her feet and check that she was alright when this boy ran into the room and attacked me." Honesty and sincerity shone from his eyes.

"It is alright, Sabas, I know you would not hurt a child," Meriones rumbled. "I have seen you with your grandchildren remember." He turned to Jason. "He is not trying to hurt the girl," he said firmly.

If Jason even heard him he gave no indication whatsoever. He stood with Cassie behind him, shoulders heaving and eyes wild. The air crackled with tension, not helped by the occasional crackles of lightning and rumbles of thunder that came from the open window.

"I won't let you hurt her," Jason hissed at the elderly merchant moving to shove the man again. "Not anymore."

Very slowly, as if he were approaching a wounded animal, Hercules moved towards Jason, one step at a time.

"It's alright," he rumbled soothingly. "He's not going to hurt her. I won't let him. I give you my word."

Jason stopped and turned towards the burly wrestler, eyes full of fear and indecision.

"You promise?" he asked.

"I promise," Hercules confirmed. "Nobody's going to hurt Cassie. Not like you were hurt. I won't let anyone do to her what was done to you." He took another step forward.

Jason gave a strangled gasp that was almost a sob.

"You know don't you?" he said, anguish taking over his eyes.

"I think so… yes," Hercules said softly. "And I'm so sorry Jason."

Jason held his gaze for a moment and then bolted, darting back out of the room as fast as he could. Hercules swore loudly and followed him, leaving the rest of the room to stare after them in consternation.