Published May 29, 2021
"Messenger"
Once Phil accepted him as a student, the first thing Hercules wanted to do—besides pick up a sword, or a spear, or a shield—was write a letter. Thankfully, they scrounged some scrolls and writing utensils while cleaning up the island.
When he finished writing, Hercules used his medallion to seal the scroll with wax. That felt a little bold, but it conveyed the truth of his identity, and he knew the recipient would recognize it and know that the message came from him.
When the wax was dry, he carried the scroll outside. He cleared his throat and spoke up, glancing around uncertainly. "Hermes? This is Hercules, son of Zeus. Um … I have a message—"
He had barely finished his summons when a glowing, diminutive man with light blue skin flew up from out of nowhere. Hercules was startled but quite pleased, especially when he saw the caduceus in the man's hand and the feathered wings on his sandals and helmet, confirming who he was.
"Say no more, babe, I'm here," Hermes said.
Hercules almost laughed in delight. "Wow. I wasn't sure that would work! It's really good to meet you—you're only the second god I've met in person."
"Well, that's not quite true," Hermes chuckled. "Of course, you wouldn't remember, with your merely mortal capacity for memory, but you met me and every god on Mount Olympus when you were a baby."
"I did?"
"Sure. Your folks threw a huge party after you were born. Nobody missed it. And we all pitched in to search for you when you went missing."
Hercules' smile faded at the mention of his disappearance.
"Ah, sorry, kid," Hermes apologized. "Didn't mean to bring up old wounds. Or new wounds, in your case."
Hercules shook his head. "No, it's fine. I mean, I'm sorry for my parents, but for me … I'm glad to know the truth now. I finally know who I am, where I belong, and how to get there." He held the scroll up in both hands. "But I need to explain that to the people who raised me."
"Amphitryon and Alcmene," Hermes said, nodding in agreement.
"You know them?"
"We haven't been introduced, but I've kept tabs. You got lucky with your mortal parents."
"I know," Hercules said. He hesitated before handing the scroll to Hermes. "When you bring this, don't approach them directly. Just leave it where they can find it. They'll understand after they read it. But if they want to send any messages to me, I'll be right here."
"Sure thing, babe. And Herc—good luck with the training. We're rooting for you."
"Thank you. That means a lot." It was encouraging to think that the Olympians were not only watching over him, but believed that he could succeed.
After so many days with no news, Amphitryon and Alcmene were thrilled to find the scroll on their doorstep, though they were confused by the apparent absence of a messenger. But that was nothing compared to their astonishment as they read Hercules' message. At first, Amphitryon tried to read the letter aloud, but he was unable to continue after the first few sentences. Alcmene had to turn it in his hands so she could read it at the same time as him.
Dear Ma and Pop,
I made it to the Temple of Zeus, and he answered my prayer. By that I mean, he actually spoke to me and told me who I am and where I'm from. It wasn't at all what I expected.
It turns out, my birth parents are Zeus and Hera. I was born a god, but someone stole me and made me mortal, so I couldn't live on Mount Olympus with them.
My father said the only way I can regain my godhood is to become a true hero. He also gave me something that used to belong to me, a winged horse named Pegasus, so I can travel more easily. So I've gone to train with Philoctetes, a satyr and trainer of heroes. It took a little convincing, but he agreed to mentor me. I'll probably be staying with him for a while.
I miss you, but I'm also really excited. I'll let you know how the training goes. If you want to write to me, you can send letters with this messenger.
Sincerely, Hercules
When they had finished reading the letter, Amphitryon and Alcmene continued to stare at it, until finally they looked at each other.
"Can it be?" Alcmene managed to say.
"It would explain a lot," Amphitryon pointed out. "His strength, the thunderstorms when we found him …"
"He was always different," Alcmene admitted. "I guess this proves that it was in a good way. That must mean so much to him."
"Who does he mean by 'this messenger'?" Amphitryon wondered aloud. He went to the door and looked outside. "Hello? Is anyone out there?" he called. He held up the scroll. "I'd like to know who brought this."
"That would be me." Hermes flew up to their stoop and bowed to the gaping couple. "Hermes the messenger god at your service."
Amphitryon swayed on his feet, and Alcmene reached out to steady him. "You'll have to excuse us. Would you like to come in for a moment?" she asked Hermes tentatively.
"Sure, thanks. I do eat and drink, if you have anything."
Alcmene guided Amphitryon to a bench while Hermes settled himself on the windowsill. Taking care of her husband and offering hospitality to a visitor gave her something practical to focus on, something she could understand and control while they processed such an enormous revelation. Hermes gladly accepted a cup of wine, and Amphitryon was able to talk more easily after a few sips.
"So … so it's true," Amphitryon stammered, staring at the god sipping his wine. "All of it."
"Oh, yes," Hermes confirmed.
"Our son … the boy we raised … he's really from Mount Olympus?"
"That's correct. I can attest to the fact. I saw him with his parents after he was born, and I kept an eye on him growing up."
"I'll never think of Zeus and Hera the same way again," Alcmene said, shaking her head. "To think that we raised their child! And they were watching the whole time … I don't know whether to thank them or apologize to them."
"Alcmene, ma'am, you can just say 'You're welcome,'" Hermes assured her, gesturing with his hand. "Seriously, they are grateful to you for raising their son, and pleased that you let him go off and find out where he's from."
Alcmene blushed. Amphitryon looked at the scroll once more and reread the message, trying to wrap his mind around each strange piece of information. "So … he's going to try to become a hero?"
"That's right. He'll be staying with Philoctetes for a while—probably some years. Then the real work will begin."
"I'm sure that won't be easy," Amphitryon said darkly. Hermes looked at him with a slight frown but said nothing.
"Will we ever see him again?" Alcmene asked, twisting her handkerchief in her hands.
"I'm sure you will. Phil is a tough teacher, but he won't stop you from visiting each other."
"But if he succeeds … he'll go back to Mount Olympus?"
"That is his plan, yes. He could visit or talk to you after that, too; he just wouldn't live on Earth anymore."
"Well, we knew when he left that it might be for good," Amphitryon said resignedly. He rolled up the scroll and inclined his head toward the messenger god. "Thank you for bringing this, and for explaining things."
"My pleasure. Thank you for the wine." Hermes stood up from the window, the wings on his sandals keeping him airborne. "Before I go, is there anything you'd like to tell Herc?"
Alcmene dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. "For now, just … tell him we love him and we're proud of him."
Hermes saluted. "Will do!"
"Wait!" Amphitryon stopped him before he could fly off. "One more thing." He hesitated. "I know heroes' stories often … don't end well. So … if anything happens to Hercules, please let us know. But don't tell him I asked that."
Hermes nodded curtly. "Understood, sir."
When the god had flown away, Alcmene laughed as she cleared away the pitcher and cups. "Can you believe it? He's a god, and he called us 'sir' and 'ma'am'! And our Hercules—a former and future god calls us Ma and Pop!"
"Everything's going to be different now," Amphitryon acknowledged, "for better or worse."
Author's Note: For this chapter, I drew some inspiration from Anaïs Mitchell's musical Hadestown, in which Hermes is a narrator and a lot of wine is consumed, as well as the story of Baucis and Philemon, a poor couple who offered hospitality to the disguised Zeus and Hermes in Ovid's Metamorphoses.