ACT 2
FADE IN
Outside Demeter's Cottage. Hedda rocks the still clinging Thanitos.
Hedda:
(watching the silent Thanitos) He must have hid in the bushes since the massacre. (choking on emotion) All those hours alone and frightened… Oh, Thanie!
Hedda hugs her little cousin tighter, but he's so traumatized, he doesn't respond.
Ares:
(clearing his throat) I'll take the bodies to the Parthenon. They'll make the preparations for the funeral. (trying to be delicate) Persephone probably wanted to have her ashes placed with Hades' and I know Demeter wouldn't want to be far from her.
Hedda nods as Ares disappears. Standing alone for a moment, she begins to rock Thanitos.
Hedda:
(fighting tears) Hedda's gonna take good care of you. She'll defend you better than she did your mother and grandmother! I promise!
Todonius, feeling out of place, draws Hedda and Thanitos into a hug.
Todonius:
We'll defend him better! I'm always with you; you know that!
Hedda pulls out of his embrace.
Hedda:
No, Toddy, not this time. (explaining) One of Athena's priestess delivered a scroll to me three nights ago. Athena wrote it before she died. It said that I was fated to be the champion of the Olympian people in their darkest hour, something called 'The Defender of Olympus'. It was a very old prophesy, the Fates decreed it when the war with the Titans began. (smiling) But they didn't decree anything about a devastatingly handsome sidekick, and it wouldn't be fair to drag you into the darkness with me. (cupping Todonius' cheek) You are a phenomenal warrior, and my very best friend, Toddy, but I love you too much to risk your life with my own. This is my fight, my own personal war!
Todonius:
(defiant) No, I won't accept that! Wherever you go, I go! To hell and back if necessary!
Hedda:
Hell is precisely where Michael will send you and there will be no back! No matter what else you do in life, you will spend all eternity there if you follow me! Those are the stakes now, and I won't let you risk your immortal soul! When we go back to Corinth I want you to stick close to Hercules. I'm going to speak with him about taking you with him. His best friend is aging and you two were really working well together on the battlefield the other day.
Todonius:
He's the son of Zeus! They'll be after him just as much as you, Hedda!
Hedda:
No, they won't! In this fight, I am at the eye of the hurricane and as soon as word gets out about his impressive display at Corinth, Uncle Hercules will barely notice a draft! Everyone already knows about how the Christians tried to burn him, and within a week, word will spread of his participation at Corinth. That sends the message that Hercules took the best the Christians had to offer, came back with a vengeance, and settled the score. Michael and his followers won't dare mess with the world's greatest hero again until they've lived down their first botched attempt, which knowing Gabrielle and her quill will be some time in coming! Hercules has made a career out of turning gods of all varieties into laughing stocks. After loosing their largest stronghold in Corinth, the Christians will see taking him on again as a case of too much risk for too little glory, and Hercules will be free to go rescuing peasants from mudslides and stopping tribal wars before they start. (dead serious) And if you truly love me, you'll be at his side helping him.
Todonius:
(totally enraged) How dare you throw my feeling for you back in my face! You have never acknowledged my love before and now you try to twist my arm with it! Who the hell do you think you are, Hedda?
Hedda:
(desperately) I'm the Defender of Olympus… and I am your friend! You have no idea what we're up against, what being the Defender will entail! I'm not even sure myself, but I do know that I never want to be placed in a position where I have to choose between you and my destiny! I couldn't make that choice, and if you stay at my side, it's almost a given that I will have to at some point! (after calming herself) In a perfect world, I'd never let you go… but this world is becoming the antithesis of perfect, and I know it's only going to get worse before it gets better. Three nights ago, when I first read the scroll, I thought I could handle this, that being the Defender didn't mean I had to sacrifice everything… (looking down at Thanitos) I was wrong, and look at what my bad judgment cost Thanie!
Todonius:
What happened to Demeter and Persephone wasn't your fault! We pushed ourselves to the breaking point and we were still too late!
Hedda:
We pushed ourselves to the mortal breaking point! If I had just called Daddy, I could have been here before the Christians even attacked, but I didn't! I thought of you and the way we have always done things together as a team! I can't afford to think like a team player anymore! I have to think more long term, like a serious warrior. Daddy tried to tell me that the other evening, but I was too proud to listen; now Thanie is an orphan. Athena used to say: "You can't change the past, but you can learn from your mistakes and make sure you never repeat them". The first thing I have to do is find Thanie a new…
Suddenly the sound of horse's hooves becomes audible and Hedda and Todonius look at each other. They dash to their horses as a group of six Knights of the Faith, among them the two Knights from the Teaser, come riding into the valley. Hedda leaps into the air and onto her horse with Thanitos still clinging to her, and they take off! The Knights give chase, and Hedda has no trouble balancing Thanitos with her, until he begins howling and flailing when he sees the cross emblazoned the Knights' chests.
Knight #2:
Death to the Heathens!
The other Knights roar their assent, as Knight #2 pushes his stead faster. Hedda looks back over her shoulder and smiles feraly at gaining Knights #2. Swinging her legs over her horse, Hedda kicks Knight #2 in the face and he goes flying.
Hedda:
(smirking) Right back at ya, Sunshine!
Another Knight draws his sword as he catches up with Hedda's stallion. Hedda also draws her sword, then slices open the throat of the Knight's horse as he rides up beside her. The dying animal throws the man as it gushes blood, causing Thanitos to shriek. Hedda tries to sooth him as best she can, but keeps her focus on the stream they're approaching. The horses plow through the water and up another hill, which ends in a wide ravine. Hedda and Todonius look at each other then speed up their horses to jump. The two stallions barely make it across, but the Christians' horses rear up, allowing Hedda, Todonius, and Thanitos to get away.
CUT TO:
The Town on the Border of Arcadia. Just before sunset. Hedda and Todonius gallop into town at a brisk pace, and go directly to the stable where they purchased the stallions.
Horse Dealer:
Back so soon?
Hedda and Todonius climb down off their horses, and Hedda, after several tries, finally gets Thanitos to disentangle himself from her and walk beside her, holding her hand.
Hedda:
Yes, we need food and stabling for our horses tonight, and if you could direct us to the nearest inn, we'd be grateful.
The Horse Dealer looks down and his eyes widen.
Horse Dealer:
Ma'am, this is twice my fee! I can't take all this!
Hedda:
(sincerely) These stallions you sold us saved our lives this afternoon. Think of it as a thank you.
Horse Dealer:
(proudly) Didn't I tell ya, mine are the best horses in Arcadia, and you got the two best stallions I ever raised; you sure did! (noticing Thanitos) Ah, your little boy's a real cutie! He'll be old enough for his own pony soon enough, I dare say.
Hedda:
(abruptly) He's not our son.
Todonius:
He's her cousin. We're just watching him for a while.
Horse Dealer:
Ah, well, practicing is all well and good, but nothing prepares you for having your own. I have two boys myself. (sparkling in his eyes) In fact, my daughter-in-law, Kelsey, is about to make me a grandpa any minute now! My wife and some of the other ladies are in with her, helpin' her along!
Hedda:
(getting an idea) She's in labor then?
Horse Dealer:
Ah, shucks, I don't know anything about that, Ma'am. I know how they get in there, and I know they're cute as a button once they're out, but that's where my education ends. (slapping Todonius on the back) I figure, as long as the women know what to do, we men should just leave 'em to it.
Hedda chuckles, but is obviously not impressed with the man's humor.
Hedda:
I was just asking as I'm a trained midwife, and I'd like to help if I could. Childbirth can be dangerous business without a professional around to assist should something go wrong.
The Horse Dealer considers this for a moment.
Horse Dealer:
I never thought of it that way, but I can't see the harm in letting you examine Kelsey. She's back in the house. We're not rich people but…
Hedda:
Oh, no, I couldn't take your money. As I said before, your stallions saved our lives today. This is the least I can do.
Hedda smiles and begins walking towards the Horse Dealer's house, then suddenly turns and goes to Todonius instead.
Hedda:
Toddy, I need you to look after Thanie tonight. Children aren't generally welcome in birthing rooms.
Todonius:
(confused) Hedda, what are you up to?
Hedda:
This man's daughter-in-law is in labor. When the baby is about to come, my Aunt Lucina will have to show up, and once she's done her job, I can pull her aside and speak with her about taking in Thanie.
Todonius:
Yeah, but you just promised this guy you'd be midwife to his daughter-in-law. What do you know about birthing babies?
Hedda:
(haughtily) Amazons attend each other in childbirth. I've watched Tasha and Betara deliver 5 of my sisters and six baby boys into this world, and I know more about what can go wrong and how to keep it from killing both mother and child, if only academically, than most midwives, thanks to Athena's medical scrolls. Now, take Thanie to the inn, get some food in him, as he probably hasn't eaten since last night, and get us a room with two beds. Once I've squared things with Aunt Lucina, I'll join you.
Hedda tries to give Thanitos' hand to Todonius, but the child is having none of it and instead wraps himself around Hedda's pant leg.
Hedda:
(sighing) Thanitos, you're a big boy now. Stop behaving like a baby and go with Toddy. I'll be back real soon, I promise.
Thanitos tightens his grip, but with the strength of a god, Hedda's leg begins to go numb.
Hedda:
You're hurting me, Thanie; let go!
Todonius tries to pull Thanitos off Hedda, but he clamps on tighter.
Hedda:
Stop, Toddy, you're just making it worse!
Todonius:
What are we supposed to do?!
Hedda bends down as far as she can to look Thanitos in the eye. Putting on her most p*ssed off face, she lowers her voice to a dangerous level.
Hedda:
(looking very much like her father) Let… Go… NOW!!!
Sufficiently frightened, Thanitos lets go of her and clamps onto Todonius' leg for protection. Now himself in pain, he bends low and puts his arms around Thanitos. As Hedda steps away, Thanitos allows himself to be picked up by Todonius and wraps his legs around his waist. Hedda looks at Thanitos guiltily, but knows she had no other choice.
Hedda:
(stroking Thanitos' hair) Thanie, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I will be back, sweetheart. Take good care of Toddy for me, okay?
Thanitos gives no acknowledgement. Hedda sighs, and wearily enters the Horse Dealers home.
Horse Dealer:
That little fella is very attached to his cousin, no pun intended, ain't he?
Todonius:
Right now, she's all he's got in the world.
Horse Dealer:
Not so, my boy. From what I see, he's got you.
Todonius smiles at the man, before heading off to the inn.
CUT TO:
The Main Bedroom of the Horse Dealer's home. Kelsey, the Horse Dealer's daughter-in-law lies in the bed struggling through labor. Hedda enters the room quietly, and watches the woman till the Horse Dealer's wife approaches her.
HD Wife:
Who are you and what are you doing here? How did you get past my husband?
Hedda:
I'm a midwife, and your husband let me in.
HD Wife:
My husband is wonderful man, but a sentimental fool. We can't afford a midwife, not this season anyway. I'm sorry, but…
Hedda:
(dressing the HD Wife down like an errant soldier) Well then I too suffer from your husbands foolishness as I am not charging your family for my services. Now step aside and let me ease your daughter-in-law's suffering.
Hedda examines Kelsey, then strikes the pressure points on her distended stomach, giving the young woman instant relief.
Kelsey:
(panting slightly) You made the pain go away! How did you do that?
Hedda:
(in total command) Trade secret. Now rest. From what I saw, you're fully effaced and 8 1/2 centimeters dilated. It shouldn't be long till you'll need to begin pushing, so conserve your energy for that.
Kelsey:
(now breathing normally) Thank you.
Hedda stops for a moment and smiles genuinely at the young mother-to-be.
Hedda:
You're welcome. (to the six other women in the room) I'm going to go to the inn for a few minutes and check in with my friends. Keeping Kelsey calm and relaxed is the best thing for her. Opening up that window just a crack couldn't hurt either. You can rarely go wrong with fresh air. I'll be back in a few minutes. If she starts to feel the urge to push or the pains return, come get me immediately. (quietly to the HD Wife) If I were you, I'd cut down on the number of spectators. Too many people hovering around can only irritate her right now and sap her strength.
The HD Wife looks none too happy about being ordered around in her own home, but one look in Hedda's steely blue eyes and she looses the will to argue. Hedda nods and leaves the Horse Dealer's house.
Outside the Horse Dealer's Home. Hedda makes her way to the inn at a brisk pace. Halfway there, she feels a gods' presence, stops, and turns around. Lucina, dressed in an elegant, blood-red, gown and a golden necklace, stands patiently, her ornately decorated torch in hand.
Hedda:
(formally) Aunt Lucina, it's good to see you again. How long has it been?
Lucina:
Ten years. Last time I saw you was at your age of ascension ceremony, when you chose the path of the warrior. I can't say I was surprised. I tried to give Rodonia an easy labor, but your will would not be denied. It took five stitches to sew her up after you tore your way out, but she withstood the pain bravely.
Hedda:
(mildly uncomfortable) Yes, well, I don't remember much about that, but my birth is not what I needed to speak with you about. (with difficulty) I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I know you and Persephone were close, and… Demeter and Persephone were killed last night by the Knights of the Faith.
Lucina sees a well nearby and sits down to steady herself. Hedda sits next to her and places a comforting arm around Lucina's shoulder.
Lucina:
How did they…
Hedda:
(gently) Badly. The details would just cause you more pain, but it was bad.
Lucina:
And Persephone's child? The boy?
Hedda:
He survived. He hid in the bushes, (tears welling up) and watched his mother…
Lucina breaks down and sobs against Hedda's shoulder.
Lucina:
(between sobs) Why are they doing this to us? Persephone was no warrior! She was no threat to this God of Light! Why did they have to kill her?!
Hedda:
(explaining, as if to a child) In Chin they say that you have to completely obliterate your enemy before you can truly claim victory. It's extreme and it's cruel, but it's good strategy. (seeing Lucina has become even more terrified) However, it does have it's drawbacks.
Lucina:
(slightly hopeful) What drawback?
Hedda:
Well, when you adopt this policy of total annihilation, you give your enemy nothing to loose in fighting you. If they're going to be killed, they might as well strike you as great a blow and take as many of your soldiers with them as possible before the end. Not to mention, it bands all your enemies together as they now know you can't be reasoned with. That's why your father, Zeus, gave amnesty to some of the Titans when he defeated Chronos. He wanted to keep the ones that sided with him docile and appear benevolent to all the other pantheons.
Lucina:
(sniffling and sounding very much like a child) That's true. Father said that Chronos just wanted to crush us all, but if we did the same to the Titans, we'd look just as bad as Grandpa.
Hedda:
(nodding) And the longer we hold out, the more monstrous Eli's god will look to everyone, especially when Gabrielle writes about how the 'Good Christians' slaughtered a meek, widowed, goddess right in front of her equally harmless 3 yr. old son. As Dite would say "That's a majorly grodie PR rep,".
Lucina and Hedda chuckle, and wipe their eyes.
Lucina:
(desperately) Do you really think we can win this, Hedda? I mean, do you really think we have a chance?
Hedda:
(completely serious) Yes, I do, and so did the Fates. (smiling proudly) That's why they made me.
Lucina:
The Defender of Olympus, yes, Ares has been bragging about it all day.
Hedda:
That's Daddy for ya, but in all seriousness, I will do whatever it takes to save our people. However, winning this war will require sacrifices from everyone, starting with finding someone willing to take Thanitos in.
Hedda stares expectantly at Lucina who looks confused for a moment before she gets just what Hedda is asking of her.
Lucina:
Me? No, no, I can't! I only bring them into the world, I don't know how to raise and mother them.
Hedda:
(impassioned) Nobody is born a parent, you learn as you go. Look at Athena; she never raised a child before me and yet, I can honestly say, she was the best mother ever! Surely if an aloof, battle-hardened, warrior and scholar like her can become such a great Mom, then you, with you're your soft-heart and nurturing personality, should be a natural!
Lucina:
(apologetically) For any other child, yes, but not for the heir to the Underworld. Persephone was my best friend, and I wish with all my heart I could raise her son for her, but his destiny is in the realm of the dead and I am the Goddess of Birth! If I took him in, within a year every mother I ministered to would bear a stillborn baby! What kind of PR would that bring us?
Hedda considers this, then something occurs to her.
Hedda:
Thanitos is the heir to the underworld! I never thought of it that way! (in realization) Killing Persephone and Demeter wasn't the Christians' main objective! They must have just gotten in the way! Michael's God wants the souls in the Elysian Fields and Tartarus, and so long as Thanitos lives and the Greek Underworld has a ruler, he's unable to siphon power from it! That's why they came back and chased after us! That's why they all concentrated on my horse and left Toddy alone! They want Thanie!
Hedda stands up and thinks for a second, then making her decision, she closes her eyes.
Hedda:
Daddy.
Ares appears, nods to Lucina, and then looks to Hedda.
Ares:
Yes?
Hedda:
I want you to take Thanitos to your main temple in Thrace. Do whatever you have to but protect him. If he dies, Michael's god gains control of Hades domain and all the power of that realm.
Ares:
But I thought that when Hades died Michael's god automatically took over.
Lucina:
(speaking up) No. I remember, when Thanitos was born Hades was going on about him being his heir. To gods that is usually a non-issue, but after Zeus died I guess it meant enough to him to give the child power over his realm in the eventuality of his death.
Hedda:
And so long as Hades Kingdom has a rightful ruler, Michael's god can't touch it. Which means he can't condemn followers of the gods to Hell. Which limits his absolute control over human souls thus his power base. Kill Thanie and it's all up for grabs.
Ares:
Hedda, I can't raise Thanitos and fight this war.
Hedda:
Neither can I or I would take him myself. Don't worry, this is only temporary. I'm going down to Hades. Thanitos is their king now. He'll claim his powers, and once I've sealed off the entrance at the bottom of the Alconian Lake, it shouldn't be too difficult to find him a regent among Hades' former associates. No one but the dead who are still pledged to Olympus and the gods will be able to get in or out and Thanie can grow up in peace and with a full understanding of his duties and obligations.
Ares:
He's only three years old! What if he can't handle his powers well enough to take control of the Underworld?
Hedda:
Then we'll have to take our chances bringing him to Olympus until he is old enough! I'm hoping to avoid that as Michael hasn't yet made a move directly against Olympus and I don't want to encourage him considering the disarray we're in up there, but Thanie is too important to the cause to just abandon with some hapless mortals and cross our fingers that he doesn't get discovered!
Ares nods in reluctant agreement.
Ares:
So, where is the squirt, anyway?
Hedda:
(smiling) He's eating dinner at the inn with Toddy.
Ares:
Alright, we'll do it your way.
Hedda:
(smiling) Good. I call you once I've made the arrangements in Tartarus.
Hedda watches her father disappear. Suddenly Hedda feels a tap on her arm.
Lucina:
Ah, this might not be the best time to tell you this, but Kelsey's baby is breeched. If you just walk off, her and the baby's survival is uncertain.
Hedda:
So, take my form and fill in for me. You should know how to handle a breech!
Lucina:
(indignantly) I'm a Goddess, the eldest daughter of Zeus and Hera, not some dimwitted, mortal, midwife!
Hedda:
(getting majorly p*ssed off) Alright, I've put up with this all my life, and I'm damn sick of it! Did it ever occur to you that it's just that kind of self-absorbed, hands-off, holier-than-thou attitude that made the mortals desert our family in the first place! Yes, we're smarter than most of them! Yes, we are millennia more advanced scientifically! And, yes, we can all trace our linage back to the dawn of time while they're lucky if they can remember back twenty generations, but ignoring them is a really bad idea, especially now! They may be barbarians for the most part, but every mortal knows that Barbarians do plenty of damage when they storm through the countryside! Aunt Athena once taught me that any species or civilization on Gaia's green Earth that can't adapt to change goes extinct in the course of time, and Dearest Lucina, that includes us! Even if I was ruler of all Olympus, I couldn't save our people by myself! Like it or not, at least until we get rid of this so-called God of Love, we are going to have to pay more attention and occasionally tend to their needs, so shut up, morph yourself into me, and go deliver Kelsey's baby! Then morph back into yourself and take the credit. Word will spread from there! (when Lucina just stares in shock) I said MOVE IT!!!
Lucina morphs herself into an exact duplicate of Hedda, then, in fear of her niece, stumbles off towards the Horse Dealer's home. Hedda watches her go, following her by the light of her torch. Once she sees Lucina enter the house, Hedda nods and silently sprints towards the stables where she knows her two stallions are kept. She keeps an eye out for the Horse Dealer, but fortunately he doesn't make an appearance. Silently, Hedda saddles one of her stallions, and climbs up, waiting patiently in the dark stable. A moment later, she hears the healthy first wails of Kelsey's newborn baby, and gently nudging her horse with her heels, rides off into the night.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
Read Act 3