Crossroads of a Legendary Friendship

Iolaus turned to Brennus, who was now bent over trying to stop wheezing from his hard travels. "Brennus, why don't you rest here a minute, Hercules and I need to talk." As Brennus nodded, Hercules and Iolaus walked down the road to speak their words.

"Herc, why would you want to put Iphicles before saving this village? If you ask me, he's not worth the effort. Well, I'm gonna go check out the village and try to help those people."

"Iolaus, I've never heard you say anything like this before..." Hercules stopped and pierced Iolaus with an icy stare. Confused feelings about Iphicles and the promise to his mother were all Hercules could think about right now. And here was Iolaus standing there and telling him that Iphicles was not important and that he should not care what might be happening to his brother. Who was Iolaus to tell him something like that? Could it be because....

"I think I know why you're saying these things about Iphicles. You're jealous of the two of us, how we had a REAL family, enough to eat, a good home, and... and a mother who protected us, and all the things you didn't have. Is that it, Iolaus? How can you blame Iphicles for that? He never did anything to you."

By this time, Hercules was both angry and confused and Iolaus was trying hard not to acknowledge what Hercules had just said to him. Both just stood there in silent disbelief at what they had just said to each other.

"Jealousy doesn't become you Iolaus." Hercules stopped his tirade, his eyes blazing in anger at the hunter.

'Never did anything to me, huh?' Iolaus laughed at the apparent irony of the situation. "Well, I'll tell you something, Hercules," Iolaus spat out his name angrily, unable to control emotions any longer. "If I'd known then what I know now about your brother, I,... I wouldn't have saved him from those hungry sand sharks at Golgoth! Yeah, brother Iphicles," he muttered, shaking his head. "I've been a better brother to you than Iphicles ever has, I've always been there for you, where was he? You and I always were there for Alcmene, where was your jealous, ungrateful brother then?"

Iolaus stopped ranting, knowing that most of what he'd said he didn't really mean. He was exhausted from a lack of sleep, his vivid nightmares, and worry about the attack on Mycenae. Now he had to contend with Hercules placing some ungrounded concern about Iphicles above the welfare of a whole village. He ran his hand through his hair nervously, then put his hands on his hips, waiting for Hercules to say something. Anything. Even in defense of Iphicles. 'Come on Herc, say something,' he thought.

Hercules was so stunned that he could hardly speak. He'd never heard such words from the hunter. Iolaus always gave people the benefit of the doubt, always willing to forgive even the most serious transgression. If that's the way Iolaus felt, he didn't want him anywhere near Iphicles and quite frankly he didn't want to be anywhere near Iolaus himself right now. A nagging little voice in the back of his mind told him to halt this exchange of uncharacteristically hurtful words between them, but he found he could not. Iolaus was making him very angry.

"You know what Iolaus? Iphicles once asked me why you hung around with me all these years. He said you were using me to, to travel and live a more exciting life than you ever would have had in Thebes. If that's true, you've been fooling me for a lot of years, just like you've fooled me about how you feel about Iphicles." Hercules was so angry that he wanted to lash out, smash something and that was a rare feeling for him. Since Iolaus was the only object within reach, he thought it best to get out of there quickly.

The words they both had spoken today had been harsh and cruel, and neither realized what had compelled the other to speak them. If either man had been thinking clearly, they would have realized that there were other forces at work, urging them to emotionally wound each other. But neither was thinking clearly, Morpheus had seen to that.

Clenching his fists tightly to bring himself under control, Hercules turned on his heel and strode off quickly down the road toward Corinth. He had to get to Iphicles to help him if he needed it, no matter what. Iolaus could take care of the village. His immediate responsibilities were to his brother. After all, he had promised Alcemene that her sons would look out for each other.

Iolaus stood transfixed by the sight of Hercules rapidly disappearing from sight. Several times, he caught himself about to yell for Hercules to come back. But no, Hercules would never forgive him for the horrible things he'd said anyway. Surely no true friend and certainly no brother would ever say such things to another. Iolaus rested his hand on the dagger hanging from his belt, the dagger he and Hercules had forged in friendship years ago. He ran his hand absentmindedly over the hilt, remembering the day he and Herc had made it, and then all the days since. Now, that friendship had been torn to shreds by angry words.

Iolaus felt so miserable and lost that he couldn't move. Tears gathered in his eyes, threatening to spill over until he swiped his gauntlet across his sweat-streaked face and turned in the direction of Brennus. The villager had been resting on the grass down the road, catching his breath, and had heard only bits and pieces of the heated exchange between the two heroes. He was confused when he saw Hercules leave and picked himself up wearily and walked over to the hunter.

"Why did Hercules leave? Isn't he going to help my village?"

Iolaus answered, "No, Brennus, Hercules can't go with us to the village. He has to go see his brother first. It'll be all right."

He said it, but he really didn't mean it. 'Yeah, it will never be all right now,' he thought. 'I'll never walk with Hercules again as his partner and friend. It's all Iphicles' fault.'

For now he would follow what his sense of duty told him to do, help the villagers of Mycenae. Later, he would follow his heart and seek out Hercules and try to heal their friendship. That is, if Hercules would even let him explain.

Grief for his lost friendship with the demigod nearly overwhelmed him and suddenly, it dawned on Iolaus that no matter what Iphicles had done or said to him, it was as one child to another. Children were often mean to one another. He knew that. Why did he let such things come between Hercules and himself now? 'No, Iolaus, it's your fault, you fool. It's your fault. Herc hates you and you deserve it.' Iolaus was heartbroken as the finality of it all sunk in. He had to go with Brennus because Hercules wouldn't. He'd find out what was going on in Mycenae.

Iolaus closed his eyes and rubbed his temples as his mind gradually became clearer, clearer than it had been in several days. He resolved that if the gods were particularly kind to him, some day he would be able to apologize to Hercules, and perhaps Hercules would not turn and walk away from him again. Iolaus could not bear to picture the look of hurt and anger he had seen on the demigods face as he'd hurried off in search of Iphicles.

"Let's go, Brennus. We need to get to Mycenae as soon as possible."

A dejected Iolaus sighed deeply and set out without another word as he followed the befuddled villager.

Hercules quickened his pace as he disappeared from Iolaus' sight. Intense anger showed quite plainly on the demigods face, mirroring the feelings that nearly overwhelmed him. Hercules was unaccustomed to having such feelings, particularly about Iolaus. He tried to make some sense of what had just happened between them.

'We've had plenty of disagreements over the years,' he thought to himself, 'and even a few really angry ones. We both just go somewhere to cool off before we end up apologizing to each other. Eventually. But by the Gods Iolaus, how could you say those things about Iphicles? What gives you the right? There's no way I'm going to travel with someone who's been lying to me for years about, well about hating my family and who knows what else. When your friends desert you, rely on your family. Mother would agree with that, I'm sure. I've got to get to Iphicles.'

Hercules shook his head as if to try and clear away the pain and anguish their parting had caused him. He was clearly exhausted from lack of sleep, the nonstop Morpheus-induced nightmares that plagued him as much as they had been disturbing Iolaus, and the strain of their parting ways. Hercules felt emotionally drained and deeply saddened.

Somewhere on Mt. Olympus, the God of Dreams smiled. "My debt is now paid, Ares. I do good work, don't I?" The God of War smiled broadly as he observed his half-brother's stricken countenance in the large scrying pool in front of him.

"Ah yes, Morpheus. Better than I had hoped."

Story of the Siege

Rushing down the trail to get back to the village the weary travelers said little to each other. One was worried about his family, his friends, and his home; the other lost in thoughts of an earlier, very disturbing argument with his friend.

"Iolaus, I'm so glad you decided to come and help Mycenae." Brennus said for the third time.

Barely hearing Brennus, Iolaus nodded, his thoughts still on the scene with Hercules foremost on his mind. Shaking his head, Iolaus mumbled to himself. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe Herc said those things. How can he believe that?"

"What's that Iolaus?" Brennus looked at his companion strangely, wondering about the earlier confrontation.

"Hhmm? Oh nothing." Iolaus said absently.

After a few hundred yards, the blonde warrior decided he had better find out what he was heading into. For one who tended to act before thinking, he also knew there were innocent villagers depending on his help. Therefore, after what seemed an eternity of silence, the warrior looked at his companion fully attentive for the first time.

"Brennus, tell me, why is Mycenae in so much danger?" Iolaus queried.

"Corinth soldiers came to our village last night. We were told the King had deemed our village to be part of his kingdom and we had a sun width to surrender." Brennus paused for a moment catching his breath.

"I thought Corinth and Mycenae were on friendly terms." Iolaus said confused.

"So did we Iolaus, so did we." Brennus said sadly, shaking his head. "This happened to a village north of us yesterday. They did not surrender. The king and his soldiers burned it to the ground. There's nothing left there."

Iolaus halted his steps, stunned. "How do you know this?"

"Somehow, most of them escaped. They are at Mycenae now. They risked their lives to warn us." Brennus said sadly.

Nodding, Iolaus took this horrendous news in. As angry and upset as he was whenever Iphicles name arose, Iolaus still could not believe that this was the same ruler who had helped Attica and other kingdoms in their most dire hours.

With a new sense of urgency, Iolaus stepped up the pace. "We'd best get there quickly then."

"No fear my friend, Mycenae is just over that rise...." Stopping mid sentence, Brennus let out a gasp of surprise.

"Oh no..." Iolaus started running, Brennus right behind him.