Of Meeting Familiar Faces
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
― J.R.R. Tolkien
As he had initially suspected, the new arrangement which restricted the Gods turned out be more than Hercules had bargained for.
As the Gods no longer could interfere with the mortals' affairs, the Gods had been asking for Hercules' help. First it had been Ares who had summoned Hercules to help him in Sparta. Meg hadn't been too happy as she heard that Ares had appeared in their bedroom, asking for his help, but she understood that he needed to aid his divine relatives.
He bid her farewell, promising that he would only be away for one night at most. He himself didn't feel comfortable with leaving her alone in the villa after she had been just visited by Hades. But she brushed it off, telling him that she was a big tough girl: she could handle. That made Hercules smirk: if anybody, Meg could pretty much handle anything coming up her way.
After Hercules had handled Ares' request, Athena needed him to help her out in Athens. The Athenians accused a woman called Theoris of practicing witchcraft: obviously Athena wanted Hercules the stop the trials, she did not tolerate such folly in her city-state! Hercules had enough matters in his hands in Thebes, but he couldn't refuse the Gods either. And certainly he couldn't let an innocent woman of being accused of being a witch.
As he and Pegasus arrived to central square of Syntagma, the trial had already started. Theoris came from island of Lemnos and wasn't initially Athenian, which made the locals wary of her. Also the locals believed that Theoris had placed a curse upon them, which they believed to be the reason why the Goddess of wisdom wasn't responding to their prayers anymore.
Hercules interfered, presenting himself and explaining that the Goddess Athena had visited him and told him that she did not wish that Theoris would be executed. The locals still grumbled a bit on why Athena had sent him instead of visiting them herself, but finally accepted Hercules as Athena's envoy and listened to his reasoning. In the end, they concluded that Theoris wasn't guilty after all.
Overjoyed Theoris came to thank him after the trial.
"In the name of Gods, I thank you, mighty Hercules. I do not know what could have happened without you. I'm a pharmakis, so I do know herbs and can mix some conjunctions, but I am no witch," the woman explained, two small children tailing after her, firmly gripping each hand of the woman.
"Of course, it was my pleasure. Are these two your children?" Hercules kindly smiled at the children who timidly smiled back at him.
"Yes, my son is called Arel, he's three, and his older sister is called Aegle: she's five," Theoris warmly smiled as she inspected her children.
"I'm very happy to meet you, Arel and Aegle. Take good care of you mother, will you?" Hercules knelt to face the children, who nodded at him eagerly.
"We will, mister. We promise," Aegle solemnly told him.
Hercules then bid farewell to the small family and was left wondering if he would still head back to Thebes that night: he felt weary after the long day and the night was already drawing in. In the other hand, the thought of leaving Meg alone for the night left him uneasy. He was deep in though when a familiar figure approached him.
"So the great hero has the time to visit Athens after all this time," she greeted him, her hands on her hips.
"Cassandra! It's so good to see you!" Hercules pulled her in for a fierce hug.
"Likewise, Herc. I heard the gossip that certain son of Zeus was visiting the city, so I decided to see for myself if the rumor had any truth in it," she replied, giving him a rare, genuine smile.
"Oh man, it's been such a long time! No we only lack –" Hercules was about to speak his other friend's name when they heard a familiar voice from the sky.
"Herc, BUDDY! And my sweetest Cassierose!" the mop of black curly hair on the wings exclaimed.
"Icarus," Cassandra grimaced as the person in question made a less than graceful landing.
"ICK! So good to see you!" Hercules spurted to embrace him.
After being released from his friends grip, hopeful Icarus spread out his hands for Cassandra as if inviting her to hug him.
"Only in your dreams," she hissed at him, crossing her hands at her chest.
"Ha, oh how have I missed your impeccable sense of humor! My love, we have been re-joined at last!" He dramatically proclaimed, not even one bit moved by the icy reception he had just received from her.
"How did you know Herc and I were here?" Cassie asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
"Well, let's just say I've been keeping an eye out for things," Icarus replied vaguely.
"So you've been spying on me?" Cassie was starting to lose her temper.
"I wouldn't call it that, I just had to make sure that my sweet Cassandra wasn't in any trouble," Icarus gave her a smile which in his own mind must have looked charming. Cassandra however scoffed.
"So you have been spying on me, you little creep. Should have known. Why do I see disasters yet my visions wouldn't warn me about this?" She complained.
"Hey, I'm really happy to see you! The both of you," Hercules told them, more than happy to meet his friends from his teenage years.
"Yes! The old gang back together! This calls for celebration!" Icarus exclaimed happily, dancing around the duo of his best friends.
"Fine, you'll be treating," Cassandra huffed.
"Anything my lady wishes for," Icarus saluted her and Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"This will be so much fun!" Hercules was suddenly glad that he had arrived to visit Athens. Maybe Meg was right, she would be alright for one night?
"Shouldn't you at least get rid of those wings?" Cassandra grimaced, pointing the wax-wings still attached to Icarus' back.
"I'm Icarus, the Wax-wing King! Haven't you heard that there's no such thing as bad publicity! This might become even the next fashion-statement!" Icarus strutted confidently along as the people surrounding pointed at him and some of them even giggled.
Hercules and Cassandra shared an amused look: Icarus was certainly the same he had been.
The trio of friends found a tavern nearby where they decided to share a jug of wine.
"So the two of you have been keeping in touch?" Hercules asked as he observed his friends.
"I wouldn't call it that. More likely, I've been doing my best to avoid Icarus, who keeps sending me scrolls, claiming his eternal love, like weekly at least," Cassie scoffed as she gave Icarus a murderous glance.
"Wouldn't want my sweet Cassiewassie think that I have forgotten about her, even if I'm leading a modest yet successful wax-wing business!" Icarus raised his goblet towards her before taking a sip from it. Cassandra shook her head, looking unamused.
"Otherwise, I guess I'm fine, working at the Oracle Friends Network community. So, I see you managed to become a great hero. What happened to you going to mount Olympus and all that?" Cassandra asked after taking a sip from her goblet.
"Yeah, well. Change of plans," Hercules huffed a small laugh.
"Yeah, figured that much out. So what's her name?" Cassandra replied drily.
"How did you know?" Hercules turned even a deeper shade of crimson.
"Lucky guess?" Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"Herc, buddy, the whole Greece has been going wild about you turning down your place in the Pantheon for this mystery woman! So as my Cassielove asked, what's her name?" Icarus butted in.
"Her name is Megara," Hercules had a distant look in his eyes and a goofy smile appeared on his face as soon as he spoke her name. Cassandra shared a knowing look with Icarus.
"Uh-huh. And is she 'rivaling even Aphrodite herself in her beauty', as it is said in the news scrolls?" Cassandra quoted the latest scroll she had read.
"Between the three of us, she even more beautiful than Aphrodite herself," Hercules lowered his voice, trying not to make the vain love Goddess jealous.
"And she smart, funny, brave and did I mention the most beautiful woman in the world?" Hercules recounted, lost in his own thoughts.
"Well, you covered that part for numerous times now. I'm happy for you, but are you sure you're ready give up your dreams for her? You worked so hard to obtain your place as a God," worry was lacing Cassandra's words as she studied her friend.
Hercules sighed, not surprised to see the concerned look on his friends' faces.
"You haven't heard how Meg and I met, have you?" Hercules made sure and as his friends shook their heads with puzzled looks on their faces, he started to recount how he had met her.
"When we first met, Meg was working for Hades. Not willingly I might add, she made a deal with Hades which obliged her to do so. Hades wanted to use her in order to get rid of me, but we fell in love in the process. When I found out the truth about her working for Hades, I was arrogant and stupid and I didn't listen to her because of my wounded pride. Meg got hurt really badly in order to save me. She sacrificed her life to save me," Hercules paused for a moment, struggling to continue.
"Are you saying she…" Cassandra furrowed her brows, trying to piece things together.
"She died, yes," Hercules let out shuddering breath as he remembered the worst night of his life.
"So is it true what people say about you, diving into river Styx in order to save her life?" Cassandra had heard rumors, vague gossips concerning what had transpired, but there were as many versions of the tale as there were people passing the story. That particular question had been playing on Cassandra's mind ever since and apparently she just couldn't let go of it.
"It is. I held her shattered, lifeless body in my arms, the body of the woman I loved. I hadn't even replied to her when she told me that she loved me. That couldn't be her fate, she deserved so much more. I couldn't just let her die. So I went to the Underworld and made a deal with Hades: her soul for mine. But Hades cheated, he thought that he could trap us both there, that I couldn't make it, so he agreed. But I did make it, I managed to get her soul from the river Styx and became a God in the process. When I reunited with Meg, when she opened her eyes and smiled at me and I held her in my arms, I realized that anything, even being a God, would be meaningless without her. Life of a mortal may seem short in years, but sharing my life with her has so much more meaning compared to living as a God, without her. I couldn't even imagine living that life honestly," Hercules sighed as he finished his tale.
"Sheesh, that is one hell of a story. But I guess sitting in the lap of luxury wouldn't suit you in the long run," Cassie told him and Hercules huffed a laugh: "I suppose you're right."
"It seems that you have made up your mind. In that case, I'm happy for you and your girlfriend," Cassandra concluded.
"Fiancée. We actually got engaged recently," Hercules corrected, smiling from ear to ear.
"Whoa, buddy! Congratulations are in order!" Icarus cheered.
"You two certainly haven't wasted any time," Cassandra was a bit taken aback by this sudden announcement.
"If you would meet her, you would understand. What if you came to visit us in Thebes?" Hercules suddenly got excited by the though, the strong wine bringing color to his cheeks.
"I would love to, but my work…" Cassandra started, but Icarus already leaped with the offer.
"Alright, now we're talking! I was thinking to start a side-branch of my business, Thebes sounds like a good place," Icarus cheered.
"Yes! Cassie, you have to come too!" Hercules pleaded.
Cassandra was about to say 'no' but as she studied the wishful faces of her two friends, she found her resolution breaking.
"Fine, I'll be telecommunicating to my workplace," she finally huffed back. Now she had at least a reason to practice more on her telepathic skills.
"Yes! Meg's gonna be so glad!" Hercules cheered as he and Icarus clashed their goblets together.
Cassandra was more than curious to finally see this woman who was known for her beauty and who had completely changed the course of her friend's life and if she lived up to Herc's hype. Tomorrow she would see it for herself.
Meanwhile, Meg had spent her day occupied with various chores. She had even visited her family at the palace, even though meeting her father hadn't been exactly pleasant.
She had done her best to keep herself busy, but the looming night-time did nag at the back of her head. She did not ponder if Hades would come again, she knew him well enough to expect that he would take advantage of Hercules being away.
When the night fell and she was suddenly greeted by a sudden smell of sulfur, she wasn't even surprised: she just let out a weary sigh.
"What is it, Hades?" She snapped, not even facing to look at him.
"You offend me babe, you made it sound like I was more predictable than I am!" Her former boss exclaimed while he moved closer to her.
"Well you are. Just get to the point, okay?" Meg turned to look at him, folding her hands with annoyance.
"Ooh, snappy. Is it because your boyfriend is not here to save you? Or is it your ´fiancé' now?" Hades mocked her.
"I can handle you very well on own. Now what is it?" Meg was really starting to lose her nerve.
"Can't an old friend pay you a visit without an agenda?" Hades proposed in a suspiciously innocent manner.
"We are not friends, never were and besides, you never do anything without an agenda. Now finally spill it," Meg growled.
"Hmmph. You might have a point there. But really Meg, him? Out of all men out there," Hades spread out his hands in confusion.
"You're concerned with my taste in men, is that your problem? What are you, my father?" Meg gave an incredulous laugh. Why on Earth would she want to discuss this matter with him, out of all people and Gods out there?
"Call me sentimental, but you have potential: you could have done so much better, Meg," Hades inched closer to Meg, who instinctively pulled further away.
"Really Hades, did you come here to give me some life-advice? Am I doing so badly in life that I need some cosmic interference from the God of the Dead?" Meg gave him a jaded look.
"To be honest babe: yes, you do," Hades gave her a wide grin, mimicking a friendly smile.
"Well, from my perspective, I would have appreciated and needed some divine advice back then when I first stroke that deal with you!" Meg sharply pointed out and Hades sighed.
"Really Meg? My feelings are hurt. Then we never would have gotten to know each other!" Hades exclaimed, mockingly sounding offended.
"I could have lived without that information," Meg muttered back.
'Well, I couldn't have,' a passing thought crossed Hades' mind, but he shrugged it away
"But thanks to all that crap, I did end up meeting Herc and I guess it did work out, eventually. No thanks to you, though," Meg continued more audibly and Hades gritted his teeth together.
Oh how many times he had been mad at himself for getting those two interfered with each other. Were the Fates themselves laughing at his expense? Knowing those broads, he wouldn't be surprised: you would be surprised for how long the Fates could hold grudges for breaking certain promises.
Not that Hades had any experience of that, mind you.
"Honestly Hades, I don't get it. Why would it bother you that much?" Meg sighed, which pulled Hades out of his internal colloquy.
At the same time, Hades felt both irked and strangely pleased: Meg was one of those few persons (both mortal and immortal accounted for) who could see right through him even without trying to do so.
And what annoyed him the most, he did not understand it himself: why had it blown his top off to realize that she had fallen for that clumsy jackass? He wished he cold have answered that question himself. And he hated and loved at the same time that she had once again seen through him. 'Why did that brat have to take away and ruin everything I hold important? Wait; where did that thought come from?'
"It doesn't, Meg my sweet. But just wanted to give you a heads up that it isn't too late to change your mind," Hades quickly replied and Meg scoffed.
"Well, don't you go wasting your breath," Meg hissed at him.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. See you around, babe," Hades shrugged before disappearing.
Left alone once again, Meg sighed wearily before sitting down to a couch. She shook her head slowly as she buried her face to her hands. What was Hades up to? Why was he suddenly concerned with the choices she had made? And most of all: what was he warning her about?
There was something more to that story; Meg was certain of it.
She needed to figure out what it was.
-A/N: So, as I failed to meet my monthly update last month, I will make up for it by updating TWICE this month. Does that sound like a fair deal? And a super-long chapter at that!
And yes, we have finally reached the point where Icarus and Cassandra join the fun, I hope you're as excited as I am! I know that in the Hercules animated series, Meg had never met Cassandra and Icarus, but I thought the dynamics of these four would be so much fun to write, so I couldn't pass this opportunity up. My story, my rules!
Another note: Theoris of Lemnos was really a woman accused of witch-craft back in ancient Athens. However, she wasn't as lucky as Theoris in our story, for she was ultimately executed. So, pharmacist derives from Greek word 'pharmakis': their basic job was working with herbs, medicines and poison. I like to incorporate elements from real Ancient history whenever I can.
Guest: I'm happy you're enjoying, here's another chapter!
Nutmeg: I'm a genie, granting my loyal readers' wishes.
Once again, thanks for reading and reviewing!