Lillith's.P.O.V.
Hercules muttered incoherently in his sleep, his brow furrowing and unfurrowing. At least he was sleeping now, without screaming in terror, without the ability to wake up. The fever that had plagued him for a week was finally gone. It had only broken this morning.
My mind still was still vivid with the images of Hercules' battered body. There had been so much blood, dried and fresh. His skin had been feverish and had been vomiting. He hadn't been able to hold anything down…becoming very, very thin. He had been agitated in his sleep, crying out and moaning. He finally was calm and sleeping peacefully. Though his body was still battered and torn internally. It would not be wise to let him get up anytime soon.
I got up, careful not to wake Hercules and walked away. Hercules raping had brought back so many unwanted memories. The rapes of all the girls and boys of my village was one of the factors that had pushed me to become a warrior. One of my best friends had been brutally raped, though not as badly as Hercules. The image of her broken body is ever imprinted in my mind. She had become pregnant. Even though she had hated the rapist, she had loved her child when he had been born. I never could understand how she could love the child. If it were me…I don't think I could love the child. Each time I would see his or her face…I would see the face of my rapist. She had tried to explain it to me, but I never would quite understand.
I walked down the hall to where Iolaus and Jason waited. Their faces displayed such concern. "How is he?" Jason asked. "Tired and resting. It'll be a few weeks until he's back to his old self." I explained. Iolaus looked at me doubtfully. "I don't remember much from our time on the ship…I was out of it a lot because of the beatings. I know that Hercules protected met. Something changed though to Hercules during our voyage…his aura changed. They did something to him, didn't they?" Iolaus asked, his voice fiery with unquenchable rage. "Yes. They did." I said. "What did they do?" Jason asked. "That's for Hercules to tell you." I said. My look told them not to ask any more questions and they didn't.
The next few weeks were trying. Hercules kept trying to get up, consistently telling me he was fine. He still vomited quite a lot, though only in the mornings. He seemed to be alright during the latter part of the day. The colour gradually returned to his now gaunt cheeks, and he talked a little more. He still wouldn't eat much. The other cadets would come to visit him, he greeted them all with a smile but he stayed shy. He was very afraid of the taller, broader, muscular cadets, he was okay when women would visit him, but the men he was terrified of. He was even afraid of Jason. He would clutch my hand whenever they came and wouldn't let go. His self confidence and self worth were broken. The sparkle in his eyes was gone, only an old man's eyes were left. Empty and sorrowful.
The only time I saw him smile a little more brightly was when I or Kora would visit him. Kora came regularly to tell Hercules of the happenings around the town and to bring him meals. The gruel that the cadets ate didn't cut it as far as Kora was concerned. It was rare to see her so affectionate.
Through the weeks I noticed the change in Hercules even more. The way his smiles didn't quite meet his eyes and how he would stay silent for hours, retreating deep into himself. After about 3 weeks he was allowed to get up and walk. The look of pure happiness as he was allowed to go as he please was uplifting. After weeks of his sullen expression, I had almost forgotten what his true smile looked like. He stuck to me, relying on me for strength and support and I gave it to him. How many times had helped me when my spirit was broken…I don't know. It was my turn to support those heavy wings.
After a week of gaining the strength back in his legs he was allowed to go outside of the Academy. He leaned on my shoulder as we walked in the woods that surrounded the Academy. "It's all so beautiful. Before this all happened…I took it so for granted." Hercules said. The sullen look was gone from his face, only the joy of being outside and out of the clutches of that pirate. In that instant I felt that my Hercules had returned.
a/n: I tried to make this one happier! Tell me what you think! Please review! :D