Title: Lost Causes?
Author: Cat
Rating: T (Possible Language and Situations)
Status: In Progress
Summary: Events following A Friend In Need...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Xena Warrior Princess show or Hercules the Legendary Adventures. I do however own the story line.
The searing pain that had ripped across her as her child was torn from her body and soul, would never leave her mind. She had collapsed in the agony of it, falling into a deep coma like state.
In the grey of nothingness, she waited. Memories of a time between death and life filled her, this was much similar yet so very different. Pain no longer physically assaulted her, but the thoughts tore at her soul with so much more agony. Solon was lost to her yet again, she knew it in her heart. She did not know how or why he was ripped from her, but she assumed it had to be because she had altered the time line, a changed destiny. Perhaps Alti had not been completely destroyed? Had the witch somehow managed to attack her son in a manner similar, yet far more deadly and successful, as she had attempted with her daughter in the other life? So many questions, and no answers.
Then the anger began to grow and with the anger came the need, the desire, to kill something. From literally nothing, she pulled a sword and began to work through a series of sword movements. This had always brought her balance and centered her thoughts. She moved the through the grey space, not taking notice that slowly the landscape had begun to shift, until she was now in forest clearing.
Part of her wondered if time itself had shifted again and she was thrust once again into the future, possibly a future with no place for her and part of her wondered if she was truly dead for good? Was this oblivion?
With a sigh, she began to accept this was her fate, perchance if she accepted, she would move on? She slowed her movements to a halt, finally taking note of her new surroundings. But still the silence was deafening to her, no animals, no breeze to stir the leaves, nothing. So when a voice filled the chasm, she jumped. Twirling around to face the source, she was in a defensive stance, ready to attack whatever it was. What greeted her was not what she expected "Hera" she managed softly as she still eyed the new vision.
Here stepped forward to the dark warrior "Xena" she began with a worried edge to her voice "I have finally found you."
Xena dropped her stance, but still watched the Goddess with an uneasiness "I didn't know you were looking" she responded. Her mind racing as to how and why Hera was involved with this as she sheathed her sword to her back, finally taking notice she was dressed in her black leathers & armor again. But she had not time to contemplate the why and how that this had come to be.
"Xena you must understand, I mean you no harm" she closed the gap between them "I have come to offer assistance."
Xena backed up, eyeing her cautiously "Ok, why don't you start with what in Tartarus is going on? Where am I? and" her voice dropped "what happened to my son?"
Hera shook her head in agreement "All reasonable requests" with a wave of her hand cushioned benches appeared "please make yourself comfortable while I explain."
Xena sat down, her eyes still locked on the Queen of the Olympian Gods. The Queen looked distressed and worried, two things she hadn't seen a Goddess express often.
"Xena" Hera began "First you must understand, things have happened that should not have happened and I plan to rectify the errors of my husband. He knows not that we are conversing, I have called in a large favor from Morpheus to conceal my being here. You are asleep, in a coma like sleep, caused by Zeus" Hera took Xena's hand in her own "He took your child and for that I am so sorry" a tear slipped from the Goddess "he believes he is protecting our world from a greater evil, but he does not understand the fallout of his failure."
"What of Solon?" Xena asked tears threatening to fall "What has happened to my son? And where is Ares?"
"Zeus took your son and sent him to the Hades, he felt he had the right since he was trying to keep you and Ares apart and the child was marked as the son of Ares, but since in all reality I know he was not Ares's son, this was an act of murder and Zeus has altered the lines of the Fates." She took a deep breath "I consulted both the Fates and Hades on the matter and we decided, without Zeus being aware, that Solon was wrongfully taken and deserved to live."
Xena jumped slightly at the news "How is it you know that he is not the son of Ares? And where have you taken him?"
"I have hidden him from my husband for the time being, but" with a wave of her arms a babe wrapped in a soft blue blanket appeared "here you can be with him" she offered the child to Xena.
Gently Xena took her son in her arms "Solon" tears slipped unchecked as she traced the babe's cheek "just as I remembered" she said softly to herself.
"He will be safe in the waking plane" Hera added softly "he is under my protection" she paused taking in the soft side of this warrior "I know he is not Ares's son because only I can see the false aura Ares put over him. I don't know the reason for this, but for him to make such a gesture" he paused overwhelmed by the emotion she was feeling "it is so unlike my son." Her eyes were wet with tears.
"Thank you" Xena said softly staring deeply into her sons bright blue eyes before looking up to the Goddess "Thank you".
"Don't thank me yet" Hera replied
"Where is Ares?" Xena asked.
Hera's head dropped a bit "I don't know" she began "Zeus has dropped him in an oubliette for punishment and only he knows where."
"Xena" Hera began "Where do you want me to take Solon, it must be somewhere Zeus would not think to look for him?"
Xena's eyes were locked with her son's matching blue orbs, and instantly she knew where he would be safe until she settled this whole mess "You must take him to Hercules."
Hera was dumbstruck "ARE YOU SERIOUS" she yelled, standing as she did "How could you ask me to ask that creature for help" she shook her head in disgust as she began to pace "The idea" she mumbled "Why I was contemplated just blowing him and his family from existence." She stopped and looked back at Xena, her eyes livid "I am here to offer you help and you insult me in the worst possible manner."
Xena met Hera's angry gaze "You blame the child for the actions of his parents" she looked back to the sweet baby in her arm "just like Zeus blamed Solon for his mere existence because of Ares" she looked back to Hera "Hercules cannot help who is parents are or aren't any more than my son could."
Hera collapsed to the bench again "I never thought of it that way" she managed "but why him?"
Xena smiled "It would be the last place Zeus would expect for one" she looked back to her son "and he is a good man and his wife a good woman, they would take care of him until I could be there for him."
Hera looked upon the woman before her "I can see why Ares is and always has been entranced by you Xena" she sighed deeply "you have no idea the amount of crow I will have to eat, but you are right and I will take him there" she reached for the baby "I must be going and you need to awaken. There will be a wine skin next to you when you awaken, drink it immediately, it will restore your health."
Xena reluctantly handed Solon back to Hera "Thank you" she paused "Ares and I had a plan to end this mess with Dahak, don't look surprised, it was our plan all along" she paused to run a finger down Solon's cheek "I just wanted to deliver him safely before heading to Britannia and ending this once and for all."
"How much do you know" Hera asked, worry and concern ebbed in her voice.
"Enough" Xena answered shortly "Take him to Hercules, find Ares and I will take care of Dahak"
Hera smiled a true smile "Your true nature has always shined through, you are a hero to the people of this land."
"I am no hero" Xena answered her voice lacking emotion.
Not wishing to argue further, with a nod of her head, Hera disappeared with Solon.
Xena took one last look at her "sanctuary" and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was laying on the floor of her tent. Pain tearing through her. She looked frantically around, finally finding the wine skin. With the last bit of her physical strength she raised the skin to her lips and drank deeply the sweet fluid. Instantly, she felt her body healing. Falling back against the tent floor, she let out a breath of relief. She didn't want to contemplate what she just consumed, so much had happened already, it was beginning to not register anymore. With sudden renewed strength, she got up and began organizing for her trip to Britannia.
Half way across Greece, Hear appeared outside the modest home of Hercules and his family. Said warrior was chopping wood in a clearing not far from his home. He looked up at her immediately, anger filling his features as he quit his labors and began closing the space between them "What do you want Hera" he demanded as he advanced up on her.
With Solon still in her arms "I have come in peace Hercules" she said softly causing him to slow his pace slightly "I need a favor of you."
He now stood before her, towering over her smaller frame "Why would I do you a favor?" he asked finally taking note of what was in her arms "Whose child is that?"
Hera took a deep breath, closing her eyes to compose herself before looking up and meeting his powerful gaze "It has been pointed out to me, that my persecutions of you are miss aimed, you are not to fault who your parents are, but they are for the actions that created you" she dropped her gaze "much like this innocent child here" she continued "Your Father ripped him from his Mother's womb just because of who his Father is" she looked back to him "I have intervened because it was wrong, it was this child's Mother that showed me the light with you." Slowly she held Solon out to Hercules "This babe needs protection and the safest place for him is in the least likely place that your Father would look for him."
Hercules was stunned to silence as he quietly took the small babe from Hera "Who are his parents that he have such a mark on his life?" he asked quietly as he looked down up on the sleeping babe.
"Your half-brother and a very special mortal with a destiny that your Father does not want meddled with" she had lied to Hercules about Ares's being the true Father, but hoped it would sway him to help her "I know you and he have never gotten along, and that to be honest is my fault" she looked to the child again "If you do this, I swear you and your family with have nothing to fear from me or him again."
Hercules met her gaze again "I don't know why, but I have a feeling I should trust you on this" he paused "We will take him until he can be reclaimed by his parents" his gaze dropped back to the sleeping baby "for a peace for my family I will do this."
Hera was shocked how easily that had gone. She looked upon what could be considered her step-son, and began to see what others did in him, he was truly good "Thank you Hercules" she softly before disappearing without another word.
Hercules took the baby to his home, where his wife and children took him in with no questions. In another lifetime, this would have been the last evening he shared with this family, but that line of fate had been altered forever.