Last time at To help or not to help:
"Good evening, is Pythagoras ready to get home?" Icarus asked when Kalista opened the door.
"Good evening." Kalista greeted back. "I am afraid Pythagoras had left about an hour ago."
"Oh…" Icarus said. "Thank you." Icarus said before he quickly made his way home.
"I am home, Pythagoras." Icarus called when he stepped inside.
"Good evening, Icarus." Daedalus greeted.
"Hello father." Icarus said looking around.
"I have not seen Pythagoras since he left with you this morning." Daedalus replied.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Chapter XI: Mirella
And now:
"What do you mean 'Pythagoras is not here?'" Icarus asked.
"I have not seen Pythagoras since you left with him this morning." Daedalus replied with a frown. "Why are you that worried?"
"I told Pythagoras this morning that I would come and get him so we could walk back home together, but when I came there, Kalista told me that Pythagoras left over an hour ago. I figured he made it back, but he did not do so."
"Then he probably got lost."
"We need to get looking for him right now." Icarus said ready to leave when Daedalus stopped him.
"We need a plan before going out." Daedalus said. "Hercules!" He shouted and a couple of moments later a sleepy Hercules appeared. "Hercules, we need to find Pythagoras."
"Why?" Hercules asked after he yawned and scratched his belly.
"You know he has been confused lately, so he probably simply lost his way when he was coming home." Daedalus explained. "Icarus? Will you search the way from the armoury till about where he teaches?"
"I will." Icarus agreed.
"Hercules, if you go to the grand entrance of Atlantis and search there? Then I will go and search around the temple and palace."
"We will meet back an hour before dusk." Icarus said before they all left their home, going to search for Pythagoras. They all three got to the place where they supposed to be searching, already keeping an eye out for if they would ran into their friend before reaching their place. They were not that lucky. The sun was getting quite low when Daedalus stumbled on a figure with curls, slumped against a wall in a small alley.
"Pythagoras?" Daedalus asked before he came closer. "Pythagoras?" He kneeled now clearly recognising his son's lover. Pythagoras seemed to be asleep, for his eyes were closed and he was breathing softly. Not nearly being strong enough on his old age, he could not simply pick up Pythagoras and carry him home. Daedalus shook Pythagoras shoulder. After a few times, Pythagoras jerkily lifted his head.
"Hmm?" Pythagoras lifted his hand and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Pythagoras?" Daedalus softly asked trying to gain his attention.
"Daedalus?" Pythagoras asked when he finally recognised the man's face.
"That is me yes." Daedalus managed a little smile before he got on his feet. "Are you coming home with me?" Pythagoras took the hand Daedalus offered him and with more help than he would ever admit, Pythagoras got on his feet.
"Where are we?" Pythagoras asked confused.
"Near Poseidon's temple." Daedalus said and guided him, while he held his upper arm, back to their home. "There we are. Why don't you go and lay down?" Daedalus softly spoke as they entered their home. No one was home yet, so he would have to wait for their arrival.
"Where's Icarus?" Pythagoras asked while he slowly lay down.
"He will be here soon, I know so." Daedalus gave him a little smile not wanting Pythagoras to worry about a thing. It did not take very long before Icarus arrived home.
"Is anyone already home?" Icarus asked as he entered.
"Over here." Daedalus replied when he heard his son.
"Icarus." Pythagoras said with a smile, while he sat up, even with Daedalus hand gently trying to prevent so.
"Are you all right?" Icarus asked when he quickly made his way over to Pythagoras.
"I am." Pythagoras said before Icarus hugged him tightly.
"Why did you go home, while I told you to wait for me?" Icarus softly questioned, holding Pythagoras at arm length so he could look at him.
"Wait for you?" Pythagoras asked utterly confused.
"Yes, we agreed that I would come and get you after I was done, so we could walk back home together."
"I must have forgotten." Pythagoras softly said. "Sorry."
"Do you remember walking home?" Daedalus gently asked after a moment while he watched the conversation between his son and lover.
"I think I do. But I think I took a wrong turn at some point, and I did not recognise the street I was in."
"You simply did not turn around to the street you recognised?"
"I thought the street might ended up in a street I would know."
"But it did not?"
"No. By the time I did not know the way back anymore."
"Didn't you think you could have asked someone to send you to the palace, or armoury?" Daedalus wondered.
"Now you say, I did not think of that."
"Well, I am hungry, shall we eat here?" Daedalus said before he stood.
"I am hungry too, I will give you a hand. You will be alright alone?" Icarus asked softly.
"I am not going anywhere." Pythagoras promised. Daedalus and Icarus left the room to prepare some dinner.
"I don't think I have been that scared before." Icarus softly said.
"I can imagine. There is something serious going on with Pythagoras." Daedalus said when he started a small fire. "Maybe we should ask a healer from the palace to come and have a look at him."
"I know he is not himself, but is it that bad?"
"Pythagoras would surely remember what you had said to him, and ask his way if he had lost it. I know he tries not to worry you, but I think he was completely honest with us." Daedalus nodded. "I cannot figure out a connection between the clumsiness in his hands and his forgetfulness."
"I can neither." Icarus said after a moment he thought. "Maybe it is a good idea to ask for a healer. I am sure Jason would not mind, and charge us a lot." Icarus put a small amount of stew in each shallow plate and broke some bread to go with it. "I will go by the place tomorrow after I finish at the armoury."
"Good." Daedalus agreed as he took one of the plates and went back to Pythagoras.
"Here you go." Icarus gently said as he placed the plate on Pythagoras lap and handed him the spoon. Pythagoras ate clumsily, and even managed to spill some on his tunic.
"I am so sorry." Pythagoras said as he tried to wipe off the spilled food, only making it a bigger stain.
"Do not worry about it." Icarus shook his head.
"Not worry about it?" Pythagoras said as his voice broke and his eyes filled with tears. Daedalus quickly took all the plates away while he kept a worried eye on their friend.
"No, if you take it off, I will wash it." Icarus said, taking Pythagoras' hand in his. "Pythagoras? Look at me." Icarus gently said and wiped away the fallen tears when he looked at him. "No harm done. Why don't I give you a hand at your tunic and then you will go to sleep? I will come and join you after I cleaned your tunic."
"If you are sure?" Pythagoras said and allowed Icarus to help him. Icarus draped the blanket over Pythagoras and kissed his cheek.
"I will be right back." He kissed Pythagoras and gave him a little smile before he met Daedalus in the other room.
"How is Pythagoras?" Daedalus asked as he took the tunic from Icarus hands and put it into a bucket with water.
"I hope he will be asleep soon." Icarus said as he sat down letting out a frustrated sigh. "I do not understand what is going on."
"A healer from the palace might shed some light upon Pythagoras' health." Daedalus nodded as he washed the tunic and hung it over a beam to dry.
"I hope so." Icarus said as he stood again. "I am going to see if Pythagoras is asleep."
"Good night." Daedalus said as he also sat down on the makeshift bed in the corner. "Where is Hercules?"
"I have no idea." Icarus shrugged. When Icarus entered the room, he saw Pythagoras bare back and heard something like muffled sobs. He quickly walked around their back, seeing that Pythagoras for some reason was crying again. He had stuffed his hand in his mouth to muffle the sounds. Icarus sat down and gently caressed his hand through the curls, wondering what was going on. "Pythagoras?" He gently called. Pythagoras opened his eyes to see who had called him.
"Hmm." Pythagoras murmured with his hand still stuffed in his mouth. Icarus gently removed his hand from his mouth and wiped it dry with a cloth, as well as his tear stained face.
"Why are you so sad, Pythagoras?" Icarus softly asked himself as he stood and poured a cup with water for Pythagoras. He helped him sit and helped Pythagoras drink.
"Some more?" Pythagoras asked as he still sniffled. Icarus poured him another cup of water, now he intended to a only one drop of the Valerian liquid, but slipped and added quite a few.
"There you go." Icarus said as he helped Pythagoras again. Icarus figured that Pythagoras was over tired and the few extra drops would do no harm. Icarus held Pythagoras in his arms, gently rubbing his back. Pythagoras still occasionally sniffled still sad about something as his eyes began to droop. When he was finally asleep, Icarus gently lie him down and undressed himself before he snuggled down beside him.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Jason? Ariadne?" Icarus questioned when he walked up to the throne room.
"Icarus?" Jason asked with a frown when he walked up to their friend. "What can I do for you?" He asked when he saw Icarus worried look.
"Pythagoras is very unwell. I had hoped you would sent a healer with me for him." Icarus replied.
"Pythagoras was not completely well when you were all at the palace when we had invited you, was he?"
"He was not ill, maybe a bit off. Now... I do not know..." Icarus said searching for words to describe Pythagoras' condition.
"Come." Jason said and gently squeezed his friend's shoulder.
"Oh, my king." A young girl said before she bowed. "What can I do for you?"
"Mirella, this is Icarus, a good friend of mine. He asked for a healer, so if you would be so kind and come with us." Jason motioned to Icarus who gave her a nod and a small smile.
"Are you hurt, sir?" She asked before she fetched her satchel.
"No, my best friend is." Icarus said. Mirella nodded and they were on their way to Pythagoras.
"Come in." Daedalus said when there stood a party of three in front of the door.
"Where is Pythagoras?" Jason softly asked as they entered.
"In the bedroom." Icarus said and took them to the bedroom where Pythagoras was still asleep. Icarus almost roughly shook Pythagoras awake, when gently shaking and calling him did not have any success.
"Hmm?" Pythagoras hummed as he tried to turn on his side, getting away from the shaking.
"Pythagoras, please wake up." Icarus gently called, shaking his shoulder again.
"Icarus?" Pythagoras slurred as he brought up his hands to rub his eyes.
"Yes, it's me. Jason is also here, he wished to see you. We brought a healer with us to come and see you." Pythagoras opened his eyes and shot Icarus a confused look. "I am worried about you. Father has no clue how to help you. That is why Mirella here has come with us to have a look at you." Mirella took as seat on the other side of Pythagoras with her satchel in front of her.
"Tell me, Pythagoras, what is going on?" She softly asked as she took in his appearance.
"I seems the I keep forgetting things." Pythagoras said when he sat up, keeping his eyes on his hands. "And my hands do no cooperate like I want to." Mirella nodded and took one of Pythagoras' hands in her own and caressed them and turned them around to see if there was anything out of place. Pythagoras kept his eyes on his hand and cautiously met Mirella's eyes.
"Can you squeeze my hand?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
"I am sure you won't." Mirella encouraged. With a little nod Pythagoras squeezed her hand. "Are you doing your best? Squeeze as hard as you can." Pythagoras tried and squeeze as hard as he could. "You may relax now." She told him and Pythagoras opened his hand. "How does this feel?" She asked when she gently dragged one of her nails over his fingers.
"I feel them, I think." Pythagoras said, feeling more distressed by the minute.
"Close your eyes and tell me where you feel them." Mirella instructed and gently touched the thumb. "Can you tell me where I am touching you, without peeking?"
"I do not feel it." Pythagoras softly said while a frown appeared on his face.
"We will try again." Mirella chose another spot on his hand and pressed a bit more firmly against his index finger. "And how then?"
"You are pushing very softly on my index finger?" Pythagoras questioned, his eyes still closed.
"Good job." Mirella praised. "Now another spot." She placed her hand gently at his elbow. "Tell me if you know where my finger is now." She gently touched it before she gently started to push with her finger.
"My elbow!" Pythagoras exclaimed as he opened his eyes.
"There you go." Mirella smiled at him.
"What are you doing?" Pythagoras asked when he felt her finger at his knee.
"Just a little check." Mirella shrugged. "Are you in pain?"
"Sometimes my head."
"Do you have fever?" She asked and gently pressed her hand against Pythagoras' forehead.
"I had, but I don't think I have now." Mirella nodded and dug into her satchel pulling out a little package. "You have a bit of water to drink?" Icarus quickly handed her a cup of water. "Just chew upon this, I will hope it will help with your hands." She said as she held out three leaves for him. Pythagoras slowly chewed the leaves and washed it away with the water. Mirella still observed Pythagoras.
"Anything else?" Pythagoras asked eying the healer. The leaves where familiar but he could not name them right now, besides they were really bitter tasting.
"I will leave the leaves here with you, three each day would be enough. When it will not get better, do not hesitate go come to me again." Mirella said as she packed her satchel again and stood. "I am done. I will wait for you in the other room, my king." She greeted Jason and handed Icarus the little package. "Be well soon, Pythagoras." She joined Daedalus in the other room.
"Hi, Pythagoras." Jason softly said as he sat down at the edge of the bed.
"Long time no see." Pythagoras said with a little smile.
"How are you feeling?" Jason asked, while he took in the sickly appearance of this friend.
"Not that well. I cannot even recognise the herb Mirella gave me." He said visibly upset.
"How did you teaching go?" Jason asked trying to lighten the mood.
"They had practiced themselves when I was not there teaching them."
"What do you teach them then?"
"Mathematics I supposed to solve easily... And healing, with plants I fail to name..." When Pythagoras met Jason's eyes, Jason could see the unshed tears in his eyes.
"I am sure, when you are better you will remember." Jason tried to sooth him. He had never been the one that would do well in such situations.
"Pythagoras, why don't you lie down?" Icarus softly said. "Go and take a nap, yes? I will wake you when we go and eat."
"It was nice seeing you." Pythagoras said and clumsily gave Jason a hand before he settled down.
"I am happy I saw you too." Jason said with a little smile and gave Pythagoras' shoulder a soft squeeze before he left the room with Icarus.
"I will do my best." Daedalus agreed with Mirella.
"Do you wish to return, my king?" Mirella asked as she stood.
"We will." Jason nodded. "I am glad you called our help. I see your concern."
"Daedalus here filled me in with other things that had recently happened. When we are back I will go and do some research to see if I can be of better help." Mirella said.
"Thank you." Icarus said.
"I will come by as soon as I find something." Mirella said before they left.
-Hi there! I know it is a long time ago, but finally a new chapter. The original disclaimer is still in place. I knwo my stories are slow placed, but I hope I will get some speed in the next chapter or two. If you have suggestions of something you'd like to read, let me know!-