XII: The Oracle
It had been two weeks since Mirella came to visit. The herbs she had given him had no effect on Pythagoras. Yesterday she had visited again. She had seen Pythagoras and had to agree with Icarus and Daedalus that he was even worse than before. 'I have truly no idea what ails Pythagoras. I consulted every book and scroll I have in reach.' She told them while she sadly shook her head. 'Maybe it is best if you say goodbye to him before it is too late.' She added with a whisper. Icarus had felt angry and sad at once. It was not yet too late! Daedalus had gently squeezed his shoulder, for he knew how it felt to lose his lover.
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Icarus walked up the steps and entered Poseidon's temple. He slowly made it up to the bronze statue of the bull and threw a piece of lavender in the fire. He bowed his head and made a little prayer before entering the hall were the Oracle sat. "Welcome, Icarus." The Oracle spoke softly while she turned her head to look at her visitor. "You have many questions, that is your reason to visit me, yet I cannot tell you all that you would have liked."
"What can you tell me then? I need to find a cure for my friend who is really ill." Icarus explained getting more and more desperate not to lose his mate.
"I know Pythagoras is very unwell. You wanted to help him, het that is the thing that makes him ill." The Oracle told him before he turned around minding her own business again.
"What makes him ill? How can I make him better?" Icarus almost shouted in fright and frustration. The Oracle said nothing but the man who had let him in and took him outside again. Icarus wanted to fight him demanding for an explanation.
"My apologies, she cannot help it herself. She told you all she could." He said motioning him to leave. Icarus wandered through the streets of Atlantis thinking of what to do with the few words of the Oracle that suppose to help him. At some point he felt the vial in his pocket and it hit him. The valerian liquid was making him sick. As soon as he could he left the vial somewhere where he hoped no one would find him before he made his way back to Hercules, Daedalus and Pythagoras.
"How did it go?" Hercules asked and stood so Icarus could sit down at Pythagoras side. Daedalus looked Icarus, wondering what the Oracle had said.
"We can only hope he will heal." Icarus said while he softly caressed his lovers hand. Pythagoras slowly looked at him and crackled a smile.
"Hi." He said softly.
"Hey." Icarus replied softly.
"Where did you go?"
"I went to the oracle, I told you before I left." Icarus replied softly and calmly seeing Pythagoras sudden distress.
"I can't remember you did." He replied and Icarus softly squeezed his hand. "Will you say with me?" He asked frightened.
"I will, but first I am going to get you something to drink." Icarus said and Daedalus left to quickly return with a cup of milk.
"I don't want to drink." Pythagoras said while he turned his head away as best as he could while Icarus was holding it up.
"You need to drink before you get dehydrated." Icarus explained with all his patience, but was actually very done with all the mood swings he was having. "Otherwise I will leave and not come back." He said while he lay Pythagoras' head back on the pillow, set the cup down and stood.
"No, don't leave me again." Pythagoras almost yelled while he was on the verge of tears. Pythagoras tried to grab Icarus arm, failing miserably. "Please do not leave me." He begged.
"Then drink the milk I got you." Icarus said and softly wiped away a tear that ran over Pythagoras red cheek.
"I will." Pythagoras said and let Icarus help him drink the cup of milk. Icarus softly wiped away the spilled milk with a cloth.
"Is there anything you would like to eat?" Icarus asked.
"I am not hungry." Pythagoras said carefully, not wanting to make Icarus go away for real now.
"Well, you still need to eat something, just a little bit." Icarus spoke softly as like speaking to a little child. Pythagoras thought for a moment before nodding.
"Here you go." Daedalus handed Icarus a small bowl with washed grapes. Icarus fed Pythagoras the grapes while he ate few himself. Pythagoras quietly ate, opening his mouth every time Icarus presented a grape.
"Tired." Pythagoras softly complained after he had finished a grape.
"I know." Icarus softly soothed. "Just a few more and the bowl will be empty." Icarus fed him another grape, eating the last one himself.
"Done?" Pythagoras frowned when he heard the ceramic bowl being set down.
"Yes, you may go and sleep now."
"Where are you going?"
"Just going to put off my shoes. I will be right back." Icarus undid his shoes and drank some water himself before he joined Pythagoras. "All set?" Icarus whispered in the hope after a few minutes of wiggling Pythagoras was comfortable and able to settle down. Pythagoras nodded in his chest, he also said something, that Icarus could not properly hear. "Have sweet dreams." He whispered before he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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"Do you think he will get better?" Hercules asked.
"I think he will." Icarus nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I removed that what made his sick." Icarus sighed and tiredly rubbed his face.
"Explain yourself, please?" Daedalus frowned.
"On the trip to Helios, and some time before, I noticed Pythagoras had trouble sleeping. In Helios I came across someone that offered me a phial with a Valerian extract." Icarus started. "Father you know the properties of Valerian are that it could help you sleep, so I thought it would help Pythagoras get a good night's rest as well." Daedalus nodded and motioned for Icarus to continue. "Well, at first it seemed to work. It made him tired moments after I gave him a cup with water and a single drop of the Valerian liquid. But at some point Pythagoras had trouble concentrating and seemed easier to forget things. Besides it seemed like he had a cold, even though they might not be related, it still could right?"
"Yes, maybe. And when it did not seemed to go away but worse, you called in my help." Daedalus supplied.
"The oracle exactly said; 'I know Pythagoras is very unwell. You wanted to help him, yet that is the thing that makes him ill.' And I figured it was the Valerian liquid. I got rid of it before returning."
"Then we shall see if Pythagoras will get better." Daedalus nodded.
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Daedalus, Icarus and even Hercules took turns in to taking care of Pythagoras. Icarus still went every day to the armoury, while Hercules and Daedalus stayed home for Pythagoras. Even though it was not quite Pythagoras' fault, his mood swings almost made them crazy. It almost happened every day that He got annoyed with the constant fussing of mostly Daedalus, to not wanting to be alone the next.
Pythagoras slowly munched on a piece of cheese as Hercules sat next to him. "You know I am almost missing your obsessive thing for triangles." Hercules said as he chewed on his own lunch.
"Triangles." Pythagoras mused before Hercules fed him another piece. "Three angles."
"Yes, that is why it's called tri-angle." Hercules snorted.
"But how about a tetra-angle?"
"Four angles? Like square?"
"Not all four-angles are squares."
"Why just not say the earth is square." Hercules laughed.
"I do not think so..." Pythagoras said while it sparked an idea, yet he could not help the tears pooled in his eyes.
"We will see about that when you are able to get back to your triangles." Hercules awkwardly patted his hand.
"You think so?" Pythagoras sniffled.
"Of course I think that. You are the smartest person I know." Hercules assured him, earning a watery smile.
"I am glad you are my friend, Hercules." Pythagoras all but sobbed. Even more awkward, Hercules held Pythagoras in a hug while he cried.
"Now go to sleep." Hercules said as he tucked Pythagoras in as he had almost cried himself to sleep.
"Thank you, Hercules." Pythagoras said before he drifted off to sleep.
-A/N Sorry, a short chapter but I have absolutely no idea what to write anymore. 30-10-18 I updated the chapter. One real chapter and epiloge left. I hope you enjoyed!-