This story is not intended to violate any copyrights held by MCA, Universal Studios, or Renaissance Pictures concerning Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. This story is for fun and no money was made from it.
”Why does he do that?” Iolaus asked. He was on his knees beside Alcmene, helping her put in some new plants in her garden.
“Do what?” she asked as she looked up to follow Iolaus’ line of sight. It lead to Hercules, who sat on the garden bench several feet away. He had a rapt look of concentration on his face as he worked to finish the fishing lure Iolaus had given him. He also had his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth.
“That. His tongue. He always does that.”
“Well,” Alcmene began as she sat back and dusted the dirt from her hands, “I guess it helps him think. Hercules is bright, Iolaus, but not everyone is as quick as you are. Besides, he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.”
Iolaus sighed. “Yeah, I guess so. Can Herc and I go play now?”
Alcmene tousled Iolaus’ thick curls.
“Alright. But be back before dark. Your mother sent word you could stay the night. How does that sound?”
Iolaus broke into a giant grin.
“Sounds good to me.”
They walked along, side by side. One the son of a god, big and brawny but with a gentle heart and an aching need to be loved. The other the son of a warrior, a general who did not know or understand his small, energetic son. The son he scorned because of his size, his blond curls and pretty face. The son who possessed a stronger will and braver heart than his father would ever have.
“Iolaus, when we grow up, will you be a general, like your father?” Hercules asked, toying with the fishing lure he still carried.
Iolaus smiled slightly.
“No, I’ll be a warrior, but not a general and certainly not like my father.”
“Good,” Hercules affirmed, a tone of strong conviction in his voice.
“What about you, Herc? When you grow up, or at least get as big as you’re going to, what will you do? Go to Olympus and learn godly stuff, or... what?”
Hercules stopped dead in his tracks.
“Look, Iolaus!”
Iolaus turned to look. They had stumbled onto a rich meadow with a breathtaking view. The mountains in the distance stood out in perfect view, a beautiful shade of green, deep and peaceful. There was a clearing near the center, with a small trail that led off toward the village. But, both boys could tell the trail was seldom traveled, being very narrow and almost grown over.
But, above all, both boys felt at peace here. A quiet peace that settled slowly into them. Iolaus walked slowly forward, Hercules following closely.
“I never knew this was here,” Iolaus said, awe clearly in his voice.
“Me, either. Is it ours, Iolaus? We found it!”
Iolaus giggled, turning to look up at Hercules.
“No, Herc. Its not ours, it belongs to everybody. But it’ll be our special place, just you and me. No one else will know, not even your mother or my parents.”
Hercules smiled broadly.
“Iolaus, when I grow up, I want to be a warrior, too. I want to fight with you. I want you at my back. I’ll always be at yours.”
“Always,” Iolaus added. “We’ll fight side by side, back to back, and die battlefield heroes.”
Slowly, they started back toward Alcmene’s house. The sun was beginning to set, a beautiful orange ball on the horizon.
“Iolaus?” Hercules said as they entered the garden gate.
“Yeah, Herc.”
“I like the part about being warriors, side by side, back to back. But do we have to die?”
“No, Herc. You and me, we’ll find a way to cheat the fates. We’ll live forever, you’ll see.”
finis
Melinda is not online at this time, but if you would like to give her feedback on this story, email it to me, Quiet Wolf, and I will pass it on to her.
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