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.
“You’re drunk, Iolaus.”
Iolaus looked over at Hercules with a giggle and a crooked grin.
“Not yet, but its early yet. So, what’s your point? We both got returned from the dead yesterday. If that’s not a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is!”
Hercules smiled ruefully. Iolaus had a very good point. After a day long battle to stop the four horsemen, Hercules had been faced with a decision that was no decision. He had willingly given his life to save Iolaus from the Horsemen of Death. It hadn’t occurred to him until much later that Iolaus was already dead. Maybe, something deep inside him had rebelled at Iolaus having to be sacrificed again. He couldn’t save him in Sumaria but he could save him this time, and he did.
After Michael had decided to return him to Earth, Hercules had felt his heart sink. He couldn’t fathom going back without Iolaus, not after being with him again and coming so close to having him back. Michael had seen the look of momentary distress in Hercules’ eyes and the decision was made. Hercules had given his life for Iolaus, Iolaus had risked his soul to warn Hercules. A bond that could transcend death deserved to be rewarded. Besides, Iolaus could be a real pain in the backside sometimes and Hercules seemed to have discovered the secret of controlling him.
So, with a quiet, gentle smile and a bemused light in his eyes, Michael had given Hercules his life back. He had returned Iolaus to his side. They had gone to Thrace, as Iolaus had wanted. It was a small village where Iolaus had spent much “quality” time with several of the village girls. Of course, many were married now and others had moved away, so Iolaus had contented himself with a huge meal and several mugs of mead.
Hercules had splurged and rented a room with two large beds and had paid the innkeeper extra for a big tub of hot water. Iolaus had sat in the tub until the water was ice cold and his toes began to wrinkle but he had a contented smile on his face. That was all Hercules wanted. He was happy beyond words and complete again. If Iolaus had asked him to fight a hydra, at this moment he would have, willingly.
Iolaus had sunk into the soft mattress and was sound asleep in seconds. Hercules had sat by the fire, watching him sleep, for hours.
“I have him back,” he thought as he looked at the sleeping face, a face that looked so innocent and trusting. “And by all I hold sacred, I’ll never let him go again. I’ll die, again, before I let him suffer again. My heart can’t take the pain of losing him again.”
Hercules had laid down late in the night and had slept his first peaceful sleep in almost two years.
Iolaus poured a mug of wine and handed it to Hercules.
“Come on, Herc. Celebrate. Let’s get drunk and have monster hangovers in the morning.”
Hercules sighed and took the mug. Iolaus was right. He deserved a good drunk with his best friend.
“So, Herc, what did you do while I was gone?”
Hercules almost choked on his wine. How could Iolaus be so cavalier about the last two years?
“Not much. Went to Ireland, went to Norseland and fought Thor. Hard-headed son of a you-know-what. Came back to Greece, went to the Netherworld and came back with the Jester. Good man, I liked him.”
Iolaus grinned. He had never met his double, only seen him in passing. He was glad Hercules had had someone to travel with, so he wasn’t alone.
“It was hard, though,” Hercules continued as he extended his cup for a refill. “He looked so much like you, but he didn’t have your spirit or warrior skills. He was very smart, though. An inventor. Some really amazing things. He was an acrobat and a juggler. He tried to teach me, but I’m not good at it.”
“You’re good at being a friend, Herc,” Iolaus said, his words slurring slightly. “My best friend. That’s good enough for me.”
“Me, too.”
“So, what happened to him?”
Hercules’ face took on a thoughtful expression.
“He left. He’d fallen in love with a girl named Nautica who turned out to be a mermaid. So Aphrodite cast a spell on him so he could live in the sea with her and he left.”
“I’m sorry, Herc. It must have hurt.”
“It did. But he deserved to be happy and he never would have been, traveling with me. I realized I had to part ways with him, for his sake. Where you’re concerned, that’s something I could never do. I don’t know if I could now, even after all that’s happened.”
Iolaus just shrugged.
“You’ll never have to make that choice with me. We both know now that our fates are bound as one. We belong side by side, back to back. Always have, always will.”
Hercules raised his mug and grinned, the wine finally starting to give him a warm, glowing feeling. They would definitely pay in the morning.
“Did I have a funeral?”
Oh, by the gods! What would he ask next?
“I did what I promised I’d do, remember. I lit the funeral pyre for you and took your ashes back to Ania. I spread them over her grave, just like I said I would.”
Iolaus sat quietly, a single tear rolling down his cheek.
“Thank you, Hercules. I know it must have been hard for you.”
Hercules nodded, looking into his now empty mug.
“Hardest thing I’ve ever done, yet the easiest. It was so final, an admission you were truly gone. But easy, because it was a promise kept and I felt I was laying you to rest.”
Iolaus refilled both their mugs.
“Hey, Herc?”
“Yeah, Iolaus.”
“Who’s going to hold who’s head in the morning when we start throwing up?”
“Beats me. We’ll figure it out, like we always do.”
Iolaus raised his mug in salute. Hercules raised his and said,
“Welcome back, Iolaus. I’ve missed you.”
“Me too, Herc. Me, too.”
“So Herc,” Iolaus asked after a moment. “Think Ares has really reformed?”
Hercules thought for a moment before giving a shrug. “Nah,” was all he said.
“Hey, Herc?”
“Yes, Iolaus!”
“When did Amazons kill me?”
Yes, indeed, Iolaus was back and all was right in Hercules’ world.
finis
Melinda is not online, but if you would like to give her feedback on this story, send it to me, Quiet Wolf, and I will pass it along to her.
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