This is the response to the November 2001 challenge: Write a story where Iolaus has to deal with some aspect of impending motherhood.
Comments and criticisms always welcome, and as always, I’m not staking a claim on Iolaus - just borrowing him for a little non-profit fun.
The jaunty tune that whistled from the hunter’s lips as he walked down the road had no specific cause. Iolaus was enjoying the mild weather as a soft breeze pushed fluffy white clouds across a bright blue sky and the golden sun shone warmly on his skin, but the beautiful day wasn’t why he was whistling. He was, by nature, a cheerful person, and just being out and alive was enough to put a song in his heart.
However, Iolaus’ good mood was soon marred as he turned the bend in the road and came upon a group of thugs surrounding a terrified, and very pregnant, young woman. The hunter sighed, hating to have his glorious day ruined. Unsheathing his sword, he approached the men with a businesslike stride.
“Let her go.”
They turned to stare at the intruder, immediately sizing him up as a non-threat, a mistake that many that came before them had made.
“Get out of here, Shorty. What we do with this whore isn’t any of your business.”
Iolaus took another step forward, his calm exterior belying the ire he felt at the man’s words.
“I said, let her go,” he repeated, his voice hard and cold as ice. His practiced warrior eye quickly assessed the situation. Six men, only two with swords. Instantly he had his strategy, raising his sword as the thugs prepared to advance.
Iolaus immediately disarmed the first attacker, sending him sprawling behind him with a sharp elbow to the head. The second, he took down with a flying spin kick. Leapfrogging over the third, he landed on the fourth’s shoulders, sending him crumpling down into the dirt. Turning, Iolaus clashed his sword with the third man. He was a better swordsman than his fallen friend, and did not want to give his blade up easily. The hunter’s eyes never left his opponent as they sparred, but years of training and a natural instinct had given him eyes in the back of his head. He was aware of the fifth man charging him from behind, and with impeccable timing, he dove out of the way as the thug with the sword thrust, missing Iolaus completely and impaling his own comrade.
The sixth man had been holding on to the girl, but as he watched the blond whirlwind, someone they had obviously grossly underestimated, almost effortlessly take out his friends, he threw her to the ground and picked up a sizeable tree branch nearby. As Iolaus rolled out of the way of the fatal stab, he saw the club coming at him but he couldn’t avoid it. Raising his arm to block the swing was the best he could do. The heavy branch slammed into his forearm, causing agonizing pain as the crack of bone assaulted his ears. Pushing the pain from his mind, Iolaus rolled again as the man raised his club for another blow. Lifting his knees to his chest, the hunter kicked hard, catching the man in the back of the knees and toppling him to the ground. Rendering him unconscious with the hilt of his sword, Iolaus stood, cradling his left arm against his chest, and faced the last man standing. He was still in shock over what he had done to his friend, and looked at the hunter dumbly.
“Get out of here,” Iolaus hissed at him, waving his sword in the direction of the woods. Glancing around at the still bodies around him, the thug dropped his bloody sword to the ground and turned, sprinting for the safety of the trees. The hunter made his way over to where the girl was curled on the ground in a tight ball.
“Are you all right?” he asked, touching her shoulder.
Instantly, she recoiled, scooting along the ground out of his reach.
“Take it easy,” he said reassuringly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
But as she stared back at him, Iolaus could plainly see the suspicion and fear in her eyes. Someone obviously had already hurt her badly, and it broke the hunter’s heart to see so much mistrust in one so young.
“What do you want from me?” she demanded.
“I don’t want anything,” he told her. “I was just trying to help.”
Iolaus could see she just didn’t believe him. Her eyes locked onto his for several moments, then she looked away and struggled to get up. The hunter held out his good hand to her, and again, she quickly backed away.
“Ok,” he said patiently, backing off a few feet. “I won’t come near you. But I’d like to walk with you, just to make sure you get home all right.”
“Just leave me alone,” she whispered desperately. Clambering to her feet, a task made difficult by her swollen abdomen, the girl stood, trembling, waiting for his reaction.
“All right,” the hunter sighed. He didn’t like letting her go alone, lest she run into more goons on her way home. But, for whatever reason, she was terrified of him and he didn’t think it was best to aggravate her in her condition. Awkwardly resheathing his sword, Iolaus turned away from the girl and began to scout the area for anything he could use to take care of his injured arm.
The girl began backing away, as if she expected him to turn and attack her at any moment. When it became obvious that he was letting her go, she started walking as fast as her large girth would allow her. But, with every step that she took, a new pang of guilt struck her. Before her innocence had been lost, she had been a very caring, compassionate person. That side of her was still buried under the bitterness and it was calling to her now. A perfect stranger had just injured himself trying to save her. As frightened as she was, she knew that she’d never forgive herself for leaving him there to try and set his own broken arm. It took her a few minutes to gather her courage, but finally she turned and made her way back to him.
“I’m Cyllene.”
The hunter jumped, startled by the soft voice behind him. He really hadn’t expected to see her again.
“Iolaus,” he told her, introducing himself.
“I can take care of that for you,” she offered slowly, nodding at his injured arm. “I don’t live far from here, if you want to come back with me.”
Iolaus hesitated, torn. He knew he’d need the help, but the poor girl was obviously still scared to death. The hunter wasn’t sure what had made her come back, but he didn’t want to upset her any more than she already was.
“You don’t have to,” he began. “I can take care of it...”
“Please,” she interrupted. “I’d like to repay you for saving me from those men. I help you, and then we’re even, ok?”
“All right,” the hunter agreed. He gathered up his meager belongings and began following as Cyllene led the way, making sure to give her a clear berth, walking slowly and evenly. It didn’t take him long to see that she was extremely wary, jumping like a startled fawn at every little move he made. Iolaus wanted to know what had happened to the poor girl to make her so skittish, but he knew she wouldn’t want to discuss it with him. And she didn’t really have to. Judging from her young age and the size of her swollen belly, he could come up with a pretty good guess.
The house that Cyllene took him to had definitely seen better days. In its prime, it was a solid, study structure. But time and neglect had taken their toll, giving the once bright dwelling a shabby, decrepit appearance. Inside, everything was clean and tidy, although furniture was at a minimum and possessions weren’t evident. Cyllene motioned for him to sit at the table, which he did while she gathered up what she needed.
Iolaus was surprised at how deftly she set the broken bone. Her fingers were quick and skilled, and she obviously knew what she was doing. Once the arm was aligned, Cyllene splinted it, wrapping a snug bandage around the limb, restricting its movement. As she had worked, the girl had apparently forgotten herself. When she finished, she looked up at Iolaus with a hint of a smile before the nervousness returned and she quickly retreated.
“Thank you, Cyllene,” the hunter told her. “That feels much better.”
“It’s getting dark,” she whispered. “If you want, you can spend the night in the barn.”
Iolaus really wanted to get out of her life, so that she could relax and not stress herself into an early labor. He also wanted to help the frightened girl, but he doubted she would let him. In the end, he decided to accept her offer and pass the night in the barn, mainly because he was tired and hurting and didn’t feel up to anymore walking. The barn wasn’t in any better condition than the house, but it was reasonably warm and dry. With a scrawny goat as his roommate, Iolaus made himself comfortable in a bed of soft hay and tried to sleep.
Despite his fatigue, the hunter laid awake for much of the night. His arm throbbed painfully, and his mind was swirling with conflicting thoughts. When dawn’s first rays appeared over the horizon, Iolaus rose, finally making up his mind to do whatever he could to help the girl, whether she wanted him to or not.
As Cyllene awoke and ventured out of her door, she was greeted with the sight of Iolaus sitting on the edge of her porch, busily skinning a rabbit.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, taking a step back into the doorway.
“Cleaning this rabbit,” Iolaus told her. “I’m hungry, aren’t you? I was only able to catch one, because it was kind of hard to set snares with one hand. But, one’s better than none, I always say. I’d offer to cook him, but it probably wouldn’t be edible if I tried.” The hunter continued talking, keeping his voice soft and soothing, attempting to use it to calm and relax her. In the end, it worked, as Cyllene came forward to take the meat from him, carrying it inside to roast over the fire. When it was ready, she invited him in.
“I saw a ladder out there in the barn,” Iolaus remarked as he sat at the table. “After we eat, I’ll get up on the roof and fix those leaks for you.”
“I can’t pay you for that,” the girl said tightly.
“I’m not asking for any payment,” the hunter told her.
“Then why would you do it?”
“I just want to help you.”
“Why?” she demanded suspiciously. “There must be something in it for you.”
“Cyllene,” Iolaus explained patiently. “I don’t want anything from you. I always try to help people when and if I can. Your roof needs fixed and I can do that for you. I believe it would be wrong of me to turn my back and walk away when I’m in a position to help. And you don’t want to house your baby under a leaky roof, do you?”
Something came over the girl’s face and she turned away. Iolaus wasn’t sure what he had said, but it was obvious it had been the wrong thing.
“Finish your meal,” she whispered. “I’m going to go lie down.” Cyllene turned and fled into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Iolaus sighed, downing the rest of his rabbit before heading outside to see what he could find. He managed to scrounge up the tools and supplies he’d need to patch the roof. It wouldn’t be the prettiest or most professional job, but it would keep the rain out. His task was made more difficult by the fact that he had limited use of his left arm, but the hunter managed to complete the work by mid afternoon. Pausing to clean up quickly, Iolaus headed down the road into the town, using the few dinars he had to buy some fresh fruits and cheese.
There was no sign of the girl when the hunter returned and let himself into the house. The fire had died, so he swept out the hearth and built a new one. When it was crackling merrily, he set a pot of water to boil. Laying out the food he’d bought on the table, Iolaus threw the remaining chunks of rabbit meat along with a few herbs he’d found into the pot. It made for a very weak stew, but it was one of the few things he could cook without ruining. When everything was ready, he knocked on the bedroom door.
“Cyllene,” he called softly. “Dinner’s ready.” There was no answer so he knocked again. “Cyllene, are you all right?” Only silence. “Please, at least just answer me. If you don’t, I’m coming in.”
The door cracked open and the girl peeked out.
“I’m not hungry,” she told him.
“Please Cyllene,” the hunter coaxed. “You need to eat.”
The girl looked into the eyes of this strange man who had fallen into her life and refused to go away. In the depths of his blue orbs she saw kindness and compassion, a hint of mischief, sincerity and honor, but no malice or cruelty. For whatever reason, as much as she didn’t want to believe it, he really did want to help her. Hesitantly, she opened the door and he backed away, giving her space to exit the room and proceed to the kitchen.
“I owe you an apology,” Cyllene said, breaking the silence that had permeated most of the meal. “I’ve treated you rudely, and you’ve done nothing to deserve it. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” the hunter told her.
“No, its not,” she insisted with a small shake of the head. “I grew up very sheltered, Iolaus, so it came as quite a shock to me when I learned that there are people with evil in their hearts out there, and not everyone can be trusted. But that doesn’t mean that no one can be trusted. You’ve been very kind to me, and its been awhile since anyone has. I guess I just didn’t know how to handle it, without thinking that you were going to demand something in return.”
“I was telling you the truth when I said I just wanted to help,” Iolaus said.
“I need it,” Cyllene whispered, tears filling her eyes. “I just never wanted to admit it because before you showed up, there wasn’t anyone to ask.”
“Cyllene,” the hunter spoke gently. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“My parents died when I was very young,” the girl began, not even sure why she was telling him. She didn’t want to, but the concern in his warm blue eyes somehow drew the words from her lips. “I was taken to the temple of Hestia, and I became one of her priestesses, serving there ever since I could remember. It wasn’t a bad life. Not exciting, but I was taught to read and write, and even the basics of medicine. We grew our own food and tended our own livestock. I guess I was happy enough there.”
“What happened to change that?” Iolaus prompted her.
“One night I went outside to light the lanterns around the entrance to the temple. A man grabbed me from behind, covering my mouth with his hand. He carried me off down the road, into the woods where his friends were waiting.”
Iolaus felt sick, imagining what the poor girl must have suffered.
“I thought they were going to kill me,” she continued, trembling at the memories. “But when they were finished, they let me go. I ran back to the temple. I was scared, and hurt, and bleeding, but I thought that it was over. I thought if I went back, my sisters would take care of me and I’d be safe.”
The hunter rose and moved around the table to sit next to the girl, putting an arm around her. She flinched at his touch, but didn’t pull away.
“Go on,” he whispered.
“When the head priestess saw what had happened, she ordered the others away from me. She said that I was no longer chaste, and could not continue to serve Hestia. She gave me a few minutes to gather my things, not that I really owned anything, and put me out. Well, it was dark and I had nowhere to go, and I was so scared I just crawled out to the barn and hid. All night I prayed for Hestia to be merciful and just end my suffering. But in the morning, one of the priestesses found me. She took pity on me, brought me some food and helped me tend my wounds. Then she told me about this house. Her family owned it, but no one had used it for years, so she told me I could stay here.”
“But what happened wasn’t your fault,” Iolaus protested. “Surely they could see that what happened to you wasn’t your choosing.”
“I guess it didn’t matter. Virginity is a technicality. It didn’t matter how I lost it, only that I did.”
“Didn’t you have anyone else to help you? Anyone in town?”
“Town?” Cyllene laughed bitterly. “They were helpful at first, as I didn’t tell them why I had left Hestia’s service. But then, when it became obvious that I was pregnant, they all began to shun me. I think they were afraid of incurring Hestia’s wrath by helping one that had ‘fallen from grace’, as one woman put it. They called me ‘whore’ to my face, and the men seem to think...”
She paused, remembering the group of attackers that Iolaus had fought off, and knowing all too well what would have happened to her if he hadn’t come along. Her shivering increased and the hunter drew her to him. She was afraid at first, but she quickly realized that the strong arms around her were comforting, not restricting. The embrace was welcoming, not suffocating. And the man that held her was gentle and kind, not an animal willing to hurt her for his own gratification.
It had been so long since she’d been offered support. Almost unconsciously, Cyllene began to cling to the hunter, holding on to him as great sobs began to overtake her. She hadn’t wanted to give in; she hadn’t wanted to let herself seem vulnerable. That required a degree of trust she didn’t know if she could give. But she couldn’t help herself. As Iolaus held her, stroking her hair and whispering softly, she felt safe for the first time since she’d left Hestia’s temple.
“You’re not alone anymore, Cyllene,” the hunter told her. “I’m here for as long as you need me. I’ll help you figure something out, I promise.”
She believed him.
Cyllene watched from the window as Iolaus hopped up on the porch, swinging a long line of trout proudly.
“And what do you say now, oh doubting Cyllene?” he challenged as she opened the door for him.
“I’m sorry,” she giggled. “But I honestly didn’t think you had a chance in Hades of catching anything with that contraption you rigged up.”
“Fishing isn’t a matter of the tools,” the hunter told her. “You just have to understand the fish. The right bait, the right location, the right angle and the right time of day. You get those four things right, and you pull them in hand over fist.”
“I’ll try to remember that,” the girl said dryly, looking at his catch with a slight wrinkling of the nose.
“I’ve been thinking,” Iolaus began, growing serious. “And I think you should get out of this town.”
“Where am I going to go with no money?”
“Thebes,” the hunter replied. “I can take you there, and introduce you to someone who can help you.”
“Just who would be willing to take me in?” she asked, rather sadly.
“A woman who can understand exactly what you’re going through,” Iolaus said softly, picturing Alcmene. “In a new town, you wouldn’t have to tell anyone your history if you didn’t want to. You could maybe find work there, and start a new life. And I know that this woman I’m thinking of would make sure you and your baby were taken care of.”
The girl turned away from him, a gesture that didn’t escape his attention.
“Cyllene, what is it? Every time I mention the baby, you get that look on your face.”
“I’m scared, Iolaus,” she confessed.
“Of what? Giving birth?”
“No.” Cyllene sighed, deciding to unburden her soul. “Its just that this baby is going to be a constant reminder for the rest of my life of what those animals did to me. This baby is the reason I lost my home and became an outcast. How can I ever love and care for a child that ruined my life?”
“Because your its mother,” Iolaus said gently. “Cyllene, you couldn’t help what those men did to you. It was a terrible thing, but it wasn’t your fault and you have no reason to be ashamed. Just like this baby can’t help the way it comes into the world. If you find that you really can’t care for it as well as you should, then you can find someone who will. But I think that once you see the little life that you’ve created, you’ll love it more than you could have ever imagined.”
“Maybe,” Cyllene murmured, not convinced.
“You look tired,” the hunter told her. “Why don’t you go lie down for awhile, and I’ll take care of the fish. Just think about it, ok?”
She nodded and headed toward the bedroom, hands supporting her aching back as she went. Iolaus let her rest until the fish were browned over the fire. Rather than make her get up, he took her a plate of the steaming trout.
“Is Thebes nice?” she asked him as he lit the candle beside her bed.
“I’ve always been happy to call it home,” he answered.
Cyllene took in a deep breath.
“What have I got to lose?”
“Well, you’d have a willing babysitter anytime I’m in town,” Iolaus grinned. He reached out a hand and placed it over her swollen abdomen. “But if you really want to go, I can take you there after the baby comes. Right now, I don’t know if we’d make it.”
The girl nodded her agreement. Her pregnancy was very near the end, but even if they did have a few days left to make it to Thebes, she wasn’t sure if she could do it. She was just so tired all the time, and swollen and aching. A long walk would have seemed torturous to her. Cyllene was glad that he was willing to wait, but for the first time, she realized how strange that was.
“Don’t you have anything better to do than hang around here with me?”
“Why would I want to be anywhere else?” the hunter asked teasingly.
“You must have some kind of life outside of helping people. Where were you going when you came upon me?”
“I was on my way to meet a friend,” Iolaus grinned.
“You must be very late.”
“He’ll understand. We were just going to go help some people.”
“You’re making fun of me,” she pouted.
“Maybe a little,” the hunter admitted. “But he really will understand. I promised you I’d be here for as long as you needed me, and I always keep my promises.”
“I’m never going to forget all that you’ve done for me, Iolaus,” she said softly. “And that’s I promise I intend to keep. I only hope that someday I’ll be able to repay all of your kindness.”
“If you want to repay me, make me another promise.”
“Anything,” Cyllene declared vehemently.
“Promise me that you’ll never let those men take your pride or your dignity.” Iolaus reached out to cup the girl’s face in his hands. “You are worth so much more than that, Cyllene. Promise me that you’ll never let what those monsters did to you rob you of that.”
“I’ll try,” she promised.
“Good.” The hunter leaned forward to gently kiss her forehead. “Get some sleep, ok?”
“Iolaus,” she called out as he headed for the door. “You don’t have to sleep in the barn. You can stay in here by the fire, if you want.”
“Thanks.” His smile was as bright as the sun. “But I think the goat would be lonely without me. Good night.”
Smiling to herself, Cyllene made herself as comfortable as she could, given her cumbersome girth. A week ago, everything had seemed utterly hopeless. Then, with the arrival of this wonderful, sweet, crazy man, she had been given new hope. He had entered her life as a stranger, but had turned out to be a friend when she had needed one the most. Sometimes the gods really did work in mysterious ways.
“Iolaus?”
The hunter awoke, his bleary eyes straining to see the shadowy figure in the entrance of the barn.
“Cyllene?” he asked, stifling a yawn. “Are you all right?”
“The baby’s coming.” Her voice held a tremor of fear.
Instantly, the hunter was awake, scrambling up out of the hay pile and rushing to her side.
“Come on,” he urged, taking her arm. “Let’s get you back inside. Just stay calm.”
Iolaus escorted her back to her room and helped her lie down, just as another contraction seized her. She cried out, gasping as he squeezed her hand while the pain assaulted her. When she relaxed, the hunter knelt beside her bed and smoothed a wisp of hair back from her face.
“Cyllene, I have to go for the midwife.”
“No!” She turned frightened eyes to him. “Please don’t leave me!”
“Listen to me, Cyllene,” he tried to reason with her. “I have to go. I don’t know how to deliver a baby. We need help. I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can, but you have to let me go.”
“Iolaus.” There was a cry in her voice.
In desperation, the hunter slipped his talisman over his head, pressing the cool stone into her palm.
“I’m coming back,” he promised. “Just stay calm and try to relax, and I’ll be back before you know it.”
The girl nodded, releasing his hand as she clutched the carved stone.
“Hurry,” she pleaded.
Iolaus turned and bolted out of the room, leaving the house at a dead run and tearing down the road into the village. He thanked the fates that a full moon hung in the sky, giving him enough light to see so that he wasn’t fumbling blindly in the dark. Racing at a speed that probably could have won him top prize in the Olympic games, the hunter screeched to a halt in front of the home of the town’s midwife. His insistent pounding was rewarded with a light appearing behind the shutters, and a few moments later, an old woman at the door.
“Cyllene’s in labor,” he panted breathlessly. “We need you to come right away.”
“I’m sorry,” the woman told him curtly. “But I don’t deliver the children of whores.” She started to shut the door, but Iolaus blocked it, grabbing her by the wrist.
“What is wrong with you people?” he demanded furiously. “Cyllene is not a whore. She’s a young girl, scared to death, and she needs your help.” Iolaus took a deep breath to calm himself and released the midwife. “Please, just put yourself in her place for a minute. She’s alone. She’s scared. She doesn’t know what to expect. You can’t in good conscious turn your back on her. I know you aren’t that heartless.”
“All right,” the woman relented finally, after long moments of wrestling with her conscience. “I’ll go.”
Iolaus wanted to run back to Cyllene, but he couldn’t let an old woman walk alone in the dark so late at night. Fortunately, she had a wagon. The hunter didn’t think his heart would be able to take her slow shuffling walk back to the house. He quickly hitched up her horse and had the wagon ready to go by the time she’d gathered her supplies. Urging the horse into a gallop, ignoring the woman’s complaints about the roughness of the ride, the hunter had them at their destination in no time.
“Where did you learn to drive?” she shouted at him, whacking him across the back with her satchel.
Cyllene’s scream pierced the calm night air, and without formality, Iolaus picked up the old woman and slung her over his shoulder, leaping off the wagon and running into the house. The midwife was still berating him as he set her down in the bedroom where she promptly took another swing at him.
“Ok,” the hunter shouted, ducking. “You can beat me later. Just help Cyllene.”
Grumbling, the midwife quickly examined the girl.
“This baby is on the way, and soon, from the looks of things,” the old woman announced. She began barking out orders to the hunter, who jumped to fulfill them lest he get swatted again. In no time, everything was ready for the birth.
“All right, dear,” the midwife told Cyllene. “We’re going to start pushing now.” She scowled as she turned to look at Iolaus, who was perched on the edge of the bed, holding the girl’s hand. “You, out.”
“No,” Cyllene cried. “Please don’t go.”
“I’m staying,” Iolaus insisted.
“This is no place for a man,” the woman snapped.
“I’m staying,” he repeated, blue eyes flashing with conviction.
“Fine,” she sighed, not having time to argue. “Then you can make yourself useful.” She nodded at the bowl of water on the table by the bed. Iolaus dipped a cloth into it and used it to wipe the sweat from Cyllene’s face.
“Ok,” the midwife said, giving the girl an encouraging smile. “Now let’s have a baby.”
Iolaus ended up on the bed behind Cyllene, supporting her head and shoulders as she struggled to bring forth the new life from inside her. She was exhausted, and crying, and the hunter wasn’t faring much better. He didn’t see how she, or any woman for that matter, could perform such a miracle. Personally, he thought it would be easier to fight a hydra, blindfolded, standing on one foot, with one arm tied behind his back.
Through it all, the midwife was the calm voice of reason, coaching the girl through the labor and reassuring her with every step.
“One more push, Cyllene,” the midwife instructed.
“I can’t,” the girl wailed.
“Yes, you can,” the hunter told her. “Come on, one more. You can do it.”
“Shut up, Iolaus!” Cyllene snapped.
“Come on, dear,” the midwife urged, failing to hide a smile. “Take a deep breath and give me one more good push.”
“I can’t,” the girl insisted, but she inhaled deeply. “I can’t.”
“That’s it,” the old woman exclaimed. “Don’t stop. Keep pushing.”
“I can’t,” Cyllene sobbed.
A tiny cry of indignation filled the air.
“It’s a girl,” the midwife announced.
“You did it,” Iolaus whispered, hugging Cyllene tightly before scooting out from under her and helping her lie back against the pillow. He moved around to look at the world’s newest inhabitant. The baby had a bluish tinge under the mess coating her, and her small head was tapered into a point, but Iolaus thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The midwife held the knife out to him, inviting him to sever the umbilical cord, but the hunter caught sight of the afterbirth and quickly retreated to the corner, turning a slight shade of green.
The old woman skillfully tended to the child, cleaning her and wrapping her in a warm blanket before taking her to Cyllene. When the girl hesitated, Iolaus stepped forward, taking the bundle carefully from the midwife. The woman just grunted and shuffled out of the bedroom to go and wash up.
“You did great, Cyllene,” Iolaus told her proudly. “She’s a beautiful baby.”
“You make that look so easy,” the girl told him, watching him cradle the infant to his chest.
“I’ve been an uncle a few times,” the hunter grinned. “Come on, it’s time to meet your daughter.”
Cyllene shrank back slightly, but Iolaus determinedly passed the child to her arms. With trepidation, the girl stared down into the pink little face, but all her misgivings vanished when she saw her daughter looking up at her.
“She’s so tiny,” the girl whispered in awe. “But so perfect.”
Iolaus sat down on the edge of the bed, his good arm around Cyllene’s shoulder. Both sat in silence, just watching the little miracle that the girl held in her arms, one that she’d created.
“Do I have to drive home in the dark by myself?” a loud voice called from the other room, shattering the peace of the moment and making Iolaus roll his eyes.
“I’d better see her home,” he sighed. “Are you going to be all right here until I get back?”
“Yes,” Cyllene answered him with a tired, but happy, smile. “I think we’re going to be fine.”
“I’m driving this time,” the midwife insisted as Iolaus joined her. She whacked him with her satchel once more just to emphasize her point.
“Ok,” he yelped, ducking out of her reach. By the gods, she had a lot of power behind that swing for an old woman.
Iolaus sat at the table, chin in hand, as he waited for the water in the pot over the fire to boil. The midwife had left some herbs, and he was attempting to make them into a tea. Stifling a yawn, he ran a hand wearily over his face. If he were this tired after being up half the night just watching the event take place, he could only imagine how exhausted Cyllene must be.
A knock on the door startled him. Rising, he went to open it, not even able to guess who he would find on the porch. The hunter didn’t know the woman at the door, but her white robes identified her as a priestess of Hestia.
“I’ve come to see Cyllene,” she said softly.
“Cyllene is resting now,” Iolaus informed her somewhat coldly. “I don’t think she needs to be disturbed.”
“Please,” the woman begged, reaching out to touch his arm. “It’s important that I see her.”
“I’ll see if she’s awake,” the hunter reluctantly agreed. He didn’t know why the woman had come, but he had only contempt for these people who had spurned one of their own when she had most needed their help. Poking his head through the door, Iolaus saw that the girl was asleep. He walked over to her bedside, pausing to grin at the baby lying in the basket next to her and tickle her under the chin. Waking Cyllene gently, Iolaus told her about her visitor.
“What does she want?” the girl asked nervously.
“I don’t know,” Iolaus replied. “But if you want, I’ll tell her to leave.”
“No, bring her in,” Cyllene decided. “But stay here with me, ok?”
“Sure.”
Iolaus went back to the door where the woman was still waiting and bade her to follow him. As they reached the bedroom, the hunter moved to stand protectively beside the bed.
“Cyllene,” the priestess began, bowing before the girl. “I have been visited by Hestia. She was very angry with me for how I treated you, and she made me understand that I was wrong to punish you for something that was not your fault. I’m very sorry for all I’ve done to add to your suffering. I came her to ask for your forgiveness, and to welcome you back to the temple, if you’d like to come. There’s a home there for you and your child for as long as you’d like.”
The girl sat speechless for long moments, as she was definitely not expecting what she’d just heard. Wisely, the priestess saw that she’d just given the girl a lot to think about, and decided to leave her in peace to do so.
“Take you time,” the woman advised. “We will always welcome you back home. Or we will help you any way we are able if you decide to choose another way. It’s up to you, Cyllene.”
“You’re going back to the temple, aren’t you?” Iolaus asked. They had avoided talking about it all day, but he had sensed that she had come to a decision, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he confirmed it.
“Yes,” she admitted.
The hunter looked away. He couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. Iolaus had really grown to care about Cyllene, and it would have been nice to have her living in Thebes where he could see her often and know for sure that she was all right.
“I don’t think I’m quite ready for the world yet.” The girl smiled and reached out to touch the hunter’s hand. “But you don’t know how happy I am to know that I have a friend waiting for me when I am ready. I’ll never forget you, Iolaus, and all that you’ve done for me. And I promise that I’ll make sure little Iole knows how important her uncle is to her, too.”
Iolaus embraced the girl, hugging her tightly.
“Good luck, Cyllene,” he whispered to her. “I’ll stay and see you to the temple in the morning. And if it doesn’t work out, just remember Thebes.”
“Are you heading off to help somebody else in trouble?” She meant it as a joke, but there were tears in her eyes, for she did hate to say goodbye to the man that had done so much for her.
“Maybe,” Iolaus grinned. “But no matter how many damsels I rescue, I promise I won’t forget you either.”
The hugged once more, then the hunter bid her good night and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Cyllene knew she would miss him terribly, but she also realized that she was going to be all right. She knew that someone else out there was in trouble, and that she had to let Iolaus go to do what he did best. Saving the world, one life at a time.
finis
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